Balkans

The opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) would “halt the European road”, if the final condition for Serbia to join the EU would be to recognize Kosovo. This is according to party leader Tomislav Nikolić.

The Hague Tribunal has rejected Serb Radical Party (SRS) leader Vojislav Šešelj request to be temporarily released. Šešelj on Wednesday entered a plea on contempt of court charges and filed the motion for temporary release.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called on leaders of the divided island of Cyprus to overcome their differences by October with a view to ending the conflict which obstructs Turkey’s admission into the European Union (EU). Ban met Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Derviş Eroğlu in Geneva. …

Hungary has sent a memorandum to European Union member states calling for a sustained policy of admitting Western Balkan countries as members. On July 6, Hungary also urged the EU to grant candidate status to Serbia and set a date for negotiating its EU membership by the end of this …

Council of Europe (CoE) Rapporteur Dick Marty will attend a debate on an OSCE resolution on combat against illicit trade in human organs, submitted by Serbia. The debate will take place on Saturday in Belgrade as part of the ongoing OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Annual Session. OSCE PA Permanent Committee …

Benjamin Netanyahu arrives on Thursday in Bulgaria, the first visit of an Israeli prime minister to the country for the last two decades. The Israeli delegation will include ministers of finance, telecommunications, construction and civil defense.

Serbian PM Mirko Cvetković said the first agreements reached in the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština “would benefit

The visit of Serbian President Boris Tadić to Sarajevo is yet another positive step on the Western Balkans’ long road to post-war recovery and reconciliation. This is according to High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia Valentin Inzko.

Serbian President Boris Tadić stated in Sarajevo on Wednesday that Serbia wanted the closest possible relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina. He added that the country was ready to resolve all the remaining open issues between the two countries.

Macedonia is soon to sign bilateral extradition treaties with Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro, which are expected to halt the practice of individuals abusing their dual citizenship to escape justice.