The stalling talks in Brussels on the normalization of ties between Serbia and Kosovo could grind to a virtual standstill if Kosovo’s opposition parties join in, but Nataliya Apostolova, the new head of the EU office in Kosovo, did not rule this out.

During a meeting with Edita Tahiri, who leads a Kosovo delegation at the talks, Apostolova said bringing the Kosovo opposition on board could help speed up the negotiations.

We see the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina as a way of solving problems, and not to open some new ones, Dalibor Jevtić said commenting on the statement of Nataliya Apostolova that the opposition should be included in the Brussels negotiations.

The head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, has invited the political leaders in Kosovo to overcome their differences and work together for Kosovo’s future towards the EU. “I call on political leaders to overcome their differences and work together for the future of Kosovo in the EU.  We want to see democracy in Kosovo. We want progress, but also rule of law and fighting corruption and organized crime. Rule of law is the biggest challenge for Kosovo currently.

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, said today that Kosovo is determined to meet the final criteria for visa liberalisation – the border demarcation with Montenegro. After meeting the newly-appointed head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, Mustafa said that Brussels should pressure Serbia into implementing the agreements reached in the EU-brokered dialogue so far and added that Kosovo remains committed to this process. Apostolova asked Mustafa to brief her on the Kosovo Government’s concrete measures against corruption and nepotism.