Serbian president says Belgrade will not give up on EU

(BELGRADE) - Serbian President Boris Tadic said on Friday his country will not give up on the European Union after an EU summit delayed a decision on its candidate status until February.

"Serbia cannot and will not give up on its European future. Any other decision would have long term consequences for the citizens of Serbia," he said in his first reaction to the decision from Brussels.

"Serbia belongs in Europe and any other solutions would have complex consequences," Tadic warned.

EU president Herman Van Rompuy said while the "clear aim" was to grant Serbia candidate status, Brussels would only decide on the case in February to allow it to further monitor Belgrade's moves to improve relations with Kosovo.

Belgrade had hoped to win the status of candidate EU nation at this week's summit and the postponement is seen as a blow to Tadic.

However, Tadic said he was not "disappointed at all."

"Serbia is a country with complex problems. But there is no alternative to this (pro-European) policy and I am convinced we will get the candidacy status some other time," Tadic said.

Serbia is due to organise elections next spring and getting EU candidacy status is central to Tadic's bid to stay in power.

"This decision is wind in the sails of those political parties which do not want to join the EU, but we will not give up," Tadic vowed.

Tadic also reiterated that he would not give up Serbia's policy on Kosovo.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008 but Belgrade still considers the territory to be a Serbian province.

"I am for the policy of preserving (Serbia's) interest in Kosovo, preserving the integrity and the rights of our people in Kosovo and I will remain devoted to that policy," Tadic said.

New unrest on the tense north Kosovo border late last month, in which some 50 NATO peacekeepers were hurt along with scores of civilians, led a handful of EU nations, notably Germany, to demand further progress before allowing Serbia to become an EU candidate.

Tadic insisted that Serbia "will continue a dialogue with Pristina because the problem of Kosovo must be solved".

"Even if we gave up on the EU, the Kosovo problem would remain and by freezing it, we would not remove the problems and would make the lives of Kosovo Serbs less safe," Tadic said.

Tadic again called on Kosovo Serbs to withdraw roadblocks from the disputed border crossings and secure freedom of movement.

"I asked the citizens to withdraw from the barricades as they did not serve any national interest.... There were objections that I was doing it for (EU) candidacy, but now I demand them to withdraw because this is the way to save lives," Tadic said.

A statement issued by EU leaders at a summit Friday urged Serbia to make further progress in implementing agreements reached so far at the talks with Kosovo.

It notably calls for implementation of a deal between the two to jointly manage border crossings under the supervision of EU officials.

It also called for a deal to allow Kosovo to take part in regional bodies.