Williamson told the press he realised the authorities in Serbia understood the need to bring Mladic to justice because they adopted an Action Plan for cooperation with the Hague tribunal.
He said the United States wanted to see Serbia in the EU and NATO, and that the only obstacle to that was Mladic at large. He added it was important that Mladoc and others responsible for war crimes be brought to justice.
Williamson was speaking to the press after meeting Vladimir Vukcevic, war crimes prosecutor and one of the coordinators of the Action Plan, and said he was impressed with the performance of Serbia's War Crimes Prosecutor's Office.
Williamson also spoke with Serbia's President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic, allegedly telling them that the US was encouraged by the Serbian government's extradition of 17 accused to the Hague tribunal in the past 18 months.
The envoy said Mladic was accused of having ordered the mass killing of thousands of unarmed people and that unless Serbia left that dark chapter behind, it could not swiftly join Europe, which he added Serbia's citizens deserved.