BELGRADE, November 21. /TASS/. Serbia has done its utmost to reach an agreement with unrecognized Kosovo during talks in Brussels, which were held in the presence of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday.
"We thought it was extremely important to do our best to reach a compromise solution, despite all the criticism. Because [compromise] is not a bad word for us, it is what is important for us. We did our utmost," he said in an address to the nation aired by Serbia’s RTS television channel.
"I am proud that the Serbian delegation came to Brussels with a clear and unequivocal intention to negotiate and try to reach an agreement, to agree to compromises rather than try to cut corners. To try to preserve peace whatever it takes, to save people’s lives, to keep stability of the entire region," he stressed.
Earlier in the day, Vucic said that Belgrade’s talks with Pristina on the problem of license plates in northern Kosovo had yielded no result.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told a news conference after a meeting of the European Council on November 14 that delegates from Belgrade and Pristina would hold EU-brokered talks in Brussels. He said that a solution must be found before November 29 to avoid a serious crisis.
On November 5, Kosovo and Metohija Serbs quitted all government institutions of unrecognized Kosovo after the Kosovo authorities had decided to fine those who did not change their Serbian license plates starting November 22. Fines will amount to 150 euros. After April 21, 2023, when the transition period is over, the Kosovo police will be authorized to seize cars with Serbian plates.