"Steinmeier: Serbia on right path"

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says he is convinced that Belgrade is making every effort to improve cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. “I am positive that the current team in Belgrade knows how important cooperation with the Hague-based Tribunal is," Steinmeier said. "Steinmeier: Serbia on right path" “We said in Brussels that full cooperation was a prerequisite for your country's EU integration, and not only for your country, but also for both Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina,” he underlined. “As far as this is concerned, I see that Serbia is on the right track,” the German foreign minister said. In an interview for Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti, published on Tuesday, he pointed out that, all in all, he had seen a number of positive things in Serbia and the region. Asked whether it would be possible to activate the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) without resolution of the Mladic case, Steinmeier answered that the arrest of Radovan Karadzic had been an important step, but that other steps had to follow too, particularly the arrest and handover of the former Bosnian Serb military commander. "When it comes to the SAA, you’re aware that we signed it together with President [Boris] Tadic in the spring. We also said that we would begin its implementation as soon as full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal was achieved. We believe that the Serbian authorities are working intensively with the Hague,” said Steinmeier. He said that he did not know if the Serbian government could express its determination for EU integration more than it was already doing. “I feel it in every sentence when we speak. Obviously, there are still a lot of hurdles to be negotiated, and the Belgrade authorities know this as well as I do. But, they’re going in the right direction, and the will is there—the deciding conditions for the plan to succeed ultimately,” said the minister. Frank Walter-Steinmeier (FoNet, archive)

"Steinmeier: Serbia on right path"

“We said in Brussels that full cooperation was a prerequisite for your country's EU integration, and not only for your country, but also for both Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina,” he underlined.

“As far as this is concerned, I see that Serbia is on the right track,” the German foreign minister said.

In an interview for Belgrade daily Večernje Novosti, published on Tuesday, he pointed out that, all in all, he had seen a number of positive things in Serbia and the region.

Asked whether it would be possible to activate the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) without resolution of the Mladić case, Steinmeier answered that the arrest of Radovan Karadžić had been an important step, but that other steps had to follow too, particularly the arrest and handover of the former Bosnian Serb military commander.

"When it comes to the SAA, you’re aware that we signed it together with President [Boris] Tadić in the spring. We also said that we would begin its implementation as soon as full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal was achieved. We believe that the Serbian authorities are working intensively with the Hague,” said Steinmeier.

He said that he did not know if the Serbian government could express its determination for EU integration more than it was already doing.

“I feel it in every sentence when we speak. Obviously, there are still a lot of hurdles to be negotiated, and the Belgrade authorities know this as well as I do. But, they’re going in the right direction, and the will is there—the deciding conditions for the plan to succeed ultimately,” said the minister.