Balkans

The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) on December 5 will deliver its judgement in Macedonia’s case against Greece for breaching the 1995 Bilateral Interim Accord by blocking country’s accession to NATO at a summit in Bucharest in 2008.

Serbian President Boris Tadić conferred Friday in Brussels with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy. Van Rompuy expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue but also pointed out the importance of the implementation of the agreements that had already been agreed.

Montenegrin Foreign and European Integration Minister Milan Roćen claims that Belgrade cannot jeopardize his country’s stability and independence. According to him, Montenegro is not and never will be in danger of having its stability jeopardized. “There are such attempts and there always will be because some structures in Serbia just …

The Netherlands will block proposals to admit Romania and Bulgaria into Europe’s passport-free travel zone until the two newest EU members persuade it they are making progress in fighting corruption, a Dutch minister said

Europe is satisfied with the reforms in Serbia, said Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. Cvetkovic remarked that all countries that are given the status of a EU member state candidate under conditions connected only to the reforms, while Serbia obtained the status for keeping the dialogue with Pristina.

Macedonia is ready for a NATO membership, said Macedonian Minister of Defence Fatmir Besimi. “Macedonia has done the needed reforms, following the NATO standards, and takes part in peacekeeping missions. The country is ready for a full membership in the Alliance,” Besimi remarked.

Bosnia and Serbia reached a deal on Wednesday to enable them to track down and prosecute fugitives suspected of committing war crimes during the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict, officials said. The announcement is seen as a major breakthrough in

Serbs in volatile North Kosovo attacked NATO peacekeepers in KFOR, injuring 21, after they moved to dismantle a Serb barricade. The violence erupted shortly after midnight on Wedneday when angry Serbs massed to stop peacekeepers from removing a roadblock on the road from Mitrovica to the Serbian border at Jarinje.

Dutch parliament’s European Affairs Committee says Montenegro should not receive a date for a start to EU accession negotiations, citing alleged failures to curb corruption. The Dutch parliament will decide its formal position later this month.

Pristina court finds Fahredin Gashi guilty of war crimes following testimony of self-styled former Kosovo secret service agent and hitman, Nazim Bllaca. Former Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, fighter Fahredin Gashi was sentenced on Wednesday