Balkans

Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has rejected a planned tax hike, saying it is illegal and will hurt the poor, news agency Javno reports. A statement from his office said that Mesic sent the tax bill to the Constitutional Court on Monday, arguing the legislation: “does not respect the principles of …

The Serbian government will choose the best possible moment for submitting its EU membership request, which will occur by year’s end, a top Serbian official told daily Blic. The director of the EU Integration Office in Serbia, Milica Delevic, told the daily on Sunday: “This shows the desire to speed …

PRISTINA, Kosovo Saudi Arabia has recognised Kosovo’s independence, the Kosovo foreign ministry announced on Friday (August 7th). The ministry’s statement said the two countries have already signed an agreement to set up diplomatic representation. Over 60 countries have recognised Kosovo since it declared independence last February.

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) The police announced on Saturday (August 8th) that they have arrested former mujahedeen Karaj Kamel bin Ali, also known as Abu Hamza, who escaped from the Zenica prison two weeks ago. Bin Ali was detained close to the prison where he failed to return after …

TIRANA, Albania Albania is ready to probe allegations of organ harvesting during the Kosovo conflict, but says any investigation on its territory must be carried out by domestic authorities. After a meeting with visiting Council of Europe special rapporteur Dick Marty, Justice Minister Enkeiled Alibeaj told reporters the government is …

SOFIA, Bulgaria On Friday August 7, Ambassador John Ordway arrived in Bulgaria to serve as the interim Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, the Embassy’s press office informed. 

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov vowed that the government will cover the expenses from the August 4 earthquake during his visit to the region on August 7. “The state will intervene and assist citizens in need,” said Borissov during his visit to Shabla, northeastern Bulgaria. “Unfortunately, you people don’t have …

SOFIA, Bulgaria The ministry of emergency situations did not work at all and that’s why I do not regret closing it, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said in the town of Shabla. He noted that after the blasts in Chelopechene military depot he, in his capacity of Sofia mayor, had …

PODGORICA Montenegro has issued a red international Interpol notice for the arrest of five people, including the former head of the state security agency, DB. They are wanted on suspicion that they deported 79 refugees – Bosnian Muslims and Serbs – back to the war-torn country in May 1992.

The idea of an exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia, circulating in the media, is wrong-headed, former envoy Albert Rohan believes. Rohan, who served as the deputy special envoy for talks on Kosovo’s status, was unequivocal in his rejection of territorial exchanges in an interview with Kosovo’s Daily Express …