Balkans

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday (November 2nd) that her country may insist Bulgaria and Romania take additional steps in the areas of justice and home affairs, if they fail to adequately address problems highlighted in the European Commission’s (EC) latest report on the two countries.

Annan sees possible delay in determining Kosovo’s status 05/11/2006 ZAGREB, Croatia — The determination of Kosovo’s future status may be delayed until sometime in 2007, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in an interview with Croatian daily Vjesnik, published on Saturday (November 4th). “Considering the referendum, and the fact that they …

EU cancels talks between Turkish, Cypriot ministers 03/11/2006 BRUSSELS, Belgium — The EU has halted plans for a meeting between European officials and the foreign ministers of Turkey and Cyprus. Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said arranging the two-day meeting had proved impossible. …

Voicing support for Turkey’s EU bid, the president of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) urged the country’s authorities on Thursday (October 26th) to step up their reform efforts.

The constitutional referendum Serbia holds this weekend will not influence the decision on Kosovo’s final status, the US envoy to the UN-led talks on determining the province’s future said in Pristina on Wednesday (October 25th). Frank Wisner reiterated that Washington remains engaged with Kosovo despite other global obligations.

Bulgaria‘s Kuneva to get EU’s consumer protection portfolio 27/10/2006 BRUSSELS, Belgium — Almost immediately after being selected to represent Bulgaria at the European Commission (EC), Bulgarian European Affairs Minister Meglena Kuneva was asked to assume the Commission’s new consumer protection portfolio. She met in Brussels on Thursday (October 26th) with …

Macedonia, Croatia to step up economic co-operation 25/10/2006 SKOPJE, Macedonia — President Branko Crvenkovski and his visiting Croatian counterpart, Stipe Mesic, vowed Tuesday (October 24th) to step up bilateral economic co-operation. The two heads of state signed a joint statement defining the basic principles of co-operation and pledging to contribute …

Appointing a new army chief of staff last month, Romanian President Traian Basescu pledged to keep the military far from politics. “Not for a single moment will I tolerate any political involvement by the army,” he said during the ceremony to invest Rear Admiral Gheorghe Marin as the new chief …

Press freedom has improved in many parts of Southeast Europe (SEE) over the last 12 months, according to a new survey released on Tuesday (October 24th). However, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is the only country in the region ranking among the top 20 nations in the world on this issue.

Bulgarian presidential runoff officially scheduled 24/10/2006 SOFIA, Bulgaria — The Central Election Commission (CEC) formally confirmed that incumbent Georgi Parvanov of the Socialist Party and ultranationalist Attack coalition leader Volen Siderov will square off in a runoff next Sunday (October 29th). The CEC released the final results of last Sunday’s …