Balkans

Controversy has erupted over a state fund that will be set up to support former Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas on trial at a new internationally-backed war crimes tribunal.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - United Kingdom's (UK) Ambassador in Pristina said Wednesday that the UK strongly supports the continuation of reserved seats in the Kosovo assembly and that a move forward in the setting up a community of Serb municipalities is expected after Kosovo's parliamentary elections.

Serbia's Exit music festival is expanding operations this summer with a subsequent three-day festival in Montenegro.

The Sea Dance festival, as a part of Exit will be held in July at the Montenegrin seaside, with the main stage set up on one of the most beautiful beaches of the Adriatic, Jaz Beach, near Budva.

Union leaders in Montenegro are calling on people to show their discontent with government policies at Mayday protests in the capital, Podgorica, on Thursday.

The gathering will be the first of its kind after a five-year break.

However, the country's divided trade unions will rally separately in the streets of Podgorica.

PM: Serbia is poised for new, exciting future

LONDON -- Serbia is facing tough reforms but we are ready for a new, exciting future and know what it takes to finalize EU negotiations by 2020, Aleksandar Vučić says.

Train service to Sofia, Belgrade and Skopje will resume on May 10th. Also in business news: Turkey's Veibo Group will invest in a production facility in Macedonia's northeast, creating 5,000 jobs.

The Kosovo's parliament's commission supervising the Intelligence Agency, KIA, has urged authorities to take measures after several scandals hit the security institution.

Fadil Demaku, deputy head of parliament's commission for the KIA, said the recent scandals concerning the agency had “had a very bad impact on its image among the public.

Serbia won't get reparations for NATO bombing - ambassador

BELGRADE -- "If Serbia expects reparations for the 1999 bombing that is not something we will do, but we will continue to assist as before," says Michael Kirby.

Nikolić: Recognition of Kosovo is unacceptable

BELGRADE -- Serbia wants to become a part of the EU as soon as possible and is willing to compromise on anything during the talks with the EU, says Tomislav Nikolić.

The Kosovo Democratic League and the ‘Vetevendosje’ Movement, both opposition parties, said on Monday that they would not be held to ransom by Serb MPs who have threatened to abstain in a crucial vote next week on constitutional changes to establish a Kosovo army if they don’t get agreement on future minority representation.