BRUSSELS, June 7 (RIA Novosti) - The European Commission (EC) said Thursday it will reopen negotiations with Serbia on a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), broken off more than a year ago over Belgrade's failure to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
Olli Rehn, the EU commissioner for enlargement, said he made the decision after speaking with ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte by telephone.
He said last Friday that the EC could resume negotiations with Serbia, since Belgrade has demonstrated its commitment to cooperate with the ICTY.
The SAA will be a comprehensive agreement between the European Community and their member states, on the one hand, and the Republic of Serbia on the other.
Similar to the "Europe Agreements" with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the SAA will provide a legal framework for relations between the EU and Serbia for the entire period prior to possible future accession.
