Latest News from Macedonia

Cooperation with Montenegro in context of EU accession

BELGRADE - The Serbian government adopted at its Thursday session the bill to ratify the agreement on cooperation signed by the Serbian government and the government of Montenegro in the context of EU accession.

Base South to become "international training center"

Base South to become "international training center"

BUJANOVAC -- Serbian Army (VS) Base South (Jug) near Bujanovac "will become an international training center for soldiers participating in peacekeeping operations."

Base South as international training centre by 2017

BUJANOVAC - Base South in Bujanovac, southern Serbia, will become an international training centre for soldiers from around the world for participation in peacekeeping operations, Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic and U.S. Ambassador in Serbia Michael Kirby announced on Thursday, attending the Platinum Wolf 2014 exercise.

Macedonia Braces for Rival Ethnic Protests

Police spokesperson Ivo Kotevski said that officers were “closely monitoring social networks” ahead of the possible unauthorised protests on Friday and warned that “violent outbursts cannot be tolerated”.

Jump in Asylum Requests From Serbia in 2013

Serbian media sources reported on Wednesday that 22,500 Serbian citizens applied for asylum in EU countries in 2013 a 17-per-cent increase on the figure for 2012.

Ivan Gerginov, Serbia’s assistant commissioner for refugees and migration, said the hike would not affect Serbia’s visa-free regime with the EU Schengen area.

Dacic to attend foreign ministers' meeting in Kotor

BELGRADE - Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic will participate in the Informal meeting of the Western Balkans Foreign Ministers in Kotor, Montenegro, on Thursday.

Retrial Demanded in Macedonia Mass Murder Case

Ali Ahmeti, the head of the junior party in Macedonia's ruling coalition, the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, demanded on Tuesday a transparent retrial and a public presentation of the evidence that led to the conviction of six ethnic Albanians for terrorism - a verdict that sparked unrest on the streets of the capital last week.

Psomiadis brothers released on 20,000 euro bail

Panayiotis and Dionysis Psomiadis, brothers who served respectively as prefect and deputy prefect of Thessaloniki, were granted conditional release on Monday and ordered to pay 20,000 euros each in bail after pleading not guilty to corruption charges.

Ethnic Albanians stage protests in Macedonia

SKOPJE – Ethnic Albanians in Macedonia have been protesting for a few days demanding the release of six members of the Albanian community in the country sentenced to a life in prison.

The six Albanians were sentenced to life for a brutal murder of five Macedonians in Smilkovci, near Skopje, in 2012.

Macedonia Albanians Urge New Street Rallies

Macedonia’s ethnic Albanians were urged to rally again in the capital Skopje on Monday after midday prayers in mosques, raising fears of more unrest after clashes between protesters and riot police over the past several days.

Italy: EU enlargement strategic priority

Italy: EU enlargement strategic priority

BRUSSELS -- EU enlargement to the Western Balkan countries and Turkey is among Italy's strategic priorities during its EU presidency.

This is contained in a document presenting the country's program that was published in Brussels on Thursday.

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