Balkans

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, his wife Cecilia Sarkozy and EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner became “honourable citizens of Sofia” on Tuesday (July 24th) , following an extraordinary session of Sofia’s Municipal Council.

OSCE Secretary-General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut met with heads of the Kosovo parliamentary caucuses on Tuesday (July 24th) in Pristina. He assured them that Kosovo institutions would receive OSCE support even after the final status of the province is resolved.

Parliament announced to the international community on Tuesday (July 24th) that Serbia would take measures against any country that recognises an independent Kosovo.

The EU expects Macedonia to continue constructive political dialogue on key issues, the Stabilisation and Association Council (SAC) said in a statement Tuesday (July 24th) after talks with officials in Skopje.

Bamir Topi was sworn in as president of Albania on Tuesday (July 24th). He pledged to work for the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration.

Montenegro did not strengthen civil liberties during 2006, and democracy in the country deteriorated slightly, according to the latest report by Freedom House. In particular, the NGO cited a sluggish fight against corruption, excessive government influence on state television, and public mistrust of the judicial system.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised to boost relations with Libya as he met with the country’s leader Muammar Qadhafi on Wednesday as a reward for the release of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor.

A fourth session of the Macedonia-EU Stabilisation and Association Council takes place in Brussels on Tuesday (July 24th).

The election of a new president in Albania late last week shows consensus is possible there, Cristina Gallach, EU security chief Javier Solana’s spokeswoman, said on Monday (July 23rd).

The Romanian government declared a Code Red emergency late Monday (July 23rd) after three more people died of heat-related causes, for a total of 18. Health Minister Eugen Nicolaescu said the state of emergency will be enforced in five southern districts and in Bucharest.