"U.S. sees us without Kosovo; Russia Ukraine without Crimea"

"U.S. sees us without Kosovo; Russia Ukraine without Crimea"

The UDI proclaimed in its southern province is considered by Serbia to be a violation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"When I told her that I thought the U.S. stood for Serbia's sovereignty in 1996, she said that they always stand for Serbia's sovereignty - but without Kosovo," Dacic recounted.

The minister, who serves in the country's caretaker government, spoke during a joint news conference with European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia David McAllister, to add that he heard words to the same effect from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, when it comes to Crimea.

"I also told her (Nuland) that it's very interesting that I heard the same from Lavrov, who said Russia was in favor of Ukraine's sovereignty - but without Crimea. You see how different the interpretations are of various principles and terms," remarked Dacic.

And all of this, he continued, "brings up some other questions."

"Let us be a little naive now, having heard for the first time that they've been investing in Kosovo's independence for 20 years - but it does bring up some other questions. The question of (NATO's) 1999 bombing of Serbia, and for that reason I think the time has come to consider not only Iraq, but (also) the issue of how justified the 1999 bombing of Serbia was," the minister said.

McAllister did not wish to comment on Dacic's statements regarding the events that unfolded in 1999.

"Committed"

Despite internal and external challenges, the EU remains committed to enlargement - to all six Western Balkan countries in particular, David McAllister said during the news conference.

The UK's departure is the greatest internal challenge in the history of the EU, he said.

The British referendum is an issue the EU is facing for the first time but, despite internal challenges, we are sending a clear message that the EU remains committed to our enlargement policy, especially as regards all six Western Balkan countries, McAllister said.

Congratulating Dacic in the Serbian language, McAllister said he was pleased Serbia would next week open Chapters 23 and 24 in its EU accession talks.

McAllister said he hoped Serbia would open more chapters during the Slovak EU presidency, but that this was up to the EU member states.