Balkans

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.

DSS President Vojislav Koštunica said that Serbia should insist on talks with the EU in which there will be clear discussions of Kosovo. “European officials are stating every day that the time has come for conditions to be set before Serbia publicly to begin cooperating with Kosovo as a neighboring …

The European Commission intends to be flexible about the deadlines for the EU ISPA program, including those for the construction of Danube Bridge II. The statement came on the heals of a request on the part of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his Romanian counterpart Emil Boc made before …

ICTY)on Friday rejected a request of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to postpone his trial, ruling the proceedings will start next week after he makes his opening statements. Karadzic, who is conducting his own defence, has agreed to present his initial arguments early next week. But he has requested …

Police on Friday (February 26th) arrested three people suspected of involvement in the systematic execution of thousands of Muslims in Srebrenica during the 1992-1995 conflict in BiH. The chief prosecution announced that Vlastimir Golijan, 35, Zoran Goronja, 38, and Stanko Savanovic, 42 — all former soldiers in the Bosnian Serb …