Balkans

EU ambassadors proposed on Thursday to abolish the visa regime for citizens of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia as of 19 December this year instead of 1 January, 2010 as earlier proposed by the European Commission, media report. Serbia’s Beta news agency reports that this proposal, made by the EU’s permanent …

Macedonia and Kosovo will soon appoint ambassadors to their respective capitals, the foreign ministers of both countries said in a press conference in Skopje. “Today’s meeting opens a new page in Macedonia-Kosovo relations. I believe this will be of benefit not only for the two countries, but also for the …

Less than 24 hours after the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Bosnia, his British counterpart David Miliband is expected to arrive and add his voice to the diplomatic efforts aimed at breaking the country’s political deadlock. The visits by Lavrov and Miliband on Thursday and Friday respectively …

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday in Sarajevo that his country favored closing down the powerful international envoy’s office in Bosnia, echoing views repeatedly voiced by Bosnian Serbs over the past months. “We believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina must take the responsibility for its own destiny,” Lavrov said after …

Postoji napredak u razgovorima i želja za konsenzusom, a svi učesnici sastanka razgovaraju u prijateljskoj atmosferi, otvoreno iznoseći stavove, izjavio je juče u Sarajevu Lars Valund, politički direktor u Ministarstvu vanjskih poslova Švedske, nakon razgovora eksperata SAD i EU s predstavnicima sedam bh. političkih stranaka u okviru butmirskog procesa. “Nemoguće …

There will be boycott of school classes and massive protests unless the government quits its plan to introduce Macedonian language as mandatory in primary schools, including schools in areas were Albanians are in majority, Albanian NGOs warned Thursday.

Macedonia is ready to continue name talks with Greece in the period November 16th, proposed by UN envoy Matthew Nimetz, Foreign Minister said. “We believe Nimetz initiative to be right on time and appreciate the fact it can give a give additional impulse for strengthening the mutual dialogue. Macedonia and …

Zagreb mayor, Milan Bandic announced Thursday his nomination for Croatia’s new president, saying that the country deserves a people’s president. Bandic, announced his decision early morning at the press conference Sjeme, accompanied by his daughter and wife as well as many of his colleagues.

Serbian authorities will have to send a message to Serbians in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) saying BiH is their homeland, declare Sarajevo as their Capital city and create their policy in those frameworks, Croatia’s President Stjepan Mesic said. “BiH must remain united for our region and for Europe and in …

A special unit of Russian police force stormed the premises of the Bulgarian Industrial Centre in Moscow although it is protected by diplomatic immunity, Bulgarian National Radio said on November 5 2009. The raid happened without any notice and explanation from police and, according to Bulgarian-language Dnevnik daily who quoted …