Slovakia's reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence

The OSCE mission in Kosovo said it is prepared to facilitate the process of enabling ethnic Serbs in Kosovo to vote in the Serbian general elections as soon as Belgrade and Pristina agree on the details."There is an expectation for the OSCE to carry out a process in Kosovo that would enable eligible voters to exercise their right in the context of Serbian parliamentary elections of 24 April," O

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said on Monday the opening of the negotiating chapters with the EU was "an earned and great day for Serbia."

He also emphasized that he "read it nowhere" that recognizing Kosovo was one of the conditions in the process of Serbia's EU integration.

Nikolic's comment, sparked by alleged new demands placed on Serbia by the EU over Kosovo, was inflammatory and "very harmful" for Serbian society, said Aleksandar Popov, from Centre for Regionalism NGO.

"Those words were too strong and it was very irresponsible to make such statements especially when you hold the position of president," Popov said.

Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon saying that Kosovo's request to become a member of UNESCO is unacceptable under international law, Serbian public broadcaster RTS reported on Sunday.

Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic received on Friday Slovakia's outgoing Ambassador Jan Varso.

Vucic thanked the diplomat "for the cooperation and personal contribution to improving relations between Serbia and Slovakia" - and "for Slovakia's principled position concerning the non-recognition of the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo."

Mustafa is due to meet Merkel in Berlin at the end of this month - the first official meeting at this level between the two.

Thaci accepts NGO's invitation to attend Belgrade event

BELGRADE -- Kosovo Foreign Minister and Deputy PM Hashim Thaci has accepted an invitation "to come to Belgrade" on April 24, his deputy has confirmed.

According to Petrit Selimi, Thaci has provided "a preliminary positive reply." He added that "it is now the task for the Serbian authorities to guarantee his safe stay."

BELGRADE - The Serbian Foreign Ministry has reacted to the statement by Albania's Prime Minister Edi rama about a potential unification of Albania and Kosovo by sending appropriate instructions to all of Serbia's missions to international organisations, embassies in EU countries, members of the UNSecurity Council and neighbouring states, the daily Danas from Belgrade has reported.

BRATISLAVA - Slovakian Finance Minister Peter Kazimir said he expects that as Serbia's accession process vis-?-vis the European Union progresses the Serbian business presence will be more felt in Slovakia.

BRATISLAVA- Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic Thursday expressed gratitude to the Slovakian government for not recognizing Kosovo independence, unilaterally proclaimed by ethnic Albanians in the southern Serbian province in 2008.