Zoran

As the opposition Social Democrats continued to discuss forming a government with ethnic Albanian parties, a mysterious group called Hardcore, which describes itself as a Macedonian patriotic organization, called on ethnic Macedonians to join a protest march in Skopje on Friday.

While most political parties in Serbia, including the ruling Progressives, have yet to name their candidates for April's presidential elections, Sasa Jankovic officially launched his presidential campaign on Tuesday.

"In the name of the citizens, I want to be the president of Serbia as the protector of all of us," Jankovic said. 

The successful resolution of all issues related to the reopening of the Mitrovica Bridge between Serbia and Kosovo is a crucial step forward in Belgrade-Pristina negotiations on regional cooperation, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Sunday.

BRUSSELS - The EU believes that progress in the normalisation of Belgrade-Pristina relations is needed now more than ever for peace and stability, and urges both sides to comply with agreements, calm the rhetoric and continue efforts towards easing tensions, says European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic.

BELGRADE - During the afternoon in the Presidency of Serbia an urgent meeting was held of the President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic with the ambassadors of Russia, China and the United States, writes Serbian daily "Blic".

Following a day of meetings with leaders of the main political parties, Macedonia's President said he wanted proof of a parliamentary majority before handing any party or alliance a mandate to form a government.

Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov could not hand a mandate for forming a government to the leader of the second party in Macedonia's Parliament - the opposition SDSM, stated its leader Zoran Zaev after meeting the head of state, reported BGNES.

Macedonian legal experts and political observers say that constitutionally there is no dilemma that President Ivanov should now give the opposition Social Democrats, SDSM - who came second in the December 11 elections - the chance to try to form government.

Macedonia's Parliamment sent a formal notice to inform President Gjorge Ivanov no government can be formed by VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski.

Ivanov earlier said he would kick off consultations with all political parties.

The two biggest parties, VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM, openly disagree on what Ivanov's next step should be.

The Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, which was the VMRO DPMNE's junior partner in the last coalition government, said on Sunday at midnight that it has not yet reached a decision on whether to join a new administration led by Gruevski.