EU fails to defuse tense situation between Serbia and Kosovo

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s top diplomat has held eight hours of unsuccessful talks with the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo. The EU’s high representative, Josep Borrell, blamed them for their failure to settle their dispute over vehicle license plates, amid rising tensions between the Balkans neighbors. Borrell said both parties showed “unconstructive behavior” and a lack of respect for their international legal obligations. The EU warned Serbia and Kosovo last week that they are on the edge of a precipice and must resolve their dispute or face the prospect of a return to their violent past. Long-simmering tensions between Serbia and its former province mounted in recent weeks over the Kosovo government’s decision to ban Serbian-issued license plates.