BiH Three senior international envoys have strongly condemned Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik for accusing Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) of staging civilian massacres. “Any attempt to change the established historical record of war crimes is unacceptable and inexcusable,” High Representative Valentin Inzko, the head of the Council of Europe in Bosnia …
Read More »President Urges Unity Ahead of Key Vote
ROMANIA Late on Tuesday, the Romanian government called for a confidence vote on three key laws. mandating major budget and public sector employment cuts. Shortly thereafter, President Traian Basescu addressed the house, urging the current centre-left coalition to maintain its unity, saying it represents a “necessary political compromise”.
Read More »Mihai Ghimpu: We have an alternative, if head of state is not elected
MOLDOVA Speaker Mihai Ghimpu, who is also the caretaker head of state, said that they can use certain alternatives in case the Communists Party refuses to vote for the candidate for the presidency proposed by the Alliance for European Integration (AEI). “The president will be elected constitutionally. We count on …
Read More »Vladimir Voronin spared Government from responsibility, expert
MOLDOVA The fact that Vladimir Voronin discharged four ministers just before tendering his resignation gives the impression that the Greceanyi Government II hides something, considers political analyst Igor Munteanu, the director of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative (IDIS) “Viitorul”. “The dismissal of the ministers by presidential decree is …
Read More »Serbia marks International Day of Democracy
SERBIA Serbia is a democratic country, but democracy is not sufficiently developed, reads a message from parliament to mark the International Day of Democracy. The message states that Serbia celebrates the International Day of Democracy as a free, democratic and secular state. The Serbian parliament’s website states that democracy in …
Read More »ICJ deadline set to expire
KOSOVO The deadline for expires today for countries wishing to take part in the case on Kosovo’s independence at the International Court of Justice. The public debate, which begins on December 1, will be open to all UN member-states, regardless of whether or not they have previously submitted written testimony. …
Read More »Captain Dragan “doesn’t hate Croats”
CROATIA Dragan Vasiljković says that he does not hate Croats, and that Croatia is not a fascist state, though there are fascist elements in its government. “20 years ago I adopted two Croat girls. Today they are happily married, but they still call me ‘dad’. In Belgrade I would take …
Read More »History of PKK in Turkey
TURKEY After Turkey’s 1980 military coup, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, gained strength in the Southeast, and four years later, the group began its armed attacks. Now, more than 20 years later, the residents of villages in the region still live in fear and wonder what their lives were …
Read More »Putin: “Turkey could replace Ukraine in transporting gas to Europe”
RUSSIA Turkey could replace Ukraine as the main energy transport corridor for Russian natural gas to Europe, according to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. During a gathering late last week with academics, experts and reporters at the Valdai International Discussion Club, a group which meets annually to discuss Russia’s position …
Read More »Bulgarian Government fleshes out long-term stimulus plan
BULGARIA The Bulgarian Government will vote on September 16 on a long-term set of measures to lift the economy out of the doldrums, said prime minister Boyko Borissov. The proposal will be debated by employers’ groups and trade unions within the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation on September 15. The …
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