"We have not, and will not recognize Kosovo"

BRUSSELS Aleksandar Vucic has said that that by accepting a proposal for an agreement on Kosovo Serbia "did not recognize its independence." The first deputy PM and leader of the ruling SNS party told Belgrade's Vecernje Novosti daily late on Friday that a decision on whether to accept the proposed agreement would be made in the coming days. "We have not, and will not recognize Kosovo" The deal was initialled today in Brussels by Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci. "We won't be falling for Hashim Thaci's fabrications now. We are aware of the gravity of the situation and the great responsibility we carry for the future of Serbia and our entire nation. At this time, this is the maximum we could squeeze out for our people in Kosovo and Metohija," Vucic was quoted as saying on the newspaper's website. "With this Serbia did not recognize Kosovo's independence, nor will it ever do so," Vucic concluded. (Tanjug, file) Thaci believes Serbia recognized Kosovo Hashim Thaci, head of Pristina's negotiating team and Kosovo prime minister, has said that the agreement, which was reached with the Belgrade delegation on Friday, guarantees Kosovo's "sovereignty and territorial integrity." "The agreement, which was initialed by the two states, is a de jure recognition of Kosovo by Serbia," Thaci told reporters in front of the building of the European External Action Service in Brussels. He said that he expects that the countries which have not yet recognized Kosovo will do that as soon as possible, adding that he hopes that Kosovo will join the United Nations soon. Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence over five years ago, but Serbia rejected that proclamation. Tanjug Vecernje novosti

"We have not, and will not recognize Kosovo"

The deal was initialled today in Brussels by Ivica Dačić and Hashim Thaci.

"We won't be falling for Hashim Thaci's fabrications now. We are aware of the gravity of the situation and the great responsibility we carry for the future of Serbia and our entire nation. At this time, this is the maximum we could squeeze out for our people in Kosovo and Metohija," Vučić was quoted as saying on the newspaper's website.

"With this Serbia did not recognize Kosovo's independence, nor will it ever do so," Vučić concluded.

Thaci believes Serbia recognized Kosovo

Hashim Thaci, head of Priština's negotiating team and Kosovo prime minister, has said that the agreement, which was reached with the Belgrade delegation on Friday, guarantees Kosovo's "sovereignty and territorial integrity."

"The agreement, which was initialed by the two states, is a de jure recognition of Kosovo by Serbia," Thaci told reporters in front of the building of the European External Action Service in Brussels.

He said that he expects that the countries which have not yet recognized Kosovo will do that as soon as possible, adding that he hopes that Kosovo will join the United Nations soon.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence over five years ago, but Serbia rejected that proclamation.