Eurasia Press & News
The European Union is apparently not keen on taking up Belgrade’s offer and sending a fact-finding mission to assess Serbia’s cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal , according to European officials.
Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic called EU member states in January to send a fact finding mission to Serbia that would confirm the country is doing outmost to fulfil the necessary conditions concerning the cooperation with The Hague. Already at the time EU officials were not overwhelmed by the idea, but the plan sank for good after chief prosecutor Serge Bramertz told member states he would not support this mission “if it aims to avoid the Tribunal”.
“This would be at best a mission that would have some PR effects. Maybe members of mission would get very positive impression of Serbia”, Czech foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg said. “Bramertz said that it (the mission) could even be counterproductive”.
During a working lunch touching on the Western Balkans many ministers said that Bramertz’s evaluation is final and there is no need to go any further. The question will be back on the table during the next ministerial meeting but observers say the present mood is unlikely to change.
