Eurasia

The people of Kosovo have voted in local elections – the first poll since the territory declared independence from Serbia last year. Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s ruling PDK coalition has claimed a “convincing” victory, but official results are due in the next few hours. Voting passed off calmly, with turnout …

Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and Slovenian Economy Minister Matej Lahovnik signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation on the South Stream gas pipeline project in Moscow on Saturday.

Georgian president expressed satisfaction with the format of enlarged council on national security of Georgia. Mikheil Saakashvili stated at the regular meeting of the enlarged council that these meetings involving the opposition are a dialogue between the government and the opposition. “Of course, the dialogue does not mean we will …

Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Roćen said that Serbia has not submitted any demands to open up Serbian cultural centers in Montenegro. Roćen said that Montenegro has agreed to let Serbia open one consulate in Podgorica, along with the embassy. 

Communist MP Grigore Petrenco stated at a press conference on Friday that the convention’s content is a mystery as its text has never been published. “There is absolutely no transparency, we don’t know the provisions, the distances prescribed in the convention, and its beneficiaries”, said Petrenco, adding that he demanded …

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said that the Serbian government has made significant efforts over the last year in its European integration. “We are now waiting for the new report from (Hague Chief Prosecutor) Serge Brammertz to the UN Security Council in early December, to check if the Serbian government …

President Boris Tadić will continue his three-day visit to Italy on Saturday, meeting with Roman Catholic Church leader Pope Benedict XVI. Tadić will also be talking to the Vatican secretary of state and foreign minister before meeting with the Pope. He will discuss questions related to the joint goal of …

Croatia has sent a report to the Hague Tribunal stating that measures have been taken for sending all documentation request by the court to The Hague. “The report states everything that has been done, and I think that a lot has been done,” Croatian Justice Minister Ivan Šimonović said.

Turkey has announced plans to improve the rights of its Kurdish minority. The reforms are seen as a way of boosting Turkey’s chances of EU membership and include the creation of an independent anti-discrimination commission to prevent torture and discrimination. The plan also involves allowing the Kurdish language to be …

Serbian President Boris Tadic signed a decree for accreditation of Tomislav Curkin as Ambassador of the state to Macedonia. With another decree Tadic recalled the former Serbian Ambassador to Macedonia Zoran Popovic.