Serbia Names First Envoy To Kosovo

Dejan Pavicevic

Serbia has named its first envoy to Kosovo, the breakaway territory whose independence is recognized by nearly 100 countries.

Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence.

Officials said February 4 that Dejan Pavicevic has been appointed Belgrade’s liaison officer to the Kosovo capital, Pristina.

Pavicevic said his job will be to monitor implementation of agreements between Serbia and Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian-led government.

He rejected describing the post as “diplomatic” in nature, saying his job was to work for Serbian national interests.

Pavicevic has been serving as Serbia's chief negotiator in the European Union-mediated "dialogue" with Kosovo.

Serbia lost control of Kosovo in the 1999 NATO air war.

The EU has said progress in talks on stabilizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo will help Serbia’s drive for EU membership.

Based on reporting by AFP and Tanjug