Hague prosecutor meets with Serbian officials

Serbia's PM and president met in Belgrade on Thursday with Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz. President Boris Tadic stated after the meeting that Serbia would continue its full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Hague prosecutor meets with Serbian officials He stressed that it was clear that Serbia's institutions were cooperating in full with the Tribunal, and that they were doing everything to find the remaining Hague fugitives, according to an announcement by the Serbian president's press service. "Our country is searching intensively for the remaining indictees, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic, and it is working to complete its cooperation with the Hague successfully," said Tadic. Brammertz also met National Council for Hague Cooperation Chairman Rasim Ljajic and commended the level and quality of Serbia's cooperation, underscoring however that the only outstanding issue remains an arrest of two Hague indictees who are still at large. According to a statement released by the council, Ljajic concluded that there is not a single request, out of the total number of 1,838 requests the Hague prosecutor had so far sent to the Serbian authorities, that had not been responded to within the expected period of time. It was also concluded that there is only one such request pending at the moment. Brammertz underscored that the data will surely be included in his six-month report that he is due to present to the UN Security Council in December. Brammertz and Ljajic, who is also one of the coordinators of the Action team for location and arrest of the Hague indictees, also discussed some trials before the Hague. Also in Belgrade on Thursday, the Hague chief prosecutor met with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, who said that a successful finalization of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal was one of the top priority goals of the Serbian government. Cvetkovic also stated that the level of cooperation so far clearly proved that the government and its authorized bodies had been fully committed to the cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, the Serbian government's press service said in a statement. The authorities in Serbia are making continuous effort in the search for the remaining fugitives and they are doing all in their power to bring them to justice, it was pointed out. Brammertz was quoted as saying that he was "pleased with Serbia's cooperation and he also praised the efficiency of all bodies in charge of the issue". Yesterday, Serbia's War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic also met with Brammertz. Vukcevic stated after the meeting that there was "a high degree of understanding achieved". They talked about improvement of regional cooperation, statements said, while Vukcevic informed Brammertz that his office would "open three new cases in the coming days". Brammertz is in Serbia for a two-day visit for meetings with the country's top officials, who will try to convince him that everything is being done to arrest the remaining two fugitives, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. The unblocking of Serbia's EU integration for the most part depends on his appraisal of the cooperation. As Brammertz arrived in Belgrade, he said that he should not be expected to state that the Serbian government had reached full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, since Mladic and Hadzic – who he believes are in Serbia – were not in jail. His interlocutors in Belgrade, however, hope to prove that the cooperation has been taken to a maximum level even though the final goal has not been achieved. National Council for Hague Cooperation Office Director Dusan Ignjatovic told B92 TV last night that if Brammertz accepts such an explanation, then EU ministers and "perhaps the Dutch" could do the same. The Netherlands is blocking the implementation of the SAA, which Belgrade and Brussels signed a year and a half ago. "If he says that Serbia is making every effort to arrest the remaining two accused, there's hope," said Ignjatovic. Tadic, Brammertz meet in Belgrade (Beta)

Hague prosecutor meets with Serbian officials

He stressed that it was clear that Serbia's institutions were cooperating in full with the Tribunal, and that they were doing everything to find the remaining Hague fugitives, according to an announcement by the Serbian president's press service.

"Our country is searching intensively for the remaining indictees, Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić, and it is working to complete its cooperation with the Hague successfully," said Tadić.

Brammertz also met National Council for Hague Cooperation Chairman Rasim Ljajić and commended the level and quality of Serbia's cooperation, underscoring however that the only outstanding issue remains an arrest of two Hague indictees who are still at large.

According to a statement released by the council, Ljajić concluded that there is not a single request, out of the total number of 1,838 requests the Hague prosecutor had so far sent to the Serbian authorities, that had not been responded to within the expected period of time.

It was also concluded that there is only one such request pending at the moment.

Brammertz underscored that the data will surely be included in his six-month report that he is due to present to the UN Security Council in December.

Brammertz and Ljajić, who is also one of the coordinators of the Action team for location and arrest of the Hague indictees, also discussed some trials before the Hague.

Also in Belgrade on Thursday, the Hague chief prosecutor met with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, who said that a successful finalization of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal was one of the top priority goals of the Serbian government.

Cvetković also stated that the level of cooperation so far clearly proved that the government and its authorized bodies had been fully committed to the cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, the Serbian government's press service said in a statement.

The authorities in Serbia are making continuous effort in the search for the remaining fugitives and they are doing all in their power to bring them to justice, it was pointed out.

Brammertz was quoted as saying that he was "pleased with Serbia's cooperation and he also praised the efficiency of all bodies in charge of the issue".

Yesterday, Serbia's War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukčević also met with Brammertz.

Vukčević stated after the meeting that there was "a high degree of understanding achieved".

They talked about improvement of regional cooperation, statements said, while Vukčević informed Brammertz that his office would "open three new cases in the coming days".

Brammertz is in Serbia for a two-day visit for meetings with the country's top officials, who will try to convince him that everything is being done to arrest the remaining two fugitives, Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić.

The unblocking of Serbia's EU integration for the most part depends on his appraisal of the cooperation.

As Brammertz arrived in Belgrade, he said that he should not be expected to state that the Serbian government had reached full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, since Mladić and Hadžić – who he believes are in Serbia – were not in jail.

His interlocutors in Belgrade, however, hope to prove that the cooperation has been taken to a maximum level even though the final goal has not been achieved.

National Council for Hague Cooperation Office Director Dušan Ignjatović told B92 TV last night that if Brammertz accepts such an explanation, then EU ministers and "perhaps the Dutch" could do the same.

The Netherlands is blocking the implementation of the SAA, which Belgrade and Brussels signed a year and a half ago.

"If he says that Serbia is making every effort to arrest the remaining two accused, there's hope," said Ignjatović.