Eurasia Press & News
Macedonia has removed defamation and libel from the penal code – but some media unions and other critics say big fines will still intimidate reporters.The 53 MPs of the ruling VMRO DPMNE-led coalition voted in favour of the Law on Defamation and Libel on Monday. Twenty of the 123 deputies …
Read More »Romania Parties Entice Voters With Lavish Pledges
All the main parties competing in the December election are issuing impressive-sounding promises about jobs and taxes – which experts say will be hard to deliver.New jobs, an increase in the minimum monthly wage and cutting corporate and personal income taxes are among the electoral promises that the main parties …
Read More »Haradinaj Verdict Due November 29
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, will deliver its verdict in the case against the former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, Ramush Haradinaj on November 29.Haradinaj, Lahi Brahimaj and Idriz Balaj are accused of being a part of a joint criminal enterprise and crimes against …
Read More »Foreign Ministers Mull EU Enlargement
The foreign ministers of Greece, Romania and Bulgaria are meeting in Sofia to discuss European Union enlargement in the Western Balkans and border security.Dimitris Avramopoulos from Greece, Romania’s Titus Corlatean and Nikolay Mladenov from Bulgaria will focus on aligning their positions on the EU integration of the other Balkan countries.
Read More »Montenegro Opposition Reaches Deal in Niksic
Montenegro’s opposition party managed to convince its partners to respect the state symbols, but its success in making them condemn the war crimes committed in former Yugoslavia was partial.Almost a month after the October 14 elections Montenegro’s second largest town, Niksic, has the new local government. The opposition parties, Positive …
Read More »Josipovic: Civilian Victims Deserve Respect
Civilian victims of war are amongst “the most vulnerable groups in a society” and “deserve respect”, the Croatian president, Ivo Josipovic, said on Friday.Speaking at the conference “Civilian victims of war in Croatia”, organised by the NGO Documenta, Josipovic said that “civilian victims deserve respect from a society, and if …
Read More »Macedonian Budget Draws Opposition Fire
The opposition has accused the Macedonian government of unjustified spending and driving the country into debt with its controversial draft budget.“The budget again envisages spending of money on non-crucial projects,” said Vanco Uzunov, head of the Opposition Social Democrats’ economic board, citing the Skopje 2014 revamp of the capital.
Read More »EU Earmarks €81 million for Albania Reforms
EU Commissioner Stefan Fule announced Monday that Albania will receive 81 million euro to assist with issues including judicial reform and the fight against organised crime.The money will help build the new courthouse in Tirana, restructure two border crossing points and improve the Albanian State Police. It will also help …
Read More »Macedonia MP Threatens to Torch Parliament
An ethnic Albanian legislator threatened to torch the assembly if all other attempts fail to stop the passage of a controversial army bill that has angered Albanians.Speaking at Thursday’s session dedicated to the draft law, Zijadin Sela, from the opposition Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, said he and others would …
Read More »Djukanovic In Line to Run Montenegro Again
Milo Djukanovic is the ruling party’s candidate as prime minister-designate, Svetozar Marovic, a party official, said on Friday, making his return to high office all but certain.Montenegro’s long-time leader and chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, which has held power since the early the Nineties, is slated …
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