Balkans

06 November 2008 Sofia – A week after milk producers protested in Sofia over unsolved issues in their sector, Bulgaria’s Agriculture Minister has dismissed Zheko Baichev, the general director of the National Veterinary Service.

06 November 2008 Zagreb – Croatia’s Prime Minister Ivo Sanader welcomed the EU’s decision to name the target date for Croatia’s completion of accession talks as its “international affirmation.”

06 November 2008 Pristina – Muhamet Hamiti, Kosovo’s first ambassador to Great Britain has been invited to Buckingham Palace in London for a formal welcoming by Queen Elizabeth II.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria will withdraw its 155 troops from Iraq at the end of the year, the defense ministry said Thursday.

05 November 2008 Brussels – The European Commission says Croatia is on track to wrap up EU accession talks next year and could join by 2011, however other countries have a lot more work to do.

05 November 2008 Brussels – Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic has given the NATO Secretary General the country’s application to join the alliance’s Membership Action Plan.

05 November 2008 Podgorica – It’s up to Serbia to decide on what kind of relations it wants with Montenegro since Belgrade no longer matters to Podgorica, Montenegro’s Prime Minister says.

05 November 2008 Sarajevo – Former Bosnian Serb political leader and top war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic has testified as an additional witness for Momcilo Krajisnik’s Defence.

05 November 2008 Tirana – A visiting EU official in Tirana has described Albania’s EU accession progress as “a half empty, half full glass,” after the publication the latest progress report.

05 November 2008 Belgrade – Serbian officials have expressed hope that Barack Obama’s victory in the United States Presidential Elections will lead to better relations between Washington and Belgrade.