Balkans

The arrest of a former Bosnian wartime politician in London is convenient for Balkan nationalist rhetoric: It lends Serbia a boost of power in the eyes of the public and throws Bosnia’s ethno-nationalists another bone of contention to use ahead of elections, Anes Alic comments for ISN Security Watch. The …

British Ambassador in Belgrade Stephen Wordsworth said that Serbia could join the EU in seven or eight years. This would come “if it focuses all of its efforts on European integration and removes all the obstacles in its path,” he said.

Serbian FM Vuk Jeremić said during his visit to Budapest today that to tie Serbia’s EU perspective to the problem of Kosovo would be “a tragic mistake”. “Anyone who thinks that Serbia, in case it had to choose between the European Union and Kosovo

Bulgaria will join the Schengen Area in the next year and the Eurozone – within 3 years, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek has predicted. Buzek was on his first official visit to Bulgaria for the country’s national holiday – March 3, Liberation Day.

Bosnian Ambassador Borisa Arnaut submitted his credentials to the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs in Belgrade on Wednesday. Addressing reporters for the first time upon his arrival in Serbia, Borisa said that his priorities will be developing good-neighbourly relations, eliminating differences and finding common interests between Serbia and Bosnia.

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic says the mass killings of non-Serbs in Sarajevo and Srebrenica during the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict are a “myth”, and denies any responsibility for them. During day two of his opening statement at the UN war crimes

EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, Chief Yves de Kermabon will be meeting in Belgrade on Wednesday with Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović. The EULEX Chief will also meet with other Serbian legislative officials. Bogdanović said that the topics of discussion with de Kermabon will include everything that falls within the …

On 3 March 1878 Bulgaria regains its independence from the Ottoman Empire. On Wednesday the country celebrates the 132nd anniversary of its independence. Events will take place across the country.

Russia and Croatia on Tuesday signed an agreement for Croatia to join South Stream, a Moscow- backed pipeline project rivaling the EU-sponsored Nabucco project, Russia informs. Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and Croatian Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship Minister Djuro Popijac signed the agreement in the presence of Russian and Croatian …

The presiding judge of the PriŠtina District Court ruled on Tuesday that the trial of Albin Kurti be postponed until April 13, EULEX said.