Kosovo said on March 3 that its EU-brokered talks with Serbia, the first high-level direct contact between the two sides after it declared unilateral independence, would start on March 8, according to AFP.

"There will be a meeting (between the two sides) in Brussels on March 8," interior minister Bajram Rexhepi, told reporters, without unveiling the format of the meeting.

In Belgrade, Serbian government spokesman Milivoje Mihajlovic confirmed the date of the talks.

"This will be a beginning of a dialogue that the Serbian government strongly hopes will lead to a historic reconciliation of Serbs and Albanians and an agreement on a joint life in this area," he said. "That means serious hope for a better life for Serbs in Kosovo."

Belgrade and Pristina agreed last year to the EU-brokered talks in order to ease strained relations after Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

The aim is to solve issues that affect the daily life of all Kosovars including the Serb minority.