The UN mediator in the Macedonia-Greece ‘name’ dispute, Matthew Nimetz, has called fresh meetings with the two countries’ negotiators next Monday and Tuesday in New York.The mediator’s office said that Macedonian negotiator Zoran Jolevski and Greece’s Adamantios Vassilakis will first have separate meetings with Nimetz to assess the status of …

Fund says Bucharest must implement promised reforms to conclude a new agreement; mission to return after December elections.A joint delegation of the IMF and the European Commission concluded its visit to Bucharest on Wednesday, following talks with the authorities on macro-economic prospects and on progress towards achieving the fiscal targets …

German municipal association demands restoration of visas for Serbia and Macedonia, complaining that towns and cities cannot cope with the influx of new asylum seekers.The head of Germany’s Association of Towns and Municipalities said the number of Serbian and Macedonian asylum seekers rose by 140 per cent in 2012 compared …

High Representative Valentin Inzko has told the Security Council that Bosnia is caught up in political power struggles, and that growing secessionist rhetoric should cause concern.Inzko told the Security Council on November 13 that he was concerned by the secessionist rhetoric of the leadership of Republika Srpska, the Serb-led entity …

Croatian former prime minister Ivo Sanader claimed “he did good for Croatia” on Tuesday during the second day of his defence speech in the first of two bribery trials.After he denied charges of receiving funds from Hypo bank in 1994 on Monday, Ivo Sanader continued his defence by denying the …

NGOs voice alarm after extremist SNP Nasi groups unveils black list of 17 NGOs that it says should be banned.A Serbian far-right movement SNP Nasi has called on the authorities in Belgrade to outlaw 17 NGOs, which it says have violated Serbia’s constitution.

Former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Monday denied having received funds from Hypo bank in 1994, starting his defence speech in first of two trials for bribery.”I didn’t receive or ask for any provision from Hypo bank. I always honourably served my country and I’m proud of that,” Sanader told …

At their recent talks, the Kosovo leader asked his Serbian counterpart to resolve the issue of missing persons from the 1999 war.Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, says he has asked Serbia to cooperate on resolving the fate of the 1,700 missing persons from the 1999 war.

Macedonia has removed defamation and libel from the penal code – but some media unions and other critics say big fines will still intimidate reporters.The 53 MPs of the ruling VMRO DPMNE-led coalition voted in favour of the Law on Defamation and Libel on Monday. Twenty of the 123 deputies …

All the main parties competing in the December election are issuing impressive-sounding promises about jobs and taxes – which experts say will be hard to deliver.New jobs, an increase in the minimum monthly wage and cutting corporate and personal income taxes are among the electoral promises that the main parties …