Kosovo's culture minister on Friday said Germany had returned seven millennia-old artefacts that were smuggled out during the 1998-1999 war with Serbia and were unexpectedly found in a German police raid. The seven terracotta items, including a small bowl, date back to the neolithic era, between 3,500 to 4,000 BC. They were found by German police in an unrelated investigation against two Serbs several years ago, Memli Krasniqi said, adding that it took a while to confirm the items came from Kosovo.

The premiers of Serbia and Kosovo went into tough talks Tuesday to defuse tension in one of Europe's last trouble-spots, facing EU demands for "concrete" signs of progress. Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci met separately and then jointly with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton just 48 hours after the former Serbian province marked the fifth anniversary of its unilateral declaration of independence.

* Kosovo marks fifth anniversary of secession * Signs of progress in EU-mediated talks * Serbia under pressure to cooperate with ex-province By Fatos Bytyci PRISTINA, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Kosovo marked five years since it seceded from Serbia on Sunday, with flag-filled streets, a military parade and growing signs of progress in EU-mediated talks to regulate relations between the Balkan neighbours.

Kosovo marks five years of independence on Sunday as relations thaw with long-time foe Serbia but many in the impoverished territory are still suffering. Almost 100 countries have recognised Kosovo since ethnic Albanians proclaimed independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, following a 1998-1999 conflict that ended with a NATO bombing campaign against late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic's forces. Belgrade still considers the region its southern province, but talks mediated by the European Union have led to a thaw in relations in recent months.