Serbia's SRS changes position on SAA ratification; deputy leader resigns

07/09/2008

BELGRADE, Serbia -- Tomislav Nikolic, deputy leader of the main opposition Serbian Radical Party (SRS), tendered his resignation at a party meeting on Friday (September 5th). The move came after the party decided not to back the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU. SRS vice president Dragan Todorovic confirmed that the party shifted its position under pressure from its leader, Vojislav Seselj, who is currently on trial at The Hague war crimes tribunal. Nikolic had announced Thursday that the party would support the SAA, following the government's acceptance of an SRS proposal to amend the draft ratification law.

In other news Friday, President Boris Tadic ruled out the possibility of meeting his Kosovo counterpart Fatmir Sejdiu. Tadic said he could accept such talks only if they were organised under UN supervision and with the aim of discussing Kosovo's status. (Beta, Taniuj, B92 - 05/09/08)

EU's Rehn urges Turkey to speed up pro-EU reforms

07/09/2008

ANKARA, Turkey -- EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan Friday (September 5th), on the sidelines of an EU foreign ministers' meeting in France. Rehn advised Babacan that his country should move ahead with EU-related reforms at full speed, now that the government has survived a constitutional court case aimed at disbanding it.

"We have urged Turkey to reform the law on political parties as a matter of urgency to avoid this sort of severe political crisis in the future," Rehn told journalists after the meeting. He and Babacan also discussed the conflict in Georgia and Turkey's proposal for establishing a Caucasus co-operation and stability platform, as well as its efforts to mediate in Israeli-Syrian peace talks. (Hurriyet, Zaman, Milliyet, Reuters - 06/09/08)

Campaigning for local elections kicks off in BiH

07/09/2008

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- Campaigning for the local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) began officially on Friday (September 5th). It will continue until October 4th, when a 24-hour election silence will be observed ahead of the ballot on October 5th. A total of 29,043 verified candidates, representing 80 political formations and independent lists, will compete for positions in 149 municipalities. The number of registered voters is 3,024,127.

Both the Central Election Commission and High Representative Miroslav Lajcak have stressed that they have a wide range of sanctions at their disposal in order to prevent possible political radicalisation. A Council of Europe delegation will arrive in the country on October 2nd to monitor the election process. (BIRN, Fena, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz - 05/09/08)

Macedonia's recognition of Kosovo depends on two conditions, Crvenkovski says

07/09/2008

SKOPJE, Macedonia – Use of the constitutional name Republic of Macedonia and the border demarcation process are the two key conditions for Macedonia to recognise Kosovo, Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said on Friday (September 5th). Asked whether recognition would take place quickly now that border demarcation is under way, he said the leadership would decide based on the country's best interests. On Saturday, the Pristina daily Zeri said the border lines have been settled, including in the sensitive zone of Debelldeh. Recognition is expected to follow on September 23rd, the paper said. (Zeri, Beta – 06/09/08, Telegrafi, Alsat - 05/09/08)

Glavas case fuels EU concern over Croatian judiciary

07/09/2008

ZAGREB, Croatia – EU dissatisfaction with Croatia's judicial system could pose a major obstacle in the accession negotiations, media reported Friday (September 5th), citing sources in Brussels. The Croatian negotiating team in Brussels reportedly received a letter from the EU that criticises the way war crimes cases and other judicial issues are handled. In particular, Brussels is unhappy with the trial of Branimir Glavas and six other war crimes indictees. The trial has been adjourned and will have to start from scratch for a second time, due to procedural reasons.

On Saturday, meanwhile, the head of the European Commission delegation to Podgorica praised Montenegro as a regional leader in the EU integration process. "This means that Montenegro's chances of joining the EU are very good," Leopold Maurer said. (Beta, Vecernje List, B92 - 05/09/08)

Coach crash kills 13, injures 30 in Croatia

07/09/2008

ZAGREB, Croatia -- A coach crash early on Sunday (September 7th) killed at least 13 people and injured other 30 in Croatia, local authorities reported. The accident happened near the town of Gospic on a motorway linking Zagreb and the port of Split. Police spokeswoman Kristina Maodus said the coach had Slovak number plates but the nationality of the passengers was not immediately known. (HINA, HRT, AFP - 07/09/08)

Explosions, clashes kill four Turkish soldiers

07/09/2008

ANKARA Turkey -- A blast killed two Turkish soldiers in the southeastern province of Sirnak on Friday (September 5th), local authorities said. The soldiers died when explosives planted by militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PK) went off near Sirnak's Guneycam village. The same day, a land mine planted by PKK terrorists killed one Turkish soldier in Yuksekova town of the southeastern province of Hakkari, the General Staff said in a statement posted on its website.

On Saturday, clashes with PKK terrorists killed one Turkish sergeant and injured another two soldiers in the town of Baykan in the southeastern province of Siirt.

In other news, Turkey's air forces announced Friday that a major international military air exercise will take place at the 3rd Main Jet Base in the central province of Konya from Monday (September 8th) to September 19th. Fighters from Turkey, the United States, Italy, Israel and NATO will participate in the exercise, the statement said. (Anadolu news agency, CNN Turk, NTV, Xinhua - 05/09/08)

Thousands rally against economic policy in Greece

07/09/2008

ATHENS, Greece -- More than 10,000 people gathered in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Saturday (September 6th) to protest against the government's economic policy. The rally was organised by the General Confederation of Workers of Greece. Demonstrators marched through the city just as Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis was giving his annual speech on the economy at the opening of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair. Some protesters threw homemade bombs, and a number of businesses were damaged. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and arrested 10 people. In addition, four people were slightly injured during clashes between two rival protest groups. (Kathimerini, In.news, Naftemporiki, DPA - 07/09/08; ANA-MPA, ERT, SKAI, AP, AFP - 06/09/08)

Police seize 2.4 tonnes of marijuana in south-western Bulgaria

07/09/2008

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Police in southwestern Bulgaria seized 2.4 tonnes of marijuana in the latest in a series of drug raids, the interior ministry said on Friday (September 5th). The drug was seized in fields around the towns of Blagoevgrad, Petrich, Sandanski and Gotze Delchev, long known for cultivating cannabis. Raids in the region in August led to the confiscation of almost six tonnes of marijuana. (BTA, Darik, BNR, NETinfo, Focus, AFP – 05/09/08)