Serbian officials disappointed with EU
Mr Tadic. One official from an EU country said that if Serbia had arrested war crimes fugitive Mladic, it would be an EU candidate by now (Photo: European Commission) ZELJKO PANTELIC Today @ 09:42 CET Serbian officials and diplomats have voiced strong disappointment to their colleagues from important European Union countries and institutions, over what they say is lack of adequate recognition of Belgrade's achievements in the fight against organised crime and its contribution to regional co-operation, WAZ.EUobserver has learned. Description: http://ads.euobserver.com/www/delivery/lg.php?bannerid=343&campaignid=233&zoneid=35&loc=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwaz.euobserver.com%2F887%2F30413&cb=6cc3e5eda7 "Belgrade's officials also expressed disappointment for a lack of explicit solidarity with president Boris Tadic, who has received death threats from criminal circles. In addition, the union hasn't rewarded Serbia's constructive role in improving regional co-operation with the opening of the procedure for granting candidate status," said a government source from an influential EU country. He referred to the EU's not having acted on Serbia's application for membership, handed in last December. Serbian President Boris Tadic recently pressed the EU to say openly whether it is ready to accept Western Balkan countries and to help them meet the criteria for membership. The plea came as a result of frustration with the union's perceived indifference to Serbia's achievements. Mr Tadic also asked for more understanding from the EU for Serbia's rhetoric on Kosovo. The president said he is fully aware it is in Belgrade's interest, in terms of EU integration, to solve the Kosovo issue before Serbia starts negotiations on EU membership. But, at a closed meeting with EU representatives, Mr Tadic explained that Serbia is suffering, as are other countries, from the financial crisis, while its government is implementing important but unpopular reforms. "We can not give the opposition another reason to attack us. All we are asking for is a little patience on Kosovo, and help with progress towards EU membership," Mr Tadic said at the meeting, WAZ.EUobserver learned. The EU has given only a partially positive response to his request. Less than three weeks ago, the union decided to submit the ratification of Serbia's Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) to member states' national parliaments. But Serbia's application for EU candidate status is still in the to-do box, and if the Belgian EU presidency comes and goes without it being forwarded to the European Commission for an official assessment, president Tadic's coalition risks facing the next general election, in spring 2012, without a major achievement on EU integration. "We understand that it would be a very awkward situation for the ruling coalition in Serbia, which we in the EU also baptised the most pro-European Serbian government possible, if it arrives at the end of its mandate without candidate status. It would be a defeat for all, Belgrade and Brussels, that a pro-European government failed to achieve candidate status before the end of its term," a senior EU diplomat told WAZ.EUobserver. Not everybody in the EU sympathises with Mr Tadic's complaints. Some diplomats from key EU countries said that fighting organised crime and contributing to regional co-operation are not just part of the EU's so-called Copenhagen criteria for membership candidates - they are already obligations under the SAA. "Belgrade can not ask us to be delighted just because they are doing their job. Of course we support Serbia. But political leaders can not expect medals and honours just because they are delivering what they promised to voters, and because they meet the European criteria. Let's speak clearly - if Serbia had arrested Ratko Mladic [accused for war crimes in Bosnia, particularly the genocide in Srebrenica] two years ago or one year ago, Serbia would already be a candidate for EU membership, regardless of the Kosovo issue and the financial crisis," an EU member state official said. http://waz.euobserver.com/887/30413
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