Balkans

The Border Police Chief Directorate has received information that the protesting Greek farmers are lifting the blockage at the Ilinden border checkpoint between 5.00pm on Tuesday until 11.00 am on Wednesday. Cars will be allowed crossing the border, except for those carrying timber and agriculture production, including meat and dairy …

Council of Europe special rapporteur Dick Marty is visiting Kosovo regarding the alleged crimes of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army in north Albania. Marty arrived in Kosovo on Monday afternoon, that he will stay until Wednesday, and that two investigators have come along with him.

Municipal elections in two Serb-dominated areas in northern Kosovo risk another postponement, Local Government and Administration Minister Sadri Ferati said. He explained that a change of dates may result from challenges posed by Serb parallel structures. Ferati said the plan is to hold elections in the two municipalities – Partesh/Partes …

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has refused to accept the resignation of Rumiana Jeleva as foreign minister. “I wrote “yes” to her request to resign as European Commission designate and “no” to her request to leave the office of foreign minister,” Boyko Borisov said. Borisov hopes that Rumiana Jeleva will …

The EU and Serbia will continue regular meetings through the so-called political dialogue on January 26. One of the main topics will be the question of Belgrade’s candidacy for EU membership. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić will be leading the Serbian delegation while the EU team will be headed by Spanish …

Today, President Barroso took note of Mrs Jeleva’s withdrawal as commissioner-designate. He fully respects this personal decision, European Commission’s press office announced.

Diplomatic relations with Montenegro will return to normal if Podgorica re-examines its decision to recognize Kosovo, says Serbian MFA’s political director. Beta news agency reports that Borislav Stefanović made the comments for state broadcaster RTS on Monday night, and that he added that Belgrade “could not act as if nothing …

Minister for Kosovo Minister Goran Bogdanović has called on Serbs in the Kosovo enclave of Štrpce to refrain from conflicts and work together. “We have to do everything we can to overcome the divisions in the Serb community (in the Štrpce municipality), because it does not help us,” Bogdanović told …

The candidacy of Bulgarian Commissioner-designate Rumiana Jeleva has been withdrawn according to the European People’s Party Group in the European Parliament. A letter was sent to Joseph Daul this morning by Rumiana Jeleva. Jeleva has resigned from her position as Commissioner-designate and her position as Foreign Minister.

The Turkish Cypriot political leadership’s recent proposals on solving the Cyprus issue was unacceptable, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said Monday. “We want a solution that will end occupation and division in Cyprus, because the Cyprus issue is primarily a problem of occupation by Turkey,” Papandreou said after meeting with …