Del Ponte Against Talks
January 31, 2007
Del Ponte, who met EU chief diplomat Javier Solana on Wednesday, told reporters any reopening of stalled discussions with Belgrade would send the "wrong signal" to Serbian leaders who continue to refuse calls for the arrest of former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic and other key war crime suspects.
"I hope the EU will continue to support our needs," said Del Ponte, whose mandate ends in September.
The chief UN prosecutor said she had "some preoccupations" that the EU was preparing to resume negotiations on a new cooperation pact with Serbia.
"This is my worry ... it would jeopardize what we absolutely need now," said Del Ponte, adding that following recent elections in Serbia, this was a "crucial time" to step up pressure for the arrest of Mladic and others, who have been indicted for alleged war crimes.
The UN Security Council has instructed the tribunal to finish its trials by 2008 and conclude the appeals process within another two years, before closing down.
Belgrade must be told clearly that any reopening of cooperation talks with the EU was conditional on Mladic's transfer to the tribunal, she said.
EU delegation in Belgrade
Del Ponte's warning comes ahead of a visit to Belgrade by a high-level EU delegation, including Solana, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and EU enlargement chief Olli Rehn.
All 27 EU foreign ministers are expected to review the bloc's strained ties with Serbia at a meeting in Brussels on Feb.12.
The EU froze negotiations on a first-ever stabilization and association agreement with Serbia in May last year, demanding that Belgrade show "full cooperation" with the UN court.
Kosovo at stake
But several states -- including Spain, Hungary and Slovenia -- have said in recent weeks that the EU must not isolate Serbia, especially since Belgrade's goodwill and cooperation will be crucial in ensuring a peaceful deal on the final status of Kosovo, Serbia's breakaway Albanian-majority province.
The party of outgoing Serbian Premier Vojislav Kostunica has meanwhile demanded that the country should cut diplomatic ties with any nation that recognizes an independent Kosovo. Officials for the Popular Coalition party said that this would be a requirement to join the new government.