“Extraditions necessary for EU membership”

Slovenian President Danilo Türk says that Ratko Mladic must be extradited in order for Serbia to become an EU member. “There can be no compromise, Mladic must be arrested and handed over to the Tribunal,” he said in an interview with Associated Press. “Extraditions necessary for EU membership” Türk said that “there should be no question that the extradition of war criminals is a condition for accepting Serbia into the EU.” Slovenia takes over the six-month EU presidency in January. Türk, who is currently in New York concerning matters linked to his earlier position as a United Nations representative, said that Slovenia, as a small country, could work together excellently with the U.S. to resolve many matters while presiding over the EU – including Kosovo’s future status. “Slovenia has long experience in communicating with the U.S. over Kosovo,” Türk said. Yesterday, Hague Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte asked the EU in Brussels not to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia until Mladic was arrested and extradited to the Hague Tribunal.

“Extraditions necessary for EU membership”

Türk said that “there should be no question that the extradition of war criminals is a condition for accepting Serbia into the EU.”

Slovenia takes over the six-month EU presidency in January.

Türk, who is currently in New York concerning matters linked to his earlier position as a United Nations representative, said that Slovenia, as a small country, could work together excellently with the U.S. to resolve many matters while presiding over the EU – including Kosovo’s future status.

“Slovenia has long experience in communicating with the U.S. over Kosovo,” Türk said.

Yesterday, Hague Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte asked the EU in Brussels not to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia until Mladić was arrested and extradited to the Hague Tribunal.