Serbia will not give up its attempts to regain control over Kosovo for the sake of possible membership in the European Union, Serbian President Boris Tadic said on Friday.
Earlier in the week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Serbia was welcome in the European Union on certain conditions, including the presence of a EU mission in Kosovo in republic's northern regions populated mostly by ethnic Serbs.
"Serbia will not leave its people in Kosovo and Metohija. But the country will not refuse European integration either," Tadic said adding that given the choice "Serbia would not give up its legitimate interests."
Politicians and experts believe that without recognizing the sovereignty of Kosovo, which unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008, Belgrade will be unable to achieve EU member status. Most EU members have recognized Kosovo as an independent state.
