March, 2009

• 31 March

  Romania Probes Fake Diploma Scam

  Romanian police have started an investigation in seven universities across the country, seizing graduation files that are suspected to have been forged, local press report. According to police officers, the graduation documents were compiled in several weeks, covering subjects such as economy, oil and gas engineering. Some universities now under …

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• 31 March

  Sarajevo Rocked by Two Earthquakes

  Two moderately-strong earthquakes, just over 12 hours apart, have shaken Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The tremors caused widespread alarm but did little damage. The first tremor, at 15.27 on Monday, registered at 3.3 on the Richter scale and 5 on the Mercalli scale. The epicentre was some …

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• 31 March

  Balkans Feel Chill of World Recession

  As the World Bank issues its latest report which forecasts the first global recession since World War II, the chill winds of economic slowdown are increasingly being felt in the Balkans. The current unprecedented economic downturn has forced the World Bank to adjust its estimates and warn that the recession …

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• 31 March

  Europe Eyes Balkan Energy Potentials

  The member states and institutions of the European Union are keeping a close eye on the rich energy potential of the Balkan countries, Western officials have said, urging local leaders to undertake necessary reforms and unlock this sector for potential investments. This message was delivered by several senior EU officials …

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• 30 March

  Slovenia ratifies Croatia’s NATO accession protocol

  LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – Slovenian President Danilo Turk and Parliament Speaker Pavel Gantar signed on Friday (March 27th) the protocol for Croatia’s NATO accession, thus allowing the country to join the alliance at its April summit. Slovenia was the last of the 26 NATO members to ratify the protocol. The move …

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• 30 March

  Turkish opposition leader killed in helicopter crash

  ANKARA, Turkey – Six people, including opposition Great Union Party (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu, died in a helicopter crash in the southern province of Kahramanmaras, Interior Minister Besir Atalay said on Friday (March 27th). Yazicioglu’s helicopter crashed Wednesday in bad weather. Searchers took two days to find the wreckage and …

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• 30 March

  EU ministers pledge support for Balkan countries’ integration

  PRAGUE, the Czech Republic — EU foreign ministers reaffirmed on Saturday (March 28th) the EU’s commitment to the Balkan countries’ integration process. The Balkans remain on track for joining the EU despite the economic downturn in Europe, the ministers said.

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• 30 March

  Interpol says war crimes suspect held in Kenya not Ratko Mladic

  PARIS, France/NAIROBI, Kenya – Interpol said on Friday (March 27th) that a man arrested in Kenya on suspicion of war crimes in former Yugoslavia did not have the fingerprints of former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic. Police in Kenya released the detainee on Friday, saying he was a Croatian national …

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• 30 March

  Inzko assumes high representative post in BiH

  SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) – Austrian diplomat Valentin Inzko assumed the post of high representative in BiH on Thursday (March 26th), thus becoming the seventh since 1996. Inzko replaced Miroslav Lajcak, who left to become foreign minister of Slovakia. The new high representative said he will follow the priorities …

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• 30 March

  Brammertz discusses Serbia’s co-operation with ICTY in Belgrade talks

  BELGRADE Serbia – Hague war crimes tribunal (ICTY) Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz expressed his satisfaction with Serbia’s efforts to co-operate fully with the ICTY during his talks on Friday (March 27th) with War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic. The meeting between Brammertz and Vukcevic was “extremely successful and efficient”, said Bruno …

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