EP wants Serbia to "recognize Kosovo", PM told

BRUSSELS "Mutual recognition of Belgrade and Pristina" is a condition that the European Parliament sees for Serbia's EU membership, Ivica Dacic was told in Brussels. EP President Martin Schultz told reporters after his meeting with the Serbian prime minister that he and other EP officials had a "very frank" conversation with Dacic, and that "relations between Serbia and Kosovo, as part of a peaceful development, must end, the way we see it, in mutual recognition". EP wants Serbia to "recognize Kosovo", PM told "It is clear to us that a long road is still head, with many obstacles, such as the 'footnote', the EP will not go into the details, because that's an issue for diplomats and governments," he continued. "Our goal is that in the end it will be possible for Serbia to become an EU member, by fulfilling all the measures and establishing peaceful, stable relationships between the two countries." This, believes the EP president, is difficult "but not impossible", while European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and others in the EU are facing "an internal problem" when it comes to such a resolution to the Kosovo problem: not all EU members recognize Kosovo. However, Schultz explained, the EU as a whole wants Serbia to recognize it. Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence of the province - a proclamation that Serbia rejected as illegal. Five out of EU's 27 member states have not recognized Kosovo. Schultz also told reporters that his meeting with Dacic also touched on Serbia's reforms, the fight against corruption, economic development and unemployment, state budget issues and other problems "that the EU itself is facing". Dacic for his part thanked the EP president, to whom he referred as "my friend Martin". The Serbian prime minister said that it was his great pleasure that this official was at the helm of the EP, which he referred as an institution that "perhaps supports Serbia's European future the most". Dacic stressed his government's strong determination to continue its European path and fulfill the conditions determined by EU's Copenhagen criteria, thus making the country "a peace and stability factor in the region". This includes the resolution of contentious issues between Belgrade and Pristina, the prime minister noted. Earlier in the day, Dacic met with Herman Van Rompuy and other EU officials. (Tanjug) Beta Tanjug

EP wants Serbia to "recognize Kosovo", PM told

"It is clear to us that a long road is still head, with many obstacles, such as the 'footnote', the EP will not go into the details, because that's an issue for diplomats and governments," he continued.

"Our goal is that in the end it will be possible for Serbia to become an EU member, by fulfilling all the measures and establishing peaceful, stable relationships between the two countries."

This, believes the EP president, is difficult "but not impossible", while European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and others in the EU are facing "an internal problem" when it comes to such a resolution to the Kosovo problem: not all EU members recognize Kosovo.

However, Schultz explained, the EU as a whole wants Serbia to recognize it.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence of the province - a proclamation that Serbia rejected as illegal. Five out of EU's 27 member states have not recognized Kosovo.

Schultz also told reporters that his meeting with Dačić also touched on Serbia's reforms, the fight against corruption, economic development and unemployment, state budget issues and other problems "that the EU itself is facing".

Dačić for his part thanked the EP president, to whom he referred as "my friend Martin". The Serbian prime minister said that it was his great pleasure that this official was at the helm of the EP, which he referred as an institution that "perhaps supports Serbia's European future the most".

Dačić stressed his government's strong determination to continue its European path and fulfill the conditions determined by EU's Copenhagen criteria, thus making the country "a peace and stability factor in the region".

This includes the resolution of contentious issues between Belgrade and Priština, the prime minister noted.

Earlier in the day, Dačić met with Herman Van Rompuy and other EU officials.