Serbian lawmakers on Tuesday ratified a pre-membership agreement with the European Union and an oil and gas deal with Russia. The agreements, both considered crucial for the Balkan nation's future, were signed earlier this year but needed parliamentary approval before they could be implemented. The Stabilization and Association agreement with the EU will give Serbia access to EU funds and will ease trade with EU countries. The pro-Western government supports this first step toward eventual membership in the 27-nation bloc, but the nationalist opposition rejects it because most EU member states support the independence of Kosovo. The EU agreement had been blocked for years because of Serbia's failure to arrest top war crimes suspects sought by a U.N. war crimes court. But the capture in July of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is considered a major boost for Serbia's EU bid, the Associated Press reported. The 250-seat parliament approved the agreement with 140 votes in favor and 28 against. Some members were absent.
