Serge Brammertz, the chief prosecutor of The Hague Tribunal, delivered a blunt message during a visit to Belgrade earlier this month: Further delays in apprehending General Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb wartime military commander who has been indicted for genocide, would not be tolerated.
“Mladic is in Serbia,” Brammertz said. “I expect his capture."
Brammertz added that Serbia's bid to become a candidate to join the European Union "could not be granted" until Mladic was arrested and extradited to The Hague.
This was a very strong statement, and I assume it was followed up with evidence about where Mladic was hiding and under what alias.
Belgrade thus found itself with a clear choice: Arrest and extradite Mladic or give up its ambitions to join the EU.
In the end, they made the right choice. Mladic is finally on his way to The Hague tribunal to answer for his crimes.
And Serbian President Boris Tadic now stands to reap several benefits.
Most importantly, Serbia is likely to be approved as a candidate for EU membership. Brussels has already indicated that this could happen very soon.
Serbia's bargaining position vis-a-vis Kosovo will also become stronger and the international community could become more receptive to Belgrade's concerns there.
Moreover, the International Monetary Fund and other financial institutions will now be more willing to assist Serbia in the current financial crisis.
Serbia’s standing in the Balkan region should also improve as a result of Mladic's arrest. This will help to end the long chapter of conflict in the region and help all sides to move toward reconciliation.
Tadic might not became the regional leader he hopes to be, but his chances now are better than ever.
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