Article: Belgium, Netherlands against EU warming to Serbia; want war crimes suspects in court first

Widening a rift over Serbia, Belgium and the Netherlands said they oppose steps to quickly make the Balkan nation an EU candidate, saying Belgrade must first deliver key war crimes suspects to the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal.

Ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers Friday and Saturday, the Belgian and Dutch ministers said in a newspaper article the EU would lose all credibility if it lowered its membership criteria for Serbia.

To join the bloc, EU candidates must be democracies, have functioning market economies and a clean human rights record.

Radovan Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb wartime political leader, and his military commander Ratko Mladic, remain at large. ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!