Serbian president wraps up visit to New York

NEW YORK Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic finished his visit to New York, where he sent a message that it was useless to ask Belgrade to recognize Kosovo. He also stressed that Serbia wanted durable peace. Serbian president wraps up visit to New York Nikolic said Belgrade wanted a long-lasting peace between Serbs and Albanians and that a solution should be found through direct talks at the highest political level. In addition to his speech before the UN General Assembly, which was chaired by former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, Nikolic also had many bilateral meetings which served as an opportunity for him to confirm that Belgrade would implement the agreements signed by the previous government. At the same time, he warned that Serbia would "no longer cater to demands which have proven to lead to Kosovo's independence." We will not take a single step further in this direction and I said as much at the General Assembly podium," stressed the Serbian president. The Serbian delegation, which included Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic, finished its visit to New York on Thursday, when the president met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns. In the meetings with Ashton and Burns, Nikolic received assurances that neither the EU nor the U.S. insisted on Serbia recognizing Kosovo's independence. "Insisting on this would be in vain," commented the Serbian president. Tomislav Nikolic (FoNet) Tanjug

Serbian president wraps up visit to New York

Nikolić said Belgrade wanted a long-lasting peace between Serbs and Albanians and that a solution should be found through direct talks at the highest political level.

In addition to his speech before the UN General Assembly, which was chaired by former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, Nikolić also had many bilateral meetings which served as an opportunity for him to confirm that Belgrade would implement the agreements signed by the previous government.

At the same time, he warned that Serbia would "no longer cater to demands which have proven to lead to Kosovo's independence."

We will not take a single step further in this direction and I said as much at the General Assembly podium," stressed the Serbian president.

The Serbian delegation, which included Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić, finished its visit to New York on Thursday, when the president met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns.

In the meetings with Ashton and Burns, Nikolić received assurances that neither the EU nor the U.S. insisted on Serbia recognizing Kosovo's independence.

"Insisting on this would be in vain," commented the Serbian president.