Balkans

Monday’s round of resumed “name” talks between Macedonia and Greece in Geneva produced no fresh proposals for name and no real progress, but both sides demonstrated a willingness to find a solution, the UN mediator said. Speaking at a press conference following the meeting, mediator Matthew Nimetz said that the …

Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu has received a letter from French President Nikolas Sarkozy, reaffirming France’s support for the country. The Monday letter began with words of acknowledgment of Kosovo’s progress since its unilateral declaration of independence in February last year, stating that “in the year and a half since declaring …

The Croatian-Slovenian border dispute must be resolved bilaterally by the countries concerned, according to the future president of the European Union, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. “This is a bilateral dispute and a solution lies with those countries,” Bildt said in Brussels. “It is time for them to reflect and …

The Croatian Foreign Ministry has summoned home the country’s ambassador to the United Nations on suspicion that he used his diplomatic benefits for personal gain. Croatian Ambassador to the UN Neven Jurica, who took office in early 2008, is suspected of having embezzled several hundred thousand dollars worth of taxpayers’ …

BELGRADE, Serbia Serbia rejects any partial implementation of the interim trade accord it signed with the EU, as proposed by the Netherlands and Belgium last week. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic insisted late on Saturday (June 20th) that such a solution would be “inadequate” and warned it is dangerous …

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana voiced full support Sunday (June 21st) for High Representative Valentin Inzko’s decision to annul a resolution passed by Republika Srpska’s (RS) parliament. It obliged entity institutions and officials to oppose any future transfer of power to BiH.

PRISTINA, Kosovo UNMIK will keep its legal office operating despite the staff reduction due to the reconfiguration process, local media reported on Sunday (June 21st). Before the February 2008 declaration of independence, the legal office supervised all laws approved by parliament.

WASHINGTON US Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Georgia and Ukraine next month for talks on boosting the former Soviet republics’ economies and supporting democratic reforms, his office said Monday. Both trips involve political sensitivities with Russia, and the visit would come shortly after US President Barack Obama travels …

Bulgarian immigrants in Germany, who will face huge obstacles if they want to vote in the upcoming general elections of their home country, did not receive a satisfactory explanation from the Foreign Ministry. In a letter to the country’s ambassador in Berlin, the Bulgarians asked last week for more information …

Leading figures at the European Union and NATO have warned politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina that the country cannot progress towards NATO and EU integration in the present political climate. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was a key topic at a meeting between NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop …