Balkanalysis.com

Croatian EU Accession Talks Clouded by Gotovina Issue

February 27, 2005

Croatia’s EU accession talks, slated to start on the 17th of March, are in doubt, according to Reuters and the SE European Times, among others. The website cites Stability Pact for Southeast Europe chief Erhard Busek, who told Austrian media on Saturday that he “doubts” Croatia will have turned over the goods – in the [...]

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Behind the Turkish Boycott in Macedonia: Interview with Kenan Hasipi

February 24, 2005

Kenan Hasipi, the 50 year-old leader of the Turkish Democratic Party (TDP), has been making waves recently with his party’s decision to boycott the upcoming local elections in the municipality of Vrapciste, which is slated to be combined with a neighboring Albanian one (Negotino). We spoke with him Wednesday in a special interview that covered [...]

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Russia to Pay Off Macedonia Debt with Skopje Gas Pipeline

February 23, 2005

MIA announced yesterday that the Russian and Macedonian governments have agreed on a plan by which some $15 million of the former’s debt will be paid off with the construction of a natural gas pipeline ring around Skopje.The project, which will be led by Russia’s Rosneftegazstroy and include the Macedonian company Gama, as well as [...]

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Vrapciste Turks to Boycott Macedonia Local Elections

February 22, 2005

According to Dnevnik on 17 February, the Democratic Party of Turks will boycott the local elections in Vrapciste, in objection to a perceived pattern of discrimination from the Albanian political parties and wariness over the new municipal boundaries that will dilute the Turkish presence and help consolidate Albanian control. The newspaper cites party leader Kenan [...]

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Dubrovnik: A History

February 13, 2005

Dubrovnik: A History By Robin Harris Saqi (2003), 503 pp., 40 pages of glossy color illustrations In Dubrovnik: A History, British author Robin Harris sets out, in his own words, to create for the first time “a modern, well-sourced and readable account of the history of the Ragusan Republic” (p. 17). Documenting the triumphs and [...]

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Break Out the Popcorn! The Forces of Freedom Versus the 10 Million Martyrs

February 5, 2005

The American Empire will come to an end as a direct result of its own hubristic warmongering around the globe; that much is certain. It only remains to be seen when, where, and through what agency will the knockout blow be delivered.President Bush’s re-inaugural speech, which called for toppling tyrants everywhere, is diametrically opposed to [...]

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Sibel Edmonds: FBI’s Compromised Security Damages Turkey’s Security, Too

February 3, 2005

In a new interview for the Turkish publication Vatan, former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds provides a general recap of her extraordinary story (the details of which can be found here), but also provides several new details of interest to Vatan’s Turkish audience. In the enigmatic fashion that has characterized all of Edmonds’ under-the-gag-order limited disclosures, [...]

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Serb Villagers Defend Wildlife from UK Mining Giant

February 1, 2005

Wary over mining-related environmental disasters (such as the one referred to yesterday), residents of two Serbian villages vowed to fight the arrival of British company European Nickel, which won a license last year to explore in advance of potential nickel mining in two places – including a protected national park. According to Tanjug, their efforts [...]

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