February, 2009

• 13 February

  Serb Doctors Leave Kosovo After Pay Cuts

  Serb health workers have started leaving Kosovo after Serbia decided to halve the so-called ‘Kosovo allowance’ part of their monthly pay, a controversial benefit amounting to a de facto double wage for those who worked in the civil service and recognised Belgrade, not Pristina as their capital. Belgrade has vowed …

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• 13 February

  Controversy Brews In Macedonia Mayor Race

  The case of Rufi Osmani, a popular ethnic Albanian former local leader who has been barred from running from mayor in the western town of Gostivar, has injected controversy into Macedonia’s local election next month. The local election commission found him unfit to run as an independent candidate on the …

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• 13 February

  Bosnia Federation To Sell Off Top Firms

  The Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim)-Croat federation will privatize parts of its 11 biggest public companies this year, including BH Telecom, Energoinvest and Hidrogradnja Sarajevo and Aluminijum Mostar, which are estimated to be worth at least 500 million euros, the government decided at its session on Thursday. The government has officially abandoned …

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• 13 February

  EU Says Serbia Needs SAA Before Candidacy

  The European Union will decide whether to accept Serbia’s application for candidate status based on its progress and efficiency in implementing the pre-membership agreement and trade deal, EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn said on Thursday. Rehn was in Belgrade to discuss the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, cooperation with the United …

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• 13 February

  Romania Unemployment 4.9 Pct In Jan

  Romania’s unemployment rate rose by half a percentage point in January to 4.9 percent compared to the previous month, the National Employment Agency, ANOFM, said on Thursday. In January 2008, the unemployment rate was 4.2 percent. The number of unemployed people in January stood at 444,907, while in January 2008 …

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• 13 February

  Imam Sex Abuse Trial Stirs Tensions in Bosnia

  The trial of an Imam (local Islamic priest) on charges of sexually abusing an underage girl in a Bosnian village has stirred up tensions between local media organizations and the country’s influential Islamic Community. The family of the girl pressed charges against the Imam last year, accusing him of sexually …

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• 13 February

  Romania may need funding aid in H2-cbank economist

  BUCHAREST,  – Romania may need external funding in the second half of this year, when a large part of short-term foreign debt falls due, central bank chief economist Valentin Lazea said on Thursday. Many economists have said the European Union state may be next in line to seek financial aid …

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• 13 February

  Romania Vows To Continue Justice Reforms Demanded By EU

  BUCHAREST -Romania’s Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu vowed Thursday to continue judicial reforms after the European Union warned Romania to step up the fight against corruption following a recent drop-off in efforts. “Our priority is still to promote and back the adoption by parliament of the ( civil and penal) codes,” …

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• 13 February

  EU Tells Romania To Step Up Fight Against Corruption

  BRUSSELS -The European Commission warned Romania Thursday to step up the fight against corruption and boost justice reforms after the government’s efforts to meet European Union standards tapered off recently. “It is important that the Romanian authorities regain momentum on judicial reform and the fight against corruption so as to …

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• 13 February

  Bulgaria Foreign Minister Visits Pretoria to Strike Legal and Business Accord

  The Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin is in Pretoria Friday to meet his South African counterpart, the Darik radio reports. The main topics on Kalfin’s agenda are collaboration in the justice sector and extradition of criminals, intensifying business relations and securing support for the nomination of …

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