Belgrade

BELGRADE - Despite constantly obstructing normalisation on the ground and escalating problems, Pristina has been rewarded with prospects of Council of Europe (CoE) membership, the head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said at a meeting with French MP Bertrand Bouyx on Monday.

BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.1308 dinars for one euro on Tuesday, which is a slight change from Monday, the National Bank of Serbia said.

The dinar is steady against the euro m-o-m, up by 0.1 pct y-o-y and steady relative to the beginning of the year.

BELGRADE - Between 2019 and 2023, Serbia implemented 54 ODIHR recommendations and formed a unified electoral roll connected to the central population register, while governments before that period - made up by the current opposition - did not implement a single recommendation, Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic said on Monday.

BELGRADE - A Collegium meeting called by Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic to discuss further ODIHR recommendations for improving the electoral conditions concluded in the Serbian parliament on Monday afternoon.

It was attended by the whips of the political groups of both the ruling coalition and the opposition.

BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic received a group of 30 Stanford University students and professors on Monday.

Brnabic said their visit was an exciting opportunity for her to hear their opinions about the region and Serbia.

BELGRADE - Serbia registered 9.2 pct more tourist visits in February 2024 relative to the same month of last year and the number of overnight stays was up by 1.7 pct y-o-y, according to figures released by the national statistical office.

Overnight stays generated by Serbian tourists were up by 2.1 pct y-o-y, while those generated by foreign tourists were up by 1.2 pct y-o-y.

BELGRADE - Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic said on Monday new local elections in Belgrade could be called in a day or two and that parties that had gathered around the SPS and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) for the previous polls in the capital could run together with the Serbian Oathkeepers Party.

BRUSSELS - The EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak confirmed on Monday discussions following Pristina's decision to ban the Serbian dinar would be continued in Brussels on Thursday, April 4, and expressed the hope "the remaining difference" would be bridged.

BELGRADE - The director of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Monday Belgrade had understood well the Western policy of double standards after Pristina had not only not been punished for sabotaging the normalisation process but had even been rewarded with prospects of membership in some international organisations.

BELGRADE - Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic said on Monday Serbia was under great pressure from Western countries, which he noted were trying to push the so-called Kosovo into international organisations in any possible way.