Balkans

The new round of talks between Belgrade and Priština on technical issues will take place in Brussels on July 2. The two delegations are expected to reach agreement on some of the issues that have been opened during the talks, primarily on the freedom of movement, the cadastre and registry …

The UN Security Council on Wednesday urged nations around the world to help arrest Goran Hadžić, the last fugitive wanted by the UN war crimes court. 

Bosnia’s Parliament will on Wednesday decide whether or not to support Slavo Kukic, the candidate for Prime Minister proposed by Social-Democrat-led coalition. 

Israeli Foreign Minister Avidgor Lieberman declared on Tuesday in Tirana that Israel will not recognize Kosovo’s independence until all EU states have done so. “We will recognize it only after Spain, Greece and Cyprus,” Lieberman said in the course of a two-day visit in Tirana, lobbing against a possible vote …

President Gjorge Ivanov on Tuesday entrusted Nikola Gruevski with a fresh mandate to form a new government after his VMRO-DPMNE party won the June 5 elections. He has 20 days to complete talks and present a new team to parliament. 

Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini believes Serbia should get the EU candidate status and a date for the start of accession negotiations by year’s end. He said that Italy was one of the countries that strongly supported the EU integration of the Western Balkans and Serbia. 

Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic has said that Montenegro and Serbia should be the two closest countries – not only in the region, but in the whole world. “We keep forgetting that brother nations [Serbia and Montenegro] sometimes have different interests and move away from one another, but with a commitment …

Serbian President Boris Tadić says that Serbia expects the candidate status for EU membership and, shortly thereafter, the start of accession negotiations. At the same time, said he, the country “will not change its stance on not recognizing the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo”.

The charges against Ratko Mladić are strong and the prosecution is working to expedite proceedings against him, said Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz. Brammertz pointed out the Prosecutor’s Office would do everything to prove Mladić’s individual accountability for numerous crimes.

The general strike called in Greece will result in the closing of the Gevgelija border for crossing with Macedonia for 48 hours, it has been announced. Some flights from the main airport in Athens have also been canceled.