Serbia-Kosovo row mars EU-Balkans talks

The delegates put on a brave face, but the talks underlined their problems

Balkan leaders have urged the EU to keep faith with the enlargement process, after a meeting overshadowed by Serbia's last-minute withdrawal.

Serbia rejects Kosovo's self-proclaimed independence and did not want Pristina to have equal status at the talks.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hasim Thaci told reporters after the meeting that Serbia had the "mentality of the past".

The talks, in Slovenia, aimed to boost EU accession hopes of Albania, Kosovo and four former Yugoslav republics.

The BBC's Mark Lowen, in Ljubljana, says the delegates put on brave faces after the meeting.

BALKANS CONFERENCE Attending the conference: Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania Pulled out: Serbia

But he says the talks show more clearly than ever how much work remains before past problems can be put to rest and a new European future for the nations in the region can begin.

Mr Thaci told a news conference after the meeting that "participation and dialogue" was the way forward for the region.

"The state of Kosovo is ready to co-operate with the state of Serbia on practical issues. Boycott is not the solution," he said.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia two years ago - its status being recognised by countries including the US, UK and France, but rejected by a substantial number of other nations, including Russia.

Serbia wanted Kosovo to attend the EU meeting as a UN protectorate rather than a nation - but their appeal was rejected and Serbian President Boris Tadic pulled out.

Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor called for unity after the meeting.

"Everyone must recognise everyone else. We all need each other," he said.

Slovenia is the only EU member in the region, and our correspondent says the other nations at the talks face substantial challenges before they attain membership.

In Bosnia, different ethnic groups have failed to agree on any meaningful reform.

Albania is still in a transitional phase from years of communist isolation to democracy, and Macedonia's progress is blocked by a dispute with Greece over its name.

But our correspondent says EU membership is seen as a way of pacifying a still fragile region and drawing a line under its turbulent past.