Serbia accepts Bosnian envoy after three-year ban

Belgrade had previously refused to accept the appointment of Arnaut and another nominee for reasons that were not announced.

Serbia has agreed to accept the appointment of a new ambassador from Bosnia, ending a three-year diplomatic impasse between Belgrade and the ex-Yugoslav republic, their foreign ministers said Tuesday.

"I can confirm to you that Serbia did give official agreement to the ambassador to come to Belgrade and represent Bosnia-Hercegovina," Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told a joint news conference.

"This is a breakthrough in diplomatic relations between Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina," Jeremic added.

His Bosnian counterpart, Sven Alkalaj announced that the new ambassador to Belgrade would be Borisa Arnaut, hailing his nomination as "an important step for the normalisation of our diplomatic relations".

Belgrade had previously refused to accept the appointment of Arnaut and another nominee for reasons that were not announced.

Since 2007, the post of ambassador at the Bosnian embassy in Belgrade had been vacant, with representation left at the level of charge d'affaires.

The ministers were speaking after a fifth round of meetings overseen by Turkey as part of a framework established in October 2009 in a bid to resolve regional conflicts and establish stability in the Balkans.