Bulgarians are viewing today’s European elections as a dress rehearsal for the country’s own parliamentary poll next month. Campaigning among the main parties has been intense in a bid to mobilise the largest part of their electorate so as to gather momentum now for the July 5th vote. Prime Minister …
Read More »PIC Meets Over Bosnian Serb Challenge
Ambassadors of the countries of the so-called Peace Implementation Council, PIC, which is overseeing peace implementation in Bosnia, will meet in Sarajevo today to discuss the escalating conflict between the Bosnian Serb leadership and the west’s top envoy. In the preparation for the meeting, US Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina …
Read More »Serbia to SEE: Patience on Kosovo
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has petitioned foreign ministers from South-East European Cooperation Process, SEECP, states for patience over the issue of Kosovo’s independence ahead of an international court ruling on the issue. At a meeting of SEECP foreign ministers in Chisinau, Moldova, Jeremic also reaffirmed Serbia’s commitment to regional …
Read More »Three Balkan States Eye Visa-Free Travel
European Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot confirmed the possibility that the EU might decide this year to grant a visa-free regime to three Western Balkans countries. Barrot reported to interior ministers in Luxembourg on the European Commission’s recent report on the advancement of each country in the region towards visa liberalisation. …
Read More »Russia WW2 Article Triggers Polish Anger
Poland demanded an explanation from Russia on Thursday after an article blaming Warsaw for starting World War Two was published on the Defence Ministry’s website, setting back attempts to improve strained ties. Relations between Poland and Russia have been frayed since the former communist bloc country left Moscow’s orbit at …
Read More »Croatian officials discuss war crimes co-operation
NEW YORK, United States Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Justice Minister Ivan Simonovic met on Wednesday (June 3rd) in New York with Hague tribunal chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz, and court President Patrick Robinson.
Read More »US ambassador says Serbia co-operating with Hague
BELGRADE, Serbia US Ambassador to Belgrade Cameron Munter says his country considers Serbia to be co-operating with The Hague war crimes tribunal and has told The Netherlands this. The Dutch government has long refused to advance Serbia’s EU accession process, until it arrests war crimes indictee Ratko Mladic.
Read More »Hague tribunal disappointed with Bildt’s response
THE HAGUE, The Netherlands The UN war crimes tribunal on Wednesday (June 3rd) expressed disappointment over the unwillingness of Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt to testify in proceedings against former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic.
Read More »Downer says no UN reunification plan for Cyprus
NICOSIA, Cyprus The UN is not working on any plan to reunify the divided island of Cyprus, nor attempting to interfere in the negotiating process between the Greek and Turkish communities, UN envoy to Cyprus Alexander Downer said on Wednesday (June 3rd).
Read More »Greece to host foreign ministers
ATHENS, Greece The foreign ministers of Russia and the 28 NATO member-states will meet on June 27th on the Greek island of Corfu, NATO Spokesman James Appathurai announced on Wednesday (June 3rd). The meeting of the NATO-Russia Council was supposed to take place on May 20th in Brussels. Russia cancelled …
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