Balkans

Belgrade – The global crisis will hit Serbia in 2009 and the impact will result in a significant drop to the gross domestic product, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic claims.

Skopje – The Macedonian Association of Former Political Prisoners from the ex-Yugoslav era, have extended their demand for full rehabilitation and compensation from the state.

Sarajevo – Tensions within the ruling Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) coalition hit a new low as leaders exchanged accusations in a bid to hold on to key sectors and future investment.

Belgrade – By the end of the year, Serbia’s government will invite bids to complete the development of key thermoelectric plants, the country’s Mining and Energy Minister Petar Skundric says.

Sarajevo – Milorad Dodik, the Premier of Bosnia’s Serb-dominated entity has received rare praise from Sarajevo media, after signing a cooperation deal with US giant, General Electric.

Pristina – Kosovo has begun registering people and recording their financial statistics in a pilot scheme in five cities in preparation for a complete census.

Skopje – The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Stuart E. Jones, is visiting Macedonia and is to hold meetings with President Branko Crvenkovski and Premier Nikola Gruevski.

Pristina – Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has congratulated senior Albanian leaders for their progress in joining NATO after the United States signed a key protocol.

Pristina – The former UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari sees Kosovo as an example of ‘preventative diplomacy’ and a warning to all dictators who mistreat their people.

Sarajevo – Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) member of the tripartite presidency, Haris Silajdzic, and party associate, Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj are “not welcome any more” in senior UN and EC circles.