Kosovo deal would speed up Serbia's EU entry: diplomats

by pankaj kumar | September 11, 2010 at 06:51 am

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A joint Serbian-EU resolution approved Thursday at the UN said dialogue between Serbia and its breakaway southern province would "promote cooperation, achieve progress on the path to the European Union and improve the lives of the people

BRUSSELS — Serbia's chances of speeding up its EU entry appeared a shade brighter Friday with several European foreign ministers pledging to plead Belgrade's case following an agreement to talk with breakaway Kosovo.

UN foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said no date had yet been set for the talks, which would take place in Brussels. "We've said that we'll facilitate."

Asked at what level, she said: "It's for them to decide."

"Both are committed to starting a conversation", she added.

Joining colleagues from the 27-nation bloc for two days of informal talks, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said he expected to see the European Union agree this year to Serbia applying for membership.

Asked by journalists if that could happen this year, Bildt said "of course it should" and "I think it will."