Eurasia

Macedonia to respond to Nimetz’s proposals next month

ZAGREB, Croatia Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov said Skopje will reply to UN mediator Matthew Nimetz’s latest proposals on the name dispute with Greece by the end of August. After a meeting in Croatia with his counterpart Stipe Mesic on Monday (July 13th), Ivanov welcomed Athens’ willingness to resolve the row …

Read More »

Serbia issues warrants for Kosovo Albanians

PRISTINA, Kosovo Serbia’s special war crimes prosecutor for the first time published a list of former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) accused of committing war crimes, local media report on Tuesday (July 14th). The spokesman for the prosecutor’s office, Bruno Vekaric, says Serbia has issued 160 warrants against …

Read More »

Turkey’s Gul calls for Cyprus referendum this year

ANKARA, Turkey President Abdullah Gul said on Monday (July 13th) that Turkey wants to see Cypriot reunification talks concluded soon and a referendum held by the end of the year, media reported. “Our ultimate goal is to reach a lasting settlement on the island and to create a separate area …

Read More »

Hague tribunal nears verdict on Bosnian Serb cousins

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands The UN war crimes tribunal will deliver its verdict against Bosnian Serbs Milan and Sredoje Lukic on July 20th, the court announced on Monday (July 13th). The Lukic cousins are charged with war crimes committed against Muslims during the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict. Prosecutors want life sentences …

Read More »

Dozens of political entities to run in Kosovo’s local elections

PRISTINA, Kosovo The Central Election Commission (CEC) confirmed on Monday (July 13th) the participation of 40 political entities in the November 15th local elections. CEC officials also briefed President Fatmir Sejdiu on their concerns regarding Serb political parties, particularly in Serb-dominated enclaves. Municipalities in the north have not presented their …

Read More »

Albania’s SP wins another parliament seat

TIRANA, Albania The main opposition Socialist Party (SP) has secured a ninth mandate in the region of Fieri, according to new preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission on Monday (July 13th). Previous results suggested the SP won eight parliamentary mandates there. Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who leads the …

Read More »

Dominican Republic recognises Kosovo

PRISTINA, Kosovo The Kosovo foreign ministry announced on Saturday (July 11th) that the Dominican Republic is the 62nd country to recognise Kosovo as an independent state. Dominican Republic congratulated the Kosovo authorities “on establishing institutions that have enabled the people to have a sovereign and internationally recognised state” the ministry …

Read More »

Croatian summit calls for Western Balkans’ integration

ZAGREB, Croatia EU and US participants in the two-day regional summit on energy, investments and economic development in Dubrovnik said in a joint statement on Friday (July 10th) the Western Balkan countries should join the EU and NATO. They stressed Western Balkan countries’ progress must be acknowledged to keep citizens’ …

Read More »

Bulgarian EU Commissioner Kuneva turns down EP seat

SOFIA, Bulgaria EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva announced on Friday (July 10th) that she will complete her term at the European Commission (EC) and give up her European Parliament (EP) seat. Kuneva was elected in the June 7th European elections in Bulgaria but to take the EP seat, she …

Read More »

Turkey Calls For Referendum In Cyprus By End-2009

Turkey wants talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus to conclude soon and a referendum by the end of 2009, President Abdullah Gul told a news conference with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on Monday. The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974. The two sides …

Read More »