Europe – Balkans

Erdogan tells UN chief Israel must be tried in international courts for Gaza crimes

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday told United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres that Israel must be held accountable in international courts for what he called war crimes it committed…

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Tensions rise over future of the OSCE, Reports Russia blocked appointment of Malta as OSCE chairman

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is at a standstill as Russia is blocking Estonia and now Malta from taking over as chair. Since 2021, the Organization for…

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Montenegro court approves extradition of ‘cryptocurrency king’ Do Kwon

SARAJEVO, Nov 24 (Reuters) - A court in Montenegro said on Friday it had approved the extradition of cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon, leaving a minister to decide if he will…

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Serbia buys Cypriot helicopter gunships to bolster air force

BELGRADE, (Reuters) - Serbia has acquired 11 Russian-made Mi-35 helicopter gunships from Cyprus as it seeks to bolster its air force and maintain regional military supremacy, country's President Aleksandar Vucic…

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Turkey tells NATO that Sweden won’t join by next week’s meeting

By Jonathan Spicer and Sabine Siebold ANKARA/BRUSSELS, (Reuters) - Turkey has informed NATO that ratification of Sweden's membership bid will not be completed in time to allow the country's accession…

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Nine dead amid storm in Turkey; 11 missing from sunken ship

ISTANBUL, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Turkish rescue teams searched on Monday for 11 missing crew members of a cargo ship which sunk off the Black Sea coast amid storms that…

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NATO’s Stoltenberg says concerned with secessionist rhetoric in Bosnia

SARAJEVO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday the alliance was concerned by "secessionist rhetoric" in Bosnia as well as by foreign interference including Russia.…

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EBRD backs 4 bln euro plan to wean North Macedonia off coal power

Deal set to be announced at COP28 climate talks in Dubai Would see country's two coal-fired power plants close EBRD would help fund 1.7 GW of renewable energy By Libby…

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Sweden’s NATO bid delayed in Turkish parliament

By Huseyin Hayatsever The Turkish parliament's foreign affairs commission delayed a vote on Sweden's NATO membership bid on Thursday in a further setback to the Nordic country's hopes of joining…

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Turkey says EU is ‘unjust and biased’ on membership bid

The European Commission's annual report on Turkey's long-stalled EU membership bid is "unjust and biased", the Turkish foreign ministry said. The report by the European Union's executive arm on Wednesday…

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Croatian authorities rule out Coca-Cola poisonings

Coca-Cola drinks are safe to consume and haven't been poisoned, Croatia's health minister said, following a spate of reported illnesses over the past week. Croatian Minister for Health Vili Beroš…

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Coca Cola HBC withdraws some drinks in Croatia while illnesses investigated

Coca Cola HBC said it was temporarily withdrawing batches of two soft drinks from sale in Croatia while the authorities there investigate cases of illness suspected to have been caused…

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Serbia’s police detain over 4,500 migrants, seize weapons

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbian police have detained thousands of migrants in two weeks of daily raids in northern and eastern areas of the Balkan country, as part of a nationwide…

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Albania to host no more than 3,000 migrants under deal with Italy

ROME, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Albania will hold no more than 3,000 migrants at any one time under a deal announced this week allowing Italy to build two migrant reception…

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Turkey’s Erdogan says post-war Gaza must be part of sovereign Palestinian state

By Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Gaza must be part of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state once the Israel-Hamas war is over, and…

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Erdogan says he will try to facilitate Sweden’s NATO bid ratification

ANKARA, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he would try to facilitate the parliamentary ratification of Sweden's NATO membership as much as possible, but added that Stockhom…

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Serbian police round up hundreds of migrants in north and southeast

BELGRADE, (Reuters) - Serbian police have rounded up a total of 738 migrants in several raids this week in northern and eastern areas of the Balkan country, part of a…

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UPDATED: Serbia’s Vucic dissolves parliament, sets snap vote for Dec 17

BELGRADE, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic dissolved parliament on Wednesday and called an early election on Dec. 17, aiming to cement his authority as he works out…

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Montenegro appoints predominantly pro-EU new government

PODGORICA, (Reuters) - After weeks of negotiations, Montenegro's parliament appointed a new government, a coalition of pro-European and pro-Serb parties expected to lead the small Balkan country in its bid…

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Von der Leyen says Kosovo must grant more autonomy to Serbs if it wants EU funds

U Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated on Monday (October 30) her demand for Kosovo to grant more autonomy to Serbs to have sanctions lifted by the bloc and access…

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Romania and Bulgaria report bird flu as Europe faces new wave of virus

Romania and Bulgaria have reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza among poultry, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said, as Europe faces a seasonal upturn in the deadly…

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France, Germany and Italy urge Serbia to ‘de facto’ recognise Kosovo

The leaders of France, Germany and Italy called on Serbia to "deliver on de-facto recognition" of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 but which Belgrade has continued to regard as…

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Erdogan steps up criticism of Israel and its Western backers

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in his strongest comments yet on the Gaza conflict, said on Wednesday the Palestinian militant group Hamas was not a terrorist organisation but…

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Turkey’s Erdogan submits Sweden’s NATO bid to parliament for ratification -presidency

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday submitted a bill approving Sweden's NATO membership bid to parliament for ratification, his office said, a move welcomed by Stockholm as it clears the…

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Albanian prosecutors charge former Prime Minister Sali Berisha in corruption probe

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albanian prosecutors have charged former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his son-in-law on corruption charges over a land deal involving the grounds of a sports club, investigators…

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Turkey in talks with Hamas on hostages

ANKARA, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Turkey is in talks with the Palestinian militant group Hamas to secure the release of hostages it seized in Israel and took to Gaza, but…

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Turkey’s Erdogan tells British PM Sunak: West needs to keep promises to Palestinians

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a call on Monday that Western countries should refrain from "provocative steps" regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Turkish presidency…

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Scholz, von der Leyen urge Western Balkans to overcome conflicts and ‘grab opportunity’

Germany and the European Union urged the Western Balkan countries on Monday (October 16) to “overcome” their conflicts and to “Grab the opportunity” to move closer towards the European Union.At the so…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Hatay, Turkey

A handout photo made available by artist Saype shows an aerial view taken with a drone of a giant biodegradable landart between damaged buildings in the earthquake-hit city of Hatay,Turkey.…

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Serb leader’s secession policy threatens Bosnia settlement, says peace envoy

The secessionist policy of Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik is a key challenge to the political settlement that ended Bosnia's 1992-1995 ethnic war, international peace envoy Christian Schmidt said in…

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Turkey says it ‘neutralised’ at least 14 Kurdish militants in northern Syria overnight

ANKARA, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Turkish forces have "neutralised" at least 14 Kurdish militants in northern Syria in overnight attacks on militant targets, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday, as…

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Turkish ship not damaged in Black Sea explosion – maritime authority

ISTANBUL, Oct 6 (Reuters) - A Turkish-flagged general cargo ship that was sailing on Thursday in the Black Sea en route to Ukraine's Izmail port did not sustain damage from…

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Kosovo leader calls on Spain to join EU countries in measures against Serbia

GRANADA, Spain, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Kosovo's president on Thursday said she hoped Spain would join other European countries in adopting measures against Serbia for what she described as a…

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After Ankara bombing, Turkey hits back in Iraq and at home

Turkey said it unleashed air strikes on militant targets in northern Iraq and detained suspects in Istanbul overnight, hours after Kurdish militants said they orchestrated the first bomb attack in…

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Kosovo says Serbia’s behaviour same as Russia’s before Ukraine invasion

BERLIN, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Serbia's troop deployment on Kosovo's border recalls Russia's behaviour towards Ukraine before its invasion, the Kosovar foreign minister said, urging the European Union to take…

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Turkey says “neutralised” many militants in north Iraq air strikes

By Daren Butler ISTANBUL, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Turkish air strikes in north Iraq late on Sunday "neutralised" many Kurdish militants and destroyed their depots and shelters, Turkey's defence ministry…

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UPDATED: Turkey says terrorists set off bomb at Ankara government building

ANKARA, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Turkey's government said on Sunday two terrorists carried out a bomb attack in front of the Interior Ministry buildings in Ankara, adding one of them…

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Kosovo demands Serbia withdraw troops from border

PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo demanded that Serbia withdraw its troops from their common border, saying it was ready to protect its territorial integrity. Tensions between the two countries have been…

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Kosovo’s president blames Serbia for shootout, says Kosovo ‘under attack’

By Fatos Bytyci PRISTINA, (Reuters) - Kosovo's president Vjosa Osmani has accused Serbia and its president Aleksandar Vucic of being behind a shootout between armed men and Kosovar police in…

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Kosovo so awash with fake euro coins they are accepted as payment

By Fatos Bytyci PRISTINA, (Reuters) - At a cafe in Kosovo's capital Pristina, staff have given up checking whether the 2-euro coins people use to pay are genuine, as such…

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EU, OSCE urge Bosnian Serb government to drop ‘foreign agents’ bill

SARAJEVO, (Reuters) - The European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) urged the Bosnian Serb government to drop a bill that labels non-profit groups funded…

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Turkey’s Erdogan says he doesn’t agree with others’ negative approach toward Putin

ANKARA, (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he does not agree with the negative approach other leaders are showing towards his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Turkish broadcasters quoted him…

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Bulgarian nationalists protest against NATO bases, want government out

By Stoyan Nenov SOFIA, (Reuters) - Bulgarian police on Thursday scuffled with supporters of the ultra-nationalist Vazrazhdane (Revival) party protesting against the policies of the pro-Western government, calling for the…

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Bulgaria sends team to inspect drone that landed in Black Sea resort

SOFIA, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Bulgaria's defence ministry said on Monday it had sent a special unit to inspect and deactivate a drone carrying explosives which landed on Sunday evening…

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Erdogan says Turkey could part ways with EU if necessary

ISTANBUL, (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara could "part ways" with the European Union if necessary when asked about the contents of a European Parliament report on…

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EU blames Kosovo over stalled normalisation pact with Serbia

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell blamed Kosovo this week for a failure to implement a deal with Serbia on normalising relations between the two former…

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Serbian police step up migration patrols on border with Hungary

SUBOTICA, Serbia, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Serbia has sent special forces to the border with Hungary as hundreds of migrants a day try to reach the European Union. With Serbia…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Sava River, Belgrade, Serbia

A woman cleans a river house on the Sava river in Belgrade, Serbia. Via EPA-EFE/ANDREJ CUKIC

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Turkey, EU to revive talks to modernise customs union

By Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - Officials from the European Union and Turkey will restart talks next week on modernising a customs union between the two sides, Turkish Foreign Minister…

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NATO commander says Kosovo still ‘highly volatile’ after May clashes

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Kosovo remains "highly volatile" even though the security situation has calmed since a major outburst of violence in May, the commander of NATO-led troops in the Balkan…

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Turkey’s Erdogan says Black Sea grain deal can be restored soon

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said after talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Monday that it would soon be possible to revive the grain deal that the United Nations says helped…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Istanbul, Turkey

An aerial view taken with a drone shows Guzelce aqueduct on the partially droughty Alibeykoy dam in Istanbul, Turkey. According to the Istanbul Municipality data, the occupancy rate of Istanbul's…

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Italian tourists flock to Albania in key boost for economy

By Fatos Bytyci and Florion Goga SARANDA, Albania (Reuters) - A waiter in an Albanian restaurant in the coastal resort town of Saranda apologised to newly arriving customers that little…

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Dardanelles shipping suspended as Turkey battles wildfire

Firefighters battled a forest fire in northwest Turkey for a second day on Wednesday, prompting mass evacuations and causing shipping to be suspended through the nearby Dardanelles Strait. More than 100 cargo vessels…

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Key Turkish opposition figure set to run again for Istanbul mayor

ISTANBUL, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key figure and possible future leader of Turkey's political opposition, said on Tuesday he is set to run again for…

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Germany ends Bosnian Serb projects over secessionist moves

The German government has shut down four infrastructure projects in Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic over the secessionist aims of its President Milorad Dodik, the German embassy in Bosnia said in…

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UK announces deal with Turkey to tackle flow of illegal migrants

Britain said it had struck a deal with Turkey in a bid to slow the flow of illegal immigrants passing through the Mediterranean country on their way to Europe, including…

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