The EU has warned Balkan countries that if they don’t lower the number of asylum seekers, visas may have to be re-introduced.Following a meeting of the EU interior ministers on Thursday, officials say that Balkan countries need to curb the number of people seeking asylum in Western Europe, describing the …
Read More »Croatia PM Downplays Germany’s EU Concerns
In Berlin, Croatia’s Prime Minister described the recent controversy over Germany’s position on his country’s EU bid as a “storm in a teacup.”Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic on Thursday said concerns over recent negative statements by a German politician about Croatia’s readiness to enter the European Union were “a storm …
Read More »Balkan Muslims Celebrate Eid On Different Days
Muslims in Bosnia celebrate on Friday Eid-al-Adha, one of the two greatest religious holidays, differently than their fellows in Macedonia, Albania or Turkey due to different calendar calculations.
Read More »Tadic to Quit Race to Lead Serbia Democrats
Serbia’s former president looks likely to abandon his ambitions to remain at the helm of the Democratic Party and cede the post to Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas.On the eve of the deadline for filing candidacy submissions in the Democratic Party leadership elections, the party leader, Boris Tadic, has decided to …
Read More »Sanader Sentence Expected Late November
The first sentence on former Croatian PM Ivo Sanader for taking bribes could be issued by the end of November, the trial chamber presiding Judge Ivan Turudic announced.”The sentence could be issued between November 15 and 20 but it’s not definite yet,” Judge Turudic said at Thursday’s trial session. Sanader, …
Read More »Montenegro’s Djukanovic Hints at Return to Office
Montenegro’s former leader tells media that his high-profile role in the October election campaign had ‘opened a door’ to his potential return to government.In interview published on Wednesday in the Belgrade-based weekly, Novi Magazin, Milo Djukanovic, chairman of the Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, said that participating in the October …
Read More »Romanian, Bulgarian PMs Cross New Danube Bridge
The two neighbours will be more closely linked following completion of the new bridge between Vidin and Calafat.Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta and his Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borisov, were the first two people to officially walk across the almost complete Danube bridge on Wednesday.
Read More »Bosnia SDP Denies Hatching Deal With Serbs, Croats
The Social Democratic Party denies reaching a secret political agreement with Serbian and Croatian parties in order to leave its party leader, Zlatko Lagumdzija, in office as Foreign Minister.Bosnia’s ruling Social Democratic Party, SDP, has denied accusations from its former coalition partner Party of Democratic Action, SDA, that it has …
Read More »Albania Judges Admit Corruption and Bribes
A survey of Albanian judges, published by the Center for Transparency and Freedom of Information, shows that many admit the problem of corruption in the system.ccording to the survey, which polled 58 per cent of Albania’s judicial contingent, only 18 per cent of respondents said the justice system was not …
Read More »UK Foreign Secretary Meets Bosnian Rape Victims
During its presidency of the G8 summit next year, Great Britain will fight to stop wartime sexual violence, said William Hague, the British Foreign Secretary, during his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.At a meeting with representatives of victims associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, Hague gave a presentation on …
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