The prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia are due to meet on January 17 in Brussels in talks mediated by the European Union.
Kosovo's Hashim Thaci and Serbia's Ivica Dacic are expected to focus on the thorny issue of northern Kosovo, where Serbs are in control and refuse to recognize the authority of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian government.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
More than 90 countries recognize Kosovo, including the United States and most of the EU.
But Serbia does not, along with ally Russia, which sits on the UN Security Council and can block efforts by Kosovo to gain a seat at the world body.
Some Serbian politicians have recently suggested Serbia could support Kosovo membership at the UN but only if Pristina grants autonomy to Serb-controlled northern Kosovo.
Thaci, however, has ruled that out.
Kosovo's Hashim Thaci and Serbia's Ivica Dacic are expected to focus on the thorny issue of northern Kosovo, where Serbs are in control and refuse to recognize the authority of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian government.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
More than 90 countries recognize Kosovo, including the United States and most of the EU.
But Serbia does not, along with ally Russia, which sits on the UN Security Council and can block efforts by Kosovo to gain a seat at the world body.
Some Serbian politicians have recently suggested Serbia could support Kosovo membership at the UN but only if Pristina grants autonomy to Serb-controlled northern Kosovo.
Thaci, however, has ruled that out.
