ZAGREB (AFP) – NATO candidates Croatia, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) vowed in a statement yesterday to pursue reforms needed to join the Atlantic alliance, on the eve of a key meeting in Brussels today on the subject. The three Balkan states “will continue to work actively on preparation for membership (over) the next days and weeks,” foreign ministers for the three wrote in a joint statement of which AFP obtained a copy. “After the membership has become a fact, every one of them will continue these reforms that require more time with doubled efforts,” added the communique, which was also signed by NATO member Bulgaria.

LJUBLJANA (AFP) – Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa warned his Croatian counterpart yesterday over a controversial land sale in a border town on the Adriatic coast. Jansa told a press conference that he had phoned Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader to protest the sale by the authorities of the Croatian town of Buje, near the Slovenian border, of land that Ljubljana says belongs to Slovenia. “The situation is serious,” Jansa said. “That land is Slovenian. The disposing of that land by those who do not have the authority, has no legal value,” he said, recalling his conversation with Sanader. “We wish Croatia was aware that it is currently at an historic junction in which it should close negotiations with the European Union,” Jansa said, adding that unilateral moves will not help Zagreb get the friends it needs to conclude EU accession talks.

Kosovo’s police force called yesterday on the Serb officers in its ranks to return to duty after they quit and were suspended following Kosovo’s independence declaration. “Our suspended colleagues are members of the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) and we, as an organization, need them. The people of Kosovo need them,” police spokesman Veton Elshani told reporters in Pristina. Last week, Serb police serving in the KPS staged a mass walkout, refusing to serve under the Pristina government instead of under the UN mission in Kosovo. The KPS reacted by suspending around 300 Serb officers and civil members of the force who operate in Serb-populated areas of Kosovo. Yesterday, Elshani said KPS members and UN police had replaced the suspended Serb officers. (AFP)

Bulgaria observed a national day of mourning yesterday for nine people killed when a fire swept through a train’s sleeping compartment last week. Public celebrations were canceled and Bulgarian flags flew at half staff on public buildings. (AP)