Balkans

BRUSSELS – EU foreign ministers will debate on Monday whether to sign an interim trade agreement with Serbia — a move seen as boosting pro-European President Boris Tadic ahead of a February 3 presidential run-off.

BELGRADE – Serbs face a choice between a nationalist who leans towards Russia and a liberal favoring the West in a presidential election run-off next month.

BANJSKA, Serbia – The plum brandy flowed freely at polling station No. 9 in Banjska, northern Kosovo, as Serbs voted for a new president.

Serbs vote on Sunday in a presidential election, with opinion polls giving hardline challenger Tomislav Nikolic a slim lead over pro-Western incumbent Boris Tadic, but not enough for a first-round victory.Here are profiles of the main candidates:

According to KC’s source in the command of the Armed Forces of the Caucasus Emirate, 9 Muḥarram 1429 in the afternoon (17 January 2008), a spetsnaz (special force) team of invaders was attacked

The British side has frozen ties with the FSB (Russian Federal Security Service) for the so-called “anti- terrorist cooperation”, British Ambassador to Russia Anthony Brenton said.

BELGRADE – Serbia votes on Sunday in a presidential election pitting a pro-Western liberal against a nationalist in a vote seen as a plebiscite on Belgrade’s place in the world as it prepares for the loss of Kosovo.

UNITED NATIONS – Russia on Wednesday backed its ally Serbia, saying Kosovo will never become a member of the United Nations or other international organizations if the breakaway province unilaterally declares independence.

BELGRADE – The Serbian government has adopted a secret plan to implement “in case of a unilateral declaration of independence” by the Albanian majority of the breakaway Kosovo province, it said on Monday.

BELGRADE – Serbia’s election commission has turned down a request by the British and United States embassies to allow some of their staff to monitor the presidential election next weekend, officials said on Friday.