Geography of Europe

AIR Serbia moves on to new check-in system

BELGRADE – Air Serbia, Serbia's national carrier, will move from its existing check-in system at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport, known as Gaetan, to a new state-of-the-art platform called SabreSonic Check-in on Tuesday.

EULEX chief: There is no "5,000 names list"

PRIŠTINA -- EULEX chief Berndt Borchardt Judge has denied claims about existence of a list of 5,000 names of Serbs to be arrested in Kosovo.

The head of the EU mission in Kosovo added that a judge will decide if guarantees the Serbian government gave are sufficient to release four Serbs currently in detention there.

“The fight against corruption appears to be weak and the number of convictions remains low,” the Kosovar Institute for Policy, Research and Development (KIPRED) said in a new report.

Kosovo’s parliament adopted a new anti-corruption strategy and action plan for 2013-17 in February, but it has been criticised by Brussels, which is also demanding action to tackle graft.

A 47-year-old Georgian national sustained injuries after being shot by unknown assailants late on Monday in the district of Nikaia in Piraeus.

The victim was transferred to a local hospital, while a police investigation was underway to determine the motive behind the attack.

By Stathis Kousounis

The growth in Greek tourism is attracting a succession of major international hotel chains to this country. The latest to take an active interest in Greece is Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, which has signed a franchise deal with the owners of the Minos Imperial Beach Resort and Spa in Milatos in Lasithi, eastern Crete.

No reaction from NATO about announcements of "Kosovo army"

PRIŠTINA -- NATO has not officially commented on announcements made in Priština that the "Kosovo armed forces" would be formed, writes Koha Ditore.

Cyprus will not change stance on Kosovo status

BELGRADE -- Cypriot FM Ioannis Kasoulides said on Monday that Serbia's membership of the EU is of vital importance for the stability and prosperity in the Western Balkans.

After meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić, Kasoulides said that Cyprus maintains the position not to recognize Kosovo.

"Policy of retreating sent to past"

BELGRADE -- Goran Rakić's victory in the Kosovska Mitrovica election "is an important day for Kosovo, for the community of Serbs in that territory, and for Serbia."

This is according to Marko Đurić, a presidential adviser and an official of the ruling Progressives (SNS), who spoke for B92 TV on Monday.

Vučić, Kasoulides discuss EU integration, Kosovo

BELGRADE -- First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić met in Belgrade on Monday with Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

They discussed "EU integration, Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the situation in the region," Vučić's office said in a statement.

OSCE: Elections conducted successfully

PRIŠTINA -- The OSCE in Kosovo has expressed satisfaction that the repeat mayoral elections in northern Kosovska Mitrovica they facilitated were carried out successfully.