(BELGRADE) - Serbia's ultra-nationalist Radical Party said Thursday it would vote in favour of an accord on closer ties with the European Union, in an unexpected policy turnaround.

The government had "accepted" a Radical Party amendment on the draft law to ratify the EU's Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), the hardline party's leader, Tomislav Nikolic, told parliament.

"We are not changing the accord itself, but the law on ratification would include an obligation for the Serbian government to interpret the SAA in a way that Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia," said Nikolic.

"For us, this accepted amendment to the law is satisfactory," he said.

The Radical Party, which favours stronger ties with Russia over the West, had previously argued against the ratification of the SAA by claiming it would mean Serbia's indirect recognition of Kosovo's independence.

The ratification of the EU accord, which is expected to take place next week, now looks likely to backed by up to 220 deputies in Serbia's 250-seat parliament.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on February 17, and was promptly recognised by 46 states, including most European Union nations.

But Serbia and its traditional ally Russia immediately rejected the move.

Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister in charge with EU integration Bozidar Djelic meanwhile said such a broad support strengthened country's position on the issue and was a signal to foreign investors and the EU.

"Today we see that a national consensus is being formed over the issue of joining the EU, which is of an utmost importance for our country," Djelic told state Radio-Television of Serbia.

The only political grouping that remains opposed to it is an alliance headed by the Democratic Party of Serbia of former nationalist prime minister Vojislav Kostunica.

According to a recent survey, some 61 percent of Serbian citizens would support country's EU integration if a referendum was held in late August.

Belgrade and Brussels signed the rapprochement accord, which is considered a first step on the long road to membership in the bloc, only days before May 11 elections in Serbia, bolstering pro-EU forces.

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