LONDON: The capture of Goran Hadzic, the last major Bosnian war crimes suspect sought by the Hague tribunal, is a personal triumph for Serbian President Boris Tadic, who has dedicated himself to the country's ''moral rehabilitation''. But it would be wrong to assume that the arrest, closely following that of Serb General Ratko Mladic, will be met with a big, smiley welcome for Serbia's bid for membership of the European Union. Major obstacles remain.
From Belgrade's perspective, the EU now cannot do other than accept Serbia as a candidate member at its December summit. Yet Mr Tadic wants more. He is pressing for a starting date for accession talks. The EU has always linked membership prospects to Serbia's full co-operation with The Hague. Now Mr Tadic, with justification, is calling Brussels' bluff.
As Joshua Tucker noted in the New Republic last month, Serbia's failure to catch Mr Mladic suited many European politicians unenthused by the potential impact on voters of further EU expansion
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