Balkans

There were tears and laughter at the launch of a book compiling the memories of more than 1,000 young people who grew up in Sarajevo during wartime.“Even though this is a book about the war, I believe it is an anti-war book,” said Jasminko Halilovic, the 24-year-old editor of ‘Childhood …

The Presidents of Kosovo and Serbia will sit down at the same table on Wednesday for the first time since Kosovo declared independence in 2008 in order to “normalise” relations.Atifete Jahjaga and Tomislav Nikolic are to meet Catherine Ashton, EU Foreign Policy Chief, in Brussels on Wednesday to symbolically back …

Romania is to send a small unit to join the EU’s anti-extremist operation in strife-ridden Mali.Romania’s Supreme Defence Council, CSAT, announced on Tuesday that it was sending 10 officers to join the European Union mission in Mali to help train local foces. “Romania’s involvement in this operation is in accordance …

Two new political parties have appeared on the Serbian scene, hoping to attract disappointed members and supporters of the Democrats and the Liberals.Serbia’s political scene has got two new players of a Democratic orientation, the New Party and the Liberal Movement of Serbia. Members of the New Party are rushing …

A visit by EU Commissioner Stefan Fule to Tirana has not caused much reflection among the political elite about Albania’s stalled EU integration process, a local expert says.“Albania’s political class has shown repeatedly in the last three years that its narrow political gains trump any other priority required for EU …

Macedonian government says if opposition MPs resign from parliament, simultaneous by-elections may take place for the vacated seats – but no general election will be held.Macedonia’s ruling party, VMRO- DPMNE, says that if opposition Social Democrat MPs resign their seats, elections will be held only for the 43 vacated seats, …

The Presidents of Kosovo and Serbia will sit down at the same table on Wednesday for the first time since Kosovo declared independence in 2008 in order to “normalise” relations.Atifete Jahjaga and Tomislav Nikolic are to meet Catherine Ashton, EU Foreign Policy Chief, in Brussels on Wednesday to symbolically back …

Hundreds of Bosnians joined a memorial ceremony to more than 60 civilians killed when a mortar was fired into an open-air market in February 1994.Families of those who died and representatives of Sarajevo’s cantonal government came to lay flowers at the ceremony on Tuesday marking the 19th anniversary of the …

As Bulgaria prepares to issue its eport on the last year’s terror attack in the Black Sea resort of Burgas, an Australian national has emerged as a suspect.Two Western officials, familiar with the investigation into the Burgas terror attack, said on condition of anonymity that an Australian national was involved, …

After women lawmakers in Bosnia’s Federation entity agreed to form a special women’s caucus, a Sarajevo mayor has caused controversy by calling it an exercise in ‘brain washing’.Members of the Women’s Network, an association of women’s groups and individuals in Bosnia, have condemned a Sarajevo mayor’s onslaught on their idea, …