Balkans

After a year long delay Serbia and Bosnia should sign a protocol on cooperation in the prosecution of war crime cases in January next year.The protocol of cooperation in the prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide between the Serbian and Bosnian prosecutions should be signed …

European Court rules rules that Macedonia was responsible for torture, ill-treatment of Khaled El-Masri, a victim of CIA rendition, and orders payment of 60,000 euro in damagesThe court found El-Masri’s account to be established beyond reasonable doubt and held Macedonia responsible for his torture and ill-treatment both in the country …

Bosnian Presidency member Zeljko Komsic says his new party will be up and running next year, advocating new solutions and the equality of all Bosnians and Herzegovinians.Zeljko Komsic, the Croat member of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s tripartite State Presidency, says he is working on the formation of his new party after …

President Traian Basescu is making no comment about whether he will reappoint Victor Ponta as Romania’s next prime minister, even though Ponta’s coalition won the recent general election with a large majority.President Traian Basescu on Wednesday asked politicians and the media not to make any inappropriate comments about his alleged …

Leaders in Kosovo say they expect to forge ahead in the EU integration process early in 2013, as they are “at the final stage” of meeting the criteria to start negotiations on the first step, a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, SAA.The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, on Wednesday said that …

Government and the opposition exchanged accusations on Wednesday after the EU Council of Ministers rejected Tirana’s bid for candidate status for the third year.Prime Minister Sali Berisha told the cabinet he blamed the opposition leader Edi Rama for the failed bid, accusing the Socialists of blocking the reform process. “Rama …

The initiative by Montenegro’s judges to ban public comments on non-final verdicts is largely seen as controversial and against the basic principles of open trials.The most recent proposal of the Association of Judges of Montenegro aims to forbid public comments on court decisions which are not final, Vijesti Television reported …

W ith an estimated 10 billion tons in geological reserves, coal is a vitally important part of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s economy. Besides supplying local industrial facilities such as steel mills, state mines also fuel all the country’s power plants. More than 80 percent of the country’s coal is taken from open-pit mines …

Bulgaria has a strong interest in developing bilateral relations with Azerbaijan in the energy sector, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov has declared. Mladenov has noted that his country supports the Southern Gas Corridor, as it believes it would contribute to energy security and competition in Europe.

Serbian police have detained Miroslav Miskovic, his son Marko and eight other persons on suspicion of corruption.Serbian police on Wednesday arrested the owner of Delta Holding, Miroslav Miskovic, and nine other persons on suspicion of abuses during privatization of road construction and maintenance companies. The suspects include his son, Marko, …