Balkans

US Ambassador to Bulgaria James Warlick has announced that the governments of Bulgaria, Israel and the US will cooperate in the investigation of the July 18 terror attack in Burgas and pool efforts to prevent such incidents from recurring. On Thursday, the US Ambassador took part in a memorial service …

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev conversed with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy after the deadly attack against Israeli tourists in the Bulgarian city of Burgas. “The attack shocked us with its cruelty. This act will not be forgotten and its cruelty will not be tolerated,” stated Plevneliev.

Serbia’s President Tomislav Nikolić has stated he is ready to assume responsibility and lead the fight for Kosovo. “I will gladly take the historic responsibility. I will gather everybody who means something in Serbia, politicians, intellectuals, businessmen, religious dignitaries, in order to finally

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will start a six-day tour of the Western Balkans on Friday. He will visit all countries created after the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, with July 23 reserved for Serbia.

Bulgaria and Romania must improve efforts to fight organized crime and corruption, the President of the European Commission Jose Manual Barroso, said on Wednesday. Barroso said on Wednesday that Bulgaria had made some progress

The UN, EU, US, Israel and other countries have condemned the suicide bombing in Burgas, Bulgaria, that killed six Israelis and a local driver as well as the bomber whose nationality has yet to be disclosed. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has condemned the bus bomb attack in Burgas that …

A remembrance service for those killed when the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, occupied the town of Orahovac in Kosovo in 1998 was held in Belgrade on Wednesday. The families of the victims and human rights activists laid flowers on the graves and at the monument called “Unknown”, dedicated to the …

Nationalist-led coalition is trying to lure ethnic minorities into the new government, but after Hungarians said no, Bosniaks are still weighing their options.Aleksandar Vucic, acting head of the ruling Progressives, has met with the main leader of Bosniak [Muslim] community in Serbia and offered them a role in the new …

Ban Ki-moon’s visit this month is stirring speculation about new initiatives in the dispute over Macedonia’s name – though few expect the fact-finding trip to result in a breakthrough.Ban Ki-moon arrives in Skopje on 25 July as part of a tour of Western Balkan countries from July 19 to 26. …

The European Commission is to issue a critical report on Romania’s failure to reform the courts, tackle corruption and respect the democratic process.The EU has serious doubts about Romania’s commitments to reforming the judiciary and respecting the principles of democracy, according to a preliminary copy of a report to be …