Balkans

Bulgarians are viewing today’s European elections as a dress rehearsal for the country’s own parliamentary poll next month. Campaigning among the main parties has been intense in a bid to mobilise the largest part of their electorate so as to gather momentum now for the July 5th vote. Prime Minister …

Ambassadors of the countries of the so-called Peace Implementation Council, PIC, which is overseeing peace implementation in Bosnia, will meet in Sarajevo today to discuss the escalating conflict between the Bosnian Serb leadership and the west’s top envoy. In the preparation for the meeting, US Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina …

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has petitioned foreign ministers from South-East European Cooperation Process, SEECP, states for patience over the issue of Kosovo’s independence ahead of an international court ruling on the issue. At a meeting of SEECP foreign ministers in Chisinau, Moldova, Jeremic also reaffirmed Serbia’s commitment to regional …

European Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot confirmed the possibility that the EU might decide this year to grant a visa-free regime to three Western Balkans countries. Barrot reported to interior ministers in Luxembourg on the European Commission’s recent report on the advancement of each country in the region towards visa liberalisation. …

NEW YORK, United States Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Justice Minister Ivan Simonovic met on Wednesday (June 3rd) in New York with Hague tribunal chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz, and court President Patrick Robinson.

BELGRADE, Serbia US Ambassador to Belgrade Cameron Munter says his country considers Serbia to be co-operating with The Hague war crimes tribunal and has told The Netherlands this. The Dutch government has long refused to advance Serbia’s EU accession process, until it arrests war crimes indictee Ratko Mladic.

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands The UN war crimes tribunal on Wednesday (June 3rd) expressed disappointment over the unwillingness of Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt to testify in proceedings against former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic.

ATHENS, Greece The foreign ministers of Russia and the 28 NATO member-states will meet on June 27th on the Greek island of Corfu, NATO Spokesman James Appathurai announced on Wednesday (June 3rd). The meeting of the NATO-Russia Council was supposed to take place on May 20th in Brussels. Russia cancelled …

TIRANA, Albania About 60 tonnes of crude oil was dumped into a channel that connects the coast of Vlora with the Ionian Sea, causing significant environmental damage, police said Wednesday (June 3rd). Three people were arrested, including the head of the Arkand Junior company. Investigators say the material was intentionally …

SOFIA. There is no reason for panic and concern over the next weeks, Economy and Energy Minister Petar Mutafchiev said in reference to the risks for new gas crisis. There are more than 500 mln m3 of gas in Chiren gas depot. We can supply the country with 4 mln …