Eurasia

The outgoing head of the European Commission, EC, mission to Serbia, Josep Lloveras, considers that Serbia is on the right path to EU integration but needs to maintain momentum. “Unfortunately, Serbia has lost a lot of time and cannot allow itself further failures. Thus, the best way to alleviate the …

Bulgaria’s new government was voted in overwhelmingly by the country’s parliament on Monday, with new Prime Minister Boiko Borissov taking the oath of office.  Bulgaria’s parliament voted new Prime Minister Boiko Borissov and his cabinet into office on Monday. The vote confirming Borissov as head of the incoming government was …

Leaders of the main Macedonian parties have agreed on several key issues regarding the adoption of reforms needed for the start of EU accession talks. Meeting late on Friday, the party leaders attuned their positions concerning a law mandating parliamentary reforms and on changes to the law on financing political …

Many Bosnia and Herzegovina politicians have failed to read EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn’s message to them on visa-liberalisation. “Deputies in the House of Representatives of the state parliament have yesterday proven once again their flippancy and irresponsibility towards their voters, as well as towards the messages that come from …

Kosovo opposition parties’ efforts to have the OSCE monitor the November 15 local elections have been in vain.Central Elections Committee, CEC, Spokesperson Fehmi Ajvazi confirms that the CEC will be the only body organising the upcoming polls, with the OSCE playing no role.

ANKARA, Turkey Iraqi, Turkish and US officials will meet in Ankara on Tuesday (July 28th) to discuss joint measures to combat terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members in northern Iraq, a Turkish government source said on Saturday. “Talks will be focused on co-operation in the fight against terrorism and ways …

BELGRADE, Serbia Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic in Novi Pazar on Friday (July 24th) and said Ankara will invest in construction of a highway through Sandzak. The Turkish diplomat called the Sandzak region “a green light” for further co-operation between the two countries. Jeremic …

THE HAGUE, Netherlands Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj became the first defendant sentenced for contempt of court by The Hague war crimes tribunal. On Friday (July 24th), the tribunal sentenced him to 15 months in prison for revealing the identity of three protected witnesses in one of his books.

ZAGREB, Croatia Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development Minister Bozidar Kalmeta has submitted his resignation after Friday’s train accident which killed six and injured at least 50 of the 91 people aboard. The ministry’s spokesperson, Marina Haluzan, announced on Saturday (July 25th) that Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor has not accepted the …

ZAGREB, Croatia Vesna Pusic will be the presidential candidate of the opposition Croatian People’s Party (HNS), party officials told a press conference Friday (July 24th). The move came as a surprise, as Radimir Cacic, chairman of the HNS, was expected to get the nod for the race later this year. …