“Serbia wants solution, but will not recognize Kosovo”

Serbian President Boris Tadic said during talks with Austrian President Heinz Fischer that Serbia was committed to finding a sustainable solution for Kosovo. He added, however, that the EU must respect the legitimate interests of Serbia. “Serbia wants solution, but will not recognize Kosovo” The president told Tanjug after his short visit to Vienna on Thursday that he had explained to the Austrian president that Serbia would remain committed to the EU accession process and that it had not given up on its aspiration to obtain the EU candidate status, and then a date for the beginning of the accession talks. “We will fulfill all our obligations, but we have certain standards and principles on which we insist in the dialogue with Pristina- that we want to be positive and successful, and that is not only important for Serbia and Serbs, but also for Albanians and the entire region,” Tadic pointed out. In the talks with Fischer, the Serbian president voiced regret over recent incidents in northern Kosovo which left Austrian KFOR troops injured. “That is the worst-case scenario, and we must do everything in our power to avoid such incidents in the future. We must have talks on the situation in the north of Kosovo, we must act in concert and that is the only away to prevent such developments,” he stressed. “Serbia will continue carrying out the reforms and strengthening the rule of law,” the president said. Tadic said that Serbia wanted to be a country which offered assistance to others but at the same time it expected other states to respect and take into account Serbia's legitimate interests. “We have legitimate interests in Kosovo and Metohija, and that is crystal clear. Serbia will not recognize the independence of Kosovo and Metohija, but will spare no effort to find a compromise and sustainable solution. That would benefit all, not only Serbs and Albanians, but also the EU,” Tadic stressed. “Without a democratic Serbia, which is working on establishing peace and stability, there is no stability in the region of Southeastern Europe,” the Serbian president concluded. Boris Tadic (Tanjug, file)

“Serbia wants solution, but will not recognize Kosovo”

The president told Tanjug after his short visit to Vienna on Thursday that he had explained to the Austrian president that Serbia would remain committed to the EU accession process and that it had not given up on its aspiration to obtain the EU candidate status, and then a date for the beginning of the accession talks.

“We will fulfill all our obligations, but we have certain standards and principles on which we insist in the dialogue with Priština- that we want to be positive and successful, and that is not only important for Serbia and Serbs, but also for Albanians and the entire region,” Tadić pointed out.

In the talks with Fischer, the Serbian president voiced regret over recent incidents in northern Kosovo which left Austrian KFOR troops injured.

“That is the worst-case scenario, and we must do everything in our power to avoid such incidents in the future. We must have talks on the situation in the north of Kosovo, we must act in concert and that is the only away to prevent such developments,” he stressed.

“Serbia will continue carrying out the reforms and strengthening the rule of law,” the president said.

Tadić said that Serbia wanted to be a country which offered assistance to others but at the same time it expected other states to respect and take into account Serbia's legitimate interests.

“We have legitimate interests in Kosovo and Metohija, and that is crystal clear. Serbia will not recognize the independence of Kosovo and Metohija, but will spare no effort to find a compromise and sustainable solution. That would benefit all, not only Serbs and Albanians, but also the EU,” Tadić stressed.

“Without a democratic Serbia, which is working on establishing peace and stability, there is no stability in the region of Southeastern Europe,” the Serbian president concluded.