Serbian President Boris Tadic has stated that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina should be resumed as soon as possible, given that it is an international problem, rather than the issue of Serbs and Albanians alone.

“Serbia wants the resumption of talks, since without that we cannot achieve any results, resolve the people's problems, and protect the vital national interests,” the Serbian president told journalists at the Belgrade Book Fair.

He added that in talks with representatives of the Serbs from Kosovo, it was agreed that their representatives would take part in expert groups which are preparing a platform for the talks in Brussels.

During the talks, Tadic voiced his stand on the situation, and underlined the principles, to which the Republic of Serbia will adhere in the coming period.

Tadic made a brief comment on the talks with heads of municipalities from the north of Kosovo which took place Sunday evening, qualifying them as "fair and just".

Those who believe that we should isolate ourselves and refuse to negotiate with the world are wrong.

Tadic stressed that it is hard to find a solution for the Kosovo issue, and that all citizens of Serbia know that.

“I do not say anything new here. On one side, we have the reality of Serbs, and on the other that of Albanians. There is also the reality of the international community and their interests. There are many faults in the Serb and Albanian policies, and there is also the fight for living space. In Kosovo, we also witness the fight for geopolitical leverage,” Tadic said.

He estimated that Kosovo has become an arena in which the great powers are competing to prove their credibility on the international scene.

"It is important to avoid big words when it comes to Kosovo. We need to solve the problem and make it possible for people to live there, but at the same time, we need to protect the legitimate national interests which I cannot renounce, even though I am coming under criticism from both sides. Some accuse me that I am renouncing Kosovo and others that I am not," said President Tadic.

"Kosovo is a difficult problem not only for Serbia and the Serbian people, but also for Albania and the Albanian people. It is difficult for Europe and the world as well. Kosovo was difficult for all the generations that came before us and I hope we will not pass on the problem to those who come after us, like our predecessors did to us," Tadic said.

He urged Serbs to stay in Kosovo.

"Our most important task is to keep Serbs in Kosovo, followed by building institutions and creating all the needed conditions for reconciliation between Serbs and Albanians," said Tadic.

Tadic to visit Germany today

Serbian President Boris Tadic will pay a working visit to Germany on Tuesday.

According to the president's press service, Tadic will confer with Minister-President of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg Winfried Kretschmann in Stuttgart.

After the meeting, Tadic will address the participants of the conference of the Serbia-Baden-Wurttemberg Joint Commission, as well as the Serbian-German Friendship Society.

The Serbia-Baden-Wurttemberg Joint Commission conference will also be attended by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Bozidar Djelic, and Minister for European and International Affairs of Baden-Wurttemberg Peter Friedrich.

On Wednesday, the Serbian president will take part in the Leaders' Forum within UNESCO's General Conference in Paris, and confer with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.