Balkans

Bosnia’s Federation government starts auctioning off luxury cars in a meager attempt to meet IMF savings demands. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 8 July approved a previously halted €1.2 billion stand-by arrangement ($1.7 billion) with Bosnia and Herzegovina, designed to ease the effects of the global financial crisis, but …

There are indications that at least two new mass graves are located in the grounds of the former UN peacekeepers’ base in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, local media reported on Friday. The information about the possible mass graves was revealed at the time of the 14th commemoration of the …

Addressing growing calls for a presidential republic, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov refused to say whether this would prompt him to seek the job, the Novinite news agency reports. Borisov was non-committal in addressing an ongoing campaign by former president Zhelyu Zhelev to transform the Bulgarian political system into a …

Albania’s religious leaders said Thursday that they rejected a government proposal to extend marriage rights to gay couples. Speaking to local daily Gazeta Shqiptare, the head of Albania’s Muslim community, Shkelqim Muca, rejected the proposal, arguing that, in his community’s view, gay marriage was unacceptable. 

Bosnia’s top international representative has imposed an interim resolution on squabbling Mostar political factions, establishing the basis for the temporary financing of public services and sanctioning city councillors. High Representative Valentin Inzko’s decision provides much-needed breathing space for Mostar citizens and funds for public services and communal companies which have …

Local analysts and legislators and academics from the Arab states agree that their nations should pursue improved relations, with Kosovo proffering informition on its history and reasons for declaring independence. These were the findings of a conference held at the Club for Foreign Policy (KPJ), in Pristina on Wednesday.

Serbia and Armenia are key states in resolving European energy supply problems and political crises in their regions, Serbian President Boris Tadic said on his return from Yerevan on Wednesday. Tadic is back in Belgrade after a two-day diplomatic trip to Armenia in which he held talks with President Serzh …

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has refused to rule out the possibility of recognising Kosovo’s independence in an interview with the BBC. Jemeric told the BBC’s World Tonight programme on Monday night that Serbia wanted negotiations with Pristina, adding that Belgrade would be “very flexible”. Asked explicitly if the Serbian …

Socialist Party leader Edi Rama will launch a political campaign to seek early elections, after his party agreed that the June 28 parliamentary election was marred by fraud. On Wednesday, a day after the national assembly of the Socialist Party voted in favour of a resolution to push for fresh …

All members of Croatian Railways’ infrastructure board have been sacked in the wake of Friday’s fatal derailment. Six people were killed and 55 injured in the accident which occurred near Kastela, Split. Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and Transport and Development Minister Bozidar Kalmeta agreed on the sacking of the board, …