Kosovar, Serbian Leaders Reach Provisional Agreement

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (center) with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci (right) and his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic in Brussels on May 21.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton says the prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo have agreed in principle on the implementation of a deal normalizing their relations.

Ashton announced the agreement after talks with Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in Brussels.

Ashton said the two leaders "have agreed a fixed text which they are now consulting upon," adding "they will be in touch with me by the end of the week."

Last month's agreement brought both Serbia and Kosovo closer to achieving better ties with the 27-member bloc.

However, it threatened to unravel as the two sides failed to agree over its implementation.

Kosovo, populated mainly by ethnic Albanians, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move that Belgrade has never recognized.

With reporting by dpa and RFE/RL's Balkan Service