BELGRADE, Serbia - Serbia's government will implement all agreements reached in the EU-mediated talks with Kosovo, in spite of opposition from local Serbs, the country's chief negotiator said Thursday.
Borislav Stefanovic said he expects the talks to result in concrete deals when they resume next week in Brussels, following a deadlock caused by the dispute over the customs posts along the boundary between Serbia. Without coming to some sort of agreement with its former province, Serbia has been warned that its ambition to join the European Union may be thwarted.
The main dispute has centred on road blocks set up by Kosovo Serbs that have prevented Kosovo's ethnic Albanian government from asserting its authority on the border. The tensions erupted into violence during the summer, leaving one Kosovo policeman dead as well as blocking the talks.
Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, but it must improve ties with Pristina to win candidacy for EU membership on Dec. 9. EU officials want Belgrade to implement previous agreements and make new progress in the talks, before backing its bid to join the EU.
Stefanovic said the agenda of the discussions Monday will include recognition of university diplomas, Kosovo's presence at regional gatherings and the disputed customs posts.
"We are hoping for a positive outcome," he said.
Stefanovic added he would discuss the topics via video link later Thursday with the EU envoy Robert Cooper. He said one of the suggested solutions for the customs dispute is to have joint presence at the posts.
There have been fears that hardline Serbs also could undermine any future agreements negotiated by Serbia's pro-EU government. Stefanovic, who met with Kosovo Serb officials on Thursday, acknowledged there were "disagreements and mistrust."
But he said the "government has reached the agreements (with Kosovo) and the government will implement them."
