Dutch FM, MPs on Serbia's Hague cooperation

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen indicated a possible change of the Dutch position on Belgrade’s approach to the EU, Beta news agency reported today. “A progress is notable… It’s still not the maximum but there is some progress,” said he about Serbia’s cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Dutch FM, MPs on Serbia's Hague cooperation Verhagen made the comments during the EU enlargement discussion in the Dutch parliament. He told MPs that this was the reason why he would not rule out Serbia’s further approach to the EU. Verhagen said that his country would form its position based on Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz’s report on Serbia’s cooperation with the tribunal, due to be submitted to the UN Security Council on December 3. “If Brammertz’s evaluation says that Belgrade authorities are doing everything they can to locate, arrest and extradite the accused fugitives Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic, the Netherlands would not oppose Serbia’s further approach to EU, first of all regarding the trade relations but also lifting of the visa regime,” he said. The Dutch have been blocking the implementation of the EU Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia – a part of the suspended SAA – until there has been “full cooperation” with the Hague Tribunal, i.e. until General Mladic, a former military leader of Bosnia's Serbs, has been arrested. The Dutch government has become isolated in the EU regarding that position, noted the foreign minister during the discussion. “We are strict, but we treat everyone the same,” said he. The Dutch minister also said that Serbia should not apply for EU candidacy yet, even though some EU members had been encouraging such action. The Dutch parliamentary parties decided to “give Verhagen room” to adjust his position regarding Serbia, under condition that they be consulted first. The majority of MPs, however, opposed Serbia approaching the EU "too speedily" before Mladic has been arrested. On Thursday, Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman Bert Rice told Tanjug that Verhagen's latest statements do not constitute for a change in the Netherlands' stand on the continuation of Serbia's European integrations. According to the spokesman, during yesterday's debate in parliament, Verhagen underscored that Serbia had strived to wards European integrations in a very good way during the whole of the last year and welcomed this positive change. However, now a report on Serbia's cooperation with the Hague, which will be submitted by Brammertz, is awaited. The report is of particular importance in order to see whether Serbia fully cooperates with the Hague, said the spokesman.

Dutch FM, MPs on Serbia's Hague cooperation

Verhagen made the comments during the EU enlargement discussion in the Dutch parliament. He told MPs that this was the reason why he would not rule out Serbia’s further approach to the EU.

Verhagen said that his country would form its position based on Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz’s report on Serbia’s cooperation with the tribunal, due to be submitted to the UN Security Council on December 3.

“If Brammertz’s evaluation says that Belgrade authorities are doing everything they can to locate, arrest and extradite the accused fugitives Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić, the Netherlands would not oppose Serbia’s further approach to EU, first of all regarding the trade relations but also lifting of the visa regime,” he said.

The Dutch have been blocking the implementation of the EU Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia – a part of the suspended SAA – until there has been “full cooperation” with the Hague Tribunal, i.e. until General Mladić, a former military leader of Bosnia's Serbs, has been arrested.

The Dutch government has become isolated in the EU regarding that position, noted the foreign minister during the discussion.

“We are strict, but we treat everyone the same,” said he.

The Dutch minister also said that Serbia should not apply for EU candidacy yet, even though some EU members had been encouraging such action.

The Dutch parliamentary parties decided to “give Verhagen room” to adjust his position regarding Serbia, under condition that they be consulted first.

The majority of MPs, however, opposed Serbia approaching the EU "too speedily" before Mladić has been arrested.

On Thursday, Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman Bert Rice told Tanjug that Verhagen's latest statements do not constitute for a change in the Netherlands' stand on the continuation of Serbia's European integrations.

According to the spokesman, during yesterday's debate in parliament, Verhagen underscored that Serbia had strived to wards European integrations in a very good way during the whole of the last year and welcomed this positive change.

However, now a report on Serbia's cooperation with the Hague, which will be submitted by Brammertz, is awaited. The report is of particular importance in order to see whether Serbia fully cooperates with the Hague, said the spokesman.