Balkans

Wrapping up a two-day summit in Riga, leaders of the 26 NATO countries invited Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Montenegro and Serbia to join the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme — a key step towards membership in the Alliance.

Albanian president schedules municipal elections for January 20th 03/12/2006 TIRANA, Albania — President Alfred Moisiu has set January 20th as the date of Albania’s next municipal elections. A press release issued by his office Saturday (December 2nd) voiced the president’s deep concern over the continued failure of the Albanian political …

The European Commission (EC) recommended on Wednesday (November 29th) a partial suspension of Turkey’s EU membership talks, over the country’s refusal to open its ports and airports to ships and planes from Cyprus.

Wrapping up a two-day summit in Riga, leaders of the 26 NATO countries invited Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Montenegro and Serbia to join the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme — a key step towards membership in the Alliance.

Nine foreign and four domestic telecom companies have expressed interest in becoming Macedonia’s third mobile operator. The tender was announced late last month, and bids will be accepted through January 12th. By July 2007, the company is expected to be up and running.

Pope Benedict XVI, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I meet in Istanbul 30/11/2006 ISTANBUL, Turkey — The process of dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches was the focus of a closed-door meeting between Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and visiting Pope Benedict XVI in Istanbul on Wednesday (November 29th). They also …

The Greek and Russian foreign ministers voiced hope Wednesday (November 22nd) that a long-delayed pipeline project designed to carry Russian oil to Greece via Bulgaria will be officially given the go-ahead by the end of this year.

The trial of Radovan Stankovic was held almost entirely behind closed doors. As it pronounced its verdict on November 14th, the trial panel cited the need to protect the witnesses’ identity and ensure that justice was served.

According to a UNDP report released late last month, Macedonia should increase home export capacities and lift barriers to foreign trade. It should also implement reform of the tax system, ensure a balanced budget in the mid-term, and reduce government involvement in the economy.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- In a letter, the ambassador of Bosnia Herzegovina to Tehran expressed his regret and sorrow over publication of an insulting article in a Bosnian weekly.