Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib has urged the Serbian government to resume talks with Kosovo for the normalization of their relations during her visit to Belgrade on Thursday evening.
Lahbib stressed the importance of de-escalation and a renewed commitment to the normalization process. She emphasized that this approach is crucial for a sustainable agreement and offers both sides a path towards EU integration. Lahbib conveyed this message after discussions with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and is expected to reiterate the same sentiments during her visit to Kosovo on Friday.
The European Union has been mediating between Serbia and Kosovo for over a decade, but significant progress remains elusive. Recent months have witnessed a complete halt in talks, despite a new normalization blueprint proposed in March. Both sides have been slow to respond, and incidents of violence in northern Kosovo have added to the challenges.
Kosovo, under UN administration since 1999, declared independence in 2008. While over 100 countries, including most EU members, recognize Kosovo's independence, Serbia regards it as a Serbian province. Approximately 120,000 Serbs still reside in Kosovo, primarily in the northern region. Photo by Serbia_EU_(without_Kosovo).svg: Cradel, Wikimedia commons.
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