EU's Ashton in message to Belgrade and Priština

EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton told President Boris Tadic and Kosovo Albanian PM Hashim Thaci that the EU was ready to help them engage in a dialog. European diplomatic sources said that Tadic and Thaci “still have not gotten closer to accepting negotiations, but they did not make it clear either that they were refusing good services of the EU". EU's Ashton in message to Belgrade and Pristina Ashton relayed last night to Tadic and Thaci that all 27 EU member states had agreed on a EU statement, issued on Thursday after the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had been announced. The top UN court said that that no active provision limited independence declarations, and that therefore the Kosovo UDI did not violate international law, but would not rule on the right to self-determination or secession. “The advisory opinion opens a new phase. The focus should now be on the future. The future of Serbia lies in the European Union. The future of Kosovo also lies in the European Union. This is in line with the European perspective of the region and the relevant Council conclusions,” Ashton said in the statement. As they meet in Brussels on Monday, EU foreign ministers are expected to express EU's readiness to "help start a dialog between Belgrade and Pristina, considering that now the focus should be on the future". Belgrade has also called on new talks that would concern the status of Kosovo - something that ethnic Albanian leadership rejects. The EU foreign ministers could also on Monday “additionally elaborate” on yesterday’s statement regarding the ICJ ruling. The statement said called for "dialog that would be to promote cooperation, achieve progress on the path to Europe and improve the lives of the people". EU's foreign ministers are not expected to adopt special conclusions about Kosovo as they meet next week, said reports. Five out of 27 EU member states have not recognized the Kosovo Albanian unilaterally declared independence.

EU's Ashton in message to Belgrade and Priština

Ashton relayed last night to Tadić and Thaci that all 27 EU member states had agreed on a EU statement, issued on Thursday after the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had been announced.

The top UN court said that that no active provision limited independence declarations, and that therefore the Kosovo UDI did not violate international law, but would not rule on the right to self-determination or secession.

“The advisory opinion opens a new phase. The focus should now be on the future. The future of Serbia lies in the European Union. The future of Kosovo also lies in the European Union. This is in line with the European perspective of the region and the relevant Council conclusions,” Ashton said in the statement.

As they meet in Brussels on Monday, EU foreign ministers are expected to express EU's readiness to "help start a dialog between Belgrade and Priština, considering that now the focus should be on the future".

Belgrade has also called on new talks that would concern the status of Kosovo - something that ethnic Albanian leadership rejects.

The EU foreign ministers could also on Monday “additionally elaborate” on yesterday’s statement regarding the ICJ ruling.

The statement said called for "dialog that would be to promote cooperation, achieve progress on the path to Europe and improve the lives of the people".

EU's foreign ministers are not expected to adopt special conclusions about Kosovo as they meet next week, said reports.

Five out of 27 EU member states have not recognized the Kosovo Albanian unilaterally declared independence.