Eurasia News

The European Commission’s decision not to grant visa-free travel to Albanian citizens has been met with little surprise in Tirana, where the issue was the subject of heated debate during the recent election campaign. Opposition leader Edi Rama, who is the mayor of Tirana, told reporters that the EU rejection …

BELGRADE Srbijagas CEO Dušan Bajatović says that Serbia would agree to negotiations on the Nabucco pipeline project should such an invitation arrive. “It would not be bad to link up with the Nabucco pipeline as well, even if it isn’t passing through Serbia’s territory, since gas would be arriving from …

BELGRADE, BRUSSELS The European Commission has proposed the abolition of visas for Serbian citizens traveling to the EU starting from January 1, the EC announced today. Justice and Enlargement Commissioners Jaques Barrot and Olli Rehn told a press conference in Brussels that the same recommendations had been made for Macedonia …

BELGRADE Serbia’s legal team has sent its comments on the statements filed by other countries in the Kosovo case considered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).Last fall, the UN General Assembly ordered the world organization’s top tribunal to provide an advisory opinion on whether the ethnic Albanians’ unilateral proclamation …

BRUSSELS The EU commission is next week set to recommend that Bulgaria and Romania continue to stay under a special monitoring mechanism beyond 2009, due to their slow progress in justice reforms and the fight against corruption and organised crime. The commission reports, due on Wednesday (22 July), take stock …

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) High Representative Valentin Inzko will meet with leaders of the three main political parties on Thursday (July 16th) to discuss ways to get reforms moving again. All three parties signed the so-called Prud Agreement in November 2008, in which they pledged to address key political …

BELGRADE, Serbia Interior Minister Ivica Dacic announced on Wednesday (July 15th) plans for Serbia and EULEX to sign an accord on Kosovo border control soon. He said a draft agreement was reached during EU security chief Javier Solana’s visit to Belgrade earlier this week.

PRISTINA, Kosovo The European Commission Liaison Office (ECLO) launched a new twinning project Wednesday (July 15th) aimed at boosting the rule of law in Kosovo. Twinning has proven to be an effective tool in enhancing the capabilities of local institutions in drafting, adopting and enforcing EU standards and legislation. This …

TIRANA, Albania US Ambassador to Tirana John Withers stressed on Wednesday (July 15th) that it is crucial that the tallying process in the June 28th parliamentary elections is conducted in accordance with the Electoral Code. “The process has to be transparent, professional and not politicised,” Withers said. The Central Elections …

ANKARA, Turkey At least four people died and three others are missing in flooding along Turkey’s Black Sea coast, caused by days of torrential rain. According to media reports Wednesday (July 15th), two people died in the Artvin province after their house was destroyed by rising water. Two others — …