Jeremic: Conference in Slovenia didn't meet expectations

Speaking on the fact that Serbian President Boris Tadic did not participate in the conference, Jeremic said that Serbia was asking "only for an agreement and earlier confirmed rules to be respected, which the host, unfortunately, was not able to do."

Serbia asked that the officials of the temporary institutions in Kosovo be present only in accordance with UN Resolution 1244, as Kosovo-UNMIK, which the organizers did not accept.

There were also no EU officials at the conference other than EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele.

"In such circumstances, there was no expectations that the Serbian President an senior EU officials would show up," Jeremic said.

Commenting on Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's statement that Serbia will recognize Kosovo's independence sooner or later, Jeremic said that this is a "complete absurdity," and that "the stance of the current Serbian state administration and every future one is clear, precise, and unchangeable."

"Under no conditions, whatever they are, will we recognize Kosovo's independence," Jeremic said.

"One of the most important priorities of the government and one of the most important foreign policy priorities is the diplomatic fight for preserving our territorial integrity," he said, adding that Serbia will, however, continue cooperation with all regional partners, but stressing that "Kosovo is not and will never be a neighbor, it is a part of Serbia."

He said that there will be other opportunities for such conferences, at which there will be greater success in showing the fact that "our united goals of joining the EU are clear."

"We all want a peaceful, prosperous Balkans, that is integrated into the European Union," Jeremic told Radio Television Serbia.

Seven Balkan states urged the European Union at a summit in Slovenia to stay committed to enlargement, and also called on the EU to ease visa requirements for citizens of countries throughout the western Balkans.