"Possible independence for Kosovo would set a dangerous precedent that would destabilise not only Serbia, but the entire Balkans, as well as many other regions. Such a political and international law precedent would prevent Southeast Europe from fully using its development and geo-strategic potential," Tadic said.
The Serbian president went on to say that Kosovo's independence would cause an energy crisis in the Balkans similar to the one in OPEC member-countries in the mid 1970s.
A peaceful, compromise and mutually acceptable solution for the future status of the Serbian province is a precondition for the development of the entire region, Tadic said.
Underlining the importance of maintaining stability in Southeast Europe, he said the region could be a bridge between countries rich in oil and gas and Europe.
Serbia strongly supports the project of a Pan-European Oil Pipeline (PEOP) that would run from Constanta to Trieste and ensure long-term oil supply both for the region and the EU, Tadic said.
Increased energy efficiency and environmental protection will be crucial global issues in the years to come and Southeast European countries are therefore obligated to raise the technological level of their economies and use energy in line with the Kyoto Protocol, Tadic said.
Addressing the summit, Romanian President Traian Basescu called for establishing an integrated regional energy market. Romania supports the establishment of new transport routes, Basescu said, pointing to PEOP as the fastest route for bringing oil from the Caspian Sea to Western Europe.
Slovene Minister for Strategic Development Ziga Turk said the global demand for energy was rising and that by 2030 it would increase by more than 50%.
"Such a dramatic rise in energy demand is a threat not only for the global economy, but for the climate as well, because it contributes to the emission of carbon dioxide," Turk said.
The Slovene government has defined energy security as one of the key priorities of its EU presidency in 2008, Turk said.
A representative of the European Commission, Cristobal Burgos Alonso, said that the EU was building a dialogue with external partners, Russia being the most important one, and that the dialogue was based on non-discrimination and a transparent approach to energy sources and infrastructure.
The main goals of the EU's energy policy are energy supply security, economic competitiveness, and sustainability of energy sources, he said.