Balkans

Kosovo’s negotiating team has agreed to participate in another session of direct talks with Belgrade on cultural heritage in Kosovo, to be held on 11 July in Vienna. Yet the Kosovo side says it will not accept new demands regarding protection zones around Serb Orthodox cultural and religious sites. “We …

There have been lots of new beginnings for tiny Albania. In 1992, the Democratic Party of Sali Berisha swept to power in a wave of anticommunism. Optimism for fast change and willing sacrifice came with Berisha’s victory. Despite some achievements, Berisha’s government collapsed in 1997 amid the failure of catastrophic …

Kosovo is making progress and is ready to move ahead, Soren Jessen-Petersen told the UN Security Council on Tuesday (20 June). Calling for an early and successful conclusion of the talks on the province’s final status, the outgoing UNMIK chief warned that delaying a decision could threaten stability and progress.

BUCHAREST, Romania — One Romanian soldier in Afghanistan died and four were injured after their armoured vehicle drove over a landmine near the Kandahar base on Tuesday (20 June). The injured soldiers were taken to the Canadian hospital in the base run by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in …

BUCHAREST, Romania — The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) is seeking a government shuffle, according to a statement from UDMR leader Marko Bela on Tuesday (20 June). He said that his party would back the initiative if it was initiated

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) — BiH constitutional reforms were the focus of an informal meeting between High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling and the leaders of the six main political parties on Monday (19 June).

TIRANA, Albania — The ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the opposition Socialist Party (SP) exchanged their nominations to fill the vacant seat in the Central Election Commission (CEC), DP headquarters said on Tuesday (20 June). Each party presented four names — two of which are to be endorsed by the …

ZAGREB, Croatia — The Croatian government adopted a bill on Tuesday (20 June) that would establish tighter control and a more thorough licensing process for arms possession. The move aims to reduce illegal possession of weapons.

SKOPJE, Macedonia — EU and US envoys to Macedonia warned Tuesday (20 June) that recent incidents during the 5 July election campaign could affect the country’s EU and NATO membership aspirations. EU member state ambassadors told Prime Minister Vlado

BRUSSELS, Belgium — EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on Tuesday (20 June) again urged Turkey to observe its commitments in the EU accession process. He said domestic authorities must take immediate measures to overcome the delays