Balkans

Amid Rather Grim Economic Outlook, Serbia Adopts 2011 Budget

Serbian parliament has adopted its budget for this 2011 targeting a deficit of 4.1% of gross domestic product, in line with the country’s €3 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The budget, approved by a slim majority of deputies, foresees revenues at nearly €7 billion and spending at …

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Bosnia Diminishes UNSC Presidency by Sending Low-Ranking Official to Chair Topic Session

The decision of the tripartite Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina to have its UN ambassador chair an upcoming topic session of the UN Security Council is perhaps inappropriate, but not unexpected. Traditionally, these topic sessions are led by a country’s foreign minister (or an official of a similar ranking), and the Bosnian …

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Cypriot leaders to discuss reunification again at the end of January

Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu will meet with UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban for further talks at the end of January in Geneva, where he is expected to amplify the message that progress must be forthcoming. In a report to the Security Council last month …

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Nabucco discussions are taking place in Turkey

Public discussions on the Nabucco project are taking place in Turkish cities the pipeline is envisaged to pass through. The list of cities includes Ardahan, Kars, Erzurum, Gümüşhane, Sivas, Yozgat, Kırşehir, Kırıkkale. It is expected the final round of the discussions to take place in Ankara.

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Greece is determined to create fence along Turkish border

The government reiterated two days ago its intention to build a fence along the country’s border with Turkey to stop the crossing of illegal migrants. This statement received criticism from European officials, who advised Greece to reform its asylum system instead. The Greek government rejected the advice. “‘It is duplicitous …

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Albania has been denied candidate status because of political stalemate

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele is confirming that Albania has been denied candidate status because of its longstanding political stalemate. “It is one of the main political criteria, the Copenhagen Criteria, which is linked with the political stalemate that affects the functioning of democratic institutions, such as the parliament,” Fuele …

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