Balkans

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle met with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic in Berlin on Tuesday (February 22nd), assuring him that Germany supports Serbia in its efforts to implement EU-required needed reforms. Djelic said Belgrade is willing to engage in dialogue with Pristina as soon as possible. As for …

It took three rounds of voting but construction tycoon Behgjet Pacolli was elected president of Kosovo on Tuesday (February 22nd) by a narrow majority. He was the only candidate. Hashim Thaci was re-elected prime minister followed immediately when the coalition parties supported

The EU foreign ministers extended on Monday (February 21st) the mandate of the EU Special Envoy to Kosovo, Pieter Feith, for additional two months, local media reported Tuesday. Feith’s contract — due to expire in the end of February — will be valid through April. The EU Foreign Affairs Council …

The UN mediator in the Greek-Macedonian name dispute Matthew Nimitz has met with U.S. administration officials just before the visit of Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski to Washington. After the latest round of talks Nimitz took a leave. After that he is expected to visit Skopje and Athens to present …

The European Commission’s first expert mission in charge of verifying Serbia’s answers to the EC questionnaire Belgrade recently completed is due to arrive in the country on Monday.

Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will arrive in Belgrade on Monday on a regular visit. The main topic of Brammertz’s talks with the Belgrade authorities will be Serbia’s cooperation

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has called on opposition leader Branko Crvenkovski to challenge the ruling party in early elections. He called on the opposition to immediately stop its parliament boycott in order to vote on the new election law so that snap polls can be called “as soon as …

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic arrives on Monday on a two-day official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of his counterpart, Boyko Borisov. The two leaders will hold a private talk at the Council of Ministers building later on Monday, to be followed by a delegation-level meeting and a press …

The European Commission (EC) published interim progress reports Friday (February 18th) on Bulgaria and Romania in the field of judiciary and interior affairs within the so-called Co-operation and Verification Mechanism. The reports conclude that the two countries have made progress in judicial reform and fighting corruption but must make more …

Acting President Jakup Krasniqi asked Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader Hashim Thaci to form the new government Friday (February 18th). The PDK finished first in the December 12th snap parliamentary