Brussels, 03/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - At the end of over 12 hours of bilateral and trilateral meetings between High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and the Serbian and Kosovan prime ministers, Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaçi respectively, which took place at the 8th meeting of the dialogue for the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina on Tuesday 2 April, no definite agreement was reached on the police and judicial powers of the association of Serbian municipalities in the north of Kosovo. All the parties believe that progress has been made, however, since the start of the process six months ago.
Narrow but deep gap. Ashton said in a statement that “a number of proposals were put on the table” and that the gap between the two parties was “very narrow but deep”. She added that the prime ministers and their deputy prime ministers were going to return to their countries and consult with their colleagues in the capitals. “They (…) will let me know in the next few days of their decision”, Ashton said, wishing them “every possible success in reaching a conclusion”. Ashton has “no intention of convening another meeting at this stage”, her spokesperson said on Wednesday 3 April, stating that the high representative would give an update report of the talks at the next Foreign Affairs Council.
Serbians and Kosovans optimistic. According to different Serbian media, Dacic has said that this meeting is “not the end of the negotiations” and that it “will be necessary to consider all this later, both in Belgrade and Pristina”. “We still have a bit of time to reach a solution”, he said. Thaçi told the press that Pristina had put forward proposals integrating all citizens, including Serbians, in the life of Kosovo. These proposals were welcomed “hesitantly” by the Serbian party. Thaçi still hopes that an agreement can be reached next week.
The talks began at the end of the morning and finished past midnight. The bilateral meetings with Ashton - first the Serbian delegation and then the Kosovan - were followed by the first trilateral. Further bilateral meetings then took place, before the last trilateral. (CG/transl.fl)