Serbia lawmakers vow never to recognize Kosovo

By JOVANA GEC, Associated Press Writer
BELGRADE, Serbia – Serb lawmakers passed a resolution Tuesday vowing that their country will never recognize Kosovo as an independent state, despite a U.N. court ruling backing the independence declaration by the former Serbian province.

As expected, Serbia's 250-member parliament overwhelmingly approved the motion with 192 votes in favor, 26 against and two abstentions after a heated debate during which the opposition blasted the government for "the diplomatic debacle" before the World Court.

The emergency session was held after the International Court of Justice dealt Serbia's struggle to retain Kosovo a major blow by ruling last week that the former province's 2008 independence declaration was legal.

Serbia lost control of the territory during a 1998-99 war against ethnic Albanian rebels and the ensuing NATO air bombardment that led to an international administration of Kosovo.

The parliament resolution called for "peaceful negotiations" for a lasting solution. Kosovo officials have repeatedly rejected any further talks with Serbia on Kosovo's independence....