Tadić: Serbia wants both Kosovo and EU

President Boris Tadic says that Serbia will not turn its back on Kosovo or its European prospects. In an interview with Radio Television Serbia (RTS), Tadic said that he could not give up on these policies as president. Tadic: Serbia wants both Kosovo and EU The president said that the EU had made it clear that the Kosovo status process and Serbia’s European integration were two separate processes. He said that Kosovo was not a condition for Serbia joining the EU, just like in the case of Cyprus. Tadic said that the current government, according to the Kumanovo Agreement and Resolution 1244, had no influence in Kosovo, and was trying to do everything it could. “These agreements were signed by Slobodan Milosevic and Vojislav Seselj’s people, and we have to move within the given framework and in accordance with international agreements. But, what I know is that Kosovo is a province of the Republic of Serbia and that no Serbian politician has the authority to discuss its independence,” the president said. Tadic repeated that he did not accept either the policy of renouncing Kosovo in favor of the EU, or vice versa. “The only possible policies are to support both strategic goals: EU membership and the preservation of Kosovo, “Tadic said, explaining that Serbia could only secure stability by becoming a part of the European family. The president's words echoed similar comments he made in Banja Luka yesterday, when, at a news conference he said that "The EU will never blackmail Serbia, when it comes to EU membership, with the loss of a portion of its territory." Asked what he thought of the announcements by certain EU members that they would recognize Kosovo's independence, while at the same time advocating Serbia's signature of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, Tadic said that certain EU members had an interest in Kosovo gaining independence, just as there were EU countries that would not back that independence. The president added that the U.S. believed Kosovo should be independent, describing this as a consequence of the policy pursued in Serbia during the 1990s. "My idea is to conduct a policy of making friends, which reduces the risks facing Serbia and increases the chances for all of its citizens and the country as a whole," said Tadic, who was attending ceremonies to mark Republika Srpska Day. Boris Tadic (FoNet, archive)

Tadić: Serbia wants both Kosovo and EU

The president said that the EU had made it clear that the Kosovo status process and Serbia’s European integration were two separate processes.

He said that Kosovo was not a condition for Serbia joining the EU, just like in the case of Cyprus.

Tadić said that the current government, according to the Kumanovo Agreement and Resolution 1244, had no influence in Kosovo, and was trying to do everything it could.

“These agreements were signed by Slobodan Milošević and Vojislav Šešelj’s people, and we have to move within the given framework and in accordance with international agreements. But, what I know is that Kosovo is a province of the Republic of Serbia and that no Serbian politician has the authority to discuss its independence,” the president said.

Tadić repeated that he did not accept either the policy of renouncing Kosovo in favor of the EU, or vice versa.

“The only possible policies are to support both strategic goals: EU membership and the preservation of Kosovo, “Tadić said, explaining that Serbia could only secure stability by becoming a part of the European family.

The president's words echoed similar comments he made in Banja Luka yesterday, when, at a news conference he said that "The EU will never blackmail Serbia, when it comes to EU membership, with the loss of a portion of its territory."

Asked what he thought of the announcements by certain EU members that they would recognize Kosovo's independence, while at the same time advocating Serbia's signature of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, Tadić said that certain EU members had an interest in Kosovo gaining independence, just as there were EU countries that would not back that independence.

The president added that the U.S. believed Kosovo should be independent, describing this as a consequence of the policy pursued in Serbia during the 1990s.

"My idea is to conduct a policy of making friends, which reduces the risks facing Serbia and increases the chances for all of its citizens and the country as a whole," said Tadić, who was attending ceremonies to mark Republika Srpska Day.