Partition of Kosovo not Serbia's state position

The idea was recently mentioned by Belgrade Kosovo talks team chief Borislav Stefanovic, to be brought up again by Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, who spoke for a Pristina-based Albanian language daily.

But government's press office chief Milivoje Mihajlovic told that such statements should be interpreted as "private opinion".

"The government of the Republic of Serbia has never had a partition of Kosovo on its agenda, nor has any other forum of the government discussed this issue. The government policy on Kosovo remains unchanged, all all statements can be interpreted as private opinion," he said.

Deputy prime minister revisits "partition statements"

Serbia's Deputy PM Ivica Dacic commented on his own statement in favor of a partition of Kosovo, given to a Priština daily over the weekend.

Speaking to reporters in Belgrade, Dacic said he was in fact not advocating partition, but rather separation, while the citizens would decide "on such a change to the Constitution", in a referendum.

Dacic continued to say that "a speedy and realistic solution for Kosovo as a compromise between Serbs and (ethnic) Albanians" was needed.

Jeremic: Kosovo status in accordance with 1244

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said that the future status of Kosovo must be in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

"There is only one policy and it is the state policy, which is based on the Serbian Constitution and resolutions adopted by the parliament," the minister said.

According to Jeremic, that policy is very explicit when it comes to the territorial integrity of Serbia.

Kosovo Serb leader rejects partition idea

President of the Serb National Council (SNV) of Northern Kosovo Milan Ivanovic says he is not in favor of a partition of Kosovo.

According to him, the solution for Kosovo lies in affirmation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and the Constitution of Serbia.

Ivanovic told that he rejected the possibility of partitioning the territory, because such a move would be unconstitutional, considering that Kosovo is an inalienable part of Serbia.

He described the partition idea as "horrible", explaining that it would divide the territory along the Ibar River, with the area north of the Ibar - where Serbs are a majority - makes up only five to six percent of the territory of Kosovo, "and economically even less".

South of the Ibar, Serbs live in scattered, isolated enclaves.