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EU says too early for Serbia deal EU says too early for Serbia deal
(about 1 hour later)
EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn says a pre-membership deal should be signed with Serbia shortly, but not until presidential elections are over.EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn says a pre-membership deal should be signed with Serbia shortly, but not until presidential elections are over.
Speaking in Brussels before a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Mr Rehn said a "very strong signal of a European future" should be sent to Serbia.Speaking in Brussels before a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Mr Rehn said a "very strong signal of a European future" should be sent to Serbia.
But he said it was premature to discuss signing before the polls next weekend.But he said it was premature to discuss signing before the polls next weekend.
The Dutch government says fugitive war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic should be handed over before any deal is struck.The Dutch government says fugitive war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic should be handed over before any deal is struck.
'Significant progress' The UN war crimes tribunal is still searching for the Bosnian Serb commander, who was indicted on genocide charges in connection with the massacre of Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in 1995.
Mr Rehn said that while the EU should insist on Serbia's full co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal in the Hague, Belgrade had made "significant progress especially since last spring". 'Progress'
Deputy Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans told reporters the Netherlands would not sign until there was full co-operation with the tribunal.
The Serbian government says it does not know where Mr Mladic is.
Mr Rehn said that while the EU should insist on Serbia's full co-operation, Belgrade had made "significant progress especially since last spring".
EU member states are keen to send Serbia a positive message before the presidential run-off on 3 February, when ultra-nationalist candidate Tomislav Nikolic takes on pro-Western incumbent Boris Tadic.EU member states are keen to send Serbia a positive message before the presidential run-off on 3 February, when ultra-nationalist candidate Tomislav Nikolic takes on pro-Western incumbent Boris Tadic.
The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says EU foreign ministers will back a plan to start talks on allowing Serbs to travel to EU countries without a visa, after years of isolation.The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says EU foreign ministers will back a plan to start talks on allowing Serbs to travel to EU countries without a visa, after years of isolation.
And she says they will not yet give the green light to the deployment of a civilian police and justice mission to Kosovo, to avoid any suggestion that independence for the breakaway Serbian province is inevitable.And she says they will not yet give the green light to the deployment of a civilian police and justice mission to Kosovo, to avoid any suggestion that independence for the breakaway Serbian province is inevitable.
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic is in Brussels and will meet EU ministers on the margins of the meeting. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic is in Brussels and will talk to EU ministers on the margins of the meeting.