Balkan News

Prosecutors want Karadzic charges reduced

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands Judges at the UN war crimes tribunal asked prosecutors handling the case against former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to reduce the number of charges against him, in order to accelerate proceedings, Dutch media reported on Thursday (July 23rd). Currently, there are 11 charges of genocide, …

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BiH officials react to video of Bosniak general

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Chief Prosecutor Milorad Barasin confirmed on Thursday (July 23rd) that an investigation is under way against General Atif Dudakovic following a video that surfaced this week purportedly showing Dudakovic ordering his Muslim troops to shoot and kill two captured Serb soldiers 1994. Republika Srpska (RS) …

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Greece’s ruling party office fire-bombed

ATHENS, Greece Unknown attackers lobbed homemade explosives at an office of the ruling New Democracy party in Thessaloniki on Thursday (July 23rd), causing a fire and subsequent property damage. A short time later, a car belonging to the Cypriot consulate in Thessaloniki was seriously damaged in a similar attack. Earlier …

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Albania Freezes Investment Due to Crises

Albania’s Council of Ministers decided on Wednesday to freeze all investments, from August 3, due to weakening revenue streams and higher expenditures in the run-up to the recent national elections. With the June 28 parliamentary polls behind them, experts say Albania’s politicians must initiate a candid debate on the local …

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Obama nominates new ambassador to Bulgaria – report

US president Barack Obama is to name Marc S Ellenbogen, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, as ambassador in Sofia to replace Nancy McEldowney, a Bulgarian media report said on July 24 2009. Ellenbogen (47) chairs the board of directors of the Global Panel Foundation, Standart said.The paper quoted diplomatic sources. There …

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Sick Rehn Cancels Bosnia Meetings

Due to sudden health problems, EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn has canceled his scheduled meetings in Sarajevo on Friday, EU officials confirm. During his three-day tour of the Balkans, Rehn visited Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia. He arrived in Sarajevo on Thursday evening and was supposed to meet Bosnian officials and …

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Macedonia Seeks EU Reforms Consensus

Facing a tight EU reform schedule, Macedonia’s prime minister will seek consensus on speeding the neccessary changes in a meeting with political party leaders on Friday. Hoping to promote the rapid passage of related legislation, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has summoned the head of the opposition, Social Democrat’s leader Branko …

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Serb Gendarmerie Arrests Kosovars

Three Albanian Kosovars have been arrested by Serbian gendarmerie near the border with Serbia on Wednesday for allegedly crossing the border illegally, Kosovo police confirm. Sabri, Nexhip and Riad Dema were farming their land in the municipality of Pudojevo on Wednesday evening when they were arrested, their family told daily …

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Croatia Rejects NATO’s Toxic Training Center

The Croatian Defence Ministry has turned down a NATO proposal for the construction of a centre for training against terrorist attacks with biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, the Jutarnji list daily reports. If the proposal had been accepted, thie facility would have been the largest training ground in Europe with …

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Rehn reaffirms EU prospects of Serbia, Montenegro

BELGRADE, Serbia EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn reassured Serbian officials on Wednesday (July 22nd) that the European Commission (EC) is committed to bringing Serbia into the EU, once the country meets its obligations to the UN war crimes tribunal. After a meeting with President Boris Tadic, Rehn added that Serbia …

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