(CNN) -- Serbia is "ready to talk" with Kosovo and "we will do so in good faith," Serbia's president told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday. "Soon the two parties will be talking to each other for the first time in many years," said President Boris Tadic. "We must be patient and seek out those issues which allow confidence to be built on each side," he added. "There will be many issues to discuss and some of them will be complicated. You all can contribute to an atmosphere that creates trust." Kosovo had long been a restive province of Serbia with a majority ethnic Albanian population until it declared independence in Feburary 2008.
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Boris Tadic delivers address to U.N.
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He reiterates Serb stance on Kosovo
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U.S. and dozens of other nations recognize Kosovo's indepence
Serbia and many ethnic Serbs staunchly opposed the @placeholder independence move regard Kosovo as Serbian territory and refuse to recognize its sovereignty.