Confusion over whether African island state has actually recognised Kosovo or not raises wider questions about the recognitions process.Kosovo’s 98th recognition is in question after media in the small African island state of Sao Tome and Principe reported that the President had denied the validity of Kosovo’s recognition by the …

Leaders of the Albanian community in southern Serbia say they doubt Serbia will act on threats to remove a memorial in Presevo to local guerrilla fighters.Skender Destani, leader of an ethnic Albanian party in southern Serbia, says he doubts the authorities will act on threats to forcibly remove a memorial …

As the film star visits Montenegro negotiating a deal for a film, the Prime Minister has asked him to become a cultural ambassador for the country in the world.Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic suggested after meeting Depardieu on Tuesday that the actor might become a “cultural ambassador” for Montenegro. Djukanovic …

The central board of the opposition Social Democrats, SDSM, on Tuesday said that only a change in three key ministerial posts, and their replacement by people who meet their approval, will enable them to take part in the elections. The opposition deems Police Minister Gordana Jankulovska, Justice Minister Blerim Bexheti, …

Ranko Krivokapic, the speaker of parliament, is expected to call a presidential election by the end of next week after meeting the heads of various parties.Before calling the presidential election, Krivokapic will meet representatives of all parliamentary parties, Radio Antena M said on Tuesday. The mandate of the current President, …

The UN mediator in the Macedonia-Greece ‘name’ talks, Matthew Nimetz, is visiting Athens and Skopje, bringing fresh proposals for a solution to the dispute.Officials in Athens and Skopje expect the UN mediator in the longstanding dispute over Macedonia’s name – to which Greece objects – to put forward some fresh …

Croatia’s leader called for change after revelations that at least seven former generals are receiving military pensions from both Croatia and BosniaThe daily newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija revealed on Monday that at least seven former Croatian generals are receiving pensions from Zagreb and Sarajevo because of their roles in both the …

UK Independence Party says it will campaign hard against lifting restrictions on Bulgarians and Romanians working in Britain in 2014.The leader of Britain’s rightwing UK Independence Party, which has seen a recent surge in support in the polls, says it would be “irresponsible” to open British borders to Bulgarians and …

After Balkan Insight lifted the lid on top Albanian officials who had not paid their car registration taxes, the Minister of Transport, Sokol Olldashi, has apologized.“Minister Olldashi publicly apologizes for not paying the taxes for his vehicle, which his wife uses,” his office said in a statement. “This fact is …

Ceremonies to mark Orthodox Christmas at churches and monasteries in Kosovo were shadowed by detentions and protests.Kosovo police arrested nine people in the town of Gracanica on Monday for what they said were “security reasons” amid a visit by a Serbian official. The director of the Serbian government’s office for …