Balkans

The Bosnian Serb leadership and western diplomats are on a direct collision course as neither side appears ready to back down only a day before the expiration of an ultimatum issued by High Representative to Bosnia Valentin Inzko. The Assembly of the Serb-dominated Bosnian entity of Republika Srpska is expected …

The Kosovo President’s Office on Wednesday announced that Pristina and Skopje would soon establish full diplomatic relations, Macedonia’s MIA news reports. “We will soon appoint ambassadors and establish bilateral relations,” Xhavit Beqiri, spokesman for Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, told local media. The spokesman stressed that the Kosovo president was interested …

The international organisation responsible for monitoring press freedom in Kosovo has joined calls urging the government to condemn threats against BIRN’s “Life in Kosovo” television show and its presenter. In a strongly worded letter, the OSCE chief of mission in the country, Werner Almhofer, said he had followed the campaign …

Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin has said that Moscow was seriously considering Serbia’s request for one billion euros in aid, Beta news agency reported. Such an aid package would earmark 200 million euros for the national budget and 400 million euros for infrastructure projects. 

Author: Mirza Čubro SARAJEVO – Istražna komisija parlamenta BiH za utvrđivanje utroška donacija svoj bi rad mogla okončati vrlo brzo i bez bilo kakvog rezultata, kaže jedan od njenih članova Adem Huskić. Parlament BiH odbacio je zahtjeve ove komisije za izmjene Zakona o slobodi pristupa informacijama i izdvajanja 300.000 KM …

ATHENS, Greece Opposition parties emerged as winners in most EU countries in the Balkans, following weekend European Parliament (EP) elections. In Greece on Sunday (June 7th), the ruling New Democracy (ND) lost to the main opposition PASOK by four percentage points, 36.75% of the votes, compared to 32.68%. The Communist …

BELGRADE, Serbia Recognising Kosovo’s independence and joining NATO are not preconditions for Serbia’s EU accession, Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac told the Vecernje Novosti newspaper on Sunday (June 7th). He added that he was assured of this “during conversations with people holding the highest possible positions” in the bloc and the …

PRISTINA, Kosovo EULEX is looking for a quick re-establishment of control at two border crossings with Serbia in northern Kosovo, local media reported on Monday (June 8th). The EU’s mission has asked the government to purchase equipment — including generators — for its officers as a quick fix, until the …

PRISTINA, Kosovo As of Saturday (June 6th), Turkey lifted its visa regime for Kosovo citizens holding newer passports, not those with older ones issued by UNMIK. Foreign ministry officials say it reflects a new phase of bilateral co-operation.

Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini met Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ivailo Kalfin in Sofia on June 8. During the meeting, Frattini assured his hosts that Bulgaria is still viewed as an excellent place for investment despite the global economic crunch.