March, 2009

• 10 March

  Albania Seeks Jail for Ethnic Greek Mayor

  A prosecutor has sought a one year prison term and a 5 million lek (€38000) fine from an ethnic Greek mayor in Albania who was indicted after he ordered the dismantling of road signs because they were not bilingual, causing subsequent traffic chaos. Mayor Vasil Bollano from the town of …

  Read More »
• 10 March

  Macedonia Election Campaign Gains Momentum

  As political campaigning ahead of Macedonia’s March 22 presidential and municipal elections gains momentum, candidates focus on the ongoing name row with Greece and the state of the economy. Seven candidates are running for president, while over 380 candidates are vying for 83 municipal seats. 

  Read More »
• 10 March

  Think-Tank Warns Against Early Bosnia Pullout

  In its latest report, one of the leading international think-tanks, the International Crisis Group, ICG, has warned against the early departure of international political and military presence in Bosnia. “While Bosnia and Herzegovina’s time as an international protectorate is ending, which is in itself most welcome, now is the wrong …

  Read More »
• 10 March

  Czech PM Visits Macedonia

  Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, the current holder of the EU presidency, is due to arrive in Skopje this Tuesday for an official visit to Macedonia, where he will meet his counterpart Nikola Gruevski and President Branko Crvenkovski. The visit comes just weeks before the March 22 presidential and local …

  Read More »
• 10 March

  Palau is 56th State to Recognise Kosovo

  The small Pacific state of the Republic of Palau became the 56th country to recognise Kosovo as an independent state on Monday. The President of Palau Johanson Toribiong sent a letter to the newly independent Balkan state’s President, Fatmir Sejdiu, confirming the recognition of Kosovo. 

  Read More »
• 10 March

  Kosovo PM Invites Serbian President

  Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has invited Serbia’s President Boris Tadic to meet in Pristina to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two states. “You know that Belgrade wants handcuffs and keys for me every day,” he told media in the Serb-populated town of Cagllavica on Sunday, saying instead that he …

  Read More »
• 10 March

  War Crimes Case Endangers Bosnia-Serbia Ties

  Bosnia’s Minister of Security, Tarik Sadovic, has warned the Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, that “good neighborly relations” between the two countries could “be jeopardized” if Serbia insists on prosecuting 19 Bosnian officials charged for war crimes against the Yugoslav Army in 1992. “I have asked that Dacic, in his …

  Read More »
• 10 March

  Politician’s Son Suspect in Bulgaria Murder

  The son of a right-wing politician has been arrested on suspicions of killing a 21 year old woman in the Black Sea town of Varna. Georgi Tsvetanov is the only suspect for the murder of Radostina Evtimova, whose mutilated body was found with numerous stab wounds at a flat in …

  Read More »
• 10 March

  Pantomime Festival Brings Artists to Macedonia

  The second edition of the Macedonian pantomime and physical theatre festival Panphys opens today, bringing important artists from the region and the world to the capital Skopje. The festival, which will take place at the Macedonian National Theatre until March 14, opens tonight with Monologue with a Suitcase – a …

  Read More »
• 10 March

  Kosovo to Feel Global Recession

  Economists in Kosovo say that there has not been adequate analysis on the impact of the global economic slowdown on the country, asking government and other relevant actors to undertake necessary measures to prepare for the crisis which will inevitably hit the newly independent state, they say. 

  Read More »