Balkans

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) — High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling has begun consultations with the leaders of the BiH political parties on the issue of constitutional reform.

BUCHAREST, Romania — Bucharest on Friday (June 8th) rejected a new report by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s rapporteur, Dick Marty, that suggests Romania hosted secret CIA detention centres from 2003 to 2005.

ST PETERSBURG, Russian Federation –Russia’s position on Kosovo is well-known and has not changed, Russian leader Vladimir Putin told Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica in St Petersburg on Saturday (June 9th).

President Bush visits Albania, backs Kosovo independence TIRANA, Albania — US President George W. Bush arrived in Tirana Sunday (June 10th) to an enthusiastic welcome, with thousands turning out in the capital’s main square to greet him.

ATHENS, Greece — Three hand-made bombs went off in Athens early Friday (June 8th). One damaged a bus belonging to a German-Greek school.

BUCHAREST, Romania — Defence Minister Teodor Melescanu says Romania will boost dialogue with Russia to dispel concerns over the deployment of US bases in Bulgaria and Romania.

HEILIGENDAMM, Germany — The major Western powers have agreed to delay a vote on a resolution on the future status of Kosovo, international media reported on Thursday (June 7th).

On Thursday (June 7th), European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso invited Serbia to resume talks on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), considered a key step on the road to eventual EU membership.

Late on Thursday (June 7th), the Macedonian Parliament rejected a no-confidence motion against the VMRO-DPMNE-led government of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. Some 65 MPs rejected the motion, while 43 supported it.

Praising Croatia for its progress in meeting NATO membership criteria, top Alliance officials urged the country on Wednesday (June 6th) to keep up the pace of reform.