Holland: Mladić arrest remains condition

The Dutch foreign minister has told B92 that his government still demands full Hague cooperation as a condition for signing the SAA. The Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) can only be signed on April 28 if full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal is achieved by then, meaning the extradition of Ratko Mladic, said Maxime Verhagen’s spokesman. Holland: Mladic arrest remains condition The statement contradicted rumors in the media that Holland had softened its stance on the issue. At the same time, he said, Holland was prepared to assume “a creative position“ in terms of resolving this matter, provided “the current and future Serbian government clearly and publicly commits to meeting all the remaining conditions.“ The Council of Europe would monitor fulfillment of these commitments, and would have to give its appraisals of cooperation unanimously. Should cooperation be unsatisfactory, Holland would insist that ratification and application of the agreement be withheld. Daily: SAA to be signed on April 28 Deputy PM Bozidar Djelic will sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) at the meeting of European foreign minister in Luxembourg on April 28, says Blic. According to the daily, signing will be made possible after Holland softened its stance on the issue following Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulic's visit to The Hague last week. The news comes after EU officials yesterday confirmed that they were making “every effort” to enable Serbia to sign the SAA before the elections. They stressed that European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn felt that the condition of full Hague Tribunal cooperation could stay in force, even after signing, and could be checked until ratification in the European Parliament (EP) and member-state parliaments. On Wednesday, at a conference on the western Balkans in Brussels, Rehn pointed out that “Serbia is a key to stability and good neighborly relations in the Balkans.” “Serbia now stands before critical parliamentary elections on May 11—it can choose a European future or expose itself to a dangerous situation.” At the same time, as was underlined, Brussels and other European capitals are also expecting a clear response from the Belgrade government that they are determined and ready to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). These sources and EU Council of Ministers officials stressed that they were doing everything to bring the Dutch around to the way of thinking of the remaining 27 member-states. Beta was informed of the “big and unpleasant surprise” felt after EU High Representative Javier Solana’s “clear frank comments in the EP, that were very favorable to Serbia” were welcomed by certain political forces in Serbia, as they put it, “in an extremely derogatory fashion, and clearly used for the aims of electoral campaigning.” Solana’s colleagues pointed to the fact that he had decided to give his support to the pro-European forces at the May 11 elections, and for “Serbia to become the EU’s closest partner and come closer to the EU.” Meanwhile, the high representative himself said that the forthcoming elections in Serbia would show whether its citizens wanted to live in a “stable and progressive” or “isolated, economically weakened" country that was in “permanent conflict.” In an interview with Podgorica weekly CG Ekonomist, he said that Brussels was in “constant contact” with Belgrade, and that it was “closely monitoring developments” in Serbia. Asked what he would advise Serbian citizens on the subject of Kosovo and European integration, Solana replied that “at this moment in time it’s important for their country” to cooperate with international institutions and organizations that can help them reach a peaceful solution. “My recommendation is cooperation with the relevant actors in finding a peaceful solution. We need solutions that will improve the region’s stability and enhance the quality of life of its citizens,” concluded the high representative. Late on Friday, in spite of earlier comments, President Boris Tadic said that it was "unlikely" that the SAA would be signed before the elections and that there was no point "getting citizens' hopes up." "If the opportunity arises, Serbian representatives should do it because it's in the citizens' interests and in the interests of preserving our integrity in Kosovo," the president told Enter TV.

Holland: Mladić arrest remains condition

The statement contradicted rumors in the media that Holland had softened its stance on the issue.

At the same time, he said, Holland was prepared to assume “a creative position“ in terms of resolving this matter, provided “the current and future Serbian government clearly and publicly commits to meeting all the remaining conditions.“

The Council of Europe would monitor fulfillment of these commitments, and would have to give its appraisals of cooperation unanimously.

Should cooperation be unsatisfactory, Holland would insist that ratification and application of the agreement be withheld.

Daily: SAA to be signed on April 28

Deputy PM Božidar Đelić will sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) at the meeting of European foreign minister in Luxembourg on April 28, says Blic.

According to the daily, signing will be made possible after Holland softened its stance on the issue following Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulić's visit to The Hague last week.

The news comes after EU officials yesterday confirmed that they were making “every effort” to enable Serbia to sign the SAA before the elections.

They stressed that European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn felt that the condition of full Hague Tribunal cooperation could stay in force, even after signing, and could be checked until ratification in the European Parliament (EP) and member-state parliaments.

On Wednesday, at a conference on the western Balkans in Brussels, Rehn pointed out that “Serbia is a key to stability and good neighborly relations in the Balkans.”

“Serbia now stands before critical parliamentary elections on May 11—it can choose a European future or expose itself to a dangerous situation.”

At the same time, as was underlined, Brussels and other European capitals are also expecting a clear response from the Belgrade government that they are determined and ready to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA).

These sources and EU Council of Ministers officials stressed that they were doing everything to bring the Dutch around to the way of thinking of the remaining 27 member-states.

Beta was informed of the “big and unpleasant surprise” felt after EU High Representative Javier Solana’s “clear frank comments in the EP, that were very favorable to Serbia” were welcomed by certain political forces in Serbia, as they put it, “in an extremely derogatory fashion, and clearly used for the aims of electoral campaigning.”

Solana’s colleagues pointed to the fact that he had decided to give his support to the pro-European forces at the May 11 elections, and for “Serbia to become the EU’s closest partner and come closer to the EU.”

Meanwhile, the high representative himself said that the forthcoming elections in Serbia would show whether its citizens wanted to live in a “stable and progressive” or “isolated, economically weakened" country that was in “permanent conflict.”

In an interview with Podgorica weekly CG Ekonomist, he said that Brussels was in “constant contact” with Belgrade, and that it was “closely monitoring developments” in Serbia.

Asked what he would advise Serbian citizens on the subject of Kosovo and European integration, Solana replied that “at this moment in time it’s important for their country” to cooperate with international institutions and organizations that can help them reach a peaceful solution.

“My recommendation is cooperation with the relevant actors in finding a peaceful solution. We need solutions that will improve the region’s stability and enhance the quality of life of its citizens,” concluded the high representative.

Late on Friday, in spite of earlier comments, President Boris Tadić said that it was "unlikely" that the SAA would be signed before the elections and that there was no point "getting citizens' hopes up."

"If the opportunity arises, Serbian representatives should do it because it's in the citizens' interests and in the interests of preserving our integrity in Kosovo," the president told Enter TV.