Serbia: If Kosovo is a condition, we'll give up EU accession

Serbia would give up its bid for European Union (EU) accession if Brussels asked it to recognize Kosovan independence, Serbia's president Tomislav Nikolic has said. ß "If we were officially asked to choose between the EU and Kosovo, we would give up on the European path," Nikoloic said in an interview with newspaper Vecernje Novosti today. "The EU is keeping its distance because of Kosovo. But they could shut us out for another 100 years because we won't change our position on our southern province", he said. Nikolic described Serbia has subject to conditions "which have not been asked of any other countries". "Just tell us: we are not wanted", he added, reiterating that Belgrade is asking for the same conditions as other countries. The president referred to controversy with Brussels over the reference to the territorial integrity of Kosovo included in the latest report on state enlargement. "UN resolution 1244 ensures the integrity 'of Serbia, and now Europe is asking us to ensure the integrity 'of Kosovo. We are facing a situation where the integrity of a founding UN country can't be guaranteed, while it is being asked to recognize the integrity of territory that was illegally taken from it. This is not in line with international human rights", said Nikolic. On a recent visit to Belgrade, Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele explained that the wording 'territorial integrity' doesn't refer to Kosovo but a hypothetical division of Kosovo, which the EU is against.