Belgrade – Pristina dialogue on June 24, EEAS reports

NEWS 19.06.201809:40
AFP

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic and his Kosovo’s counterpart Hashim Tachi should meet in Brussels on June 24, the European Union External Action (EEAS) reported on Tuesday.

The meeting is expected to be a breakthrough in the process that has been put on hold since March following the arrest of Serbia’s official in Kosovo who went there without Pristina’s approval.

A statement from EEAS said that „Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, will in the framework of the EU-facilitated Dialogue host in Brussels on June 24 a meeting with Presidents Aleksandar Vučic of Serbia and Hashim Thaçi of Kosovo.

„The High Representative and the Presidents will continue their work on the comprehensive normalisation phase of the Dialogue, take stock of existing agreements, inform of achievements to date as well as discuss the next steps given an intensive period ahead,“ the statement adds.

Last high-level talks between the two presidents were held in Brussels on March 23, during which Vucic insisted on the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM).

It was followed by the arrest, a bitter exchange between the officials from both capitals, and the rejection of Pristina’s delegation to take part in a particular dialogue on technical issues in Brussels due to disagreements over the question that should top the talks.

Pristina wanted an energy deal and an agreement on joint border control on the agenda while Belgrade said that the CSM issue was to be solved first since it had been pending for three years.

The RTS added that ahead of the two presidents’ meeting another round of talks between technical delegations from Belgrade and Pristina should take place, but did not specify the date.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, who has been mediating the dialogue said last week she expected Vucic and Thaci in Brussels by the end of this month.