Serbia and Kosovo on Friday harmonised an agreement on regional cooperation as part of a dialogue through which the two countries strive to normalise relations, and the deal is important for Brussels' decision on granting Serbia European Union accession candidate status, Agence France-Presse said.
We welcome the agreements on regional cooperation and joint border management, said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, adding that those agreements were important not only for Serbia and Kosovo, but also for the stabilisation of the region and, therefore, the EU.
Negotiators agreed in Brussels that Pristina would attend conferences on the Balkans, without Belgrade having to recognise the independence of its former province, a diplomatic source said.
The other step forward has been made with the agreement on the joint management of border crossings based on a 2011 Belgrade-Pristina agreement on the free flow of goods and people.
Border crossings have been a source of much tension in recent months because of roadblocks, protests and conflicts staged by local Serbs
Today's agreement comes a few days ahead of a meeting in Brussels at which a decision will be made on Serbia's EU candidate status.
Several countries, including Germany, demanded that Belgrade invest more effort in improving relations with Pristina.
EU foreign ministers are expected to decide on Serbia's candidate status on Monday, to be followed by a summit of EU heads of state and government later next week.
