Eurasia Press & News

Belgrade politicians say that they expect the EU to force Kosovo to cancel a decision blocking imports of goods from Serbia. Serbia has condemned Kosovo’s decision to block imports of goods with Serbian custom stamps as a provocation, saying

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s harsh criticism of Greek Cyprus and the European Union in regards to the course of affairs in the resolution of the Cyprus issue

The prime ministers of Montenegro and Serbia have agreed that both countries share a common goal of EU membership, and pledged to support each other towards that end. The announcement came during the first official visit of Montenegrin Prime Minister Igor Luksic to Belgrade on Wednesday.

Hague indictee Ratko Mladić gave his consent on Wednesday to lawyer Branko Lukić to be his representative before the Hague Tribunal. However, necessary procedures need to be completed for him to be appointed as Mladić’s defense attorney. An authorization signed by Mladić was delivered to the Hague Secretariat.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Wednesday the arrest of Hague indictee Goran Hadžić. Ban commended Serbian President Boris Tadić and the Serbian authorities

Kosovo’s government took decision to put embargo on Serbian goods import, media in Pristine announced. The decision has been taken as reciprocal measure, because Belgrade doesn’t recognizes Kosovo’s customs hallmarks. Kosovo’s government imposed 10% customs duty on goods from Bosnia and Herzegovina, because Sarajevo also repudiates customs hallmarks.

Kosovo’s ‘supervised independence’ will end next year when the International Civilian Office (ICO), who watches the progress, wraps up its mission. ICO, who’s mission is to guide Kosovo through its first years, is scheduled to shut operations by the end of next year. 

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha nominated two new ministers on Tuesday. Eduard Halimi was named the new minister of justice, and Aldo Bumçi the new minister of culture and tourism.

At the forum that took place at Belgrade on Tuesday, the participants agreed that without the European Union the Western Balkans would be like in the 90’s. The forum was attended by civil representatives

Croatia’s Prime Minster Jadranka Kosor on Wednesday hailed the arrest of fugitive Goran Hadzic, accused over massacres and deportations in her country during its 1991-1995 war of independence.