Republic of Macedonia

The Macedonian Police Minister, Gordana Jankuloska, on Wednesday insisted her ministry was "clean" and was playing no role in management of the electoral roll.

Jankuloska’s statement came a day after the main opposition Social Democratic Party, SDSM, as well as the junior ruling party, the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, disputed the accuracy of the electoral roll.

After Macedonia's main ruling VMRO DPMNE party presented a report this weekend on its achievements in office, its junior partner, the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, says it will issue its own separate report, focusing on its own achievements.

The National Democratic Institute, NDI, said that it wanted to change the current practice in Macedonia where candidates usually do not take part in proper televised debates with each other ahead of polls.

As the country gears up for the start of two election campaigns later this month, for both general and presidential elections, Macedonia's institutions say they are ready for the nationwide operation.

Prosecutor Marko Zvrlevski says he will soon launch an ex-officio probe, even if the two institutions who he says are primarily in charge of such cases, the Financial Intelligence Agency and the Financial Police, decline to do so.

“We have not received a notice from these two institutions, although legally they should react first, before we do,” Zvrlevski told Faktor news portal.

Islamic leader's statement causes furore in Macedonia

Analysts and activists caution religious leaders to be careful about their statements on social networks and elsewhere.

IVZ head Sulejman Rexhepi’s post about the Prilep mosque is being criticised. [Facebook/Sulejman Rexhipi]

EU nudges western Balkans toward economic reform

Improving the financial climate will attract investment, the Union said. In other business news: Bulgaria and Macedonia seek more funding for Corridor 8.

The EU believes that financial reforms will mean a better business climate and greater economic prosperity in the western Balkans. [AFP]

"Dialogue has to be continued, results implemented"

BELGRADE -- After elections on March 16, "Serbia must continue reforms and the dialogue with Priština with renewed vigor and implement the results of the dialogue."

This is what Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has told the Belgrade-daily Danas in an interview ahead of his visit here on Wednesday.

BELGRADE - After the early parliamentary election on March 16, Serbia must continue reforms and the dialogue with Pristina with renewed vigor and implement the results of the dialogue, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has said.

A group of more than 50 prominent politicians, clerics, doctors, athletes and artists has urged the centre-right VMRO DPMNE to again endorse the candidacy of Gjorge Ivanov in the April elections.

The petition increases the likelihood that the incumbent President will run for a second five-year term.