<p>BELGRADE, Serbia — The European Union’s special envoy on Wednesday said that Serbia and Kosovo must resume talks on normalizing their relations if they want to advance toward bloc membership. </p>
<p>Miroslav Lajcak arrived in Belgrade after previously visiting Pristina at the start of his tour in the region. </p>
<p>Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but Belgrade does not accept this. The EU has brokered talks to normalize ties but after a White House summit and talks in Brussels in September, the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo has stalled.</p>
<p>Lajcak said after a meeting with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic that EU member states expect the two sides to move on. </p>
<p>“Dialogue is key for both sides to advance on their European path," said Lajcak. “We have no interest to preserve a status quo and we are ready to bring the process to a successful end as fast as the two sides are ready to go.”</p>
<p>Lajcak added that the EU is working closely with the United States with a common goal for Serbia and Kosovo in sight, which is membership in the EU. </p>
<p>Most EU nations and the U.S. have recognized Kosovo’s independence while Serbia’s position has had support from its allies Russia and China.</p>
<p>Serbia was forced to cede control over Kosovo in 1999 after a U.S.-led NATO intervention ended Belgrade’s crackdown against Kosovo separatists. More than 10,000 people died in the 1998-99 Kosovo conflict.</p>
<p>Vucic said after his meeting with Lajcak that Serbia is ready to return to the talks and insists on reaching a compromise solution. </p>
<p>“We believe that a compromise agreement means no one gets everything and everyone gets enough,” Vucic said.</p>
