EU prospect "cure for Balkans"; Serbia "against" Kosovo army

EU prospect "cure for Balkans"; Serbia "against" Kosovo army

BELGRADE -- Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Tuesday that the EU prospects are a cure that helps ease tensions in the Western Balkans.

"Our area saw many conflicts in the past, and that is why the EU prospects help calm the situation in the region," Dacic said, replying to questions at 88th Rose-Roth Seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly titled "Serbia, the Western Balkans and the Euro-Atlantic Community" held in Belgrade.

Dacic noted that countries in the region are facing the border issue, and in Serbia's case, the understanding of the issue of its southern province, Kosovo-Metohija.

"We do not deny the right to self-determination, but we disprove of the way, that this be implemented through unilateral acts- without agreement with the state that someone wants to secede from," said the Serbian foreign minister.

"As regards the mechanisms for resolving problems, the EU must be aware that its enlargement policy is irreplaceable," Dacic said, underscoring that the cooperation in the region is only possible if it is based on shared interests.

Serbia wants peace and stability in Kosovo, but it is against creating an army of Kosovo, and that is a topic that should be discussed by the UN Security Council, Dacic said on Tuesday.

Serbia is against creating a Kosovo army because it is not in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, Dacic said.

Such a thing could have consequences to security in the region, he stressed.

"Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton were at the NATO headquarters when they signed the Brussels agreement...