Podgorica

UEFA is expected to start disciplinary proceedings against Montenegro after Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier with Russia was abandoned amid battles on the pitch.

The Group G game in Podgorica was hit by trouble from the start after Russia's goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev, was struck on the head by a flare thrown from the stands and had to be taken to hospital.

A court in Montenegro on Wednesday found Novak Uskokovic, editor-in-chief of the tabloid newspaper Informer, guilty of "allowing the publication of offensive articles about the Albanians."

Uskokovic, who edits the Montenegrin editions of the Belgrade-based daily, was fined 3,000 euros - the minimum penalty for such offences. The maximum prescribed fine is 10,000 euros.

PODGORICA/BELGRADE - Montenegro and Serbia will prepare an agreement on joint efforts in other markets, according to what was agreed at a meeting between Montenegro's Minister of Economy Vladimir Kavaric and Serbia's Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic in Podgorica on Monday.

Police in Serbia and Montenegro will work together on serious crimes, including on recent murders and car bombs, Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said on Monday after meeting his Montenegrin counterpart, Rasko Konjevic, in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica.

New border crossings between Serbia and Montenegro discussed

PODGORICA -- Serbian and Montenegrin interior ministers on Monday "discussed opening new border crossings and better border control," Tanjug reported.

This is "a requirement of Chapter 24 of the accession talks with the EU."

The Montenegrin government plans to set aside about 370,000 euro to reconstruct the new Serbian embassy in Podgorica in line with an agreement between the countries last year.

Since 2006, the Serbian embassy has been using another building in Podgorica as a temporary solution.

France: Montenegro not yet ready to join NATO

PODGORICA -- The office of French President Francois Hollande has confirmed his view that Montenegro does not fulfill conditions for NATO membership.

This is also true of other candidate-countries, it was said in Paris.

Podgorica "expects NATO invitation" by end of year

PODGORICA -- Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic has said that his country was steadily moving toward the EU and NATO.

According to him, Montenegro will be invited to join the western military alliance "by the end of the year."

The US ambassador in Podgorica, Margaret Ann Uyehara, on Monday praised the efforts of Montenegro to curb violent extremists but urged MPs to speedily adopt amendments to the criminal code, penalising participation in foreign battles.

Russia can't veto Montenegrin membership - NATO chief

PODGORICA -- NATO "will not accept Russia's veto on Montenegro's membership in the alliance," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has been quoted as saying.

"Russia cannot deprive Montenegro of its right to become a member of NATO," he told the Italian Senat's Committee on Defense.