In a joint statement issued on Monday, the international election observer missions for Sunday’s parliamentary poll concluded that Albania’s election process demonstrated “marked improvements” but did not yet meet international standards. The mission included more than 400 short-term and long-term election monitors from the OSCE, ODIHR, Council of Europe Parliamentary …

Balkan nations, despite their commitments to the Central European Free Trade Agreement, are engaged in a tit-for-tat protectionist trade war, much of which has political motives, Ekrem Krasniqi and Anes Alic report for ISN Security Watch. By Ekrem Krasniqi and Anes Alic in Brussels and Sarajevo for ISN Security Watch …

NICOSIA, Cyprus Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed Friday (June 26th) to open a new crossing point between the Greek and Turkish-run parts of the divided island. It will be located near the village of Limnitis (Yesilirmak in Turkish).

BELGRADE, Serbia Serbian President Boris Tadic on Friday (June 26th) demanded an explanation from Bulgaria over the release of former Kosovar Prime Minister Agim Ceku who is wanted for war crimes in Serbia. Tadic said the way Bulgarian authorities handled the case “does not contribute to good relations”. Meanwhile, Foreign …

BRUSSELS. Belgium Turkey is determined to push ahead with legal and political reforms to meet conditions for joining the EU as a full member, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday (June 26th) after talks with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn in Brussels.

BRUSSELS, Belgium High Representative Valentin Inzko said on Friday (June 26th) the EU may lift visa requirements for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) citizens as of July 2010, media reported. “BiH may expect getting a visa-free regime six months after Serbia, which would be on July 1st, 2010,” he said after …

TALLINN, Estonia Former Croatian Serb leader Milan Martic arrived in Estonia on Friday (June 26th) to serve his 35-year sentence for war crimes committed in Croatia between 1991 and 1994, local authorities said. His transfer was arranged under an agreement between the Estonian government and the UN. He is to …

Nato and Russia have agreed to resume military ties in their first high-level meeting since Russia’s war with Georgia disrupted their relations 10 months ago. Nato’s outgoing secretary-general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, announced that the so-called Nato-Russia Council, a panel set up in 2002 to improve ties between the former …

Russia has begun war games in its North Caucasus region neighbouring Georgia, in a warning to foes that the military remains on standby for any new conflict in the area. Dubbed Caucasus 2009, the week-long exercises that began on Monday are just north of the border where Russia and Georgia …

KUWAIT Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah met here on Sunday with Romanian Foreign Undersecretary Doro Costa. The Romanian diplomat handed Sheikh Mohammed, also deputy Prime Minister, a letter from Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu.