Brussels, 20/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - European Union mediator Robert Cooper cancelled talks between Serbia and Kosovo scheduled for Wednesday 20 July, as it appeared that the two sides would make little progress. “I took this decision as it became clear that no agreement would be reached … . This is of course regrettable”, Cooper said in a statement. In a previous round of talks on 2 July, Belgrade and Pristina made a series of breakthroughs, notably on freedom of movement across their disputed border. These were the first agreements the two have reached since Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. “We have now reached a stage in the dialogue where agreements are part of the process. There are a few issues that are ready or very close to agreement”, said Cooper. A senior EU official said early this month that the European Union had hoped that new talks just before the summer break could focus minds and lead to more breakthroughs.
Cooper said the dialogue will resume in September and that the EU would continue its efforts to help the two parties move forward. He did not say what the sticking points might be. In the last round, the fifth in the series, progress was made in freedom of movement, the recognition of each others' university and school diplomas and civil registry. Advances occurred, too, on telecommunications, land records, customs stamps and energy. The parties also exchanged views on the potentially thorny matters of religious and cultural heritage, as well as regional cooperation. (LoC)