January, 2009

• 24 January

  Diviziile lui Grigore Vieru

  „Papa? Câte divizii de blindate are Papa?” (replica lui Stalin către Papa Pius al XII-lea) Dan Dungaciu d.dungaciu@gmail.com Dincolo de atmosfera tragic-înălţătoare a funeraliilor marelui spirit care a fost şi rămâne Grigore Vieru, procesiunea ne-a mai arătat ceva. Zecile de mii de oameni din stradă, simbolurile care au flancat evenimentul …

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• 22 January

  Albania Election “A Test for EU Bid”

  The EU delegation head in Tirana, Helmut Lohan, said that the upcoming June 28 general election will be considered by Brussels as a litmus test for Albania’s bid to join the union. Albania has yet to hold elections that meet international standards, with all six general elections since the collapse …

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• 22 January

  Albania Adressing Police Brutality, More Needed

  A report released on Wednesday by the Council of Europe lauds Albania’s improvements of pre-trial detention conditions and detainee treatment, but says the government still needs to redouble its efforts. “Improvements in various areas, in particular, in contrast to the findings made during previous visits, nevertheless, a number of credible …

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• 22 January

  Watchdog Worried About Kosovo Press Freedom

  A Vienna-based media watchdog said it was “deeply concerned” about the current media environment in Kosovo, and cited a string of recent brutal attacks on journalists. The South East Europe Media Organization, SEEMO, said it had been monitoring attacks on journalists, which brought into question press freedom in the newly-independent …

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• 22 January

  Macedonia Welcomes Obama, Thanks Bush

  Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski sent his congratulations to newly-inaugurated United States President Barack Obama, and thanked outgoing president George W. Bush for his support. In a letter to Obama, Gruevski stressed the importance Skopje places to its strategic partnership with Washington. He said he hopes the US would continue …

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• 22 January

  Obama Knows Albania, Balkans Well – Envoy

  President Barack Obama is well informed about Albania and the region, the US ambassador in Tirana, John L Withers, said in an interview aired on Tuesday. Withers told TV Klan that he had a chance to talk to the than Senator of Illinois, at the time of his confirmation hearing …

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• 22 January

  Bosnia Hopes Obama Renews US Balkan Role

  Bosnians tuned in en masse to the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, with politicians and analysts saying they hoped for renewed US engagement in the Balkans after eight years of Washington paying very little attention. Like in many other countries which are dependent …

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• 22 January

  Macedonians’ Household Debt Jumps In ’08

  At the end of 2008 Macedonians owed around 1.0 billion euros to banks in mortgage, business and other household loans, an equivalent of 500 euros for each of the country’s two million people, local media say. This marks a significant increase from last year’s average indebtedness of an estimated 337 …

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• 22 January

  Romania Starts Receiving Russian Gas

  The import of Russian natural gas resumed Wednesday morning, after it was halted for two weeks, Romania’s state-owned pipeline operator Transgaz said. Russia’s Gazprom cut off natural gas supplies on January 7 due to economic disagreements with Ukraine. Ukraine is the main transit route for Russian gas pipelines to the …

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• 22 January

  Gas Crisis Over – Bulgaria Minister

  Bulgaria’s Minister of Energy and Economy Petar Dimitrov said on Wednesday that the austerity measures in natural gas consumption would be lifted after Russia and the Ukraine resolved their gas pricing dispute. . “We have gas, the crisis is over”, the Minister declared explaining all technical conditions to do away …

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