Vuciq: Kosovo, Serbia, miles apart to reach agreement

A dialogue between the two former enemies has stalled since several months, and Pristina's latest movement illustrates continuing tensions, two decades after the end of the war in Kosovo, the AFP reports.

The 1998-99 war between Belgrade forces and pro-independence Albanians has claimed more than 13,000 lives, the French news agency recalls.

Kosovo's decision, taken this week to raise the tax to Serbia by 10 per cent, constitutes <x0-stepping of the agreements reached and endangers regional co-operation and stability”, Vuciq was quoted as saying in a communiqué issued by his office.

The Serbian president's communication has been released after his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris, in the margin of memorial services for the last 100th anniversary of World War I, broadcast Express.

Pristina's decision, as a retaliatory measure against Serbia's continuing diplomatic offensive to convince states to draw recognitions of Kosovo's independence, has also sparked criticism from the European Union, AFP writes.

Kosovo says its independence from Serbia, declared in 2008, is recognised by around 115 countries. But Serbia claims it has managed to persuade a dozen states to unrecognise its former province, the French news agency points out.

Kosovo and Serbia are <x0-cychilometers away from reaching a” agreement, Vuciq told Serbian journalists in Paris, by the Serbian public broadcaster RTS.

Vuciq has declared he has not understood Pristina's decision to increase the tax on his country at all.

With annual exports of 400m euros, Serbia is Kosovo's biggest regional trade partner, the AFP recalls.

When you deal with people who are doing this, make it clear that you should fear what they might do later”, the Serbian head of state has indicated.

I'm extremely terrified of the future, because I don't know what those heads can do.”, Vucinq said.

Another dispute between the two sides is Kosovo's decision to establish its army, the AFP wrote, adding that it has thus claimed Kosovo's own president, Hashim Thaci, who has also said he met with Merkel in France.

This decision has sparked outrage from the Serb minority in Kosovo, but also from Serbia, the AFP recalls.

NATO, which leads a military force that guarantees security in Kosovo, has also expressed serious reservations, the French news agency writes.

Serbia, and its main ally, Russia, refuse to recognise Kosovo's independence by Albanian majority, concludes AFP.