Balkans

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic boycotted the war crimes trial against him at a UN court in The Hague on Monday, Dutch media said.The trial started at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) shortly after 9:00 a.m. (8:00 GMT) with Karadzic’s absence. The presiding judge O-Gon …

Three Albanian political groups in southern Serbia have joined to form a united political party. The party, dubbed the Democratic Union of Albanians, DUA, was formed when a Bujanovac party with the same name, led by Mejdi Zeqiri, merged with Ramiz Zulfiu’s Citizens’ Group, from the town of Presevo, and …

Foreign Affairs Minister Ilir Meta, declared on Monday that Albania would move to strengthen its ties with Serbia, describing the country as an important partner for regional stability in the Balkans. “The strengthening of our relationship with Serbia is an important priority for our regional policy,” said Meta, speaking during …

Even after its apparent failure, an EU and US initiative to end Bosnia’s political impasse is still fostering confusion and tensions among local and international leaders as they search for a way out of the crisis. With senior EU officials scheduled to meet in Luxembourg to discuss the situation in …

Montenegro believes that one consulate in addition to the embassy in Podgorica would be sufficient for Serbia, reports say. Belgrade daily Večernje Novosti says that this came in reaction to Belgrade’s request to have three consulates in that country – in Herceg Novi, Nikšić and Bijelo Polje.

Montenegro’s Interior Ministry on Friday reacted to accusations heard from Kosovo’s Albanians concerning the border line. Residents from 16 villages near Peć and Dečani, in Metohija – in the western part of the province – have accused Montenegro of conducting a “flawed marking of the border”.

Several locations in Bulgaria, including districts in the capital Sofia and the second largest city of Plovdiv, are holding local elections Saturday. In Sofia, the Ilinden district is voting to select their mayor with 9 candidates. The elections were scheduled after the Mayor from the ruling Citizens for European Development …

Russia has urged Bulgaria to decide on a political approach regarding investment for the Belene Nuclear Power Plant as soon as possible, Bulgaria’s Energy Minister Traicho Traikov stated Friday. Economic, Energy and Tourism Minister Traikov continued that for Bulgaria, however “the economic approach is more important”.

President of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj thinks Priština and Belgrade should continue dialogue as there are many unresolved issues. ’’We should have a conversation with Belgrade. We have a lot to talk about and a lot to solve. Gievn that Belgrade is now on its …

The Hague Tribunal says that the trial of former Republic of Srpska President Radovan Karadžić will begin on October 26 as planned. It comes after Karadžić notified the court yesterday that he would not be in attendance. ’’The prosecution is ready to begin. I hope we’ll soon be concentrating on …