The Croatian-Slovenian border dispute must be resolved bilaterally by the countries concerned, according to the future president of the European Union, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. “This is a bilateral dispute and a solution lies with those countries,” Bildt said in Brussels. “It is time for them to reflect and …

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has announced that the country’s new biometric passports will be offered to all residents of Kosovo, stressing that the decision is technical, rather than political in nature. Late Sunday evening, Jeremic appeared on the local B92 Television station and announced that Serbia would be placed …

Kosovo still lacks an international dialling code a year after its Constitution. According to Minister of Transport and Post Telecommunications, Fatmir Limaj, the chances of receiving a country code have been very small even after many efforts to obtain one.

Macedonia must not be dictated terms that go against the dignity of its people, the country’s president said ahead of UN talks with neighbouring Greece over the country’s disputed name due to resume today. In an interview for the online edition of the German newspaper “Der Spiegel” last Friday, president …

BELGRADE, Serbia Presidents of fourteen Central and Southeast European countries voiced strong support Friday (June 19th) for the Western Balkans’ integration into the EU and its visa liberalisation process, media reported. Attending a two-day summit in the northern town of Novi Sad, the leaders stressed the entire region’s future depends …

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) High Representative Valentin Inzko announced on Saturday (June 20th) he is repealing a resolution by Republika Srpska’s (RS) parliament, obliging the entity’s institutions and officials to oppose any future transfer of power to BiH.

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) The EU said on Friday (June 19th) that BiH has violated its commitments under the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) by adopting a controversial law on customs duties, media reported. On Thursday, parliament endorsed the bill, which imposes higher duties on nearly 1,000 items, …

NICOSIA, Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun said on Friday (June 19th) his government may consider other options if the ongoing reunification talks with Greek Cypriots fail. His statement followed a meeting with UN special envoy for Cyprus Alexander Downer in Nicosia.

TIRANA, Albania The United States and the EU on Friday (June 19th) once again called on Albania to hold free and fair elections to boost its chances for closer ties with the West, media reported. In a statement, the US Embassy in Tirana said next week’s elections will test the …

ATHENS, Greece The long-awaited new Acropolis Museum was officially inaugurated on Saturday (June 20th) at a ceremony in Athens. Greece’s political leaders and hundreds of foreign dignitaries, artists and academics attended the ceremony. The museum was intended to open in time for the 2004 Athens Olympics, but technical and bureaucratic …