Skopje  - Leaders of central European countries discussed energy perspectives and challenges to the region during a summit in Ohrid Saturday, Macedonian media reported.

The two-day summit was to end later in the day with the adoption of a final document, following the addresses of 17 presidents of central European countries.

The final document was to state the region "has no alternative but the integration into the EU" and that the economic development remains one of the utmost priorities of the region's countries.

Serbian president Boris Tadic said Serbia would never give up its identity or accept the "illegal" declaration of Kosovo independence, which had negative consequences on the stability of the region.

"I want to emphasise once again that Serbia has the right and obligation to preserve its integrity and identity in a peaceful way and at the same time ensure its European future," Tadic said.

"The EU is the greatest peaceful project in the history of mankind. EU protects the identity of individual states and at the same time gives economic prosperity to all its citizens. Those are the reasons why we want to continue with Serbia's European path that has no alternative," he added.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February. The youngest European state was recognized by a majority of EU members and Western powers. Serbia and its allies oppose it.

Serbia earlier this week signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU, a first step towards full EU membership. The signing of SAA caused an uproar among nationalists in Serbia.

Serbia is facing early parliamentary elections on May 11 and latest polls suggest that anti European block led by increasingly nationalist care taker Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and main opposition Radical Party could win more seats in the parliament than pro European parties headed by Tadic. (dpa)