Kosovo Minister of Local Self-Government Ljubomir Maric and Minister for Returns Dalibor Jevtic conferred with representatives of the Brdjani neighbourhood in Mitrovica and backed the beginning of talks between Serbs and ethnic Albanians aimed at reaching an agreement on the return of displaced persons and establishment of trust.

The working group comprising the two communities' representatives and local self-governments was set up less than a month ago and it creates a good start for resolving the issue of return and establishment of trust among communities in Mitrovica, the Ministry for Communities said in the release.

On Tuesday, the ministers also discussed the matter with mayors of the northern and southern Mitrovica, the divided city in northern Kosovo.

The issue of Brdjane is a sensitive matter which is closely linked to the unsolved status of southern and northern Mitrovica municipalities, and success is only possible if all institutions, including the international community, join the process.

The only way to find a solution is for the working group to achieve consensus, states the release.