Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said Monday in Tirana that her country, which hold the presidency of the OSCE, will monitor Albania’s newly enacted “clean hands” lustration law targeting former officials of the communist regime, which critics say could be used for political revenge attacks by the government. “We have …

European Union officials on Monday started discussing the appointment of a new peace overseer for Bosnia in the dual post of the Office of the High Representative, OHR and Special EU Representative, to replace outgoing envoy Miroslav Lajcak. Lajcak, announced his departure two weeks ago to take up the post …

Kosovo’s police detained some 40 Roma children for begging on the streets of Pristina at the weekend and sent them back to Albania, officials said. Thousands of Roma, including children and teenagers, have moved from Albania to Kosovo since the end of the 1998-99 war, many eking out a living …

One in five marries in Serbia end in divorce, the majority of them in the first three years, statisical data showed, with couples that married because of an unplanned pregnancy having the least chance of making their marriage work. In spite of traditional attitudes and family and social pressures not …

The central Macedonian village of Rilevo near the town of Prilep has cheered the arrival of the first baby born in the village in 21 years, local media reported on Sunday. Two-month old Teodora brought joy in the home of Robert and Anila, and sparked hope of better days in …

Macedonia’s Finance Minister Trajko Slaveski faces a no-confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday after the opposition accused him of missteps that damaged the economy. Slaveski’s party, the ruling centre right VMRO DPMNE and their coalition partners have a majority in parliament so the no-confidence vote is seen as a statement, …

Montenegro’s government has offered a 20 million euro loan to help the owner of the recently privatised aluminum smelter KAP to keep production during the global financial crisis. said Branko Vujovic, head of the Agency for Restructure of the Economy. Branko Vujovic, head of Montenegro’s Agency for Economic Restructuring and …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underlined the necessity and importance of punishing aggressors in a bid to prevent future crimes. “If aggressors of Iraq and Lebanon had been tried, the Gaza disaster would not have happened,” Ahmadinejad said in a meeting here on Monday with Iranian ambassadors and heads …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Samir Quntar, a Lebanese who served the longest term in Israeli prisons, described Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s stance inspiring for the Lebanese resistance. Speaking in a meeting with the Iranian president here in Tehran on Monday, Quntar said, “Your (Ahmadinejad’s) stance and persistence in different issues doubles our …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Basij (volunteer) forces have been assigned by the Supreme Leader to fight the threat of soft regime change plans against the Islamic Republic, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said here on Monday. “The Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei) has decided to assign this …