Balkans

With Croatia set to hold general elections this year, polls show that the two main political parties — the Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ) and the Social Liberal Party (SDP) — are in a virtual dead heat. This time around, both parties are counting on professional consultants to help them maximise …

When UN special envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari unveiled his status proposal on Friday (February 2nd), Belgrade found itself in a difficult position. In the wake of the January 21st general elections, Serbia effectively has neither a parliament nor government. Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, saying he no longer has the …

US envoy Frank Wisner voiced confidence Tuesday (February 6th) that Serbia’s leaders will take part in the upcoming consultations on a UN proposal to resolve the Kosovo status issue.

BiH Constitutional Court annuls entity symbols 29/01/2007 SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) — The BiH constitutional court decided on Saturday (January 27th) to deprive the two entities in BiH, Republika Srpska (RS) and the Federation of BiH (FBiH), of their symbols because they failed to harmonise them with the constitution. …

BRUSSELS, Belgium — EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs implied on Thursday (January 25th) that Bulgaria should not try to reopen discussions on reactors 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy nuclear plant.

President Alfred Moisiu said on Thursday (November 30th) that he is through waiting for the various political parties to agree on electoral reform and will use his constitutional powers this Saturday to set the date for local elections himself. Sources suggest he will choose either January 20th or 21st.

Wrapping up a two-day summit in Riga, leaders of the 26 NATO countries invited Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Montenegro and Serbia to join the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme — a key step towards membership in the Alliance.

Albanian president schedules municipal elections for January 20th 03/12/2006 TIRANA, Albania — President Alfred Moisiu has set January 20th as the date of Albania’s next municipal elections. A press release issued by his office Saturday (December 2nd) voiced the president’s deep concern over the continued failure of the Albanian political …

The European Commission (EC) recommended on Wednesday (November 29th) a partial suspension of Turkey’s EU membership talks, over the country’s refusal to open its ports and airports to ships and planes from Cyprus.

Wrapping up a two-day summit in Riga, leaders of the 26 NATO countries invited Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Montenegro and Serbia to join the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme — a key step towards membership in the Alliance.