Serbia "won't withdraw Kosovo draft"

Dacic pointed out that adoption of a resolution that would not close the issue of Kosovo at the UN General Assembly was Serbia's goal.

"Serbia is open to all kind of talks on further developments of the process relating to Kosovo, but it is unrealistic to expect Serbia to accept a resolution to be adopted that will put a period on independence and which says that it is a done thing," Dacic said.

The minister described this as the "lower red line", and added Serbia would not go below it.

"Representatives of the international community should say what their concept and orientation is and who is going to guarantee that (ethnic) Albanians will not expel Serbs from the north of Kosovo, and whether recognition of the unilaterally declared independence by Kosovo will be the condition for Serbia's accession in the EU," said Dacic.

In the meantime, Serbian Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic said Belgrade and Pristina should engage in talks.

According to him, when Serbian and Kosovo Albanian officials meet, they should discuss not only technical, about also Kosovo status issues.

The goal of such negotiations, said Bogdanovic, is the reconciliation of the two ethnic communities.

Bogdanovic told Tanjug news agency on Sunday that the international community should be present as a mediator.

However, he stressed that despite Pristina's insistence, and that of some in the international community, for the talks to focus merely on technical problems, Belgrade insists that Kosovo's status must be discussed as well.

"For this reason, the Serb side is suggesting that progress in the status talks should be made step by step, then on all everyday issues faced by both Serbs and (ethnic) Albanians, in such a way that would lead to reconciliation," the minister was quoted as saying.

"This is an opportunity to at long last solve the issue of Serbs and Albanians in the Western Balkans. That's our offer. That's our goal," Bogdanovic said.

The minister noted that Belgrade had no desire to work behind anyone's back, "least of all behind the back of Serbs in Kosovo".

He also denied speculation that "secret talks" were underway.

"We are not conducting secret talks. If we were, there would be no need to ask for public negotiations, nor would we have submitted our resolution to the United Nations (General Assembly)," Bogdanovic concluded.