Serbia and Kosovo

U.S.-mediated talks scheduled for Saturday between Serbian and Kosovo leaders aimed at normalising relations were cancelled after a special prosecutor indicted Kosovo’s President Thaçi on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity relating to Kosovo’s 1998-9 conflict. Crisis Group expert Marko Prelec says the indictment could usher in seismic changes in Kosovo’s politics, which Thaçi has dominated for two decades. It has likely also set back efforts to reach a settlement with Serbia by months, or perhaps even years.