Balkans

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

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Court of Auditors released a report on Tuesday (20 June) criticising the European Commission (EC) for not monitoring the way Bulgaria and Romania are handling aid under the PHARE programme. The audit covers projects initiated in 2000-2004, involving

An explosive device hit a Canadian patrol vehicle in Shah Wali Kot District of Kandahar Province on April 22 killing four soldiers, international news agencies reported. According to a Canadian military spokesman the explosion was detonated by a technically advanced remote-controlled device, “The New York Times,” reported on April 23.

The first of the four S-300 surface-to-air missile systems that Russia has contracted to supply to Belarus arrived in Minsk on April 21, Belapan reported, quoting Belarusian Defense Minister Leanid Maltsau. Maltsau added that the remaining three system will be delivered until the end of this year.

Robert Simmons, special representative of NATO Secretary-General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer for the South Caucasus and Central Asia, said in the course of a NATO delegation’s visit to Kazakhstan on April 22 that it is “important for us that Kazakhstan has advanced and signed the Individual Partnership Action Plan with …

Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told the Minsk-based daily “Sovetskaya Belorussiya” of April 20 that “in the event of a clear violation of the balance of forces near our borders [by NATO], we reserve the lawful right to take all necessary measures to ensure the [soundness] of our national security,” Interfax …