Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met on Thursday with President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiades, whom he welcomed in Belgrade earlier in the day.

Speaking after the meeting, Anastasiades - who was throughout their joint news conference addressing Vucic as "friend" and "dear president" - pointed out that relations between our two countries are deeply rooted in historic, friendly and religious ties, and that their mutually beneficial cooperation is safe.

We appeal to our statesmen to never consent to the alienation of Kosovo and Metohija, since what is taken by force can be returned, while what is given away as a gift is lost forever, and Serbs and Serbia must not allow that to happen. The Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) sincerely hopes that the problem created firstly by an armed uprising of Albanian separatists, and then by the occupation of our southern province would be resolved peacefully based on justice and law principles.

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Marko Djuric said it is fully logical to have talks on Kosovo at different sides, Serbian media reported.

Djuric made this remark commenting on media allegations that USA, Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany representatives gather in Washington, where talks on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue would be held.

He added “it is crystal clear” which countries support Kosovo independence.

According to a new poll, on a scale from one to five, Serbian citizens appraise their country's relations with the EU a mark of 2.78.

The public opinion poll about the citizens' stance toward the EU was carried out March 21-24 by the Institute for European Affairs NGO and the Ninamedia agency, on a representative sample of 1,201 respondents.

More than half of them support Serbia's membership in the EU in general terms, while 49.5 percent said they would vote in favor of this (in a referendum).

Representatives of the US, the UK, France, Italy and Germany are in Washington for talks on the the final stage of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

Pristina-based Albanian language daily Gazeta Express said it has learned this.

A source told the newspaper that representatives of the five most powerful Western countries have gathered in Washington to hold consultations on the talks between Belgrade and Pristina.

“Serbia does not violate Brussels agreement but honors it, therefore Kosovo Karate Federation leadership and sportsmen were banned to enter Serbia in order to participate at European Championship, held from 10 to 13 May in Novi Sad,” Serbian PM Ana Brnabic told Serbian media.

She added “violation” of the Brussels agreement would happen if Serbia allowed entry to the sportsmen from Kosovo who did not notify Serbia on their intent to visit it, 48 hours in advance, “which is the simplest thing (to do),” but used it instead for a new political provocation.

Foreign policy commentator Bosko Jaksic and Chair of the Centre for Strategic Alternatives Aleksandar Mitic told TV N1 that Russia is in favour of maintaining “status quo” in Kosovo.

Both interlocutors agreed Kosovo would be a dominant topic in Vucic-Putin meeting in Moscow, but they disagreed when it comes to Serbia’s position related to Kosovo, TV N1 reported.

Leader of New Serbia (NS) Party Velimir Ilic told FoNet news agency there is not room to manipulate with the issue of Kosovo status and it is necessary to call referendum where citizens would decide whether or not Serbia would recognize Kosovo.

No government has the right to make such decision and give away part of the Serbian territory on behalf of the people, by recognizing Kosovo on behalf of the Serbian citizens, Ilic further said.

Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs early this morning did not permit karate representation from Kosovo to enter central Serbia at Merdare crossing point and continue towards Novi Sad where European championship is being held, Danas daily reported.  

According to RTK 2 journalist reporting from the Merdare crossing point, leadership of the Kosovo Karate Federation was informed decision to ban their entry was made this morning. Kosovo representation returned to Pristina, while Olympic Committee and Kosovo Government would decide on further steps.

Representatives of so-called states that Serbia does not recognize cannot participate in an inter-parliamentary conference in Belgrade, B92 reported.

Serbian National Assembly President Maja Gojkovic said this on Tuesday, responding to opposition SRS party leader and assembly member Vojislav Seselj, who said chair of the Kosovo Assembly's Committee on Foreign Affairs Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu had been invited to a gathering in Belgrade.

Speaking at the Serbian Assembly, Gojkovic said she had no such information, but would check whether Seselj's claim was true.