Resolution condemning Seselj's hate speech in two days

It is not yet known what the final draft of the resolution will look like, which was introduced into the agenda of the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week at the request of Croatian MPs under an urgent procedure, and one of the issues on which agreement has not yet been reached is the formulation of criticism against the Hague Tribunal, which released Vojislav Šešelj, after 12 years in detention, on temporary leave without a verdict and without a ban on political activity, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

The European Parliament condemns Vojislav Šešelj's hate speech and calls on the authorities in Serbia to distance themselves from his statements, according to the working version of the resolution, which MPs are expected to vote on Thursday, November 27.

"The European Parliament most strongly condemns Vojislav Šešelj's hate speech and insults to the victims of the war in the former Yugoslavia, including his shameful statement on the day of remembrance for the victims of Vukovar," reads the working version of the document, as reported by Belgrade media.

The working version of the resolution states that the European Parliament will ask the Government of Serbia to distance itself from the statements of the radical leader, in which he calls for redrawing borders in the Balkans and speaks disparagingly of other nations and their representatives.

It is not yet known what the final draft of the resolution will look like, which was introduced into the agenda of the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week at the request of Croatian MPs under an urgent procedure, and one of the issues on which agreement has not yet been reached is the formulation of criticism against the Hague Tribunal, which released Šešelj, after 12 years in detention, on temporary leave without a verdict and without a ban on political activity.

While some MPs are calling for criticism of the Hague Tribunal for poor case management, others remind that the European Parliament has so far wholeheartedly supported the Tribunal and demand that the remarks be softened, according to sources close to the working group for drafting the resolution.