Serbian President Boris Tadic expressed satisfaction Friday with the European Commission's recommendation that Serbia be given candidate status and that accession talks start as soon as progress in made in solving already open issues in the dialogue with Pristina.

Addressing the participants of a meeting of the Igman Initiative, Tadic also pointed out that remaining open issues in the region must not be abused in any way to jeopardize the European integration of the countries in the Western Balkans.

At the same time, the Serbian president believes, none of the open issues in the region must be solved in a manner which would lead the peoples of the former Yugoslavia and their countries to a new conflict.

"The coming election must not be instrumentalized and must not undermine the fundamental values our countries and the EU are founded on," Tadic said at the meeting which was also attended by top state officials of Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fuele.

Tadic expressed belief that a European future has been and remains the key driving force in the stabilization and development of the entire region and the common strategic goal can be achieved only by strengthening cooperation and through a dialogue based on mutual trust.

Looking at Serbia's role in the process, Tadic pointed out huge progress has been made in regional cooperation in recent years, which the European Commission confirmed in its latest report.

"Trust between states and peoples is one of the most important processes and challenges we face, and this is why it is necessary for all countries to punish war crimes and the people who committed them," Tadic said.

He reminded that Serbia has arrested all people indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and given an additional contribution to reconciliation by passing a declaration on Srebrenica.

Tadic pointed out that the question of refugees and missing persons must be urgently included in the process of improving regional relations.

"It is impossible to imagine prosperous countries of South East Europe, if they are home to thousand of families of missing persons who are living in utter uncertainty," Tadic said.

According to him, more effort must be invested into cooperation in fighting organized crime, economic cooperation - primarily in building infrastructure, joint appearances in third markets and cooperation between companies.

Commenting on the Kosovo issue, Tadic again warned that any unilateral action which includes use of force, lack of respect for the agreed upon solutions and is aimed at changing the situation on the ground is dangerous and counterproductive.

"Serbia is committed to a just, compromise and sustainable solution, because this is the only solution that can ensure durable peace in the Western Balkans.

There is no easy solution for the Kosovo issue and we are aware of this. There are no solutions which take us back to the past, but we must find a sustainable solution for the future," Tadic said.

President Tadic congratulated Croatia and Montenegro on their progress in the European integration process, but said Bosnia-Herzegovina needs more encouragement.

"Bosnia-Herzegovina should function better, but that must come as a result of agreement of all three constitutive peoples and their political representatives," Tadic said.