(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, NOV 3 - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday called on Serbia and Kosovo to "speed up" the normalisation of their relationship, at the opening of a Berlin-hosted summit with West Balkan states. "Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine forces us to stand together to preserve Europe's freedom," Scholz said at the opening of the conference, saying the invasion had added a "sense of urgency" to talks. "It is high time to overcome regional conflicts that have continued for far too long," the chancellor said. "The normalisation process between Serbia and Kosovo in particular must speed up," he said. "So let's get it done." Serbia has been a candidate to join the European Union since 2012 but its prospects are seen as bleak while its relationship with Kosovo remains an issue. Belgrade does not accept majority-Albanian Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence. Tensions have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, with many Serbs sympathetic to traditional ally Russia. (ANSA-AFP).