Balkans

The European Commission (EC) is working out its position on Serbia’s candidacy for EU membership. It is expected for the EC to give a positive evaluation for the country and make a recommendation for launching the accession talks. However, it is possible that Serbia will not become a EU member …

Turkish Foreign Minister Recep Tayyip Davutoğlu warned on Wednesday that Turkey will not recognize Greek Cyprus’ presidency of the European Union, which it will assume in the middle of 2012, unless a deal to reunify the divided island is reached by that time.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov visited Istanbul Saturday at the invitation of Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two officials discussed about political and economic relations between the two countries.

German Ambassador in Priština Hans-Dieter Steinbach has said his country “supports Kosovo’s and Serbia’s accession into the EU as two separate countries”. He added that Serbia will be asked to recognize Kosovo during its EU integration.

Turkish Cypriot leader Derviş Eroğlu has accused his Greek Cypriot partners of foot-dragging in peace talks on the divided island but said progress can still be achieved by an October deadline set by the United Nations.

EULEX is not conducting an investigation against Hashim Thaci or anybody else regarding Dick Marty’s report on human organ trafficking in Kosovo and Albania. “However, nobody, not even the prime minister, will be immune to the investigation if there is evidence,” EULEX Deputy Head Andy Sparks said Friday.

A Senior EULEX official urges ex-minister Fatmir Limaj to drop his immunity and face trial, while the US ambassador says Kosovo risks confronting ‘the world’ if it does not

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has postponed his visit to Belgrade on Friday. Berlusconi was hoping to the last moment that he would be able to visit Belgrade on Friday but that the delay had to take place due to a change in the budget-voting schedule. The Italian Prime Minister had …

Kosovo Parliament rejected the proposal by the opposition for termination of the talks with Serbia and for repeal of the already reached agreements. 46 lawmakers have voted against the proposal, 37 voted in favor. The initiative was moved by three opposition parties.

Vojislav Šešelj has filed a request for termination of proceedings against him at the Hague Tribunal. Šešelj said he based the request on to flagrant violation of his right to a trial within a reasonable period of time.