Kosovo appoints head of negotiation team with Serbia

PRISTINA. February 25. KAZINFORM Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci appointed Edita Tahiri head of Kosovo's delegation for the dialogue with Serbia, and she will represent Kosovo in the dialogue with Belgrade sponsored by the European Union, announced the Kosovo government on Thursday; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

"A dialogue as independent and sovereign states with all neighbor countries, including Republic of Serbia, and the resolution of practical problems in the interest of all citizens of the region is a value and European standard,"said the government.

Tahiri, a senior official in Kosovo politics, is currently a coalition partner with Thaci and since Tuesday she is deputy prime minister.

Tahiri's appointment signals European mediators to start the dialogue predicted for autumn 2010, but delayed because of political crisis in Kosovo and early general elections. On Tuesday Kosovo assembly elected Kosovo's president and prime minister.

The Serbian government in January appointed Political Director of the Foreign Ministry Borko Stefanovic to head the Serbian negotiating team in the dialogue with Pristina.

Kosovo, a breakaway Serbian province, unilaterally declared independence in 2008.