The United States has decided to temporarily suspend aid to Serbia and Montenegro because of what it perceives as "inadequate cooperation" with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the State Department announced in Washington Wednesday.

"Secretary of State Colin Powell has determined, pursuant to Section 572 of the Foreign Operations Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act, that he cannot certify to Congress that Serbia and Montenegro are cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia," spokesman Adam Ereli told reporters at a news briefing.

"And as a result, as of March 31st, new assistance for Serbia (and Montenegro) will stop," he said.

The spokesman urged the authorities in Belgrade to cooperate fully with the tribunal by arresting and transferring their fugitive indictees to face justice before the tribunal.

But he also noted that the United States is prepared to reconsider the suspension of aid if Belgrade moves to address US dissatisfaction over its cooperation on the tribunal issue.

"It's important to point out that if Serbia and Montenegro take action in the future, the secretary is prepared to review such actions to determine whether they meet the requirements of the law," Ereli said.

The spokesman refused to clarify exactly how much aid would be withheld. But he did say that about US$43 million of the US$100-million aid have already been given to Belgrade, indicating that the left US$57 million could be subject to the suspension.

(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2004)