"Nationalism complicates Balkans-EU relations"

The Balkans has made progress in democratic processes and on its EU path, U.S. NGO Freedom House has stated in its annual report. However, nationalism and pressure on the free media continue to jeopardize the reconciliation process, Freedom House added. "Nationalism complicates Balkans-EU relations" The report, which assesses political rights and civil liberties, placed Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro among the 87 free countries, whereas Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia are qualified as partly-free. Kosovo was also ranked partly-free. When it comes to Serbia, the report points out that the Serbian government finally completed its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal by extraditing the last two indictees Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. Freedom House noted that more than 50 percent of the people of Serbia did not agree with Mladic’s arrest, which, as they put it, could lead to strong protests. Despite the progress, the organization said that in much of the Balkans nationalism still continues to jeopardize regional reconciliation and complicate relations with the European Union. Freedom House pointed out that pressure was still exerted on the free media in the Balkans, especially in Macedonia, where an opposition-oriented TV station was closed, whereas the work of several newspapers has been endangered. Tanjug

"Nationalism complicates Balkans-EU relations"

The report, which assesses political rights and civil liberties, placed Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro among the 87 free countries, whereas Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia are qualified as partly-free. Kosovo was also ranked partly-free.

When it comes to Serbia, the report points out that the Serbian government finally completed its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal by extraditing the last two indictees Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić.

Freedom House noted that more than 50 percent of the people of Serbia did not agree with Mladić’s arrest, which, as they put it, could lead to strong protests.

Despite the progress, the organization said that in much of the Balkans nationalism still continues to jeopardize regional reconciliation and complicate relations with the European Union.

Freedom House pointed out that pressure was still exerted on the free media in the Balkans, especially in Macedonia, where an opposition-oriented TV station was closed, whereas the work of several newspapers has been endangered.