Serbian President Boris Tadic has said that his country is determined to fulfill commitments regarding cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), including the arrest of the sole remaining war crimes fugitive, Goran Hadzic, and that his country will not interfere in the internal affairs of its neighbours.
Addressing a news conference in Sarajevo on Wednesday after his talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina's tripartite presidency, Tadic said that Serbia would not question the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbouring countries.
"I am certain that Serbia will complete cooperation with the Hague tribunal with the apprehension of the last fugitive, Goran Hadzic, just as it has enabled the transfer of 45-46 indicted people (to the Hague tribunal)," Tadic said.
He went on to say that he expected the other countries in the neighbourhood to give their expected contribution to the prosecution of war crimes.
He said he advocated ae review of all existing indictments in war crimes cases, if necessary, and also the apprehension of all those charged with well-grounded accusations.
"This is important for Serbia as well as for Bosnia and Herzegovina and for Croatia and Montenegro," Tadic said.
In response to questions from the press, Tadic said that he did not expect understanding from those who accused him of treason because of the extradition of suspects to the Hague tribunal and from those who use hate and insulting speech at stadiums.
"I have nothing to do with such people," Tadic said, adding that it was important to him to be a politician representing the views of all people living in the area, rather than a national politician.
"I would expect the same of other politicians in the region," the Serbian president said.
As for relations in the region, Tadic said that all western Balkan countries belonged to the European Union.
"Serbia wholeheartedly supports Croatia's admission to the EU, and expects to be granted not only candidate status but also a date for the start of its membership negotiations with the Union," Tadic added.
According to him, there are no doubts in the relations between Bosnia and Serbia, and the latter respects the former's sovereignty and integrity and everything stemming from internal agreements in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Bosnian presidency's chairman, Nebojsa Radmanovic, said that they had agreed at the talks that the two countries were of key significance for the stability of the western Balkans as well as of the EU.
During his official visit to Sarajevo, Tadic also held talks with Bosnian parliamentarians, Prime Minister Nikola Spiric, and the Secretary-General of the Sarajevo-headquartered Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic.
