"No Cypriot govt. will recognize Kosovo

The Northern Epirus is one of the national issues both Greece and Cyprus that they don`t recognize the Kosovo Independence

NICOSIA -- Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić is on a one-day visit to Cyprus this Friday, reports said.

In Nicosia today, the minister said that EU membership is the Serbian government's "central goal".

"We are moving toward EU membership, but we do not allow for our territorial integrity to be brought into question," Jeremić said after this meeting with Kyprianou.

"We will never accept attempted secession of a part of our territory," he stated.

Jeremić also described Cyprus as Serbia's closest and best associate in the EU, and that Nicosia can count on Belgrade's support "on all issues".

Kyprianou stated that his country will not recognize Kosovo and that Nicosia support's Belgrade's EU integration and liberalization of the visa regime for the Serbian citizens.

After meeting with Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias, the Serbian minister stated that "there is no possibility that any Cypriot government would recognize Kosovo".

Nicosia's position is that the declaration of Kosovo's independence is a violation of international law, which must not be allowed, Jeremić continued.

"We have held final consultations with the Cypriot side ahead of the start of the public debate at the International Court of Justice on December 1, on the legality of the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo," he also said.

Jeremić noted that the position of Cyprus on Kosovo is "firm and constant", and that it comes with "full unity of all institutions and parties".

All that, the minister concluded, "removes any danger that Serbia might be conditioned on the European path, in the context of our policy toward Kosovo".

Cyprus is a close friend and partner to Serbia and we are exceptionally grateful for the support we enjoy here, said Jeremić