Austrian MEP calls for suspension of negotiations with Serbia due to glorification of criminal Mladic

Austrian MEP Helmut Brandstetter has asked the European Commission to suspend membership negotiations with Serbia and all payments to this country, after several official representatives of the Serbian Government publicly honored the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, Ratko Mladic, convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity.

He also demanded that this decision remain in force until the Serbian authorities clearly and unequivocally distance themselves from the glorification of convicted war criminals, writes N1.

Until then, according to Brandstetter, no further steps should be taken regarding Serbia's integration into the Schengen area.

The Austrian MEP is part of the liberal "Renew Europe" group and the European Parliament's shadow rapporteur for Serbia.

"Ratko Mladic has been convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity. When representatives of the authorities of a country candidate for EU membership, after his death, glorify such a person, a red line has been crossed. This constitutes a mockery of the victims and their families and is in fundamental contradiction with the values of the European Union," he declared.

Helmut Brandstetter was part of the European Parliament delegation that spent two days in Serbia in January to assess the situation in the country. /Telegraph/