On Oct. 12, top Serbian officials expressed satisfaction with the European Commission's recommendation for Serbia to be granted EU member candidate status, with the estimate that this is a significant commendation for the Serbian government.

President Boris Tadic stated that he was pleased with the EC's recommendation to grant candidate status, and added that Belgrade is prepared to continue the dialogue with Pristina, which the Commission stated as a condition for the start of membership negotiations.

Tadic said that the resumption of dialogue and progress in the talks between Belgrade and Pristina, was also Serbia's wish.

Expressing his satisfaction with the recommendation of the EC, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said that the recommendation of Brussels is a significant commendation of the Serbian government.

"This opinion shows that the European Commission has recognized the efforts Serbia has made and the reforms we have implemented," Cvetkovic said at a news conference in the Serbian government building.

"Our policy on Kosovo will not change as a result of the opinion of the European Commission," Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stated at a news conference, after a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.

In a statement to BETA, Stefanovic assessed as favorable the European Commission's condition that Serbia make essential progress in the dialog with Pristina, explaining that it would be beneficial to all the communities in the province.