Serbia Upbeat Following ICTY Visit

Serge Brammertz at a meeting in Belgrade (FoNet archive)

The Serbian government painted an upbeat picture of the latest visit to Belgrade by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia, ICTY, Serge Brammertz.

Brammertz has spent the past two days meeting Serbian officials, gathering information for his upcoming report on the country's cooperation to the UN Security Council.

The report is considered of crucial importance for Serbia's EU aspirations. Progress has been blocked by the Netherlands, whose government has blocked the unfreezing of a trade deal between Belgrade and EU before remaining war crimes fugitives, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic, are handed over to the Tribunal.

During Brammertz's visit Serbia's top officials worked hard convince Brammertz that they are doing everything to arrest the two fugitives and take their international obligations towards the Tribunal seriously. 

Serbian President Boris Tadic announced at the meeting that that Serbia will continue cooperating with the ICTY. Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said that completing cooperation is a top government priority.

Serbian officials said Brammertz is pleased with the country's cooperation so far, and praised the efficiency of the authorities, but emphasised that the two indictees must be handed over.

The office Director of Serbia's National Council for Hague Cooperation, Dusan Ignjatovic, told Balkan Insight that the Brammertz’s visit was a regular one. “The most important thing is that the cooperation is good, and will continue to be like that regardless of the [UN] report,” Ignjatovic pointed out.

The director of the government's Office for EU Integration Milica Delevic told Balkan Insight that full cooperation is of great importance for Serbia and its future EU integrations.

“Brammertz will confirm that Serbia is cooperating with the Tribunal regardless of the term he will use for it,” Delevic explained.