Latest News from Montenegro
Vice President Iliana Yotova is on a Working Visit to Montenegro
Vice President Iliyana Yotova is on a working visit to Montenegro.
This morning she met with Prime Minister Duško Marković. Her talks continued with the head of the parliament's foreign committee, and she will meet with the Foreign Minister and with Montenegro President Milo Đukanović in the afternoon.
Expect more details.
Dangerous Illusions and Unholy Alliances
Unholy Ties
The new Moldovan government led by Maia Sandu seems to be one of contradictions. It is in the rather rare position of being both pro-EU and pro-Russian at once by virtue of the parties which comprise it.
Montenegro Religious Law Needs Tougher Safeguards, Rapporteur Says
In its opinion, the Commission, which serves as the top legal advisory body to the Council of Europe, urged the government to consult more with the public, including religious communities, to ease tensions with groups like the Serbian Orthodox Church.
"In general we backed the law," Vermeulen, a Dutch professor of Education Law, recalled.
Cheaper Roaming for the Countries of the Western Balkans
Roaming charges between Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina in July will be reduced by 27% and will have to be dropped completely in 2021, according to the recently signed Regional Roaming Treaty between the Western Balkan countries.
European Legal Experts Back Montenegro Religious Freedom Law
The Venice Commission, a Council of Europe advisory body made up of independent constitutional law experts, said on Monday that the draft religious freedom law was a step forward, but urged the Montenegrin government to organise consultations with the public, including representatives of religious communities, amid tensions with the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Kosovo’s Invisible Children: The Secret Legacy of Wartime Rape
The soft rays of the morning sun fall upon her pale hands as they rest on the stack of papers on the table. She does not raise her eyes as she looks down at the documents in front of her.
Montenegro President Rebuffs Serbian ‘Church Property Theft’ Claim
President Milo Djukanovic said on Monday that he will not allow anyone to take away what belongs to Montenegro and warned of what he called "external" interference in the country's affairs.
Djukanovic insisted that the new draft law on freedom of religion was not intended to baselessly take away anyone's property.
Much-loved Soaps Polish Turkey’s Image in Balkans
Under former prime minister Ahmet Davutaglu, Turkish foreign policy shifted towards its current "zero problems with neighbours" policy, and to win-win policies that allow Ankara to spread its influence politically, economically and culturally.
The boom in Turkish soap operas throughout the Balkans during this time provides a good example of this influence.
Bulgaria Joins NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence
At a solemn ceremony with raising its national flag, Bulgaria joined NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. The Centre is located in Tallinn, Estonia, and currently has 25 members.
Montenegro Church Law Unites Serbia in Outrage
Media in Serbia have accused the government of Montenegro of planning to "rob" the Serbian Orthodox Church, SOC, of its assets, while Serbian officials warn that a proposed law on Church property will worsen diplomatic relations.
Anti-Fascists Commemorate Yugoslav Partisans’ Triumph in WWII Battle
Thousands of anti-fascists from former Yugoslav countries gathered on Sunday at the Sutjeska memorial in Tjentiste in Bosnia and Herzegovina to pay tribute to the soldiers killed during the crucial battle during World War II.
Church Supporters Rally in Montenegro to Denounce Property Law
Saturday's Church council comes after the Montenegrin government adopted a draft law which included a register of all religious objects and sites that were formerly owned by the independent kingdom of Montenegro before it became part of the Serb-dominated Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1918.
Montenegro’s Attack on Church Property Will Create Lawless Society
The bishop reacted after the government of Montenegro said it wanted to pass a law that will declare all ancient property belonging to the Serbian Orthodox Church built before 1918 as the state property, without offering any valid reason for this in the public interest, or eminent domain (defence, energy, infrastructure) or any compensation.
Albania busts gang trafficking migrants into EU, arrests 8
Albanian police said on Wednesday they had broken up a criminal gang trafficking Syrian, Turkish and Iraqi migrants to western Europe from Greece and had arrested eight people including the Turkish ringleader.
Global Peace Index Shows Balkans Getting More Peaceful
The latest Global Peace Index published by the International Institute for Economics and Peace, an independent think tank that aims to measure peace and stability in the world, says the world was a slightly more peaceful place last year.