"Dutch unconvincing, looking for solution"

Ruling Democratic Party (DS) official Dragoljub Micunovic says the Dutch stance regarding Serbia’s Hague Tribunal cooperation is "unconvincing". He said that the assumption that Serbia should be punished for not doing enough to arrest the remaining Hague fugitives and extraditing them is not convincing enough. "Dutch unconvincing, looking for solution" “Almost every European Union member-state supports us in our efforts, with the exception of the Netherlands,” said Micunovic, who led the Serbian delegation that met last week with officials of the Dutch parliament. He added that while talking with his Dutch colleagues he got the feeling that the Netherlands does not want to be held responsible for Serbia falling behind in its European integration path. Two days before the arrival of Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz here, Micunovic said that he believes that there is no argument in favor of claims that Serbia is not cooperating enough. Brammertz’s report on Serbia’s cooperation will be the key factor influencing the decision of EU for unfreezing the interim trade agreement and Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). “Holland does not want to be seen as our enemy and does not want to have us look at them as this vengeful, xenophobic people. They are also looking for a way out of the current situation. There are reservations regarding EU enlargement in some Dutch parties, so Mladic could be used as an alibi for them,” Micunovic stated. "However, EU enlargement works to the advantage of the EU as well, because it will strengthen the union’s position in relations with global competition such as Russia, America and China," he was quoted as saying. The veteran DS official continued to state that Dutch parliamentary and government officials told the Serbian delegation that their country "has nothing against Serbia", while the Serbian side stated that Belgrade is "cooperating completely with the tribunal". Micunovic added that "there is no evidence that Mladic is not in Serbia". “Foreign services that we are working with have no such evidence either. Personally, I believe that there is no country that would want to risk hiding him, nor does anyone have a reason to do so. Realistically, he is in the Balkans, on the territory of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina or Montenegro. We told our colleagues in the Netherlands to think about whether it is easy for the state institutions to arrest Mladic based on good will alone,” Micunovic said.

"Dutch unconvincing, looking for solution"

“Almost every European Union member-state supports us in our efforts, with the exception of the Netherlands,” said Mićunović, who led the Serbian delegation that met last week with officials of the Dutch parliament.

He added that while talking with his Dutch colleagues he got the feeling that the Netherlands does not want to be held responsible for Serbia falling behind in its European integration path.

Two days before the arrival of Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz here, Mićunović said that he believes that there is no argument in favor of claims that Serbia is not cooperating enough.

Brammertz’s report on Serbia’s cooperation will be the key factor influencing the decision of EU for unfreezing the interim trade agreement and Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA).

“Holland does not want to be seen as our enemy and does not want to have us look at them as this vengeful, xenophobic people. They are also looking for a way out of the current situation. There are reservations regarding EU enlargement in some Dutch parties, so Mladić could be used as an alibi for them,” Mićunović stated.

"However, EU enlargement works to the advantage of the EU as well, because it will strengthen the union’s position in relations with global competition such as Russia, America and China," he was quoted as saying.

The veteran DS official continued to state that Dutch parliamentary and government officials told the Serbian delegation that their country "has nothing against Serbia", while the Serbian side stated that Belgrade is "cooperating completely with the tribunal".

Mićunović added that "there is no evidence that Mladić is not in Serbia".

“Foreign services that we are working with have no such evidence either. Personally, I believe that there is no country that would want to risk hiding him, nor does anyone have a reason to do so. Realistically, he is in the Balkans, on the territory of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina or Montenegro. We told our colleagues in the Netherlands to think about whether it is easy for the state institutions to arrest Mladić based on good will alone,” Mićunović said.