Arrest of War Criminals progress towards EU membership

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 9th Dec 2005

Sarah Ludford with her Slovenian colleague Jelko Kacin MEP (left) and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica

Commenting on yesterday's arrest of Croatian war crimes suspect General Ante Gotovina wanted by the Hague tribunal for former Yugoslavia, Liberal Democrat European justice spokeswoman and London Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford said:

"Ante Gotovina was the most wanted man in Croatia, and it is great news that he will now face trial for his alleged role in perpetrating war crimes. By cooperating with EU demands Croatia has taken a step closer to EU membership."

"The Serb authorities must now follow suit in regard to Serb war crimes indictees. They must abide by next Wednesday's deadline for arresting Ratko Mladic, and help seize Radovan Karadic in Bosnian Serb territory."

Sarah Ludford is a long-standing advocate of eventual membership of the EU for the Balkan countries and this week visited Serbia and Montenegro where she met Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostinuca along with other Ministers and MPs. She added:

"The prospect of EU membership acts is a powerful incentive for reform for the Balkan states. I would like to see the EU lighten and then remove visa requirements for all these countries as soon as possible, in line with their strengthening of border management and measures to fight crime."

"Not only would this powerfully demonstrate the EU's commitment to future enlargement, but it would open the Balkan countries to European ideas to challenge narrow nationalism and boost morale by showing a return on the effort they must put into meeting EU standards."

Notes

Photograph of Sarah Ludford MEP with her Slovenian colleague Jelko Kacin MEP (left) and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica