Serbia made "important step toward EU"

President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy said in Brussels late on Monday that the arrest of Ratko Mladic was "a turning point". It was "an important step towards Serbia's accession to the European Union", said he. Serbia made "important step toward EU" At a joint press conference with visiting Serbian President Boris Tadic, van Rompuy pointed out that Mladic's arrest was "a milestone for Serbia, the region and international justice". "By arresting and extraditing Ratko Mladic, Serbia made a significant step towards taking its rightful place in today's Europe and realizing its European perspective," van Rompuy said, reiterating his full support for Tadic's European vision and commitment. The EU president stressed that the road to the European Union would still be hard, but that Serbia had surmounted a huge obstacle and now had a new chance. It is vital to make as much progress as possible at the moment, van Rompuy said, adding that he "encourages Tadic to intensify his work on the agenda, where strengthening national democratic institutions and the rule of law and promoting reforms of the judicial system are the major elements. Serbia will have EU's full support and assistance in realizing these goals." He added that there was six months remaining until the European Council would reconsider the EU enlargement issue and make relevant decisions, stressing that Serbia should make the most out of the time it had. He pointed out that he hoped Mladic's arrest would bring the region a step closer to reconciliation, stability and lasting peace. "Regional cooperation and reconciliation go hand in hand with progress in European integration and the guarantees are that the past will not repeat itself," van Rompuy said. He pointed out that Serbia had "a chance to improve the constructive and unavoidable role it plays in the region with courage, vision and determination to face challenges". Van Rompuy also commented on the dialog between Belgrade and Pristina, stressing that the two teams worked intensively with the facilitation of the EU on a number of issues, aimed at resolving everyday problems faced by the population and finding pragmatic solutions for cooperation as the basis for European integration. Tadic addressed the same news conference to say that following the arrest and extradition of Ratko Mladic, Serbia was now turning to reforms and completion of its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Tadic noted that Serbia had so far arrested and extradited 45 Hague indictees. "For Serbia, it is important to meet all its obligations," said Tadic, adding that Serbia will also arrest the only remaining Hague fugitive, a former political leader of Serbs in Croatia, Goran Hadzic. Tadic said that upcoming tasks of the state include fight against corruption and organized crime and judicial reform and stressed that that was a good way to bring new investments into the country and important to the development of the country and people. "That is the only way to bring new investors in our country and to increase the standard of living," Tadic said. The Serbian president stressed that he expected Serbia would get the EU membership candidacy status by the end of 2011 and that accession talks would begin in spring the following year. Tadic stressed Serbia wanted to follow a path of fulfilling all its obligations, pledging the implementation of a new system of values in Serbia that would be in line with the one already applied in the EU. According to him, Serbia has already shown that by arresting Ratko Mladic. "Serbia did it because of itself, because of its moral commitments and its legal and international obligations," Tadic pointed out, adding that it would continue honoring its principles. He said that Serbia should now take advantage of the moment and implement all the needed reforms. "I expect the reform process to be completed very soon, which will make Serbia qualified to get the candidacy status and the date of the accession negotiations that follow after that," Tadic said. Asked whether it was realistic to expect the accession negotiations could begin in spring next year, Tadic answered affirmatively, stressing, however, that "every new day had to be filled with commitment and work". "I want to say that the claims by a part of the Serbian political scene that Serbia is constantly being imposed new conditions for getting the candidacy status and the date for negotiations are unfounded," Tadic concluded. Tadic and Van Rompuy meet in Brussels (FoNet)

Serbia made "important step toward EU"

At a joint press conference with visiting Serbian President Boris Tadić, van Rompuy pointed out that Mladić's arrest was "a milestone for Serbia, the region and international justice".

"By arresting and extraditing Ratko Mladić, Serbia made a significant step towards taking its rightful place in today's Europe and realizing its European perspective," van Rompuy said, reiterating his full support for Tadić's European vision and commitment.

The EU president stressed that the road to the European Union would still be hard, but that Serbia had surmounted a huge obstacle and now had a new chance.

It is vital to make as much progress as possible at the moment, van Rompuy said, adding that he "encourages Tadić to intensify his work on the agenda, where strengthening national democratic institutions and the rule of law and promoting reforms of the judicial system are the major elements. Serbia will have EU's full support and assistance in realizing these goals."

He added that there was six months remaining until the European Council would reconsider the EU enlargement issue and make relevant decisions, stressing that Serbia should make the most out of the time it had.

He pointed out that he hoped Mladić's arrest would bring the region a step closer to reconciliation, stability and lasting peace.

"Regional cooperation and reconciliation go hand in hand with progress in European integration and the guarantees are that the past will not repeat itself," van Rompuy said.

He pointed out that Serbia had "a chance to improve the constructive and unavoidable role it plays in the region with courage, vision and determination to face challenges".

Van Rompuy also commented on the dialog between Belgrade and Priština, stressing that the two teams worked intensively with the facilitation of the EU on a number of issues, aimed at resolving everyday problems faced by the population and finding pragmatic solutions for cooperation as the basis for European integration.

Tadić addressed the same news conference to say that following the arrest and extradition of Ratko Mladić, Serbia was now turning to reforms and completion of its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

Tadić noted that Serbia had so far arrested and extradited 45 Hague indictees.

"For Serbia, it is important to meet all its obligations," said Tadić, adding that Serbia will also arrest the only remaining Hague fugitive, a former political leader of Serbs in Croatia, Goran Hadžić.

Tadić said that upcoming tasks of the state include fight against corruption and organized crime and judicial reform and stressed that that was a good way to bring new investments into the country and important to the development of the country and people.

"That is the only way to bring new investors in our country and to increase the standard of living," Tadić said.

The Serbian president stressed that he expected Serbia would get the EU membership candidacy status by the end of 2011 and that accession talks would begin in spring the following year.

Tadić stressed Serbia wanted to follow a path of fulfilling all its obligations, pledging the implementation of a new system of values in Serbia that would be in line with the one already applied in the EU.

According to him, Serbia has already shown that by arresting Ratko Mladić.

"Serbia did it because of itself, because of its moral commitments and its legal and international obligations," Tadić pointed out, adding that it would continue honoring its principles.

He said that Serbia should now take advantage of the moment and implement all the needed reforms.

"I expect the reform process to be completed very soon, which will make Serbia qualified to get the candidacy status and the date of the accession negotiations that follow after that," Tadić said.

Asked whether it was realistic to expect the accession negotiations could begin in spring next year, Tadić answered affirmatively, stressing, however, that "every new day had to be filled with commitment and work".

"I want to say that the claims by a part of the Serbian political scene that Serbia is constantly being imposed new conditions for getting the candidacy status and the date for negotiations are unfounded," Tadić concluded.