Tadic: Serbia's goal remains EU membership

NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Serbia's chief strategic goal remains integration into the European Union, President Boris Tadic told an EU official in New York.

Tadic, meeting Tuesday with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, said his country has "no alternative" to working toward joining the group, the Serbian news Web site B92 reported.

Tadic and Rehn reportedly discussed the practical steps Serbia could take in preparing its application to join the EU, while the Serbian leader also asserted it will be up to the Netherlands to make the move to allow further progress for Belgrade.

The Netherlands, generally an opponent of allowing Serbia into the EU, put a freeze on the trade portion of Serbia's Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU, saying it won't agree to further integration until accused Serbian war criminal Ratko Mladic is apprehended.

"There is very good will on the part of 26 member states to unfreeze the agreement and for Serbia to move further in European integration, above all in terms of applying for membership. We'll take that decision, we're willing to submit our application as soon as possible," B92 quoted Tadic as saying.