[JURIST] EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said Thursday that the European Union [official website] will suspend membership negotiations with Serbia if it did not fully cooperate in seeking the arrest of war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic [ICTY case backgrounder; BBC profile]. Mladic faces charges [indictment text] brought by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia [official website] of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in connection with the execution of over 7,000 Muslim prisoners and civilians. Serbian officials responded Thursday by making assurances [AP report] that every effort was being made to bring Mladic into custody.

Earlier this week, Serbian officials denied reports [JURIST report] that Mladic had already been arrested and ICTY officials said Wednesday that he is still at large [JURIST report]. Despite the denials, an anonymous official has told the Associated Press that the Serbian government has contacted Mladic and is negotiating his surrender. AP has more.