Dacic told the press that the delegation, comprising him, President Tomislav Nikolic and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, showed willingness not to cross the red line set by the Serbian parliament's resolution and platform on negotiations with Kosovo.
"We have only one demand - either give us a community of Serb municipalities which will have something to do or let's not waste time," he said, adding that the community's basic powers envisaged security in north Kosovo and decisive influence on the police, interior affairs and the judiciary.
Dacic said the Serbian delegation informed Ashton that Serbia insisted on the community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo being an institution with "real powers."
"There must be international guarantees that the Kosovo army won't come to that territory," he said, adding that Belgrade's option would not guarantee only the stability of Kosovo but the region too.
Dacic conceded, however, that he could not be optimistic about a successful outcome of the negotiations since there had been no contacts with Pristina. He voiced confidence that Ashton would come to Belgrade on Thursday, after visiting Pristina, to continue the talks.
Citing Beta news agency in Pristina, Belgrade's electronic media said Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci had refuted Nikolic's claims that Pristina had given up from its positions on a community of Serb municipalities. Speaking in parliament, Thaci said the foundations for the talks with Belgrade were Kosovo's Constitution and laws as well as former UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plan. He also said he was optimistic about a successful outcome.
Nikolic said on Monday after the talks with Ashton that he expected an agreement with Kosovo to be signed by the end of the month, adding that Pristina had yielded in its demands regarding the powers of a community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo.
The next round of Belgrade-Pristina talks is expected on March 20 and progress is a prerequisite for the two countries' progress in their relations with the EU.