Recognition of Kosovo not EU condition

"This is not, nor can it be the EU position, because if it were - there would never be membership negotiations," Nikolic said on Wednesday in Belgrade.

He pointed out that the government instruction to its representatives taking part in meetings in which Kosovo Albanians also participate "demonstrated that Serbia is committed to both the (Kosovo) dialogue and to EU membership" - and that it was now "EU's turn".

Nikolic recalled that immediately after the elections he said that it was "unacceptable that Serbia's representatives should be walking out of (regional) meetings".

"It remains for us to continue doing our job and building a Serbia that we promised, building relations with the EU the way we should, because it is good for Serbia," the president stated, and added:

"The EU should either stop or deny such stories, or show through openness of its actions toward Serbia that it was not behind them," Nikolic noted.

His reaction came a day after the European Parliament president asserted that a condition for Serbia's future EU membership would be to "recognize Kosovo".

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence of the province - a proclamation that Serbia rejected as illegal. Five out of EU's 27 member states have not recognized Kosovo.

Nikolic, who is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week, further noted that Serbia's economy "depended" on the EU - but also on Russia, "and other countries".

"It is very important for Putin to fulfill the promise he gave me in May, after my election to office, that Russia will do all in its power to make sure Serbia gets back on its feet," the president said.

Nikolic concluded by noting that he expected "much benefit for Serbia" from the meeting, but added that "nobody in Serbia should hope that we will always be given money that we won't have to pay back".