Geography of Europe

PRISTINA - Oliver Ivanovic, one of Serb leaders from northern Kosovo-Metohija (KiM), began a hunger strike in a detention unit in Pristina on Tuesday, said his defense attorney Nebojsa Vlajic.

Ivanovic's only request is that he be transferred to a detention unit in Kosovska Mitrovica, Vlajic noted.

BELGRADE - A leadership program for security and rule of law, aimed at strengthening the capacity of state and local institutions in these areas in line with European practice, was presented in Belgrade on Tuesday.

BELGRADE - Slovenian author Tibor Hrs Pandur, 21, is the March guest of the Krokodil house for writers as the programme for regional writers during which writers are supposed to stay in Belgrade for one month as organised by the Krokodil Association.

BELGRADE - The pillars of Serbian statehood, which include the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, are the institutions the Serbian citizens traditionally trust the most, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has said in Belgrade.

BELGRADE - The Office for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) stated that the Pristina authorities banned Serbian Minister without Portfolio in charge of KiM Aleksandar Vulin and Minister of Youth and Sports Vanja Udovicic from visiting KiM, adding that this time Serbia is prevented from helping best Serb students in the province to broaden their knowledge and talents.

BELGRADE - Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides stated that Serbia will not have to recognise Kosovo's independence at the end of the accession talks because five EU members have not done that either.

DUBAI/BELGRADE - Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic attended the promotion of the Master Plan of 'City on Water' which was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

BELGRADE - Leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Ivica Dacic stated on Sunday that the coalition headed by him will guarantee a safe continuation of the EU path in the early parliamentary elections, as well as reforms in a 'human form' and laws which serve the interests of employees and not tycoons.

FRANKFURT - Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return Dalibor Jevtic stated that the problem of usurped property is one of the biggest obstacles for the return of Serbs, building trust and final reconciliation of Serbs and Albanians.

BELGRADE - Kosovo-Metohija has great tourist potential and the Serbian government will do everything it can to boost the development of tourism in that part of the country, Minister without Portfolio responsible for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) Aleksandar Vulin said on Saturday.