The World Bank’s president, Robert Zoellick, has ordered a new investigation to find out who was responsible for attempts at a cover-up of a Bank misstep in 2006-07 that led to the demolition of a village in southern Albania. An internal inspection panel report of the International Development Association, IDA, …
Read More »Ex- Minister Charged Over Deadly Albania Blast
Ex-Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu and several former high officials of Albania’s Ministry of Defense were charged on Wednesday with abuse of power over the deadly blast at army depot outside Tirana last March. Apart from Mediu, the indicted included the former Chief-Staff of the Let. Gen. Luan Hoxha, Gen Shpetim …
Read More »Serbia Seeks New World Bank, EU Loans
Aside from its IMF stand-by loan, Serbia is trying to secure more funds from international institutions such as the World Bank and European Commission to help it cope with the global financial crisis and ensure economic stability, Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said on Wednesday. “Serbia currently has an aid …
Read More »Albania To Charge Officials For Depot Blast
Albanian’s former Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu and several former high officials of the Ministry of Defense are expected to be charged on Wednesday with abuse of power over the deadly blast at army depot outside Tirana last March, sources inside the prosecution told Balkan Insight. The blast at an army …
Read More »CEZ Interested in Kosovo Energy Market
Czech CEZ Group is interested in investing in three key energy sectors in Kosovo, and could even buy the troubled KEK distribution company, a senior company official said. CEZ could dominate the energy sector, starting with the buying of power plant “New Kosova”, the buying of KEK distribution, and investment …
Read More »Almost Half of Bosnians Face Famine
Worsening economic conditions, high prices and low salaries are pushing almost half of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the verge of famine, consumers’ associations warn. “The income of about 40 percent of the population is such that it is insufficient to cover even the costs of food,” Mesud Lakota, secretary general …
Read More »Crisis-Hit Serbia Will Need More Money – IMF
Belgrade will probably need a bigger International Monetary Fund loan than the 402.5 million euro foreseen by a deal it signed a month ago, and it will also need to make tough choices in tightening its fiscal policy, IMF deputy managing director Murilo Portugal said on Tuesday. Serbia sought the …
Read More »‘Singing Alexander’ Statue Planned In Macedonia
If a Macedonian mayor has her way, the landmark gracing Skopje’s main square would in a novel way bring together two men seen as among the nation’s greateast sons: Alexander the Great mounted on a horse, floating in a fountain to tunes of revered late pop star Tose Proeski The …
Read More »School Segregation Sparks Macedonia Debate
A recent decision by local authorities to separate ethnic Macedonian and ethnic Albanian high school students in different shifts has sparked a debate about the ethnic segregation of young people in a country where ethnic relations are generally calm, but still far from cordial. Earlier this month, Macedonian and Albanian …
Read More »Amnesty Seeks Probe On Kosovo Demo Deaths
Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has called on Kosovo’s judicial authorities to prosecute members of the Romanian police unit believed to be responsible for the death of two men during protests held in Pristina two years ago. “On the second anniversary of the unlawful killing of Mon Balaj and Arben …
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