Balkans

As Kosovo struggles to repress organized crime and corruption, a new report by the non-governmental Organization for Democracy, Anti-corruption and Dignity, Çohu!, says not enough has changed.

“Kosovo’s politics has never been resistant to corruption and organized crime, but has indulged itself in an unfettered enterprise of siphoning of public wealth for private interests,” it said.

"Priština wants special court to be established"

PRIŠTINA -- Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga has proposed that the mandate of EULEX be extended and a special court for war crimes committed by the KLA to be established.

This is according to the Priština-based Albanian language daily Koha Ditore.

Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's likely next Prime Minister, on Tuesday told David Petraeus, chairman of the Global Institute of the KKR investment firm, that its first direct Balkan investment - a new cross-border TV station, N1, - was welcome in Serbia.

Russia's Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed “deep disappointment” about Milo Djukanovic's recent "hostile statements at the expense of Russia".

PRISTINA - Clint Williamson, the head of Eulex's special investigation team, has a large dossier on crimes committed by the former "Kosovo Liberation Army" (KLA) and is expected to hand it over to the judges of a special court that will look into the findings of the former Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rapporteur Dick Marty, the Pristina-based Express daily has reported.

DELIBLATO - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said Tuesday that given the enormous trust of the people it has earned, the new government has to be the most serious one in Serbia’s recent history, and pledged doing all he can to help in achieving its goals.

BELGRADE - The level of cooperation between Serbia and Italy is exceptionally high, Serbia's outgoing Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Italian Ambassador to Serbia Giuseppe Manzo said at a meeting on Tuesday.

They particularly highlighted a positive trend in the development of economic ties, the Serbian government's press office said in a statement.

Kosovo will ask the EU to set up a special tribunal outside the country, to address war crimes committed in the 1990s.

According to Kosovo's President Atifete Jahjaga, a specialized court outside the country to look at cases against former Kosovo Liberation Army fighters would ensure an "independent and unbiased process".

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA – EULEX police has arrested a Serb in northern Kosovo as part of investigations into serious crimes that allegedly took place in Kosovo-Metohija after the 1999 conflict in the province.

Vulin banned from entering Kosovo

BELGRADE -- The Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo said that Aleksandar Vulin was denied entry to Kosovo by the authorities in Priština on Tuesday.

Vulin heads the office and is the minister without portfolio in charge of Kosovo and Metohija in the outgoing government.