Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas held a meeting in Belgrade on Saturday with Serbian FM Vuk Jeremic, during which the two men focused on the thorny Kosovo issue and Serbia's European prospect.

At a press conference, Droutsas stressed that his visit to Belgrade was aimed at briefing Serbian leadership on the EU ministers' summit, where the Kosovo issue was discussed after an International Court of Hague ruling on the issue.

He underlined that viable solutions based on consensus for all open issues in the region were being sought and reiterated that Greece's position on Kosovo issue is well known and will not change.

Meanwhile, a cooperation memorandum was signed, which foresees that Greece will offer know-how in all sectors during Serbia's preparation for accession into the European Union.

Alternate Foreign Minister of Greece Dimitris Droutsason Saturday stated that the European Union did not send any resolution on Kosovo to the United Nations, because the EU member states are still discussing and coordinating a joint position on the issue.

Droutsas and his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic evaluated at a joint press conference in Belgrade that the only sustainable solution for the future of the Western Balkans is the one that leads to the EU.

The Greek official underscored that the stand of the official Athens on the Kosovo issue is well known and that it will not change, and that the issue should be returned to the United Nations.

"Serbia and Greece continue to work together on the issue and the relations between Belgrade and Athens have never been better. We will also continue to work together with our European partners in order for peace and stability in the Western Balkans not to be threatened," underscored Jeremic.

Greece is one of the five EU countries, besides Spain, Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia, that maintain the same position of non-recognition of Kosovo's self-proclaimed independence after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gave its opinion.

One of the goals of the visit of Droutsas is to present the the initiative of Premier Georgios Papandreou's government to reopen the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina after the advisory opinion of the ICJ.

Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas has met also with Serb President Boris Tadic.

Droutsas briefed the Serb president on an EU General Affairs meeting earlier this week where the issue was examined in light of an International Court of Justice advisory opinion as regards the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo.

The Greek minister underlined the "need for initiating a political process that would lead to the finding of a solution through a compromise."

He also noted the need for coordinated actions between Belgrade and Brussels, adding that "Greece's interventions to that direction will be determining".

Serbian Patriarch Irinej has had talks with Deputy Greek Foreign Minister Demetris Droutsas, who has assured him of the full support of Greece and its people to Serbia and its people in efforts to reach the fairest possible solution to the painful Kosmet issue, reads the web site of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

As reported, the meeting in the Patriarchy was also attended by metropolitan Amfilohije, episcope Irinej and members of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church.