"The Serb people in Kosovo and Metohija are in the most difficult position of all European peoples," Tadic said in an address to some hundred Serbs in Orahovac, pointing to problems of isolation, lack of freedom of movement and right to work.
Speaking of whether Serbia can solve the problems of Kosovo Serbs, Tadic said: "I believe that we need allies in that regard."
"Today I urge assistance from the international community in solving the problems of Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija. There is no hatred towards Albanians in this message."
Tadic added that he would do his utmost so that international forces stayed in Kosovo.
"I have reiterated in all international meetings that Kosovo's independence is absolutely unacceptable for us. It would be a terrible mistake if international security forces left Kosovo and Metohija today. We must not allow any of the two things to happen," Tadic said.
The Serbian president visited the local Orthodox church in Orahovac, which is today inhabited by some 500 of around 4,000 pre-war Serb residents.
Before the visit to Orahovac, Tadic visited the monastery Visoki Decani, where monks welcomed him by ringing church bells. During the day Tadic will visit Serb returnees in the village of Belo Polje near Pec in western Kosovo, and Serbs in the village of Batusi, who have been without electricity for two months. He will also visit Lipljane and the Serb enclaves Gracanica and Priluzje. Tadic will end his tour of Kosovo by visiting northern Mitrovica.