EU to resume talks if Serbia cooperates on warcrimes
Source: Reuters
BRUSSELS, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The European Union on Monday urged quick formation of a new Serbian government and said it was ready to resume talks on closer ties if Belgrade took "concrete and effective action" to cooperate with the U.N. war crimes tribunal. A joint statement from EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels called for the quick establishment of a government committed to reform and a European future. They welcomed readiness of the EU's executive Commission to resume negotiations suspended last year on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement -- the first step towards EU entry -- provided the new government showed "clear commitment and takes concrete and effective action for full cooperation" with the U.N. war crimes tribunal. The EU froze talks with Belgrade last year over its failure to hand over war crimes suspects, including Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic, for trial in The Hague on genocide charges. Chief U.N. war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte appealed to the European Union last month not to resume the talks until Belgrade hands over Mladic.
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