Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic stated that Serbia cannot use its national interests as a bargaining chip in order to access the EU, and called on top government officials to communicate such messages to the international community.

It does not matter only what German Chancellor Angela Merkel might say during her visit to Belgrade, it is also important what Serbian president, prime minister and other officials would say, because Serbia needs to send the right messages and make it clear that nobody should put the country in a situation in which it would have to choose between Kosovo and Europe, Dacic told reporters.

Dacic, who also holds office as the leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia, noted that Serbia's goal is to become a member of the EU, but this is not a reason for the country to use its national interests as a bargaining chip.

We cannot conduct talks in the 'take it or leave it' manner when it comes to Kosovo-Metohija, the minister said. According to him, Serbia should send a message to the international community and make it clear that it wants peace and that it will not engage in wars, but that it will not stand still and watch as its citizens are expelled from Kosovo-Metohija.

A clear message should also be sent to Albanians, in which the country would state that it wants peace with them and an ending to a historical conflict to be reached, but that they should not provoke Serbia while 'hiding behind the big brother', Dacic said.

Dacic believes it is necessary for a clear message to be communicated to Kosovo Serbs as well, since they expect the government to say what it would do in case of potential unfavourable solutions.

The minister called on participants in the dialogue to discuss key issues as soon as possible, such as finding a compromise solution.

All this remained a factor of instability and a factor that might set off some new fire in the Balkans, Dacic underscored and added that the dialogue is the only adequate solution.