Croatian government

Russia on Tuesday flatly dismissed a call by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic for Russia and Ukraine to draw on the experience on the peace agreement signed in Croatia in the 1990s.

BELGRADE - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic replied to recent statement made by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic regarding the appointment of General Ante Gotovina as a special advisor to Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic, reports total-croatia-news.com.

The visit to Zagreb by Bosnian Croat presidency member Dragan Covic on Monday was overshadowed by the reports of the recent arrest for war crimes of ten Bosnian Croats - prompting analysts to warn that the tension could well strengthen Bosnian Croat calls for a third, Croat-led entity in Bosnia.

Croatia's centre-right Prime Minister concluded a two-day visit on Friday and Saturday to Bosnia aimed to calming tensions over the status of Bosnian Croats, many of whom are demanding greater autonomy or the creation of a third entity.

Plenkovic came first to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo - something that Bosniak [Muslim] leaders insist on and are sensitive about.

BELGRADE - European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia David McAllister on Monday urged the EU Council to open new chapters in Serbia's EU accession talks, adding that they should be opened when they are ready, rather than blocked by bilateral issues.

McAllister was attending the 16th Serbian Economic Summit in Belgrade.

A centre-right coalition is emerging as the only likely option for a new Croatian government, as President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic readies to start the first round of consultations on Wednesday with parties and individual candidates on naming a prime minister-designate.

First results in the Croatian elections published by the State Election Commission after counting votes at 71 per cent polling stations put the centre-right Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, in the lead after winning 61 seats.

Bozo Petrov, vice prime minister and president of the junior government party, Bridge of the Independent Lists, MOST, said on Friday that his ministers and MPs will vote to impeach Tomislav Karamarko, Vice-Prime Minister and president of the leading government party, the Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ.

The Croatian government, a diverse coalition with a non-party technocrat prime minister, is struggling to function properly, with parties tussling for power and threatening early elections.

Croatian Foreign Minister Miro Kovac says it is in his country's interest in seeing Southeast Europe countries join the EU.

The Croatian government would be firm but fair in relations with Serbia, he said.