Balkans

BiH The ruling political party in the Serb-dominated Bosnian entity of Republika Srpska has rebuffed what it claims is the international community’s political plotting and meddling. “Certain circles from the international community are trying to gather and activate certain groups that work on the destabilisation of Republika Srpska,” said Milorad …

BiH Momcilo Krajisnik, one of the highest ranking war-time members of the Bosnian Serb leadership, was transferred yesterday to the UK to serve his 20-year sentence for crimes committed against non-Serb civilians during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Krajisnik was sentenced on 17 March 2009 by the Appellate Chamber …

KOSOVO Human Rights Watch, HRW, and Amnesty International have called on Kosovo and international authorities to stop a wave of attacks and incidents of harassment targeting the Roma community. In the town of Gjilan/Gnjilane, four Roma were physically assaulted and injured in separate incidents in mid-August, HRW said.

BULGARIA Former agriculture minister Valeri Tsvetanov has been officially charged with corruption offenses related to his time in office, it emerged Tuesday, hours after he was called for interrogation at the National Investigation Service. Tsvetanov and Stefan Yurukov, the former head of the forestry agency, allegedly made illegal land swaps, …

KOSOVO Kosovo self-determination movement Vetevendosje repainted its “EULEX made in Serbia” slogan on the wall in front of the EU rule of law mission, EULEX, headquarters on Monday, after the mission painted over the previous graffiti. The hardline nationalist movement says this act expresses their revulsion for EULEX.

ALBANIA Albania’s opposition Socialist Party boycotted the first session of parliament on Monday, and says its will maintain its absence unless its demands are met. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the head of the party, Tirana mayor Edi Rama, warned that the Socialists would have a conditional relationship with the …

SERBIA For the first time in 25 years, a Chinese defense minister has arrived here on an official visit this Monday. Liang Guanglie was welcomed with military and state honors before he met with his Serbian counterpart Dragan Šutanovac. In a joint news conference held afterwards, Šutanovac reminded reporters that …

SERBIA The revised agreement on continuation of the strategic partnership was signed in by Interior Minister Ivica Dačić and head of OSCE in Serbia Hans Ola Urstad. The altered memorandum of understanding envisages the provision of expert help and advice in the area of responsibility of police work, fight against …

KOSOVO Fatmir Sejdiu says all political parties in Kosovo should urge voters to refrain from any kind of action that could jeopardize the electoral process. The Kosovo Albanian spoke about the local elections scheduled to be held in November after his meeting with Ramus Haradinaj, the leader of the opposition …

SERBIA Interior Minister Ivica Dačić stated that Serbia will in September meet all the remaining criteria for abolishing visas. This will be necessary for Serbian citizens to travel to all the Schengen area countries.