Balkan News

Bulgaria Aims to be Energy Leader

Bulgarian PM at a forum on energy speaks about Bulgaria’s potential to become market leader in energy and natural gas industry. Bulgaria is beginning to see itself and the potential it has to become the main distributor of natural gas for the entire Southeastern Europe and the Black sea region. …

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Macedonia’s Albanians Impatient on Name Deal

The largest ethnic Albania party in Macedonia, the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, warned its bigger ruling partner, VMRO DPMNE, that its patience for resolving the burning Athens-Skopje name dispute is running out. The party vice president, Rafiz Aliti, said the talks for solving this row, which are hampering Macedonia’s …

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Croatia seems to back Rehn’s amended proposal on border dispute with Slovenia

BRUSSELS, Belgium EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn’s latest proposal on resolving the border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia broadly complies with Zagreb’s requirements, Foreign Minister Gordan Jandrokovic said on Wednesday (April 22nd), following talks with EU and Slovenian officials in Brussels.

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UNMIK’s Zannier says six-point plan on Kosovo is being implemented

PRISTINA, Kosovo UNMIK chief Lamberto Zannier said on Wednesday (April 22nd) that he sees elements of the six-point plan for Kosovo being implemented by the country’s institutions. The plan, proposed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and approved by the UN Security Council in October, gives more competencies to the Serb …

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Karadzic says he has document proving existence of Holbrooke agreement

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic says the United States has provided him with a document proving he signed an agreement in 1996 with the US envoy in the Balkans at that time, Richard Holbrooke, guaranteeing him immunity before The Hague war crimes tribunal in exchange …

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Hague tribunal still waiting for Croatia’s documents on Operation Storm

ZAGREB, Croatia Prosecutors at The Hague war crimes tribunal have not received documents on the use of artillery by Croatian forces during their effort to regain control of the Krajina region as part of the 1995 Operation Storm, tribunal spokeswoman Olga Kavran said on Wednesday (April 22nd).

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Albanian judicial institutions report to EU diplomats

TIRANA, Albania Diplomats from the EU’s 27 member states heard briefings in Tirana on Wednesday (April 22nd) on the work of judicial institutions related to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU and preparations for the country’s 2009 progress report. The diplomats met with chief prosecutor Ina Rama, as …

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Bulgaria European Minister Supports Macedonia EU Efforts

Bulgaria European Affairs Minister, Gergana Passy, has voiced her support for Macedonia’s EU integration. Passy said that Bulgaria is ready to help Macedonia on its Euro-integration path and considers that Macedonian authorities have made significant progress in this regard, after Wednesday’s meeting with Macedonian Deputy PM and European Affairs Minister …

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Bulgaria President: Putin Canceled over Energy Issues

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov has confirmed that Russia PM Vladimir Putin will not be visiting the Sofia Energy summit because of differences in opinion over energy issues. Parvanov stated Thursday, in an interview for Bulgarian daily newspaper 24 Chasa, that Putin will not be coming to the forum due to …

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