Jeremic: Kosovo is Serbia's Jerusalem

"I am afraid that the ones that believe that Serbia would choose Europe in that case and disown Kosovo are not right," Jeremic said.

"Kosovo has a deep historical and spiritual meaning for the Serbian people, it is, in a way, our Jerusalem. We cannot accept unilateral conclusions by those governing in Pristina," he said.

He said that Serbia is ready to negotiate a compromise with the goal of guaranteeing stability for the entire region.

"We are not categorically rejecting any proposals," Jeremic said, reminding that Belgrade did not use force or implement sanctions when Kosovo declared independence unilaterally.

Jeremic said that Serbia is aware of the fact that Europe and the entire world are going through tough times, but that does not change Serbia's goal of EU integration, which will remain the central project of the government.

Regarding the upcoming EU-Western Balkans summit in Sarajevo, scheduled for June 2, he said that Serbia's stance at the conference will be clear and in accordance with the constitution, that Kosovo is a part of Serbia.

Jeremic says Serbia has a difficult task ahead as it strives to protect its cultural heritage in Kosovo from being "renamed".

Jeremic made the comments in Rio de Janeiro, where he was taking part in the UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum.
He explained that the "renaming" was directed against Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) monuments, that would be dubbed "Kosovo's".

"A number of countries have submitted their request to have monasteries and monuments of the SPC in Kosovo renamed into Kosovo's cultural heritage. This is absolutely unacceptable to us," Jeremic stated.

"We will face a very difficult diplomatic task in preventing that," Jeremic continued, adding that blocking the initiative would be one of the most important subjects as he meets with Brazilian ministers of foreign affairs and culture, and also other interlocutors.