Serbian PM: No recognition of Kosovo

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BELGRADE, Serbia, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Serbian Prime Minister Ivo Dacic said Thursday his government has no intention of recognizing Kosovo.

In an interview with the Belgrade newspaper Vecernje Novosti, Dacic suggested that the European Union is trying to change the preconditions for Serbian membership, Tanjug reported. Dacic was in Brussels earlier this week for talks with European officials.

He said Serbia is willing to make internal reforms and to work with Kosovo but not to recognize the breakaway region as an independent state.

"As a result, there should be no new preconditions for Serbia when it comes to the date for the beginning of talks," Dacic said. "Serbia expects the EU to clearly state the goal of the race that we are running."

Martin Schultz, president of the European Parliament, said that Dacic was told in "very frank" discussions that Serbia and Kosovo must recognize each other's sovereignty.