Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said the government and the president were not only moving a resolution and platform on Kosovo and Metohija but "want a solution to be found."
He said the discussion's goal should be a realistic consideration of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. He said that for years, there was in Kosovo a process of strengthening of independence, growing pressures on Serbs, no return or shedding light on the missing, while on the other hand resolutions and declarations were being discussed.
Serbia's sovereignty in Kosovo and Metohija is virtually non-existent, said Dacic. He recalled that last year marked a century of Kosovo's liberation from Turkish government, whereas now the situation was difficult, with Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as national and state interests threatened.
"Kosovo is run by commanders of war units with whom we were at war, yet today we are talking with them. That, unfortunately, is the reality," Dacic said, adding that the question was "what can be done to change this reality."
"Regardless of whether Kosovo is within Serbia or not, even during the Turkish occupation the Serbian people's relationship towards Kosovo didn't change. Kosovo is a big notion regardless of who has sovereignty there today. Kosovo is a Serbian archetype, a subject related to Serbian roots, migrations, as well as divisions," said Dacic.
He said the aim of the parliamentary discussion was "to realistically consider the situation we are in, Serbia's foreign policy position and the possibilities of a right decision."
The national broadcaster said the vote on the draft resolution was expected around 10 p.m.
According to the discussion so far, former PM Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia and Cedomir Jovanovic's Liberal and Democratic Party are not willing to endorse the resolution.