The European Union expects Kosovo and Serbia to begin talks within weeks, rejecting the possibility of their delay due to a political crisis in Pristina, a Kosovo newspaper reported Wednesday.

“The European Union and its representatives in Pristina are asking for a start of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia in weeks,” the Koha Ditore Daily reported.

European officials in Brussels told the paper “the beginning of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia under the EU’s auspices cannot wait until February, when Kosovo is to hold early elections.

“The dialogue should begin as soon as possible. But, at the same time this dialogue should also be well-prepared,” the official is also quoted as saying.

In September, Serbia and Kosovo agreed to start EU-brokered talks to resolve outstanding issues though Serbia has never formally accepted the independence of its former province. No starting date has been set.

In Belgrade, Serbian President Boris Tadic said Serbia awaited the start of the dialogue “with great expectations and hopes,” Beta news agency reported.

“We do not have to put difficult and disputed issues in the focus of our works, but those which are important for citizens of Albanian and Serbian nationality should be on the agenda,” Beta quoted Tadic as saying.

Tadic expressed concern that the Kosovo leadership was seeking “to postpone this dialogue,” adding that Belgrade’s stance was that the talks should begin as soon as possible, Beta said.

Kosovo Friday called early elections for Feb. 13 to resolve the political crisis caused by the surprise resignation of president Fatmir Sejdiu, who chairs the Democratic League of Kosovo, also known as LDK.

The crisis escalated a day later when the LDK decided to quit the government of Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, in which it was a junior coalition partner.

Interim president Jakup Krasniqi said Monday the country faced an institutional crisis and possible snap elections before New Year.

Koha Ditore said the EU had no official stance on whether elections should be held at a sooner or later stage.

The vote will mark the first general elections since Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia in February 2008.

October 20, 2010
AFP

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