Serbian Military Call-Up Notices Spark Sharp Backlash

radio free europe
September 21, 2011

By Ljudmila Cvetkovic
BELGRADE -- Serbs are expressing alarm at reports that the Defense Ministry is distributing notices telling people to join the military reserves and report for basic training.
The reports come as tensions with neighboring Kosovo -- formerly a Serbian province, and whose independence Belgrade does not recognize -- have been running high amid a sometimes violent dispute over border crossings.
The Belgrade Helsinki Committee for Human Rights announced this week that an undetermined number of men had received the notices....more...
read more: radio free europe
http://www.rferl.org/content/serbia_military_callup_notices_spark_sharp_backlash/24335635.html

Serbian Premier Murder Convict Alleges High-Level Conspirators

radio free europe
September 21, 2011

BELGRADE -- The revelation that a Serb convicted of plotting the 2003 assassination of pro-Western Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic has named several high-ranking politicians as having knowledge of plans for the killing has caused a media storm, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.
Milos Simovic told prosecutors one year ago in a signed affidavit -- which was only recently released to the Serbian media -- that several high-ranking nationalist figures, including then Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, knew about the preparations for the assassination....more...
read more: radio free europe
http://www.rferl.org/content/djindjic_assassination_conspirators/24335476.html

Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen bid vetoed

euobserver.com
22.09.11 @ 17:44

BY VALENTINA POP

The Netherlands and Finland on Thursday (22 September) vetoed Romania and Bulgaria's bid to join the border-free Schengen area, a move the Polish EU presidency said represented a "sad conclusion about mutual trust among member states...more...
read more: eu observer.com
http://euobserver.com/22/113707

Brussels defends Slovenia against Moody's

waz.euobserver.com
23.09.11@ 13:06

BY EUOBSERVER

An EU commission spokesman has said the Slovenian economy is "sound" and Brussels is "confident" in its ability to weather the financial crisis. Moody's cut Slovenia from Aa2 to Aa3 citing local banks' fragility and "growing political uncertainty" after the government fell in a no confidence vote earlier this week....more...
read more: eu observer.com
http://euobserver.com/1016/113720

Croatian companies shall sue Serbia if it sells their property

blic online
STATUS OF BUSINESS FACILITIES OF ENTERPRISES OF SFRY NOT SOLVED YET

Suzana Lakić

23. 09. 2011. - 02:02h
Comments 0
A deadline until which companies from Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia/Herzegovina with part of property that remained in Serbia after disintegration of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are to solve the property relations with our country expires in a week time....more...
read more: blic online
http://english.blic.rs/Economy/8032/Croatian-companies-shall-sue-Serbia-if-it-sells-their-property

Veselin Lecic might reveal political background of Djindjic’s assassination

balkan insight
HEARING OF ARRESTED FORMER JSO OFFICERS

Tamara Marković-Subota/Vuk Z. Cvijić

22. 09. 2011. - 02:02h
Comments 0
Former assistant to the JSO security chief-of-staff Veselin Lecic arrested the day before yesterday with another three of his former colleagues because of armed riot of that unit in 2001 might be a key factor in directing the investigation to revealing of political background of Zoran Djindjic’s assassination....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://english.blic.rs/In-Focus/8028/Veselin-Lecic-might-reveal-political-background-of-Djindjics-assassination

Leading businessmen in Serbia to found movement soon

blic online
ACTION FOR RENEWAL

Nataša Latković

23. 09. 2011. - 02:02h
Comments 0
A group of successful Serbian businessmen shall found a movement soon. As ‘Blic’ learns among the founders there shall be Dragoljub Vukadinovic (‘Metalac’ President), Branislav Grujic (‘PSP Farman’), Nikola Pavlicic (‘Tarket-Sintelon’ Honorary President), Mirko Todorovic (‘Todor’ owner), Dragoljub Lekic (‘Vitro Group’ General Director) and also the Union of Entrepreneurs of Serbia and Backa Palanka Business Club....more...
read more: blic online
http://english.blic.rs/News/8031/Leading-businessmen-in-Serbia-to-found-movement-soon

Serbia wants special status for Kosovo north

blic online
BORIS TADIC AT UN SESSION IN NEW YORK

Tamara Spaić

22. 09. 2011. - 02:02h
Comments 0
Serbia President Boris Tadic shall try at meetings with world leaders in New York to get their support for the settlement of the current crisis at customs checkpoints with implementation of Ban-Ki-Moon’s plan from 2008, as sources close to Tadic confirmed to ‘Blic’. It is believed that would be just a beginning for the international community to recognize ‘the north as something special’ and an introduction to autonomy or even partition....more...
read more: blic online
http://english.blic.rs/News/8027/Serbia-wants-special-status-for-Kosovo-north

Media in Macedonia: not for the public?

se times
22/09/2011

Journalists in Macedonia are facing tough times ahead due to the shuttering of A1TV last year, and the implications that has had.
By Goran Trajkov for Southeast European Times in Skopje -- 22/09/11
The Macedonian Institute for Media (MIM) is a non-profit organisation that promotes excellence in media and public communication. Its main purpose is to provide training for journalists.

Since its establishment in 2001, MIM has organised over 100 training sessions, workshops, seminars and conferences -- hosting more than 1,000 domestic and foreign media professionals, and has sent many Macedonian journalists to similar training sessions and conferences outside the country....more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/09/22/feature-02

Balkan mercenaries in Libya risk lives for gain

se times
22/09/2011

Monetary reward -- not ideology or politics – is seen as the main motivator.
By Biljana Pekusic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 22/09/11
He has not chosen to fight for Moammer Gaddafi, or for the Libyan rebels. But Zoran G, a northern Kosovo resident and former soldier of fortune, says he understands why others may have done so.

"I would go to Libya or any other country to fight for a good salary," he told SETimes....more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/09/22/feature-03

Basketball players return to Macedonia as heroes

se times
21/09/2011

The Macedonian national basketball team became the new sensation at the European championship in Lithuania.
By Marina Stojanovska for Southeast European Times in Skopje -- 21/09/11
Over 50,000 exhilarated fans gathered in Skopje's Macedonia Square on Monday (September 19th) to welcome the national basketball team back from the EuroBasket championship in Lithuania.

Five thousand fans waited for the players to arrive at the Alexander the Great Airport from where they were then transported to the square aboard a roofless double-decker bus....more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/09/21/feature-02

Limaj Lawyer Urges EULEX to Give Up

balkan insight
22 SEP 2011 / 09:21

Fatmir Limaj’s lawyer called on EU prosecutors to abandon charges against his client, saying they had yet to produce any proof of corruption on Limaj's behalf while he was minister for transport.

Fatmir Aliu

Tahir Rrecaj, the lawyer representing the vice-president of the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK,and former transport minister, said Limaj was innocent and would be proven so....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/lawyers-ask-eulex-to-drop-case-against-limaj

Ex- Yu States Agree to Divide Assets Worth $65m

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 16:26

An agreement has been reached in Sarajevo on the division of diplomatic properties of the former socialist Yugoslavia.

Vecernje Novosti

The handover of 44 properties in OECD countries is due to be completed by next August.


Two decades after the violent collapse of Yugoslavia, the former republics are finally accelerating the process of dividing diplomatic property....more...
read more : balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbia-gains-ex-yu-assets-worth-26-million

Montenegro’s Biggest Cinema Snapped Up By Austrians

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 14:28

Austrian company "Cineplexx International" announced this week that it had bought the biggest cinema in Montenegro "Ster Cinema", according to media reports.

Source: Balkans.com and CDM

According to the Montenegrin media, the Austrian company bought the cinema, which is located in the Montenegro’s capital city Podgorica, from the Greek "Audiovisual groups".....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/montenegro-s-biggest-cinema-snapped-up-by-austrians

EULEX Police Arrest Two Kosovo Serbs

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 11:42

A teenager and a 20-year-old Kosovo Serb have been arrested on suspicion of shooting at the house of a Kosovo Police officer in northern Kosovo.

Fatmir Aliu Pristina

The drive-by shooting, in which no one was injured, took place yesterday in the village of Leshak in the Leposavic municipality.

Besim Hoti, a spokesman for the Kosovo Police, said that the two young people had been charged with causing general danger and illegal possession of fire arms....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/eulex-police-arrest-two-kosovo-serbs

New Guide Puts Dragash on the Tourist Map

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 09:55

Dragash in Kosovo is one of the poorest regions in the country, but it also happens to be one of the most beautiful. A new guide will encourage hikers to these underexplored mountains and plant the seeds of a sustainable tourist industry.

Shengjyl Osmani Pristina

Interested in exploring the beauties of Kosovo’s nature and still haven’t visited the Dragash area? Well, look no further: travel blogger and Pristina resident Todd Wassel has turned his incredible hiking experience in this forgotten region into a guide to discover and enjoy the area....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/new-guide-puts-dragash-on-the-tourist-map

Pristina Digging Itself Out of a Pot Hole

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 09:52

After years of neglect, Pristina’s roads are being rejuvenated with 15 million euro of investment – but not everyone is convinced traffic jams or pot holes are a thing of the past.

Liridon Alidemaj Pristina

With 80 roads currently being worked at, at a cost of 15 million euro, and Pristina’s own version of Spaghetti Junction to open soon, motorists in Kosovo’s capital hope that they may soon be spared some of the gridlock and pothole dodging which has dominated driving in recent years....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/pristina-digging-itself-out-of-a-pot-hole

Palestine and Israel Court Albania’s UN Vote

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 09:52

Ahead of a tight vote in the UN on whether to recognize a Palestinian state, both sides are bidding for Albania's favour.

Besar Likmeta Tirana

The deputy head of the Palestinian embassy in Tirana, Hani Hussein, told Balkan Insight that after contact with Albanian authorities, they remain confident that Tirana will support the Palestinian proposal. ...more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/palestinians-and-israelis-vie-for-albania-s-un-vote

Serbia Takes Kosovo Border Row to New York

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 09:51

As tensions fizz in the Serb-run sliver of North Kosovo, Belgrade has launched a diplomatic push aimed at forcing Kosovo to withdraw its customs officials from northern border crossings.

Bojana Barlovac Belgrade

Not even pouring rain has stopped local Serbs from manning barricades in the Serb-run north of Kosovo for the fifth day in a row, following last Friday's deployment of EU police and Kosovo customs officials on border crossings with Serbia....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/belgrade-launches-diplomatic-action-over-kosovo-north

Rapporteur Hopeful on Macedonia Name Compromise

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 09:33

Macedonia could get its much-desired start date for EU accession talks by the end of this year provided it reaches a "name" compromise with Greece by then, says European Parliament rapporteur on Macedonia, Richard Howitt.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic Skopje

Speaking in an optimistic tone, Howitt, who is paying a two-day visit to Macedonia, on Tuesday, told Balkan Insight that he “would like to see resolution as quickly as possible, before the EC meeting in December”...more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/ec-rapporteur-hopeful-on-macedonia-name-compromise

Montenegro's Luksic Attends Global Forum in New York

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 09:20

Montenegrin Prime Minister Igor Luksic took part in the inaugural meeting of the “Open Government Partnership”, hosted by US President Barack Obama and his Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousek yesterday.

The partnership is comprised of eight founding governments- among them the UK, South Africa, US and Mexico- and aims to boost transparency and accountability among governments across the globe....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/pm-luksik-attends-global-forum-in-new-york

Fins Weigh In On Bulgaria-Romania Schengen

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 09:18

Finland will follow the Netherlands' examples and veto Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen accession, Romania's Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi has revealed after meeting his Dutch and Finnish counterparts, according to Sofia News Agency.

Novinite (Sofia News Agency)

"However, we need consensus and we need a positive vote on behalf of all EU member states," Baconschi has declared after he met his colleagues at the UN General Assembly in New York....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/finland-weighs-in-on-bulgaria-romania-schengen-entry

Croatian PM Receives EU Accession Treaty

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 09:12

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk officially delivered Croatia's EU accession treaty text to the head of the Croatian government, prime minister Jadranka Kosor, at a ceremony in Zagreb on the weekend.

Sofia Echo

"The great effort of the Croatians, and your government will pay off in the future. I say this as a Pole, who, like my compatriots, has been benefiting for years from the fact that Europe is united, and we are a part of it," Tusk said after the ceremony, as quoted by the Polish EU presidency website....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/croatian-pm-receives-eu-accession-treaty

Kosovo Court Ruling Heightens Arrest Risk for Limaj

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 08:12

Constitutional court clarification that MPs do not enjoy immunity from prosecution removes an important bar preventing EU police from arresting former minister.

Fatmir Aliu Pristina

Fatmir Limaj’s chances of being arrested rose yesterday after Kosovo’s Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that parliamentarians are not immune from prosecution if sought by the law....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-court-ruling-heightens-arrest-risk-for-limaj

A coffee with Serbian vice prime minister Bozidar Djelic -video-

waz.eu.observer.com
TODAY @ 08:17

The EU is examining Serbian-backed proposals to break the deadlock in Northern Kosovo. In this video Serbian deputy prime minister Bozidar Djelic talks about the solution that Serbia has proposed to EU foreign chief Catherine Ashton to solve the problem....more...
read more: waz.eu.observer.com
http://euobserver.com/1015/113683

Slovenia: EU bail-out ratification in danger

eu observer.com
TODAY @ 09:33

BY ANDREW RETTMAN

Slovenian MPs can still vote on the second Greek bail-out and beefed-up euro rescue fund, the EFSF, despite the fall of the government, but getting them to vote Yes "could be a problem."
Barbara Raflak, foreign policy advisor to centre-left caretaker prime minister Borut Pahor, who was defenestrated in a no-confidence vote on Tuesday, told EUobserver on Wednesday (21 September) that parliament will still vote on the measures as planned on 27 September....more...
read more: eu observer.com
http://euobserver.com/19/113693

Cacic: 'I have been telling the truth throughout this process'

tportal.hr
CAR ACCIDENT HEARING

20.09.2011 18:46

Author: Radio.net
The head of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), Radimir Cacic, issued a statement on Tuesday after attending the first hearing before a local court in Kaposvar, Hungary, for a fatal traffic accident he had caused last year....more...
read more: tportal.hr
http://daily.tportal.hr/149517/Cacic-I-have-been-telling-the-truth-throughout-this-process.html

FM warns against bias in reporting about EU accession treaty

tportal.hr
ACCESSION TREATY
20.09.2011 15:25

Author: Radio.net
Croatia's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Gordan Jandrokovic said in Zagreb on Tuesday that "the superficial and ill-intended analyses and politicking" by some media about Croatia's EU accession was intolerable....more..
read more: tportal.hr
http://daily.tportal.hr/149475/Minister-warns-against-bias-in-reporting-about-EU-accession-treaty.html

Kosor comments on publishing of EU accession treaty

tportal.hr
ACCESSION TREATY
20.09.2011 14:46

Author: Radio.net
Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said on Tuesday that the government was interested in making public as soon as possible Croatia's EU accession treaty, dismissing claims by a Croatian daily that the treaty envisaged the restriction of the rights of Homeland War veterans...more...
read more: tportal.hr
http://daily.tportal.hr/149464/Kosor-on-publishing-of-EU-accession-treaty-veterans-rights.html

HSK calls on citizens to join in rally of support for Gotovina and Markac

tportal.hr
PROTEST RALLY
20.09.2011 13:54

Author: Radio.net
The Croatian World Congress (HSK) on Tuesday called on Croatians to join, on Saturday, a protest to be held in The Hague against the trial court verdict in the case of Croatian generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac, and the Hague tribunal's description of the 1995 Croatian army and police operation "Storm" as a joint criminal enterprise....more...
read more: tportal.hr
http://daily.tportal.hr/149446/HSK-calls-on-citizens-to-join-in-rally-of-support-for-Gotovina-and-Markac.html

Josipovic meets Croat emigrants living in New York

tportal.hr
PRESIDENT IN NY
20.09.2011 10:46

Author: Radio.net
Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said at a meeting with Croatian emigrants in New York on Monday evening local time that the good news was that Croatia had completed its EU entry talks, even though that did not mean the end of reforms, while less pleasant news was that the economic situation in the country was not good....more...
read more: tportal.hr
http://daily.tportal.hr/149386/Josipovic-meets-Croat-emigrants-living-in-New-York.html

The protracted death of democratic Albania

waz eu observer.com
08.09.11 @ 09:22

BY DIMITAR BECHEV

Last year, Albania was hailed as "one of this year's most intriguing prospects" by the Financial Times. Two decades after the collapse of one of the most repressive and introverted regimes in the Communist bloc, and following millions of euros spent in assistance by the European Union, the country seemed to be in rude health, having been accepted into Nato in 2008 and with EU membership apparently moving into view....more...
read more: waz eu observer.com
http://euobserver.com/7/113555

Bare-Handed Kosovo Serbs Battle NATO

serbianna
Sep 20, 2011
Bare-Handed Kosovo Serbs Battle NATO
By Vojin Joksimovich, Ph.D.
On September the 16th NATO forces, overstepping their UN Security Council (UNSC) mandates, amid tensions on the administrative border between Serbia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo, have fired the first shots at bare-handed Kosovo Serbs in the village of Zupce. The Kosovo Serbs have erected barricades, in a life or death situation, to defend themselves against the Muslim Albanian onslaughts which desire to forcefully incorporate northern Kosovo into the US/EU created Republic of Kosovo, an amputated province from the Republic of Serbia. The Albanian police, aided and assisted by NATO’s KFOR, have taken over two border crossings: Jarinje and Brnjak. The Albanian customs officers, aided and abetted by EU’s EULEX mission in Kosovo, have established their control over the border crossings....more...
read more: serbianna
http://serbianna.com/analysis/archives/993

Kosovo Showdown: NATO, Serbs Set Up Competing Checkpoints

serbianna
September 16, 2011 – 1:25 am

B92/Beta News Agency

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA: NATO troops in Kosovo, KFOR, tonight used barbed wire to shut down the Jarinje administrative line checkpoint
between Kosovo and central Serbia.
As a consequence of this, the traffic at the checkpoint has come to a complete halt.
A little after 19:00 CET,, local Serbs in northern Kosovo used trucks to block the second administrative crossing, Brnjak.
The trucks are placed on both sides of the administrative line.
Serbs also blocked access to Jarinje with one truck. ...more...
read more: serbianna
http://serbianna.com/blogs/michaletos/archives/1084

Western Balkans to Get $6.9 Billion as Regions Seeks EU Path

serbianna
September 9, 2011 – 7:12 am

Bloomberg By Boris Cerni and Misha Savic - Sep 9, 2011

The European Union will spend 5 billion euros ($6.9 billion) to help the Western Balkans as it seeks to integrate the region
into the world’s largest trading bloc, EU President Herman Van Rompuy said.
Van Rompuy called on Serbia to continue talks with Kosovo as the nation works to gain EU candidate status year’s end.
Serbia, the largest of the former Yugoslav republics and the slowest to embrace the EU until the arrest of the
last war-crimes suspects, refuses to recognize its former province....more...
read more: serbianna
http://serbianna.com/blogs/michaletos/archives/1079

Orthodox Christian ghettoization and anti-Serb clampdown in Kosovo

serbianna
Aug 31, 2011

Lee Jay Walker, Modern Tokyo Times

If you reside in a parallel universe then welcome to Kosovo, the land of Albanianization and Islamization and all in the name of democracy. A flick back into history tells us that the Serbs were 98% of the population of Kosovo 600 years ago but today the Orthodox Christian Serbs are between 6% and 8% depending on various figures....more...
read more: serbianna
http://serbianna.com/analysis/archives/962

JSO riot reveals who ordered assassination

blic online
FORMER JSO MEMBERS TAKEN TO POLICE

‘Blic’ team

20. 09. 2011. - 23:50h
Foto: M. Josida
Comments 0
Serbian police yesterday arrested four former officers of the Special Operations Unit (JSO) over suspicion to have organized armed riot of that unit in November of 2011. That unit was within the State Security of Serbian Home Ministry....more....
read more: blic online
http://english.blic.rs/News/8025/JSO-riot-reveals-who-ordered-assassination

Government knew everything about purchase of vaccines

blic online
SVETLANA VUKAJLOVIC’S DEFENSE

Vuk Z. Cvijić Tamara Marković-Subota

20. 09. 2011. - 23:50h
Foto: Beta
Comments 0
In investigation of abuse of office in purchase of vaccines against Mexican flu in 2009 no evidence against then health minister Tomica Milosavljevic has been found until so far except that ‘he had been inadequately informing Serbian Government about disputable purchase of the vaccines’....more...
read more: blic online
http://english.blic.rs/In-Focus/8026/Government-knew-everything-about-purchase-of-vaccines

Serbia Arrests Rogue Cops Behind 2001 Revolt

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 18:46

Police have arrested five former members of the now disbanded Special Operations Unit, JSO, over their involvment in a rebellion in 2001, Belgrade's B92 has reported.

b92
Serbia's special police unit has launched an operation to arrest former JSO members involved in a revolt by the unit in 2001, B92 reported....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/police-arresting-jso-members

Kosovo Court Ruling Heightens Arrest Risk for Limaj

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 18:12

Constitutional court clarification that MPs do not enjoy immunity from prosecution removes an important bar preventing EU police from arresting former minister.

Fatmir Aliu Pristina

Fatmir Limaj’s chances of being arrested rose today after Kosovo’s Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that parliamentarians are not immune from prosecution if sought by the law....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-court-ruling-heightens-arrest-risk-for-limaj

Croatian Politician Relives Tragic Car Accident

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 16:40

Croatian politician Radimir Cacic, one of the heads of Croatia’s opposition coalition, tried on Tuesday to explain the circumstances of a car accident in Hungary when two persons died in January last year.

Croatian Times

"I wasn't driving too fast. Visibility was bad," the president of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) Radimir Cacic said at the trial in the Municipal Court in the Hungarian town of Macala....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/croatian-politician-describes-tragic-car-accident

Thaci and Berisha Dine in The Big Apple

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 14:27

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci attended a working dinner in New York together last night ahead of the 66th general assembly meeting of the United Nations.

Maryrose Fison London...more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/thaci-and-berisha-dine-in-the-big-apple

Israeli Architect Warns Albania against Damaging Heritage

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 12:45

An ongoing road development project in southern Albania could threaten archaeological heritage sites, a member of the International Council of Monuments and Sites, ICMS, has warned.

Besar Likmeta Tirana

Giora Solar, an Israeli perseveration architect who led a joint fact-finding mission with UNESCO last year aimed at identifying the impact a road expansion would have on Albania’s Butrint Archeological Park, said ongoing road developments along the coast could have a detrimental affect on heritage sites....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-road-project-poses-threat-to-world-heritage-site

Serbian Media Airs New Theories on Death of Former PM

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 12:45

The name of late Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic has once again drawn headlines in Serbia after some media reports question who was behind his death.

B92, Blic, Beta

Controversy over the death of Serbia's late prime minister, Zoran Djindjic, has been reignited by allegations his own deputy was behind his death....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/controversy-over-djindjic-s-murder

Kosovo Accuses Serbia of Renewing Trade Embargo

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 12:23

In a letter to Brussels, Pristina warns that it will reactivate its trade ban with Serbia if Belgrade fails to honour the September 2 deal.

Fatmir Aliu Pristina

Kosovo’s government on Monday sent a letter to the European Union, calling on Brussels to get Serbia to honour a September 2 agreement about the free movement of goods between the two countries....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-accuses-serbia-of-renewing-trade-embargo

Former Health Official Arrested over Swine Flu Vaccines

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 12:10

Police have arrested Svetlana Vukajlovic, former director general of the Republic Institute for Health Insurance (RZZO), and two other persons on suspicion of abusing their official positions.

Belgrade B92/Tanjug

According to Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, Vukajlovic is suspected of abusing her position during the procurement of vaccines against the H1N1 virus. Dacic also told Tanjug that the directors of companies Jugohemija and Detap companies, Vladimir Gravar and Ljubomir Pavlicevic, had also been arrested....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/former-health-official-arrested-over-swine-flu-vaccines

Bosnia: Political Infighting Threatens €100 million Aid

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 10:38

European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele is considering re-allocating €96 million from a special assistance package created for Bosnia due to squabbling among political leaders.

Valerie Hopkins Sarajevo

The EU originally set aside €498 million for the country in a special assistance package aimed at helping Bosnia make the reforms necessary for it to move towards EU accession. The package is known technically as the “Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance”, IPA....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bosnia-political-infighting-threatens-eaa%C3%A5%C3%A5-million-aid

Montenegro's Vujanovic Criticised over Anthem Comments

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 09:02

Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic's recent comments about the country's national anthem have been met with strong criticism from one of the country's ruling coalition parties.

Podgorica Beta/B92

According to Podgorica media, Social-Democratic Party official Rasko Konjevic reacted by insisting that Vujanovic either use his presidential powers to launch procedures to change the anthem or tender his resignation....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/vujanovic-criticised-over-anthem-comments

Croatia: another step closer to the EU

se times
20/09/2011

Even though the country now has a draft of its EU accession treaty, reforms must continue.
By Natasa Radic for Southeast European Times in Zagreb -- 20/09/11
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk arrived in Zagreb on Saturday (September 17th) to bring the draft of the EU accession treaty to Croatia. The document will be signed in December, opening the way for Croatia to become a full EU member in 2013....more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/09/20/feature-02

Kosovo loan rates highest in the region

se times
20/09/2011

Kosovo's Competition Commission is investigating whether the country's high interest rates stem from some kind of interbank agreement.
By Muhamet Brajshori for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 20/09/11
Since 1999, nine banks have been operating in Kosovo, offering high loan rates that negatively impact the country's economic development. This prompted the Kosovo Competition Commission (KCC) to investigate whether the banks have a mutual agreement, or cartel, which keeps rates higher....more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/09/20/feature-03