BRUSSELS, Jan. 21 - Tuesday's start of Serbia's EU accession talks is the most important event for the country since World War II, Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic has said. "Historically, this will further determine our path," Dacic said on Tuesday at a press conference on the start of the Serbia-EU talks. What happened today could not have been expected 18 months ago, when the current Serbian government was formed, Dacic added. "We have surprised you", the prime minister said, adding that the government will not waste time on celebrations, but that it will get down to work as difficult tasks lie ahead. "Our people have deserved this," Dacic concluded.


Serbian Prime Minister said that the country's EU accession process is not linked to the status of Kosovo. Answering a Kosovo reporter's question in Brussels whether the formulation referring to a legally binding agreement means that at the end of the accession process Serbia will have to recognize Kosovo as independent, Dacic said that it is not his job to interpret EU documents. "Neither we nor they are completely clear about what that means, considering that the EU member states hold different positions on Kosovo," Dacic added. "The EU accession process is not a matter linked to the status of Kosovo. Our stance with regard to Kosovo's status does not change and was never on the agenda," stressed Dacic.