Balkans

The US is urging Macedonia and Greece to put aside unproductive disputes over differing interpretations of history and identity when trying to find a solution to the long-running name dispute between the two countries. “The issue is about the name, that’s why we call it a “name” issue. And Macedonia …

The Union for Human Rights Party, PBDNJ, announced on Wednesday that it was dropping out of the coalition the centre-right government of Prime Minister Berisha, to join the Socialist of Tirana mayor Edi Rama ahead of the June 28 elections. Speaking in front of reporters the head of PBDNJ Vangjel …

Pieter Feith, the EU’s Special Envoy to Kosovo, says neither Belgrade nor Pristina will be able to realise their EU dreams unless they mend relations. “I’m not saying that Belgrade needs to recognise Kosovo’s independence, but there has to exist at least minimal cooperation between the two sides on issues …

The European Commission has expressed concern about the way Serbia issues its identification documents, and is concerned that passports could be given out to “all and sundry”, the Blic newspaper reports. The paper says that as a further guarantee for visa liberalisation, Brussels wants Serbia’s passport issuance system to become …

The right wing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) launched a campaign for early parliamentary elections at a rally held in Nis Wednesday, calling it “Serbia’s Future Begins Today”. The SNS at the rally claimed it was going to stand for getting tougher on crime and corruption, promote decentralisation of government, and …

The Austrian power utility company EVN, Wednesday confirmed it has filed a law suit against Macedonia at the Washington based International Arbitrary Court. EVN is suing the state for impeding their work in Macedonia as the main power supplier. The company has not disclosed damages they are demanding. “At a …

Author: Mirza Čubro SARAJEVO Visoki predstavnik međunarodne zajednice za BiH Valentin Incko u jučerašnjem obraćanju parlamentu BiH upozorio je vlasti BiH da neće tolerisati blokiranje puta zemlje u EU i zatražio da prestanu raditi suprotno interesima građana. “Kao specijalni predstavnik EU nastojat ću da savjetima pomognem da usvojite potrebne reforme. …

Slovene politicians have finally agreed on amendments necessary for Slovenia to accept the proposal of European Union expansion commissioner Olli Rehn, but not many believe that Pahor`s terms will be acceptable for the European Commission and Croatia, Slovene press assessed on Wednesday. Furthermore, Olli Rehn`s spokesperson Krisztina Nagy reiterated that …

PRISTINA, Kosovo Integrating the Serb minority remains the chief challenge facing Kosovo more than a year after Pristina declared its independence, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a report Tuesday (May 12th). According to the document, Belgrade has channelled substantial funds into Serb municipalities, but with limited results. Parallel …

ZAGREB, Croatia Employees of elementary and secondary schools, as well as the staffs of research institutions, went on strike Wednesday (May 12th) despite encouraging negotiations between their trade unions and the cabinet, which dragged on through the night.