Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini says the attitude of the European Union towards Serbia “has not been good as of lately”. To the remark that he had recently presented an eight-point plan for a speedier EU integration of the Balkans, he underlined that many were wrong to believe that all …
Read More »Croatia Rejects EU Mediation in Slovenia Spat
Croat President Stipe Mesic has insisted on an appeal to the International Court of Justice in order to settle its border dispute with Slovenia. His comments followed press reports of a European Union proposed arbitration plan. “A court must establish the facts and Croatia will accept any decision reached by …
Read More »Key Race for Bosnian Muslim Leader Heats Up
The son of the uncontested Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) leader, the late Alija Izetbegovic, says he’ll pull out of politics if he fails to become the new president of the ruling Bosnian Party of Democratic Action, SDA. With this statement, the usually cautious Bakir Izetbegovic has apparently gone beyond the point …
Read More »Serb President’s Trip to Kosovo ‘Only Religious’
Serbian President Boris Tadic’s visit to Kosovo over the weekend should be viewed as a private religious visit by a Serbian citizen, argues the speaker of Kosovo’s Assembly, Jakup Krasniqi. Tadic entered Kosovo on Friday after initially requesting a visit from the European Union office in Belgrade, in order to …
Read More »Court Case ‘Won’t Halt Kosovo Recognitions’
Recognitions of Kosovo’s independence will continue before and after the decision by the World Court on its legality, says the International Crisis Group’s Sabine Freizer. “It will be good that the decision by the International Court of Justice shall not (explicitly) outline that the declaration of independence was illegal,” said …
Read More »Saudi Arabia Recognises Kosovo
Saudi Arabia has recognised Kosovo’s independence, reports Kosovo’s public broadcast network, Radio Television Kosovo, RTK, on Monday. “In accordance to religious and cultural ties with the population of Kosovo, and as a sign of respect for the Kosovo population’s willpower to win independence, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notifies its …
Read More »Moldova Recount Confirms Communist Win
A recount in Moldova’s disputed election, ordered after violent protests against a Communist victory, will produce no changes in the standing of parties in parliament, a top official says. Election officials proceeded with the recount after Communist President Vladimir Voronin said such as step could re-establish trust in the former …
Read More »Moldova Leader Pushes Amnesty for Protesters
Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has called for an amnesty for people detained after violent protests in which his ruling Communists were accused of election fraud. He was speaking after several international bodies alleged authorities were mistreating some of the 200 demonstrators held after last week’s protests against the victory by …
Read More »Bulgarian President Vetoes Election Changes
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov has vetoed a disputed amendment to the electoral law that was approved by the Socialist-controlled parliament ahead of general elections in July. One day after the changes were approved by lawmakers, Parvanov warned an amendment raising the threshold for party alliances to enter parliament could create …
Read More »‘Quarter of Bulgarians’ Would Sell their Vote
Some 25 percent of Bulgaria’s citizens say they are ready to sell their vote ahead of parliamentary elections due in early July, a report by Open Society shows. The good news is that only 5 percent of them would cast their ballot for the bribing party, said Open Society Executive …
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