Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic said on Thursday that membership in the European Union and regional stability are Serbia’s key foreign policy priorities, TV N1 reports.

Speaking to students at the 8th class of High Security and Defense Studies, Dacic said that Kosovo is an issue of the highest national interest and the greatest political and security challenge, adding that Serbia will remain committed to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and compromise as the only way to reach a viable solution.

Membership in the EU is a strategic interest because the region’s integration into Europe is the best guarantee of lasting stability, the foreign minister said. According to Dacic, stability is the key reason behind Serbia’s policy of cooperation and reconciliation.

“Serbia is a key player in regional stability and takes part in resolving problems instead of being the problem others have to tackle,” he said.

Dacic added the country’s policy of military neutrality is not an obstacle to cooperation with NATO. The role of KFOR in Kosovo is extremely important to the whole region in terms of security and Serbia fully supports its mandate which guarantees the security of the Serb community, properties and cultural heritage. Pristina’s desire to change the Kosovo Security Forces mandate and transform them into a military is unacceptable, Dacic underlined.