Brussels, 08/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - At the end of “open and frank” discussions on different aspects of the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina with the prime ministers of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, and Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, on Wednesday 7 November, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said that they had arranged a new meeting “soon” - without being more precise on the date. “Both prime ministers committed to continue the talks”, Ashton said. Describing the meetings as useful, Dacic said to B92 television that they had taken some steps forward and that work would start again at the beginning of December. For Thaçi, who spoke to the public Kosovar media RTK, the meetings took place in a constructive spirit and they had a deep discussion.
Ashton met the prime ministers separately to begin with - first Dacic, then Thaçi - and then both together at a working dinner to continue the discussions which began on 19 October. Ashton and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had held meetings in Pristina and Belgrade the previous week.
The prime ministers and the high representative also discussed the transparency of the funds that Serbia is providing to the Kosovo Serb Community, and how to enhance the protection of Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo. Dacic and Thaçi also agreed to have a joint technical working group to prepare a feasibility study for the motorway linking Nis and Pristina.
The parties also agreed to continue the work for full implementation of all the agreements and they welcomed the results of the joint working group on 5-6 November on integrated management of border crossing points.
In a press release, the French minister for foreign affairs welcomed the relaunch of the dialogue at a high political level, describing it as “an important and constructive gesture”. “We would like the agreements that have already been concluded to be implemented in good faith by the two parties, and we would like the new dynamic which is under way to enable tangible steps forward in new areas”, the minister said (our translation). He said that France supports Ashton's action. (CG/transl.fl)