Kosovo on Serbia row: ‘Much ado about nothing’

Kosovo leader Hashim Thaci and Serbian PM Ivica Dacic held snap talks with EU foreign relations chief Catherine Ashton in Bruseels on the 7 October 2013. The main issue was the municipal election taking place in Kosovo on the 3 November 2013, over which both sides managed to strike a deal to overcome a bilateral deadlock.

A dispute had erupted the week before when Kosovo declined Dacic's request to visit the ethnic Serb enclave of north Kosovo in the run-up to the local elections.

Kosovo said its recent election row with Serbia was "much ado about nothing", while noting that more EU states are preparing to recognise its sovereignty.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: There is a good case to be made for Cyprus pressing ahead with full recognition of Kosovo’s independence http://www.europeansources.info/record/there-is-a-good-case-to-be-made-for-cyprus-pressing-ahead-with-full-recognition-of-kosovos-independence/

ESO: Background information: Press Release: Statement by the High Representative Catherine Ashton after Sunday's meeting in the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-statement-by-the-high-representative-catherine-ashton-after-sundays-meeting-in-the-framework-of-the-eu-facilitated-dialogue/

ESO: Background information: Press Release: Statement by the Spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the progress in election preparations in Kosovo http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-statement-by-the-spokesperson-of-eu-high-representative-catherine-ashton-on-the-progress-in-election-preparations-in-kosovo/

ESO: Background information: Serbian, Kosovo leaders to meet ahead of EU summit http://www.europeansources.info/record/serbian-kosovo-leaders-to-meet-ahead-of-eu-summit/

ESO: Background information: Ashton clinches Kosovo-Serbia deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/ashton-clinches-kosovo-serbia-deal/

EurActiv, 09.10.13: Serbia, Kosovo settle local election dispute http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/serbia-kosovo-overcome-crisis-re-news-530938

---