EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. Photo by EPA/BGNES
Kosovo has announced that it would resume talks with Serbia in Brussels on Friday.
The announcement comes as the European Union pushes for a last-ditch deal that would pave the way for accession negotiations with Belgrade.
Belgrade and Pristina ended another round of European Union-mediated talks without an accord and have “some hours left” to reach a compromise before EU High Representative Catherine Ashton presents a report.
Kosovo declared independence in 2008. However, the many ethnic Serbians in northern Kosovo have refused to accept the Kosovan government in Pristina.
This has led to tensions with the Albanian majority in Kosovo, mainly along the northern border with Serbia.
The two Balkan countries are at odds over the powers the Serb north should wield, particularly whether it would have its own judicial system and police.