Balkan News

ZAGREB, Croatia A regional summit on energy, investments and economic development began on Thursday (July 9th) in the coastal resort of Dubrovnik. Heads of government, foreign ministers and diplomats from the region, as well as officials from the United States and the EU, are participating in the two-day forum.

PODGORICA, Montenegro Parliament passed a declaration Thursday (July 9th) condemning the crimes Serbian forces committed against Bosniak civilians in Srebrenica, as well as “all other crimes committed during the conflicts from 1991 to 2001 on the territory of the former Yugoslavia”.

SOFIA, Bulgaria The lame duck government went ahead and named political appointees to various diplomatic posts Thursday (July 9th), despite a warning from the Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), which won Sunday’s parliamentary elections.

BRUSSELS, Belgium The European Commission (EC) will ask the EU Council next week to offer visa-free travel to citizens of Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia, EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot said on Thursday (July 9th). Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn will officially present the proposal in Strasbourg on Tuesday. It will require …

ATHENS, Greece An estimated 2,000 people marched in Athens on Thursday (July 9th) to protest racism and government plans to deport illegal immigrants. They rallied outside parliament chanting “No to expulsion!” The demonstration was organised by trade unions, the Committee for Protection of Immigrants and leftist groups. Several far-left groups, …

PRISTINA, Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu called on UNMIK to shut down its mission, in his annual address to parliament Thursday (July 9th). “It can be called a successful story of the international commitment in Kosovo,” Sejdiu said.

SOFIA EU consumer protection commissioner Meglena Kuneva of Bulgaria said Friday she had decided not to take up a seat in the European parliament, despite being elected there last month.

Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov, expected to be nominated as prime minister-designate next week, asked outgoing economy and energy minister Petar Dimitrov for a moratorium on all negotiations concerning big energy deals. “GERB is hearing worrying news about the activities of state companies, which do not take into account the financial …

MOSCOW At his regular briefing Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko touched upon the recent events in Bulgaria. “We respect the parliamentary election result in Bulgaria and Bulgarian people’s will. Bulgaria is a traditional partner of ours in the Balkans and we hope the new Bulgarian government will preserve stable …

SOFIA Europe knows different systems of management and coordination of European processes. It is a matter of political judgment whether a country will have a European affairs minister or not, Minister for European Affairs Gergana Passy said at the presentation of the priorities of the Swedish EU presidency. “In 2005 …