Balkan News

WASHINGTON US Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Georgia and Ukraine next month for talks on boosting the former Soviet republics’ economies and supporting democratic reforms, his office said Monday. Both trips involve political sensitivities with Russia, and the visit would come shortly after US President Barack Obama travels …

Bulgarian immigrants in Germany, who will face huge obstacles if they want to vote in the upcoming general elections of their home country, did not receive a satisfactory explanation from the Foreign Ministry. In a letter to the country’s ambassador in Berlin, the Bulgarians asked last week for more information …

Leading figures at the European Union and NATO have warned politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina that the country cannot progress towards NATO and EU integration in the present political climate. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was a key topic at a meeting between NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop …

Bosnia is facing growing criticism from the EU and its neighbours over a new protectionist law that would tax agricultural products, media in the region reported over the weekend. Despite strong advice and warning from the EU, neighbouring countries and its own government, the Bosnian parliament adopted the controversial law …

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) 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, …