Agreement clear in the number plate crisis

Agreement clear in the number plate crisis

Published: Less than 10 min ago

fullscreen Serbs in Kosovo demonstrate on Wednesday in Mitrovica against the proposal to force them to change license plates. Photo: Bojan Slavkovic/AP/TT

The conflict over license plates between Kosovo and Serbia appears to be able to reach a solution, the EU’s foreign affairs chief says on Twitter.

“We have a deal!” writes Josep Borrell and continues: “Very happy to announce that the chief negotiators for Kosovo and Serbia under the auspices of the EU have agreed on measures to avoid further escalation and to fully concentrate on normalizing the relationship.”

The background is Kosovo’s decision that around 10,000 Kosovo Serbs with Serbian license plates must change them by April, otherwise they will be banned from driving in the worst case, which has caused strong protests and demonstrations. As recently as Wednesday, a large demonstration was held in Mitrovica.

Further conflict now appears to be avoidable, but there are still no details of the agreement, which is to be discussed further.

Borrell on Monday summoned Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in an attempt to resolve the dispute, but failed.

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