It is not in Serbia's interest to ever recognize the independence of its breakaway province of Kosovo, stated Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic.

Speaking in an interview for Serbian paper Blic, Jeremic said that should that happen then Serbia could well expect new declarations of independence in other quarters.

"The unilateral declaration of independence is a dramatic precedent and if we send out a message that we give up a part of our territory for a brighter future, then we are actually agreeing for that to happen again," said the Serbian Foreign Minister.

In March Serbia and Kosovo started its first direct bilateral talks, initially discussing technical regulations rather than political details.

In the meanwhile, high-ranking Serbian officials have said they would work for a partition of Kosovo, with the intention of returning the Serbian-populated northern areas to Serbia proper.

Kosovo authorities have been staunchly opposing that.