Serbia is not in the position to recognize Kosovo, which is why we have been looking for a way to put this issue aside and focus on other matters, particularly the EU integration process, UK Ambassador to Serbia Stephen Wordsworth stated in an interview for the Belgrade weekly Vreme.

Wordsworth expressed belief that Serbia's application for EU membership will soon be forwarded to the European Commission (EC).

The next step is to forward Serbia's application for EU membership to the EC, Wordsworth said. The UK hopes that this will occur at the end of the month, he added.

The ambassador stressed that the UK strongly supports Serbia's EU accession, adding that, since the agreement between Serbia and the EU on the draft resolution at the UN General Assembly, the process is moving forward.

The future of Serbia, as well as of Kosovo, is within the EU. The existence of a certain 'hole' in the Western Balkans is in no one's interest, particularly not in the interest of Kosovo Serbs.

Wordsworth said that the process of EU integration of the entire region, including Serbia, will be complicated, adding that it is very important for all the sides involved to trust each other so as to be able to reach this goal through joint efforts.

When it comes to the cooperation with the ICTY, Wordsworth said that he believes that Serbia is doing its best regarding the witness protection and access to documentation, whereas the arrest of the remaining fugitives is largely a matter of time.