French Ambassador in Belgrade: Pressures on Serbia were too strong
Belgrade - 'Certain pressures on Serbia were, no doubt, too strong. Anyway the strongest ones have not come from European Union. France has never thought that the policy of setting of conditions is the most efficient one in supporting democratic forces. I hope that our stance will now be more listened to', French Ambassador in Belgrade Gabriel Keller said in his interview with 'Blic' daily on the occasion of request by Serbian authorities that the pressure of international community be decreased.
Q: What is your stance regarding initiative by Peter Schieder for urgent admittance of Serbia and Montenegro to the Council of Europe?
A: 'This initiative is welcome. France has been supporting such stance for a long time already'.
Q: What is your opinion about the situation in Serbia after assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic?
A: 'The authorities reacted well when they organized peaceful transition claiming that the process of reforms will be continued and criminals brought to justice'.
Q: Do you think that it would be necessary, for some period at least and having in mind situation in the country to decrease pressure on the authorities in Belgrade regarding requests for cooperation with the Hague Tribunal?
A: 'That cooperation is international obligation of Serbia and Montenegro. The fact that Mladic and others are still not arrested is only an additional factor of destabilization. We should find a way that the criminals are arrested and that at the same time the democratic forces are not jeopardized. Serbia has to have a unique stance on that matter'.
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