Brussels, 10/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - Although the head of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) told the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday 8 June about Belgrade's lack of cooperation with the ICTY, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS), Maja Kocijancic, said on Thursday 9 June that the handling of war crimes and full cooperation with the ICTY were an “important requirement” in the process of Serbia joining the EU.
The spokesperson added that the handling of war crimes and cooperation with the ICTY were “crucial for regional cooperation and reconciliation”. “We expect Serbia to take all necessary steps to ensure cooperation with the ICTY”, she said.
Asked about the possible repercussions of the statement made to the UNSC by the head of the ICTY regarding the opening of accession chapters 23 (judicial apparatus and fundamental rights) and 24 (freedom, security and justice), which could take place before the end of the month, Kocijancic said that she did not want to speculate but that it was clear that “full cooperation with the ICTY remains an obligation, but also a commitment of Serbia”.
On 1 June, Croatia lifted its reservation on Serbia's opening of Chapter 23 on condition that the Croatian concerns were addressed in a joint EU position (see EUROPE 11564). Serbia's cooperation with the ICTY is one of Croatia's concerns, as is the avoidance of judicial conflicts in the trials of these war crimes, and the application of Serbia's national and international obligations on the protection of minority rights. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)