Kosovo, Serbia Say Normalizing Relations Beneficial

Serbia's Ivica Dacic (left) and Kosovo's Hashim Thaci shake hands in Brussels in December 2013 as EU foreign-policy chief Catherine Ashton looks on.

MUNICH, Germany -- The prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo say the process of normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina has benefited both sides.

Serbia's Ivica Dacic and Kosovo's Hashim Thaci also expressed gratitude on February 2 at the Munich Security Conference to EU foreign-policy chief Catherine Ashton for leading the peace-making negotiations.

Both prime ministers said convincing their publics of the benefits of a peace deal had been among the greatest challenges to the diplomatic effort.

The two leaders also agreed they were in favor of building a new highway between Kosovo and Belgrade and suggested the EU fund the project.

Kosovo and Serbia seek eventual EU membership, which is dependent upon their regularizing of relations.

The three-day Munich Security Conference, which gathers global political leaders and defense officials, ends on February 2.