From: Exit Staff
EU, US Urge Kosovo and Serbia to Finalize Agreement over License Plates

The European Union and the United States have urged Kosovo and Serbia to finalize an agreement that would solve the nearly two-week long dispute that has raised tensions at the border between the two Western Balkan states.

Their negotiating teams will further discuss a draft agreement throughout Thursday.

The two teams met in Brussels on Wednesday, in a dialogue facilitated by the EU special envoy Miroslav Lajcak.

Last night, after a day of talks, Kosovo representative Besnik Bislimi said they had agreed on a draft, that was still waiting final approval by the Serbian government.

The EU spokesperson, US ambassadors in Kosovo and Serbia, as well as the Serbian government were quick to deny the news, stating there was no final settlement, although both sides agreed on a number of issues related to license plates.

The EU and US urged both sides to strengthen efforts into reaching an agreement.

Talks will continue throughout the day. The options discussed include a possible requirement for cars travelling between the two countries to use temporary stickers to cover their flags and country names rather than temporary license plates.

It is also expected to stipulate the removal of road barriers, and withdrawal of Kosovo special police forces from the border area and their replacement with the NATO-led KFOR troops.