Madrid  - Spain remains opposed to the independence of Kosovo by "political conviction" and in line with international law, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Monday.

Zapatero spoke at a joint press conference with Serbian President Boris Tadic, who was on his first state visit to Spain.

Spain is one of the few countries not to have recognized the independence Kosovo declared in 2008, allegedly for fear that it could encourage separatist tendencies in Spanish regions.

Serbia would "never" recognize the independence of its breakaway province, Tadic vowed.

Spain gave its backing to Serbia's aspiration to join the European Union, with Zapatero expressing hope that the country with a "European vocation" could present its candidature "within the shortest possible time."

The process has been blocked by the Netherlands, which is not satisfied with Serbian cooperation with the international war crimes tribunal on former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Zapatero said cooperation with the tribunal had improved, as shown by the arrest of former Bosnian-Serb president Radovan Karadzic in July.

Tadic saw no contradiction between Spain opposing the independence of Kosovo and having peacekeepers there. (dpa)