Balkans

The South Stream pipeline project is a complex technical endeavor which entails a wide array of factors, including that of environmental protection. The present assessment concerning South Stream’s environmental impact reveals opposing views from multiple actors vying for answers, concessions and influence alike. Furthermore, the South Stream project in terms …

SOFIA Outgoing U.S. ambassador Nancy McEldowney has committed to the continuation of the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the U.S. At a ceremony in Bulgarian Defense Ministry she was awarded an honorary plaque Saint Georgi, first class.

SOFIA Bulgaria’s President Georgi Parvanov has conferred high state honors – Stara Planina order, first class – on Serbian and Dutch ambassadors in Bulgaria Danilo Vucetic and Willem van Ee for their contribution to the development of bilateral relations.

PRISTINA, Kosovo/BELGRADE, Serbia Kosovo submitted a second written statement on the legality of its independence declaration to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday (July 17th), Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni said. He told reporters the documentation includes facts and arguments to counter claims that the move was in breach …

BELGRADE, Serbia The Hague war crimes tribunal (ICTY) is ready to co-operate with Serbian courts in handling war crimes trials, ICTY President Patrick Robinson said on Friday (July 17th) at the end of a two-day visit to Belgrade. He said the ICTY will seriously consider a proposal envisioning Serbian citizens …

SOFIA, Bulgaria The centre-right Blue Coalition and the conservative Order, Law, Justice Party (RZS) refused on Friday (July 17th) to sign a memorandum to support the minority government formed by the Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB). Blue Coalition leaders said the party won’t join the proposed political …

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Prime Minister Nikola Spiric decided on Friday (July 17th) to dismiss Security Minister Tarik Sadovic, the government announced. Earlier this week, Bosniak Party of Democratic Action (SDA) asked for Sadovic’s replacement after he refused to step down. The party sought the minister’s removal due to …

ATHENS, Greece A small anarchist group, calling itself Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei, claimed responsibility on Friday (July 17th) for a bomb attack targeting former Deputy Interior Minister Panagiotis Hinofotis, media reported. A small homemade bomb exploded on July 11th outside Hinofotis’ home in the Athens district of Paleo Faliro. The …

There is no need to make urgent and hasty decisions although Macedonia will probably have to make one more budget cut by year’s end, the new finance minister said Sunday. “Our preliminary analyses indicate that there will be a need for a re-balance in the third quarter of 2009. However, …

As the European Commission moves to adopt visa liberalization for the Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia, leaving out Albania and Bosnia, it is fair enough to criticize the EU for major political blunders and possibly Muslim ghettoization, but in the end, the Bosnian government should be severely taken to task for …