"Kosovo should not be condition for EU"

The Kosovo issue should not be imposed as a precondition for Serbia's membership in the European Union, says Slovak Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic. Lipsic met in Belgrade on Thursday with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic. The ministers signed an agreement on readmission between the two countries. "Kosovo should not be condition for EU" "There is not any kind of common ground in the EU regarding Kosovo, only views of individual members, and therefore the issue should not be a precondition for Serbia's EU membership," Lipsic told reporters. The Slovak minister reiterated that Bratislava's stand that it will not recognize the unilaterally proclaimed Kosovo independence is a firm position which will remain unchanged "until it changes in Serbia itself". "As far as Kosovo is concerned, our stance has not changed. This is not only the stance of the Slovak government, but also of the Slovak people," Lipsic explained. "Certain principles of international law that took years to evolve cannot be disturbed, and the case of Kosovo is a precedent," Lipsic said. Dacic thanked his Slovak counterpart for the principled stance his country has taken regarding the southern Serbian province and for the support it gives to Serbia in its European road, said reports. "Serbia believes that such a position of Slovakia, as an EU member, which puts respect of international law as the basic principle in international relations, greatly contributes to balanced attitudes towards Serbia when it comes to Kosovo-Metohija," the Serbian minister said. Dacic stressed that Belgrade can make great use of Slovakia's experience on its way toward EU membership. The two ministers also discussed cooperation in information exchange regarding the criminal group led by fugitive Darko Saric, and joint fight against organized crime. The suspected Montenegrin drug lord was given Serbian citizenship in the mid 2000s. In 2006, he also obtained a Slovak passport based on forged documents and his fake marriage to a Slovak woman. Lipsic and Dacic are seen in Belgrade today (Beta)

"Kosovo should not be condition for EU"

"There is not any kind of common ground in the EU regarding Kosovo, only views of individual members, and therefore the issue should not be a precondition for Serbia's EU membership," Lipšic told reporters.

The Slovak minister reiterated that Bratislava's stand that it will not recognize the unilaterally proclaimed Kosovo independence is a firm position which will remain unchanged "until it changes in Serbia itself".

"As far as Kosovo is concerned, our stance has not changed. This is not only the stance of the Slovak government, but also of the Slovak people," Lipšic explained.

"Certain principles of international law that took years to evolve cannot be disturbed, and the case of Kosovo is a precedent," Lipšic said.

Dačić thanked his Slovak counterpart for the principled stance his country has taken regarding the southern Serbian province and for the support it gives to Serbia in its European road, said reports.

"Serbia believes that such a position of Slovakia, as an EU member, which puts respect of international law as the basic principle in international relations, greatly contributes to balanced attitudes towards Serbia when it comes to Kosovo-Metohija," the Serbian minister said.

Dačić stressed that Belgrade can make great use of Slovakia's experience on its way toward EU membership.

The two ministers also discussed cooperation in information exchange regarding the criminal group led by fugitive Darko Šarić, and joint fight against organized crime.

The suspected Montenegrin drug lord was given Serbian citizenship in the mid 2000s. In 2006, he also obtained a Slovak passport based on forged documents and his fake marriage to a Slovak woman.