The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo initialled a historic deal Friday to normalise ties, a move key to the future of the Western Balkans and destined also to bring both closer to the European Union. Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci signed a 15-point agreement struck after two years of tough talks to reduce mutual tension and immediately won praise from around the world. "What we are seeing is a step away from the past and, for both of them, a step closer to Europe," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Serbia and its former province of Kosovo initialled a historic deal Friday to normalise ties, a move key to the future of the Western Balkans and destined also to bring both closer to the European Union. Hailed as a milestone deal by EU leaders, the premiers of Serbia and Kosovo, Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci, put their signatures to a 15-point agreement struck after two years of tough talks to reduce mutual tension. "What we are seeing is a step away from the past and, for both of them, a step closer to Europe," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

The premiers of Serbia and Kosovo on Friday initialled a historic deal to normalise ties in a move key to the future of the Western Balkans, said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. "These negotiations have been concluded," Ashton said. "The text has been initialled by both prime ministers." "What we are seeing is a step away from the past and, for both of them, a step closer to Europe," Ashton said after winding up talks with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and his Kosovo counterpart Hashim Thaci.

Kosovo Serbs want Serbia to hold a referendum on whether to accept the EU-sponsored deal signed on Friday in Brussels between Belgrade and Pristina that would normalise their relations. Kosovo Serb deputies in northern Kosovo "demand a referendum in Serbia to be called in which the citizens will decide whether Kosovo will remain in Serbia or accept the deal that would give it a date to start negotiations with the EU," said a resolution adopted after the deal was signed in Brussels.