Zoran Milanovic

Serbia has celebrated a new national day of unity, amid concerns from neighbours in the western Balkans.

On Wednesday, Belgrade kicked off the holiday with a display of military power and calls for all Serbs in the Balkans to unite under one flag.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said that the Dayton Agreement, whose guarantors are Croatia and Serbia, did not fail, but, he pointed out, it was not respected.

Croatia's political leadership, wartime generals and war veterans gathered on Thursday in the town of Knin to mark the anniversary of the victorious military offensive, Operation Storm, that practically ended the independence war in the country in 1995.

Part of the ceremony took place at the Knin Fortress, while another part was held at the town's football stadium.

Slovenian President Borut Pahor has said he believed that a solution to the Bulgarian blockade of North Macedonia would be found soon and that this would "restore credibility and trust in the EU" at a meeting with the presidents of Croatia and Austria.

Ljubljana – Congratulations to Slovenia are pouring in on Friday as the country is marking Statehood Day and the 30th anniversary of its independence. Congratulations to President Borut Pahor were sent today by the leaders of Italy, Austria, Croatia Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, Japan, Belgium and Switzerland, the president’s office said.

NATO heads of states and governments attending Monday's alliance summit in Brussels vowed to support the territorial integrity and stability of Bosnia while reaffirming "unity, solidarity, and cohesion, and pledging to open a new chapter in transatlantic relations" and address "Russia's aggressive actions that constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security" and "China's growing influence".

Zoran Milanovic said on Monday that his decision to return state honours to Branimir Glavas was legally sound, even though he is on trial for alleged war crimes.

"Glavas asked for this, he sent a request, because he has been formally unconvinced for five years. If he had not asked me, I wouldn't have interfered," Milanovic told media.

North Macedonia has fulfilled all the democratic conditions to open EU accession talks, but it is constantly being "kicked" around, said President Zoran Milanovic on Thursday after Sofia criticised his statements about Bulgaria's policy on that EU membership aspirant.

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has summoned Croatian ambassador to Sofia, Jasna Ognjanovac, for talks after harsh criticism directed at Sofia's foreign policy by Croatian President Zoran Milanović. 

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic drew condemnation on Thursday after he insulted reporters from the public broadcaster Croatian Radio Television, HRT, in the coastal city of Split, accusing them of being tricksters, mercenaries and an embarrassment to the country.