Balkans

Bulgaria is a state based on the rule of law and cannot afford to favor certain investors, no matter whether Russian or from elsewhere, said Bulgarian foreign affairs minister Nikolay Mladenov in an interview for Bulgarian Nova TV Sunday evening.

The European Union Council President Herman van Rompuy kicks off a mini tour of the Western Balkans on Monday. The EU’s first permanent president will visit Ljubljana for talks with Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor, and later he will be heading to Zagreb for talks with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic. …

EU, KFOR and Serbian officials have condemned the tossing of a hand grenade during a Serb protest in the divided northern Kosovo town of Mitrovica on Friday (July 2nd), which killed one man and injured 11 other people. President Boris Tadic called an emergency meeting of the

Malta has ratified Serbia’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic announced on Friday (July 2nd), making Malta the second country after Spain to do so. According to an earlier announcement, Italy has started the ratification process, while Austria, Denmark, Finland and Poland plan to launch …

Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović requested from EULEX to protect Serbs in the province and find and punish those who attacked a rally in Kosovska Mitrovica. “The bomb attack on Serbs gathered on the protest on the occasion of opening the office of the so-called Kosovo government in northern Kosovska …

The Skopje branch of the Islamic Religious Community, IVZ, in Macedonia has warned that radical Islamist groups following Wahhabi teachings are trying to take control of the central mosques in Skopje. Skopje Mufti Ibrahim Shabani, who is the head of the IVZ branch in the capital, made the remarks after …

Montenegrin President Filip Vujanović says his country wants an agreement with Croatia and Serbia on the extradition of organized crime and corruption suspects.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fuele said that EU enlargement will remain a priority during Belgium’s presidency. Belgium’s presidency will face many important issues, including those regarding Western Balkans and Serbia’s candidacy, he said.

Kosovo and Serbia can talk on practical issues only, the issues discussed with Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said. He underscored that Kosovo’s legislators should ignore the ideas on Kosovo’s division or exchange of territories. “There will be no division and that chapter is complete once …

Political directors of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board concluded on Wednesday (June 30th) that conditions have not been met to close down the Office of High Representative. Wrapping up a two-day