Serbia, Kosovo fail to reach accord

BRUSSELS -- Marathon EU-mediated talks between the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo have broken up without a deal, the participants said early today.

The talks in Brussels were an attempt to resolve one of the most difficult issues dividing the two sides, the status of Serb-dominated northern Kosovo, an EU official said.

Kosovo, a former Serbian province, declared independence in 2008. While many countries have recognized it as an independent country, Serbia has not. Neither have many ethnic Serbs living in northern Kosovo, who reject the authority of the government in Pristina, the Kosovo capital.

Serbia is required to normalize relations with its neighbors if it wants ultimately to join the European Union.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, speaking after midnight following a meeting of about 13 hours, said through a translator that Kosovo had put forward proposals in line with its laws and constitution -- proposals that he said would have integrated all citizens, including ethnic Serbs, into the life of Kosovo.

But he said the proposals were met with "hesitation" on the Serbian side. He said the Serbian officials had decided to "reflect" and he still hoped an agreement could be reached next week.

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic left without speaking in English, though he said no agreement had been reached, according to journalists who spoke Serbo-Croatian. -- AP