Verklaring Ashton, Van Rompuy en Barroso naar aanleiding van de arrestatie van Goran Hadzic (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Raad van de Europese Unie (Raad) i, gepubliceerd op woensdag 20 juli 2011.

Joint statement by President Van Rompuy i, President Barroso i and High Representative Ashton i on the arrest of Goran Hadzic

The European Union strongly welcomes the arrest of Goran Hadzic by Serbia's authorities. This is a further important step for Serbia in realising its European perspective and equally crucial for international justice. We salute the determination and commitment of Serbia's leadership in this effort.

Following the capture of Ratko Mladic, this arrest sends a positive signal to the European Union and to Serbia's neighbours, but most of all on the rule of law in Serbia itself. The Serbian nation is in the process of confronting the past and turning the page to a betterEuropean future.

We expect Mr. Hadzic to be transferred to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague without delay. Full cooperation with the ICTY continues to be essential on Serbia's way towards the European Union.