Balkans

Serbia Debates Anti-Discrimination Law

Deputies in the Serbian Parliament last night adopted a controversial Anti-discrimination law and will consider amendments to the same law today. Deputies adopted the law around midnight, but without discussing all proposed amendments, after the time for the debate had expired. A total of 446 amendments were submitted to the …

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New EU Proposal for Croatia-Slovenia Dispute

The European Union’s Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, on Wednesday night presented Croatia and Slovenia with a new compromise proposal to resolve the border dispute between the two countries. The proposal would enable the continuation of Croatia’s accession negotiations with the European Union, a statement from Rehn’s spokeswoman, Krisztina Nagy, said.

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Russian Policemen Leave Kosovo

Kosovo’s Customs Service was regulated by the UN, until the end of 2008. Four hundred Russian policemen leave Kosovo after nine years of service under UNMIK. Russia has ended its “participation in the peaceful operation in Kosovo”, Russian UNMIK commander, Leonid Pogorelov, said today. 

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Brammertz Visiting Belgrade

Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz is due in Belgrade today to meet with officials responsible for Serbia’s cooperation with the court. President of the National Council for Hague Cooperation Rasim Ljajic cautioned against placing great expectations on what he said was a regular working visit. He said Brammertz would …

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Croatian PM Meets NATO Parliament Members

NATO parliamentarians express satisfaction that Croatia will soon become a member of NATO. Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader hosted a delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, headed by Assen Agov, president of the sub-committee for transatlantic relations and vice-president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO-PA). The members of the NATO-PA …

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Western Powers Debate Bosnia’s Future

Representatives from the EU, the US, and Russia among others are meeting in Sarajevo, where they are expected to debate the international community’s future role in Bosnia and Herzegovina and confirm the country’s new top international envoy. The conference of the Peace Implementation Council started in the Bosnian capital on …

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Croatian Unions Threaten Lawsuits

Public service unions are likely to file a lawsuit challenging a decision by the Croatian government to adopt a law that will reduce the base salary for 180,000 public service employees by six percent. Instead of cancelling collective contracts with employees, the cabinet has decided to introduce a law that …

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Bank of Albania Alarmed Over Govt Expenditure

Albania’s central bank warned the government on Wednesday against increasing budget expenditure, as this could put the macroeconomic stability of the country at risk. The central bank called for a tighter fiscal policy saying the government has no room to offer further fiscal stimulus. “This is the maximum that the …

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IMF Conditions New Serbia Loan

The chief of the International Monetary Fund’s mission in Serbia Albert Jagger confirmed today at a press conference that the IMF will approve the loan arrangement with Serbia, but said the Serbian goverment must fulfill some conditions first. “These conditions are: rebalancing the budget, changes in tax regulations, and getting …

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Montenegrins Protest Over Factory Closure

About 2,000 workers in Montenegro protested Wednesday over the possible closure of a factory owned by embattled Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska, the Associated Press reported. The workers at aluminum maker KAP, the biggest Montenegrin exporter, defied a police ban and gathered in front of government headquarters to put pressure on …

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