Serb minister to seek EU pact

SERBIA:A Serb minister will implore the European Union tomorrow to sign a pre-accession pact with his country, despite its failure to catch war crimes suspects like Ratko Mladic.

The deal would be seen as a boost for pro-western president Boris Tadic before his February 3rd election run-off with nationalist Tomislav Nikolic, who vows never to support Serbia's EU accession if the bloc recognises Kosovo's looming declaration of independence.

Rasim Ljajic, Belgrade's minister for relations with the UN war crimes court in The Hague, said he would request "understanding" from officials in Brussels and argue that Serbia was doing all it could to catch Gen Mladic and other fugitives.

Mr Ljajic said Serbia "deserves" to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, and blamed unspecified "difficulties" for Belgrade's failure to arrest several high-profile war crimes suspects. "We are aware that this obligation will wait for us at the next stop in the EU accession process," he said. "It is our political, moral and economic interest to finish this job."

Serge Brammertz, the new chief UN war crimes prosecutor, is expected to visit Serbia next month. He has reiterated the line of his predecessor, Carla del Ponte, that Belgrade should not be awarded closer ties until Gen Mladic is caught.

In her valedictory speech last December, Ms del Ponte said Belgrade could arrest Gen Mladic if its political and security chiefs resolved to do so. Despite being accused of genocide against Bosnia's Muslims, Gen Mladic is still lionised by many Serbs.

EU fears that Russia is strengthening its hold on Serbia gained credence yesterday when it agreed to build a major gas pipeline there and to buy the state oil firm for a knockdown price that critics called "humiliating".