Balkans

EU vows to continue seeking Slovenian-Croatian compromise

BRUSSELS, Belgium/LJUBLJANA, Slovenia EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn pledged on Friday (May 15th) the EU will continue seeking a compromise solution to the Slovenia-Croatia border dispute, despite Slovenia’s attempt to revise his latest proposal. “It makes no sense to give up since we have almost reached the goal,” Rehn told …

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Hague prosecution demands life sentences for Serb war crimes suspects

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands The Hague war crimes tribunal (ICTY) prosecution seeks life sentence for the Serbian cousins Milan and Sredoje Lukic, ICTY announced on Friday (May 15th). They two are charged with torturing, terrorising and killing about 150 people in attacks targeting non-Serb civilians in the area of Visegrad …

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Kosovo appoints first constitutional judges

PRISTINA, Kosovo The Kosovo parliament approved the appointment of the country’s first constitutional judges on Friday (May 15th), media reported. They include four Albanians, a Serb, and a Turk. Kosovo’s constitutional court will have a total of nine judges. The remaining three judges will be foreigners, named by Peter Feith, …

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Bosnia Asks Interpol to Cancel Serbia Warrant

Bosnian Ministry of Security has asked Interpol to call off international arrest warrants reportedly issued by Serbia against a number of former Bosnian leaders who Belgrade accuses of being involved in an attack on Yugoslav Army soldiers in 1992. Serbian authorities opened up an investigation into the so-called “Dobrovoljacka street” …

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Ruling HDZ Leads Croatia Local Elections

Croatia’s ruling Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, and its partner won the majority of seats in 14 county assemblies, incomplete preliminary results of local elections show. The State Election Commission said the Democratic Party, SDP won a majority of seats in five of the assemblies, and the Istrian Democratic Party one …

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Bosnian Serb Leader Appears to Soften Rhetoric

Tough talking Bosnian Serb leader, Milorad Dodik, infamous for his radical rhetoric, appeared to have softened his positions somewhat during a meeting Sunday with Bosnia’s top international envoy, Valentin Inzko. Displaying a rarely affable mood, Dodik pledged cooperation from the government and parliament of the Serb-dominated Bosnian entity of Republika …

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Mixed Emotions Ahead of Biden Balkans Visit

US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Kosovo, Bosnia and Serbia next week is awaited with mixed emotions, much anticipation and some high hopes. The visit is seen as proof that President Barack Obama’s administration is ready to take a more active role in the Balkans in order to strengthen …

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Bosnian Serbs Leaders Challenge Top Envoy, US

Bosnia’s new top international envoy, High Representative Valentin Inzko, faces his biggest challenge so far as Bosnian Serb leaders grouped together to demand he stop using his governing powers. The challenge was issued at a session of the Assembly of the Serb-dominated Bosnian entity of Republika Srpska, which on Thursday …

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Security Raised in Serbia for Biden’s Visit

Security in the Serbian capital will be at its highest possible level for the visit of US Vice President Joe Biden, said Interior Minister Ivica Dacic Thursday. “Everyone knows fine well how security operates when there are security risks, and I’d ask citizens to show understanding for measures such as …

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Kosovo Accuses Serbia of Misusing EU Funds

President Fatmir Sejdiu lashed out at Serbia’s continuing practice of paying public sector workers in northern Kosovo, and has accused Serbia’s government of using EU funds to do so. The president said that the wages Belgrade offers Serb health and education workers in Kosovo are exceptionally larger than that of …

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