ISG supports Kosovo's strategy for north
09/02/2010
VIENNA, Austria -- The strategy to bring Serb-dominated northern Kosovo legally and politically in line with the rest of the country won unanimous backing by the 25 member states of the International Steering Group (ISG) in Vienna on Monday (February 8th). The ISG members will also support International Civilian Representative Pieter Feith and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci as they implement the strategy, sources close to the meeting said. Feith and Thaci briefed the ISG about the plan to dissolve Serb parallel structures in the north, establish municipalities that will act under the authority of Kosovo institutions, and install courts to restore the rule of law to that part of the country. Though they extended Feith's mandate, meeting participants decided to cut the staff of the International Civilian Office (ICO) by 15% within a few months.
Separately Monday, Serbian official Oliver Ivanovic dismissed as invalid the ICO decision to appoint a team to help establish a new municipality in northern Mitrovica. He cited a 2002 agreement between UNMIK and Serbia's government, which Ivanovic says remains in effect. (Koha Ditore, Kosova Sot, Zeri, Express, Lajm, Telegrafi - 09/02/10; Kohavision, RTK - 08/02/10)
Mass grave found near Tirana
09/02/2010
TIRANA, Albania -- A mass grave containing 19 bodies has been discovered near the village of Linza, just outside Tirana, local media reported on Monday (February 8th). The remains are believed to be victims of the communist regime that ruled that Albania from 1946 to 1991. The dead were executed and buried in the area's mountainous terrain. The grave was discovered by a local man who spent nearly two decades searching for the body of his father, executed by the regime of Enver Hoxha in 1976. The dead man's son said he had been digging in the area for months. (Shekulli, Shqip, Gazeta Shqiptare - 09/02/10; Balkan Web, Ora News, Alsat, Top Channel - 08/02/10)
Turkey's State Council retains university admissions system
09/02/2010
ANKARA, Turkey -- The State Council, the country's highest administrative court, ruled on Monday (February 8th) to retain the current university admissions system, which imposes tougher grading standards for graduates of vocational high schools offering religious education. University admission is one of many battlegrounds between secularists and conservatives in Turkey. The government had vowed to lift barriers to university entry for vocational high schools, attended mostly by children from conservative families. The current system makes it more difficult for graduates of these schools to enrol in the programme of their choice. Secularists often accuse religious schools as too focused on Islam.
In other news, Ankara is hosting a meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Serbia on Tuesday. Turkey's Ahmet Davutoglu, BiH's Sven Alkalaj and Serbia's Vuk Jeremic are focusing on regional events and steps to strengthen co-operation. The trilateral talks began in Istanbul in October. (Zaman, Yeni Safak, Vatan, Hurriyet - 09/02/10; Anadolu news agency, Milliyet, AFP - 08/02/10)
Britain backs Bulgaria's bid to join euro zone
09/02/2010
LONDON, Great Britain -- Following a meeting Monday (February 8th) with British counterpart Gordon Brown, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said Sofia can count on London's full support in efforts to join the euro zone and attract British investment in several sectors, including energy and tourism. The two officials also discussed the ongoing blockade by Greek farmers of the border between Greece and Bulgaria, and access to the British labour market by Bulgarians. Currently, Bulgarian workers don't have free access to this market.
Earlier in the day, Borisov announced that a British investment fund will invest about 50m euros in the construction of a factory building electric cars near Stara Zagora. (BNR, Darik, BNT - 08/02/10)
Heavy snow paralyses parts of Bulgaria, Romania
09/02/2010
BUCHAREST, Romania -- Heavy snow and high winds lashed Bulgaria and Romania on Monday (February 8th), causing huge transportation headaches in both countries. In Bulgaria, the situation is the worst in the southeast, where a state of emergency has been declared. Power is out in nearly 150 villages. Snow drifts in the northeast are as high as 1.5m to 2m.
Bucharest is battling to dig out as well. Road travel is now banned, following three dozen accidents in one day in the capital. In Turkey, heavy rains battered Thrace and the coast of the Aegean Sea. Many roads are closed and one person died after being struck by lightning. (Dnevnik, AFP, CNN Turk - 08/02/10)
Coalition partner leaves Cypriot government
09/02/2010
NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The Movement for Social Democracy (KS-EDEK) announced on Monday (February 8th) it has decided to leave the ruling coalition, accusing President Demetris Christofias of making concessions to Turkish Cypriots during talks to reunify the divided island. The withdrawal will not result in early elections. Analysts say EDEK's move will hardly affect reunification negotiations. (Financial Mirror, Famagusta Gazette, BTA - 09/02/10; AP, Cyprus Weekly - 08/02/10)
UN's Nimetz to visit Macedonia, Greece
09/02/2010
SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Matthew Nimetz, the UN mediator in the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece, will visit Macedonia on February 23rd, the foreign ministry confirmed Tuesday (February 9th). Greece has not yet co-ordinated the envoy's visit to Athens. (A1, Sitel, Alsat - 08/02/10)
Montenegrin police seize 100kg of marijuana
09/02/2010
PODGORICA, Montenegro -- Police announced on Monday (February 8th) they seized 100kg of marijuana and arrested 12 people at the weekend. The drugs were allegedly bound from Albania via Montenegro to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The operation was carried out Saturday in Podgorica, Niksic and Herceg Novi. (RTS, B92, Beta, RTCG - 08/02/10)
Dodik urges RS parliament to pass bill on referendums
09/02/2010
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- Republika Srpska (RS) Prime Minister Milorad Dodik urged the entity's parliament Monday (February 8th) to pass a draft law on referendums as proposed by the government. He said this version will be upheld by the Constitutional Court and relevant international organisations. Opposition parties have said they want to amend it. (Tanjug, RTRS, B92, Beta - 08/02/10)
Inzko initiates talks with BiH leaders on property issues
09/02/2010
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- High Representative Valentin Inzko met on Monday (February 8th) with Bozo Ljubic, leader of the Bosnian Croat HDZ 1990 party, marking the start of a new round of talks with key politicians. The focus is on the current political stalemate and issues related to state and military property. Resolving the matter is crucial to transitioning the Office of the High Representative into an EU Special Representative office, currently a year behind schedule.
In other news, a team from the European Commission arrived in BiH on Monday to assess progress made in meeting criteria for visa liberalisation. The team will spend a week on site, meeting with officials responsible for border management, immigration and asylum. (BHRT, bh-news.com, Tanjug, Dnevni Avaz, BHRT, Fena - 08/02/10)
Albanian government, opposition leaders to meet at Topi's office
09/02/2010
TIRANA, Albania -- President Bamir Topi will host a meeting between Prime Minister Sali Berisha and opposition leader Edi Rama on Saturday (February 13th). Both have said they will attend. Berisha is mediating in a bid to end the SP's boycott of parliament, which began in September. The SP insists it won't return until alleged manipulations of the June 2009 general elections are investigated. The boycott has hampered EU-related reforms, prompting the Council of Europe to issue a resolution on the stalemate. (Lajmifundit, Top Channel, Balkan Web, Klan, Shekulli - 08/02/10)