First regional meeting for Kosovo without Belgrade objection

(PODGORICA) - Kosovo took part in a Balkans regional meeting for the first time on Wednesday without Belgrade objecting, after a Brussels-backed deal led to Serbia being granted EU candidacy, officials said.

"The fact that the representatives of the two countries participate together in a regional meeting shows that the Brussels accord has brought results, that they are ready to join Europe together and that they must cooperate," Nehut Mustafa, Kosovo's deputy education minister, told reporters.

Delegations from all Western Balkans countries participated in the meeting focused on regional cooperation in education, organised by the European Union mission in the town of Danilovgrad in Montenegro.

According to the Serbia-Kosovo deal reached last month in Brussels, Pristina can take its place alongside Belgrade at official Western Balkans meetings.

Serbia has refused to recognise Kosovo's independence proclaimed in 2008 but agreed to let Pristina into meetings under the title "Kosovo*" -- the asterisk referring to a footnote outlining distinct international rulings on its disputed status.

The deal will allow Kosovo to sign agreements and speak for itself, a role previously ascribed to UNMIK -- the UN mission in Kosovo.

Following the accord, Serbia was given EU candidacy status on March 1.

Since unilaterally declaring independence from Serbia, Kosovo has been recognised by nearly 90 countries, including the United States and all but five EU member states.