"Three main topics" in Belgrade-Priština talks

BRUSSELS -- The first round of the talks between Belgrade and Priština will be held in Brussels March 8-9 with subsequent rounds being organized several times a month.

This will depending on the progress made, the EU announced on Monday.

According to a high-ranking EU official, there will be three main topics: regional cooperation, freedom of movement and rule of law.

The goal is to improve the life of the people, achieve better cooperation in the Balkans and move the region closer to the EU, the official stated.

The EU official mediating the talks will be Robert Cooper. His office will also host the negotiations.

The first meeting will focus simply on getting off to a good start. It will also be used to raise many issues and get the two sides thinking about them, the anonymous official said.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will give an announcement after the meeting. The two teams will give their own statements on Wednesday.

The UN mission in Kosovo will not take part in the talks, but it will be invited when needed.

The Belgrade government named Borko Stefanović, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the head of its team, while the government in Priština appointed Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri.