Serbia May Ignore Demand for Closer Ties With Kosovo at EU Entry Talks

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Serbia has a leeway like every EU state when it comes to fulfilling the special clause for EU accession on better ties with breakaway Kosovo, the Serbian president said in an interview with Sputnik Serbia on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Brussels drew up a list of 35 regulations that aspiring member state Serbia must comply with to enter the 28-nation bloc. The matter of contention is the extra 35th clause demanding that Serbia improve relations with Kosovo.

"I think that when we talk about Clause 35 on normalizing relations with Kosovo there is a possibility for us to act out of line with the majority of EU member states [who recognized Kosovo]," Tomislav Nikolic asserted.

Serbian Prime Minister Alexander Vucic gave an exclusive interview to Sputnik Serbia - Sputnik International
Serbian PM Responds to US Call for Kosovo to Join UN
Kosovo broke away from Serbia and proclaimed independence in 2008. It has been recognized by 23 out of the 28 EU member states.

Belgrade has been in reconciliation talks with the breakaway region since 2011 after Brussels put pressure on the Serbian government. Serbia made the first step to enter the European Union in 2007 when it initialed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the bloc.

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