Belgrade, Pristina continue negotiations

Belgrade and Pristina are set to begin a third round of direct talks in Brussels on Friday afternoon.

With the mediation of the EU, the two sides are to continue discussion today, and new topics are expected to be opened.

“On the agenda are several issues in three areas that have not been discussed so far,” a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Thursday.

Two rounds of talks have been held to date, on March 8 and 28, with the two sides discussing land registry books, birth and death certificate registries, telecommunications, the presidency of CEFTA, customs seals and electric energy.

The head of Serbia’s negotiating team, Borko Stefanovic, has announced that Friday’s round of talks may address the issue of freedom of movement, including license plates, personal IDs, passports and drivers’ licenses.

“These issues will certainly be discussed, we will present our stance and we have already prepared propositions that protect Serbia’s sovereignty,” Stefanovic told Tanjug news agency.

There is no deadline for when the negotiations should end, although they are expected to finish this year, or at the beginning of 2012.