Minister reiterates: They asked for recognition

Ivica Dacic says that claims that Serbia was not formally requested to recognize Kosovo "sound nice", but that they are not quite true: "Perhaps it's true they (the EU) are not asking for a formal recognition of Kosovo, but it we were to accept what they are demanding, then that's not far from recognition." Minister reiterates: They asked for recognition Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence in February 2008, but Serbia rejected the proclamation. The interior minister and one of deputy PMs also commented on European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin's statement that the EU did not demand that Serbia must recognize Kosovo in exchange for EU candidate status, by saying, "if it walks like a duck..." Dacic also told reporters in Belgrade on Wednesday that chances were slim for Serbia to become candidate in March, if the same conditions were put before the country, since "it will hardly change its position". Serbia was asked to recognize territorial integrity of a part of its own territory, he continued, and to allow UN Security Council Resolution 1244 to be "disregarded" when it came to participation of Kosovo in regional meetings. "That was decidedly demanded," the minister stressed. He said that the only condition for Serbia's future EU membership was Kosovo, and that this condition was non-existent in the EU agenda "until a few months ago". But Dacic underlined that Serbia "will not face ruin" if it does not become an EU member. At the same time, he appraised that it was still in the country's interest to continue on its EU road, but that it must represent its own national interests. "There is a red line that should no longer be crossed, and I think we are standing on it, and then some," stated Dacic, and wondered whether the EU really wished to see stability in the region, "considering its treatment of Serbia": "Slovenia and Croatia to Europe, the rest of the countries to Turkey or Russia - is that what Europe wants?" According to the Beta news agency report, Dacic posed another question "to EU representatives": why they objected to the humanitarian aid that Russia was sending to Serbs in Kosovo. Ivica Dacic (Tanjug)

Minister reiterates: They asked for recognition

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence in February 2008, but Serbia rejected the proclamation.

The interior minister and one of deputy PMs also commented on European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin's statement that the EU did not demand that Serbia must recognize Kosovo in exchange for EU candidate status, by saying, "if it walks like a duck..."

Dačić also told reporters in Belgrade on Wednesday that chances were slim for Serbia to become candidate in March, if the same conditions were put before the country, since "it will hardly change its position".

Serbia was asked to recognize territorial integrity of a part of its own territory, he continued, and to allow UN Security Council Resolution 1244 to be "disregarded" when it came to participation of Kosovo in regional meetings.

"That was decidedly demanded," the minister stressed.

He said that the only condition for Serbia's future EU membership was Kosovo, and that this condition was non-existent in the EU agenda "until a few months ago". But Dačić underlined that Serbia "will not face ruin" if it does not become an EU member.

At the same time, he appraised that it was still in the country's interest to continue on its EU road, but that it must represent its own national interests.

"There is a red line that should no longer be crossed, and I think we are standing on it, and then some," stated Dačić, and wondered whether the EU really wished to see stability in the region, "considering its treatment of Serbia":

"Slovenia and Croatia to Europe, the rest of the countries to Turkey or Russia - is that what Europe wants?"

According to the Beta news agency report, Dačić posed another question "to EU representatives": why they objected to the humanitarian aid that Russia was sending to Serbs in Kosovo.