Serbia: ‘Serbia softens its attitude to Kosovo’

On January 12, the Serbian parliament approved a government resolution (by 175 votes to 19) that will provide the basis for future talks with Pristina. The text confirms that Belgrade will settle for substantial autonomy for Serbian areas in northern Kosovo, on condition that the international community waives its demand for the Serbian government to formally recognise the independent state in what was previously a Serbian province. Blic notes that formal recognition of the Republic of Kosovo would amount to the de facto abandonment of Serbian ambitions to divide or annex the country.