Serbia blames Kosovo Albanians for failed talks, says search for compromise still on

BELGRADE, Serbia – A senior Serbian official has blamed Kosovo Albanian leaders for the failure of EU-mediated talks on the future of northern Kosovo.

Presidential adviser Marko Djuric said after a meeting of the Serbian leadership that Serb proposals were rejected by ethnic Albanian officials during the meeting in Brussels that broke up early Wednesday.

Earlier, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thachi said his delegation's proposals were met with "hesitation" by Serbia.

Kosovo, a former Serbian province, declared independence in 2008. While some 90 countries have recognized it as an independent country, Serbia has not. The most contentious issue is northern Kosovo, where Serbs dominate and refuse to accept the authority of the ethnic Albanian-controlled government.

Djuric said: "The situations is very serious, but we will continue to search for a compromise."