Balkans

The UN war crimes tribunal on Wednesday (February 23rd) sentenced former top Serbian police general Vlastimir Djordjevic to 27 years for war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo. Djordjevic, a former deputy interior minister, was found guilty on all counts. He was charged with the forcible deportation of …

EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak kicked off a two-day visit to BiH on Thursday (February 24th) focusing on issues related to the country’s EU bid. Prior to the visit, Lajcak stressed the need for functional

The EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Council is meeting in Brussels on Thursday (February 24th) to discuss a series of issues, including a post-visa liberalisation mechanism for the Western Balkans countries. The

Kosovo prime minister Hashim Thaci on Thursday appointed a special envoy for the EU-brokered talks with Serbia that are expected to begin soon, the government announced. Leading Kosovo’s delegation for “the dialogue on practical matters with

The head of a European Parliamentary delegation visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on Wednesday called on divisive Bosnian politicians to form a government and adopt a budget for the current year, reported the Bosnian news agency Fena.

Serbian President Boris Tadic said on Tuesday (February 22nd) that Serbia is fully committed to locating and arresting the two remaining war crimes fugitives, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. After a meeting with UN war crimes tribunal chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz in Belgrade, Tadic stressed that Serbian authorities will do …

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 …