BELGRADE, June 15 (RIA Novosti) - Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's new constitution that went into force on Sunday as its adoption will have negative consequences, Serbian President Boris Tadic said.
Kosovo, with a 90% ethnic-Albanian majority, has been formally recognized as a sovereign state by 43 countries including the U.S. and most EU members since it proclaimed its independence from Serbia on February 17.
"For Serbia, it [the constitution] has no legal force. Serbia considers Kosovo as its southern territory. Serbia continues to defend its independence and sovereignty by peaceful means, with the help of diplomacy rather than force," Tadic said.
According to Tadic, Belgrade continues to insist on holding further talks on the status of Kosovo.
Russia and China back Belgrade's position that Kosovo must remain a part of Serbia.
