Balkans

Serbia and Armenia are key states in resolving European energy supply problems and political crises in their regions, Serbian President Boris Tadic said on his return from Yerevan on Wednesday. Tadic is back in Belgrade after a two-day diplomatic trip to Armenia in which he held talks with President Serzh …

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has refused to rule out the possibility of recognising Kosovo’s independence in an interview with the BBC. Jemeric told the BBC’s World Tonight programme on Monday night that Serbia wanted negotiations with Pristina, adding that Belgrade would be “very flexible”. Asked explicitly if the Serbian …

Socialist Party leader Edi Rama will launch a political campaign to seek early elections, after his party agreed that the June 28 parliamentary election was marred by fraud. On Wednesday, a day after the national assembly of the Socialist Party voted in favour of a resolution to push for fresh …

All members of Croatian Railways’ infrastructure board have been sacked in the wake of Friday’s fatal derailment. Six people were killed and 55 injured in the accident which occurred near Kastela, Split. Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and Transport and Development Minister Bozidar Kalmeta agreed on the sacking of the board, …

TIRANA, Albania Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha said on Tuesday (July 28th) he is optimistic that the EU will evaluate Albania for visa liberalisation this year and “will open the doors for Albanians” soon. Visiting Brussels, Basha said the EU is focused on further enlargement. On Monday, local media reports suggested …

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Deputy High Representative Raffi Gregorian is critical of the government’s decision not to extend the mandates of international judges and prosecutors working on terrorism, organised crime and corruption cases, local media reported on Tuesday (July 28th).

SKOPJE, Macedonia Parliament approved amendments Tuesday (July 28th) to the law on financing political parties, a precondition for accelerating the country’s EU integration process. The measure, which was passed without debate, is aimed at boosting control over and the transparency of party funding. Lawmakers must pass two more pieces of …

BELGRADE, Serbia Come September, the government plans to submit to the EU and the international community a new plan for decentralising Kosovo. Oliver Ivanovic, a senior official in the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija, said on Tuesday (July 28th) that Serbia still rejects former envoy Martti Ahtisaari’s independence plan as …

As the political will to face off against powerful social groups lacks, Bosnia’s Federation government starts auctioning off luxury cars in a meager attempt to meet IMF savings demands, Anes Alic writes for ISN Security Watch. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 8 July approved a previously halted €1.2 billion …

Albania will quintuple its military deployment in Afghanistan ahead of parliamentary elections in the central Asian country. “Albania has decided to increase its contribution to the alliance forces in Afghanistan, ahead of the August poll, [which are] seen as crucial for the country,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a …