WASHINGTON, March 5 (Hina) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday talked to new Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica on cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
WASHINGTON, March 5 (Hina) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell on
Thursday talked to new Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica on
cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY).#L#
Powell said the US support to Serbia and Montenegro would depend on
the country's cooperation with the Hague-based tribunal.
Powell phoned Kostunica to discuss a number of topics and to encourage
Serbia to cooperate with the ICTY, spokesman for the State Departnment
Richard Boucher told reporters.
Boucher said the US stand towards the new Serbian government would
depend on its steps, adding the US was interested in cooperation with
Serbia and Montenegro in the implementation of reforms, the rule of
law and the country's drawing closer to European values and
institutions.
The spokesman said that by March 31 Powell should assess whether
Serbia and Montenegro was meeting conditions for receiving the US
assistance worth US100 million.
The United States voiced concern with Kostunica's recent statement
that the extradition of war crimes suspects to the ICTY was not a
priority for government, as well as with the statement he made in
parliament that his government would try to arrange that war crimes
suspects be tried before domestic courts.
US Ambassador for war crimes issues Pierre Richard Prosper on
Wednesday voiced concern with recent sattements made by the
authorities in Belgrade regarding the cooperation with the ICTY.
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