According to the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, during negotiations with the participation of the EU, Serbia agreed not to require special documents for the entry of holders of Kosovo identity cards into the country, and the Kosovo authorities symmetrically agreed not to introduce such documents for citizens of Serbia.
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" He also clarified that the EU received appropriate guarantees from the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti..
The head of EU diplomacy called this agreement a "
Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo escalated at the end of July, when Pristina decided to introduce temporary documents that Serbian citizens must receive upon entry.. In addition, Kosovo Serbs were ordered to re-register their vehicles and replace Serbian license plates with Kosovo ones..
Kosovo Serbs erected barricades in protest and Serbian authorities threatened to use force. The authorities of Kosovo have postponed the introduction of new rules until September 1. Negotiations between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, mediated by the EU in mid-August, ended inconclusively.
In 2008, the majority ethnic Albanian Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia..
It was recognized by many European states, including Germany, as well as the United States.. Belgrade considers Kosovo its autonomous province and does not recognize the independence of Pristina. Serbia's position is shared by Russia, most of the states of the post-Soviet space, as well as five EU countries, China and India.
Serbia aspires to join the EU and in this regard has committed to normalize relations with Kosovo. Since 2013, Belgrade and Pristina have been trying to resolve relations through the mediation of the EU.