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Top News > Balkans
Latest news from the Balkans
SETimes

2010-03-16, What's in a name? Brdo summit to take place

With or without Serbia, the planned EU-Balkans summit reportedly will be held in the Slovenian town of Brdo on Saturday.
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2010-03-16, NATO committed to BiH, commander says

NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo Commander Brigadier General John W Bullard says that Bosnia and Herzegovina will have to make tough decisions to facilitate its accession into NATO.
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2010-03-16, Diplomatic Diary: Croatia calls for regional co-operation

Croatia urges dialogue to overcome conflicts among states from the former Yugoslavia. Also in diplomatic news: Macedonia's foreign minister visits Kosovo, while Serbia and Albania sign an anti-terrorism agreement.
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2010-03-16, Turkey asks EU to lift visa requirements

ANKARA, Turkey -- Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu urged the EU on Monday (March 15th) to end visa requirements for Turkish citizens. The request cam...
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2010-03-16, UN's Downer rejects reports of meeting on Cyprus

NICOSIA, Cyprus -- UN envoy to Cyprus Alexander Downer rejected media speculation Monday (March 15th) about an upcoming international conference on C...
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2010-03-16, EU finance ministers discuss Greece

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- EU finance ministers meet in Brussels on Tuesday (March 16th) to discuss the situation in Greece, whose officials are to present...
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2010-03-16, Watchdog says Greece spends big on weapons

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report Monday (March 15th) listing Greece among the world's top...
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2010-03-16, Albania completes more of EU questionnaire

TIRANA, Albania -- The government completed nine more chapters of the European Commission's wide-ranging questionnaire Monday (March 15th), a require...
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2010-03-16, Pukanic's suspected killer pleads not guilty

ZAGREB, Croatia -- Serb Bojan Guduric pleaded not guilty Monday (March 15th) to charges of murdering prominent Croatian publisher and journalist Ivo...
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2010-03-16, EP's Kacin says BiH ready for visa liberalisation

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- European Parliament (EP) member Jelko Kacin has sent a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and EU Enlargement Com...
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2010-03-16, US ambassador urges Kosovo to fight corruption

PRISTINA, Kosovo -- US Ambassador Christopher Dell urged the public Monday (March 15th) to become more engaged in fighting corruption, rather than wa...
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2010-03-16, Serbia sentences two for war crimes in Croatia

BELGRADE, Serbia -- The High Court convicted two former Croatian Serb soldiers Monday (March 15th) of war crimes against civilians during the 1991-19...
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2010-03-16, Austria's Fischer says Croatia could join EU in 2012

VIENNA, Austria -- President Heinz Fischer said on Monday (March 15th) that Croatia could wrap up its EU accession talks by the end of this year and...
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2010-03-16, Macedonia: Ohrid hosts customs agencies' forum

SKOPJE, Macedonia -- An annual meeting of directors of customs administrations opened on Monday (March 15th) in the town of Ohrid. The conference was...
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2010-03-16, Bulgaria's Dyankov says no rise in health insurance contributions

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov confirmed on Monday (March 15th) that the government has dropped the idea of raising health insura...
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2010-03-16, Strike halts FBiH rail traffic

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- Rail traffic throughout the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) ground to a halt again Monday (Marc...
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2010-03-16, Summit on Romanian constitutional changes fails

BUCHAREST, Romania -- A summit of parliamentary parties at President Traian Basescu's office failed on Monday (March 15th) when the opposition Social...
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2010-03-15, Kosovo Serb mayor looks to a better future

The mayor of the Serb-majority town of Strpce shares his "super combined" goal of economic development through winter sports with a vision of multiethnic tolerance.
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BIRN

2009-09-24, Serbia’s Roma Put Hope in Farm Cooperative

A pioneering enterprise in Vojvodina gives farmers from the Roma community greater access to the market.
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2009-09-24, Relocating Displaced Roma in Belgrade

The Belgrade authorities say plans to move hundreds of Roma residents from their slum will go ahead, in spite of opposition from other inhabitants of the city who do not want the Roma as their neighbours.
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2009-09-24, Roma Internet Center Breaks Prejudices

Community sets up Roma internet center to boost minority’s education level.
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2009-09-24, Serbia Helps Roma Students

With little schooling or financial resources, it is tough for Serbia’s Roma to make it to university, but the government’s affirmative action is beginning to signal a change for the better.
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2009-09-24, Serbia’s Roma Media Fight for Survival

Roma-language TV and radio have experienced difficulties with the regulatory authorities, but Roma broadcasters continue to reach a substantial audience.
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2009-09-24, Kosovo: a Gunrunners’ Paradise

Legal loopholes and ineffective law enforcement have been a blessing for Kosovo gunrunners who have benefited from the authorities’ failure to address the problem.

By Krenar Gashi in Pristina

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2009-09-24, Comment: Who will Run Croatia?

Uncertainty over the make-up of Croatia’s new government causes few concerns outside the country as it prepares to become the next member of the EU and NATO.

By Christopher Cviic in London
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2009-09-24, Kosovo: A Chapter Closes

Serbia’s reliance on Russia to keep Kosovo appears to have backfired by prompting EU countries to line up behind the independence option in order to show their unity.

By Tim Judah in London
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2009-09-24, Tirana - Choking on Growth

Albania’s capital becomes a victim of its own phenomenal growth, as the city’s environmental problems multiply. 
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2009-09-24, Romania: Who Cares About Politics?

Voters’ disappointment and ignorance marred Romania’s first European elections, while a referendum on changing the electoral system failed due to low turnout.

By Marian Chiriac in Bucharest
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Reporter

2009-12-18, Greece to pass tax reform bill till March

Greece expects to pass a tax reform bill early March, with a view to boosting revenues from 2011, the country's finance minister said on Friday, adding the legislation was key to shore up public finances.
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2009-12-18, Slovenia: Gorenje sees EUR 10 M profit in 2010

The supervisors of household appliance maker Gorenje confirmed on Thursday the targets for next year, projecting EUR 1.24bn in sales revenues and a net profit of EUR 10.09m. According to a press release by the Velenje-based company, sales revenues are expected to reach EUR 1.16bn this year, a 12.8% decrease on 2008.
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2009-12-18, Bulgaria: Eurohold Bulgaria to guarantee loan of EUR 10 M

At an extraordinary meeting on January 18, shareholders of Eurohold Bulgaria will vote on a proposal to guarantee a loan of EUR 10 mln provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to Eurohold’s leasing unit Eurolease Auto, the conglomerate said in a statement. EBRD requires cofinancing from Bulgarian banks at the amount of EUR 25 mln for 2010. Eurohold Bulgaria must guarantee the combined loans as an additional condition for financing from the EBRD.
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2009-12-16, Turkey: Unemployment rate remains unchanged at 13.4% in Sep'09

Turkish unemployment rate for Sep'09 (Aug-Sep-Oct period) as 13.4%, unchanged vis-à-vis Aug'09. Non-farm unemployment rate receded slightly to 16.9% in Sep'09 from 17% in Aug'09.
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2009-12-16, Croatia: Atlantska plovidba sees net loss of USD 4 -6 M in 2010

On a press conference held on Tuesday, December 15, CEO of the company, Mr. Ante Jerkovic announced that figures for the end of the year will be satisfying and above expectations. Company should reach a net loss of between USD 4mn and USD 6mn, which is above their previous FY09 estimates of USD 30mn in net loss, said by Jerkovic.
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2009-12-16, Bulgaria turns to current account gap on weak tourism revenues

On weak toursim revenues, the current account slipped back to the red in October, show figures of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB). The shortfall totalled EUR 252 M (down 78% YoY) compared to a break-even current account in September and surpluses of over EUR 214 M and EUR 134 M for August and July, respectively.
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2009-12-15, Bulgaria: BNB sees earnings down to BGN 80.2 M in 2010

The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) sees its earnings at BGN 80.2 mln in 2010, down from BGN 456.0 mln projected for 2009, the central bank’s draft budget showed. The central bank expects the income from the management of its international currency reserve to diminish to BGN 161 mln in 2010 as a result of the financial crisis, vs. BGN 491.6 mln projected for 2009. BNB expects an annual increase of 5.2% in its currency reserves to BGN 22.5 bn in 2010.
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2009-12-15, Slovenia: Unemployment to surpass 100,000 in early 2010

Labour Minister Ivan Svetlik told parliament on Monday that the jobless figure is anticipated to rise beyond 100,000 early next year, after standing at around 97,000 at the end of the year. Answering a question from an opposition MP, Svetlik told questions time at the outset of the December plenary of the National Assembly that the number of unemployed at the end of March 2010 is expected to stand at 101,000.
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2009-12-14, Turkey: Court closes down pro-Kurdish party

Turkey's High the Court closed pro-kurdish partym DTP and imposed a political ban on 37 party members including two prominent MPs. The immediate consequence of the ruling will be on parliamentary arithmetic as DTP MPs announced that they would pull out from the parliament.
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2009-12-14, Bulgaria: Gov't to collect about BGN 400 M from state-owned companies

The Government plans to collect about BGN 400m from state-owned companies such as SofiaAirport, Bulgarian Energy Holding, Air Traffic Control and Kinteks, a distributor of military-relatedproducts. Separately the Prime Minister announced that 1.1 million retired people will receive aChristmas bonus of BGN 25 in the beginning of January. The eligible persons are those with amonthly pension of below BGN 200.
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2009-12-14, Croatia: Institut IGH to have tough next year - CEO

On a Christmas banquet held for partners and journalists, Mr. Jure Radic, CEO of Institut IGH announced tough year 2010. According to announcement, following year should be tough as was the current one. Although this year was year of the crisis and development stagnation, business result will be very positive and one of the best years for the company.
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2009-12-11, Cyprus: Billateral negotiations to speed up in a bid for final settlement

Leaders of the Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus are speeding up their 16-month long negotiations in a bid to reach a settlement by next March.
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2009-12-11, Turkey Economy contracts 3,3% in Q309

Turkey's economy contracted 3.3 per cent in the third quarter of 2009, Turkey's statistics authority, TUIK, said Thursday.
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2009-12-11, Greece: C-Bank advises bank to limit ECB exposure

Greece's central bank Governor had recently advised domestic banks to limit their ECB exposure.Nevertheless, sources said that the four largest domestic banks are considering participating in next week’s LTRO.
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2009-12-11, Greece: Govt plans to revamp 2010 budget

According to sources, following the market turmoil, the government plans to revamp its proposed 2010 budget and introduce new stricter measures to deal with the country’s deficit.
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2009-12-11, Croatia: Construction works down 9.4% in September

Central Bureau of Statistics announced figures for construction sector in September. Construction work went down by 9.4% y/y while on the cumulative level, drop amounted to 4.4% y/y in the first nine months. New building still dominate in the structure of construction work, however their stake somewhat weakened from 63.2% to 59.4% in the total construction work. In October there were 1,114 building permits issued which represents a drop of 12.1 y/y. Unlike data for finalized construction work which is almost equally balanced between buildings and civil engineering work, new building permits are 87.4% issued for buildings.
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2009-12-11, Bulgaria's GDP contracts 5.4% in Q3/2009

Bulgaria's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by a preliminary 5.4% y-oy bn in real terms to BGN 18.056 in Q3’ 2009, while aggregate GDP dropped by an annual 4.7% to BGN 48.339 bn in the nine-months through September, data of the National Statistics Office (NSI) indicated on Thursday.
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2009-12-08, Greece: Fitch Downgrades Greece to 'BBB+'; Outlook Negative

Bulgaria's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by a preliminary 5.4% y-oy bn in real terms to BGN 18.056 in Q3’ 2009, while aggregate GDP dropped by an annual 4.7% to BGN 48.339 bn in the nine-months through September, data of the National Statistics Office (NSI) indicated on Thursday.
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2009-12-08, Turkey: Fitch's upgrade confirms Turkey's resilience- Minister

Foreign Trade Minister Zafer Çağlayan said during a ceremony that that international credit rating agency Fitch’s decision on Thursday to upgrade Turkey’s sovereign rating by two notches to BB+ confirmed that the global economic crisis has indeed left the Turkish economy relatively unscathed.
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2009-12-08, Turkey: Industrial production up 6.5% in October

Turkey's industrial production posted a surprise rise of 6.5 percent on the year in October, the Turkish Statistics Institute said on Tuesday, signalling the economy is recovering after several months' steep contraction.
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2009-12-04, Slovenia: Banks accept Petrol's plan for Istrabenz debt restructuring

The banks owed money by the insolvent Istrabenz holding agreed on Wednesday to accept a debt restructuring plan, Istrabenz chairman Bogdan Topic told STA. Topic would not go into the details of the plan, but media reports say that it is based on a proposal submitted by energy group Petrol.
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2009-12-04, Bulgaria: Moody's withdraws ratings of FIB for "business reasons"

Moody's Investors Service withdrew the ratings of First Investment Bank for business reasons, the global ratings agency said on Wednesday. 'This action was taken with the consent of both parties and does not reflect a change in the bank's creditworthiness,' Moody's said.
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2009-12-02, Bulgaria: Eurohold turns to losses of BGN 3.5 M in 9-mo

Eurohold Bulgaria posted a negative bottom line of BGN 3.581 mln in the nine-months through September, vs. a net profit of BGN 35.995 mln in the respective period of 2008. Sales revenue of the conglomerate rose by 29% y-oy to BGN 269.618 mln but its income from financial operations slumped by 77% on the year to BGN 9.149 mln. Moreover, operating expenses increased faster than revenues, by an annual 36%.
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