EU-Serbian accord headed for approval

BELGRADE, Serbia, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- A Dutch parliamentarian Friday confirmed reports Holland would approve an interim trade agreement for Serbia at the EU Council of Ministers meeting next week.

Hank Jan Ormel, who heads parliament's foreign affairs committee, said his country favors implementation of the accord if the ministers receive a positive report from the chief prosecutor for the Hague War Crimes Tribunal, Serbia's B92 reported.

"After the confirmation of the good cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, the Foreign Affairs Committee has instructed the foreign minister to vote for the beginning of the interim agreement implementation," Ormel said.

Support for the accord would come in spite of the fact that fugitive Ratko Mladić has yet to be arrested, sources close to the Dutch Foreign Ministry said.

The vast majority of EU member states are reportedly poised to approve the agreement on Monday, according to B92.