THE HAGUE, The Netherlands The UN war crimes tribunal will deliver its verdict against Bosnian Serbs Milan and Sredoje Lukic on July 20th, the court announced on Monday (July 13th). The Lukic cousins are charged with war crimes committed against Muslims during the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict. Prosecutors want life sentences …

PRISTINA, Kosovo The Central Election Commission (CEC) confirmed on Monday (July 13th) the participation of 40 political entities in the November 15th local elections. CEC officials also briefed President Fatmir Sejdiu on their concerns regarding Serb political parties, particularly in Serb-dominated enclaves. Municipalities in the north have not presented their …

TIRANA, Albania The main opposition Socialist Party (SP) has secured a ninth mandate in the region of Fieri, according to new preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission on Monday (July 13th). Previous results suggested the SP won eight parliamentary mandates there. Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who leads the …

PRISTINA, Kosovo The Kosovo foreign ministry announced on Saturday (July 11th) that the Dominican Republic is the 62nd country to recognise Kosovo as an independent state. Dominican Republic congratulated the Kosovo authorities “on establishing institutions that have enabled the people to have a sovereign and internationally recognised state” the ministry …

ZAGREB, Croatia EU and US participants in the two-day regional summit on energy, investments and economic development in Dubrovnik said in a joint statement on Friday (July 10th) the Western Balkan countries should join the EU and NATO. They stressed Western Balkan countries’ progress must be acknowledged to keep citizens’ …

SOFIA, Bulgaria EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva announced on Friday (July 10th) that she will complete her term at the European Commission (EC) and give up her European Parliament (EP) seat. Kuneva was elected in the June 7th European elections in Bulgaria but to take the EP seat, she …

Turkey wants talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus to conclude soon and a referendum by the end of 2009, President Abdullah Gul told a news conference with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on Monday. The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974. The two sides …

MOSCOW Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday said his country would develop economic and defense cooperation with Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia. 

ANKARA Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev determined the signing of the Nabucco agreement in Ankara an important step forward, government’s press office reports.

Bulgarian Prime Minster-designate Boyko Borisov, the informal leader of the GERB party, which won the July 5 general elections, suspended over the weekend the powers of the outgoing finance minister, banning him from signing any further contracts or agreements. “I do not trust this person, [Finance Minister] Petar Dimitrov, and …