Serbia will not recognize Kosovo in exchange for EU membership - diplomat

12:43, 13.02.2013 1 min read

Serbia will not agree to recognize Kosovo's independence in exchange for admission to the European Union, Serbian Ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic said.

"Serbia is not prepared to recognize the independence of the so-called Kosovan state for the sake of joining the European community," the diplomat said at a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday.

Asked what decision Belgrade would make if it is confronted with the choice between joining the EU or not recognizing Kosovo, Terzic replied, "It is difficult for me now to predict what is going to happen, but it seems to me that not a single Serbian government would like to recognize Kosovo's and Metohija's independence."

"If we face this Hamletian dilemma - either-or - it seems to me that the incumbent government and the incumbent president will never agree to recognize Kosovo and Metohija," he said.

Belgrade is prepared for negotiations on granting Kosovo as much autonomy as possible within Serbia, he said.