BELGRADE, Serbia, July 6 (UPI) -- An EU envoy says Brussels has not changed its stand that war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic's arrest is a condition for resuming talks with Serbia.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn Thursday told Serbian leaders once again the question of Mladic, sought on genocide and crimes against humanity charges, is still the main condition for a continuation of association and stabilization talks, Belgrade's B92 radio reported.
Rehn rejected Serbian speculation the association talks with the European Union could be resumed even if the Bosnian Serb military chief is not arrested.
"This gives me the opportunity to make clear some imaginary matters which have recently appeared in the Belgrade media," he said. "Our stand remains the same -- the arrest of Mladic is an indispensable condition for the continuation of talks."
The EU put off the association talks in early May after Serbian Premier Vojislav Kostunica failed to keep his promise to arrest and hand over Mladic to the U.N. tribunal in The Hague.
Mladic's charges cover his activities in the 1991-95 ethnic wars in the former Yugoslavia.
