Recent Posts

EULEX Trial Postponed After Kosovo Serb Demo

The EU’s law and justice mission in Kosovo, EULEX, postponed the first trial under its mandate on Monday due to a protest by Serb judicial workers opposed to the work of the mission which they see as supporting Kosovo’s independence from Serbia. The trial, against two Kosovo Serbs accused of …

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Macedonia Election Campaign Kicks Off

The campaign for Macedonia’s March 22 presidential and local polls kicked off on Sunday, under the eye of the West which views the election as a test of the country’s democratic credentials . Among the seven men running for President, Georgi Ivanov from the main ruling VMRO-DPMNE party and Ljubomir …

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US Concerned About Albania Court Independence

The United States Ambassador to Tirana, John L. Withers, expressed his concern on Monday over the constant political attacks by the Albanian political class against the country’s justice system. An annual human rights report released last week by the US State department panned the Albanian government on the constant attacks …

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Belarus’ Lukashenko Goes Skiing In Serbia

Belarus’ president Aleksandar Lukasenko came with his family and staff to Serbia’s famous Kopaonik ski resort for his winter vacation. Local media reported that his presidential airplane landed at Nis airport on Sunday, and his party were escorted to Kopaonik mountain in central Serbia. Serbian media speculated that Lukashenko came …

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IMF Warns Albania on Pre-Election Spending

The International Monetary Fund, IMF, warned Albania on Saturday it should be prudent in its spending ahead of its general election on June 28 or risk possible threats to its macroeconomic stability. In its final report on Albania-IMF relations, the Fund warned that “without its program support—which has served as …

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Romania Starts Talks On IMF Loan

Romanian authorities have started negotiations with the International Monetary Fund in Washington over a loan aimed at protecting Romania’s slowing economy from the global financial crisis, local news agency NewsIn reports. Economic analysts have already warned Romania should be the next east European country after Hungary and Ukraine to ask …

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Kosovo ‘Surplus’ Money Idle, Economists Warn

Economists warn that Kosovo has accumulated 475 million euros that is sitting untouched and idle in the banks due to mismanagement of public money, while the Ministry of Economy and Finance says that amount is ‘funds for specific reasons’ and should not be spent unreasonably. According to Shpend Ahmeti, from …

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Kremlin Party Cements Grip In Local Russian Polls

Russia’s ruling party cemented its grip on elected posts with big victories in local elections despite an economic crisis, but the opposition complained of widespread cheating. Political analysts said the level of complaints about the campaign and violations of electoral rules made it hard to draw conclusions from the results …

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