EU-brokered dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo to resume Tuesday

Feb 16, 2012, 13:09 GMT

Brussels - European Union-brokered talks between Serbia and its former province of Kosovo are to resume on Tuesday - days before EU ministers are to decide whether to move forward Belgrade's application to join the bloc.

The meeting, due to take place in Brussels, was announced by Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton.

Serbia wants to be recognized as an EU membership candidate, but the bloc's leaders postponed a decision on the matter in December, after ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo seriously injured German and Austrian NATO soldiers posted there.

Belgrade was told then that it had to: achieve 'further progress' on already-agreed cooperation deals with Kosovo, including on borders; strike new ones allowing Pristina to take part in regional cooperation fora; and cooperate with EU and NATO forces in Kosovo.

EU foreign ministers are set to debate whether Serbia has met the conditions on February 27 - ahead of an EU summit on March 1-2 which might be able to take a decision on the country's candidate status.

On Thursday Kocijancic also commented on the symbolic referendum this week which saw ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo overwhelmingly reject the authority of Pristina. The Serbian government in Belgrade had advised them against the move.

'There is a particular situation in the north (of Kosovo) which needs a solution. Violence and barricades solve nothing. Nor do referenda. We will get to a solution only through calm, consultation and dialogue,' the spokeswoman said.

She noted that the Serbian government officials 'have also been very clear on this issue' - referring to their alignment with the EU's position.

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