May, 2007

• 30 May

  BiH politicians reject possibility of removing Dodik from office

  SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) — Several BiH politicians rejected the possibility Monday (May 28th) of removing Republika Srpska (RS) Prime Minister Milorad Dodik from office for blocking key constitutional and police reforms. The Stratfor intelligence agency says Dodik alienated US officials, including Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney, during talks …

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• 30 May

  Turkish Parliament again passes constitutional amendments

  ANKARA, Turkey — Following a veto by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the constitutional amendment to hold direct presidential elections was approved by Parliament again Monday (May 28th), after hours of debate. As required, a second round of voting will be held on Thursday. If adopted, Sezer must either approve the …

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• 30 May

  Trial of “road mafia” group opens at Belgrade special court

  BELGRADE, Serbia — The trial of a group dubbed “the road mafia gang” opened at the Belgrade special court for organised crime on Monday (May 28th). The case involves 53 former officials, including top management of the state company Serbia Roads, who allegedly electronically diverted road tolls. Damages are estimated …

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• 30 May

  Romanian justice minister to propose changes to new anti-corruption law

  BUCHAREST, Romania — Justice Minister Tudor Chiuariu said on Monday (May 28th) that he would submit to the government draft changes to the recently adopted law establishing the National Integrity Agency (ANI), aimed at bringing more cases under ANI’s supervision. The law, passed by Parliament earlier this month, envisions ANI …

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• 30 May

  Croatian newspaper says Russia, West close to compromise on Kosovo

  Russia, the EU and the United States have reached a compromise that could help remove a key obstacle to determining Kosovo’s final status, according to a report in a major Croatian daily on Monday (May 28th).

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• 30 May

  Turkey determined on its EU bid, despite French opposition

  French President Nicolas Sarkozy sent an envoy to Ankara at the weekend to try to calm tensions over his opposition to Turkish membership in the EU, the newspaper Le Figaro reported on Tuesday (May 29th). The paper also said Sarkozy would not prevent the EU from opening three new policy …

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• 30 May

  Romanian film wins Palme D’Or

  In an unprecedented milestone for Romanian cinema, Cristian Mungiu has won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His movie “Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days” beat out 21 other feature films, directed by such luminaries as the Coen brothers, Quentin Tarantino and Emir Kusturica.

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• 30 May

  Beirut ghost town on eve of summer season, again

  BEIRUT — “Gone fishing” says the notice on the door of a club in a usually bustling Beirut bar district which has been deserted since bomb attacks last week.

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• 30 May

  Tehran charges US-Iranian citizen with spying

  TEHRAN (Reuters) — Iran’s judiciary confirmed on Tuesday the detention of an Iranian-American social scientist on charges of spying, one of a number that US officials and think tanks had reported held.

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• 30 May

  Bush interprets public opinion on Iraq his own way

  WASHINGTON — Confronted with strong opposition to his Iraq policies, President George W. Bush decides to interpret public opinion his own way. Actually, he says, people agree with him.

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