Paddy Ashdown

Paddy Ashdown, one of the most notable High Representatives of the international community to Bosnia, has died in the UK aged 77 following a recent diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Three former High Represenatives to Bosnia, Carl Bildt, Paddy Ashdown, and Christian Schwarz-Schilling, expressed their concern in an open letter to EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini on Thursday over Croatian attempts to dispute the legitimacy of the election of Zeljko Komsic as the Bosnian Croat member of the state's tripartite presidency.

Carl Bildt, Paddy Ashdown, and Christian Schwarz-Schilling on a Wednesday in an open letter expressed deep concern about suggestions made by EU officials that they may be willing to support an agreement between Presidents of Serbia and Kosovo, Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Thaci, that involves the transfer of territory between Serbia and Kosovo through "border corrections".

Ukraine crisis spurs Balkan countries to co-operate

Regional countries sign agreements and plan joint projects to improve security and mutual trust.

Albania Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati and his Croatia counterpart Vesna Pusic sign a European Partnership agreement in Zagreb on March 21st. [Albania Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Paddy Ashdown, the former High Representative of the international community to Bosnia and Herzegovina until 2006, said the country was at a crossroads, and both Washington and Brussels had to act urgently to prevent further deterioration.