19/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - The decision by the European Union to suspend talks on a Stability and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia - because of Belgrade's failure to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal of the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) - is “profoundly bad” and runs counter to the reforms the EU wanted to see implemented in Serbia, according to Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica in an interview published on Monday. “The policy, of which our country has been a victim for some time, and which consists of forever hardening conditions, is profoundly bad and until now has only had negative consequences,” he told the daily Politika. On Friday, the European Council sent Serbia a message of encouragement by announcing inducements (such as easing visa procedures, academic exchanges, etc.) with a view to helping Belgrade pursue its path “towards European Union integration” (see EUROPE 9213, p10).