 RFE/RL Balkan Report 6/24/2010 6:02:41 PM A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about the countries of the western Balkans. For more stories on the Balkans, please visit and bookmark our Balkans page . |
 Divided Yugoslavia Unites To Mourn Death Of Actor Bekim Fehmiu The Yugoslav film and stage actor Bekim Fehmiu died in Belgrade last week at age 74. Fehmiu, who worked in Western films but found his greatest fame in the movie industry back home, was celebrated by his fans as a true Yugoslav personality. An ethnic Albanian born in Bosnia who married a Serb and lived most of his life in Belgrade, Fehmiu remained committed to the idea of a united nation even as ethnic divisions tore Yugoslavia apart. More  Serbia Demands EU Commitment Serbia's president today called on the European Union to openly tell his country "without making any excuses" whether it wants Serbia to join the 27-nation bloc or not. More  Ahtisaari Downplays ICJ Kosovo Opinion Martti Ahtisaari, the former president of Finland and Nobel peace prize laureate, says Kosovo will remain an independent state regardless of a pending advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice. More  Kosovo Muslims Protest Head Scarf Ban Reports from Kosovo say some 5,000 people protested today in the capital, Pristina, against a government decision last month to ban Muslim head scarves in public schools. More The European Union mission in Kosovo says counterterrorism police have arrested a terror suspect wanted for extradition to the United States. More  Moldova Hopeful Over EU Visa Issue Moldovan Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca said today he is confident his countrymen will be able to travel without visas to most EU member states in the near future. More  Mladic Family Wants Him Declared Dead The family of Bosnian Serb war-crimes suspect Ratko Mladic has filed a motion in a Serbian court to have him officially declared dead. More  U.S. Issues Human Trafficking Report In its 2010 report on human trafficking in the world, the United States cites both progress and persistent challenges in the fight against modern-day slavery. The report assesses nearly 200 countries, from serious offenders like Iran to success stories like Bosnia and Herzegovina. More  Serbian Activists Seek Gay Pride March Serbia's gay activists have started to campaign to hold a 2010 gay pride march in Belgrade after the 2009 event was called off over safety concerns. More  For World Cup Fans In Fractious Balkans, A Dilemma: Do We Root For Serbia? As Serbia prepares for its World Cup opener, soccer fans in the fractious Balkans wonder whether to cheer for or against them. More  UN Genocide Rulings Bolster Case Against Karadzic A UN court has sentenced two former Bosnian Serb army officers to life in prison on genocide charges for their role in the massacre of more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys near Srebrenica in July 1995. The ruling is seen as setting an important precedent for the ongoing trial of Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic. More  New Suspect Jailed In Serb PM's Killing Croatian police today said they have arrested a second fugitive convicted over the 2003 assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. More  Life Terms For Srebrenica Killers A UN court has sentenced two former Bosnian Serb army officers to life imprisonment for genocide for their role in the massacre of more than 7,000 Muslims in Srebrenica in 1995. More |
