Serbian Parliament backs government's Kosovo policy, EU ministers not united

"The National Assembly finds it necessary to come through peaceful negotiations to a permanent, sustainable and mutually acceptable solution for Kosovo, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, which would enable an historic reconciliation of the Serbian and Albanian people, as well as peace and stability in the region," the text of the adopted document says.

It calls for national unity and announces the use of all available diplomatic and political means to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The National Assembly expresses its full commitment to achieving the national and political unity on the issue of preservation of Kosovo, and confirms that Serbia will never, neither explicitly nor implicitly, recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo," it is underscored.

MPs supported the government in the process of submitting a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly, whose approval would open the way to reaching a compromise solution for Kosovo through negotiations.

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said late Monday that the resolution on Kosovo to be submitted to the UN General Assembly will be drafted by Serbia alone.

Jeremic added however that "consultations are underway with Russia, China and the European Union" in connection with the submission of the resolution, but stressed that "only Serbia" was drafting it.

"Since we want the resolution to be passed, we want to secure as many votes as possible during the consultations, and see further negotiations on Kosovo's status as a result," the foreign minister said.

The minister said that Serbia wants the UN to conclude that the "secessionists were not right".
EU Foreign Ministers were also meeting on Monday to discuss the Kosovo situation in the wake of the ICJ Kosovo UDI advisory opinion.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini explained in Brussels that the envoy told EU ministers about Serbia's position on solving the Kosovo problem.

He said that the conciliatory stance was likely opening up possibilities for negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, i.e., the Kosovo Albanian officials.

But, the ministers remained not united in their stances since the countries which have not recognized Kosovo insist that no agreement can be reached on the basis of unilaterally proclaimed independence.