Balkans

The low turnout of ethnic Albanians in Sunday’s presidential election was because they felt neglected by the two presidential frontrunners, who are ethnic Macedonians, according to local analysts. The poll barely succeeded with a turnout of 42 per cent, only slightly above the required 40 per cent threshold. This was …

Kosovo is optimistic that it will win its case at the International Court of Justice, where the country’s declaration of independence is to be adjudicated following the official request made by Serbia in October, 2008. Kosovo’s government declares that it has made all necessary preparations to submit its arguments in …

“As never before, Kosovo’s European perspective is very close and ensured”, declared Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci after his visit from Brussels. “The European Union greets the progress attained in Kosovo since the declaration of independence”, declared Thaci. During the meeting with Senior UN Official, Javier Solana, it was noted …

Bulgaria’s financial system and the central bank’s balance sheet are in very good condition, and there is no reason for concern, Bulgarian National Bank, BNB, governor Ivan Iskrov announced. At a presentation of the events planned for BNB’s 130th anniversary, Iskrov said that many countries could only dream enviously of …

Macedonia’s lack of willingness to reach a deal with Greece over its name will not only keep it away from NATO and the EU, but also increase its isolation and poverty, ethnic Albanian leaders said. European Union and NATO member Greece imposed a veto on Macedonia’s NATO entry a year …

Greek lawmakers will vote on Monday on whether to investigate a former minister’s possible connection to a shipping scandal, in a move that could threaten the government’s one-seat majority. A Greek shipowner has accused an aide of former Aegean Minister Aristotle Pavlides of seeking bribes in exchange for subsidised ferry …

STRASBOURG, France – Albania and Croatia officially became members of NATO at the Alliance’s summit in Strasbourg on Saturday (April 4th), after US President Barack Obama handed leaders of the two countries copies of the Washington Agreement that established the organisation. It was signed exactly 60 years ago, on April …

ZAGREB, Croatia – Police announced on Saturday (April 4th) that they have busted a group that trafficked people from Asia, the Middle East and the former Yugoslav republics to EU countries. The investigation was a joint one involving the police services of Slovenia, Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. At a …

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands – The Hague war crimes tribunal on Friday (April 3rd) rejected a request by lawyers representing Croatian generals Ante Govotina, Ivan Cermak and Mladen Markac to drop charges stemming from 1995’s Operation Storm.

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) – Central Bank Governor Kemal Kozaric says that since BiH has a 200m-euro quota in the IMF, the country can request up to 1 billion euros an assistance. Speaking on Friday (April 3rd), he acknowledged that BiH will slip into recession this year, since the …