EP requires negotiations with Macedonia for EU membership

The EP has adopted a resolution, calling on the EC to start negotiations with Macedonia for its EU accession. The resolution was expected in February, but due to the political crisis in the country the approval of the document was postponed for the June session. In the meantime, after talks with Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias declared that Athens was ready to uphold Macedonia’s wish to be part of different international organizations, but only after solving the issue with its name.

Serbia doesn’t seek NATO membership, Dačić says

Serbia doesn’t seek NATO membership, incumbent PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić stated at a meeting with a delegation of the Alliance’s parliamentary assembly. The minister informed the delegation that Serbia’s policy was based on military neutrality, aiming at no military blocs, while its partnership with NATO has been successfully implemented under the Partnership for Peace program. Upon his inauguration on May 31 President Aleksandar Vučić declared that the friendship with Russia and China was among the country’s top priorities, alongside the refusal for any NATO membership.

EP insists on unification of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo

The EP has insisted that Kosovo should form its government more quickly after the early elections on June 11, executing what’s been contracted with Belgrade. The MEPs expect the new Pristina authorities to ratify the treaty with Montenegro for setting the border, achieving visible results in the fight with organized crime and establishing a Community of Serbian Municipalities. Wannabe PM Ramuš Haradinaj and his poll-winning ‘coalition of arms’ defended precisely the opposite stance in the course of the campaign.

Montenegrin opposition ceases boycott of parliament

The Democratic Front’s MPs at the Montenegrin parliament will participate for a first time after the October-held elections in a plenary sitting of the Skupština, discussing the issue with the withdrawal of their colleague Nebojša Medojević’s immunity, the Pobeda newspaper reports. Prosecutor special Milivoje Katnić demanded from the Skupština to remove the immunity of Medojević, who is one of the Democratic Forum’s leaders, due to suspicions of ‘heading a criminal gang, involved in money laundering for his campaign’.

Istanbul hobo sentenced to home detention

A homeless man has been sentenced to house arrest by an Istanbul court on drug possession and distribution charges, the Hürriyet newspaper reports. The unusual court decision rules that 31-year-old Baras Alkan doesn’t have the right to step over the borders of a certain public spot near a bus station in the city, as it has been put on record as his home. The court-appointed lawyer of the defendant has stated his surprise of the court rule and has appealed. ‘The man sleeps in the streets because he has no house, but is still under home detention. How does this happen?’ the lawyer asks. In the meantime Alkan has begun to serve his sentence on an empty spot near the city bus station, put on record as his home and surrounded with metal fences for the purpose.

Compiled by: Stoimen Pavlov

English version: Zhivko Stanchev