Balkans

The EU wants Albania to resolve its political stalemate by May 10th, for the good of the country’s integration processes. The ruling Democratic Party and the opposition Socialist Party have been at odds for months over the June 2009 general elections. The EU needs facts not promises, Spain’s Ambassador to …

The Montenegrin community will be added to the list of minority communities in Kosovo and will be legally recognised and equal to other minorities there, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci confirmed on Wednesday, during a regular cabinet meeting. President Fatmir Sejdiu has requested the government start the necessary amendment to the …

Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčak said that his country would not be changing its stance on not recognizing Kosovo. “Our stance is clear and consistent, but not unfriendly,” Lajčak said. Lajčak confirmed support for the countries of the Western Balkans for joining

EU President Herman Van Rompuy said Wednesday he plans to hold a summit of euro-zone leaders by around May 10, where they will move to implement a joint bailout package for Greece. “On the basis of reports to be finalized in the coming days, the heads of state and

Macedonian Minister of Defense Zoran Konjanovski is set to meet with NATO Commander in Skopje Valentin Gagasev as well as with newly appointed NATO Commander in Skopje Slovenian David Humar, who will take office on May 3.

The European Union on Tuesday proposed Georgia be included in its visa facilitation and readmission mechanism, increasing the number of such beneficiary countries to nine. The proposal was made by the European Commission, the executive arm of the 27-nation bloc.

Macedonia will never accept a solution for the name spat with Greece that touches upon identity issues, Macedonian President Georgi Ivanov told media on Tuesday. “Every solution that contributes to altering the reference to our language and our uniqueness is unacceptable for Macedonia. We cannot agree that Greek

Serbia has no alternative to arresting fugitive General Ratko Mladic, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Serge Brammertz, said in Srebrenica. “The priority is still the arrest of the two remaining fugitives, including Mladic,” said Brammertz on Tuesday during his first visit to Srebrenica, …

Brussels will lift travel visa requirements for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in October, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Monday (April 26th), after EU foreign ministers met with EC Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele in Luxembourg.

High Representative Valentin Inzko met on Monday visiting UN war crimes tribunal chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz. The Office of the High Representative issued a statement, saying Inzko reiterated that Western Balkan countries are willing to resolve all issues related to crimes committed during the 1990s’ conflicts. He added that lasting …