Addressing reporters after talks with Serbian President Boris Tadic, Rehn said he was encouraged by the fact that cooperation with the Hague tribunal is a priority of the new Serbian government, adding that this paved the way for the continuation of Serbia's negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union.
Tadic said he did not know when would all ICTY indictees be arrested and extradited to The Hague, stressing however, that Serbia would invest all efforts into finding them. He added that citizens of Serbia must be aware that without cooperation with the ICTY the country could not draw close to the European Union or a better life.
We've lost a year and now we have to double out efforts to make up for the losses, Tadic said, adding that without Serbia, neither the EU not the Balkans were stable. He also stressed that EU membership meant a safe and better in the region.
During his stay in Belgrade, Rehn also held talks with the new Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jerkovic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica. Later today, he is scheduled to hold talks with Serbian Deputy prime Minister Bozidar Djelic and the president of the G17 Plus party, Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic.