Serbia vows never to recognise Kosovo’s independence

Serbian lawmakers passed a resolution vowing that their country will never recognise Kosovo’s statehood, despite a UN court ruling backing the former Serbian province’s independence declaration.

The 250-member parliament in Belgrade overwhelmingly approved the motion with 192 votes in favour, 26 against and two abstentions after a debate during which the opposition attacked the government over “the diplomatic debacle” before the international court of justice at The Hague.

The emergency session was held after the court ruled last week that Kosovo’s 2008 independence declaration was legal.

Serbia lost control of the territory during a 1998-99 war against ethnic Albanian rebels and the ensuing Nato air bombardment that led to an international administration of Kosovo.

Today’s resolution called for “peaceful negotiations” for a lasting solution. Kosovo officials have repeatedly rejected any further talks with Serbia over independence.

The Serbian president, Boris Tadic, told the parliament his country will seek new talks on Kosovo at the UN general assembly in September and will try to halt more international recognition of the state before then.

Tadic said Serbia will seek a compromise solution, and will not wage another war over Kosovo – rejecting such suggestions by some nationalist lawmakers.

“We are in a very difficult situation … but we won’t beat the war drums,” he said. “We cannot protect our interests in Kosovo without integration into the European Union and good relations with the United States, Russia and China.”

Kosovo’s statehood so far has won backing from 69 countries, including the US and most of the EU. But many of the UN general assembly’s 192-member states are still hesitant, some fearing it could embolden their own separatist movements.