Kosovo Serbs form their own parliament

Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo formed their own parliament on Thursday in a show of challenges against the deal by the European Union forcing Serbia to normalize relations with Kosovo.

“We cannot accept that the price of Serbia’s EU entry will be the loss of the territory and forceful integration into the institutions of an unrecognized state,” said Slavko Stevanovic, Kosovo Serb leader.

The move occurred at a time of increased political will by Belgrade and Pristina to normalize their relations with special arrangements brokered by the EU in April.