August, 2009

• 4 August

  NATO Could Withdraw from Kosovo in Four Years

  The new head of NATO has said that its Kosovo force could be completely withdrawn within four years. Anders Rasmussen, NATO’s new secretary general, said he wanted to see Kosovo Force, KFOR, “reduced to just a small reaction force, or out altogether” within his four-year term.

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• 3 August

  Russia Casts Shadow Over Aspiring Abkhaz State

  The four-wheel drive sweeps past the group of Russian tourists climbing to the ruins of the Anakopia fortress overlooking what Abkhazia says was once the capital of its ancient kingdom. Alkhas Argun steps out to inspect his work, restoring the pale stone walls of the fortress, a symbol of the …

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• 3 August

  Serbia: Ethnic Albanians Seek “Presevo Valley Region”

  Ethnic Albanian officials in southern Serbia have launched a new initiative for the formation of a separate region in the Presevo Valley with its own institutions and organs. The proposal was raised in the assembly of the Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac municipalities and envisages the creation of an ethnic Albanian-led …

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• 3 August

  Bosnia: Foreign Judges, OHR “Not Wanted”

  The ruling party in Bosnia’s Republika Srpska entity has called for foreign judges and prosecutors to be removed from the country’s judicial system and for the closure of the Office of the High Representative, OHR. In a Sunday press statement, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, SNSD, alleged that Bosnia’s …

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• 3 August

  EU urges Moldova to make ‘speedy’ coalition

  BRUSSELS The EU has joined the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in praising the conduct of Moldova’s elections, while calling for a quick coalition deal. “I welcome the conduct of the repeated parliamentary elections …the electorate has given its verdict,” EU foreign relations chief Javier Solana said.

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• 3 August

  Bulgaria may adopt the euro in 2012-13-fin min

  SOFIA Bulgaria may adopt the euro in the last year of the new government’s mandate which expires in 2013, Finance Minister Simeon Djankov said in an interview to 24 Chasa daily, published on Monday. 

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• 3 August

  Balkan Opinions Reflect EU “Enlargement Fatigue”

  Internal problems within the EU and enlargement fatigue are having an effect on opinions in Balkan countries, a survey shows. The survey, conducted by the Gallup Balkan Monitor, shows that EU membership remains a high priority for most Balkan residents. Yet, in most countries respondents feel that the EU welcome …

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July, 2009

• 31 July

  Moldovan communists win election but lose majority in parliament

  Moldova’s Communist Party took lead in the snap parliamentary elections on Wednesday, but lost the majority it held for eight years in Parliament to a group of pro-western opposition parties, showed the final preliminary results announced on Friday by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC). According to CEC President Eugen Stirbu, …

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• 31 July

  Gay marriages, Muslim Community Responds: Violations of morality

  TIRANA, Albania The Muslim community has expressed today against homosexual marriages, while the bill is drafted to a serious breach of morality, which conflict with the Albanian traditions. Law drafters for the people, stated that article made marriage for men asked Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who gave the ‘bomb’ news …

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• 31 July

  Bosnia: IMF garage sale

  Bosnia’s Federation government starts auctioning off luxury cars in a meager attempt to meet IMF savings demands. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 8 July approved a previously halted €1.2 billion stand-by arrangement ($1.7 billion) with Bosnia and Herzegovina, designed to ease the effects of the global financial crisis, but …

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