Eurasia

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Wednesday (July 7th) criticised the EU’s “unfair” attitude towards Turkey. In an interview with the Danish daily Politiken, Rasmussen urged the EU “to take a series of pragmatic steps to improve relations with Turkey, entirely outside the [EU accession] negotiations” process. Rasmussen, Denmark’s former …

Minister for Human and Minority Rights Svetozar Čiplić told Tanjug on Thursday that the constitution of the National Council of Bosniaks was unsuccessful. He added that it was followed by illegal activities, and that the usurpation of rights of the Bosniak minority will be sanctioned. 

KFOR Commander Markus Bentler has stated that NATO is very concerned over the situation in northern Kosovo. “There is no positive development and we call upon all citizens to show restraint from any violent acts,” Bentler said.

Current EU presidency holders Belgium is clear that the future of all the Balkan countries is Europe, Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme said. But any candidate EU member must earn its membership by meeting all requirements, he noted.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci urged Serbia to desist from inciting violence in Kosovo, local media reported. “As far as we are concerned, the situation in northern Kosovo is unacceptable,” Thaci told Cabinet ministers. He made it clear that Pristina won’t give up the efforts to ensure functioning of courts …

Development and European integration of the Western Balkans are obvious but reforms are needed because the democratic roots in certain countries are still weak, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said. Fule believes that leaders of West Balkan countries have assumed the great responsibility of eliminating the obstacles on the road …

Serbian President Boris Tadić will start today his first official visit to Montenegro. Tadić is due to meet with Montenegro’s President Filip Vujanović, and PM Milo Đukanović. 

The Central Election Commission (CEC) is to adopt the plan of action and the calendar plan for organizing the constitutional referendum at its July 9 meeting. On July 7, the Parliament of Moldova decided the plebiscite will take place on September 5. The voters will answer only one question: “Are …

Ukraine remains adamant that the South Stream gas pipeline project is inexpedient. “Ukraine thinks that South Stream is simply unnecessary. It is a very expensive project, which has no value because

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton has welcomed the adoption by the Georgian government of the Action Plan for Engagement for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument’s website (ENPI) said.