US urges Serbia to accept 'reality' of independent Kosovo

A top U.S. official urged Serbia on Saturday to accept the "reality" of Kosovo's independence, even if Belgrade stops short of formal recognizing the breakaway territory's sovereignty. "Neither we nor the EU expect Serbia to recognize Kosovo at this point. It will not do that," said Philip Gordon, the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. "However, Serbia will have to come to terms with the reality of a democratic, sovereign, independent and multi-ethnic Kosovo within its current borders," he said. "Belgrade must end its support to the illegal parallel security and judicial structures in northern Kosovo and ensure freedom of movement for all," he added. Most of Kosovo's minority ethnic Serbs, who like Belgrade do not recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, live in the northern part of the territory bordering Serbia proper. Serbia supports Serb authorities in the area and finances many of their activities, notably in health, education and administration. Gordon stressed that partition of Kosovo "is not an option, neither for Serbia nor Kosovo." The U.S. official, whose European tour took him first to France, will also visit Serbia, Kosovo and Cyprus. Gordon attended a meeting in the southern Croatian resort of Dubrovnik gathering regional leaders from seven southeastern European countries. Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority proclaimed independence in 2008, a move recognized by more than 90 countries but still rejected by Serbia. Improving relations with Pristina is a key condition for Belgrade to obtain a date for opening accession talks with the European Union after being accepted as a candidate member in March. Belgrade and Pristina have been meeting in EU-brokered talks since March 2011 to try to resolve some of the issues stemming from Serbia's refusal to recognize Kosovo's independence.