Albanian political parties failed Wednesday to propose any candidates for the country’s new president, forcing parliament to put off his or her election for a week. The Socialists and the governing

Context Following the collapse of communism throughout Eastern Europe and the subsequent breakup of Yugoslavia, the countries in the Balkan area have experienced changes in their demographics, usually in the form of an abrupt decrease in birth rates and population.

During the visit to Moscow newly elected Serbia President Tomislav Nikolic commented that the Serbian parliament might examine the option for possible recognition of the independence of the separated Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.