Serbia and Kosovo ended the eighth round of EU-brokered negotiations in Brussels early on Wednesday without a deal because of different views of the key issue -- the powers of the union of predominantly Serb municipalities in the north of Kosovo.
Addressing a press conference shortly after midnight, Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said that no agreement was reached because of great differences over the main issue -- the powers of the union of Serb municipalities in Kosovo, primarily the police and the judiciary.
Serbia demands that the union should have jurisdiction over the judiciary, the police and spatial planning and that Kosovo's security forces should not be present in areas inhabited by Serbs.
"Kosovo fears that the union might be a basis for future separatism, while the Serbian community cannot imagine not having any powers," Dacic said after more than 12 hours of talks.
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said that the meeting was very tough and exhausting, adding that Pristina was "very generous in its views and offers", while Belgrade's position was very "static". He said that the proposed union of Serb municipalities would "never have executive and legislative powers" because that was not in line with Kosovo's constitution.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said that there were several proposals on the table and that differences between the two sides were "very narrow, but deep." "They will now both go back and consult with their colleagues in their capitals and will let me know in the next few days of their decision," she said.
Ashton noted that this was their last formal meeting, which also involved Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, the key figure in the Serbian coalition government and head of the strongest Serbian Progressive Party. His presence at the meeting had been requested by both the European Union and the United States, which is not directly involved in the negotiations, but whose senior diplomat responsible for the Balkans, Philip Reeker, happens to be in Brussels every time negotiations take place.
Dacic said that this was not the end of talks and that both sides needed to think about it all. He did not rule out a new meeting.
Thaci said that another meeting of Serbian and Kosovo government delegations could be held within a week, but that Belgrade should first consider some of the proposals put forward by Pristina.
Dacic said that Vucic had offered his resignation because of the failed negotiations, which he turned down. According to Serbian sources, the meeting was held "in a difficult and painful atmosphere".
