Serbia and Kosovo have agreed to a plan to normalize ties between the two countries. The plan has been drawn up by the European Union. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced on Saturday evening after twelve hours of negotiations that the two countries have agreed. He also warned that there are still disagreements between the parties.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but the country does not recognize the sovereignty of its former province. That still regularly causes tensions. At the end of 2022, tensions between ethnic Serbs and Albanians in northern Kosovo were running high. This happened after the arrest of a former police officer of Serbian descent.
Borrell first had talks with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Those conversations were separate from each other. Then the three sides got into a discussion. “Despite the differences of opinion, it was a decent conversation,” Borrell said. Kosovo allegedly pledged some form of autonomy for ethnic Serbs in Kosovo during the talks.
Serbia does not have to recognize Kosovo’s independence in the EU’s plan. However, the country should accept the current borders. Serbia should also no longer thwart Kosovo’s wish to join the United Nations.
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