Serbia: long-awaited arrest of General Ratko Mladić welcomed

"We welcome the long-awaited arrest of Serbian General Ratko Mladić", said Doris Pack MEP, the European Parliament's Rapporteur for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

General Ratko Mladić has been wanted for his involvement in the genocide committed after the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995 and the killing of close to 8,000 men and boys following the fall of this enclave.

"The arrest of Ratko Mladić is a sign that Serbia has taken its commitment seriously to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague", said Doris Pack MEP.

"Mladić has been standing for a long time between Serbia and its European aspirations and was hindering full reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbia has shown readiness to move forward. We must acknowledge that, and at the same time make it clear that in the process of enlargement there are no shortcuts", added Mrs Pack.

"We expect efforts to continue towards delivering the remaining ICTY fugitive Goran Hadžić", stressed Mrs Pack.

"I hope that bringing General Ratko Mladić to justice will bring some relief to the families of the victims", she concluded.