Her Majesty’s Ambassador Stephen Wordsworth gave an interview to Danas daily on Serbia’s EU integration process.

 

 

 

“The EU should start implementing SAA”

 

 

 

What is the position of your government toward the European integration of Serbia?

 

The United Kingdom has always been, and remains, one of the strongest supporters of EU enlargement. We believe that the EU integration process has played a vitally important role across Central and Eastern Europe in encouraging and underpinning the political, economic and social reforms that have helped so many countries to develop, after the collapse of communism, to become successful free market democracies.  In the Western Balkans too the EU is playing a very important role, in helping the region to overcome the legacy of the 1990s and move towards integration with the rest of Europe.  Serbia is a key part of this region, and has a bright future in the EU.

 

 

Is cooperation with the Hague Tribunal necessary condition for the continuation of Serbia's integration process?

 

Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal has been a condition for all the countries of this region, not just Serbia, because every country must carry out its responsibilities under international law, and because it is right that individuals who are suspected of being responsible for very serious crimes - including multiple charges of murder, rape - should answer those charges.  It is essential for regional reconciliation, and for the stable development of the whole region, that those who have suffered, on all sides, can see that justice is being done.  Local war crimes courts across the region have an important part to play in this process too.

 

 

Do you think that Stabilisation and Association Agreement should not become effective until all the indictees are in The Hague?

 

We have made clear on many occasions that we believe that Serbia's cooperation with the ICTY in the Hague has greatly improved under the present Government.  We have seen clear evidence of this in the arrest of Radovan Karadzic and also in the very good level of cooperation with ICTY nowadays over such issues as access to documents, witnesses and archives.  Minister Ljajic and his team dealing with ICTY issues, and the various Serbian agencies and Ministries involved, all deserve great credit for the progress that has been achieved.   We believe that the search for the remaining two fugitives is being carried out professionally and with determination.  Of course we hope it will be successful; it is important to carry cooperation through to the very end.  But we believe that what we have seen justifies moving ahead now with the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

 

Should Serbia submit its candidacy for the EU membership?

 

Serbia should apply for candidate status when it is clear that all EU countries are ready to respond to this application positively.  This is a step-by-step process - first we need to see the Stabilisation and Association Agreement move forward, then we can think about an application for candidate status.  And at that point too EU member states will need to look carefully at what Serbia has been doing this year in terms of its own measures to implement the trade-related aspects of the SAA, and at how this might be taken into account.

 

 

To read full interview visit Danas daily web site (Serbian only).

 

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