BRUSSELS: The leaders of both Serbia and Kosovo have been at Brussels on Tuesday to restart EU-mediated talks aimed at finding an answer to one of Europe’s most intractable territorial disputes.
The Balkan neighbors continue met a year ago as a part of decade-long discussions to resolve disagreements still poisoning relationships over 20 years when they separated in warfare.
Serbia has vowed to recognise Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence following the country broke away from the bloody 1998-99 battle which was completed only by a NATO bombing campaign against Serb troops.
The assembly on Tuesday is that the first because Kosovo’s left wing reformist prime minister Albin Kurti maintained a milestone win in parliamentary elections in February, pledging to have a new tack at the discussions with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
“This dialog isn’t likely to be simple,” EU foreign policy leader Josep Borrell stated before kicking bilateral meetings with the 2 leaders.
“However, this procedure and this true involvement by either side are essential for the sake of the inhabitants of Kosovo and Serbia.” Borrell had previously said the purpose of the new round of discussions was to seem out Kurti and talk about a”way ahead” for talks.
“There’s a new momentum in Europe concerning the talks in the Western Balkans and it’s essential for the entire area to capture this chance,” Borrell said Tuesday.
The EU and the United States of America are pushing both sides to restart the discussions because the change of leadership in Kosovo.
The resumption of talks comes as US President Joe Biden is going to be a rock’s throw away, seeing European Union chiefs to get a summit, however there wasn’t any indication he would satisfy the 2 leaders.
The US has a oversized role in Kosovo, occasionally known as the very pro-American nation on earth, after directing the NATO intervention which pushed out Serbia.
Kosovo was recognised by over a hundred nations but Serbia still believes the land because of its southern state and has been backed by Russia and China.