Serbia tells US it will never recognize Kosovo

Serbia's president Boris Tadic said Thursday he told a top U.S. diplomat James Steinberg that Belgrade will never recognize the independence of Kosovo.

(KosovoCompromise Staff) Friday, April 09, 2010

"Despite our good will to cooperate with the EU and the U.S, Serbia has its red lines. Serbia does not recognize and will never recognize Kosovo," Boris Tadic said.

U.S. Deputy Secretar of State James Steinberg met Tadic late Wednesday in Belgrade, as part of of a tour of the Balkans.

Tadic said Serbia insists on more talks on Kosovo and a "compromise solution which would mean that neither side is a loser or a winner."

In spite of differences between Washington and Belgrade over the status issue, the USA, as Steinberg said, "supports seeking solutions to practical matters important for the citizens in Kosovo". 

"We support Kosovo independence but we are not making pressure on any country to recognize Kosovo", Steinberg told the B92 television.