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...
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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...
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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...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/09/21/feature-02

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...
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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...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/09/20/feature-03

Sandzak and the south are trouble spots for Serbia

se times
20/09/2011

Even as it confronts Pristina over northern Kosovo, Serbia is grappling with discontent elsewhere.
By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 20/09/11
After a week marked by tension in northern Kosovo, Belgrade saw the re-emergence of two other potential trouble spots. First, some Bosniak factions in the western Serbian region of Sandzak announced they would push for autonomy.

Next, Albanians in southern Serbia began organising protest rallies, dissatisfied with the conditions in local education....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/09/20/feature-04

Serbia's Markovic fights corruption, public scepticism

se times
19/09/2011

EU accession hinges in part on progress in fighting pervasive corruption, prompting Serbia to roll out a whole new strategy.
By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 19/09/11
Anti-Corruption Agency Director Zorana Markovic is at the helm of one of the institutions meant to fight corruption, which is considered the biggest obstacle facing Serbia on the road to the EU....more....
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/articles/2011/09/19/reportage-01

Key witness in Haradinaj trial sentenced

se times
19/09/2011

"By sentencing Shefqet Kabashi, The Hague has ... sent a clear message to all other witnesses," Kosovo analyst Ramadan Ilazi told SETimes.
By Linda Karadaku for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 19/09/11
The UN war crimes tribunal sentenced Shefqet Kabashi, the main witness in the trial against former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and his associates, to two months in jail for contempt on Friday (September 16th)....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/09/19/feature-03

MP immunity: impunity from justice?

se times
22/08/2011

Kosovo has ordered the constitutional court to weigh in on parliamentary immunity after EULEX requested a clarification of the issue.
By Muhamet Brajshori for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 22/08/11
EULEX was prompted to ask for a ruling on immunity after it could not proceed with an arrest warrant for former minister of transport and current MP Fatmir Limaj, who, as a former KLA commander, is accused along with nine other people of war crimes in Malisevo. The nine others have already been arrested, but Limaj's arrest has been held up due to the immunity granted to him as a MP....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/22/feature-03

Controversy erupts over Vojvodina's Brussels office

se times

22/08/2011

Serbia's northern province will inaugurate its Brussels office within weeks, but some see the move as a step towards separatism.
By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 22/08/11
Vojvodina officials say they harbour great expectations regarding the opening of an office in Brussels in mid-October, primarily to access European funds.
They say this is a normal European practice and over 300 regions from various European states have offices in Brussels....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/22/feature-04

Bloggers debate the Ohrid Framework Agreement

se times

20/08/2011

The 10th anniversary of the agreement elicits different reactions, though most remain critical of its purpose and results.
By Klaudija Lutovska for Southeast European Times in Bitola – 20/08/11
Macedonia marked the 10th anniversary of signing the Ohrid Framework Agreement by organizing a meeting and a reception hosted by President Gjorge Ivanov.

Although no representatives from Macedonia's four major parties that signed the August 13th agreement were at the event, US envoy James Pardew, the driving force behind the accord, attended.....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/blogreview/2011/08/20/blog-03

Kosovo becoming asylum transit country

se times

20/08/2011

Kosovo has achieved the dubious distinction as a transit country, but is unprepared to handle the situation.
By Muhamet Brajshori for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 20/08/11
Since 1999, Kosovo has seen an increasing number of asylum seekers from Asia and Africa. They have other destinations in mind, but use Kosovo as transit point and often end up being arrested by police at the borders for illegal passage.....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/20/feature-01

Survey measures public pulse in Kosovo

se times

19/08/2011

Despite economic and political woes, the most recent UNDP poll shows a slight increase in public trust when it comes to government institutions.
By Muhamet Brajshori for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 19/08/11
With the unemployment rate still over 40%, a slowdown in international recognitions, and obstacles on the path to EU integration, prospects remain uncertain for the people of Kosovo. According to the most recent UN Development Programme Public Pulse opinion poll, discontent remains high....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/19/feature-02

Serbia's "red gold" trouble

se times

18/08/2011

Although this year's raspberry fruit is better quality, prices are lower than last year.
By Biljana Pekusic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade – 18/08/11
Strikes and protests by Serbia's raspberry growers, who clashed with police, failed to set the purchase price for this year's raspberry harvest at last year's figure of 1.5 euros per kilogram. Instead, a kilogram of raspberries this year will go for one euro.....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/18/feature-02

ICTY prosecutors ask to split Mladic trial

se times
18/08/2011

If UN judges approve splitting-up the war crimes case against Ratko Mladic, his first trial could begin as early as January 2012.
(Blic - 18/08/11; Reuters, AP, DPA, AFP, CNN, AKI, Deutsche Welle, Dutchnews.nl, RFE/RL, VOA, Beta, B92, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - 17/08/11)
Prosecutors at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) said on Wednesday (August 17th) that they have asked for permission to divide Ratko Mladic's indictment into two parts in order to expedite the litigation process....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/18/feature-03

Reeker: Kosovo will not be divided

se times

18/08/2011

A top US diplomat joins France and Germany in rejecting partition and calling for rule of law in the north.
By Linda Karadaku for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 18/08/11
Partitioning Kosovo is not an option and Pristina has a legitimate right to govern the north, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker said on Wednesday (August 17th).

"Kosovo is a sovereign, independent country and has the right to extend its authority throughout its country," he told reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in Pristina. "This is about rule of law, which is such a fundamental, key concept not just here, but throughout all of Europe."...more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/18/feature-04

Regional countries compete to satisfy Kosovo's market demand

se times

17/08/2011

Kosovo's reciprocity trade measures against Serbia and BiH create opportunities for other suppliers in the region.
By Misko Taleski for Southeast European Times in Skopje – 17/08/11
Given the recent enforcement of trade reciprocity measures against Serbia and BiH, a regional race has begun to replace these countries' products and satisfy market demand in Kosovo.

Macedonia, Croatia and Montenegro are the lead contenders, but other Balkan countries including Turkey should not be discounted. "In the coming period, we expect a visible increase in the percentage of exports of Macedonian products to the Kosovo market," Macedonian Chamber of Commerce official Jadranka Arizankovska told SETimes.....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/17/feature-03

Diaspora MP in the Macedonian parliament

se times
16/08/2011

For the first time, the diaspora is represented in Macedonia's parliament by three MPs. Newly-elected member Pavle Sazdov represents the Americas.
By Goran Trajkov for Southeast European Times in Skopje -- 16/08/11
SETimes: How did you become a Macedonian MP?

Pavle Sazdov: VMRO-DPMNE, the party that I am a member of for over ten years, had an internal announcement open to all members. Having lived in Canada for ten years, I understand the needs and challenges of the Macedonian community in North America, so I decided to apply. I submitted a proposed platform, resume, short biography and motivational letter to a party panel. Once all interviews were finalised -- the last one with the party president -- I was notified that my candidacy was accepted....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/16/feature-02

Northern Kosovo situation unites political elite in Pristina

se times
16/08/2011

Political heavyweights stand behind the Kosovo government's actions in the north, but some say it will have consequences.
By Linda Karadaku for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 16/08/11
They may disagree on most other questions, but the major political forces in Kosovo share a consensus on at least one matter: the government's move last month to take control of two border crossings in the north.

Arbana Vidishiqi, head of the Kosovo bureau of Radio Free Europe, says the intervention in the north marked the first time that the country's political elite has stood united in their support for the current administration....more...
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http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/16/feature-03

For "Girl from Bondsteel", curiosity was stronger than prejudice

se times

15/08/2011

Tanja Jankovic recalls her experiences as a Serb translator working at the largest US military base in the Balkans.
By Ivana Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 15/08/11
Tanja Jankovic, 32, graduated from the Belgrade Faculty of Political Sciences. As a student she worked at the Bujanovac International Press Centre, and then as a translator at the international missions in Kosovo, including the Kosovo US military base Bondsteel.

read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/articles/2011/08/15/reportage-01