Tadić wants EU "to do its part now"

President Boris Tadic says the Serbian authorities arrested Hague indictee Ratko Mladic the moment they discovered him. He told the AP in an interview that that the remaining Hague fugitive - former political leader of Serbs in Croatia Goran Hadzic - will soon be arrested. Tadic wants EU "to do its part now" “The truth is that we arrested Ratko Mladic the moment we discovered him,” Tadic said. He underlined that he is certain Serbia will “arrest Hadzic in the next few weeks, a month, the year ahead of us.” Tadic said that now it is clear that Serbia fulfills its international obligations, and that it will continue to do that. The Serbian president said it is time for the European Union to do its part by supporting his nation's efforts to join the bloc. “I simply ask the EU to fulfill its part. We fulfilled our part and we will continue to do so,'' said the Serbian President. “No one has the right any more to place Serbia on the pillar of shame,'' Tadic emphasized, adding that “no one has the right to say that this country is without the rule of law, and no one can say that we are a nation which is unable to face its past.'' Tadic said that Serbia “should be given the same path to EU membership accorded to another former Yugoslav republic, Croatia.“ “We are demanding that Serbia, just like Croatia, simultaneously be given the date for the start of the entry talks and not just the candidate status. When I say we demand I mean we deserve it,'' Tadic underscored. “There are no obstacles left,'' Tadic noted, adding that “stopping Serbia would be purely political.“ Boris Tadic (FoNet, file)

Tadić wants EU "to do its part now"

“The truth is that we arrested Ratko Mladić the moment we discovered him,” Tadić said.

He underlined that he is certain Serbia will “arrest Hadžić in the next few weeks, a month, the year ahead of us.”

Tadić said that now it is clear that Serbia fulfills its international obligations, and that it will continue to do that.

The Serbian president said it is time for the European Union to do its part by supporting his nation's efforts to join the bloc.

“I simply ask the EU to fulfill its part. We fulfilled our part and we will continue to do so,'' said the Serbian President.

“No one has the right any more to place Serbia on the pillar of shame,'' Tadić emphasized, adding that “no one has the right to say that this country is without the rule of law, and no one can say that we are a nation which is unable to face its past.''

Tadić said that Serbia “should be given the same path to EU membership accorded to another former Yugoslav republic, Croatia.“

“We are demanding that Serbia, just like Croatia, simultaneously be given the date for the start of the entry talks and not just the candidate status. When I say we demand I mean we deserve it,'' Tadić underscored.

“There are no obstacles left,'' Tadić noted, adding that “stopping Serbia would be purely political.“