Balkans

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) – The House of Representatives adopted the proposed constitutional amendments on Wednesday (March 25th) regarding the Brcko District’s status.

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) filed a no-confidence motion against the cabinet of the Federation of BiH (FBiH) on Wednesday (March 25th), citing the aggravated economic situation as a cause for the motion. Several smaller parties are expected to support the proposal. The Dnevni …

BUCHAREST, Romania – Police arrested four people on Wednesday (March 25th), including two Interior Ministry officials and a wealthy businessman, for alleged participation in shadowy real estate deals in 2000, anti-corruption prosecutors announced.

NEW YORK, United States – The UN Security Council on Wednesday (March 25th) unanimously approved the appointment of Austrian diplomat Valentin Inzko as the new high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

TIRANA, Albania – The opposition Socialist Party (SP) accused the government on Wednesday (March 25th) of failing to respect the EU’s advice about applying for candidate status.

PRISTINA, Kosovo – Lithuania wants to withdraw its small military component from Kosovo, local media reported on Wednesday (March 25th). Vilnius cites the stable security situation in the country and the strain of the global economic crisis.

BUCHAREST (Romania) – TWO government offices in Romania have come up with a novel way to cut expenses during the economic downturn: Turn off the elevator for most of the day. Cristian Roman, the government representative in the northern county of Botosani, has decreed that elevators at the prefect’s and …

Bulgaria’s parliament drastically reduced the number of prisoners to be pardoned under the amnesty act, which was approved at second reading on Thursday. The amnesty will apply to people, who were sent behind bars prior to July 1, 2008 on charges of criminal negligence. It will not be valid for …

“The demise of three east European governments in six weeks suggests the region faces instability at a time when strong governments are needed,” the Financial Times wrote, commenting on the political situation in Eastern Europe. It points out that Bulgaria may see turmoil, though on a less dramatic scale, with …

The US Ambassador to Bulgaria, Nancy McEldowney, has stated that corruption and organized crime are the most serious problems that Bulgaria faces. McEldowney said that during her visit to Washington last week she talked to the new US administration about the “very important” problem of the global economic crisis and …