March, 2009

• 24 March

  Croatia Libertas files lawsuits against senior BiH politicians

  SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) – The Mostar-based NGO Croatia Libertas announced on Sunday (March 22nd) that it has filed suit against several Bosnian Muslim politicians and military leaders it accuses of war crimes. Croatia Libertas filed the lawsuits with the BiH prosecutor as well as with the Mostar cantonal …

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• 24 March

  Turkish police detain former mayor in probe over missing Kurds

  ANKARA, Turkey – Police arrested Kamil Atak, former mayor of the south-eastern town of Cizre, as part of a probe into the alleged killings of Kurds by Turkish security forces in the 1990s, media reported on Sunday (March 22nd). Police nabbed him in a raid late Saturday in the province …

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• 24 March

  Report: Turkey may veto Rasmussen’s candidacy for NATO secretary-general

  ANKARA, Turkey – Media quoted government officials as saying on Sunday (March 22nd) that Turkey may block Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s candidacy for the NATO secretary-general position. Ankara has expressed concerns over Denmark’s previous decision to allow Kurdish Roj TV, often criticised by Turkish authorities for distributing statements …

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• 24 March

  Albania’s ruling coalition signs pre-election agreement

  TIRANA, Albania – The ruling coalition, consisting of the Democratic Party (DP) and the Republican Party (RP), signed a pre-election agreement ahead of the June parliamentary elections Saturday (March 21st). Under the agreement, both parties will commit to focusing all resources and efforts on winning the elections. “I believe this …

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• 24 March

  Ten members of opposition arrested in Georgia

  Georgia’s Interior Ministry has reported that ten members of the opposition Democratic Movement-United Georgia party have been arrested on charges of purchasing automatic weapons. The party’s leader Nino Burjanadze says the charges are false and are part of a “campaign of terror” against the opposition.

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• 24 March

  Romania’s president appeals for int’l policy on fighting criminality

  BUCHAREST – Romanian President Traian Basescu on Tuesday urged that international legislation be passed to curb criminality worldwide as criminals become more clever in breaking the law at home and abroad. The adoption of a policy of fighting criminality at the international level is necessary, considering that criminal organizations have …

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• 24 March

  Romania expected to OK IMF-led loan request on Wed

  BUCHAREST – Romania’s center-left government will likely approve on Wednesday an official letter requesting a loan package led by the International Monetary Fund, Prime Minister Emil Boc said on Monday. Romania approached Brussels and the IMF for support earlier this month, becoming the third European Union member after Hungary and …

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• 24 March

  Bulgarian Anti Crisis Measure Set to Create 87 000 Jobs

  A new Bulgarian national employment measure will open 87 000 new job opportunities. The Bulgarian Social Minister, Emiliya Maslarova, announced the measure Monday at the opening of a “Labor Transformation – Social Security and Dialogue” conference. The conference will be held at the University of National and World Economy in …

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• 24 March

  Sirens Wail as Serbia Marks NATO Bombings

  Air-raid sirens wailed on Tuesday as Serbia marked ten years since NATO’s bombing campaign against the regime of late president Slobodan Milosevic to halt its violent Kosovo crackdown. Solemn ceremonies were held at Belgrade monuments to children and journalists killed in the NATO sorties as the sirens were sounded across …

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• 24 March

  Decriminalising Incest Sparks Romania Row

  A proposal not to prosecute consenting adults for incest has sparked controversy in Romania, with the Orthodox Church leading public opposition to the move. The Romanian Justice Ministry is considering a change in the law, so that parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters can be exempt from prosecution for incest as …

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