Bojan Elek

According to the Hungarian sociologist Balint Magyar, in a 'mafia state' "The state itself, at the top, works as a criminal organisation."

Zivkovic, however, was investigated on suspicion of organising the participation of Serb fighters in the war. He was arrested in August last year in the southern Serbian town of Krusevac but on June 12 the local prosecutor's office told BIRN it had suspended the investigation against him, without specifying why.

A European Council working group on Wednesday pulled from its agenda debates on Serbia's opening of accession chapters 23 and 24, dealing with the rule of law, the judiciary and human rights, after Croatia failed to give them a green light.

Bojan Elek, from the Serbian EU integration watchdog, the Center for Security Policy, said on Wednesday that Serbia may be able to open negotiations with the EU on Chapter 24 of the accession process in June.

Analysts see significance in Rama's planned visit to Belgrade