Serbia and Kosovo strike first deals after months of talks

Over a decade after the NATO-led air campaign, Belgrade and Pristina are taking the first steps toward the normalization of relations, July 2011. Kosovo's political status, however, remains disputed.

They took a major step toward overcoming their difficult history and realising their European aspirations by agreeing to cooperate on a host of day-to-day issues aimed at alleviating the lives of average citizens.

A first agreement concerned civil registry. A second agreement concerned freedom of movement. The parties also agreed in principle on acceptance of university and school diplomas.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 4.7.11: Kosovo, Serbia ink first deal since war http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/kosovo-serbia-ink-deal-war-news-506247

EUObserver, 4.7.11: Serbia and Kosovo sign first post-independence agreement http://euobserver.com/9/32583

EEAS: Press Release: PRES/11/225: EU facilitated dialogue: three agreements Brussels, 2 July 2011 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/123383.pdf

---