Dutch FM: Hague key to integrations

The key condition for Serbia's continued EU integration is full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, Maxime Verhagen says. The Dutch foreign minister, interviewed by B92 CEO Veran Matic, stressed that his country along with other EU members has formulated the conditions that must be met in order for Serbia to make the next steps toward EU integration. Dutch FM: Hague key to integrations The key condition, he said, is full cooperation with the UN war crimes court in The Hague. "I must say I hope, and at the same time advocate, that Serbia should find and recognize her future within European structures," Verhagen said. "One of the first impressions I made when I became foreign minister was this: they asked me about my expectations and ideals for the future, and I said it is for a country such as Serbia to become an EU member." "For this reason I believe that only if it is with us, inside the EU, that Serbia will be able to turn a new page in history," the Dutch minister said. He reminded that countries that in the past engaged in wars and hostilities "precisely through European cooperation achieve coexistence in peace and achieve greater prosperity, security and stability in the region". "I am in favor of all the Balkan countries that went to war one against the other, in the last war after the Second World War in Europe, to become members of the EU," Verhagen continued. "During the Stabilization and Association Agreement [SAA] negotiations so far, we have included Tadic, and the government, and already then we emphasized as priority the suppressing of the policy of impunity, and cooperation with the Tribunal," he explained. "Serbia was included in these discussions, and precisely because we do not want to play into the hands of nationalist groups we said we will offer assistance, and Holland gave EUR 50mn for Serbia's development in the past period." "That is also the reason why in January, that is, before the elections and the discussion over the signing of the SAA, I said I wanted to help Serbia join Europe – that is the reason why then I proposed a political agreement in order to speed up, for example, exchange of students, and faster issuing of visas," Verhagen said. "We offered this precisely because we wished to encourage the pro-European forces in the society, and in this way include Serbia in Europe, and assist reforms. This offer still stand, but the government has not accepted it, Kostunica did not accept this proposal," the Dutch foreign minister said. Holland is one of the countries firmly opposed to further steps toward Serbia's EU integration until Belgrade achieves full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. In between the two rounds of presidential elections, on Feb. 28., Brussels offered Serbia the Interim Political Agreement instead of the SAA. The full interview with Verhagen will be broadcast tomorrow on B92 Info. Maxime Verhagen (B92)

Dutch FM: Hague key to integrations

The key condition, he said, is full cooperation with the UN war crimes court in The Hague.

"I must say I hope, and at the same time advocate, that Serbia should find and recognize her future within European structures," Verhagen said.

"One of the first impressions I made when I became foreign minister was this: they asked me about my expectations and ideals for the future, and I said it is for a country such as Serbia to become an EU member."

"For this reason I believe that only if it is with us, inside the EU, that Serbia will be able to turn a new page in history," the Dutch minister said.

He reminded that countries that in the past engaged in wars and hostilities "precisely through European cooperation achieve coexistence in peace and achieve greater prosperity, security and stability in the region".

"I am in favor of all the Balkan countries that went to war one against the other, in the last war after the Second World War in Europe, to become members of the EU," Verhagen continued.

"During the Stabilization and Association Agreement [SAA] negotiations so far, we have included Tadić, and the government, and already then we emphasized as priority the suppressing of the policy of impunity, and cooperation with the Tribunal," he explained.

"Serbia was included in these discussions, and precisely because we do not want to play into the hands of nationalist groups we said we will offer assistance, and Holland gave EUR 50mn for Serbia's development in the past period."

"That is also the reason why in January, that is, before the elections and the discussion over the signing of the SAA, I said I wanted to help Serbia join Europe – that is the reason why then I proposed a political agreement in order to speed up, for example, exchange of students, and faster issuing of visas," Verhagen said.

"We offered this precisely because we wished to encourage the pro-European forces in the society, and in this way include Serbia in Europe, and assist reforms. This offer still stand, but the government has not accepted it, Koštunica did not accept this proposal," the Dutch foreign minister said.

Holland is one of the countries firmly opposed to further steps toward Serbia's EU integration until Belgrade achieves full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. In between the two rounds of presidential elections, on Feb. 28., Brussels offered Serbia the Interim Political Agreement instead of the SAA.

The full interview with Verhagen will be broadcast tomorrow on B92 Info.