Serbia extradited the last ethnic Serb wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to The Hague on Friday, in a symbolic moment for the once-pariah Balkan nation's European future. Goran Hadzic, a wartime leader of Croatia's Serbs, landed at Rotterdam airport on Friday afternoon and was transferred to the tribunal's detention centre in The Hague.
"Hadzic will be called upon to answer for the deaths of hundreds and displacement of thousands," chief war crimes prosecutor Serge Brammertz said, adding that he would appear before a judge on Monday at 4 pm (1400 GMT).
Hadzic is charged with instigating the torture and murder of hundreds of Croat and non-Serb civilians, including 264 hospital patients in Vukovar in 1991, as well as mass detentions, forced labour and driving thousands from their homes.
The European Union, which has insisted that Serbia arrest all wanted war criminals before it grants candidate status for membership, is due to issue a progress report in October.
It welcomed the transfer, while recalling other conditions, one of which is co-operation with Kosovo, whose 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia is not recognised by Belgrade.
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