EU talks fail to resolve Serbia-Kosovo rift

BRUSSELS, Nov 21 (KUNA) -- Kosovo and Serbia failed to reach a solution over recent disputes in the region after an 8-hour long EU-mediated talks in Brussels on Monday.
"After many hours of discussion, since 8:00 this morning, the two parties did not agree on a solution today," announced EU High Representative Josep Borrel who hosted the talks between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Brussels today.
"I think that there is an important responsibility (on the side of both leaders) for the failure of the talks today and for any escalation and violence that might occur on the ground in the following days," he warned.
"For the sake of transparency, I have to say that we put forward a proposal, that could have avoided this risky situation, that President Vucic accepted today but, unhappily, Prime Minister Kurti did not," he clarified.
The EU foreign policy chief pleaded with Kosovo "to immediately suspend further stages related to the re-registration of vehicles in north Kosovo. And Serbia, to suspend issuing new licence plates with Kosovo citiesآ’ denominations." He noted that "since August, the dispute over licence plates has worsened. Kosovo had decided to start issuing fines from 22 November, it means midnight tonight, for those who have not re-registered their vehicles." As a consequence, Kosovo Serbs have withdrawn from the institutions in north Kosovo. And it means that around 600 police officers have put down their uniforms. Judges and staff of the local administration have also resigned. Currently, less than 50 Kosovo Albanian police officers are manning the police stations in the region - which is certainly not enough, said Borrell.
"This leaves a very dangerous security vacuum, a vacuum on the ground, in an already very fragile situation. Yes, we have a Mission there, we have the EULEX Mission and, also, the troops of (NATO) KFOR are present, but they cannot take over the role of the local police: it is not in their mandate nor in their capacities," he said.
"I hope that both Parties will act according to my requests in order to avoid further escalation and a new dangerous crisis," he added. (end) nk.rk