"Mladić arrest necessary for SAA ratification"

EP Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin says Belgrade's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal is necessary for its continued European integrations. He also noted that Serbia has made considerable progress in meeting the conditions for visa liberalization, Beta news agency reported. "Mladic arrest necessary for SAA ratification" In separate meetings with Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and Labor and Social Policy Minister Rasim Ljajic, Kacin said the arrest of Ratko Mladic is necessary for full implementation of the trade deal and ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the EU. After meeting Dacic, Kacin said that according to Hague tribunal Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz, there is still not full cooperation with the tribunal, but added that there is no other option "but to unfreeze the SAA" and start the implementation of the agreement's trade part, especially under the circumstance of the economic crisis. Dacic said Serbia believes that full cooperation with tribunal has already been achieved, adding that he expects Brammertz's report to be in that light. Dacic also said Serbia is aware that for the majority of countries in the EU and the world, full cooperation cannot be achieved without the arrest and extradition of the remaining fugitives. Ljajic, who is also head of the National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, said the government "is investing maximum efforts" toward finalizing the cooperation as soon as possible, and stressed that "all available capacities of the relevant services and institutions are engaged in locating and arresting the remaining two fugitives." Kacin congratulated the government on the implementation of the road map for visa liberalization, saying that the achievements so far provide a realistic chance of finalizing the job successfully and soon. Kacin, however, added that the abolition of visas does not depend on the European institutions, but on Serbia, who should "consistently implement its obligations and confirm itself as a reliable partner in the migration domain." Dacic said state bodies have fulfilled almost all the conditions of the road map for visa liberalization and that Belgrade therefore rightfully expects a positive response from Brussels. According to a statement from the Labor and Social Policy Ministry, Kacin said a decision on visa liberalization is a technical matter and that he expects the agreement between the EU and Serbia to be signed by the end of this year and to take effect in January 2010.

"Mladić arrest necessary for SAA ratification"

In separate meetings with Interior Minister Ivica Dačić and Labor and Social Policy Minister Rasim Ljajić, Kacin said the arrest of Ratko Mladić is necessary for full implementation of the trade deal and ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the EU.

After meeting Dačić, Kacin said that according to Hague tribunal Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz, there is still not full cooperation with the tribunal, but added that there is no other option "but to unfreeze the SAA" and start the implementation of the agreement's trade part, especially under the circumstance of the economic crisis.

Dačić said Serbia believes that full cooperation with tribunal has already been achieved, adding that he expects Brammertz's report to be in that light. Dačić also said Serbia is aware that for the majority of countries in the EU and the world, full cooperation cannot be achieved without the arrest and extradition of the remaining fugitives.

Ljajić, who is also head of the National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, said the government "is investing maximum efforts" toward finalizing the cooperation as soon as possible, and stressed that "all available capacities of the relevant services and institutions are engaged in locating and arresting the remaining two fugitives."

Kacin congratulated the government on the implementation of the road map for visa liberalization, saying that the achievements so far provide a realistic chance of finalizing the job successfully and soon.

Kacin, however, added that the abolition of visas does not depend on the European institutions, but on Serbia, who should "consistently implement its obligations and confirm itself as a reliable partner in the migration domain."

Dačić said state bodies have fulfilled almost all the conditions of the road map for visa liberalization and that Belgrade therefore rightfully expects a positive response from Brussels.

According to a statement from the Labor and Social Policy Ministry, Kacin said a decision on visa liberalization is a technical matter and that he expects the agreement between the EU and Serbia to be signed by the end of this year and to take effect in January 2010.