Eurasia Press & News
Two moderately-strong earthquakes, just over 12 hours apart, have shaken Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The tremors caused widespread alarm but did little damage. The first tremor, at 15.27 on Monday, registered at 3.3 on the Richter scale and 5 on the Mercalli scale. The epicentre was some …
Read More »Balkans Feel Chill of World Recession
As the World Bank issues its latest report which forecasts the first global recession since World War II, the chill winds of economic slowdown are increasingly being felt in the Balkans. The current unprecedented economic downturn has forced the World Bank to adjust its estimates and warn that the recession …
Read More »Europe Eyes Balkan Energy Potentials
The member states and institutions of the European Union are keeping a close eye on the rich energy potential of the Balkan countries, Western officials have said, urging local leaders to undertake necessary reforms and unlock this sector for potential investments. This message was delivered by several senior EU officials …
Read More »Slovenia ratifies Croatia’s NATO accession protocol
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – Slovenian President Danilo Turk and Parliament Speaker Pavel Gantar signed on Friday (March 27th) the protocol for Croatia’s NATO accession, thus allowing the country to join the alliance at its April summit. Slovenia was the last of the 26 NATO members to ratify the protocol. The move …
Read More »EU ministers pledge support for Balkan countries’ integration
PRAGUE, the Czech Republic — EU foreign ministers reaffirmed on Saturday (March 28th) the EU’s commitment to the Balkan countries’ integration process. The Balkans remain on track for joining the EU despite the economic downturn in Europe, the ministers said.
Read More »Inzko assumes high representative post in BiH
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) – Austrian diplomat Valentin Inzko assumed the post of high representative in BiH on Thursday (March 26th), thus becoming the seventh since 1996. Inzko replaced Miroslav Lajcak, who left to become foreign minister of Slovakia. The new high representative said he will follow the priorities …
Read More »Brammertz discusses Serbia’s co-operation with ICTY in Belgrade talks
BELGRADE Serbia – Hague war crimes tribunal (ICTY) Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz expressed his satisfaction with Serbia’s efforts to co-operate fully with the ICTY during his talks on Friday (March 27th) with War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic. The meeting between Brammertz and Vukcevic was “extremely successful and efficient”, said Bruno …
Read More »EC envoy says Serbia unlikely to start accession talks this year
BELGRADE, Serbia – It is unlikely that Serbia can start EU accession talks this year, the head of the European Commission (EC) Delegation to Belgrade, Josep Lloveras, said on Friday (March 27th). Overall, the process required to start those talks could last around 10-12 months, so it is practically impossible …
Read More »Policeman injured in street riots in Greece
ATHENS, Greece – Groups of anarchist youths clashed with police during street riots in Athens and the second largest city, Thessaloniki, early on Saturday (March 28th). Hooded youths attacked department stores in Thessaloniki to protest against the arrest of two of their associates. The group also set fire to a …
Read More »Montenegrins Vote in General Election
Voting kicked off slowly in the early hours of Montenegro’s snap parliamentary elections, the CDT polling agency says as Montenegrins vote for a government to take them towards the EU and counter effects of the global crisis. Some 7 per cent of roughly 500,000 registered voters had cast their ballots …
Read More »