Serbian, Kosovo PMs Meet To Discuss Implementation Of EU-Brokered Deal

EU foreign-policy chief Catherine Ashton (center) meets with the prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia, Hashim Thaci (right) and Ivica Dacic, in Brussels last month.

EU foreign-policy chief Catherine Ashton is meeting the prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo to discuss progress in implementing an EU-brokered agreement on normalizing relations.

Implementing the April agreement is key for both Belgrade and Pristina to make progress toward closer ties with the European Union.

Negotiations on several issues, including telecommunications and energy, have hit stumbling blocks.

Ashton's spokeswoman, Maja Kocijancic, said the agenda of the talks between Serbia's Ivica Dacic and Kosovo's Hashim Thaci would depend on the outcome of talks between working groups also meeting on June 20 in Brussels.

Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri told RFE/RL that the meeting might mark "new progress or new agreements."

EU leaders at a summit next week are to decide whether enough progress has been made in implementing the agreement on normalizing ties to offer Belgrade a date to start EU accession talks and Pristina a partnership accord.

With reporting by AFP