"Serbia ready for dialogue for weeks"

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said on Wednesday that Serbia has been ready for dialogue with Pristina "for weeks". He expressed hope that once the election process in Kosovo is over, the conditions will be secured in Pristina too for the start of the dialogue. "Serbia ready for dialogue for weeks" As far as Serbia is concerned, the sooner it starts, the better, he said. Asked whether Serbia was told that it must recognize Kosovo, as seen in U.S. diplomatic cables revealed by WikiLeaks, Jeremic said that should such a condition be set, it would be the end of the European process. This has not happened yet, he said, adding that Serbia could not accept such a condition. Jeremic believes that a solution would be found in the future through dialogue which would make all parties accept a final compromise which would not hinder Serbia's, or any other Western Balkan country's, integration in the European Union. Asked how in that context Belgrade's attenuated stand towards participation in Kosovo elections should be understood, Jeremic said that Serbia's stand remains the same as in previous years when local elections were held for Pristina institutions.

"Serbia ready for dialogue for weeks"

As far as Serbia is concerned, the sooner it starts, the better, he said.

Asked whether Serbia was told that it must recognize Kosovo, as seen in U.S. diplomatic cables revealed by WikiLeaks, Jeremić said that should such a condition be set, it would be the end of the European process.

This has not happened yet, he said, adding that Serbia could not accept such a condition.

Jeremić believes that a solution would be found in the future through dialogue which would make all parties accept a final compromise which would not hinder Serbia's, or any other Western Balkan country's, integration in the European Union.

Asked how in that context Belgrade's attenuated stand towards participation in Kosovo elections should be understood, Jeremić said that Serbia's stand remains the same as in previous years when local elections were held for Priština institutions.