North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Two years since death of Verica Barać

BELGRADE -- Wedensday marks two years since the death of Verica Barać, president of the Serbian government's Anti-Corruption Council.

Self-determination, change of borders "road to hell"

PRAGUE -- Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek has strongly condemned the referendum on independence of Crimea, held on Sunday.

He believes it is "a hellish concept that can have dire consequences."

Paddy Ashdown, the former High Representative of the international community to Bosnia and Herzegovina until 2006, said the country was at a crossroads, and both Washington and Brussels had to act urgently to prevent further deterioration.

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the Crimean leadership declared independence based on the “well-known Kosovo precedent”, which was created by the western countries themselves.

Romanian officials on Tuesday expressed support for the government of neighbouring Moldova and urged Russia not to encourage separatists in Moldova's Transdniester region in their quest to join Russia.

“Romania together with its EU and NATO partners should show their commitment to supporting Moldova’s independence and territorial integrity,” Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said.

Putin signs Crimea's admission to RF, mentions Kosovo

MOSCOW -- Russia and Crimea have signed a treaty of accession of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to the Russian Federation, Voice of Russia has reported.

Crimea and Sevastopol are joining Russia as two separate regions, President Vladimir Putin said.

Ukraine "has no plans to join NATO" - Yatsenyuk

KIEV -- Ukraine's new Western-backed prime minister said on Tuesday in a televised address that his country had no plans to join NATO.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that “for the sole purpose of preserving the unity of Ukraine, the issue of accession to NATO is not on the agenda," AFP reported.

Turkey will close the Bosphorus for Russian ships, if there is violence against the Crimean Tatars, said Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan. 

NATO terminates its practical cooperation with Russia, because of the tensions in Ukraine. 

According to NATO's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, quoted by the Russian wire agency ITAR-TASS, currently NATO is reconsidering its cooperation with Russia. 

BELGRADE - It is ten years today since a pogrom was committed against Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) and its order-givers and organizers from Albanian political and paramilitary structures have still remained unnamed and unpunished.