Kosovo: Ashton in talks with Serbia and Kosovo in NY

Objective is to restart EU-brokered dialogue

(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Wednesday, September 12, 2012

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton is working to restart the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, the representative told the EU Parliament's plenary session on Tuesday. "I will meet the representatives of Serbia and Kosovo in New York to restart the dialogue, which remains in their hands", Ashton said.

Talks between the two countries began in March 2011 and broke off in May 2012, when Serbia held general elections.

Ashton, who will bring the parties together at the next UN General Assembly, will probably take over as mediator from Robert Cooper. Normalizing relations with Kosovo is a key condition for negotiations on Serbia's adherence to the union to begin, ahead of the next EU Commission report on enlargement to be released October 10.