Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has asked the EU to treat Serbia like other countries in the region and stop imposing unreasonable conditions for its EU integration process.

"Serbia is, unfortunately, not being treated like other EU membership aspirants in the Western Balkans. We seem to be held to a different set of standards," Jeremic said.

Jeremic notes the condition imposed on Serbia that it must arrest Ratko Mladic while there is no evidence that Mladic is in Serbia.

"And now, some even try to insinuate that Serbia's recognition of Kosovo should be yet another pre-condition for candidacy status," Jeremic said.

Kosovo is a Serbian province that has declared independence illegally and some states have recognized the declaration saying it is legal.

"The time has come to say: Enough is enough," said Jeremic.

He noted that instead of helping Serbia overcome challenges, some in EU are erecting new ons.

French Ambassador in Serbia Jean-Francoise Terral, however, repeated that recognizing Kosovo is not a precondition set on Serbia in order to join EU.

Terral also noted that EULEX mission has nothing to do with Ahtisaari’s plan and does not prejudge the status of Kosovo.

During a viti toFrance, Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister insisted that the EU integration process and the Kosovo problem are two separate issues and that the acceptance of the EULEX mission is not a precondition for Serbia’s EU accession.

Djelic asked his French hosts to support that.

"France has marked Serbia as a crucial country of the West Balkans," Djelic said.

Djelic also said that the European Commission's  report on Serbia's progress toward European integrations is a sufficient basis for Serbia to acquire the status of a candidate-country for membership in the EU next year.

European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn confirmed that Serbia could be given the status of candidate for EU membership in 2009 but that outcome depends on Serbia's full cooperation with the war crimes tribunal.

Head of the European Commission Delegation to the Republic of Serbia Josep Lloveras said that the report by Hague Prosecutor Brammertz, due to be submitted to the UN Security Council in mid-December, will be of crucial importance for Serbia's hopes.

European Parliament Rapportuer for Kosovo Joost Lagendijk, however, said that closer ties with Serbia must be made conditional on its acceptance of the EULEX mission in Kosovo.

Chairwoman to the European Parliament Delegation to Southeastern Europe, Doris Pack, said that Serbia should make the problem of Kosovo a side issue.