Archive for the month of September 2008

Macedonia's president and premier disagree over name dispute

30 Sep, 2008 Balkanblog

In Macedonia, president Branko Crvenkovski accused premier Nikola Gruevski of hurting the name talks with Greece. Crvenkovski accused Gruevski of not taking a firm position on the latest proposals by UN envoy Nimetz, saying "Gruevski’s intention is to avoid any responsibility.”

The name dispute has been dragging on for 17 years, but is now threatening Macedonia's accession to the European Union and NATO because of Greek opposition.

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Serbia may consider partitioning Kosovo

30 Sep, 2008 Balkanblog

Serbian president Boris Tadic said he is willing to consider the option of partitioning Kosovo, wlthough he would favor a solution with "substantial" autonomy for Kosovo. He added that "anything is preferable to a situation where one side lost everything and the other won it all."

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Bosnia rejects poll monitors Kosovo

29 Sep, 2008 Balkanblog

Bosnia has refused to accredit monitors from Kosovo to oversee its local elections October 5. The invitation was sent in May to the OSCE's Kosovo commission chair. Since then, the function has been taken over by Kosovo.

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Financial injection for EU candidates

29 Sep, 2008 Balkanblog

The European Commission agreed to issue a total of €4.471 billion in aid to candidate countries Croatia, Macedonia, Turkey, and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo. This is part of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). The funds will be spent between 2008 and 2010 on institution building, improving governance and the rule of law.

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Macedonian prosecutors to file charges against legislators

28 Sep, 2008 Balkanblog

Prosecutors in Macedonia said they intend to file charges against Hisen Xhemaili and Hayrula Missini, both members of the Democratic Union for Integration. Xhemaili is one of 23 people suspected in the 2001 kidnapping and torture of four construction workers, while Missini is suspected of involvement in cutting off the Lipkovo reservoir water supply to the northern town of Kumanovo.

After Xhemaili and 20 others failed to appear in court, a warrant for their arrest was issued. Macedonia has an amnesty for former rebels, but crimes against humanity are excluded.

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Kosovo to join World Bank and IMF in 2009

25 Sep, 2008 Balkanblog

Vice-president of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia, Shigeo Katsu announced Kosovo will become a member of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund at the latest by the first half of 2009.

Katsu reiterated that the funds pledged to Kosovo at the Donor Conference in July 2008 have to turn into concrete actions, which would improve the lives of Kosovars.

Kosovo has been invited to attend the annual meetings of both institutions in Washington in October.

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No Polish ambassador to Kosovo

25 Sep, 2008 Balkanblog

Poland’s president, Lech Kaczynski, refused to sign off on a Polish ambassador to Kosovo. The Polish government recognized Kosovo only days after it's unilateral declaration of independence. Kaczynski called that move a mistake.

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Macedonia's president addresses UN General Assembly

25 Sep, 2008 Balkanblog

Macedonia's president, Branko Crvenkovski, addressed the UN General Assembly. He stated: "The Republic of Macedonia is ready to accept a fair compromise and reasonable solution which is not going to deny our national and cultural identity." Adding: "We should not allow ourselves to be humiliated and to experience internal destabilization due to ill compromise."

Talks between Macedonia and Greece can be frozen for a year if the two sides cannot come to a solution.

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Swiss concerns over Kosovo ambassador

25 Sep, 2008 Balkanblog

Switzerland's foreign ministry said it has concerns over Kosovo's proposed ambassador to Bern, Naim Mala. Swissinfo reported that Mala has been accused of war crimes during the 1990's. He gained Swiss citizenship in 2004.

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