"I welcome the news confirmed by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) that General Zdravko Tolimir has been arrested. It is an important step towards bringing to justice all remaining fugitives," Rehn said in a written statement.

"Full cooperation with the ICTY is not only an international obligation but also a key step to achieve lasting reconciliation in the Western Balkans region," he added.

Earlier on Thursday, it was reported that Zdravko Tolimir, considered the third-most wanted war crimes fugitive in the Balkans, was arrested on the Bosnia-Serbia border.