Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has urged Serbia to step up the hunt for war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic and has said it would work in the country's favour if Belgrade cooperates with the war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

Minister Verhagen was speaking on the occasion of his first visit to Belgrade in two years. His Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic said the hunt for remaining war crimes fugitives - including the Bosnian-Serbian commander Mladic - would continue until they were extradited. The Dutch foreign minister said the Netherlands will carefully monitor progress and will remain "strict but also fair towards Serbia" and other countries in the region.

The Netherlands has been outspoken in the past in voicing its objection to Serbia's membership of the EU. But it agreed earlier this month to back the lifting of visas for the citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia entering the EU. It also agreed to unblock an interim trade pact, which provides for the abolition of customs duties over six years.

Minister Verhagen was also due to meet with Serbian President Boris Tadic, a pro-Western leader who supports EU membership.

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen by roel1943 (flickr)