Belgrade - The Serbian parliament on Wednesday overcame
opposition to open a debate on a crucial pre-membership treaty with
the European Union and several other major issues, including Kosovo.
Legislators were discussing ratification of the Stabilization and
Association Agreement Serbia signed with EU. The treaty is a major
step towards membership, but needs to be approved by all 27 member-
states.
Several EU countries warned they would not ratify the agreement
until the Serbs arrest Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic, the two
remaining fugitives wanted internationally for war crimes.
The debate was originally due to start in July, but filibustering
by the nationalist opposition forced an early and extended summer
recess. It was not clear when the vote would take place.
Also on the agenda are nearly a dozen trade agreements with EU, as
well as an energy agreement with Russia, parts of which are claimed
by experts as unfavourable to Serbia.
The agreement, which includes the sale of a 51-per cent stake in
the national oil monopoly NIS to Russia for 400 million euros (580
million dollars), though auditors estimated the value of the company
at more than 3 billion.
Opponents of the deal, among them the G17 Plus party, a junior
partner in the ruling coalition, called the sale a giveaway. Critics
said Serbia was handing the NIS over in return for Russia's support
in the tug-of-war over Kosovo.
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February
and was quickly recognized by leading Western nations, but Russia
blocked its promotion to a fully-fledged state in the United Nations.
Though a pro-European coalition replaced the previous government
led by the nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, Serbian
legislators were also expected to repeat Belgrade's claim of
sovereignty over Kosovo.
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