Efforts to help Serbia and Kosovo normalise relations

Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic on Firday announced that a high level meeting will be held in Brussels next Thursday between his country and Kosovo. In a radio statement , Dacic said the meeting will be also attended by Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative and the European Commissioner for widening membership in Achtivan Vealiu. The meeting is aimed at outlining and drafting the final outlines for the set plans and programmes aimed to carry out the agreement on normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina, he added. After ten rounds of often grueling talks in the EU-facilitated Dialogue, the breakthrough that many had hoped for came on Friday 19 April. Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative who has chaired the talks, announced that Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Tha?i had reached a landmark agreement. The agreement aimed at normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo and in doing so close one of the complicated chapters in the collapse of Yugoslavia. For his part, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed the importance of dialogue and engagement across the region, highlighting the importance of the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. “One overriding theme of my visit is the importance of dialogue and mutual respect across the region,” Mr. Ban told reporters upon his arrival in Kosovo’s capital, Pristina. “I have emphasized to all the leaders I am meeting the crucial importance of taking further steps for greater understanding.” “I bring the same message to Kosovo’s leaders, and to the people of Kosovo, who I know have suffered from conflict and who yearn for a peaceful, prosperous future,” he added. “In particular, I expect strong efforts toward the normalization of relations with Belgrade, including through the same serious and sincere commitment to dialogue which I have asked from the Serbian leadership,” ki-moon said.