Latest News from Croatia
Heroin Crossing Balkans to Europe, US Report
The latest annual report by the US State Department's International Strategy for Narcotics Control says drugs traffickers are using Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia to transport heroin from Afghanistan and Central Asia to Western Europe.
Albania Fears Becoming Part of 'Refugee Route'
Albania fears becoming part of the Balkan "refugee route", now that Macedonia has tightened border controls, leaving some 10,000 people trapped in Greece on their way to Western Europe.
Until now, the most-used route has run through Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia, avoiding Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania.
Terrorist Threats Damage Tourism in Bosnia
Professionals in the tourist sector in Bosnia fear that the recent fall in visitor numbers may be due to the fact that international media increasingly link Bosnia and Herzegovina to the phenomenon of international terrorism and the Islamic State, ISIS.
Migrants' possible new route would not include Serbia
German broadcaster n-tv is speculating that migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe from the Middle East "might find a new route."
The television published a drawing according to which migrants could in the future move from Greece toward Albania, and then toward Western Europe via Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia.
Some 1,000 Migrants Remain Stranded in Serbia Tuesday
About 1,000 migrants are stuck in Serbia at present, the acting head of the country's police force, Vladimir Rebic, has said on Tuesday, according to Tanjug.
Migrant Backlog Builds up at Greece's Border with Macedonia
Up to 10,000 migrants and refugees were stuck on Greece's border with Macedonia on Tuesday, waiting to be allowed to continue their journey to western European countries, in which they want to seek asylum, newswires reported.
EU's Tusk to push Turkey for 'more intense' work on migrants
EU president Donald Tusk said on March 1 he would press Ankara for "a more intensive engagement" in the migrant crisis when he meets Turkey's president and prime minister later this week.
Europe Faces Humanitarian Crisis over Migrant Build-up in Greece: UNHCR
The UN Refugee Agency has warned of an imminent humanitarian crisis in Europe, largely of Europe's own making, after the number of migrants and refugees stranded in Greece built up rapidly over the past weeks.
Croatia returns 500 migrants to Serbia - NGO
There are about 500 people in Presevo, southern Serbia, who have been returned from Croatia, while there are hundreds of refugees in Tabanovce, Macedonia.
This is according to Executive Director of the Asylum Protection Center NGO Rados Djurovic, who spoke on Tuesday.
Hungary to Build Fence on Romania Border
The authorities in Bucharest are waiting for more details before they respond to Budapest's announcement that it is to begin installing fences along the border with Romania to prevent refugees and migrants from entering the country.
Merkel Criticises Eastern Europe for Unilateral Approach to Migrants
German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized eastern European countries for acting independently and unilaterally in their response to the refugee crisis.
In particular, Merkel criticised the border controls imposed by Austria and several Balkan countries, which have left migrants stranded in Greece as they continue to arrive from Turkey.
Greece says up to 70,000 migrants may be 'trapped' next month
Greece on Feb. 28 said the tally of refugees and migrants on its soil could more than triple next month, reaching as many as 70,000 people, as a cap on border crossings by Balkan countries left them "trapped" in the country.
"We estimate that in our country the number of those trapped will be from 50,000-70,000 people next month", Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas said.
Greece suffocated by stranded refugees and immigrants (pics+vid)
A suffocating situation has been created during the last days with thousands of exhausted and desperate refugees and immigrants being scattered all over Greece.
In Idomeni the situation is yeasty with the refugees having formed a human chain in front of the borders demanding to enter FYROM so as to continue their journey to Europe.
Croatia Acquits Special Police of Killing Villagers
A Zagreb court again acquitted two former special policemen following a retrial for war crimes committed in the village of Grubori after Croatia’s operation ‘Storm’ in August 1995.
Serbia, RS to mark NDH and Jasenovac anniversaries
Serbia and the Serb Republic (RS) will together mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and of Jasenovac.
Beta agency reported this on Friday, saying that the announcement was made by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic after this meeting in Belgrade with Milorad Dodik, the president of the Serb entity (RS) in Bosnia-Herzegovina.