Serbian president says will ‘never’ recognize Kosovo

BELGRADE - Agence France-Presse

Serbian President Boris Tadic on Jan. 7 stood firm on his refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence after attending an Orthodox Christmas service in the territory.

Asked when he would recognize Kosovo, Tadic replied: “You know what my answer is. Never. It
is a very short end clear answer.” Tadic spoke to journalists as he left the Christmas mass at the 14th-century Serb Orthodox monastery of Visoki Decani in western Kosovo. He said he wanted peace for all those in Kosovo, including “Serbs, Albanians and members of the international community.” Neither Kosovo Serbs nor Belgrade recognize Pristina’s 2008 declaration of independence, accepted by most of the European Union and many other countries, considering Kosovo still to be a province of Serbia and the cradle of its nation and religion.

However, Serbia is engaged in talks with Pristina and has reached several agreements aimed at improving the lives of all inhabitants of Kosovo. Progress in the dialogue is a key condition for Belgrade to become a candidate to join the EU.