March, 2009

• 10 March

  Romanian President Warns of Austerity

  Romania’s President Traian Basescu addressing parliament on Monday asked “for solidarity and austerity” as he sought to prepare the public for possible International Monetary Fund, IMF, aid in a bid to shore up his country’s faltering economy. “The country will have to pay now for the lack of structural reforms …

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• 9 March

  Protesters,Police Scuffle Outside Georgia Assembly

  Protest organisers said three or four people were lightly injured when police moved in to push back demonstrators. Dozens of anti-government protesters in Georgia briefly scuffled with police outside parliament in the capital Tbilisi on Monday and one person was detained. Protest organisers said three or four people were lightly …

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• 9 March

  Party Seeks Resignation From Slovenian President

  Representatives of the party `New Slovenia´ consider that Tuerk should condemn the crimes in Huda Jama, and SLS seeks his resignation. The Slovenian president Danilo Tuerk said on Sunday that he recognises the political manipulation in the calls that he visit the grave in the pit in Huda Jama, Slovenia. …

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• 9 March

  Kosovo`s Thaci Invites Serbia`s Tadic for Handshake

  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 …

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• 9 March

  Czech Republic To Reduce Kosovo Troops

  The Czech Republic has confirmed speculation that it will reduce the number of troops it has serving in Kosovo under NATO, while speculation over a possible reduction of German troops in the country continues. Speaking on Czech television, the Czech Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova said that her country will reduce …

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• 9 March

  Contentious Serbia Law to be Adopted End April

  Serbia’s interior minister Ivica Dacic said that a controversial draft law against discrimination – whose adoption is a requirement for the country to get onto the European Union’s so-called “Schengen white list” – will be adopted by parliament by the end of April. He told a B92 TV talk show …

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• 9 March

  Building Boom Amid Macedonia Electioneering

  The opposition Monday blamed Macedonia’s Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski for misusing his office after he announced the start of several infrastructure projects amid the current presidential and local election campaign. The opposition Social Democrats accused the conservative VMRO DPMNE party prime minister for “misuse of budget money for party promotion” …

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• 9 March

  Albania Writes-Off Debt of Power Utility

  The Albanian government annulled €60 million worth of debts and unpaid bills of the state-owned electricity distribution company, OSSH, on Friday. The decision has been slammed by the opposition as “stupid” and corrupt, because it will decrease by more then 50 per cent the real price of OSSH, which is …

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• 9 March

  Romanian Wages Rise, Despite Slowdown

  The average net salary in Romania rose 12.9 percent in the year to January, but declined slightly when compared to the month before, the National Statistics Board reported on Monday. January’s average salary was Lei 1,355 down by 0.9 percent from December, 2008. 

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• 9 March

  World Bank Approves €34.9 Million Serbia Loan

  The World Bank Board has approved a Programmatic Private and Financial Development Policy Loan for Serbia worth €34.9 million in order to help the country achieve its economic growth related goals consistent with its European Union aspirations. The loan will support the Government’s reforms by enhancing the business environment, encouraging …

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