Monthly Archives: June 2009

French warn against stigmatising Bulgaria, Romania

Just weeks before the European Commission is due to publish an assessment on Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the EU, the French Senate cautioned against “stigmatising” the EU’s most recent members and suggested fine-tuning the Union’s Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, set up to assist the two countries after their entry. …

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Brussels Still Cautious About Albania Poll

EU officials in Brussels admit Sunday’s crucial parliamentary elections in Albania demonstrated electoral progress, but warn that more needs to be done before the country can be said to have achieved full international standards. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has noted in a statement that “tangible progress has been made …

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Netherlands, Serbia To Discuss Trade

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen is scheduled to visit Serbia in July to discuss trade cooperation between the two countries, but the visit will not change the Netherland’s against Serbia’s Stabilization and Association Agreement, SAA. A Dutch Foreign Ministry statement said that Verhagen would discuss with his Serbian counterpart Vuk …

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EU: No Need For New Macedonia Ohrid Accord

There is no need for a new Ohrid peace accord as the existing one remains vital for the country’s stability, prosperity and EU-integration, the EU Ambassador to Macedonia Erwan Fouere said Monday in response to calls for the agreement’s revision. “It has been emphasized on several occasions that Macedonia’s road …

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Strategic Roadblocks Continue in North Kosovo

Serbian residents of northern Kosovo continued efforts to maintain a road block at administrative border crossing points with Serbia on Monday. The main cause of protest is aimed against introducing customs checkpoints at the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative crossings with central Serbia. Protesters announced to reporters of Serbia’s Tanjug news …

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US congressional delegation visits BiH

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) High Representative Valentin Inzko met with members of a US congressional delegation on Sunday (June 28th) to discuss the political situation in BiH. He called for a broader commitment by the international community to pressure authorities into meeting their obligations related to the Stabilisation and …

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Turkey plans to re-open Halki Seminary

ANKARA, Turkey Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay says Turkey plans to re-open the Greek Orthodox Seminary on the island of Heybeliada — Halki in Greek — off Istanbul, nearly four decades after it was shut down. He said on Sunday (June 28th) “The seminary does not currently fit into our university …

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Serbia’s Tadic urges calm over Vojvodina status

BELGRADE, Serbia President Boris Tadic called for calm Friday (June 26th) concerning a law on the special status of the Vojvodina region, which is predominately populated by ethnic Hungarians. The law was forwarded into parliamentary procedure by a pair of minority parties, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians and League of …

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