In an interview with Belgrade's Vecernje Novosti daily, Wilhelm recalled that Germany recognised Kosovo's independence, so Berlin wanted a higher level of Belgrade-Pristina relations.
"But, Serbia doesn't recognise Kosovo. We would be satisfied with an agreement on the exchange of liaison officers who would work at EU missions in Belgrade and Pristina. That's another positive thing, but... there are still many important things to deal with," he was quoted as saying.
Asked what Berlin understood as normalisation of Belgrade-Pristina relations, Wilhelm said it was extremely important to find a solution regarding the parallel structures in north Kosovo and that they could no longer function as such.
He said it was also important that Serbia stopped blocking Kosovo from joining European and international institutions.
Asked if this also meant "a seat for Kosovo in the UN, which is unacceptable to Serbia because it would mean the recognition of independence," the ambassador recalled Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic's statement that Belgrade was willing to tackle all subjects and said that Kosovo's UN membership should also be addressed in the Belgrade-Pristina talks.
Asked if Serbia would be required to agree to Kosovo's UN membership in order to be given a date for negotiations on EU accession, Wilhelm said this would depend on agreement at the European Council.
"To us, (the UN membership) issue is very important, but at this moment I can't say whether it will be crucial for granting a date," he said, adding that the Council would first wait for reports by the European Commission and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and that the overall impression and not specific criteria would be crucial.