Balkans

NEW YORK, United States The trial against former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic will begin in late August and will probably last about two years, Patrick Robinson, president of The Hague war crimes tribunal, said on Thursday (June 4th).

WASHINGTON, United States The US Helsinki Committee said on Thursday (June 4th) that Albania’s general elections later this month presents an opportunity for the country to organise its first vote in line with international standards.

PRISTINA, Kosovo The World Bank Board of Governors has sent official confirmation that Kosovo is the newest member of the financial institution, local media reported on Thursday (June 4th). Prime Minister Hashim Thaci described it as a success for Kosovo, its institutions and its citizens.

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.