Serbia president rules out UN seat for Kosovo

(BELGRADE) - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on Wednesday rejected any possibility of Serbia agreeing to breakaway Kosovo's bid to join the United Nations.

Speaking ahead of European Union-mediated talks in Brussels on Thursday, Nikolic said Serbia would continue to refuse to recognise Kosovo's independence.

"Serbia will never recognise the independence of Kosovo and therefore Kosovo will not have a seat at the UN," Nikolic told reporters in Belgrade.

The Serb leader appeared to reverse comments made by Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic a day earlier hinting that Belgrade would consider giving up its opposition to Kosovo's bid for UN membership.

Dacic told reporters that Serbia wants a "comprehensive and complete settlement" with Kosovo.

"In that case, it is possible to negotiate all the issues," including Kosovo's UN seat, Dacic said.

Serbia fiercely rejected Kosovo's 2008 unilateral proclamation of independence and has vowed never to allow it to join the UN and other related international organisations.

Belgrade's stance is backed by its traditional ally Russia, which wields a veto on the UN Security Council.

"It is really impossible to assume that Serbia could give up a large part of its territory and agree that Kosovo become a UN member," Nikolic said.

Dacic will begin a fresh round of talks with his Kosovan counterpart Hashim Thaci on Thursday focused on improving mutual relations.

They are a key condition for Serbia to pursue eventual EU membership.

Serbia's parliament on Sunday adopted a resolution calling for autonomy for the Serb minority in Kosovo.

In return, Serbia would finally recognise Pristina's authority over the entire territory, including the Serb-dominated north, currently under Belgrade's control.

Ever since the 1998-1999 war, when its forces were driven out of Kosovo by a NATO air campaign, Serbia has had no control over the territory, except in areas dominated by the Serb minority.

More than 90 countries, including the United States and 22 of the EU's 27 member states, have recognised Kosovo as an independent state.