"Do more than extradite Mladić"

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen says the remaining three war crimes fugitives must be arrested and extradited to the Hague. His comments were published in Novi Sad's Dnevnik newspaper a day after Bosnian Serb Stojan Zupljanin was sent to the UN war crimes tribunal. "Do more than extradite Mladic" Vehagen also said that "any consequences against the witnesses because of what they said in front of the Tribunal must be prevented", and that documents and archives necessary for the chief prosecutor's work must be made available. "That means, more than arresting Ratko Mladic and transferring him to The Hague is needed. As Prosecutor [Serge] Brammertz has written in his report – Serbia is not cooperating with the Hague [Tribunal]," he was quoted as saying. The Zupljanin arrest, Verhagen continued, is a sign that "things are beginning to move in the desired direction", and added that this is not enough, and that the three remaining fugitives must be arrested. Bosnian Serbs Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, as well as Croatian Serb Goran Hadzic, remain at large. Verhagen did not rule out the possibility that Serbia might achieve candidate status by the end of this year, but explained that this will depend on the European Commission's appraisal of the Interim Agreement's implementation. According to the Dutch foreign minister, if Serbia achieves full cooperation with the Hague, the Interim Agreement will come into effect, followed by the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) ratification in the EU members' national parliaments. This, Verhagen told the daily, will contribute to closer ties between Serbia and the EU. "If Serbia does all that is required of her, Holland will not be able to make new conditions, but will fulfill promises to Serbia," he said.

"Do more than extradite Mladić"

Vehagen also said that "any consequences against the witnesses because of what they said in front of the Tribunal must be prevented", and that documents and archives necessary for the chief prosecutor's work must be made available.

"That means, more than arresting Ratko Mladić and transferring him to The Hague is needed. As Prosecutor [Serge] Brammertz has written in his report – Serbia is not cooperating with the Hague [Tribunal]," he was quoted as saying.

The Župljanin arrest, Verhagen continued, is a sign that "things are beginning to move in the desired direction", and added that this is not enough, and that the three remaining fugitives must be arrested.

Bosnian Serbs Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić, as well as Croatian Serb Goran Hadžić, remain at large.

Verhagen did not rule out the possibility that Serbia might achieve candidate status by the end of this year, but explained that this will depend on the European Commission's appraisal of the Interim Agreement's implementation.

According to the Dutch foreign minister, if Serbia achieves full cooperation with the Hague, the Interim Agreement will come into effect, followed by the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) ratification in the EU members' national parliaments.

This, Verhagen told the daily, will contribute to closer ties between Serbia and the EU.

"If Serbia does all that is required of her, Holland will not be able to make new conditions, but will fulfill promises to Serbia," he said.