End of discussion

Long-running Serbia-Kosovo talks broke down in Brussels on Wednesday after fresh clashes in the disputed border region.

Serbia cancelled the latest round of EU-mediated peace negotiations after its bid to change the agenda to focus on the renewed unrest was refused, EU diplomats said.

"The dialogue did not take place because the Serb delegation was not ready to proceed with discussions today," the EU's mediator, Robert Cooper, said in a statement.

"The situation ... in northern Kosovo is not part of the dialogue nor the subject of any separate negotiations with Serbia," he added. "The dialogue will continue when the Serbian side is ready to reengage."

The seventh round of talks brokered by the European Union since March was due to help settle friction stemming from Serbia's refusal to recognize Kosovo's independence.

Topics on the agenda were energy, telecommunications and Kosovo's participation in regional initiatives, which is routinely vetoed by Serbia.

In light of trouble on the border, however, Serbia has refused to discuss anything except the latest unrest.

"Presently the priority is the situation at border crossings, and for us no other topic exists," said Borko Stefanovic, Serbia's chief negotiator.

Renewed tension

The latest border incident on Tuesday saw four NATO peacekeepers and six Serb protesters wounded during border clashes near the contested Jarinje border crossing.

While Kosovo is predominantly ethnic Albanian, the Serb majority in the disputed region refuse to recognize the government in Pristina and object to border and customs officials from Kosovo manning the border crossings.

Progress in the peace negotiations is crucial in order for Serbia to be formally recognized as an EU membership candidate in October.

Author: Charlotte Chelsom-Pill (AFP, Reuters, dpa)
Editor: Martin Kuebler