Independence of Kosovo

Kosovo: key dates since independence

Agence France-PresseApril 19, 2013 12:46

EU-sponsored talks finally produced a hard-won normalisation accord Friday between Serbia and breakaway Kosovo which was hailed in Brussels as a key step away from a violent past and towards closer ties with the EU. Below are key dates since the predominantly ethnic-Albanian province declared independence in 2008.

NATO hails Serbia-Kosovo accord, ready to help

Agence France-PresseApril 19, 2013 12:31

NATO, whose troops help maintain security in Kosovo, hailed an EU-brokered normalisation accord Friday between Belgrade and Pristina and said it stood ready to help implement it. "I am very happy for NATO to contribute to the conclusion of an historic agreement," the head of the military alliance Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a statement. "NATO will continue to ensure a safe and secure environment throughout Kosovo," he said.

Kosovo Serbs want a referendum in Serbia on Kosovo deal

Agence France-PresseApril 19, 2013 12:31

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.

Serbia, Kosovo in historic deal to normalise ties

Agence France-PresseApril 19, 2013 12:01

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 the talks with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and his Kosovo counterpart Hashim Thaci.

Serbia, Kosovo in historic deal to normalise ties: EU official

Agence France-PresseApril 19, 2013 11:46

The premiers of Serbia and Kosovo on Friday initialled a historic deal to normalise ties, announced European Union 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 the talks with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and his Kosovo counterpart Hashim Thaci.

Serbia, Kosovo strike normalisation deal: EU official

Agence France-PresseApril 19, 2013 11:16

Serbia and Kosovo reached a deal on Friday to normalise ties, EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton said on Twitter. "Negotiations over, text initialled, important step for Serbia and Kosovo," Ashton's office wrote as Kosovo claimed the deal was tantamount to Serbia's recognition of its independence. rt/bmm/lc

Serbia, Kosovo in fresh effort to normalise ties

Agence France-PresseApril 19, 2013 09:01

Crunch talks on normalising Kosovo-Serbia ties that are key to their prospects of joining the European Union resumed in Brussels on Friday, the EU said. The premiers of Serbia and Kosovo, Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci, hurried back to Brussels on the request of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton less than 48 hours after the collapse of talks to clinch a deal.

EU brokers historic Kosovo deal, door opens to Serbia accession

Thomson ReutersApril 19, 2013 08:16

By Aleksandar Vasovic and Justyna Pawlak BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Serbia agreed to cede its last remaining foothold in the country's former province of Kosovo on Friday, striking an historic accord to settle relations in exchange for talks on joining the European Union. The deal, brokered by the EU, capped six months of delicate negotiations and marks a milestone for the region's recovery from the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

EU presses Serbia and Kosovo for historic accord

Thomson ReutersApril 18, 2013 17:11

By Matt Robinson and Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - The European Union summoned Serbia and Kosovo back to Brussels on Thursday, pressing for an historic accord to settle relations between the Balkan foes and open the door to membership talks with Belgrade. On the table is an agreement to end the ethnic partition of Kosovo five years since it seceded from Serbia, and potentially clear a path to a seat at the United Nations for the last state to emerge from the ashes of federal Yugoslavia.

Kosovo, Serbia to resume talks Friday

Agence France-PresseApril 18, 2013 12:16

Kosovo and Serbia will resume talks in Brussels on Friday following another failure to clinch a deal to normalise ties and ease tension in the Balkans, officials here said. The Kosovo delegation, which was on its way home after the failed 11th-hour talks on Wednesday, returned to Brussels for the new meeting, the Pristina government said Thursday. The negotiators "returned back from the airport in Ljubljana to Brussels to continue meetings" with the Serbian delegation after a request from EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, the government said in a statement.