Balkans

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday threw US support behind Montenegro’s bid to join NATO as the Balkan country pursues political reforms. The chief US diplomat “pledged the United States’ support for Montenegro becoming an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic community” as she stood next to visiting Montenegrin …

Spain hopes for a swift solution to the Greek-Macedonian “name” spat that would put Macedonia on the right track towards EU membership, Spanish Prime Minister and EU chairman Jose Luis Zapatero said on Wednesday. “I have great confidence in the [Greek] Government of George Papandreou, and of course we cooperate …

Serbian President Boris Tadic slammed the most recent statement by Croatia’s outgoing president Stjepan Mesic, accusing his Croatian counterpart of warmongering and threatening the stability of the region. During an informal meeting with journalists on Tuesday, Mesic said he would intervene militarily if Milorad Dodik, Republika Srpska’s prime minister, made …

Bosnia’s State Investigation and Protection Agency, SIPA, arrested on Thursday morning two war crimes suspects, suspected of having committed crimes in the Drvar area of Western Bosnia. Ratko Dronjak, born in 1962, and Dragan Rodic, nicknameed Saula and born in 1963 were arrested according to a warrant issued by Bosnia’s …

Blockages of Greek farmers are not directed against the interests of the Bulgarian branch sector. It is said to see such opinions in some media, said Greek Ambassador to Bulgaria Danae-Madeleine Koumanakou at the meeting with Bulgarian economic minister Traycho Traykov.

Commenting on Stjepan Mesić’s statements, Croatia’s new president, Ivo Josipović, said that sending Croatia’s army to a neighboring country is not an option. After the outgoing Croatian president’s statement, reported yesterday, that he would “send in the troops” if RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik held a “referendum on secession” from …

An administrative debate in the case of Vojislav Šešelj ensued after the expected suspect did not show up to testify before the Hague Tribunal. Protected witness VS-026 did not come to the court on Tuesday because he recently underwent surgery, and another witness is expected to testify next week. Presiding …

FM Vuk Jeremić today in Belgrade addressed a recently announced plan of “integration” of northern, Serb parts of Kosovo into Priština’s institutions. Speaking after his meeting with Czech Deputy PM Jan Kohout, Jeremić said this was a provocation coming from the “illegal International Civilian Office (ICO) and the illegal institutions …

Serbian President Boris Tadić will not travel to Zagreb in February for the inauguration of Croatia’s new president, Ivo Josipović. Tadić will not attend the ceremony because the Kosovo Albanian president, Fatmir Sejdiu, confirmed he would be there. Previously, Tadić said that taking part in the event along with Sejdiu …

Montenegro Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic is scheduled to meet in Washington D.C. on Wednesday with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Montenegrin Ambassador to Washington Miodrag Vlahovic confirmed the upcoming visit during his three-day trip to the US.