Serbia's new government and president intend to carry out all agreements, provided that Pristina does the same. Although technical dialogue should be resumed, it's not enough. Serbia is ready for dialogue at a high level. Negotiations can't be avoided on any outstanding issue, Dacic said.

He said Serbia was willing to arrive at a peaceful and sustainable solution through negotiations, acknowledging the interests of both Albanians and Serbs, but added that recognising sovereign Kosovo was out of the question.

I want to make it clear that Serbia will never, under any condition, implicitly or explicitly, recognise the independence unilaterally declared by ethnic Albanian bodies in Kosovo because it is not consensual, Dacic said, stressing that Serbia would forever be firm on this key issue.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci told the Security Council that Kosovo's status was solved and that the security of Serbs in Kosovo was no longer an issue.

He said Kosovo had built democratic and multiethnic institutions.

The Security Council is discussing Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's report on the situation in Kosovo, presented by his special representative for Kosovo, Farid Zarif. The report covers the period between April 16 and July 15.

Zarif said it was necessary to revive the political process in Kosovo and resume Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. He said the international community's efforts included steps aimed at improving the situation in north Kosovo, where the majority population is Serb.

Dacic said Serbia remained committed to reaching lasting peace between Serbs and Albanians, stressing that technical negotiations with the European Union's mediation were part of those efforts.

He said Serbia would continue to defend its constitutional order by the peaceful means at its disposal as a democratic member of the UN.