Slovakia will recognize Kosovo's independence only if Belgrade agrees with it previously, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Iveta Radichova has said in a statement published by Novosti.

She underscored that Slovakia, which is one of the five EU countries that have yet to recognize Kosovo's independence, fully supports Serbia's EU integrations.

Radichova underscored that Slovakia continues to support Serbia's aspirations to become a full member of the EU, and it believes that the country's progress on its way to the EU membership will start with the EC's opinion next year.

Radichova said that the relations between Slovakia and Serbia can be described as exceptional and traditionally friendly, supported by similar stands on a number of topics relating to the political and economic issues.

The existence of a 60,000-strong Slovak ethnic minority in Vojvodina is also a rather strong element for good relations between our two countries, Radichova concluded.