Kosovo, Serbia, Germany On Wednesday a framework agreement on implementation of Belgrade-Pristina agreement was reached. It is seen as an important step in what is expected to be a delicate implementation process. It is understood that the framework agreement does not envisage immediate dissolution of local authorities in ethnically Serbian northern Kosovo, which was one […]
Orient Express Weekly (13-19 May 2013)
Legal and illegal businesses connecting Balkan countries Legal and political manoeuvring around the case of suspected Balkan drug kingpin Naser Kelmendi continued last week as the Bosnian court froze Kelmendi’s property in the country, including a well-known Sarajevo hotel. The decision is part of the preparations for the expected extradition of Kelmendi who was arrested […]
Orient Express Weekly (15-21 April 2013)
Baroness Ashton of the Balkans On Thursday Serbian PM Ivica Dačić and his Kosovo counterpart Hashim Thaci put their initials on the final text of the agreement on the special status of the Serb municipalities in Kosovo. Last week’s two additional rounds of talks mediated by the EU’s Catherine Ashton resulted in a compromise solution […]
Orient Express Weekly (8-14 April 2013)
Still no solutions to the regional disputes The previous week started with the Serbian government officially refusing the EU-brokered offer on the status of ethnic Serbs in Kosovo. Apparently, the offer was not presented in writing, but consisted of a set of principles read out to the Pristina and Belgrade delegations last Tuesday by Catherine […]