Rome, 12 May (AKI) - The president of Serbia, Boris Tadic, on an official visit to Italy, has said that "the independence of Kosovo in whatever form is unacceptable" and what was needed was a "long term European solution, which does not hamper (Serbia's) integration into the EU." "We do not want to impose a solution, we want dialogue" Tadic stressed, in a briefing at Rome's Foreign Press Club, saying their formula involved "less than independence but more than autonomy." The province of Kosovo has been under UN adminstration since 1999 after NATO bombing raids in response to Serb persecution of Albanians in Kosovo.

Tadic recalled that the issue involved political, historical, cultural and economic elements. "Taking into account national interest, no one can have it all, everyone must lose something," warned Tadic.

"Serbia wants an active role in seeking a solution, it wants to participate in the institutions that will be called on to decide this question. Serbia respects the legitimate interests of the Albanians, but it will not accept threats to the specific interest of Serbs in Kosovo, who live in a sort of ghetto."

Tadic is in Italy for a three day visit, which includes meetings with senior government leaders in Rome, Milan and Trieste, near the border with what was once the Yugoslav republic.

"The status quo is totally unacceptable for Serbia because it is not a solution for anyone" he said.

On Friday, the North Atlantic Council (NAC), which is the senior decision making body of NATO made up of the 26 permanent representatives, will visit Kosovo. During the visit, the NAC will meet in Pristina with Kosovo's president Rugova, prime minister Kosumi and the Commander of KFOR, the UN peacekeeping force in Kosovo.