PRESS DIGEST- Western Balkans - Nov 6

Nov 6 (Reuters) - These are the highlights of the main stories carried by the Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian, Kosovo, Macedonian and Montenegrin press on Thursday. Please note that Reuters has not verified these reports, nor does it vouch for their accuracy.

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POLITIKA

- Belgrade needs an investment of 2.3 billion euros over the next ten years to develop its road infrastructure, including three new bridges and two tunnels, the city authorities said.

VECERNJE NOVOSTI

- A 150 workers at Le Belier (LBEL.PA) plant in Serbia's northern town of Kikinda are among the first to feel the impact of the global crisis in the country, as the European producer of aluminium parts for the car industry faces falling demand.

GLAS JAVNOSTI

- Serbia expects to sign a free trade agreement with Belarus by the end of the year, state secretary at the Economy Ministry Vesna Arsic said. White sugar, alcohol, cigarettes, second-hand cars and used tyres will not be included.

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DNEVNI AVAZ

- The Bosnian gas distributor "BH Gas" has requested a 29 percent gas price hike as of November.

NEZAVISNE NOVINE

- Bosnia's sole oil refinery Brod will not resume production until the central government extended approval for the sale of low-quality derivatives, general manager Aleksandar Litvinenko said.

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SHQIP

- Nine lawmakers representing smaller parties have threatened to go on a hunger strike unless the main ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition Socialist Party change the election code to take into acount their suggestions.

GAZETA SHQIPTARE

- The European Union said in its annual progress report that Albania had not fully implemented reforms. It also called for a serious investigation on a blast at a munitions dismantling plant that killed 26 people in March.

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DNEVNIK

- Macedonia's state power company ELEM has called a tender for the imports of 350 GWh of electricity in January-April 2009.

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KOHA DITORE

- The European Commission will conduct a feasibility study and seeks ways of establishing contractual relations with Kosovo. The non-recognition of Kosovo by some member states is a challenge, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said.

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VIJESTI

- Montenegro's draft 2009 budget envisages a 15 percent increase in spending to 1.6 billion euros. The government is expected to adopt the draft by the end of this week and send it to parliament for approval.