PRISTINA (AFP)--The Kosovo government Monday cautiously welcomed the victory of pro-European forces in Serbia, expressing hope it could boost cooperation between the two sides.

"The creation of a democratic government in Serbia will make dialogue and cooperation in the region easier to a great extent," Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci told reporters.

"When governments around us, including the government in Serbia, become democratic and pro-European and pro-integration, it will be easier for them to become more cooperative to the region, including Kosovo, in the future integration process in the European Union," he said.

Three months ago, ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia, whose government and people consider the territory the cradle of their history, culture and religion.

In claiming the parliamentary poll win late Sunday on behalf of pro-European forces gathered around his Democratic Party, Serbian President Boris Tadic said: "Serbia will never recognize Kosovo."

Kosovo political analyst Lulzim Peci urged the incoming Serbian government to prove it is genuinely committed to European standards in dealing with the breakaway southern province.

"Pro-European forces (in Serbia) need to be more reformed to become really pro-European," Peci told AFP. "Now, it is a phase when the Democratic Party has to prove that it is of that kind."
May 12, 2008
AFP

PRISTINA (AFP)--The Kosovo government Monday cautiously welcomed the victory of pro-European forces in Serbia, expressing hope it could boost cooperation between the two sides.

"The creation of a democratic government in Serbia will make dialogue and cooperation in the region easier to a great extent," Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci told reporters.

"When governments around us, including the government in Serbia, become democratic and pro-European and pro-integration, it will be easier for them to become more cooperative to the region, including Kosovo, in the future integration process in the European Union," he said.

Three months ago, ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia, whose government and people consider the territory the cradle of their history, culture and religion.

In claiming the parliamentary poll win late Sunday on behalf of pro-European forces gathered around his Democratic Party, Serbian President Boris Tadic said: "Serbia will never recognize Kosovo."

Kosovo political analyst Lulzim Peci urged the incoming Serbian government to prove it is genuinely committed to European standards in dealing with the breakaway southern province.

"Pro-European forces (in Serbia) need to be more reformed to become really pro-European," Peci told AFP. "Now, it is a phase when the Democratic Party has to prove that it is of that kind."