BRUSSELS
EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Catherine Ashton has stated that they have come close to an end in the dialogue to normalize the relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
The 7th round of dialogue between Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic have lasted 12 hours under the observation of Ashton, in the Belgian capital of Brussels.
"We are close to a resolution on the most complicated issues," Ashton stated at the joint press conference held following harsh negotiations.
Dacic stated that their aim was not to gain time or play games and that they wanted to solve the problems of their country and allow the people to live like the rest of the world.
Thaci also emphasized their determination in resolving the standing issues and said, "I can't say if we are close to resolution or not but we surely are moving on the right path. The two nations have lost so much time in conflict."
Dacic and Thaci will gather again on April 2.
Sponsored by the European Union (EU), Belgrade and Pristina are trying to decide during the talks the kind and degree of competence of autonomous authorities for around 40,000 Serbians concentrated in the northern area of the province of Kosovo, among other issues.
Serbia is demanding that the government considers political and legal privileges in the municipalities where Kosovo Serbs are the majority, something that Pristina has objected so far.
