Balkans

Montenegro’s Authorities expect additional questions from the European Commission by the end of March, European Integration Minister Gordana Djurovic told members of parliament’s European integration committee last Friday

The government must take further measures to deal with the budget crisis and reach debt reduction targets, EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said Monday (March 1st), following a meeting with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou in Athens. “We will continue to support the Greek authorities and the Greek people …

Local media reported on Monday (March 1st) that Kosovo is expected to participate in a summit organised by Slovenia and Croatia in Kranj, near Ljubljana, on March 20th. However, the country will be urged the take part in the event not as a republic but under the name “Kosovo/UNMIK” or …

Croatian Assembly Speaker Luka Bebić and his Serbian counterpart Slavica Đukić-Dejanović meet to discuss cooperation between the two countries. After the talks at the Croatian Assembly in Zagreb, Bebić said that Croatia wished to “establish and develop good neighborly relations with Serbia”.

The European Commissioner for energy Günther Oettinger arrives today for a two-day-visit to Bulgaria to discuss energy security issues. Oettinger will meet Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Minister of the Economy Traicho Traikov. He will also give a speech at the Atlantic Council conference, Еuropena Commission press office announced. …

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is meeting top Serbian officials on Monday to offer France’s help in Serbia’s European integration process. Ahead of the trip the FM’s spokesman, Bernard Valero, said that Kouchner’s visit is a sign of “France’s commitment to the development of the whole region and to the …

Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas told Macedonian media on Monday that a solution could be reached in the Athens-Skopje “name” spat as soon as tomorrow if there is the necessary political will to do so, adding that Athens has that will.

Radovan Karadzic will deliver his opening statement today and tomorrow in his trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, following which the Prosecution will call its first witnesses.

Albanian Opposition Socialist Party (SP) leader Edi Rama said Friday that his party is again leaving parliament and threatened large public protests unless Prime Minister Sali Berisha agrees to open the ballot boxes of the June 2009 general elections.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout said that there is no need for the Czech Republic to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo.