Balkans

Minefield Mayhem

Fourteen years after the war ended in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mines continue to claim lives and cause serious injuries, and it would seem that the deminer’s job is never done, Anes Alic writes for ISN Security Watch. “This is not earning for living, it is working for death,” said Habiba …

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Ban: UN to stay in Kosovo

The Hague Tribunal may cease to operate in 2013 but UN forces will stay in Kosovo, says UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Ban said that the Hague Tribunal was considering the possibility of completing its work by the end of 2013 and that back-up mechanisms should be prepared if Ratko …

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Kouchner: Serbia should be in EU

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says that all the Balkan states should become EU member-states. “Hurdles remain, but our political position is very clear,“ Kouchner said, adding that French President Nicolas Sarkozy had said as much, “also unambiguously,“ to Serbian President Boris Tadić.

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Thaci welcomes presence of EC observers

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has welcomed the decision to send European Commission observers to monitor the local elections in Kosovo. “We are firmly focused on having free, fair and democratic elections, with turnout as high as possible and the acceptance of high democratic standards, the building of a new …

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“Mini Dayton” under way on Bosnian crisis

A “mini Dayton” is getting under way at the Butmir base near Sarajevo attended by officials from the EU and U.S., and the most influential Bosnian leaders. The meeting began with an informal working dinner, where, according to unofficial reports, Bosnian leaders were presented with a set of measures to …

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Balkan leaders and Greek prime minister to arrive in Istanbul

The informal meeting of foreign ministers of South-East European Cooperation Process will begin in Istanbul on Friday. The informal meeting of foreign ministers of South-East European Cooperation Process will begin in Istanbul on Friday. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will host the two-day meeting. Foreign Ministers and deputy prime ministers …

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Bulgaria PM Slams Former Tsar Nomination for EU President

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister has made it clear he will not nominate former Tsar Simeon Saxe-Coburg for the race for the soon-to-be-created post of European Union President. Boyko Borisov, who once served as a bodyguard to the former Tsar and Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg, vehemently opposed the suggestion made earlier in the …

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