Brussels expects dialogue after election

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will inform EU foreign ministers about preparations for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. According to reports, she will also inform the ministers about the effort made by the union in order for that dialogue to take place. Brussels expects dialogue after election Another topic of discussion during the regular meeting will be the results of Sunday's elections in Kosovo. The announced dialogue will most likely start in early 2011, said reports. According to documents prepared for the two-day ministerial meeting, the Council of Ministers of the EU will stress the union's readiness to facilitate the dialogue set by UN General Assembly resolution in order to improve cooperation, progress toward the EU and improve people's lives. Officials in Brussels said they could not confirm Hashim Thaci's statement that the negotiations would begin in February. Brussels sources told Beta news agency that it was "not good" that after the EU and Serbia agreed at the UN, the dialogue on that has been postponed for some time. The same sources said there is "some uncertainty" about the results of the voting in Kosovo, and the speed of forming of a new government in Pristina, considering that Thaci and his party "might win less than they expected". The sources also said that Thaci expected a "more clear sign" from the EU about the lifting of the visa regime for Kosovo residents, but "there have been no clear announcements". The meeting today is also expected to stress Serbia's progress in joining the EU, "including gaining the candidate status, as soon as all the necessary conditions have been met". The EU Council of Ministers in late October told the EC to produce its opinion about Serbia's readiness to become a candidate for membership and will "again consider this issue after (the ministers) receive the (EC) opinion". (Tanjuug, file)

Brussels expects dialogue after election

Another topic of discussion during the regular meeting will be the results of Sunday's elections in Kosovo.

The announced dialogue will most likely start in early 2011, said reports.

According to documents prepared for the two-day ministerial meeting, the Council of Ministers of the EU will stress the union's readiness to facilitate the dialogue set by UN General Assembly resolution in order to improve cooperation, progress toward the EU and improve people's lives.

Officials in Brussels said they could not confirm Hashim Thaci's statement that the negotiations would begin in February.

Brussels sources told Beta news agency that it was "not good" that after the EU and Serbia agreed at the UN, the dialogue on that has been postponed for some time.

The same sources said there is "some uncertainty" about the results of the voting in Kosovo, and the speed of forming of a new government in Priština, considering that Thaci and his party "might win less than they expected".

The sources also said that Thaci expected a "more clear sign" from the EU about the lifting of the visa regime for Kosovo residents, but "there have been no clear announcements".

The meeting today is also expected to stress Serbia's progress in joining the EU, "including gaining the candidate status, as soon as all the necessary conditions have been met".

The EU Council of Ministers in late October told the EC to produce its opinion about Serbia's readiness to become a candidate for membership and will "again consider this issue after (the ministers) receive the (EC) opinion".