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Serbia and Kosovo reach EU-brokered landmark accord | Serbia and Kosovo reach EU-brokered landmark accord |
(35 minutes later) | |
Serbia and its former province of Kosovo have reached an EU-brokered accord aimed at normalising relations between the Balkan neighbours. | Serbia and its former province of Kosovo have reached an EU-brokered accord aimed at normalising relations between the Balkan neighbours. |
"And the white smoke is out! Habemus pactum!" Kosovo's Integration Minister Vlora Citaku tweeted after the talks. | "And the white smoke is out! Habemus pactum!" Kosovo's Integration Minister Vlora Citaku tweeted after the talks. |
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008. While many countries recognise it as an independent country, Serbia does not. | Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008. While many countries recognise it as an independent country, Serbia does not. |
Serbia must normalise relations with neighbours before joining the EU. | Serbia must normalise relations with neighbours before joining the EU. |
The deal was reached after months of tense negotiations between Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in Brussels. | |
"The negotiations have concluded. The text has been initialled by both prime ministers," said the EU's top diplomat, Catherine Ashton, who mediated the talks. | |
Earlier this month, Serbia rejected an agreement proposal because the terms did not "guarantee full security and protection of human rights to the Serb people in Kosovo". | |
Tension between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority and remaining ethnic Serbs has led to violence in recent years, notably around customs posts in northern Kosovo. |