Serbia, Kosovo Talks Seen Soon

A relaunch of the Brussels-brokered high-level talks between Belgrade and Pristina could be imminent, European officials say, following meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly between European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo.
Technical discussions aside, there have been no high-level political negotiations between the two sides since February.

Since then, relations have grown tenser: Serbia voted in a nationalist-leaning President Tomislav Nikolic and Ivica Dacic, once a spokesman for Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, has taken over as premier. The new Serbian authorities have said time and again they were prepared for talks. But there was skepticism about their commitment to what Brussels calls the process of normalization between Belgrade and Pristina.
It’s not just that observers weren’t sure of the new Serbian government’s intent. Some Brussels officials also thought that economic troubles at home might dissuade Belgrade from the political risks inherent in restarting the talks.
Yet it seems the prospect of renewed talks is now very much on. Asked if a new round of talks has now been agreed, one senior European diplomat said “Yes, we are practically there.” Asked when the talks could take place, the person said no date has been decided “but soon.”
A second official said there was no firm agreement yet on new talks but that the conditions seemed very much in place. Mr. Dacic and Mr. Nikolic have also been sending positive signals. The president told the UN General Assembly this week he is seeking “lasting peace” with Kosovo and that he “strongly” desired the talks to continue though he reiterated Belgrade’s longstanding vow never to recognize Kosovo’s independence.
Mr Dacic was quoted telling a domestic paper he has “no problem” sitting down with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. The momentum seems to have picked up in New York where Baroness Ashton met with both Mr. Thaci and Mr. Nikolic on the sidelines of the annual UN gathering.
Baroness Ashton had already told Mr. Dacic at a Brussels meeting on Sept. 4 she was ready to step in more directly to help resolve the toughest political issues.
At Thursday’s meeting with the president, she “stressed the need for Serbia to boldly engage in these talks and encouraged President Nikolic to be ready to take some tough decisions,” according to her office.
Her message to Mr. Thaci was similar: “both sides needed to be ready to engage, including at political level.”
For Serbia, a relaunch of talks could bring rewards in its accession bid to join the EU. The 27-nation bloc agreed in March to give Belgrade candidate status – clearing the way for negotiations. But the EU said talks would only actually begin if ties improved with Pristina.
There’s an incentive for Kosovo too. The EU will release a feasibility study on an association accord with Kosovo on Oct. 10 – the first formal step in the often lengthy process of seeking EU membership. Stalled relations with Belgrade would make that process even lengthier.

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