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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Full cooperation with Hague tribunal key condition for Serbia’s candidacy

Belgrade, 4 February 2011

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Bozidar Djelic stated today that the upcoming report by Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will be crucial to Serbia’s further EU integration process, as the statement that Belgrade fully cooperates with the tribunal is a precondition for Serbia to acquire EU candidate status.

Author: Tanjug

Djelic told the Tanjug news agency that cooperation with the Hague tribunal remains the key condition for Serbia’s EU integration, adding that the best, but not the only way to prove this cooperation is to locate Hague indictees Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic.

The weeks ahead and Brammertz’s upcoming visit in February are of paramount importance for his June report to be positive, Djelic underlined.

He noted that the Chief Prosecutor’s report will be the basis for the European Commission to compose their opinion, while the next report, due in December, will be decisive, as that will be the moment when EU member countries will decide whether to grant candidate status to Serbia or not.

As for other conditions for acquiring candidate status, Djelic said that in the first half of the year Serbia must pass all of the necessary laws, while by 1 September it can conduct minor corrections at the demand of the European Commission.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that it is crucial that Serbia receives a satisfactory opinion from the European Commission by 12 October, based on which it may launch a diplomatic offensive to garner the support of every EU member.