Archive for the month of May 2010

Serbia: EULEX no right to impose bans on Serbian officials

27 May, 2010 Balkanblog

Serbian president Boris Tadic says that "no one" has the right to prevent Serbian citizens from entering Kosovo and accused EULEX from taking the side of Kosovo Albanians. His statement came in response to an announcement from EULEX that unannounced visits to Kosovo by Serbian officials would be prohibited.

Serbian minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic said that Serbia's decision could jeopardize Belgrade's future cooperation with the EU mission.

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Mladic family wants him declared legally dead

26 May, 2010 Balkanblog

The family of Ratko Mladic, charged with genocide and wanted by the ICTY, is trying to have him declared legally dead. A lawyer for the Mladic family said a request could be made when a missing person was over 70 and there had been no reliable information on his whereabouts for more than five years. The family said they would pursue this "because of the prosecution they are facing".

The head of the Serbian National Council for cooperation with the ICTY called the actions of the family a mockery of the state.

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Convicted war criminal flees

23 May, 2010 Balkanblog

Momir Savic, sentenced to 18 years on July, 2009 for war crimes, disappeared. This happened a day after the Bosnian Appeals Court decreased his prison sentence to 17 years. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Source: B92
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EULEX will not recognize outcome Kosovska Mitrovica elections

23 May, 2010 Balkanblog

EULEX said it will not recognize the results of municipal elections in northern Kosovska Mitrovica because it doesn't recognize the parallel structures. The elections are organized by Serbia and are scheduled for May 30.

UNMIK said it learned about the elections through local media. "We were not informed by Belgrade or anyone else officially," said a spokes person.

Source: B92
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NATO announced KFOR troop reduction

22 May, 2010 Balkanblog

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that the number of KFOR troops will be reduced to 5,000 in January 2011. He mentioned the improved overall security situation in Kosovo.

"I must stress that when KFOR finishes its transition to the appropriate level of presence, we will still have 2,000 soldiers on the ground and many more in the reserves if needed." He did not mention any time line.

See:
SACEUR: KFOR troop reduction likely this year

Source:

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Brammertz: ICTY mandate likely to end in 2014

21 May, 2010 Balkanblog

ICTY chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz said that the tribunal's mandate will most likely end in 2014. Mechanisms will be developed in order to deal with unresolved issues, including trials of fugitives that will be arrested after the mandate ends. Most trials are expected to end by 2012 and appeals by the end of 2014.

See: ICTY mandate extended

Source: B92

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Karadzic claims food convoys were used for smuggling weapons

16 May, 2010 Balkanblog

Sindh Today claims that during his trial in The Hague Radovan Karadzic testified that humanitarian convoys were used to smuggle weapons to Muslims in the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. "Everything was smuggled through these convoys – weapons, military equipment, cameras, food," Karadzic is quoted as saying. He is also quoted as saying that Bosnian Serb forces stopped only a few convoys, and that Muslim sold the humanitarian food on the black market.

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KFOR sends reinforcements to border with Macedonia

15 May, 2010 Balkanblog

KFOR has sent reinforcement to the border crossing with Macedonia after two ethic Albanians from Kosovo and two from Macedonia were killed by Macedonian police as the four were smuggling weapons. KFOR said the troops will remain there for as long as needed.

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Serbia says it will do everything to locate and arrest Mladic

15 May, 2010 Balkanblog

Serbian president Boris Tadic met with ICTY chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz. In a statement, Tadic said Serbia will do everything to locate, arrest and transfer the two remaining fugitives, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. The lack of results can still be a show stopper for Serbia's EU aspirations.

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Dear Canada Post

14 May, 2010 Stephan 3 Comments

Dear Canada Post,

I know that common sense seems to be in short supply with the economy the way it is and all. But if you happen to see that the heavy, oversized envelope you're about to squeeze in the tiny undersized mail box really is too large, please don't shred it to pieces as you are persisting.

If it really doesn't fit, just drop me a note and I'll gladly pick it up at the post office. In one piece.

Thank you?

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