THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Macedonian Justice Minister Meri Mladenovska-Gjorgjievska reiterated on Tuesday (5 July) that Skopje is prepared to prosecute the four cases that the UN tribunal decided to return to the country. Mladenovska-Gjorgjievska outlined the position during talks with tribunal president Theodor Meron and chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte …
Read More »Former US Secretary of State Honoured in Kosovo
PRISTINA, Kosovo, Serbia-Montenegro — Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was honoured with a “Golden Medal of Liberty” in Pristina on Tuesday (5 July). During the ceremony in parliament, Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova noted Albright’s commitment to the province, particularly to the settlement of the 1998-1999 crisis. In a …
Read More »BiH Government Adopts Draft Accords for Co-operation With Europol
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) — The BiH government adopted a draft agreement on co-operation with the European Police Office (Europol) at its latest session, Security Minister Barisa Colak announced Tuesday (5 July). He added that the document would boost collaboration in preventing, combating and investigating international crime. Colak added …
Read More »Ljajic Says Extradition of Seven Indictees, Including Mladic, Is Key to EU Integration
BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro — The extradition of seven war crimes indictees, including Ratko Mladic, remains a major condition for progress in Serbia-Montenegro’s bid for EU integration, said federal Human and Minority Rights Minister Rasim Ljajic, who also is chairman of the national council for co-operation with the UN tribunal. Ljajic spoke …
Read More »Political Infighting Slows Albanian Vote Count
TIRANA, Albania — The Central Election Commission complained on Tuesday (5 July) that infighting between the two main political parties has slowed the vote counting from Sunday’s parliamentary election. According to a spokesman, ballot counters in 15 of the country’s 100 counting centres walked off the job on orders from …
Read More »UN Prosecutors Want Joint Trial for Nine Serbs
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — UN prosecutors announced on Tuesday (5 July) that they want to put nine former Serb military and militia commanders on trial together for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. A spokesman said holding a single trial for all defendants would save time, avoid duplication of evidence and minimise …
Read More »Large Explosive Devices Found Near Srebrenica Commemoration Site
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) — The Bosnian Serb police on Tuesday (5 July) discovered two large explosive devices close to the site where dignitaries and thousands of mourners will gather on 11 July to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre. A total of 35kg of plastic explosives …
Read More »New Bulgarian Parliament to Convene on 11 July
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov signed a decree Tuesday (5 July) summoning the country’s new parliament to convene on 11 July. He also urged the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), which won the 25 June general election but failed to secure an outright majority, to try to reach agreement on a government …
Read More »Libya Delays Final Verdict in Bulgarian Medics’ Case
TRIPOLI, Libya — In a surprise move Tuesday (31 May), Libya’s Supreme Court delayed until 15 November its ruling in the case against five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor who were accused of spreading the HIV virus in Benghazi. A lower court sentenced the six medics to death more …
Read More »UN Envoy Visits Cyprus
NICOSIA, Cyprus — UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast met with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, according to a UN press release issued Tuesday (31 May). The UN envoy, who kicked off a several-day tour of the region, is expected to meet with Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat …
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