BRUSSELS, Feb. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The European Union (EU) on Wednesday laid new pressure on Serbia over the handover of indicted war crime suspects, saying Belgrade's cooperation with the UN tribunal in The Hague has deteriorated.

    "We have seen deterioration in cooperation in recent months," EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn told reporters after a meeting with Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus in Brussels.

    "I have encouraged Serbia to improve cooperation. This is indispensable for progress in negotiations (that would eventually lead to EU membership)."

    He warned that Serbia will not reach the next stage of EU talks unless cooperation improves with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

    The EU is negotiating a Stability and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia, the first step for Western Balkan states to jointhe EU.

    In response to Rehn's warning, Labus said, "I think the next round of negotiations with the EU will take place as planned in February."

    Rehn on Jan. 19 threatened to suspend SAA talks with Serbia if Belgrade does not hand over former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic and other indicted war crime suspects to the UN tribunal in The Hague.

    "I would see it as extremely difficult to conclude negotiationson the SAA with Serbia without the full cooperation with the ICTY," Rehn told reporters in Brussels after a meeting with ICTY chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte.

    "Serbia has to choose now between its nationalist past and a European future."

    Del Ponte claimed that Mladic was in Serbia and was protected by the Serbian army.

    The EU is holding parallel SAA talks with Montenegro, the other republic of Serbia and Montenegro, which was called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Rehn said the talks with Montenegro would not be affected as it has fully cooperated with the ICTY. Enditem