Fate of missing should be determined – Tadić

President Boris Tadic met Friday in Belgrade with War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic. Tadic said at the meeting that the search for the missing persons and perpetrators of war crimes in Kosovo is important in order to enable Serbia to, "with particular credibility", defend its position in the negotiations on the future status of that province. Fate of missing should be determined – Tadic The president stressed that he expects both Serbs and ethnic Albanians to search for the missing and for those who have committed crimes, since that is a prerequisite for good mutual relations. Tadic pointed out that attacks on the institution of the office of the War Crimes Prosecutor and the persons employed there stem from reasons that are "very specific and political". "This is unacceptable and must not happen, especially having in mind the reform processes in the country," Tadic said. "That is the only way in which Serbia can become a prosperous, civilized and European society," the president said. The Serb Radical Party (SRS) has on several occasions accused the Prosecution of collaborating with the Hague Tribunal to force witnesses to testify against the party leader, Vojislav Seselj, undergoing trial charged with war crimes. But the Prosecution has rejected these claims and reminded that its cooperation with the UN court is based on legislation, binding for all state institutions. Vukcevic thanked Tadic for the support, pointing out that his office "could not do its extremely difficult and responsible job without the backing from the top state organs." "There must be persistent work on constructing a democratic social milieu, in which there will be room for consensus on the necessity to face the past at an institutional level," Vukcevic said, pointing out that the president's visit was a move made "precisely with that in mind". Tadic, Vukcevic, and associates meet (Tanjug)

Fate of missing should be determined – Tadić

The president stressed that he expects both Serbs and ethnic Albanians to search for the missing and for those who have committed crimes, since that is a prerequisite for good mutual relations.

Tadić pointed out that attacks on the institution of the office of the War Crimes Prosecutor and the persons employed there stem from reasons that are "very specific and political".

"This is unacceptable and must not happen, especially having in mind the reform processes in the country," Tadić said.

"That is the only way in which Serbia can become a prosperous, civilized and European society," the president said.

The Serb Radical Party (SRS) has on several occasions accused the Prosecution of collaborating with the Hague Tribunal to force witnesses to testify against the party leader, Vojislav Šešelj, undergoing trial charged with war crimes.

But the Prosecution has rejected these claims and reminded that its cooperation with the UN court is based on legislation, binding for all state institutions.

Vukčević thanked Tadić for the support, pointing out that his office "could not do its extremely difficult and responsible job without the backing from the top state organs."

"There must be persistent work on constructing a democratic social milieu, in which there will be room for consensus on the necessity to face the past at an institutional level," Vukčević said, pointing out that the president's visit was a move made "precisely with that in mind".