Balkan News

A rights group has filed criminal complaints to the state prosecutor over honours given by the Bosnian Serb authorities to convicted war criminals including Radovan Karadzic.

Croatia has started setting up a joint special air force with Slovenia, Hungary and Bulgaria, which could be used for fighting terrorism in northern Africa or the Mediterranean.

As official figures show tourist numbers rising in Bosnia and Herzegovina, conflict-themed attractions in Sarajevo like the War Hostel and Tunnel of Hope show that the 1992-95 siege continues to fascinate visitors.

Kommentar: Der ewige Zypern-Konflikt Nach monatelangen Verhandlungen sind die Zypern-Gespräche gescheitert. Die zentrale Frage nach dem politischen Willen zur Wiedervereinigung muss anders gestellt werden, meint Spiros Moskovou. Eine Insel hofft auf Einheit Zypern-Gespräche gescheitert Aktuelles Geteiltes Zypern Zypern-Gespräche gescheitert Monatelang haben griechische und türkische Zyprer verhandelt: Die seit mehr als 40 Jahren andauernde Teilung der Insel sollte Geschichte werden. Doch es hat wieder nicht gereicht. Athen lässt Obama abblitzen: Russische Kriegsschiffe in griechischen Häfen willkommen © Foto: The Norwegian Armed Forces Politik 16:32 25.11.2016(aktualisiert 16:53 25.11.2016) Zum Kurzlink 0 916401 Griechenland hat laut einer Quelle im Verteidigungsministerium nicht vor, russischen Schiffen das Anlegen und Auftanken in seinen Häfen zu verbieten. […]

Ali Rexha, Kosovo Special Prosecutor, said the prosecution merely followed the law when it decided not to prosecute all the companies involved in a massive tax scam revealed by BIRN with the help of a whistleblower.

After a number of police officers in Macedonia were sacked for claiming fake diplomas, experts wonder just how many officers with dodgy diplomas are still working in the force.

The civic society network BCSDN in a new report has called on the European Commission to deepen its commitment to civil society groups and initiatives in the Balkan region.

Deutche Telecom said its Macedonian daughter company is cooperating with probes by Macedonia's Special Prosecution, as it seeks evidence related to the wiretapping claims that have rocked the country.

A large number of Serbian intellectuals, writers, artists and public figures have urged Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic - who has frequently crossed swords with the government - to run as President in 2017.

As election day looms in December, new news websites linked to Macedonia's ruling party have recently started producing false news reports designed to discredit the opposition.

Police and refugees have been hospitalized following violent clashes in Bulgaria’s largest refugee camp in the southeastern town on Harmanli on Thursday evening.

An investigation by the Ministry of Health, which found that Romanian transplant clinics were not equipped for such surgeries, has triggered a row about organ-trading.

The Croatian authorities exhumed the remains of 18 bodies from a cemetery in the coastal town of Zadar - Croatian Serbs who died during or after the military operation ‘Storm’ in 1995.

The Bosnian prosecution filed an indictment against former Bosnian Serb soldier Zarko Vukovic, accusing him of raping a Bosniak woman several times during wartime in the Foca area.

Legal experts and Montenegro’s opposition parties have criticised a court’s decision to grant "protected witness" status to Aleksandar Sindjelic, the main suspect in a plot to kill Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.

After spending two months with members of the Salafi movement in Bosnia, social psychologist Srdjan Puhalo says it is time to stop demonizing the community as terrorists.

An expert on EU-Turkey relations says Ankara faces a stark choice on whether to engage again with Brussels, or openly turn its back on EU and European values.

The Croatian government's announcement that it is replacing senior executives in state companies without use of public tenders has triggered accusations of a 'political purge'.

Nazi, IS, Terroridsten Propaganda wird durch die EU und Berlin, dem Auswärtigen Amte, gezielt gefördert. Einfach peinlich, wie die EU nun die Medien Freiheit einschränken will. EU im Krieg gegen Russland EU-Parlament billigt Resolution gegen russische Medien.… Artikel lesen Der Europarat empfiehlt, dass die britische Presse NICHT berichtet, wenn Terroristen Muslime sind von Yves Mamou  •  24. November 2016 Dies ist der Moment, zu dem Gesetze über Hassrede zu einer größeren Bedrohung für Demokratie und Redefreiheit werden als Hassreden selbst. In Frankreich sind muslimische Terroristen nie muslimische Terroristen, sondern „Verrückte“, „Maniacs“ und „Jugendliche“. Pressefreiheit und Redefreiheit anzugreifen ist keine Antihassrede; Es ist Unterwerfung. Wenn sie diesen Empfehlungen folgte, würde die […]

From a decisive Macedonian Parliamentary election less than a month away, via Albania’s highly distorting ‘cannabis economy’ to stories of how the region is trying to tackle problems of ‘homeland’ and ‘human’ security, we offer our selection of some of the articles that marked this week on Balkan Insight.