On Tuesday the Serbian Parliament approved a new Government after weeks of negotiations following elections held on 11 May. The governing coalition will be made up of pro-European parties, with the ultranationalists in opposition. Mirko Cvetkovic will now head the Democratic Party (DS) and Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) coalition.

Despite his pro-European stance, the new Prime Minister has already made it clear that his Government will not recognize the state of Kosovo, which declared its independence on 17 February. As he was sworn into office Cvetkovic even went as far as to say that he would devote himself to "keeping Kosovo and Metohija in the Republic of Serbia".

There was no shortage of reactions in Pristina, the Kosovar capital. President Fatmir Sejdiu asked the Serbian Government to "give up its prejudices against Kosovo", and assured Serbians that it was in their best interest to change their stance on Kosovo because "their real priority now is membership of the European Union".

The German Minister for Europe, Günter Gloser, also in Pristina, reiterated Sejdiu's words, stating that Serbia would be required to "recognize the independence of Kosovo" before joining the European Union. According to Gloser, the EU supports Serbia's "pro-European" ambitions, but the status of Kosovo is not negotiable because the country's independence has already been recognized internationally. 

Further information:

• B92: Cvetković officially takes over reins
• KosovaLive: Serbia's EU Entry Requires Kosovo Recognition, German Minister Says