Filip Vujanovic News

Bulgarian President Parvanov greeted his Macedonian counterpart in person, and sent telegrams to the Presidents of Serbia and Montenegro, to congratulate them on the lifting of the EU visa regime for their countries.

Until lately, Kosovo had a decade of padding to quarantine itself from the rawness, violence and fear that clasped to the coattails of liberation in 1999, infecting the "provisional government" months that followed, carrying their bacillus of internecine murder of alleged collaborators and of LDK members -- a good two years into the new decade .

Sarajevo Five Balkan leaders pledged Friday in Sarajevoto foster economic cooperation between their countries and encourage further investment in infrastructure, voicing hope that this joint effort will help their countries overcome the global economic slowdown.

A chronology of key events: 15th-18th centuries - Montenegro retains substantial measure of autonomy from Ottoman Empire.

Montenegro emerged as a sovereign state after just over 55% of the population opted for independence in a May 2006 referendum.

President Filip Vujanovic of Montenegro and his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Parvanov review a Bulgarian army honor guard during an official welcoming ceremony for the former at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in BulgariaA's capital Sofia, yesterday.

Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov welcomes his Montenegrin counterpart Filip Vujanovic at the Energy Summit "Natural Gas for Europe-Security and Partnership" in Sofia on April 24 2009.

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov gave a formal welcome to Montenegro's President Filip Vujanovic in St Alexander Nevsky Square.

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is here on a four-day official visit to France, will deliver his keynote address at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation general conference tomorrow.

President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko congratulated President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic on the national holiday of Montenegro - the Day of Statehood.

Albanian president Bamir Topi is hosting a meeting on June 24 2009 with his counterparts from Montenegro, Macedonia and Kosovo to discuss issues including a proposal by Kosovo head of state Fatmir Sejdiu for a "mini-Schengen visa" for Balkans countries.

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov Tuesday will leave for Vlora in Albania to attend the informal meeting with his colleagues from Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro, Bamir Topi, Fatmir Sejdiu and Filip Vujanovic respectively.

Montenegro's prime minister Milo Djukanovic. Montenegro's parliament voted on June 10 2009 to confirm prime minister Milo Djukanovic's new government.

PROTEST: A Macedonian protests in front of parliament in Skopje in March 2009 after the legislature cancelled a debate on changing the country's name.

The EUa TMs External Relations Committee office in Pristina, RELEX Kosovo, vows support for freedom of speech as the campaign against journalist Jeta Xharra intensifies.

A summit of Balkan leaders in Montenegro will include the presidents of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia, Albania, and Bulgaria, but the president of Kosovo was not invited, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov had several bilateral meetings in Montenegrin resort Budva with his colleagues from the region on the eve of Thursday's SEE Summit in Cetinje, MIA's correspondent reported.