Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic has threatened to break off European Union-mediated normalization talks with Kosovo after the former province refused to allow him entry, the daily Politika said on Wednesday in its online edition, dpa reported.
Dacic had planned to visit a Serb enclave in mainly Albanian Kosovo on Thursday to rally Serb support for local elections on November 3.
But Kosovo's Deputy Premier Hajredin Kuci said that no officials from Serbia would be allowed entry during the formal month-long campaign for the elections.
"I warned Brussels ... that the decision of Pristina (Kosovo) authorities is scandalous and is a blow to the peace process," Dacic said.
The participation of Kosovo Serbs in the local elections is a key condition to be met before Belgrade can open talks with the EU, leading to eventual membership of the bloc.
"If I cannot go to Kosovo and urge Serbs to vote, then I have to ask if it makes sense for me to continue in the dialogue," Dacic said.
He added that he would raise the issue with the EU on Thursday.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, though Belgrade continues to insist on sovereignty over it.