The Serbian government unanimously decided on Monday to reject a solution offered regarding the status of the Serb community in the north of Kosovo and also proposed the urgent continuation of dialogue with Kosovo, with the mediation of the European Union.
"The government of Serbia cannot accept the proposals orally recommended to our negotiating team, as those proposals do not guarantee full safety and security, survival and safeguarding of human rights of Serbs in Kosovo," Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Monday afternoon after his cabinet's extraordinary session.
Dacic said Serbia was also in favour of resuming dialogue with Kosovo under the EU's sponsorship.
Before today's cabinet meeting, the top dignitaries of the Serbian Orthodox Church met with government officials to discuss the matter, given that the Serbian Church deems Kosovo as the cradle of the Serbian culture and religion and given that some of the most famous Serbian Orthodox monasteries are in Kosovo.
The dignitaries said that the Church "does not intend to make political decisions" but it has "an inalienable right to present its positions on the issues vital for the nation".
The previous eight rounds of negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia, under the auspices of European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, ended inconclusively.
Progress in the negotiations is a precondition for giving a date for opening Serbia's accession talks with the European bloc.
