"Unfortunately, the international community decided to start Kosovo status talks without the implementation of the Kosovo Standards," Tadic said.
"If the Albanians want to have the right to self-determination and establishment of an independent state, other countries in the region should also have the same right. This may lead to the disintegration of other countries like Macedonia [and] Bosnia and Herzegovina," he said.
Putin said disintegration should also be prevented in other countries.
When Tadic told Putin there were about 200,000 Serbian refugees that were forced to flee their homes in Kosovo, a third of Serbia's population, the Russian president called the world's impression that 30,000 Albanians became refugees during the conflict a disaster.
"I remember when 30,000 Albanians were forced to leave their homes, the whole world was talking about a humanitarian disaster. Now 200,000 [Serbians] have fled their homes and everyone is keeping silent," Putin said.
Tadic said the humanitarian problem was continuing and that Serbia was counting on Russia's support.
He stressed that Serbia would protect its national interests during the upcoming talks.
"Although we are not happy with the start of the talks on the status of Kosovo, Serbia is still going to join the negotiation process, understanding its responsibility for the situation in the region," Tadic said. "Serbia will protect its national interests in accordance with international principles, primarily with [UN Security Council] Resolution 1244, which recognizes Kosovo as part of Serbia."
According to the Serbian president, a regional rearrangement of borders and the provision of normal living conditions for Serbian residents in Kosovo are the issues that must be resolved first.
"Serbia respects and acknowledges the legitimate rights of Albanians in Kosovo," Tadic said. "However, we will strive to defend the legitimate interests of Serbian refugees as well."
Tadic also said he was against the further disintegration of eastern Europe and the Balkans but supported the accession of all eastern European countries to the European Union.
The Serbian president also called for direct talks on the status of Kosovo between Belgrade and Pristina.
"I would be happy to go to Pristina for discussions with [my] Albanian colleagues," Tadic said, adding that direct negotiations, whether in Pristina or in Belgrade, were the most effective way of settling problems.
Tadic said he supported the decentralization of judicial and law enforcement systems in Kosovo, along with education and healthcare, since the Serbian minority population in Kosovo should be allowed to make decisions independently from central authorities, but at the same time, he said Serbian and Albanian authorities in Kosovo should work on improving relations.
Touching upon the issue of war crimes the Serbian president said he had no information on war criminals wanted by the Hague Tribunal residing in Russia and other CIS countries.
"I know nothing about it," he said. "The most important thing for me is that Russians living in Serbia and wanted by the Russian authorities should be extradited to Russia, and Serbs living in Russia and wanted by our authorities should be transferred to Serbia."
"People who are accused [of crimes] should face trial in Russia, Serbia, and any other UN member state," Tadic said.
Technically part of Serbia-Montenegro, Kosovo became a UN protectorate in 1999 with the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
The Albanian majority in Kosovo, accounting for about 90% of the province's population of about 1.9 million, has been pushing for full independence. Belgrade has made it clear, though, that it wants Kosovo to remain part of Serbia.
In October 2005, the UN Security Council endorsed beginning talks to determine the future of the disputed Serbian province that are expected to start later this month.
