Serbia, Kosovo to begin first-ever direct talks Tue

BELGRADE, March 8 (Itar-Tass) - The authorities of Serbia and Kosovo
on Tuesday begin the first-ever direct talks which are to focus on matters
concerning the freedom of movement, regional cooperation, and the
observance of laws.
A Serbian government source has told Itar-Tass, "The principal aim of
the talks is to improve people's life in the region and to 'europeanize'
the Balkans".
The source said the sides would discuss, first of all, various
"technicalities, such as, specifically, the establishment of customs
offices, border crossing stations, and air service". They will also touch
upon problmes connected with the life of the Serb minority in Kosovo.The
self-proclaimed republic's independence is to be touched upon only during
the later phases of the dialogue.
The main task, the source pointed out, "is to launch a process that
will enable the sides to settle step by step a number of certain matters".
"Starting with minor problems, they will gradually move on to a discussion
of more serious ones and thereby work out common solutions to them," the
source said.
The Serbian side at the talks will be represented by Bork Stephanovic,
Political Director at the Foreign Ministry, and the Kosovo one by Edita
Tahiri, Deputy Head of Government.
Robert Cooper, Assistant to the European Union Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will act as a mediator during the
conduct of the dialogue. It is expected that the United States will be
represented at the talks by Thomas Countryman, Assistant to the Deputy
Secretary of State.