BELGRADE (Serbia), January 17 (SeeNews) – European Union enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn has called on Serbia and Kosovo to restart their talks on normalisation of relations following the murder of a leading Kosobo Serb politician on Tuesday.
There is no alternative to the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo and it should continue as soon as possible, Hahn said in a Twitter post on Tuesday.
Serbia's government office for Kosovo and Metohija said on Tuesday Belgrade withdrew from the new round of talks for normalisation of relations with Pristina in Brussels as a result of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic, a political leader of Kosovo Serbs, who was shot dead in Kosovska Mitrovica earlier the same day.
"I strongly condemn the killing of Oliver Ivanovic and extend my condolences to his family and friends," Hahn said in the Twitter post.
All actors must now remain calm, act responsibly and allow the judicial authorities to investigate thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice, Hahn added.
Serbia's government said on Monday it will resume its talks for normalisation of relations with Kosovo this week after a suspension that had lasted for more than a year. According to the Serbian news agency Tanjug, the talks were to focus on the establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo, which should define some type of autonomy for the Serb minority.
Serbia does not recognise the independence of Kosovo, its former province predominantly populated by ethnic Albanians which proclaimed independence unilaterally in February 2008. Kosovo has so far been recognised by 108 of 193 UN members states.