EU welcomes Kosovo Serbia trade compromise

07/09/11 08:01 CET

europe

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EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy welcomed his Kosovan counterpart to Brussels on Tuesday following last week’s deal between Pristina and Belgrade to end a mutual trade war. The agreement, brokered by the EU, sees Serbia and Kosovo lift mutual embargoes.

A breakdown in talks over the issue in July led to clashes on the border when Kosovo tried to seize checkpoints to enforce a tit-for-tat import ban.

Until the latest compromise, the violence had threatened to de-rail Serbia’s EU aspirations.

In all some 130,000 Serbs live in Kosovo, with about a third believed to be in the North. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

Despite that Belgrade still refuses to accept Pristina’s secession.

More about: Diplomatic mission, EU Council, Herman Van Rompuy, Kosovo, Serbia

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