Balkans

Bernd Borchard Named EULEX’s Third Chief

Bernd Borchardt of Germany was appointed on Tuesday as new head of the EU’s rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, known as EULEX.The appointment was made by the EU’s Political and Security Committee. “Borchardt, from Germany, will take up his duties on February 1, 2013. He will succeed Xavier Bout de Marnhac, …

Read More »

Macedonia’s Striking Medics Vow to Resist Threats

Macedonian doctors staging a two-week-long strike say they will take more radical steps if Health Minister Nikola Todorov acts on threats to punish them.The Independent Trade Union of Medical Clinics, which is heading the strike by medics, on Tuesday said they will erect tents in front of the Health Ministry, …

Read More »

Kosovo Serbs Protest Again Over Border Deal

About a hundred Kosovo Serbs rallied at Jarinje to protest over a border deal that they say implies recognition of Kosovo’s independence.Up to a hundred Serbs staged a protest on Tuesday at the Jarinje, crossing point between Kosovo and Serbia against the planned implementation of an agreement on Integrated Border …

Read More »

Bulgaria PM Briefs Obama on Bus Bomb Probe

Borisov tells Obama that while the identity of the Burgas bomber is known, the evidence is not yet strong enough to hold up in court.On a visit to Washington, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, informed US President Barack Obama of progress in the investigation of the July 18 terrorist attack …

Read More »

War Rape Victims Neglected in Croatia, Warns NGO

War rape victims are neglected in Croatia, the human rights NGO Documenta warned, requesting changes to the law and changes in the social attitudes to restore dignity to victims.Marking the Days of Activism against Gender Violence [November 25 to December 10], Documenta have issued a statement on Monday requesting changes …

Read More »

Bosnia Embassy Gunman Says Fresh Attacks Likely

Mevlid Jasarevic, the man behind the attack on the US embassy in Sarajevo, said in the closing words of his trial that similar attacks will take place for as long as “Americans kill Muslims”.Awaiting his sentence, Jasarevic told the Bosnian State Court on December 3 that another attack like one …

Read More »

Montenegrin MPs Expected to Vote on New Govt

Vote in parliament on new government put off to Tuesday, following opposition demands that a controversial vote in the town of Niksic be examined.Milo Djukanovic, Montenegro’s prime minister designate and head of the Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, had been expected to present the programme and structure of the new …

Read More »

Start Date for EU-Serbia Talks Recommended

The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday urged the European Council to “set a date for opening accession talks with Serbia” as soon as possible.The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has advised the European Council to give Belgrade a start date for membership talks.”Serbia has never been closer to …

Read More »

Hague Tribunal Upholds Visegrad Crimes Verdict

The Hague Tribunal has upheld the verdict under which Milan Lukic was sentenced to life imprisonment for war crimes in the eastern Bosnian town of Visegrad.The Appeals Chamber of the Hague Tribunal has upheld the first instance verdict which sentenced Milan Lukic to life imprisonment and partly accepted the appeal …

Read More »