March, 2009

• 25 March

  Brussels Cool on Bulgaria Steering Group Idea

  The Bulgarian government has asked EU member states to send “experienced” diplomats to hold “key positions” in the administration in order to help boost reforms in the country. But the unusual proposal has been rebuffed by European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, who said the Bulgarians should carry out the …

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• 25 March

  Western Powers to Debate Bosnia’s Future

  Representatives from the EU, US, Russia among others are meeting in Sarajevo where they are expected to debate the international community’s future role in Bosnia and confirm the country’s new top international envoy. “The main focus of my mandate will be aimed at fulfillment of conditions for the closure of …

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• 25 March

  Clashes at Serb Nationalist Anti-NATO Rally

  Two police officers and five members of the public were injured in clashes last night between a group of some 150 youths and police, during a protest marking ten years since NATO’s bombing of Serbia. 28 people were arrested in the violence, Serbia’s B92 network has learnt from police sources. …

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• 25 March

  Macedonia ‘Has Too Many Voters’

  Macedonia’s voter register has to be revised, political experts argue after international monitors suggested that there seems to be a striking discrepancy between the number of voters and the overall population. “It is impossible for a country of two million to have 1.8 million voters. That has to be addressed,” …

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• 25 March

  Plan to Cut Number of Serb Govt Ministries

  Ruling Democratic Party and G17 Plus officials in Serbia have concluded that the number of government ministries should be cut in a bid to cut costs, Belgrade daily Blic reports. Citing a source from the Democratic Party, Blic reports that the number of government ministers should be cut in proportion …

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• 25 March

  Lithuania to Reduce Troops in Kosovo

  Lithuania will reduce the number of troops it has in Kosovo because of the improved security situation, the country’s Defence Ministry Spokesman Danguole Bickauskiene said on Tuesday. Speaking to French news agency Agence France Presse, AFP, Bickauskiene noted that the withdrawal of troops from Kosovo is affected by the economic …

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• 25 March

  Serb Nationalists Protest on NATO Anniversary

  Some 1,000 hardline nationalists staged an anti-NATO rally in the main square of Belgrade, chanting “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia” and waving banners hailing Milosevic as the “hero of the Serbian nation.” Earlier, air-raid sirens wailed and church bells tolled on Tuesday as Serbia marked the 10th anniversary of …

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• 25 March

  Heavy Snow Triggers Alert in Eastern Serbia

  Local authorities in Bosilegrad municipality, an area around 450 kilometres southeast of Belgrade and populated by ethnic Bulgarians, have introduced a state of alert over weather conditions. Mayor Vladimir Zaharijev said that because of the huge snow drifts of up to a metre high around 30 villages were cut off …

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• 25 March

  Romania Gets €20 Billion Rescue Loan

  Romania has reached an agreement with major international lenders for a €20 billion loan designed to finance the country’ sbudget and current- account deficits. According to the agreement, the International Monetary Fund is to lend €12.95 billion, the European Union – €5 billion while the rest will come from the …

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• 25 March

  EU to Grill France Amid Slovenia Jobs Row

  The European Commission is seeking an explanation from Paris over French car-making giant Renault’s decision to recall some of its production from Slovenia to France. “The commission will ask the French authorities for explanations,” said the Commission spokesman on competition issues Jonathan Todd. French Secretary of State for Industry Luc …

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