Brussels, 09/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton underlined on Monday 8 July after the 13th dialogue meeting with the prime ministers of Serbia and of Kosovo, Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci, that it is “of crucial importance that the work on implementation (of the 19 April agreement) continues in the coming weeks and months”. During the meeting, they looked at the next steps for implementing the agreement. Ashton said she was “pleased” that both prime ministers had confirmed their commitment to this goal.
Ashton announced that the texts relating to telecommunications and energy were “almost finalised”. However, to take an example, the international code for calling Kosovo still poses a problem for Serbia. “Discussions on these texts will continue in the coming days while I travel to Belgrade and Pristina”, said Ashton.
She was in Belgrade and then in Pristina on 9 and 10 July. Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic explained in a press release: “However, despite progress, many unresolved issues remain related to telecommunications, electricity and the amnesty law”. He considers the discussions were very difficult but that some progress has been made. Dacic also announced that the next meeting, the 14th, between the Kosovar minister, Hashim Thaci, and Ashton and himself would take place in Brussels on 24 July. Furthermore, Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle will be in Serbia on 17 July and in Kosovo the following day. (CG/transl.jl)