Serbian President and leader of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DS) Boris Tadic stated on Sunday that the start of EU accession talks in 2012 would be a historic event and the country's greatest achievement.

During the sitting of the DS Main Board in Belgrade, Tadic said that after Mladic's arrest, the DS and all government institutions should focus their strength on activities aimed at having the date of EU accession talks set. He called on all members of the DS Main Board to invest all their personal energy in activities aimed at achieveing this goal, and noted that the time to come would bring certain temptations and pressures.

He underscored that Serbia is not doing anything because of pressures but because of its deepest interests, and added that the start of talks with the EU would have positive effects on the life of Serbian citizens.

Tadic said that cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which was one of Serbia's most painful issues, is nearing its end, and added that Serbia is doing all of this for its own sake and the chance to contribute to reconciliation in the region and stability of all societies.

The only motive that guided us were moral values of meeting the legal obligations and will for reconciliation, the DS leader said and denied once more the allegations about political calculations with regard to the moment of Ratko Mladic's arrest.