Kosovo Faces Long Road Ahead in Stemming Drug Trade 20/01/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">[SETimes file photo]</font><br><br> Once only a way station on the dark highways of the European drug trade, Kosovo has developed into a market in its own right.
The trail left by the passage of heroin and cannabis is evident, especially in Kosovo's capital city, Pristina. By Natan Dotan for Southeast European Times in Pristina - 20/01/03According to WHO/UNICEF, 11.6 per cent of young people interviewed in Pristina during a recent survey on youth and substance abuse said they have experimented with heroin.The survey also found that 6.4 per cent of youths interviewed in the province had tried the drug - a figure which places Kosovo high on the list of European regions afflicted with heroin use.The police response has been sporadic.
Though unable to provide precise data on the amount of heroin seized in recent years, police press releases have indicated that seizures usually recover only small amounts - grams as opposed to kilograms.
Explaining the initial weakness of the police response to the Kosovo drug problem, UN international police spokesman Barry Fletcher said that in its earlier years, the UN police's main concern had been its own development and that of the Kosovo Police Service.
This, along with the necessity of targeting the "extremely violent crimes" that predominated in those earlier years, made it impossible for police to focus on other crimes such as drug smuggling.The police aren't the only ones facing a lack of co-ordination and planning with regards to the drug problem.
The Pristina Hospital, for example, records approximately one case of drug overdose per week.
But when these overdoses prove fatal, the cause of death is recorded as "tragic," not as drug-related, according to Dr Edona Deva.
As a result, there is no clear indication of the number of people who have died of substance abuse.Despite some significant drug busts - last month, for example, 3.75 kg of heroin was seized in Prizren - legislation that might deter the trafficking and consumption of illegal drugs remains sparse.
While the trafficking of drugs is indeed punishable in Kosovo, "the use of illicit drugs and the possession of drugs for own consumption is not criminalised in the current law," says the WHO/UNICEF report on drug use.This looseness of regulations is reflected in the treatment of apprehended drug users.
According to several narcotics users, individuals taken into police custody are usually detained for no more than 72 hours.
After this time has elapsed, and after the seizure of whatever illegal drugs they may have possessed, the detainee is freed.
Only when an individual has been apprehended with a significant amount of narcotics - that is, an amount that might indicate intent to distribute - does the individual await a court hearing to be evaluated as a consumer or a trafficker.<table border="0" align="right" width="169" height="252"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/030102-NATANphoto.jpg" align="right" width="169" height="252"></td> <tr> <td><FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">The WHO/UNICEF survey found that 6.4 per cent of youths interviewed in Kosovo had tried heroin. [SETimes file photo]</font></td> </tr> </table> One factor facilitating the spread of drugs in Kosovo has been their low cost.
At approximately 30 euros, said several drug users, the cost of a gram of heroin in Kosovo is the lowest in Europe.
Considered also on a broader international scale, Kosovo's prices are low.
While a matchbox full of cannabis, about 3 to 5 grams, costs around 5 euros in Kosovo, on the streets of New York City the same amount may fetch between $17 and $30.The demand for drugs in Kosovo is not exclusively limited to illegal narcotics.
Abuse of pharmaceuticals has also become an issue.
For example, Trodon, a type of methadone, is illegal for consumption without a doctor's prescription.
But according to the WHO/UNICEF report on substance abuse, "Trodon could be bought without prescription in 75 per cent of the pharmacies in Pristina that were visited."
At 3 euros, a pack of Trodon, which may last a user for about a week, is an inexpensive alternative to other, illegal narcotics.Targeting this type of drug abuse becomes more complicated because Trodon has legitimate uses.
Thus it is hard to tackle the problem through supply reduction - that is, by targeting traffickers and co-operating with international and border police.
But supply reduction, says WHO psychologist Aliriza Arenliu, is only one of two ways in which drug abuse may be dealt with.
Another is reduction of demand.
According to Arenliu, this could be accomplished through education of the public, especially youth, regarding the effects and consequences of psychoactive substances, including all types of narcotics.The type of drug education of which Arenliu speaks has not yet found an effective, properly co-ordinated, incarnation.
Education efforts remain both sporadic and disparate.
The current disunity of theory, policy and implementation may soon change, however, as policy-making bodies begin to move past their formative stages.
The Inter-ministerial Council on Psychoactive Substances (IMCPS) - an organisation established largely in response to the WHO/UNICEF report and the "action framework" that followed - is preparing an inclusive plan for the targeting of Kosovo's drug problem.
"The problem is two-fold," says Arenliu, who leads the IMCPS Working Group, "with the necessities of planning and co-ordination on one hand, and the situation in the field on the other."Though this explains the lack of evident in-the-field progress, the urgency and necessity of intervention remains.
"All of these things - the lack of co-ordination, the arrests of users in possession of small quantities, the lack of sufficient understanding of drug problems among minorities - make for an ideal environment for the increase, not the decrease of drug use.
This is why intervention is necessary," Arenliu says.Still in its early stages of development, Kosovo faces a long, uncertain road ahead.
Policy-making, legislation, and executive action - just now beginning to take shape - will have a vital impact upon the development of Kosovo's newly autonomous society.
The issue of drugs, already entwining itself into Kosovo's ministries and caf�s alike, will doubtless be at the forefront in the years to come.




An OSCE 'Eye-opener' for Youth in the Former Yugoslavia 06/01/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">The MCC consists of 16 shipping containers with radio and TV studios, an Internet cafe, library, office, dressing room for the stage, kitchen, toilets and washrooms and a storeroom. [MCC]</font><br><br> For the past two years, they have been travelling from city to city in the Balkans.
When they arrive, they set their containers in a circle, covered by a big coloured dome.
They organise concerts and theatre performances and offer teenagers the opportunity to use modern technology. By Zoran B. Nikolic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 06/01/03A large round structure sits in an empty field in the heart of Novi Pazar, the centre of Serbia's Muslim minority.
Large metal boxes, originally shipping containers, are arranged in a circle under a giant, coloured plastic dome.
It looks like a circus.
"It's an Internet circus - that's what I tell local children when they ask me what this is," says Moni Schuman, a Mobile Culture Container (MCC) staff member.The MCC, a project for youth between ages 14 and 21 in the former Yugoslavia, is run by Defence of our Future, a Viennese foundation.
Freimut Duve, the OSCE representative for Freedom of Media, initiated the foundation, which is being implemented in the framework of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe.
It is defined as a "test-project for young people in post-conflict regions"."We wanted to address the issue of hate speech in the region, starting at the secondary school level.
We explicitly want to work against any kind of group identification and instead promote the idea of a citizen's identification," said Duve.The MCC consists of 16 shipping containers with radio and TV studios, an Internet cafe, library, office, dressing room for the stage, kitchen, toilets and washrooms and a storeroom.A team of eight, mostly from Southeast Europe, runs it.
Achim Koch, who is the director, technical supervisor and project designer, comes from Germany.They travel from city to city, remaining for five weeks at each place, at the mayor's invitation.
When they arrive, they set containers in a circle and cover the space in the centre with the dome.
There, they organise concerts and theatre performances, discussions, workshops, exhibitions, dancing and music.They form a high school newspaper in each city, leaving all the necessary equipment and money for printing on their departure.
In the past two years, the project has visited ten cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia.<table border="0" align="left" width="288" height="216"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/030106-ZORAN2.jpg" align="left" width="288" height="216"></td> </tr> </table> The assistance of schools, local press, NGOs and youth clubs is necessary in order to implement this project.
In the mornings, school classes and youth clubs are invited to discuss the future.
By arrangement with school heads and youth group leaders, young people can get to know the MCC, use it and talk about their prospects for the future.
After the discussion, participants can enroll in several workshops: literature, theatre, graffiti, fashion, painting, set design, research, newspapers, radio, video, digital photography and Internet.The project has initiated ten youth newspapers in and around the cities it visited.
The first newspaper team was founded in Cacak (Yugoslavia, 2001) followed by Gorazde, Visegrad (BiH, 2001), Mostar, Stolac, Banja Luka, Jajce, Blagaj (BiH, 2002), Skopje (Macedonia, 2002) and Mitrovica (Kosovo, 2002).
The newspapers are networked and their product goes online as soon as it is printed.Contacts are maintained via the Internet after the MCC has moved on to other towns.
In addition, young people from the former "mobile culture towns" are invited to visit the new locations.
In 2001, there were visits from Tuzla to Osijek and from Tuzla and Osijek to Cacak.
In Gorazde, people came from all of the towns that had been visited previously.A visit to Mitrovica in September and October was the most challenging so far.
This town is still divided into northern Serbian and southern Albanian sections, separated by the Ibar River.
Despite UNMIK's continuous efforts, there is still little communication between the two parts.The MCC was set up at the well-known bridge of Mitrovica.
From the centre of the bridge, steps led to an artificial island in the middle of the river and then to the containers via a small footbridge.After initial reluctance, young Serbs and Albanians flocked to the MCC and started working together.
Besides the usual MCC activities, they ran 88 hours of a bilingual radio programme that could be heard all over Kosovo.
More than 5,000 people visited the MCC and 300 participated in the workshops.In Mitrovica, their efforts started to bear fruit.
With the help of UNMIK and some international organisations, a co-ordination team they left behind succeeded in obtaining space in the KFOR confidence zone to set up a place for meetings and a room for the newspaper.
The first edition of the youth newspaper came out this month with a circulation of 1,000 copies in Albanian and 1,000 copies in Serbian.The containers are now in winter hibernation in Sarajevo.
The original plan was to conclude the MCC tour after two years.
But in 2003 the project will go on a short tour either to the previously visited cities or near them.
Its mission will be long-term support for the work of the youth newspapers.
The youth in each city will now begin to produce a daily newspaper, supported by radio and TV work.
Currently, MCC is looking for partner stations to broadcast these productions.At the end of the tour, the whole structure and the equipment will stay permanently at one of the visited cities where the most work remains to be done - probably Mostar or Mitrovica.




Serbian Political Crisis Endangers Reform 13/01/2003 Vojislav Kostunica is unable either to get himself elected as Serbian President or to vote out the government of Zoran Djindjic.
Kostunica's incompetence and Djindjic's recklessness might give some more backwards-looking forces another chance. By Zoran B. Nikolic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 13/01/03No one knows when or how Serbia will get an elected president.After two unsuccessful election cycles, the only certainty is that Natasa Micic, Serbia's parliament speaker, has become acting president and Serbia's first female head of state.
Former President Milan Milutinovic, once a close ally of Slobodan Milosevic, has been indicted for war crimes by the UN tribunal, so he will probably go to The Hague immediately afterwards.But the ongoing fight between the reformers and "democratic nationalists" who together ousted Milosevic two years ago could give the indictees and their supporters another chance in Serbian politics in a year or two.The first presidential elections held on 29 September and the runoff on 13 October were declared invalid.
None of the candidates won an absolute majority in the first round.
In a narrow race, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, considered a moderate nationalist,finished ahead of reformist Miroljub Labus, the federal deputy prime minister who had the support of the Serbian ruling coalition DOS, and extreme nationalist Vojislav Seselj, who ran with the personal support of Milosevic.
In the runoff, Kostunica beat Labus by 2 to 1, but the minimum turnout of 50 per cent stipulated by election law wasn't achieved.Parliament then voted to remove a provision requiring a 50 per cent turnout for a runoff.
Under the new law, a 50 per cent turnout requirement applied to the first round, and a candidate would be elected during that round if he received more than half the votes.Failing that, a run-off would take place between the two top vote getters.But, in a change from the old law, the elections would fail completely if the first round turnout was less than 50 per cent, and there would be no runoff.That is exactly what happened in the 8 December repeat elections.
Among only three candidates, Kostunica won 1.7 million votes and Seselj 1.07 million, while overall turnout was an insufficient 45 per cent.
The Reformists didn't have a candidate at all.<table border="0" align="left" width="161" height="252"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/021218-ZORAN2.jpg" align="left" width="161" height="252"></td> <tr> <td><FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Micic</font></td> </tr> </table> In this situation, the new election law authorises the speaker of parliament to "decide on new elections within 60 days".
Since the reformers lack voter support, they may be better off if no president is elected.
Micic, who belongs to the reformist bloc, first tried to interpret the law as suggesting elections may not have to be scheduled at all, allowing her to act as president indefinitely.She later announced, however, that she will schedule elections by 8 February.Meanwhile, DSS wouldn't let go of the failed presidential elections.
The party claimed voter registration rolls are inflated by almost 835,000, and that the "real" turnout on 8 December was almost 52 per cent.
If that were true, Kostunica should be proclaimed president.
Both the Election Commission and the Supreme Court rejected the complaint.In fact, although identification numbers of many voters are invalid for one reason or another, it doesn't mean those persons do not exist.
When these voters went to the polls on 8 December, a number of them probably voted for Kostunica.Thus, DSS would like to subtract the voters in question from the overall voting body, but keep their votes.Despite Micic's announcement, DOS has suggested that the election of a new president be postponed until after the new Serbian constitution is passed.
DOS officials are proposing that under the new constitution the president should be elected by the parliament, not by direct vote.
Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, the leader of DOS, favours this solution, but says that now is not the time to discuss presidential elections at all.Kostunica says all this will speed up early parliamentary elections.
But he also says those elections should come after the new constitution is passed.
He has threatened that his party will propose a vote of no confidence if work on the new constitution doesn't start immediately.Government officials, emphasising this has nothing to do with Kostunica's threats, have also acknowledged the need for a new constitutional framework.
Justice Minister Vladan Batic announced that the drafting of a new constitution would begin this month.But if the process of Serbian constitutional reform really were to begin, many new questions would open up.
First, how will the new constitution be passed?
The current constitution stipulates a two-thirds majority in the parliament, followed by a referendum in which more than half of all eligible voters must support constitutional changes.
After that, a two-thirds majority in parliament is again required.The presidential elections showed that it is impossible to bring 50 per cent of Serbian voters to polling stations, let alone get them vote for the same thing.
Kostunica proposed two ways to circumvent this.
The first possibility - more acceptable to Kostunica - is for the existing parliament to pass the new constitution by a two-thirds majority, disregarding the other provisions.
The second is to schedule elections for the Constitutional Assembly.For DOS, adopting the constitution in the existing parliament seems to be the only acceptable solution.
But it is hard to imagine how two feuding sides would agree on the contents of the constitution.
And without such agreement, the two-thirds majority in the parliament couldn't be achieved.In the meantime, there are rumours that the DSS could try to prevent Micic from becoming acting president by dismissing her and electing another parliament speaker.However, DSS's unsuccessful attempt on 14 December to obstruct the passing of a state budget for 2003 showed that Kostunica's party is, at least for now, unable to oust either Djindjic or Micic.
DSS MPs - along with the Socialists, Seselj's Radicals, some MPs from DOS coalition member Nova Srbija, and the Serbian Unity Party, founded by the late warlord Zeljko Raznatovic Arkan - left the session, preventing DOS from gathering a quorum.
But after a one-hour break, DOS managed to bring in several breakaway Socialist MPs, who are holding their seats illegally with the ruling coalition's permission.
They voted against the budget but facilitated the quorum and the budget was passed.Compounding the frustrations for DSS, MPs from several DOS parties that support both Kostunica and Djindjic's government voted for the budget.Djindjic has used this means of parliamentary control many times before and he will undoubtedly use it again.
It allows him to govern Serbia until the end of his mandate and presents Kostunica as being incompetent, thus decreasing his popularity.
The trouble is, Djindjic ultimately doesn't benefit from all this either.
The continuing crisis has the potential to bring some more backwards-looking forces to the forefront.




Which Globalisation is the Way? 17/02/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Dani Rodrik, the well-known Harvard University academic, aptly observed that there is no modern economy that does not blend the public and the private spheres. [World Bank]</font><br><br> With globalisation on the rise after the fall of the Soviet empire, a sense of chaos and frustration remains in many parts of the world.How will the poorer nations fare?
Noted economist and former Romanian Minister of Finance Daniel Daianu offers some solutions. By Daniel Daianu for Southeast European Times in Bucharest - 17/02/03There can hardly be a concept in international life that has triggered more controversy in recent years than globalisation.
Some, particularly in the rich countries, see it as a deus ex machina for doing away with misery and conflict in the world.
Others, especially in the poor countries, see it at the roots of mounting tensions in the world.
Why is it so?
What lies behind this stark cognitive dissonance?
There are two ways of looking at the dispute: one is to scrutinise facts which, directly or indirectly, rightly or wrongly, are related to globalisation; another is to examine the concept itself, its very content.Facts give highly conflicting signals.
Technological change has reduced transportation and transaction (information) costs and speeded up the transfer of know-how, albeit in a highly skewed manner, among regions of the world; the internet connects hundreds of millions of people instantaneously; world trade has expanded tremendously and broadened the scope of choice for individuals throughout the world.
The collapse of communism has expanded the work of market forces and democracy in a large area of the world.
And the very dynamic of the EU can be seen as an alter ego of globalisation on a regional scale.
At the same time, the distribution of wealth in the world seems to be more unequal nowadays than 20 years ago; the myth of the "new economy" has dissipated and corporate scandals in the affluent world show that cronyism and bad governance are a more complex phenomenon than is usually assumed and ascribed geographically; financial and currency crises have been recurrent in emerging markets and have produced economic and social havoc in not a few countries; trade liberalisation has primarily favoured rich countries, which preach what they do not practice; social fragmentation and exclusion have been rising both in rich and in poor countries; there is a sense of disorder and a rising tide of discontent and frustration in many parts of the world; non-conventional threats, the use of mass destruction in particular, are looming menacingly.Arguably, to make sense of the facts is to look at the conceptual underpinnings of globalisation.
And here there is an interpretation of globalisation which is pretty much overloaded ideologically.
Let's be more explicit.
The last couple of decades have clearly been dominated by a paradigm, one which has extolled the virtues of unbridled markets, privatisation and extreme downsizing of the public sector (state intervention in the economy); this philosophy has widened to international markets - finance and trade - and the IFIs have often championed it.
The way the IMF pushed emerging countries into opening their capital accounts during the 90s is a glamorous illustration of this approach.
Another example is the way energy markets were "liberalised" in emerging economies without proper regulations, which should protect consumers.
This paradigm has retreated somewhat in recent years, following disappointing economic performances around the world and the nefarious functioning of financial markets.
But its resilience is powerful and visible even in how it shapes the language used by the media.Globalisation can be understood in a different vein, which looks at the functioning of real markets - with their pros and cons - and which takes into account insights of advanced economic theory such as informational asymmetries, increasing returns (while technological progress is intense), agglomeration effects (clusters), multiple (bad) equilibria, the role of economic geography, and so on.
The salient lessons are obvious: the need for effective regulation of markets; the role of the state in providing public goods; the role of institutions (structures of governance); the need of public goods and good governance in the world economy; the importance of variety and policy ownership in policy-making.
To some, this interpretation may sow seeds of confusion.
But, in this way, one can dispel a biased interpretation of globalisation.
Moreover, globalisation would no longer be assigned an ideological mantra and one-sided policy implications.
Instead, it becomes an open-ended concept, which purports to define the mutual "opening" of societies, under the impetus of technological change and the manifold quest for economic progress.
Moreover, it rids itself of a perceived West-centered origin.
Such an unconstrained interpretation of globalisation would have major repercussions for national public policies and international politics.Thus, national public policies could be fairly pragmatic and varied (not succumbing to fundamentalism) and geared towards the traditional goals of economic growth, price stability and social justice.
Markets would have to be properly regulated and the state would have to provide essential public goods, which crowd in private output.
As the rigged financial and energy markets in the United States have shown, these concerns are valid for rich and poor countries alike.
Dani Rodrik, the well-known Harvard University academic, aptly observed that there is no modern economy that does not blend the public and the private spheres.
An inference would be that going to the extreme with privatisation could be more than deleterious, which is particularly valid in the case of public utilities.The international economy is replete with problems that need adequate answers.
Financial markets - under the pressure of volatile capital flows - function precariously, and the system needs revision.
It appears that one of Keynes' intellectual legacies, enshrined in the Bretton Woods arrangements (namely, that highly volatile capital flows are inimical to trade and prosperity), has not lost relevance.
Those who say that it is hard to fetter capital movements in our times make a strong point, but do not solve the issue.
The volatility of financial flows imparts a deflationary bias to policies worldwide, enhances trade protectionism and competitive exchange rate devaluations.
Ultimately, the international financial system would have to undergo substantive changes in order to avert lethal crises.Free trade cannot benefit poor countries when rich economies heavily subsidise agriculture and use trade barriers whenever they feel "injured"; double talk and hypocrisy make a mockery of the virtues of free trade and give moral ammunition to advocates of fair trade.
Likewise, diminishing aid to very poor countries is hard to justify when acknowledging the huge asymmetries in the world.
A keen sense of urgency and pragmatic vision would demand a different policy in order to deal with the threats of spreading epidemics, massive illegal migration, abject poverty and environmental disasters - not to mention the scourge of international terrorism.
All these challenges make up an agenda which can be assumed by an enlightened interpretation of globalisation.It was refreshing to listen to Tony Blair's expose in front of the British ambassadors recently.
It was heartening to see that a leading Western statesman understands there is a need to listen to the rest of the world, to the voices of the disenfranchised; that unilateralism and narrowly defined interests cannot work in a "global society"; that the values of liberty, decency and morality cannot be divorced from a sense of trying to achieve more justice worldwide.
To sum up: the war against terror needs a much broader agenda and an enlightened interpretation of globalisation would help to this end.




Albanian Foreign Policy: Closer to Geography Than to History 10/02/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta is pursuing dynamic paths in the foreign policy field. [AFP]</font><br><br> Albania is aggressively pursuing a place in the European community with a series of initiatives -from strengthening ties with Belgrade to joining Croatia and Macedonia in a bid for NATO accession. By Remzi Lani for Southeast European Times in Tirana -- 10/02/03The crises in the Balkans seem to have calmed down and there are fewer diplomats than before arriving at the Tirana airport.
Albanian diplomacy, after facing the challenges of war with reasonable success, is now expected to deal with what we can call the challenges of peace.Even though the image of Albania is far from favourable, Tirana is pursuing a dynamic foreign policy.
Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta, who is known for his pragmatism, has succeeded in breaking through certain taboos and pursuing paths which were once considered forbidden.The traditionally difficult relations between Tirana and Belgrade have been substantially improved.
Meta visited Belgrade earlier this month, proposing the Franco-German model of reconciliation after World War II as a suitable model for relations between the two countries in the post-conflict Balkans."We are responsible for the future, not for the past," said Meta during his visit.A couple of weeks later, the Yugoslav airline JAT resumed flights between Albania and Belgrade, after 21 years of interruption.
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Covic was aboard the first flight.The shadow of Kosovo is still present in Tirana-Belgrade relations.
But the most recent Albanian foreign policy initiatives appear not to have irritated Pristina.<table border="0" align="left" width="288" height="199"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/030128-REMZIphoto2.jpg" align="left" width="288" height="199"></td> <tr> <td><FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Meta (left) and UNMIK chief Michael Steiner. [AFP]</font></td> </tr> </table> Tirana is seeking a cautious opening towards Kosovo.
UNMIK head Michael Steiner and Kosovo Prime Minister Rexhepi often visit the Albanian capital.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Meta paid a visit to Pristina immediately after departing from Belgrade.
Kosovo President Rugova, however, has declined to visit Albania since the autumn of 1997.When discussing Kosovo, Albanian diplomacy invokes Security Council Resolution 1244 and Steiner's formula of "standards before status".
Caught between independence-seeking Kosovars and the international community, which remains skeptical about independence, Tirana prefers to speak in very diplomatic terms.
If it is difficult to satisfy both parties, the aim is at least not to irritate them.Improved relations with Belgrade have shifted attention from what were, until recently, intensive relations with Podgorica.
The fact that the government in Podgorica - by ratifying the Constitution of the new Serbia-Montenegro state -recognised Kosovo as part of Serbia was seen negatively either in Tirana or in Pristina.Meta visited Podgorica last week in an attempt to revitalise relations and maintain the balance with its northern neighbors.Meta has also visited Moscow, a difficult terrain for an Albanian Foreign Minister.
Tirana has traditionally harboured suspicions about the role of Russia in the Balkans, while Moscow takes a similar position regarding the role of Tirana in the so-called "Albanian issue".
Meta's Moscow visit, although it took place in mid-winter, succeeded to a certain degree in melting the ice between the two countries.Even though it was not invited to become a NATO member at the Prague summit, Albania has not abandoned hope.
Before becoming Albanian President, Alfred Moisiu was in charge of an organisation promoting the Alliance.
As President, he has initiated the creation of a club of three Western Balkan countries: Albania, Croatia and Macedonia.
It aims to replace the pre-existing Vilnius club.
The three Presidents -Moisiu, Mesic and Trajkovski - have intensified their contacts and are expected to meet soon in Tirana.
The United States has signaled its support, and the bloc is expected to sign the Adriatic Charter soon.It is still early to weigh the chances of the three small Balkan states, which together have a population of some 10 million, constituting a "critical mass" which will lead to the next extension of NATO.
However, this is not a mission impossible.Albania hopes soon to open negotiations for the Association and Stabilisation Agreement with the EU.
The fact that Greece and Italy will hold the EU presidency during 2003 is considered an advantage.
These two neighbour countries take a more enthusiastic approach regarding the integration of Albania into the EU.Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano's cabinet is looking towards Rome, a position also shared by the Berisha-led opposition.
Nano and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi have met three times within the last six months, and the two countries seem to have left behind the traditional misunderstandings of the past.The start of negotiations with the EU, after several postponements, creates a need for a more balanced position between a European orientation and Albania's pro-American stance.
While supporting the US position on Iraq, the government recently postponed a bilateral agreement with the United States concerning the International Criminal Court.
That move avoided immediate European pressures, but it will be only a matter of months before the agreement is finalised.
Albania will eventually follow the precedent set by Romania.Traditionally the foreign policy of a country is determined by its history and its geography.
Albanian policy, however, remains more a product of geography and pragmatism than of history and romanticism.




Conflicting Perceptions and Economic Challenges 03/02/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">The president of Republika Srpska Mirko Sarovic (left) welcomes High Representative Paddy Ashdown to Banja Luka in May 2002.
Ashdown said that justice, employment and reform in Bosnia topped his priorities. [AFP]</font><br><br> Positive developments encourage optimism concerning the Balkans.
But tensions continue to exist, and it would be foolish to let the region slip off the West's radar screen. By Daniel Daianu for Southeast European Times in Bucharest - 03/02/03An apparent clash of social, political and economic dynamics can puzzle attentive observers of the Western Balkans.
There have been a series of positive developments: wars and violent interethnic clashes have been stopped, democratically organised elections have taken place and political legitimacy has been established throughout the region.
Inflation has been brought under control, with rates that are amazingly low and some economic recovery has occurred.
In fact, Southeast Europe - including the Western Balkans - overtook Central Europe in terms of GDP growth in 2001, and will possibly do the same in 2002.Such tendencies are frequently highlighted -- by international officials such as High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Paddy Ashdown and UNMIK chief Michael Steiner; by reports of IFIs (the EBRD's latest annual report, for instance) and by the head of the Stability Pact, Dr Erhard Busek, among others.
It would be foolish to underestimate these positive tendencies and not try to capitalise on them.
On the other hand, it would be equally foolish to ignore the dark side of the story and the tensions which continue to strain the region.<table border="0" align="left" width="288" height="182"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/021230-DANIEL2.jpg" align="left" width="288" height="182"></td> <tr> <td><FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Mine workers in Kosovo protest to get their jobs back.
Unemployment totals about 60 per cent in Kosovo. [AFP]</font></td> </tr> </table> As a whole, the region is plagued by massive unemployment, totaling about 30 per cent of the entire active population in Serbia and Macedonia, 40 per cent in BiH and more than 60 per cent in Kosovo.
Such unemployment helps breed criminality and the underground economy.
The staggeringly high rates, together with the decay of industry, recalls the earlier decades of the last century, when the region's economic backwardness prodded the well-known economist Paul Rosenstein-Rodan to speak of the need for a "Big Push" to foster development.There is an increasing addiction to foreign aid, which is debilitating to the extent that it does not foster viable economies and mainly finances consumption.
It is true that this assistance has helped rebuild infrastructure, but consumption-related aid is conspicuous.
The migration of young and skilled labor is gathering pace, depleting the most valuable asset of the region.
Low saving and investment ratios throughout the area indicate that current economic recovery has a low chance of turning into sustainable economic growth, unless major technology transfers, which induce substantial productivity gains, occur.
But is the latter probable in the short run?
Inter-regional trade is still much reduced, undermining production and efficiency of firms which could supply their products and services regionwide.
In addition, the region is rife with organised crime which often reaches the upper layers of government.Many citizens are disappointed with the results of unavoidably slow and vacillating reforms, and this shows up in the polls; there is growing apathy among the electorate (see the latest rounds of presidential elections in Serbia) and nationalistic parties are staging a comeback.Constitutional and status-related issues, as well as continuing interethnic strife, could easily unleash new crises.
Against this still very complicated background it makes sense to keep policymakers in the region and abroad alert to the danger of complacency.
The region remains Europe's hotbed.The inherent difficulties of dealing with the unsolved and often seemingly intractable challenges posed by the Western Balkans could be compounded by events taking place outside the region.
One such event is the war against terrorism, which sets new priorities and redirects resources among the major outside players.
The United States, for obvious reasons, is likely to reduce its military and material presence in the region, which would ask for an offsetting act on the part of the EU; the latter would have to increase its multipronged involvement accordingly.
But this is not a clear option or solution at a time of major economic strain in Western Europe as well, and when "the big game in town" seems to be EU enlargement.
Economic pain in the West, combined with a less than smooth unfolding of enlargement, could reduce the amount of concrete attention paid to the Western Balkans.
This could happen at a time when there is an acute need to support the still very fragile local democracies and help move forward with economic reconstruction and reforms.<table border="0" align="right" width="288" height="195"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/021230-DANIEL3.jpg" align="right" width="288" height="195"></td> <tr> <td><FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">The EU summit in Copenhagen seems to have made enlargement in 2004 irreversible. [AFP]</font></td> </tr> </table> Should the region disappear from the radar screen of the West, it would be a very unfortunate, unintended consequence for the local populations and for Europe as a whole.
This is why the EU, in particular, should not let this happen.
The summit in Copenhagen seems to have made enlargement in 2004 irreversible.
Bulgaria and Romania, meanwhile, were given a time target for accession in 2007.
The summit was an excellent occasion to show that European statesmen - in spite of the pressures of such turbulent times - have not lost sight of an unfinished job.
And it was wise for the EU's leading politicians to send a message that eventually the countries of the Western Balkans will be invited to start accession negotiations, and that badly-needed assistance will be available, over the long haul, within the framework of a well-defined program.
This assistance will hopefully be increased - for the region needs more support - and should be focused on turning economies into viable ones.
Rosenstein-Rodan's famous injunction, that Southeast Europe needs a Big Push, has not lost its meaningfulness.
Can the EU rise to this historic challenge?
Likewise, responsible local politicians in the Western Balkans have to continue the uphill battle of trying to deepen democratic processes, mitigate interethnic animosities and simultaneously improve their economies.




Rushing into Capital Accounts Is Risky 03/03/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">[Photo illustration by SETimes]</font><br><br> As part of their preparation for accession into the EU, candidate countries must open capital accounts.Economist and former Romanian Finance Minister Daniel Daianu cautions that acting too quickly may have its pitfalls. By Daniel Daianu for the Southeast European Times in Bucharest - 03/03/03The EU requires all candidates to open their capital accounts (KAL) by the time of accession, but makes no specific demands on speed or procedures to pursue.
In 2001, Romania unilaterally committed itself to liberalising movements of capital by 2004 - well in advance of its prospective date of accession.
There are only two exceptions: one regarding specific money market instruments and another concerning inward land purchasing by foreigners.
While the effort to catch up with other candidate countries is quite laudable, the KAL decision calls for serious examination in view of its possible, less benign consequences.Following the series of wild financial and currency crises worldwide during the last decade, a wide consensus has developed among economists that full opening of the capital account should not be hastened prematurely in emerging economies.
Basic prerequisites for full liberalisation of capital transactions are the existence of a solid growth-supporting macroeconomic framework, the elimination of major structural imbalances and a healthy and well-tested operational and regulatory framework for the financial system.Romania has improved its economic performance considerably in the last couple of years and a series of indicators look quite good.
The overall public debt is fairly low (under 30 per cent of GDP); the domestic public debt is only 8 per cent of GDP and its financing is accomplished increasingly with longer maturities and at lower interest rates.
The external indebtedness of the country is low (below 30 per cent of GDP); the reserves of the Central Bank (NBR) amount to circa 5 months of imports.
The share of external short term finance of public external debt is low.
On these grounds, one might try to justify the decision to open the capital account at a swift pace.But Romania still has important vulnerabilities, a fact which should make public authorities more cautious and lead them to re-examine the current sequencing of KAL.Inflation is still high; there is a very low level of monetisation and financial intermediation, which makes wide swings of capital flows highly disturbing and sterilisation operations (by the NBR) costly; there is insufficient restructuring in the real sector and poor governance at the enterprise level, creating inflationary pressures and straining the public budget.
Law enforcement in the financial sector remains weak and the new prudential rules are still to be tested; bank profitability and efficiency are low.
Therefore, one can imagine a scenario of rises in the prices of domestic assets, following substantial speculative capital inflows (stimulated by the leu's real appreciation), which may create instability.
Reckless internal and external over-indebtedness of local firms and municipalities may also ensue, which would be quite threatening in view of the still soft budget constraints operating in Romania; the trade deficit may grow again sharply, abetted also by the real appreciation of the leu, while it is not solidly proven that private transfers from abroad would not stop growing, or even decline, as a consequence of possible international adverse events.There is another issue that should concern policymakers.
Full KAL cripples the ability of public authorities to conduct an autonomous monetary policy while they try to achieve some stability of the exchange rate.
In the latter case, the burden of macroeconomic adjustment falls overwhelmingly on budget policy, and a deflationary bias may very likely be imparted to its stance.What is happening currently in the EU - with several of the leading countries being at great pains in meeting the demands of the Stability Pact (in terms of budget deficits) - should be a stern warning in this regard.
In order to restore some autonomy to monetary policy, a free floating of the exchange rate would have to be practised, but this in itself could be highly destabilising and require an extremely restrictive monetary policy (following sharp depreciation of the exchange rate).Is the Romanian economy ready to accept the consequences of full KAL from this perspective, one involving a much diminished room of maneuver for macroeconomic policy?
This question gains an even higher profile by judging the likely time of Romania's accession into the EU.
This is why the "look good" indicators and the confidence some entrust in the ability of Romania to rely increasingly on remittances from abroad and revenues from tourism do not warrant complacency; the latter is equally hindered by the 2007 time target for EU accession.
One should also keep in mind the balance of payments crisis the Czech Republic went into after opening the capital account, or the mounting fiscal difficulties it is currently experiencing along with Hungary and Poland.Arguably, policy-makers would be well advised to re-examine, in practical terms, the current KAL program by considering the need to make an effective preference for long term flows against short term flows (the liberalisation of short term flows should be accompanied by adequate prudential measures); the need to make an effective preference for capital inflows against capital outflows; and the need to avoid an undifferentiated and complete liberalisation of capital inflows.
Likewise, more attention should be given to the principle of contingency: actual liberalisation should proceed only when only well-defined macroeconomic and structural conditions and criteria are fulfilled.There are number of concrete measures to "shape" the composition of flows which policy-makers might consider.
Unremunerated reserve requirements could be imposedfor short term investment or credit taken in foreign currency.
The NBR could practice a system of discriminatory reserve requirements on foreign exchange deposits of banks.Restrictions could be placed on corporate and public sector short term credits from abroad.
Banks could be prohibited from using short term debt instruments as collateral for borrowing in foreign exchange abroad.
Support could be given to the creation of an independent rating agency for Romanian corporate and municipalities' debt instruments.
Purchase abroad of bonds, shares and other securities could remain subject to authorisation by the competent supervisory body.Since the EU does not impose a timetable on Romania for full opening of the capital account, a readjustment of the programme can be made.
It would also be wise for the government and the NBR to consult with experts from IFIs, such as the IMF and the World Bank, for this is a matter of utmost importance for the economy.




Pensioners Face Similar Problems in BiH, Croatia, Serbia 17/03/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Pensioners demonstrate peacefully in Banja Luka against pensions they say are too little and too late. [AFP]</font><br><br> Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia and Serbia may be at different places on the road to EU-type stability, but all three countries are struggling to pay pensions to their elderly populations. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 17/03/03Scratching an existence out of an $83 monthly pension is something that Semsa Trnka is familiar with.
Finding money to buy food doesn't come easily after she pays her telephone and electricity bills.
Trnka, 72, a tiny, wren-like woman with fluffy brownish hair and sharp dark eyes, said that it doesn't help matters that she has to buy medicine for her bad heart."Nothing's free, everything's 5 or 10 [DM] apiece," she said, sipping coffee in her house in Sarajevo's hilly Breka neighbourhood.She said that one of her sons, who's a writer, tries to help her out when he sells some books.
Other than that, she's on her own.
"It's not just me, everyone in this neighbourhood is a pensioner," she said.
"Everyone here is suffering.
Some don't even have money to buy milk."Trnka's troubles are familiar not just to the people in her neighbourhood, but also to the pensioners in the next-door countries of Serbia-Montenegro and Croatia.
All of them expected Yugoslavia -- which distributed kingly pensions on par with salaries every month -- to take care of them.
But then Yugoslavia went to pieces.
Pensioners are now residents of new countries that are all struggling to deal with their elderly populations.Croatia is in relatively good shape following pension reform that began in 1995, according to Zoran Anusic, a pensions expert at the World Bank in Zagreb.
He said that Croatia is now in "fine-tuning mode" for its pension system and could be a model for the other new states.
Pensioners receive an average of $235 every month.
That may not be much, but the payments are on time.
Reform has worked -- the collection rate for companies paying into the pension fund is about 90 per cent.Croatia's approach to pension reform contrasts starkly with the situation in Serbia, which Sonja Biserko of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights called a "jungle"."There's no system, there are no relevant laws, there's no judicial reform," she said.
Serbians are so anxious to work (the country's unemployment rate is about 40 per cent) that they'll take jobs in "grey economy" companies that don't pay taxes, health care or pension contributions.
As of November, Serbian pensioners were getting an average of $110.Expectations were high in Serbia after the fall of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic more than two years ago, but the coalition government that replaced him did so on more of an anti-Milosevic platform than one of pro-social reform.
Biserko said it would be up to the foreign donors that support Serbia's budget to pressure the government."This is not a government that's prepared for such a difficult task," she said.
"[Pension reform] is really something that Westerners must insist on."In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the two entities, not the state, are responsible for pensions.Payments in the comparatively wealthy Federation are higher, averaging $106.
But Republika Srpska (RS) pensioners can expect only an average of $66.
Even those miserable payments have only started being paid on time this year."[Pensions] aren't even that low in Albania," RS Pensioners' Association President Rade Rakulj told Radio Free Europe in December.
Pensions in the RS, he said, only average about 35 per cent of the average salary, whereas in Croatia and Serbia the figure is about 50 per cent.The small pensions paid by both BiH entities is partly a side effect of reforms, said Office of the High Representative spokesperson Kevin Sullivan.
"They're not allowed to take money from Peter to pay Paul," he said of the entity pension funds, which are working under IMF rules not to pay out more than they receive in.He also said that the funds have to pay pensions to thousands of people who worked for companies that no longer exist.
Heavy industry and mining companies were a major part of BiH's economy before they were destroyed in the 1992-1995 war.Companies that do still exist often don't pay contributions to the pension funds.
Federation fund Deputy Director Bakir Mujic told Radio Free Europe that at least 3,000 companies were not paying contributions.The only thing pensioners can do -- besides stand in Western Union lines at the bank for money from their family members abroad -- is protest, which happens occasionally in both entities.
Jozo Ljiljanic of the Federation Pensioners' Association told RFE that the situation is desperate, because 70 per cent of pensioners receive less than 200 convertible marks per month."It really can't go on like this, because pensioners are on the fringes of biological existence," he said.
"It's totally unacceptable to us that pensioners are treated as the deadwood of this society."Refugee returns across entity lines further complicate the situation. Reporter magazine recently described the case of Djoko Klickovic, who had collected his pension from Serb authorities after leaving Sarajevo in 1992.
When he returned to his apartment in 2001, Federation authorities refused to pay his pension.Returnee pensioners can claim pensions in the other entity -- on paper.
Sketchy application on the ground, however, is an economic obstacle to their return.
The two-fund system also affects younger peoples' decision to return to one or the other entity, for fear they might lose the pension contributions they've already paid into the other entity's fund.The International Crisis Group recently suggested moving the responsibility for pensions to the state level to alleviate some of the problems.
Pensioners could return home without worrying about who will pay their pensions.
One state-level fund would also be less expensive, more transparent and easier to monitor for contributions than two entity funds.And more contributions might mean a few more convertible marks every month for pensioners like Semsa Trnka."Everyone says, 'it'll be better, it'll be better'," she said.
"But who knows when it'll be better, or what will be better?"




Entity Agencies Putting BiH on Tourist Map 10/03/2003 Entity tourism agencies are hoping that by joining together to promote BiH, they'll change the country's dubious image abroad, boost the economy and make people here see their own country in a new light. By Beth Kampschror for Balkan Times in Sarajevo - 10/03/03Suggest Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to the average person intending to travel in Eastern Europe and they will likely shudder at the mental pictures the country's name conjures up - marketplace bombings, burning villages and busloads of refugees.
But those outdated images are what tourism officials from both entities are working together to change, taking their presentation of BiH on the road to a dozen international tourism fairs during the past year."BiH is known as a country that had a difficult war, is destroyed and is unsafe, but the real situation isn't like that," said Federation Tourism Association public relations head Hamzo Ajanovic.
"We've presented a better face, with the intention of changing BiH's image in the world."The face that the association and the Republika Srpska (RS) Trade and Tourism Ministry are putting forward to the world is that of a unified country shaped by jagged mountains, clean rivers and a stew of different cultures.
It hasn't always been like this, though.
Even two years ago, the entities' tourism agencies were operating separately.
Their first official contacts with each other weren't until 2001, when Willem van Eekelen of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) was struck by the beauty of the countryside between Sarajevo and Jahorina mountain, and decided to speak to the entity tourism agencies about joining and promoting BiH as a whole.Thus the project "Putting BiH on the Tourist Map" began, with help from the OHR and the Sarajevo Economic Region Development Agency.
Both partners have since withdrawn their formal help, and the two entity offices have taken over, travelling to international tourism fairs and producing promotional materials.According to Van Eekelen, who works in the OHR's economic department, it's wise to promote BiH's beauty, safety and peace from an economic standpoint as well."The simple fact of life is that no one will think of investing in a country unless they have positive associations.
The effect of this goes beyond tourism," he said, flipping through the newest brochure that came out at the beginning of February.
"This brochure is like the suit of BiH - it's the first handshake."<table border="0" align="left" width="165" height="252"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/030310-BETHphoto2.jpg" align="left" width="165" height="252"></td> </tr> </table> Judging from the glossy brochure - with its photos of Kozara and Sutjeska national parks, hikers perched on rocky ridges and the Old World charms of eight BiH towns - it appears that the authorities are leaning more towards eco-tourism than tours for masses of people.
Ajanovic said that BiH has a lot to offer in that regard, including mountain biking, paragliding and rafting the Una, Neretva and Drina rivers.The country is "an ecologically clean area with natural rarities - that type of tourism really has a serious chance.
We're trying to change the thinking about tourism to one that's ecologically-based, and this is a very important moment for tourism development in BiH," Ajanovic said.One tour operator who has more than ten years of experience in BiH said that, in his opinion, developing eco-tourism was the best way to go about it.BiH is a "paradise" for eco-tourism, according to Tim Clancy.
Clancy is a guide and partner in the Sarajevo-based eco-tourism company Green Visions, which organises hikes, rafting and other excursions.
He also wrote the text for the promo brochure and is closely involved with the two entity agencies.
"If I were running the show I'd follow the Ireland model - their tourism isn't big hotels, it's bed and breakfasts."Ajanovic said the office is also emphasising cultural heritage, such as the world-famous Catholic pilgrimage site at Medjugorje, as well as Islamic and Orthodox monasteries.
Working to promote all of BiH's riches, he said, shows that people here have no problem leaving politics behind and working together."One of the results we really value is the integration process in BiH through tourism.
Tourism workers are less burdened by politics.
We have a great relationship [with the RS ministry] at our joint presentations at tourism fairs, and we invite the media and in that way we're reducing or ending all the negative things," he said, adding that all the tourist agencies in BiH, whether based in Herzegovina, Sarajevo or RS, only want to show the best of what BiH has to offer.And perhaps most importantly of all, changing the misguided perceptions that outsiders - whether they are seeking a good campsite or a new market for their products - harbour towards BiH can positively affect how people here see and value their own country."The people in BiH also need to change their way of thinking," Ajanovic said.
"It should be clear that the Neretva is beautiful, that it needs to be taken care of.
We're definitely changing this relationship towards nature, so that all people in BiH love their country, like Americans love America, like the French love France.
If we can accomplish that, I'm sure that there'll be more appreciation for this country."




Dimitrov: Partnership Doesn't Mean Just Asking for US Protection 31/03/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana"> [Photo by Tomislav Georgiev]</font><br><br> Nikola Dimitrov, Macedonia's Ambassador to the United States since November 2001, once served as President Boris Trajkovski's national security advisor.
At 30 years old, he is the youngest Macedonian ambassador.
In an interview with Southeast European Times correspondent Slobodanka Jovanovska, he discusses the Adriatic Charter and Macedonia's relationships with the United States, NATO and the EU. By Slobodanka Jovanovska for Southeast European Times in Skopje - 31/03/03Southeast European Times: This month, Washington will put its signature on the Adriatic Charter for a partnership between Macedonia, Albania and Croatia.
Why is this document so important?Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov: The idea to establish this important partnership had been born before the Prague Summit in November last year and before the situation in Iraq occupied the top of the agenda of the international community with the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1441.
The fact that the US government remains engaged and supports this partnership for freedom and security in this time of crisis is to their credit.
It sends a clear message that the United States is dedicated to supporting this region-born initiative and working towards the completion of the historic process of a Europe that is whole and free.SE Times: What is the goal of this formalised partnership?
Besides political support for membership in NATO, can these three countries expect something more?Dimitrov: The Charter is by no means a guarantee of NATO membership.
Yet it is a confirmation that Macedonia, Albania and Croatia belong to the family of NATO's free democracies and that they have US support and concrete assistance on their road to achieving all the requirements to become NATO members.
The Charter also means that three countries from the region, in spite of all their differences, have decided to co-operate and work together with a view to joining the Alliance and sharing its values, responsibilities and benefits.
This is good news for them, good news for the region and good news for the United States and NATO.The membership requirements will still be there, as they were applied with respect to the countries invited to join in Prague.
Yet its additional value, compared with the Vilnius Declaration -- which brought the principles of solidarity and mutual co-operation, and increased the visibility of every individual candidate -- is the political commitment and concrete support of the US government on our historic road to the Alliance.SE Times: Has the crisis with Iraq added weight and importance to this new partnership with Washington, formalised with the Adriatic Charter?Dimitrov: The Charter is a mutual declaration of freedom, democracy and stability.
It is a statement of joint values.
As such, its doctrine is universal.
However, the Iraq crisis is yet another reminder that NATO is an organisation which deals with serious and difficult problems, and with the issues of war and peace.
In other words, it is a reminder that if we want to join the Alliance, we must be ready to make choices not free of significant difficulties.
While there might be differences among the allies, we must and will make our decisions based on the values and beliefs we all subscribe to.SE Times: During his last visit to Macedonia, the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi said that Eastern European countries cannot look to Europe for an economic future and to the United States for security.
EU forces should replace the NATO troops in Macedonia this month, but the Macedonian government is still looking for protection from Washington.
Why?Dimitrov: I have to say that the partnership with the United States does not mean simply asking for protection.
It means a joint commitment and co-operation with a view to enabling the countries from the region, Macedonia among the others, to play their part in producing stability and providing protection for the values of freedom and democracy, while at the same time sharing the benefits of these responsibilities.
This is our understanding of what being a NATO member means.
Moreover, having in mind that the new EU forces will be using NATO's assets and logistics -- that is to say, they will be complementary rather than competitive forces with NATO -- one cannot see any contradiction between our two fundamental priorities: to join the EU and NATO.SE Times: Could the disputes over Iraq and the influence some European countries have exhibited affect the result of this Charter?Should Macedonia, Albania and Croatia undertake some concrete obligations as partners in, say, the struggle against the terrorism?Dimitrov: First of all, Macedonia has already undertaken many concrete actions in support of the international war against terrorism, including sending troops to post-conflict Afghanistan.
And while the final draft of the Charter for partnership does not of course mention the situation in Iraq, I would like to state at this point a couple of things in very clear terms.
It is not a secret that the crisis concerning Iraq is really a serious test of the political cohesion on the trans-Atlantic level and on the intra-European level.
And when Macedonia stated its position on the Iraq crisis together with the nine countries of the Vilnius group, it also made the fundamental point that maintaining understanding with the United States does not mean being anti-European.
Despite current difficulties and differences, we firmly believe that a commonality of interests exists between Europe and the United States.




Cyprus Impasse Complicates EU Enlargement, Turkey's Accession 24/03/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash (right) shakes hands with Greek Cypriot President-elect Tassos Papadopoulos as outgoing Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides looks on, following their meeting in the UN buffer zone separating the Greek and Turkish-held sides in Nicosia 28 February. [AFP]</font><br><br> The future of divided Cyprus, and the country's EU accession, is up in the air now that the latest round of talks has failed. By Robert Herschbach for Southeast European Times - 24/03/03The failure of the Cyprus peace process earlier this month brought an abrupt halt to what had been widely heralded as an unprecedented opportunity to reach a breakthrough on the future of the divided island.With the Greek part of Cyprus set to sign the EU accession treaty in April, and with Turkey's own EU hopes on the line, circumstances for an agreement, many believed, could not have been better.<table border="0" align="left" width="288" height="190"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/030319ROBphotorally.jpg" align="left" width="288" height="190"></td> <tr> <td><FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Turkish Cypriots gather during a demonstration for peace on the Turkish side of Nicosia 27 February. [AFP]</font></td> </tr> </table> Turkish Cypriots -- cut off from the international community, and mired in economic stagnation -- are anxious to join the EU along with their neighbors to the south.
In a series of demonstrations recalling Berlin in 1989, a third of the enclave's population took to the streets, conveying their desire to join Europe, and venting frustration with their longtime leader, Rauf Denktash.Turkey, which maintains 40,000 troops in the north, also had incentives to push for a solution.
Its military presence on the island could create a legal quagmire once the Greek part of Cyprus enters the Union.
In January, ruling Justice and Development Party leader and current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a radical change in his country's policy on Cyprus and for the resumption of talks.Glafcos Clerides, the longtime representative of the Greek Cypriot community, hoped to cap his career with a reunification deal.
A breakthrough would also have stood as a key achievement of Kofi Annan's often troubled tenure as UN Secretary General.
The Turkish government has backed the plan Annan proposed.Yet the barriers that have prevented a settlement for decades have proved hard to budge.
A UN deadline -- originally set for 28 February, and later extended to 10 March -- has passed.Clerides is out of office, replaced by Tassos Papadopoulos.
A disappointed Annan has told his special envoy, Alvaro De Soto, to close up shop and depart.
The victor, at least in the short term, seems to have been Denktash, who greeted the latest impasse with relief.Turkish Cypriots were the victims of a "game" designed to deceive them, Denktash said.The plan sponsored by Annan was modeled loosely on the Swiss federation.
It would have established two self-governing states, a common federal state, and a bicameral parliament.In the Chamber of Deputies, both states would have been represented in proportion to their population, while in the Senate each state would have equal representation.The plan envisaged a revolving presidency.Territorial concessions, along with the resettlement of Greek Cypriots displaced by the 1974 military invasion, were among the major stumbling blocks.In a dramatic last-ditch effort, the UN Secretary General invited Greek and Turkish leaders to The Hague, hoping to persuade them to hold simultaneous referenda on 30 March, so that a united Cyprus could sign the EU accession treaty on 16 April.
Newly-elected Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos said yes, with some reservations.
Denktash refused.Announcing that the process had reached the end of the road, Annan said that he felt a "deep sense of sadness"."I am not sure another opportunity like this one will present itself again any time soon," he said, adding that he regretted Cypriots "have been denied the chance to decide their own future".US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher echoed Annan's remarks.
"We find it very regrettable that Denktash has denied Turkish Cypriots the opportunity to determine their own future and to [vote] on such a fundamental issue," Boucher said.The immediate impact of the failure is that, barring unexpected last-minute developments, Greek Cypriots alone will sign the treaty.European Commission spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori confirmed on 11 March that the enlargement timetable will go ahead as planned and that the EU treaty will be "signed by Cyprus as we know it today".Speaking on behalf of EU enlargement commissioner Gunter Verheugen, Filiori also warned Turkey that it would be "well advised" to consider the implications for its EU prospects, adding that it would be "difficult to imagine starting negotiations" to admit Turkey while the island remains divided."If by the end of 2004, there is still no settlement on Cyprus, we will be facing this rather weird situation where a candidate country knocking at the door does not recognise one of our own member states," he said.But if Greek Cypriots join the EU without their compatriots to the north, a solution could become even more elusive.
Disillusioned Turkish Cypriots are likely to "vote with their feet," continuing a pattern of emigration that is radically altering the demographics of northern Cyprus.
As the locals leave, they are being replaced by settlers brought in from even more impoverished parts of Anatolia -- part of an ongoing programme of "Turkification".Turkey has openly hinted at the possibility of annexing the north -- a move that would almost certainly spell the end of its EU chances.
But if Turkish leaders conclude that those chances are bleak anyway, they could decide to cut their losses.<table border="0" align="right" width="229" height="212"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/030319ROBphotoanan.jpg" align="left" width="229" height="212"></td> <tr> <td><FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Some have voiced doubts about Annan's plan. [AFP]</font></td> </tr> </table> While many Turkish Cypriots have been vocally in favor of an agreement, Denktash has the backing of Turkey's influential military, and is popular on the mainland.
Furthermore, affluent mainland Turks who have bought or rented resort properties on Cyprus could stand to lose them in a reunification deal.Greek Cypriots, too, have harbored doubts about the Annan plan - doubts which they voiced during the elections that ousted Clerides.The proposal would have placed limits on the number of returning refugees and their right to reclaim property.
An amended draft would have also restricted them from voting as members of the Turkish Cypriot constituent state.Adjacent to Turkey, the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East, Cyprus has been a major trading center --as well as a site of geopolitical intrigue - since ancient times.
The Ottoman Turks wrested control of the island from the Venetians in 1573, and maintained their rule until the late 19th century, when Britain took over administration of the island, later annexing it.It became an independent republic in 1959.
Riots and interethnic fighting forced the de facto separation of its Turkish and Greek communities and the formation of a provisional Turkish administration.
Bicommunal talks were held between Clerides and Dentkash, who had emerged as the main representatives of their respective sides.
Turkish Cypriots demanded a bi-zonal federation, a solution rejected by the Greek Cypriots, and negotiations struggled along without result.Events came to a head, however, in 1974 when officers from mainland Greece -- then ruled by a military junta -- led the Cypriot National Guard in a coup intended to establish enosis, or union.
Turkish forces then invaded the island, eventually occupying 37 per cent of its territory.UN-sponsored talks started in 1976 and have continued on and off since then.
But the EU's decision, at the Copenhagen summit in 2002, to accept the Greek part of Cyprus was seen as a catalyst likely to spur progress.




Is "Unconventional" Economics Staging a Comeback? 07/04/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Justification for falling interest rates worldwide is need to avoid a prolonged recession after the burst of the stock market "bubble" and the demise of the so-called "new economy". [AFP]</font><br><br> In today's economic environment, some countries are resorting to inflation-creation to revive consumption.
Economist and former Romanian Finance Minister Daniel Daianu discusses why market economies need effective regulation. By Daniel Daianu for Southeast European Times in Bucharest - 07/04/03For a keen observer of macroeconomic policy dynamics worldwide, a sequence of developments provides much room for reflection.
Let's consider facts.
Interest rates in the United States have reached the lowest level in almost 40 years, with the federal rate reaching 1.25 per cent lately.
The justification for this sharp decline (from the level of a couple of years ago) is the need to avoid a prolonged recession after the burst of the stock market "bubble" and the demise of the so-called "new economy".
Otherwise said, monetary policy is seen as a weapon for preventing aggregate demand from falling too much.
Moreover, a member of the Federal Reserve System board, Ben Bernanke, made a stunning statement a while ago: against the narrowing down room of maneuver, following the very low level of interest rates, the Federal Reserve System would be ready to intervene to buy US Treasuries as a means of injecting liquidity into the economy.
In IMF terminology this would be money printing -- strongly discouraged by IFIs throughout the world -- in order to combat inflation.In Japan, where deflation has gripped the economy and interest rates have decreased to practically zero for years now, some reason along similar lines.They envisage defeating what Keynes, probably the most influential economist of the 20th century, called the liquidity trap; they contemplate the Bank of Japan resorting to inflation-creation via money printing -- by buying government bonds -- as a means of reviving consumption and thereby steering the economy out of its long stagnation.
The European Central Bank, too, seems to be giving up its ultra-orthodox stance and cautiousness regarding the persistent sluggishness of the European economy.
Recently, the ECB cut its key rate to 2.5 per cent; other cuts are expected this year.The rate cut of the ECB has occurred at a time when the strictures of the Financial Stability Pact are taking a severe toll on some of the largest European economies, which can hardly cope with the 3 per cent budget deficit limit.
Consequently, there is some talk of reviewing and possibly adapting the Pact to the reality of slow economic motion in the EU.
One can detect here the attempt to combine a more relaxed monetary policy with a budget stimulus for the sake of stimulating economic activity.
This, basically, is the logic of Keynesian economics, which says that governments have a role to play in macro-economic management through policy tools: monetary exchange rate and budget policy.Meanwhile, the Bush Administration has announced a budget for this year and estimates for 2004.
These are reminiscent of the Reagan years, a time when budget deficits ballooned.
As a matter of fact, a heavy dose of Keynesian economics can be seen in this budget, although one can harbor serious qualms about its fine print and sustainability.
The IMF has backed down from its push for capital account opening worldwide, in the aftermath of financial and currency crises.
Exchange rate competitive devaluations are also being attempted around the world, and trade disputes are coming increasingly into the limelight.
Interestingly, bailouts have taken place in some industries (both in the United States and in EU member countries) when national security considerations seem to have gotten the upper hand.There are several ways to interpret the policy developments mentioned above, which are quite surprising in view of the dominant paradigm of the last two decades.This (neo-liberal) paradigm extolled the virtues of low budget deficits (balanced budgets), low inflation, no interference of government in managing the economy, full privatisation and so on.
I would note, first, that inflation is at a very low level in both the United States and in Europe, a fact that annuls much of the fear of using inappropriate monetary policy counter-cyclically.
Secondly, balanced budgets should be examined over the cycle, which may give governments some leeway in tolerating temporary higher deficits.
It is true, however, that the sustainability of budget deficits should be of concern; it is good that debate is taking place in both the United States and in EU member countries.
Last but not least, paradigmatic fundamentalism seems to be on the retreat; people, both in policy-making circles and in academia, realise that intellectual bigotry is not of much help in the real world, that market economies need effective regulations (a fact which was amply proved by financial, energy markets and corporate scandals), that governments have a role to play in economic life when it comes to providing public goods -- including effective regulations.
This would be the rationale for the comeback of policy measures which some would view as "unconventional".
These measures, on the one hand, do not mean giving up the ABC of sound economics; on the other hand, they connote the need for policy to vary, according to circumstances.How should this return of "unconventional" economics be interpreted in transition economies?Clearly, where inflation is still high, implementing lax monetary policy would be counterproductive; inflation would creep up again and bring about instability.
Likewise, where quasi-fiscal deficits are high and financial discipline is low, higher budget deficits would strain credit markets and maintain high interest rates, crippling firms.
Exchange rate depreciation would also stimulate inflation wherever macroeconomic stability is fragile and inflationary expectations are not favorable.
The bottom line is: transition economies need solid institutions and a good economic performance track record in order to experiment, relatively safely, with "unconventional" policy measures.
But some flexibility and autonomy of macroeconomic policy is quite useful in order to deal with powerful adverse shocks.
If macroeconomic conditions do not provide much room for macroeconomic policy variation, other instruments can be used more flexibly.
I am referring to trade policy, which needs to be more in tune with the reality of asymmetries in the world economy.
Frequently, what is preached by powerful economies is not practiced; the opening of the capital account should be undertaken with prudence, and only when institutions are solid and the economy is more or less stable; privatisation should go hand in hand with effective measures of enforcing competition.
In case public utilities are privatised (whether totally or partially), these operations should not be done blindly, without regard to the prices end users would have to pay, for governments have a moral and fiduciary obligation to preserve wide access to public goods for their citizens.




Why Albania Joined the "Coalition of the Willing" 14/04/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta announces on 28 February that the Albanian government will back Washington in case of a US-led military strike on Iraq. [AFP]</font><br><br> The Albanian Parliament voted unanimously to join the US-led coalition to topple Saddam Hussein's regime.
Shaban Murati, Albania's ambassador to Sweden, explains why. By Ambassador Shaban Murati for Southeast European Times - 14/04/03The foreign policy of Albania after World War II has had few historic moments when the principles of international relations conformed to its state and national interests so clearly as in the case of the Iraq crisis.The decision to join the international coalition led by the United States against the regime of Saddam Hussein was the result of a wide political and public consensus.
In a rare display of unity, the Albanian Parliament unanimously voted on 3 March for a resolution to place airspace, ports and land bases at the disposition of the Coalition of the Willing.
When parliament voted on 13 March to send an Albanian military unit to join the coalition in the Persian Gulf, there was only one abstention and no one voted against.
Such unanimity in a democratic and pluralistic society is a clear indication of Albania's complete commitment to the cause.The cohesion of the government, opposition and the majority of the Albanian public on the Iraqi crisis illustrates the desire for Albanian foreign policy and diplomacy to play a greater role in contributing to peace and stability.
Albania joined the Coalition of the Willing because it had clear political and diplomatic ideas, platforms and visions regarding the meaning and worldwide effect of the new phase of the global war against international terrorism.First, Albania has linked its participation in the Coalition of the Willing with democracy and with the democratisation of international relations.
Its choice between Iraq's oppressive, terrorist regime and the United States conforms to the principles and the western civilised values that contributed to the overthrow of Albania's communist totalitarian regime 11 years ago.
Albanian President Alfred Moisiu, in his 25 March speech at the Council of National Security, stressed that in the opinion of Albanians "the war in Iraq is a war against the war, a war for peace, for a world many times more secured and with more freedom.
We do not consider this war as a war of the United States and United Kingdom, but as a war for protecting the peace and the values of civilised humanity from the threat of international terrorism."It is encouraging that Albania, having taking its position on the Iraqi crisis, is in step with the majority of the Eastern European states that also emerged from the communist dictatorship.
The ugly experience of long years of oppression has guided Albanian foreign policy towards being more sensible and more sympathetic in the fight for human rights and against dictators such as Saddam Hussein.
Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta, together with nine foreign ministers of the countries of the Vilnius Group, signed the declaration supporting the stance of the coalition on the crisis in Iraq.
The presidents of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia joined in a common declaration on 12 February that supports the coalition.<table border="0" align="left" width="216" height="172"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/030327-SHABANphoto2.jpg" align="left" width="216" height="172"></td> <tr> <td><FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">In a letter to Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano (left) US President George W Bush stated that the United States highly regarded Albania's willingness to support the coalition and its role as an important contributor to regional and global security.
President Alfred Moisiu (right), along with the presidents of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia joined in a common declaration on 12 February that supports the coalition. [AFP]</font></td> </tr> </table> One of 45 states that have joined the Coalition of the Willing, Albania was not led by economic interests in arriving at its position on Iraq, and it has no interest in that country's oil.
It was led by democratic principles and it even may be said that one of the motives in supporting the international war against Saddam Hussein has been an idealistic feeling that is nourished by those principles.Participation in the US-led coalition presents to Albania a new turning point with regard to international affairs and the equality of states in the world family.
Through this participation, Albania is understanding and discovering a more effective and more concrete role that small states can play in international relations and global security.This is an important element of the real democratisation of the relations between states and of the need to consider more and more the voice of the smaller countries in international problems, institutions and organisations.
In a letter to Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano on 19 March, President George W Bush stated that the United States highly regarded Albania's willingness to support the coalition and its role as an important contributor to regional and global security.In today's world, the interdependence of individual, regional and global security increases with every passing day.
The actions of the international coalition in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq during the entire post-Cold War period are three examples of positive turning points in establishing new international democratic relations, where the principle of aid and humanitarian intervention takes priority over the formality of the imposed legitimacy of terrorist and dictatorial regimes.
Albania strongly supported NATO's intervention against the regime of Slobodan Milosevic in Kosovo.
That relationship was further strengthened when Albania supported the intervention of the international coalition against the terrorist regime of the Taliban in Afghanistan by sending a unit of its military forces.
In Tirana, the Albanian soldiers in Afghanistan and in Iraq are considered soldiers of peace and democracy.In its stance on the Iraq crisis, Albanian diplomacy remains loyal to an old and traditional code of the Albanian nation -- the code of loyalty and gratitude.
This has to do with the deep and popular gratitude that Albanians feel toward the United States as a country that helped Albania gain independence at the beginning of the last century and as a country that saved the people of Kosovo from genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Historic memory plays its role in the motivation of diplomacy and of the foreign policy of each state, and it is not by chance that all the Albanian leaders have forcefully emphasised it these days.This gratitude towards the United States is a characteristic not only of the Albanians in Albania, but also of Albanians in Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and wherever they live.
Official ceremonies were held in Tirana and Pristina on 24 March on the fourth anniversary of NATO's action against the Milosevic regime.That Albania joined the Coalition of the Willing was a choice that stemmed from the independent action of Albanian diplomacy.Supporters and opponents of the war in Iraq share the idea that international relations from now on will not be the same as before.
However, Albania is convinced that such developments will lead to a world with more freedom, more security and more democracy.




EU Accession Roadmaps Could Cause Some Bumps 21/04/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">[EU]</font><br><br> Bulgaria and Romania have received roadmaps from the EU to serve as measures of reforms needed for accession to the Union.
Some of the reforms will be harder than others. By Daniel Daianu for Southeast European Times in Bucharest - 21/04/03At the last EU summit in Copenhagen, Bulgaria and Romania received roadmaps which act as yardsticks of reforms needed for EU accession.
Although the roadmaps are fairly eloquent, they leave a number of questions unanswered.The adoption of the Acquis Communautaire (the set of EU norms and regulations) is only partially a technical operation of transposing the EU rules into national legislation.
In a deeper sense, the assimilation of the Acquis concerns the actual functioning of local institutions as a precondition of economic and social performance.
For this reason, the European Commission has underscored the need for reform of public administration and justice and for continuing the fight against entrenched corruption.Arguably, the reforms that are being requested by the EU are more demanding than the creation of a "conventional" market economy together with a liberal democracy.
This is because the EU is the fruit of organic development and also of meticulously engineered institutional construction.
The latter, in particular, is meant to bring national contexts -- of relatively close economic development levels -- nearer institutionally and functionally.
Accession demands a series of institutional adaptations, which otherwise would not be asked for.In spite of lingering economic discrepancies, the EU is made up of prosperous economies and societies.
Therefore, Bulgaria and Romania are confronted with a major developmental handicap, which cannot be done away with quickly.
The income per capita in Bulgaria and Romania is below 28 per cent of the average in the EU in Purchasing Power Parity terms.At the same time, the Maastricht criteria, which concern the level of inflation, interest rate differentials, budget deficit limits, and limits of variation of the exchange rate, are not easy to fulfil and may constrain economic growth.
The autonomy of economic policy would be severely constrained even during the pre-accession period and may reduce considerably the capacity to deal with adverse shocks.The "political economy" of enlargement is also an issue to consider.
The first wave of enlargement in 2004 can be taken for granted; further accession waves are far from being a certainty.
Future enlargement depends on the internal metabolism of the EU, which could be severely tested by rising divergence of economic performance, due to mounting economic difficulties all over the EU in recent years, and by the formation of various "coalitions", with different views on the nature of deepening and the management of EU internal issues as well as the formulation of a common security and foreign policy.A main inference is that the assimilation of the Acquis implies both benefits and costs, and the latter are not to be underestimated.
Moreover, costs are not easy to illustrate and measure, and that could create a credibility problem for public authorities should these costs be revealed as substantially higher than anticipated.Admittedly, benefits would go far beyond costs.
The accession negotiations would discipline policy making; EU accession related reforms would become more consistent and steady.
Against the background of assimilating the Acquis, the link with the EU looks far richer than that with the international financial institutions.
The EU could provide a push in order to overcome a developmental and modernisation challenge.
Aside from the benefits brought about by institutional reforms, financial assistance can make a huge difference, if it is used wisely.
The EU can also provide an economic "shelter" at a time when uncertainties and vagaries multiply in the world.But there is a series of aspects that the roadmap leaves open:There are policy issues which do not have clear-cut solutions and multiple policy options are available; choices should try to optimise according to domestic circumstances and most likely external conditions.Policy needs to observe the ABCs of sound economics (achieving low inflation, keeping fiscal balance over the business cycle, making hard budget constraints operate ubiquitously, etc) but be pragmatic at the same time; it is inimical to succumb to theoretical fundamentalism when it comes to real life.
For example, markets should be regulated effectively.Policy needs to avoid hasty decisions, which may score "prestige points" but are likely to be quite costly unless addressed properly.
One example would be a hasty full liberalisation of the capital account.The fate of national industry depends on how domestic sectors enter main European industrial networks.
Public authorities can play a role by using various policy tools (including tax incentives and a better business milieu for inward investment in industry).
This assertion does not imply continuing to subsidise heavy loss makers and denting the profitability of successful companies.Infrastructure needs a lot of improvement.
To this end, funds from the EU and from other specialised institutions -- the European Investment Bank, in particular -- have a key role to play.
The experience of Portugal, Spain and Greece shows what tremendous progress can be made by making good use of EU structural funds.More resources have to be assigned, via the public budget, to education and health care services.
This issue will be increasingly challenging in the years ahead.
As in the case of infrastructure, a better performing economy and better tax collection would allow significant improvements.Agriculture will, very likely, be a major stumbling block in accession negotiations, for it holds a relatively large share of the GDP and keeps much of the active population busy.
One should also consider the heavy subsidisation of this sector in the EU.The purely economic problem could be compounded by farm land consolidation, which would likely force younger people to try to find jobs in the urban areas.
This might recreate the old "rural overpopulation problem" if other sectors do not provide a sufficient number of jobs.
In view of the demographic ageing in Europe and the increasing propensity (because of wage differentials) of Bulgarians and Romanians to work abroad, the export of labor may offer a venue for alleviating or averting a major social crisis.
Both countries need to avoid a Latin American-type evolution in this regard, and proper agreements with the EU would be a means of tackling the issue.
In fact, a "Grand Bargain" may be in the offing.
Transition economies would supply labor to the EU, making it possible for citizens who work abroad to send substantial amounts of money back home; and these private transfers would make up a sui generis safety net.




Stefan Pleskonic: Macedonian art Ambassador and Wunderkind 28/04/2003 The paintings of an 8-year-old Macedonian boy have been drawing attention around the world.
One art critic has even compared him to Jackson Pollack. By Slobodanka Jovanovska for Southeast European Times in Skopje - 28/04/03<br><br> Photos courtesy of Stefan Pleskonic"Spring", "Makedonija", "Day and Night", "Sky", "Birds", "Grandpa God" and "Horses" -- these are the names of paintings by Stefan Pleskonic, an 8-year-old Macedonian artist.
His remarkable talent and artistic achievements have attracted worldwide attention, so much so that he has been the subject of several documentary films.
His work has been highlighted by Taiwan Independent News, Rai Due, RTL and National Greek TV.At the beginning of this month, the state art gallery Daut Pashin Amam organised an exhibition of his paintings.
For the first time during such an event, the primary audience consisted of children from elementary schools.
This was his 6th exhibition since he started painting at the age of 3 -- his paintings have been exhibited in Teovo, Brussels, New York and Warsaw.Stefan was born in April 1995 in Macedonia.
While the other children were playing withtoys, he started to "play" with colours.
His inspiration was a visit to the St Archangel Monastery at Teovo village, where his grandfather was a donator.
After his grandfather told him that a "few pictures are missing" at the monastery, Stefan began to paint.When his parents asked him what he was doing, he answered: "It is very difficult for me, but I have to paint.
Grandpa needs pictures."<table border="0" align="left" width="288" height="205"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/030414-SLOBODANKAphoto.jpg" align="left" width="288" height="205"></td> </tr> </table> Stefan had his first exhibition in 1998 at the St. Archangel Monastery.
The second exhibition was organised at the Stoby Gallery in Skopje, and the third one was at NATO headquarters two years later.
At the latter, young Stefan gave the painting "Spring" as a gift to Secretary General George Robertson.
According to media reports, Robertson described Stefan as a great ambassador and a credit to Macedonia."All the children are painting, but Stefan is real painter," Stoby Gallery Director Zlatko Todosievski said.
"We are all potential talent, but this young boy is solid."Macedonian Ambassador Ljubisa Georgievski said "Stefan was playing and we were lucky that he was playing with paint.
His game turned to a relevant code.
Probably, this is his puzzle."
On another occasion, Macedonia's famous art critic Boris Petkovski compared Stefan's works to "some of the greatest masters of the 20th century -- I mean Jackson Pollock and Marc Toby.
I find all that in this young boy.
I deem his results extraordinary, and I admit I could easily see them hanging in the halls of major European and American museums where this kind of abstract art is exhibited."To date, Stefan has completed about 300 paintings, using ecological acrylic paints on cardboard.
His parents said it only takes him 15 minutes to paint a new one.
Sometimes, he wakes up at two o'clock in the morning and starts to draw.
In the beginning, his parents found it odd to see their son sitting in the middle of a large canvas with so manypaints, mixing the colours and colouring himself too.
When asked what was he doing, he said "I'm just mixing paints.
It is chemistry, Daddy."His inspiration is child-like (sky, insects, sun, home), though the final result is not.
He is not willing to paint too much during his art classes in school because he prefers abstract, not realistic pictures.His attitude about his art is child-like as well.
He never sells his paintings because he thinks he may not be able to replicate them the next time.
As he puts it, he wants them all as his personal wealth.
Now, after Teovo, Brussels, Skopje, New York and Warsaw, he is preparing the next exhibition for the National Gallery in Sofia.
His work is impressive; he has his own Web site and has already garnered an important award: nomination to be child consul for the world's first children's embassy, Megjasi -- the largest NGO for protection and promotion of children's rights in Macedonia.




Crackdown on Crime in Serbia Opens Doors 12/05/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">[AFP]</font><br><br> The assassination of Zoran Djindjic brought to light the corruption and criminal activity that has continued to flourish despite the overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic.
In an effort to get to the root of the problem, Belgrade police have questioned more than 7,500 people, and the pressure is on to bring about much needed reforms. Analysis by Davor Konjikusic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 12/05/03Crowds in the street, shouting and swearing, a large number of policemen everywhere, occasional snow gusts -- rare for this time of year -- and a procession paying their final respects to the remains of former Serbian President Ivan Stambolic.
These were among the images in Belgrade on 8 April.
Stambolic, once Slobodan Milosevic's political mentor and later a bitter enemy, was kidnapped in the summer of 2000 while jogging in one of Belgrade's largest parks.
"In the past 1,000 days, we faced the bitter truth -- mass graves were discovered, refrigerator trucks were dredged from rivers, one president of a government and a president of state were killed.
All that was the price of a wrong choice 16 years ago," Grujica Sasojevic, editor-in-chief of the Danas daily, said.In March, Stambolic's remains were discovered in a hole covered with quicklime on a mountain near Novi Sad.
The suspects, members of the elite police unit known as the Red Berets and of the Zemun mafia clan, have been arrested, as the public speculates that the murder was ordered by Milosevic and his wife Mirjana Markovic.
Markovic is believed to have fled to Russia to live with her son Marko Milosevic, for whom Interpol recently issued a warrant.Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs public security chief Sreten Lukic announced that 7,763 people have been called in for questioning during the police action dubbed "Saber", since the state of emergency was declared, and 2,002 persons have been detained.
The arrested persons were found to possess a weapons arsenal sufficient to arm a small private army: 13 machine guns, 217 automatic rifles, 436 other kinds of rifles, 536 guns and revolvers, 318 hand grenades, 260 rifle grenades and anti-tank mines, 17 hand and rocket launchers and 105,000 pieces of various ammunition.
Also discovered were 17 kg of heroin ready for street sale.According to unofficial reports, the crackdown has had a dramatic impact on the narcotics market and on an estimated 150,000 Serbian heroin addicts, with nearly all narcotics trafficking channels cut off since the state of emergency was imposed.Former Yugoslav Army Security chief Aco Tomic and Rade Bulatovic, advisor to former Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the assassination of the late prime minister, Zoran Djindjic.
The arrests are likely to amplify accusations made by the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) against Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).
The Democratic Party (DP) accused Kostunica and his party of having contributed to the lynch mob atmosphere by supporting the Red Berets in their protest at the end of last year and by continually attacking the government -- actions which, the DP charges, contributed to setting the stage for Djindjic's murder.
Kostunica characterised the elite police unit's protest as legitimate.Neither the Serbian government nor the DSS, it appears, realised that the protest involved the most sinister remnants of Milosevic's regime, and that these had to be disbanded and removed from service or dire consequences would follow.After Zivkovic announced the lifting of the state of emergency, the political bickering between DOS and DSS continued, with the latter accusing the government of responsibility for the resultant political damage -- by openly siding with one criminal group against another in the battle against organised crime.
Conflict also broke out between the prime minister and the governor of the National Bank of Serbia, after Zivkovic proclaimed the National Bank a non-existent institution.
Critics are expressing concern that the state of emergency is being exploited in the battle for power.
The government is also being criticised by members of the media, which has been fined for allowing leaders of opposition parties to appear on its programmes.
One young man was given eight days in prison for posting ironic paraphrases of Serbian government officials on the Internet.The government's explanation for closing down the daily newspaper Nacional is also being disputed.
It initially planned to organise a committee to assess the role of the media in contributing to the atmosphere of lynching, but reneged on the idea after intense criticism.
Public opinion analysts argue that it is important to concentrate on the battle against organised crime and on damage control while there is still significant support from citizens, instead of becoming caught up in mutual political backstabbing.Apart from political bickering, Serbia faces significant problems.
It is without an elected president, the new constitution has not been completed, the economy is in dire straits and laws are lacking.
All this indicates that during the coming period Serbia must bear down on resolving internal problems.
It is clear that Djindji's murder left a considerable mark on this society and on local politics.
But the effects of the tragedy can be softened by successfully bringing the anti-mafia action to a close, and by accelerating the reforms.




Reconnect Programme Brings Bosnians Home for Summer 19/05/2003 A two-year-old internship programme has brought 30 young Bosnians back from the United States to intern at local companies.
A few have come back for the longer term. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 19/05/03Spending nearly ten years in the United States has left its mark on Bosnian-born Belma Ejupovic.
American slang peppers her speech, and she has that stereotypical American optimism that if she works hard enough, she can make a difference."I work 24/7, and I think this project can do tremendous things for this country, and with this project we can give an example to the rest of the country," said Ejupovic, 26, of her job as deputy co-ordinator of the poverty reduction strategy paper project within theBosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Ministry.People like Ejupovic -- her Bosnian background complemented by her experience in the United States -- are exactly what BiH needs to rebuild itself.
That's the idea behind a project which has brought 30 Bosnian students back from the United States to do summer internships in the past two years.The American volunteer organisation Community of Bosnia, which runs the Reconnect Internship Programme, has brought about 70 Bosnians to the United States to finish their educations since 1994.
Two years ago, they decided to bring some of these US-educated Bosnians back."We realised that these people were torn," said Community of Bosnia Executive Director Dzenita Mehic.
"Some of them realised they would like to go back if they had the opportunity for challenging work, but even if they'd like to stay in this country, some of them saw their future connected to BiH."Community of Bosnia alumni and thousands of young Bosnians in the United States are coming out of excellent schools with higher degrees.
Mehic pointed out that when international organisations leave BiH, these people -- who not only know their own culture and language but are also fluent in English, hold foreign degrees and have been exposed to life and work in the United States -- will be in a unique position to help their country."But for that to happen, you have to plant the seed, inspire people, keep them reconnected and take them back to BiH to establish their peer and professional network," she said.Ejupovic may have returned for the longer term, but it was her Reconnect Internship at Volkswagen in 2001 that put the idea in her head.
She had just graduated from the University of Southern California with a double degree in biology and political science when Mehic called her, proposing that she do an internship in BiH."I was thinking 'she is crazy,' because I'd never been back," Ejupovic said, having left Sarajevo for Zagreb in 1992, moving on to the United States with her family four years later.But she gave it a try.
As with its other interns, Reconnect matched her experience and interests with a company.
Other interns have worked at banks, small businesses and media organisations, in Sarajevo as well as in Mostar, Banja Luka and Bihac.At Volkswagen, Ejupovic found herself in what she called a "normal, 9-to-5 job".
She was startled, however, by her co-workers' directness."I always said please and thank you, and people said 'stop pretending you're nice' -- it was a big surprise," she said, laughing.
She slowly got used to it as she interned and volunteered teaching English once a week at a Sarajevo children's home.
At the end of the two months, she went back to California."After three or four days of being back in the States, I thought 'this tempo of life is nothing like BiH, maybe I should come back,'" she said.Ejupovic's parents were less than thrilled.
But she'd applied for an EU master's programme where she would study both in Italy and at Sarajevo University, and her parents were softened by the fact that she'd be in school.
She came back that autumn, and later found and worked at her current job until she graduated.Ejupovic admits that it can be frustrating to work in the government.
"But slowly I'm hoping that things are changing -- in the new government, the prime minister's office also has young people.
Things are moving, but it's just a question of how much energy I have," she said.While Ejupovic returned to BiH for longer than she'd originally planned, one young woman involved in Reconnect said that she sees her return as just a first step in a globe-trotting career.
Lejla Ibrahimpasic, 25, had gone to Community of Bosnia retreats in the United States, and through a friend found a job in the Sarajevo office of Vienna-based Horizont Venture Management, which invests in small and medium-sized businesses."I think I'm very happy; I'm learning German, I'm flying to Vienna, it's really what I was thinking.
This is just another step for me; it's rare for people to have this kind of opportunity," she said.Ibrahimpasic leapfrogged the internship process but works for Reconnect in BiH, advising students in the United States who are interested in internships.The 20 interns selected for this summer are the most educated yet, according to Mehic.
And word of mouth is helping.
More than 160 Bosnians from North America alone applied this year."The applicant pool is really growing stronger and more qualified every year," she said.
"The finalists have either completed their masters' or are working on PhDs.
And this year at least five people have said, 'we'd like to stay there longer than two months.'"




Kapacitet apsorpcije sredstava igra ključnu ulogu za drzave koje zele članstvo u EU 26/05/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">[Foto ilustracija SETimes]</font><br><br> Koristenje sredstava EU potrebno je sagledati u sirem kontekstu sposobnosti učinkovitog koristenja svih dostupnih resursa, ustvrdio je ekonomist i bivsi rumunjski ministar financija Daniel Daianu. Daniel Daianu iz Bukuresta za Southeast European Times - 26/05/03Kapacitet apsorpcije sredstava EU igrat će ključnu ulogu u nastojanjima Bugarske i Rumunjske na primanju u članstvo tijekom sljedećih nekoliko godina.
Ostale balkanske zemlje također računaju na povećanu financijsku potporu EU njihovom razvitku.
Logično je stoga poblize razmotriti pitanje sposobnosti apsorpcije vanjskih sredstava.Nuzno je uzeti u obzir vise faktora.
Kao prvo, ovo je pitanje od velike vaznosti za sve drzave koje teze članstvu u EU.
Drzave koje su institucionalno nestabilnije i imaju teskoća u borbi s korupcijom i ekonomski ili politički privilegiranim interesnim grupama imaju manje izglede za učinkovito iskoristavanje sredstava EU.
Strukturna su sredstva od veće vaznosti kada je ekonomija slaba, a značaj učinkovitog iskoristavanja strukturnih sredstava bitno je veći u slabije razvijenim ekonomijama.
Koristenje sredstava EU potrebno je sagledati u sirem kontekstu sposobnosti pojedine zemlje da učinkovito koristi sve dostupne resurse, bilo domaće ili strane.Neophodno je razlikovati akutnu nestasicu sredstava od sposobnosti učinkovite apsorpcije istih.
Siromasne zemlje, unatoč njihovoj potrebitosti, općenito posjeduju ograničenu sposobnost učinkovite apsorpcije sredstava, sto je u velikoj mjeri uzrokovano dvojbenosću ustroja i funkcioniranja njihovih institucija.
Premda je kapacitet apsorpcije moguće posmatrati statički ili dinamički, on je u oba slučaja varijabilan - gledajući u bilo kojoj vremenskoj točci, zemlja je u stanju iskoristiti vise ili manje sredstava na vise ili manje učinkovit način.
Kako sa statičkog, tako i sa dinamičkog stajalista, kapacitet apsorpcije ovisi o parametrima i varijablama.
Institucionalni ustroj kratkoročno gledano predstavlja parametar, no moguće ga je pratiti kao varijablu kroz dulje razdoblje.
Političke odluke predstavljaju varijablu kako kratkoročno, tako i dugoročno.
Definiranje prioriteta (kao jedna od političkih odluka) također predstavlja varijablu.
Formiranje koalicija stranaka koje se zalazu za reforme predstavlja jos jednu varijablu.Nije dostatno samo ispitivanje apsorpcijskog kapaciteta zemlje u strogo nacionalnom kontekstu.
Nuzno je također posvetiti paznju međunarodnom kontekstu i dinamici kretanja u politici EU.
Primjerice, na posljednjem je samitu u Kopenhagenu doslo do zučne rasprave po pitanju opsega financijske pomoći zemljama u akcesiji.
Unutar Europske Unije izrazena su stajalista kako se regionalna politika tijekom godina nije pokazala tako uspjesnom kako neki tvrde.
Usto, sve izrazenije ekonomske poteskoće u EU umanjuju sklonost bogatijih zemalja pruzanju financijske pomoći siromasnijima, sto predstavlja sindrom koji će vjerojatno utjecati na buduće odluke na polju regionalne politike.
Neki dokazuju kako bi EU tijekom sljedećih godina trebala pruziti značajniju potporu zapadnom Balkanu, dok su u toj regiji i dalje prisutne izrazene tenzije.
Dodjela većih sredstava zapadnom balkanu značila bi manje sredstava za druge namjene; krajnji će ishod ovisiti o procjeni omjera izdataka i koristi od strane Bruxellesa.
Primjerice, ukoliko Hrvatska postigne bolje ekonomske rezultate, njezina bi se nada za uvrstavanje u red zemalja čija je akcesija izglednija, odnosno u isti rang s Bugarskom i Rumunjskom, mogla ostvariti, te bi zemlja tako stekla uvjete za veću potporu.Zbog takvih i sličnih razloga, tvorci politike pojedinih zemalja morali bi preciznije definirati problem kapaciteta apsorpcije, kako na analitičkoj, tako i na operativnoj razini.
Sredstva EU morala bi biti uključena u visegodisnje nacrte budzeta ministarstava financija.
Njihovo bi koristenje trebalo razmotriti u sklopu općih financijskih konstrukcija, uz pravdanje svih sredstava koja koristi javni proračun.
Vazno je učiti iz iskustava drugih zemalja u koristenju takvih sredstava kako ne bi bile počinjene greske koje je moguće izbjeći.Kapacitet apsorpcije trebalo bi postaviti u srazmjer s proračunskom politikom i njenom sposobnosću pruzanja javnih dobara.
Naplata poreza mogla bi biti umnogome poboljsana, a reforme su u fiskaloj administraciji vise nego dobrodosle.
Porezni je sustav potrebno pojednostavniti, kako bi se rasteretilo poreznu administraciju i umanjilo troskove usklađivanja poslovanja s poreznim propisima.
Takvo pojednostavljenje ne bi trebalo prerasti u fundamentalizam; i same članice EU koriste načelo fiksnog oporezivanja na fleksibilan način.
Ukoliko ne dođe do korekcije sadasnjih značajnih razlika u iskoristivosti javnih resursa, zaostajanje u prihodima po glavi stanovnika će, u usporedbi sa zemljama centralne Europe, postajati sve izrazenije u sljedećim godinama.
Oskudnost javnih resursa dodatni je argument u prilog osvjestavanju vaznosti razboritog koristenja potpore EU i vjeste proračunske politike usmjerene ka osiguravanju toliko potrebnih javnih dobara.Učinkovito iskoristavanje potpore EU zahtijeva sistematična nastojanja na povećanju lokalnog apsorpcijskog kapaciteta, sto opet zahtijeva sveobuhvatno restrukturiranje i reformu javne uprave.
Kvalitetne je programe potrebno uključiti u visegodisnje proračunske planove na razini ministarstava, te osigurati pazljivo praćenje njihove provedbe, čime bi se spriječilo rasipanje i malverzacije.
Proračunska bi politika trebala u većoj mjeri biti usmjerena ka definiranju prioriteta, te reduciranju nenamjenskog koristenja sredstava i borbi protiv korupcije.




Sporazum o neizručivanju ICC-a dobio opću podrsku albanskih političkih stranaka 02/06/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Albanski premijer Fatos Nano (desno, na slici s Predsjednikom europske komisije Romanom Prodijem) smatra �lanak 98 korakom naprijed u jačanju strateskog partnerstva sa Sjedinjenim Drzavama. [AFP]</font><br><br> Albanski politički čimbenici nisu skloni tome da posmatraju pitanje ICC-a kao stvar izbora između Sjedinjenih Američkih Drzava i EU. Orest Erzeni iz Tirane za Southeast European Times -- 02/06/03Američki drzavni tajnik Colin Powell i albanski premijer Fatos Nano potpisali su 2. svibnja sporazum o uzajamnom prihvaćanju �lanka 98 Rimskog sporazuma, koji se odnosi na Međunarodni kazneni sud (ICC).
Ovaj je potez popraćen iznimno ostrim riječima glasnogovornice EU Emme Udwin, koja je izravno pozvala članove albanskog parlamenta da odbiju ratifikaciju istog."Ne zelimo da ovaj sporazum stupi na snagu.
Stovise, rado bismo da nije potpisan i razočarani smo stavom Albanije po ovom pitanju", izjavila je Udwin 8. svibnja.
Njezine su primjedbe uglavnom ocijenjene nediplomatskima.
Kao odgovor, glavne su albanske političke stranke, koje su se već ranije izjasnile u korist sporazuma, ponovno potvrdile svoju podrsku istom.Bivsi predsjednik Sali Berisha, lider vodeće opozicijske stranke - Demokratske stranke, izjavio je kako ovaj sporazum nije u opreci s Rimskim sporazumom.
Vođa Demokratskog saveza, Prec Zogac, rekao je kako se obveze Albanije prema EU sastoje od ispunjavanja određenih standarda.
Dashamir Shehi, predsjednik obnovljene Stranke demokrata, pozvao je Europu da pokaze razumijevanje za Albaniju.
Predsjedavajući Socijaldemokratske stranke, bivsi Ministar vanjskih poslova Paskal Milo, izjavio je kako je Albanija suverena zemlja, te kao takva pridrzava svoja prava pri donosenju odluka.Kao i tijekom Iračke krize, kada se Albanija priključila "koaliciji voljnih" predvođenoj od strane SAD-a, sluzbeni je stav Tirane kako ovo pitanje ne bi trebalo dozivljavati kao izbor Albanije između Sjedinjenih Američkih Drzava i EU.Ministar vanjskih poslova Ilir Meta se, prema izvorima iz njegovog ministarstva, slučajno nalazio u Bruxellesu na dan kada je Udwin dala svoju izjavu.
Tijekom njegovih sastanaka s Predsjednikom Europske komisije Romanom Prodijem i povjerenikom Chrisom Pattenom, diplomatska je kriza razrijesena.
Na taj smo se korak odlučili imajući u vidu vaznost koju američko prisutstvo i angazman u Albaniji i u regiji imaju za stabilnost".Sličan je stav izrazen i od strane zamjenika predsjedavajućeg Demokratske stranke i bivseg ministra vanjskih poslova Tritana Shehua.
Shehu je 13. svibnja izjavio kako sporazum kojeg su potpisali Nano i Powell neće utjecati na odnose zemlje s EU, budući da Albanija smatra Sjedinjene Drzave i EU silama koje djeluju na ujedinjavanju demokratskog svijeta.Albanija je 32. drzava koja je potpisala sporazum o ICC-u sa Sjedinjenim Drzavama, te druga u jugoistočnoj Europi.




Popovski: Status quo je najbolji za Kosovo 09/06/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">[Snimio Tomislav Georgiev]</font><br><br> Predsjednik makedonskog parlamenta Nikola Popovski u intervjuu danom dopisnici Southeast European Timesa Slobodanki Jovanovskoj govori o Ohridskom sporazumu, primjeni albanskog jezika u drzavnim institucijama, funkcioniranju makedonskog parlamenta i statusu Kosova. Slobodanka Jovanovska iz Skopja za Southeast European Times - 09/06/03Southeast European Times: U Makedoniji su nedavno izdane prve osobne iskaznice na albanskom jeziku, a albanski su zastupnici u parlamentu počeli koristiti svoj jezik.
Je li Ohridski sporazum postao stvarnost u Makedoniji i ostaje li jos nesto sto je potrebno učiniti?Predsjednik makedonskog parlamenta Nikola Popovski: Stajaliste je ovog parlamenta kako je potrebno izvrsiti tri stvari za dovrsenje implementacije Ohridskog sporazuma: izmjene ustava, koje su već provedene; donosenje novih zakona koji proistječu iz tih izmjena, koji će biti izglasani do rujna; te proces decentralizacije, koji će trajati nesto duze, čiji se dovrsetak predviđa za ljeto sljedeće godine.
Dogovoreni će rokovi biti ispostovani.
Ne sumnjam u to, budući da ne očekujemo političke poteskoće.
Najslozenija su pitanja, primjerice nove putovnice, te primjena albanskog jezika u parlamentu i drugim institucijama, već iza nas.
Ostaje nam samo jedan zakon koji bi mogao izazvati određene poteskoće.
Riječ je o zakonu o koristenju drzavnih i nacionalnih obiljezja.
Unatoč tome, očekujem i gotovo sam siguran kako će i po tom pitanju biti pronađen zajednički stav, te će i taj zakon biti prihvaćen.SE Times: Kakva je vasa ocjena stupnja implementacije Ohridskog sporazuma po pitanju koristenja albanskog jezika?Popovski: Ohridski je sporazum vrlo precizan i jasan.
Pokriva sve ustavne izmjene i amandmane, te određuje način izmjene pojedinih zakona, čega se i pridrzavamo.
Koristenje albanskog kao drugog sluzbenog jezika u Makedoniji provedeno je u mjeri određenoj sporazumom.
Nije riječ o klasičnom uvođenju albanskog kao sluzbenog jezika, budući da je zakonskom regulativom Albancima zajamčeno pravo da kao građani koriste svoj jezik u komunikaciji s institucijama, a ne uvođenje jezika u same institucije.
Tako je zapisano u ustavu i u Ohridskom sporazumu, te je isto potpisano od strane političkih stranaka i predstavnika međunarodne zajednice.SE Times: Jesu li nedavni potezi opozicijskih stranaka, prvenstveno odluka o bojkotu parlamenta i ideja o podjeli na etničkoj osnovi, imali ikakvog utjecaja na provođenje Ohridskog sporazuma i na političku stabilnost Makedonije?Popovski: Javnost je osuđivala ove ideje od trenutka njihove pojave, te one stoga ne zavređuju nikakvu paznju.
Sto se tiče bojkota parlamenta, ta situacija traje već nekoliko tjedana.
Demokratska stranka Albanaca namjerava provesti dugotrajniji bojkot, no vjerujem kako će uskoro shvatiti da je riječ o gresci i vratiti se natrag.
Ovo nije način na koji bi se ista moglo postići.SE Times: Odlučili ste suzbiti korupciju među članovima parlamenta.
Uspijevate li u tome?Popovski: Ovaj parlament nema izvrsne ovlasti kroz koje bi se kanalizirala korupcija.
Korupcija je uzela maha u prethodnome parlamentu zbog toga sto su brojni članovi parlamenta imali interese u drzavnim institucijama i tvrtkama kao članovi izvrsnih odbora ili na drugim sličnim polozajima.
Donosenjem novog zakona, ovakvoj je praksi u Makedoniji dosao kraj, te vise nije moguće koristiti javna sredstva za osobnu korist ili javne polozaje u svrhu ostvarivanja osobnih privilegija.
Ukratko, riječ "korupcija" nije primjenjiva u odnosu na ovaj parlament.
Sustav funkcionira.SE Times: Koji je vas stav po pitanju konačnog statusa Kosova i mogućih utjecaja na susjedne zemlje?Popovski: O budućem će političkom statusu Kosova odlučiti UN, čija je drzava članica i Makedonija.
Ukoliko Vijeće sigurnosti odluči da bi protektorat trebao postati neovisan, te mu dodijeli status međunarodnog subjekta, postivat ćemo tu odluku, jer smo i sami dio obitelji UN-a.
Ovo, međutim, ne znači da situacija neće imati utjecaja na Makedoniju.
Neovisnost Kosova neće utjecati na Sjedinjene Američke Drzave, Veliku Britaniju ili Rusiju, no imat će posljedice za susjedne zemlje, uključujući i nasu.
Imajući ovo u vidu, bilo bi uputno da međunarodna zajednica uzme u obzir stavove i gledista susjednih zemalja.Osobno smatram kako bi, dugoročno gledano, status Kosova trebao ostati nepromijenjen.
Međunarodna zajednica ima velik potencijal za suzbijanje kriminala i tenzija, a općenitije gledano, i sirenja nestabilnosti u regiji.
Ukoliko međunarodna zajednica ovdje ostane pet do deset godina, u potpunosti će stabilizirati Kosovo, no svaka namjera da ga se izdvoji, bilo da ga se vrati natrag Srbiji ili pretvori u neovisnu drzavu, vjerojatno će rezultirati novim valom nesigurnosti na Balkanu.
Svi su već umorni od takvih situacija.SE Times: Makedonija ozbiljno razmatra mogućnost potpisivanja recipročnog sporazuma o Međunarodnom kaznenom sudu (ICC) sa Sjedinjenim Drzavama.
Imajući u vidu kako je Makedonija ratificirala Rimski statut po pitanju ICC-a, vidite li tu ikakvih proturječja i da li bi parlament trebao imati posljednju riječ u ovome?Popovski: Ovo je pitanje stvar bilateralnog sporazuma između Sjedinjenih Američkih Drzava i Makedonije.
U ovom trenutku u parlamentu nema nikakvog prijedloga ili inicijative vezane uz takav sporazum.
Ukoliko makedonska vlada odluči prihvatiti zahtjev SAD-a, ne postoji nikakva druga opcija osim ratifikacije od strane parlamenta.
Zasad je preuranjeno raspravljati o ovom pitanju, budući da očekujemo debatu u ministarstvu vanjskih poslova po pitanju dobrih i losih strana potpisivanja sporazuma.
Ranija ratifikacija Rimskog statuta nije u kontradikciji s ovim bilateralnim sporazumom sa Sjedinjenim Drzavama; problem je prvenstveno političke, a ne pravne prirode.




Pozitivni znakovi suradnje 16/06/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana"> [SETimes]</font><br><br> Ono sto se događa na zapadnom Balkanu ima značaj za mir i razvoj u svijetu u cjelini, upozorava ekonomist i bivsi rumunjski ministar financija Daniel Daianu. Daniel Daianu iz Bukuresta za Southeast European Times - 16/06/03Vodeći međunarodni dnevni list, International Herald Tribune, nedavno je objavio pismo koje su potpisala četvorica najvaznijih političara na zapadnom Balkanu.
Ovaj je događaj iznimno znakovit iz nekoliko razloga.
Kao prvo, pismo je objavljeno nakon atentata na srpskog premijera Zorana ?inđića u svrhu pokazivanja snazne zajedničke odlučnosti u borbi protiv kriminala.
Značajna je činjenica da su se ključni donositelji odluka u regiji udruzili kako bi javnosti dali do znanja da su njihove zemlje spremne surađivati i naporno raditi kako bi se pridruzile EU.
Time je dat jasan signal da političari shvaćaju zajedničku sudbinu svojih zemalja, te da je potrebno zanemariti razmirice radi bolje budućnosti, koja je neraskidivo vezana uz mjesto u Uniji.Takvo zajednički potpisano pismo objavljeno u vodećoj europskoj tiskovini već dugo nije viđeno.
Ova činjenica sama po sebi označava buđenje političkih čelnika regije, koji shvaćaju da moraju progovoriti na snazan i uvjerljiv način kako bi ih njihovi kolege na zapadu čuli.
Ovo pismo označava zajedničku svijest o ključnim političkim i ekonomskim potrebama regije.
To podrazumijeva odlučno nastavljanje ekonomskih reformi i obnove; borbu protiv kriminala i korupcije; rjesavanje masovne nezaposlenosti, siromastva i socijalne isključenosti; promicanje regionalne trgovine i suradnje; te zastitu ljudskih prava.Premda je objavljeno u vrijeme kad je međunarodna paznja bila usmjerena na posljedice rata u Iraku i stalnu borbu protiv terorizma, pismo nije proslo nezamijećeno.
Poznati financijas i filantrop George Soros naknadno je potpisao pismo Financial Timesu, pozivajući EU i međunarodne financijske ustanove da odobre povoljne zajmove zemljama zapadnog Balkana kako bi im pomogli u borbi za ekonomsku obnovu i izgradnju sigurnosti.
Također je od EU zatrazio preuzimanje čvrsćih obveza prema regiji.
Postoje naznake da će skup EU 21. lipnja u Thessaloniki biti usmjeren na ovu regiju, te da će doći do čvrsćeg obvezivanja po pitanju njezine konačne integracije u Uniju.Znakovi na zapadnom Balkanu i van njega pokazuju u pravom smjeru i daju nadu.
Oni označavaju postupak ozdravljenja, povećane suradnje, te gospodarske obnove i pomoći.
Mozda je osjećaj zurnosti obuzeo vodeće političare na zapadnom Balkanu, koji je i dalje najnepostojanije područje u Europi, no vise nije njen najhitniji problem u smislu transatlantskog dijaloga.Veliki dio EU zapao je u gospodarsku stagnaciju.
To je imalo ozbiljan utjecaj na zemlje kandidate, uključujući one na zapadnom Balkanu, koje prvenstveno izvoze u Uniju.
Gospodarska stagnacija u EU potpiruje protekcionističke sklonosti, sprječavajući uspjesan ishod trgovačkih pregovora u Dohi.
Ovakav je razvoj nepovoljan za zemlje zapadnog Balkana, čiji se izvoz uglavnom temelji na poljoprivrednim proizvodima.
Tokovi kapitala posljednjih godina mijenjaju trend, slijedeći pucanje balona u Sjedinjenim Drzavama i financijske skandale s obje strane Atlantika.
Rezultat toga je da zapadni Balkan ne moze očekivati da će profitirati od priljeva privatnog kapitala koji mu je potreban.
Nepovoljni omjeri stednje i ulaganja u regiji zahtijevaju značajniji priljev kapitala kako bi se povećao odrzivi rast.Ove okolnosti tvore vrlo slozene domaće situacije.
Inflacija je u većini zemalja prilično niska, no temelji za stabilan rast su neizvjesni, uz snazno oslanjanje na stranu pomoć.
Ogromne stope nezaposlenosti i veliki fiktivni fiskalni deficit, neadekvatna infrastruktura i slabasne ustanove upotpunjuju sliku prijeko potrebne reforme i obnove.
S obzirom da je međunarodno okruzenje toliko slozeno, zemlje zapadnog Balkana bi se trebale okupiti kako bi neutralizirale - koliko je to moguće - nepovoljne udare izvana.Sto se tiče EU, ova regija predstavlja jasan ispit procjene sposobnosti Unije u pogledu očuvanja mira, dobrosusjedskih odnosa i gospodarske obnove u vlastitom dvoristu.
To se posebice odnosi na sadasnjost, kada je EU preuzela očuvanje mira u Makedoniji, a s vremenom bi to mogla učiniti i u drugim dijelovima regije.Ono sto se događa u regiji ima značaj za mir i razvoj u svijetu kao cjelini.
Propale i izolirane drzave, gospodarsko i drustveno raspadanje, te vojni i međuetnički sukobi sire se u mnogim dijelovima svijeta te je potrebno djelovati kako bi se rasvijetlile takve pojave.




Hrvatska očekuje jos jednu uspjesnu turističku sezonu 07/07/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Dubrovnik, Hrvatska. [Haris Memija]</font><br><br> Hrvatska je obala Europljanima nekad predstavljala popularno turističko odrediste, no turisti su se klonili ovog područja tijekom balkanskih sukoba u '90-ima.
Hrvatska danas dozivljava renesansu, a turisti ponovno otkrivaju ljepote ovog juznoeuropskog dragulja. Natasa Radić iz Zagreba za Southeast European Times - 07/07/03Hrvati se nadaju kako će nadolazeća ljetna sezona predstavljati priču o uspjehu, te će priliv gostiju imati značajan učinak na drzavno gospodarstvo.
Ministarstvo turizma izjavilo je kako očekuje da će zemlja zaraditi vise od 4.5 milijardi dolara u 2003.
Premda su postojale neke spekulacije o mogućem utjecaju rata u Iraku na turističko trziste, ispostavlja se kako su takvi strahovi bili pretjerani.
Pristizanjem prvih organiziranih grupa turista i otvaranjem sezone, rani pokazatelji ukazuju kako postoji mnogo razloga za optimizam.Smjestajni su kapaciteti bili popunjeni tijekom uskrsnjih praznika, sto je dobar pokazatelj za vrhunac sezone na jadranskoj obali u srpnju i kolovozu.
Najvjerniji posjetitelji i dalje su gosti iz obliznjih zemalja, primjerice Italije, �eske republike, Poljske, Mađarske i Njemačke.
No u Hrvatsku se vraćaju i gosti iz udaljenijih europskih zemalja.
Tijekom prvih tjedana lipnja, grupe iz Skandinavije i Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva posjetile su poznate hrvatske turističke destinacije poput otoka Krka, Brača, Hvara i Paga, istarskog poluotoka i znamenitog grada Dubrovnika smjestenog na krajnjem jugu zemlje.U Hrvatskoj je 100.000 radnih mjesta direktno ili indirektno vezano uz turizam.
Turizam predstavlja ključnu granu gospodarstva po pitanju prihoda i zaposljavanja.
Stoga hrvatska vlada, u tijesnoj suradnji s privatnim sektorom, pokusava omogućiti i poticati rast svih aspekata ove gospodarske grane.
Nezaposlenost tijekom ljetnih mjeseci opada zahvaljujući činjenici da ljudi nalaze posao na obali.Hrvatska je također pozvala strane i domaće investitore da ulazu u modernizaciju i razvoj hotela, privatnog smjestaja i kampova.
Brojne tvrtke, strani hotelski lanci i poslovni ljudi već su iskazali svoj interes, no jos uvijek nailaze na administrativne zapreke koje otezavaju brzo zaključivanje poslova.
Uslijed toga, brojni strani ulagači i dalje trebaju mnogo strpljenja i dodatne dokumentacije kako bi investirali u postojeća poduzeća, a ministarstvo turizma pokusava pojednostavniti i potaknuti strana ulaganja u hrvatski turizam.Suočena sa snaznom konkurencijom na Mediteranu, Hrvatska nastoji postati prepoznatljiva oaza mira koja ljudima na odmoru pruza prelijepu obalu bez potrebe da putuju daleko od svojih domova.
Zemlja je sigurna i relativno jeftina, te se do nje jednostavno stize zračnim, morskim i kopnenim putem.
Vodeće turističke ustanove u zemlji razvile su posebnu strategiju promocije, zasnovanu na reputaciji Hrvatske kao male zemlje za veliki odmor - europskog dragulja s tisuću otoka.
Snimke hrvatskih krajolika i obale emitiraju se na vodećim televizijskim postajama tijekom čitave godine.Zemlja je postala popularno ljetno odrediste ne samo za turiste iz čitave Europe, već i za velik broj slavnih osoba koje tek počinju otkrivati hrvatsku stranu Jadranskog mora.
Političari, biznismeni, glumci i umjetnici, čak i članovi kraljevskih obitelji - primjerice, belgijski kralj - plovili su Jadranom na svojim privatnim jahtama.
Zapanjeni ljepotom ove zemlje, mnogi se vraćaju i ove godine.Hrvatska se tek nedavno u potpunosti oporavila od posljedica rata, kako na području turizma, tako i cjelokupnog gospodarstva.
Tijekom ratnih sukoba, brojni su hoteli na obali bili koristeni kao sklonista za izbjeglice.
Vlada je razvila plan njihove obnove i ponovnog opremanja, kako bi se njihovi kapaciteti mogli ponovno koristiti u turističke svrhe.Hrvatska ima čisto i nezagađeno more s nevjerojatnom obalom, vise od 1.000 otoka, nedirnutom prirodom, drevnim spomenicima i bogatim kulturnim i povijesnim nasljeđem.
Do kraja lipnja bit će dovrseno vise od 100 km novih autocesta u Hrvatskoj, čime će se bitno olaksati putovanje turista do njihovih odredista na obali.
To predstavlja samo dio ogromnih zahvata pokrenutih u Hrvatskoj tijekom posljednjih nekoliko godina.
Dovrsenje autoceste koja će povezivati sjever i jug zemlje predviđeno je za 2005. godinu.
Projekt će stajati 2.2 mlrd.$, te će omogućiti zaposljavanje vise od 20.000 radnika, građevinara i arhitekata.




Michael Steiner napusta Kosovo 14/07/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Sef UNMIK-a Michael Steiner na briefingu s vođom Demokratske stranke Kosova (PDK), Hashimom Thacijem (desno) u sjedistu PDK u Pristini 7. srpnja.
Steiner je po isteku 18-mjesečnog mandata 8. srpnja napustio svoje mjesto sefa misije UN-a na Kosovu. [AFP]</font><br><br> Pripremajući se da napusti Kosovo, dosadasnji je sef UNMIK-a Michael Steiner izrazio ponos razvojem multietničkog ozračja tijekom njegovog mandata. Seremb Gjergji iz Pristine za Southeast European Times - 14/07/03Sef UNMIK-a Michael Steiner napustio je Kosovo 8. srpnja, te je sada ključno pitanje tko će ga zamijeniti na duznosti.
Glavni tajnik UN-a Kofi Annan zasada nije obznanio svoj izbor za novog Posebnog izaslanika.
U međuvremenu će funkciju sefa misije obnasati zamjenik sefa UNMIK-a Charles Brayshaw iz Sjedinjenih Drzava.Dva dana prije svog odlaska, Steiner je iznenadio uzvanike na svojoj oprostajnoj zabavi saljivim priznanjem svojeg stvarnog stava o statusu Kosova."Svi vi već napamet znate koji je moj moto: 'Prvo status, zatim standardi', nasalio se Steiner.
Tijekom svog mandata sef UNMIK-a u odlasku navodio je kako Kosovo mora ispuniti standarde demokracije i uspostaviti funkcionalne institucije prije no sto bude vrijeme za razmatranje pitanja njegovog krajnjeg statusa."Ozračje na Kosovu u potpunosti izmijenilo", izjavio je Steiner.
"Situacija je posve drugačija no sto je bila u vrijeme mog dolaska.
Dokaz je tome i otvoreno pismo Kosovskih vođa upućeno svim raseljenim ljudima u Srbiji, Makedoniji i Crnoj Gori, u kojemu ih se poziva na povratak njihovim domovima.""Dok čovjek radi, nije svjestan kako se njegovom mandatu blizi kraj.
Sada sam postao svjestan kako mi je vrijeme na samom izmaku", rekao je Steiner.Mnoga se imena navode kao moguće zamjene za Steinera.
Popis uključuje portugalskog diplomata Josea Cutiliera; nizozemske političare Jana Ponka i Evelin Herfkens; finsku diplomatkinju Elizabeth Rehn, te talijanskog diplomata Antonia Armellinija.
Analitičari, međutim, vjeruju kako bi se Annan na kraju mogao odlučiti za nekog drugog kandidata, zasada nepoznatog javnosti.Steiner je na Kosovo dosao pred 17 mjeseci.
Dok su mu neki zamjerali suvise autokratski pristup, drugi su hvalili njegovu izravnost, neovisnost i čvrstoću.Kao glavni upravitelj, radio je na izgradnji funkcionalne viseetničke vlasti, suzbijanju krijumčarenja, te osnivanju Agencije za privatizaciju Kosova (KTA) čija je posebna komora pokrenula postupak privatizacije.
Steiner je također objavio stupanje na snagu novog Krivičnog zakonika i Zakona o krivičnom postupku Kosova, te je inicirao pokretanje dijaloga kosovskih vođa sa srpskom vladom.Nerijesena pitanja ipak jos postoje, uključujući povratak izbjeglica, kao i tenzije u etnički podijeljenom gradu Mitrovici.Prema Steineru, političari u Beogradu i Pristini često nisu uspijevali pojmiti kako je Kosovo "počelo zivjeti normalnim zivotom multietničke sredine.
Ponosan sam na razvoj multietničkog ozračja koje sam uspio uspostaviti tijekom trajanja moje misije."Kosovski predsjednik Ibrahim Rugova drugačije procjenjuje situaciju.
"Moj je stav kako bi formalno priznanje neovisnosti Kosova ubrzalo gospodarski razvoj i unaprijedilo međuetničke odnose, čime bi bio pruzen poticaj razvoju Kosova u cjelini", izjavio je."Očekujemo nastavak pomoći vas i vase cijenjene zemlje i u budućnosti", rekao je Rugova Steineru na oprostajnom primanju, kojom prilikom je odao počast Steineru dodijelivsi mu Predsjedničko odličje za civilnu sluzbu.Premijer Bajram Rexhepi također je iznio pohvale Steineru.
Unatoč povremenim trvenjima, "veći smo dio vremena vrlo uspjesno surađivali i radili zajedno", izjavio je Rexhepi novinarima.Brayshaw je pak rekao kako je Steiner "dosao na Valentinovo, a odlazi na �etvrti srpnja.
Počeo je radom na dan ljubavi, a odlazi na dan koji slavi činjenicu kako su svi ljudi stvoreni jednaki, te imaju pravo na zivot u slobodi i potragu za srećom."Enver Hoxhaj, profesor na odjelu političkih znanosti Sveučilista u Pristini, vjeruje kako je prvi Steinerov veliki uspjeh bilo pokretanje uspostave prve viseetničke vlasti zasnovane na temeljima kosovskog ustava.
"Steinerov je pristup situaciji u tom vremenu potpomogao popustanju tenzija među međunarodnim čimbenicima i lokalnim stanovnistvom", napominje on.No, budući da su čelnici Kosova, kao i Srbi i druge manjine, često zanemarivali potrebu za tijesnom suradnjom sa Steinerom na ostvarivanju svojih ciljeva, sefu UNMIK-a je u mnogim situacijama bio bitno otezan rad, izjavljuje Hoxhaj."Nakon potlačenosti, ponizavanja i tragedije iz 1999., Kosovo je stupilo na put ka slobodnom, funkcionalnom, demokratskom drustvenom uređenju", izjavio je Steiner u svojem zavrsnom izvjesću Vijeću sigurnosti 1. srpnja.
"Učesće sviju jos uvijek nije ostvareno.
San jos nije ostvaren.
No, temelji su razvoja u ovom pravcu utvrđeni."




Southeast European Times intervjuirao je u Tirani voditelja kampanje Eriona Veliaja. Intervju Marte Muco za Southeast European Times (OSCE, <a href=http://www.mjaft.org/en/index1.htm>web site kampanje MJAFT!</a> - 28/07/03)Uz podrsku OSCE-a i drugih međunarodnih čimbenika, nedavno je dovrsena nacionalna kampanja MJAFT!
(DOSTA!) pokrenuta na inicijativu <a href=http://www.mjaft.org/en/index1.htm>Balkans YouthLink-a</a> (Balkanska veza mladezi) i Albanske nacionalne debatne udruge.
Sudjelovao je i veći broj drugih albanskih građanskih grupa, koje također vide konstruktivno sudjelovanje građanstva kao ključni faktor u demokraciji i kvalitetnom upravljanju drzavom.
Erion Veliaj, voditelj kampanje, opisao je na koji bi način moglo doći do promjena.Southeast European Times: Izjavili ste kako podizanje stupnja osvijestenosti moze promijeniti perspektivu drustva, sto posebice vrijedi za mlađe narastaje.
I sami ste mladi, nedavno ste diplomirali na koledzu u Sjedinjenim Drzavama.
Koje je bilo osnovno pitanje koje vas je potaklo da pokrenete kampanju sirokih razmjera u vlastitoj domovini?Erion Veliaj: U Albaniji je prisutan nedostatak otvorene i iskrene javne debate o političkim, ekonomskim i drustvenim problemima.
Riječ je o osnovnim pitanjima otvorenog i slobodnog drustva koja su konstantno bivala zanemarivana u razdoblju duljem od desetljeća, odnosno sve od pada komunizma.
Krajnji je čas da u albanskom drustvu dođe do drastičnih promjena u nastojanjima da se nadiđe 'mentalitet kriznog razdoblja'.Ljudi pasivno prihvaćaju stanje koje dozivljavaju kao nesto sto nije moguće mijenjati, mire se s korupcijom i toleriraju nepravdu.
Prosječni građanin kao da je potpisao 'zavjet sutnje' i odustao od trazenja rjesenja.
Ovakvo stanje trebamo i moramo mijenjati.
Doslo je vrijeme kada svi Albanci koji zele napredak svoje zajednice moraju zajedno podići glas i reći kako je napokon DOSTA, te kako vise neće podnositi ovakvo stanje stvari.SE Times: MJAFT! kampanja je upravo dovrsena.
Pokrenuta 15. ozujka, a okončana 12. srpnja, MJAFT! je bila četveromjesečna kampanja koja se provodila među građanstvom.
Bila je to temeljna građanska kampanja, pokretana idealima demokracije i kvalitetnog upravljanja drzavom na osnovi potreba građana i njihovog aktivnog sudjelovanja.
Kampanja je bila usmjerena ka podizanju stupnja osvijestenosti i ujedinjavanju snaga s drugim nevladinim tijelima, kao i s međunarodnim i drugim nacionalnim organizacijama koje se bave srodnim pitanjima, te nastojanju da se progovori o problemima koji konstantno opsjedaju albansko drustvo.
Kampanja je bila usmjerena na dokidanje statusa quo i slanje jasne i glasne poruke "DOSTA!" stalnom padu kvalitete zdravstvene skrbi i obrazovanja, krvnoj osveti, krijumčarenju i organiziranom kriminalu, siromastvu i nezaposlenosti, diskriminaciji zena i obespravljenih, političkoj neodgovornosti i korupciji, zagađenju okolisa i slabom napretku na području integracije u EU.SE Times: Koje su bile ciljane grupe u vasoj kampanji?Veliaj: Kampanja je bila usmjerena na vise od devet milijuna Albanaca u zemlji i inozemstvu.
U nastojanju da postane najveća kampanja za usmjeravanje javnog mnijenja ikada provedena u Albaniji, MJAFT! je postavila jednu od najposjećenijih web stranica u zemlji, s preko 900 pretplatnika na redovite tiskovne publikacije i dvotjedni MJAFT! bilten.
Riječ je o pitanjima za koja se vjeruje kako su usporila napredak Albanije na njenom putu u EU, kao i razvoj zemlje u cjelini.
Odabrane teme usuglasene su i s UN-ovim Milenijskim razvojnim ciljevima, predviđenima za ostvarenje do godine 2015.
Rezultate mozemo klasificirati u zasebne kategorije koje uključuju uspostavu suradnje/partnerstva, medije/promotivne aktivnosti i istrazivanje/obuku.1) Suradnje/partnerstva. Ustanovljena su partnerstva s građanskim udrugama, vladinim agencijama, međunarodnim tijelima (UNDP, Dobrovoljci UN-a, OSCE, WHO, British Council, Centar Lincoln, kao i veleposlanstva Nizozemske, Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva, Njemačke i Sjedinjenih Drzava), te s privatnim sektorom (AMC-Albanian Mobile Company, najveća tvrtka u Albaniji na području mobilne telefonije, te Top Channel, lokalna televizijska postaja).2) Mediji/promotivne aktivnosti. Kampanja je bila iznimno dobro medijski eksponirana zahvaljujući odličnoj zastupljenosti u tisku, na televiziji i radio postajama.
Obuka je bila usmjerena na predane pojedince zainteresirane za pokretanje promjena u zajednici u pogledu problema koji zahtijevaju djelovanje na razini drzavne uprave.
Tečajevi su provedeni u 20 gradova diljem zemlje.
U studiji je sudjelovalo priblizno 1000 studenata.
Ostale su MJAFT! aktivnosti uključivale proteste, javne debate, sastanke u gradskim vijećnicama, maratonsku utrku, kazalisnu predstavu, ulični sajam i izlozbu.SE Times: Kako je kampanja prihvaćena?
Kakve su bile reakcije?Veliaj: Kampanja je prihvaćena kao nesto ozbiljnije od kampanje za podizanje stupnja osvijestenosti.
Riječima Gjergja Tole, ravnatelja kazalisne trupe nijemog teatra koja se priključila MJAFT! autobusnoj karavani: "Albanci iz svih sfera zivota, lideri naseg drustva, nasi intelektualci, studenti, nastavnici, svi trazimo promjene.
Dosta je teskih vremena, zelimo bolji zivot."
Albanski je novinar opisao inicijativu kao "najtezu u Albaniji".
Drugi su naglasili potrebu za uključivanjem manjih drustvenih zajednica i izoliranijih područja zemlje.Daan Everts, osobni predstavnik sefa ureda OSCE-a, izjavio je kako se nada da će MJAFT! podići razinu osvijestenosti i potaći zauzimanje aktivnijeg stava protiv organiziranog kriminala, krijumčarenja, korupcije, kao i u odnosu na ključno pitanje transparentnosti drzavne uprave.
Kampanja je također primila pohvale i priznanja od strane političkih čimbenika u Sjedinjenim Drzavama, primjerice zastupnika Toma Lantosa iz San Franciska, te zastupnika Eliota Engela, koji predsjeda Odborom za albanska pitanja.
Engel je pohvalio kampanju kao "dokaz nove ere u albanskom razmisljanju, novog pristupa starim problemima i nove nade za budućnost Albanije".




Najveći izazov EU: Kako se nositi s kompleksnosću 04/08/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Sefovi drzava zemalja EU ponovno su u Solunu potvrdili odluku Unije o primanju deset novih članica tijekom iduće godine, odaslavsi tako dodatni signal zemljama zapadnog Balkana kako postoje izgledi i za njihovo priključenje. [AFP]</font><br><br> Sada kada se EU priprema za primanje novih članica, bivsi rumunjski Ministar financija Daniel Daianu objasnjava vaznost jačih ekonomija u vrijeme kada je Unija već fiskalno preopterećena. Daniel Daianu iz Bukuresta za Southeast European Times - 04/08/03Nedavni je summit EU u Solunu potvrdio odluku Unije o primanju deset novih članica tijekom sljedeće godine, čime je odaslan dodatni signal zemljama zapadnog Balkana kako postoje izgledi i za njihovo priključenje.
Summit je također imao vaznost zbog svojeg pokusaja da jasnije definira općeprihvaćene stavove na područjima obrane i sigurnosti u vrijeme kada raste potreba za jačanjem odnosa sa Sjedinjenim Drzavama kako bi se učinkovito odgovorilo na prijetnje 21. stoljeća.
Geopolitička i sigurnosna pitanja bila su u velikoj mjeri zastupljena u planovima rada Unije tijekom posljednjih nekoliko godina, te se u tom kontekstu promatra i novi ciklus pridruzivanja Uniji.
Međutim, greska bi bila previdjeti najozbiljniji izazov s kojim se Unija suočava: kako se nositi sa sve većom kompleksnosću.Nekoliko je načina za definiranje rastuće kompleksnosti.
Analogija s akcesijom Portugala i Spanjolske pred vise desetljeća poučna je, no njena je vrijednost ograničena.
Ove su zemlje imale koristi od čitavog niza dugoročnih odstupanja od pravila EU, čime im je omogućeno da uhvate priključak na gospodarskom planu, a do njihove je akcesije doslo u razdoblju procvata ekonomija zemalja članica EU.
Međutim, ovakva su odstupanja sada ograničena, a ekonomija EU je znatno opterećena.
Dapače, pravila se modificiraju u suprotnom smjeru, poput restrikcije prelaska radne snage iz novih u stare članice EU.Ovo je razlog zbog kojega sirenje EU povlači za sobom čitav niz pitanja vezanih za Zajedničku poljoprivrednu politiku (CAP), te za strukturalna i kohezivna sredstva.
Istina je kako se čini da se CAP reforma nalazi na rubu značajnog napretka s obzirom da se novčana potpora vise ne vezuje uz proizvodnju, no ipak predstoji jos mnogo posla.Povećanje dispariteta na gospodarskom planu u prosirenoj će Uniji povećati značaj izazova konvergencije, kako stvarne, tako i nominalne.
Nije sigurno da su strukturalna i kohezivna sredstva sama po sebi dostatna za redukciju ovih dispariteta, kojom bi bila zajamčena učinkovitost zajedničke politike.
Nameću se dva najprominentnija aspekta ovog pitanja.
Prvi se odnosi na učinak znatnih diskrepancija na funkcioniranje Unije, uzevsi u obzir kako neka trzista, primjerice trzista rada, pokazuju izrazitu nefleksibilnost.
Drugo pitanje predstavlja neujednačenost gospodarske situacije u zemljama članicama EU, koja bi mogla zahtijevati i različite pristupe.
Međutim, primjena je različitih politika u velikoj mjeri otezana jedinstvenom valutom i zajedničkom monetarnom politikom.
Poteskoće s kojima se u ovom trenutku suočava nekolicina velikih ekonomija u svojim nastojanjima da ispune odredbe Pakta o financijskoj stabilnosti i rastu prilično su indikativne. �injenica je kako ovakve teskoće nisu naprosto dio poslovnog ciklusa, te ih nije moguće jednostavno ublaziti fiskalnim usklađivanjem.Zemlje koje pretendiraju na članstvo moraju ostvariti gospodarski rast kako bi izasle u susret potrebama vlastite populacije i pomogle nesmetanom funkcioniranju Unije.
Ipak, ograničenja koja proizlaze iz Maastrichtskih kriterija (pitanja razine inflacije i kamatnih stopa, veličine proračunskih deficita i ukupnog javnog duga) mogla bi se pokazati tesko premostivima u pokusajima postizanja većih stopa rasta kojima bi se omogućilo hvatanje priključka na gospodarskom planu; prenisko zacrtane ciljne stope inflacije najvjerojatnije bi stetile rastu u ekonomijama gdje bi značajniji porast produktivnosti u trzisnim sektorima izazvao prevelik porast cijena netrzisnih dobara.
Moguće je postaviti i drukčiju hipotezu, te ustvrditi kako zdrave makroekonomije i trzista koja su fleksibilnija od onih u "starom" dijelu EU mogu pruziti izglede za konkurentnost novim članicama, omogućujući im da se nose s inflacijskim pritiscima nametnutima rastom cijena u netrzisnom sektoru.
No, je li takva hipoteza pouzdano odrziva?EU treba znatno visi stupanj konvergencije, nominalne i realne, kako njezina "povećana raznolikost" nakon prosirenja ne bi rezultirala slabljenjem njezinih ukupnih ekonomskih i političkih rezultata.
Povećana kompleksnost ne implicira nuzno umanjenu homogenost i konvergenciju.
No, s obzirom na trenutačno stanje stvari, ovo ostaje otvoreno pitanje koje je nuzno rjesavati kroz politiku i institucionalne reforme.
O ovim reformama ne ovise o samo izgledi za gospodarski prosperitet sadasnjih članica Unije, već i drzava koje pretendiraju na članstvo.
Primjerice, Bugarska i Rumunjska imaju vlastite, vrlo komplicirane i zahtjevne reformske planove, kako institucionalne, tako i gospodarske.
Nuzno je da odlučno nastave s provođenjem tih reformi kako njihovi izgledi za priključenje EU ne bi bili umanjeni.
S druge strane, način na koji će Unija rjesavati pitanja koja proistječu iz povećanja kompleksnosti vjerojatno će igrati sve veću ulogu tijekom narednih godina, te će poboljsavati ili umanjivati izglede za akcesiju ovih dvaju zemalja.�ini se kako su politički i geopolitički motivi igrali značajniju ulogu u procesu pridruzenja od gospodarskih.
Nesumnjivo je kako pridruzenje donosi određene koristi za gospodarstvo.
No, ukoliko pridruzenjem ne bude upravljano na odgovarajući način, te ukoliko ne bude popraćeno internim reformama u EU (CAP, reguliranje trzisne konkurencije, mirovinski sustavi, itd.), pridruzenje bi moglo prouzročiti tenzije među zemljama članicama i umanjiti izglede za prijam novih zemalja u članstvo.
Prisutan je velik broj faktora koji će utjecati na adekvatno upravljanje rastom kompleksnosti Unije, a neuspjeh u uravnotezivanju svih faktora pokazao bi se strahovitim udarcem za sve europske zemlje, kako za one koje su "unutra", tako i za one koje ostaju "van" kluba članica.
Mora se, međutim, priznati kako je postizanje ovakve ravnoteze čimbenika iznimno zahtjevan posao.




Andreas Loverdos: Western Balkans Are a High Priority for Greece 18/08/2003 Greek Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Andreas Loverdos talks about the importance of bringing the former Yugoslavia into the EU, security for next year's Olympic Games, and Greece's recent presidency of the EU in this interview with Southeast European Times correspondent Athanassios Papandropoulos. By Athanassios Papandropoulos for Southeast European Times in Athens - 18/08/03Southeast European Times: Greece would like to see the former Yugoslav republics brought into the European fold, and in many cases into the EU.
What is your strategy for achieving this goal and what has Greece done so far?Loverdos: The results of the European Council in Thessaloniki and the EU-Western Balkans Summit fall completely in line with the priorities set by the Greek presidency for the Western Balkans.
The European Council produced a specific and enhanced strategy for the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries, within the existing Stabilisation and Association Process and through the adoption of the Thessaloniki agenda for the Western Balkans.
It is an ambitious package which will enable these countries to promote their course towards the EU by supporting effectively their efforts towards the necessary reforms.
The European Partnerships proposed by the Commission, together with a series of other instruments aimed at enhancing the Stabilisation and Association Process, are crucial elements of the above-mentioned agenda.
Finally, a particularly positive outcome of the European Council is the EU decision to increase its financial assistance to the Western Balkans by 213m euros.SE Times: What measures is the government of Greece taking to safeguard spectators and athletes from potential terrorist attacks during the 2004 Olympic Games?Andreas Loverdos: Hosting the 2004 Olympic Games "back home" in an environment of perfect safety is the highest of priorities for Greece.
To that end, a special service, the Directorate for the Security of the Olympic Games (DSOG), has been created by the Greek Police.
The Directorate is responsible for the planning and implementation of all the security measures provided for the Olympic Games as well as for the co-ordination of all the security agencies and organisations involved.Its staff comes from the Greek police, the coast guard, the fire brigade, the National Intelligence Agency and the armed forces.
The DSOG will co-operate with many Olympic and national organisations, including an Olympic Consulting Group, which is a working group of seven members -- one each from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Spain and Israel -- with immense experience in security matters.The DSOG has already completed the strategic, tactical and operational planning of the Olympic security measures and has carried out a multitude of drills, with even more planned until the Games begin.
Furthermore, 58,000 people -- namely, the total of the personnel to be involved in general security matters -- have already received training.It is worth mentioning that the amount invested in security will be the highest ever in the history of the Olympic Games.
In fact, the security budget will be double and the security personnel quadruple since the security of the Olympic Games is a key issue for us, especially after the 9/11 attacks.SE Times: Greece has ended its six-month presidency of the EU.
What were the major accomplishments?
What initiatives did Greece begin that the Italian EU presidency must now finish?Loverdos: The Greek presidency of the EU managed successfully to conclude a series of issues, including enlargement of the EU and the Convention on the Future of Europe.Despite the adverse international circumstances, we moved forward, with consistency, in the discussions regarding the Iraq crisis and promoted EU humanitarian assistance to those in need.We have elaborated for the first time, in close co-operation with the Italian presidency, an annual agenda of the EU priorities.
This agenda guarantees the consistency of EU policy in fields of particular interest, such as the Western Balkans, the Middle East, Euro-Mediterranean co-operation, transatlantic relations and the European security and defence policy.SE Times: Isn't there a conflict between Greece's support for Turkey's EU bid and the recent tensions over airspace violations and the unity of Cyprus?
What are Greece's prospects for a long-term partnership with Turkey?Loverdos: Greece supports the European orientation of Turkey and believes that Turkish society needs to be encouraged to face challenges regarding its European perspective.
However, reforms need to be made in order to achieve European partnership.
The international issue of Cyprus has to be settled according to international law and the decisions of the UN Security Council as well as the conclusions adopted by the EU Copenhagen Summit.Our policy is to ensure that Greek-Turkish relations are consistent with international law, avoiding aggressive claims and threats of war.In this context, military pressure through air activity in the Aegean is a source of concern both for Greece and for the EU.
Turkey, an EU candidate country, needs to address this contradiction and respect the rules of international law.SE Times: Now that the Iraq war is over and Saddam Hussein has been deposed, what is Greece's plan to help the Iraqi people?Loverdos: Greece has attached great importance to the humanitarian aspect of the Iraqi crisis in the aftermath of the war.
We were one of the first countries to provide humanitarian aid through NGOs on Iraqi soil.
Greece has implemented programmes through Greek NGOs amounting to 5m euros, and our efforts will be intensified when circumstances allow it.
We will insist on our policy in a coherent and impartial way, aiming at contributing to short-term humanitarian needs as well as to long-term rehabilitation needs until the economy recovers.
Greece has also considered it important to exert its influence for co-ordinated action in all frameworks, such as the EU, for the best possible outcome.Our efforts focused on transportation and distribution of food and medical supplies for hospitals and schools, clean water and health and sanitation support and new medical infrastructure.
We have also initiated special programmes concerning the evacuation of Iraqi children and their treatment in Greek hospitals.The first 12 children arrived on 2 July 2003, accompanied by their parents and members of the Greek annex of the NGO Doctors of the World, and they have been hospitalised according to their needs in hospitals that are appropriate for their health problems.
This is a programme that we will definitely follow through.




Funkcionira li u Rumunjskoj trzisna ekonomija? 25/08/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Bivsi rumunjski ministar financija Daniel Daianu smatra kako poboljsani izgledi za budućnost rumunjskog gospodarstva i nedavno podizanje ratinga od strane međunarodnih agencija predstavljaju uvjerljive argumente u prilog unaprjeđenju statusa ove zemlje. [Ilustracija SE Times]</font><br><br> Bivsi rumunjski ministar financija Daniel Daianu smatra kako poboljsani izgledi za budućnost rumunjskog gospodarstva i nedavno podizanje ratinga od strane međunarodnih agencija predstavljaju uvjerljive argumente u prilog unaprjeđenju statusa ove zemlje. Daniel Daianu iz Bukuresta za Southeast European Times - 25/08/03Europska komisija (EC) zahtijeva od zemalja koje teze akcesiji da udovolje dvama temeljnim uvjetima prije primanja u EU: da imaju "funkcionalnu trzisnu ekonomiju", te da se uzdrze od vrsenja pritisaka konkurencijom unutar Unije.
Drugi zahtjev uzima u obzir dramatičnu redukciju značaja nacionalne gospodarske politike u području koje provodi zajedničku monetarnu politiku, te unutar kojega vise ne postoje zapreke slobodnoj trgovini.
Dvanaest zemalja članica EU dijele istu valutu; također, u nesto blazem obliku, ERM2 ograničava politiku tečaja u preostalim zemljama.
Oba se zahtjeva dozivljavaju kao esencijalni za unaprjeđenje nominalne i stvarne konvergencije, bez koje bi doslo do podrivanja Unije iznutra.Tranzicijskim zemljama čije se primanje u članstvo očekuje 2004. status je funkcionalne trzisne ekonomije dodijeljen jos prije nekog vremena.
Bugarskoj je isti status priznat prosle godine.
Unaprjeđenje statusa gospodarstva susjedne zemlje, kao i debata oko Turske i ostalih zemalja koje pretendiraju na akcesiju, povisila je uloge za Rumunjsku.
Utrka je počela predstavljati sve veći izazov s obzirom na gospodarske i geopolitičke okolnosti povezane s sirenjem Unije.Postoje li u Rumunjskoj osnovne trzisne institucije, te jesu li slobodno formirane cijene najznačajniji faktor koji utječe na alokaciju resursa?
Odgovor je na oba pitanja pozitivan; u Rumunjskoj funkcionira trzisna ekonomija.
Pa ipak, prisutne su značajne slabosti, uključujući manjak financijske discipline, nedostatno provođenje trzisnih propisa, slaba transparentnost i stabilnost zakonodavnog sustava, neučinkovita javna administracija, nezadovoljavajući pravosudni aparat, i tako dalje.
Dakle, Rumunjska jos uvijek mora prijeći dalek put kako bi uspostavila visoko učinkovitu trzisnu ekonomiju.
Bi li status gospodarstva u ovoj zemlji mogao biti izmijenjen do kraja ove godine?Neki gospodarski pokazatelji sugeriraju kako bi mogao.
Oporavak se nastavlja; BNP je porastao 5.7 posto u 2001., odnosno 4.9 posto u 2002. godini.
Rast će ove godine vjerojatno biti usporen na oko 4 posto, prvenstveno uslijed gospodarske stagnacije na Zapadu i lose zetve u zemlji.
Inflacija, koja je u proslom desetljeću predstavljala pravu posast, definitivno opada.
Od 30.3 posto u 2001. smanjena je na 17.8 posto u 2002., te će najvjerojatnije biti reducirana na oko 13 posto ove godine.
Bankovni je sustav sada, nakon opsezne reforme, bitno zdraviji, a pričuve su tijekom proteklih godina značajno porasle.
Ukupni javni dug iznosi manje od 30 posto BNP, u čemu vanjski javni dug (uz drzavna jamstva) sudjeluje s oko 75 posto, dok je kratkoročna zaduzenost relativno niska.
Proračunski deficiti u posljednje su dvije godine zadrzani na manje od 3 posto, a računovodstveni je deficit u prosjeku iznosio oko 5 posto.Ovakvo stanje nije proslo nezamijećeno od strane vodećih agencija za dodjelu gospodarskog ratinga, te je status Rumunjske podignut sa B- na BB-.
Ovo je jos uvijek ispod investicijskog ratinga, no izgledi se za daljnja revidiranja ratinga u pozitivnom smjeru čine prilično dobri.
Poboljsana gospodarska slika ohrabrila je vodeće rumunjske duznosnike, koji očekuju pozitivno rjesenje od strane Komisije u njezinom sljedećem izvjesću u studenom.Postoje i drugi argumenti koji idu u prilog Rumunjskoj.
U nekim su zemljama gospodarski pokazatelji naglo opali (proračunski i tekući deficiti), dobrano prije njihove akcesije predviđene za 2004., dok su se gospodarski rezultati Rumunjske u istom razdoblju vidno poboljsali.
Nadalje, uzevsi u obzir kako su se neke od dugogodisnjih članica EU suočile s velikim poteskoćama u ispunjavanju nekih od kriterija iz Maastrichta, ima li smisla pretjerana strogost prema Rumunjskoj po ovom pitanju?
Svakako, logiku je ovog pitanja moguće postaviti i obratno: ako razvijene trzisne ekonomije mogu imati ovakvih poteskoća unutar Unije, kako će one manje razvijene opstati nakon priključenja?
Odgovor lezi u preispitivanju drugih temeljnih pitanja, primjerice sposobnosti za odricanje od autonomije u donosenju planova i programa (u svrhu amortizacije) do stupnja predviđenog za akcesiju.
Jesu li kriterijima iz Maastrichta potrebni amandmani kako bi politika mogla biti korigirana na bolji način u teskim vremenima?
Mirovinski je sustav u sve dubljoj krizi; domaće su investicije na preniskoj razini da bi podrzale dugoročni rast; poljoprivreda je u losem stanju i predstavlja izvor zabrinutosti partnera u EU; u javnoj je administraciji nuzna velika reforma.
Većinu ovih problema nije moguće brzo rijesiti, budući da su strukturalne prirode.
Međutim, neki se od njih ne odnose isključivo na Rumunjsku; u velikoj su mjeri prisutni i u drugim akcesijskim zemljama.
Dapače, kriza u mirovinskom sustavu prisutna je i u sadasnjim zemljama članicama EU.Krajnji je zaključak kako promjena statusa ima smisla ukoliko se izbjegavaju dvostruka mjerila i priznaje stvarni napredak u gospodarstvu.
Istovremeno, Komisija bi također morala ponovno naglasiti kako postoje značajne specifične slabosti u rumunjskom gospodarstvu; da 2007. predstavlja orijentacioni datum akcesije, a ne čvrstu odluku EU; te da bi razdoblje prije primanja u članstvo rumunjske vlasti trebale shvatiti kao dodatno vrijeme u kojemu je moguće provođenje efikasne autonomne gospodarske politike, koju bi trebalo koristiti (ne zloupotrebljavati!) kako bi se povela bitka sa slabostima gospodarstva u zemlji; populizam ne bi trebao odvesti gospodarsku politiku na stranputicu u nadolazećoj izbornoj godini.
Bruxells ima jake inicijative u dijalogu s rumunjskom vladom.
Primjerice, Rumunjska moze profitirati od financijske pomoći u iznosu od oko 1 milijarde eura godisnje, pod uvjetom da se nastavi stalan napredak na gospodarskom i institucionalnom planu.Bilo bi iznimno razočaravajuće za većinu interesnih grupacija i za većinu glasača u Rumunjskoj kada bi EC odlučila čekati daljnje znakove gospodarskog i institucionalnog napretka prije unaprjeđenja statusa zemlje.
No ipak, valja upamtiti kako reforme provodimo prvenstveno zbog nas samih, te da, neovisno o odlukama donesenim u studenom, nema čvrstih jamstava kako će se Rumunjska priključiti EU 2007. godine, osim ako strukturalne slabosti ne budu rjesavane predano, a rezultati se poboljsanja (uključujući asimilaciju Acquisa) ne budu očitovali na uvjerljiv način.
Rumunjskoj je potrebna znatno bolja trzisna ekonomija za uspjesno priključenje zemljama članicama EU.




Edward Joseph: Jos ima prostora za napredak u Makedoniji 01/09/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana"> [Tomislav Georgiev]</font><br><br> Edward Joseph, voditelj Međunarodne krizne skupine u Makedoniji, proveo je vise od deset godina u jugoistočnoj Europi.
Prije isteka njegovog mandata u Skoplju u srpnju, razgovarao je s dopisnicom Southeast European Timesa Slobodankom Jovanovskom o statusu Kosova, o vojnoj prisutnosti u Makedoniji, te o stajalistu zemlje po pitanju Iraka i Međunarodnog kaznenog suda. Slobodanka Jovanovska za Southeast European Times -- 01/09/03Southeast European Times: Kako danas vidite situaciju u regiji u usporedbi s posljednjih deset godina?Edward Joseph: Nakon pada Slobodana Milosevića, najdramatičniji su dani u regiji za nama.
No, jos uvijek ostaju otvorena pitanja poput statusa Kosova i problema organiziranog kriminala.
Općenito uzevsi, u regiji je doslo do pozitivnog pomaka u pravcu zapadnih integracija.SE Times: Međunarodna krizna skupina podrzava neovisnost Kosova.
Jeste li razmotrili sve rizike za Makedoniju i reakcije koje bi ova odluka mogla izazvati u regiji?Joseph: Smatram kako je interesantno promotriti stav premijera Branka Crvenkovskog po pitanju Kosova.
U dva je navrata izjavio kako je za Kosovo od veće vaznosti uspostava vladavine zakona, negoli stavljanje tako jakog naglaska na njegov status.
Ovo je mudro glediste.
Makedonska vlada i međunarodna zajednica moraju intenzivnije raditi na uspostavi suradnje između Makedonije i Kosova, povećanju broja kontakata i tjesnjoj suradnji s KFOR-om, UNMIK-om i kosovskom policijom na sigurnosnim pitanjima.
To je pravac kojim moramo krenuti.SE Times: Slazete li se s makedonskom vladom kako je vrijeme za okončanje međunarodnog vojnog prisustva u Makedoniji?Joseph: Riječ je o iznimno vaznom pitanju za Makedoniju.
Promotrimo li dosadasnju statistiku, primjećujemo kako je samo ove godine već bilo 42 ubojstva, sto predstavlja značajan porast tijekom posljednje tri godine.
Očite su ozbiljne manjkavosti u radu makedonske policije, premda je ministar unutarnjih poslova Hari Kostov uveo brojna poboljsanja nakon preuzimanja duznosti od Ljube Boskovskog.
Makedonija bi trebala pazljivo odvagati izjave o suvisnosti opsezne potpore međunarodne zajednice u sigurnosnim pitanjima.
EU bi trebala ponuditi ozbiljnu policijsku misiju na terenu, koja bi bila integrirana u njihove promatračke timove i u zapovjedni lanac EUFOR-a, te bi bila u stanju ozbiljno se prihvatiti odgovarajućih duznosti.SE Times: Makedonci vjeruju kako Sjedinjene Drzave na prvo mjesto stavljaju albanske interese u regiji, te kako postoji čvrsto partnerstvo između Washingtona i Tirane.
Slazete li se s ovim?Joseph: Moje je misljenje kako Makedonci preuveličavaju ovo pitanje.
Odnosi Skoplja i Tirane vrlo su dobri u proteklih nekoliko godina, kao sto je vidljivo i iz uhićenja Gafura Adilija i provođenja zajedničkih vojnih vjezbi s albanskom vojskom na Krivolaku.
Makedonski bi mediji trebali posvetiti vise paznje takvim konkretnim koracima i prestati se pozivati na nekakav "poseban odnos" između Washingtona i Tirane.SE Times: Vjerujete li kako je Makedonija donijela ispravne odluke podrzavajući Sjedinjene Drzave po pitanju Iraka i Međunarodnog kaznenog suda (ICC)?Joseph: Makedonija je od strane Sjedinjenih Drzava i EU stavljena u vrlo tezak polozaj nakon sto je od nje zatrazeno da potpise sporazum o ICC-u, a makedonska se vlada snalazila najbolje sto je znala.
Ono sto Sjedinjene Drzave i EU moraju imati u vidu je da Makedonija nije Poljska, a niti Bugarska; nije ni blizu pridruzivanju NATO-u ili ulasku u EU.
Pred Makedonijom je tezak izazov prezivljavanja u situaciji nakon sukoba.
Potrebni su joj dobri odnosi i sa Sjedinjenim Drzavama i s Europom, sto strani diplomati ne bi smjeli zaboraviti.Bilo mi je iznimno drago sto su predsjednik Boris Trajkovski i premijer Branko Crvenkovski zauzeli zajedničko stajaliste po pitanju naziva u sporazumu o ICC-u.
Vjerujem kako je Washingtonu pomoglo pristajanje na koristenje ustavnog naziva zemlje.
Smatram kako je ovo već svojevrsni oblik sluzbenog priznanja, premda neslaganje s Grčkom jos nije razrijeseno.
Sjedinjene Drzave mogu igrati ključnu ulogu u rjesavanju ovog pitanja i osiguravanju punopravnog priznanja ustavnog naziva "Republika Makedonija".SE Times: Makedonci su jos uvijek donekle skeptični po pitanju demokratskog profila Demokratske unije za integraciju (DUI).
Kako vi gledate na ovo?Joseph: Djela govore vise od riječi.
Promotrite li i djela i riječi DUI i njenog lidera, Alija Ahmetija, vidljivo je kako rade na jedinstvu u zemlji.
Ahmeti je opetovano pozivao makedonske snage reda na obračunavanje s kriminalcima i ekstremistima.
Dakako, na terenu jos uvijek ima mnogo poteskoća, posebice u izoliranim makedonskim selima.
Ipak, uzevsi u obzir njeno dosadasnje djelovanje, nitko ne moze reći kako DUI nije istinski za integraciju, premda su i stranka i njezin vođa počinili neke pogreske, te bi mogli zauzeti čvrsći stav u nekim pitanjima.SE Times: Sto mislite o stavu makedonskog i albanskog vodstva prema Ohridskom sporazumu?Joseph: Steta je sto se vlada u stvari i ne trudi ispostovati Ohridski sporazum.
Razlozi za to su očiti.
Sporazum nije bio popularan, kao sto to i dalje nije, u većini makedonskog naroda, no činjenica je kako je spriječio katastrofalan rat i postavio temelje stabilne i reformirane drzave.
Krajnji je čas da se vodeći ljudi u vladi, posebice premijer, pokrenu i prihvate činjenično stanje pred nadolazeću godisnjicu potpisivanja Ohridskog sporazuma.SE Times: Vlada je kao najveći prioritet postavila borbu protiv korupcije.
Je li ova kampanja bila tako uspjesna kao sto se očekivalo?Joseph: Riječ je o vrlo ozbiljnom pitanju u Makedoniji.
Vlada je s jedne strane iznimno dobro počela, pokrenuvsi istrage i uhićenja.
S druge strane, krajnje je zabrinjavajuće sto niti jedan od ovih slučajeva nije zavrsio pred sudom, uključujući i slučaj Amdija Bajrama, koji je odbačen.
Vlada je odgovorna za zaključivanje istraga na adekvatan način.
Vazno je i da vlada pokaze da radi ono sto je Crvenkovski obećao - da istrazuje i simpatizere SDSM-a.
Zbog toga je, primjerice, slučaj privatizacije Ferspeda toliko vazan, te bi zbog toga mediji trebali prestati ignorirati izjave predsjednice drzavne komisije za suzbijanje korupcije Slagjane Taseve.SE Times: Kakav biste model lokalne i teritorijalne decentralizacije preporučili makedonskoj vladi?Joseph: Poručio bih vladi da se hrabro suprotstavi kritikama opozicije i ostalih čimbenika po ovom pitanju.
Brojni su ljudi davali i davat će pretjerane i neutemeljene izjave o tome sto bi ovakve podjele značile za Makedoniju.
Vlada bi trebala primjenjivati dosljedne i pravične kriterije za formiranje jedinica lokalne vlasti, te se nakon donosenja odluka ne bi trebala povlačiti pred političkim napadima.
Neophodno je nastaviti s provođenjem decentralizacije vlasti, budući da je riječ o zadatku od kritične vaznosti.
Smijesno je da građani moraju od sredisnje vlasti traziti izdavanje nečeg tako običnog kao sto je građevinska dozvola.




Siva ekonomija u jugoistočnoj Europi 08/09/2003 <div align="right"><FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">[SE Times]</font><br><br></div> Prema EBRD-u, neformalna ekonomija u jugoistočnoj Europi predstavlja vise od 36 posto BNP-a. Athanassios Papandropoulos iz Atene za Southeast European Times - 08/09/03Pomozi si sam, pa će ti i bog pomoći: ova provjerena maksima utjelovljuje ogromno ljudsko iskustvo.
"Duh samopomoći u korijenu je svakog istinskog rasta pojedinca, dok njegova manifestacija kroz zivote velikog broja ljudi predstavlja stvaran izvor nacionalne vitalnosti i snage", napisao je moralist Samuel Smiles prije 150 godina, nesvjesno nam pruzivsi definiciju neformalne ekonomije.Jedan od glavnih razloga postojanja neformalne ekonomije lezi u kvaliteti drzavne kontrole.
U biti, bespravlje u ovom području, znano kao "siva ekonomija", mučna je posljedica oblika drzavnog nadzora ustanovljenih u bivsim komunističkim zemljama i Grčkoj.
Brink Lindsay u svojoj provokativnoj knjizi Against the Dead Hand (Protiv mrtve ruke) govori kako je procjena opsega udjela neformalne ekonomije vrlo teska zadaća.
Napokon, kako mjeriti nesto sto se sluzbeno ignorira, te često nastoji ostati skriveno?U jednoj su nedavnoj studiji ekonomisti Friedrich Schneider i Dominik Enste pokusali, između ostalog, usporediti sluzbene statistike BDP-a s procjenama zasnovanim na potrosnji električne energije.
Prisutan je čvrst i dobro utvrđen empirijski odnos između potrosnje električne energije i ukupne gospodarske aktivnosti; usporedbom sluzbenih brojki s onima predviđenima na osnovu potrosnje energije moguće je dobiti barem grubu predodzbu o proporcijama nesluzbene, tj. neformalne ekonomije.Koristeći ovu metodologiju, Schneider i Enste su otkrili kako neformalni sektor ima značajan udio u ukupnom nacionalnom proizvodu u gospodarstvima zemalja u razvoju i tranzicijskih zemalja.
Navodimo neke od njihovih procjena opsega sive ekonomije u odnosu na sluzbeni BDP u nekoliko zemalja u razvoju: Malezija - 39 posto; Peru - 44 posto; Meksiko - 49 posto; Filipini - 50 posto; Egipat - 68 posto; Nigerija - 76 posto.
Schneider i Enste su, koristeći dva zasebna izvora podataka, izračunali prosječne omjere od 20.9 posto i 31.6 posto u tranzicijskim gospodarstvima sredisnje i istočne Europe.
U bivsem je Sovjetskom Savezu prosječni odnos neformalne ekonomije prema sluzbenom GDP-u iznosio od 35.3 do 43.6 posto.Peruanski autor i politički savjetnik Hernando de Soto učinio je najvise na upoznavanju javnosti s neformalnim sektorom i njegovim aktivnostima.
U svojoj prvoj knjizi, The Other Path (Druga staza) iz 1989., dokazuje kako privatno vlasnistvo i trzisna razmjena ne samo da ne predstavljaju nametnuta sredstva ugnjetavanja siromasnih u latinskoj Americi, već se u biti spontano generiraju od krajnje siromasnih u svrhu oslobađanja od neostvarive kolektivističke politike.
Velike i dinamične neformalne ekonomije, stvorene od strane najnizih elemenata drustva suočenih s ravnodusnosću sluzbene politike, dokaz su nezamjenjive korisnosti trzisne utakmice.
No, ono sto narodnom kapitalizmu nedostaje, tvrdi de Soto, odnosno ono sto mu je nuzno potrebno kako bi ostvario svoj potencijal za kreiranje bogatstva, formalno je priznanje i pravna zastita.Elisabetta Falcetti, Anita Taci i Peter Sanfey, ekonomisti u EBRD-u (Europska banka za obnovu i razvoj), tvrde kako utvrđivanje proporcija neformalne ekonomije povlači za sobom niz konceptualnih pitanja, nevezano uz poteskoće vezane za pronalazenje pouzdanih podataka o jugoistočnoj Europi.
Sira definicija neformalne ekonomije uključuje i legalne i ilegalne aktivnosti.
Pri tome se pod prvim misli na oblike privređivanja koji bi bili legalni kad bi ih se prijavilo vlastima, te kad bi se podmirivali porezi i druge obveze.
Druga skupina uključuje krijumčarenje dobara i ljudi, prijevaru, prostituciju i slične aktivnosti, pri čemu je uz novčane transakcije moguća i trampa.Riječ je o vaznoj distinkciji.
Vlade svih zemalja u regiji svjesne su kako organizirani kriminal predstavlja ozbiljan problem s kojim se valja odlučno uhvatiti u kostac, te ga, u najvećoj mogućoj mjeri, iskorijeniti.
Nasuprot tome, velik broj ljudi bitno fleksibilnije gleda na legalne, no neprijavljene djelatnosti, koje osiguravaju radna mjesta i ublazavaju siromastvo.
Stoga je hitnost uvođenja neformalnog sektora u sluzbene tokove trenutno daleko manja.Brojni su istrazivači pokusali procijeniti obim neformalnog sektora u gospodarstvima zemalja jugoistočne Europe.
Riječ je o vrlo teskoj zadaći.
Prvo, neke od nacionalnih statističkih ustanova već nastoje uključiti procjenu neformalnih aktivnosti u evidentirani BDP; stoga svaka kalkulacija omjera neformalnog i formalnog GDP-a moze rezultirati značajnom podcjenom.
Drugo, nije najjasnije koja je adekvatna metoda mjerenja neformalnog sektora.Procjena opsega neformalnih aktivnosti nuzno je osjetljiva na metodu koja se koristi.
Primjerice, Lacko 1999. procjenjuje udio nesluzbenih gospodarskih aktivnosti u usporedbi sa sluzbenim BDP-om Bugarske za 1995. godinu na 34 posto ili 56.7 posto, ovisno o koristenoj metodi.
U Albaniji je MMF (2003.) skeptičan po pitanju niske sluzbene procjene opsega nezabiljezenih aktivnosti, te primjećuje kako bi većina gospodarskih aktivnosti mogla biti u neformalnom sektoru.Međutim, neovisno o ovim tehničkim poteskoćama u mjerenju, jasno je kako neformalne aktivnosti igraju veću ulogu u zemljama jugoistočne Europe negoli u srednjoeuropskim tranzicijskim zemljama.
Uzevsi ovo u obzir, stvaran udio privatnog sektora u gospodarskoj aktivnosti u regiji jugoistočne Europe sličan je udjelu u naprednijim tranzicijskim zemljama.Bi li vlade zemalja jugoistočne Europe trebale biti zabrinute veličinom neformalne ekonomije?
Istina je kako zivost u neformalnom sektoru moze ukazivati na poduzetnički duh, te kako pruza i socijalnu sigurnost onima koji u njemu rade.
Pa ipak, nedostaci velikog neformalnog sektora toliko su veliki da bi njegovo inkorporiranje u formalno gospodarstvo trebalo predstavljati prioritet u čitavoj regiji.




Slagjana Taseva: U Makedoniji treba financirati razvoj, a ne korupciju 15/09/2003 Osnivanje neovisnog odbora za borbu protiv korupcije u Makedoniji korak je naprijed u nastojanjima zemlje za pridruzivanje EU, izjavila je predsjedavajuća odbora Slagjana Taseva. Marija Lazarova iz Skopja za Southeast European Times - 15/09/03Southeast European Times: Međunarodna krizna skupina (ICG) objavila je prije proslogodisnjih izbora izvjesće u kojemu se Makedonija izdvaja kao zemlja s visokim stupnjem korupcije.
ICG je po prvi puta obznanio ove rezultate na sastanku organiziranom kako bi se raspravljalo o donacijama za podrsku razvoju Makedonije.
Svi se slazemo kako je u Makedoniji potrebno financirati razvoj i gospodarstvo, a ne korupciju.
Prve pokazatelje eventualnog opadanja korupcije u bilo kojem segmentu ili u cjelini očekujemo najranije sljedeće godine, budući da učinci bilo kakvih djelovanja ne mogu biti vidljivi odmah.SE Times: Rezultati istrazivanja koje je nedavno objavio George Soros ukazuju na visok stupanj korupcije u makedonskom obrazovnom sustavu.
Kako Odbor gleda na ovo pitanje?Taseva: Soros je proveo konkretno istrazivanje korupcije u visem obrazovanju.
Berlinski Transparency International također je istrazivao indeks percepcije korupcije, utvrdivsi kako je korupcija prisutna u obrazovanju, u sudstvu, kao i u najvisim strukturama vlasti u Makedoniji.
Aktivnosti usmjerene ka usklađenom pristupu prevenciji i uspostavljanju konkretnih sustava za onemogućavanje korupcije u visem obrazovanju poduzete su neposredno nakon Sorosovog izvjesća.
Odrzali smo sastanke s rektoratima Sveučilista u Skopju i Bitoli, te smo se slozili kako su oni prije svih pozvani da poduzmu mjere za regulaciju rada sveučilista i suzbijanje korupcije.SE Times: Ima li u vladi dovoljno odvaznosti potrebne za suočavanje s ovim problemom?Taseva: Vlada je započela rad na dokumentu kojim bi trebala biti zacrtana strategija.
Međutim, projekt je prekinut nakon dogovora prema kojemu će vlada prihvatiti nacionalni program prevencije i provođenja represivnih mjera protiv korupcije sastavljen od strane nacionalnog odbora za suzbijanje korupcije.
Borba protiv korupcije dio je programa vlade od njenog preuzimanja vlasti.
U početku je demonstrirana odlučnost u vođenju učinkovite borbe protiv korupcije.
Podnesene su brojne tuzbe za prekrsaje vezane uz korupciju.
Međutim, nase djelovanje neće donijeti zeljene rezultate ukoliko ne bude popraćeno učinkovitim radom ureda javnog tuziteljstva i sudstva.
Prema nasim spoznajama, u ovim segmentima također postoje slabe točke, te bi se tuzitelji i suci trebali intenzivnije pozabaviti ovim slučajevima.
Potpisnici smo vise međunarodno obvezujućih dokumenata prema kojima bi ovakvi slučajevi trebali imati prioritet, no takva praksa u nas jos nije zazivjela.SE Times: U Makedoniji je po prvi puta uvedeno obavezno prijavljivanje imovine izabranih i imenovanih duznosnika.
Jeste li zadovoljni načinom na koji su oni ispunili ovu obvezu?Taseva: Obveza prijavljivanja imovine u svijetu je uobičajeni dio etičkog i profesionalnog standarda u upravi.
U Makedoniji je ona utkana u zakon protiv korupcije, budući da do sada takva obveza nije nigdje postojala.
S obzirom da se osnivanje nacionalnog odbora za suzbijanje korupcije podudaralo s postizbornim razdobljem, odmah smo započeli s primjenom ove zakonske obveze.
Najprije smo prilagodili upitnik kako bismo mogli dobiti sto vise upotrebljivih informacija za daljnji rad.
Zadovoljni smo samom akcijom i odazivom.
Većina je duznosnika podastrla svoje obrasce, te je sada u tijeku postupak njihove provjere.
Stav je odbora kako moramo provjeriti sve podatke, bez iznimaka.
Ne primjenjujemo načelo selektivne provjere koje se koristi u drugim zemljama.
Ovakvu smo odluku donijeli jer vjerujemo kako je nuzno ustanoviti trenutačno stanje sada, kada se ova mjera tek počinje primjenjivati.SE Times: Smatrate li kako osnivanje ovog odbora predstavlja korak unaprijed po pitanju makedonskih aspiracija na članstvo u EU?Taseva: Da.
Svi smo svjesni brojnih izvjesća međunarodnih organizacija koja ukazuju na korupciju kao najveći problem u Makedoniji.
Ovo predstavlja ozbiljnu zapreku u procesu integracije u Europu, budući da zadire u sve sfere drustvenog zivota.
Ne mozemo isključiti prisutnost korupcije u gospodarstvu, obrazovanju, pravnom sustavu, trgovini ili pravosuđu.
Stoga vjerujemo kako odbor, kao neovisno tijelo, predstavlja ogroman korak naprijed na nasem putu u Europu.SE Times: Jeste li ustanovili ikakvu suradnju sa sličnim odborima u regiji?Taseva: Ovakvih je odbora u regiji svega nekoliko.
Ostvarili smo suradnju s jednim takvim odborom koji se nalazi u Sloveniji, u sklopu ureda premijera.
Pozorno motrimo i situaciju u Srbiji i Crnoj Gori, te rad Vijeća za borbu protiv korupcije u sklopu tamosnje vlade.
Pa ipak, ono sto u regiji pobuđuje najveći interes za nas odbor, kako smo doznali od nasih kolega u Bugarskoj i Rumunjskoj, način je na koji je on ustrojen, posebice činjenica da ne predstavlja dio vlade, te da njegovih sedam članova nisu namjestenici drzavne uprave.




Zemljoradnja i konferencija u Dohi 22/09/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Govor zamjenika albanskog ministra gospodarstva Ilira Cikoa na drugom danu generalnog zasjedanja vijeća pete ministarske konferencije zemalja članica WTO-a u Cancunu, 11. rujna.
Pregovori o trgovinskoj suradnji zastali su na temi subvencija za zemljoradnike, a EU inzistira na novim temama, uključujući investiranje, nabavu i trzisnu utakmicu. [AFP]</font><br><br> Ministarska konferencija u Dohi od velikog je značaja za siromasnije zemljoradničke drzave jugoistočne Europe.
Ekonomist i bivsi rumunjski ministar financija Daniel Daianu objasnjava zasto. Daniel Daianu iz Bukuresta za Southeast European Times - 22/09/03Nedavna su događanja uvelike prikovala svjetsku pozornost na Irak i Srednji Istok.
Geopolitička pitanja i terorističke prijetnje igraju ključnu ulogu u strukturiranju plana djelovanja brojnih vlada.
Međutim, ovi problemi ne mogu zasjeniti sve losiju gospodarsku situaciju u mnogim dijelovima svijeta, koji su suočeni sa sve manjim stopama rasta BNP-a, visoku nezaposlenost ili porast nezaposlenosti, sukobe trgovinskih interesa, sve losiju socijalnu sliku, nemogućnost nosenja s prirodnim katastrofama, te druge probleme.
Budući da su Sjedinjene Drzave pokretač svjetskog gospodarstva, nade se polazu u znakove gospodarskog oporavka SAD-a, no postojeća stagnacija ili čak recesija u zapadnoj Europi čini perspektivu manje svijetlom.U ovakvom okruzenju gore prolaze zemlje u razvoju, i to kako na socijalnom, tako i na ekonomskom i političkom planu.
Lose gospodarsko stanje u većem dijelu Afrike, kao i u pojedinim dijelovima Latinske Amerike i Azije, popraćeno je i disfunkcionalnosću institucionalnih struktura, socijalnim raslojavanjem i razgradnjom drustva, te međuetničkim konfliktima i nasiljem.
Sve veći broj propalih drzava tvori zabrinjavajuću ukupnu sliku.Ovi trendovi predstavljaju vazan kontekst konferencije WTO-a u Cancunu.
Na početku summita u Dohi, brojni su ga pozdravili ne samo kao način obuzdavanja sve izrazenijih protekcionističkih tendencija, već i kao priliku za kompenzaciju sve većeg debalansa u svjetskoj trgovini.
U kontekstu stalne debate o slobodnoj trgovini nasuprot pravednoj trgovini, konferencija u Dohi trebala bi se pozabaviti jednim od mozda najnekorektnijih aspekata svjetske trgovine: iznimno otezanim prodorom agrarnih proizvoda zemalja u razvoju na trzista bogatih zemalja, te iznimno opseznim subvencioniranjem zemljoradnje u bogatim gospodarstvima, čime se unistava agrarna proizvodnja zemalja u razvoju.Agrarni su proizvodi glavni izvozni proizvod brojnih zemalja u razvoju.
Istovremeno, u siromasnijim zemljama troskovi prehrane čine velik dio ukupne potrosnje građana.
Sjedinjene Drzave i EU godisnje trose oko 280 milijardi eura na subvencioniranje zemljoradnje, no njihova ulaganja u razvoj iznose svega oko 50 milijardi eura.
Izdasno subvencioniranje podrzava visoku proizvodnju u bogatim zemljama i stavlja njihove zemljoradnike u povlasten polozaj u trzisnoj utakmici u odnosu na poljoprivrednike u siromasnim zemljama.Ne bi valjalo podcjenjivati ozbiljne poteskoće u nastojanju da se izađe u susret legitimnim zahtjevima siromasnijih zemalja.
Poljoprivrednici tvore vazne, politički utjecajne lobije u bogatim zemljama, te je reforme vrlo tesko provesti.
U igri su i pitanja drzavne sigurnosti, posebice u razdoblju u kojem su nekonvencionalne prijetnje i potreba da se izbjegne pretjerana ovisnost o inozemnim resursima u sve većem porastu.
Pa ipak, tesko je osporiti manjkavost trenutnog sustava koji dodatno otezava stanje siromasnih zemalja i steti njihovim izgledima za razvoj.
Svjetska Banka već godinama ističe ovo stanje, a čelni duznosnici SAD-a i EU priznaju krute činjenice.
Ipak, usko definirani nacionalni interesi otezavaju provođenje svrsishodnih reformi.SAD i EU su nedavno postigli sporazum o trgovinskoj razmjeni u agraru, koji bi pregovore u Cancunu trebao pokrenuti s mrtve točke.
Analitičari su međutim primijetili kako ovaj sporazum ne pruza nikakve konkretne brojke vezano uz tarife i reduciranje subvencija, kao niti uz druge trgovinske zapreke.
Ovo rezultira time da sporazum vise nalikuje pismu namjere, bez obvezujućih numerički izrazenih vrijednosti.
Ova su pitanja - takozvana "Singapurska pitanja" - vazna, no nisu od presudne vaznosti u ovoj etapi cjelokupne debate.
Ukoliko ne budu mudro formulirana i provođena, netrgovinska pravila mozda neće doprinijeti gospodarskom razvoju siromasnih zemalja.
Prema sadasnjem stanju stvari, netrgovinska pitanja bi uvelike preopteretila raspored u Dohi, smanjujući izglede za uspjeh sastanka u Cancunu.Zemlje jugoistočne Europe imaju velike poljoprivredne sektore.
Na poljoprivredu u prosjeku otpada između 8 i 20 posto BNP-a; u Albaniji ova brojka iznosi gotovo 50 posto.
Velik dio stanovnistva zivi u ruralnim područjima.
Istovremeno je produktivnost niska, a javni proračuni nisu u mogućnosti pruziti značajniju pomoć.
Ukoliko zemljoradnji ne bude pruzen tehnoloski poticaj i poticaj produktivnosti, te ukoliko ne dođe do olaksanog pristupa na trziste EU, situacija će se za poljoprivrednike u jugoistočnoj Europi dodatno pogorsati.
Za njih bi subvencije predstavljale osiguranje u vrijeme znatnih redukcija javnih proračuna.
Većina ih zeli članstvo u klubu bogatih; pa ipak, njihova gospodarstva nisu u dostatnoj mjeri konkurentna.
Losa socijalna slika ruralnih područja mogla bi se oteti kontroli ukoliko ne dođe do znatnog porasta mogućnosti zaposljavanja van poljoprivrednog sektora, uspostave učinkovitih sustava socijalne zastite, te opadanja restrikcija i povećanja mogućnosti za zaposljavanje u inozemstvu.Istovremeno, trgovinska konferencija u Dohi i dalje je od vitalne vaznosti za razvoj siromasnih zemalja, a zemlje u postupku pridruzivanja EU moraju imati u vidu siri kontekst.
Za zemlje na Balkanu, čiji su izgledi za brzo pridruzivanje EU mali (te su stoga manje zainteresirane za poljoprivredne subvencije), uspjeh bi se konferencije u Dohi mjerio uspjesnosću uspostavljanja bolje zastite njihove domaće proizvodnje i lakseg pristupa vanjskim trzistima za njihove poljoprivredne proizvode.
Pa ipak, za uspjesno će okončanje trgovinske konferencije u Dohi od presudne vaznosti biti vizionarstvo drzavnih čelnistva razvijenih zemalja, iskrena briga za siromasne u svijetu i provođenje odgovarajuće politike za njihovu zastitu.




Makedonija će legalizirati Sveučiliste u Tetovu 29/09/2003 Očekuje se da će parlament usvojiti od vlade odobren nacrt zakona o osnivanju treće drzavne ustanove visokog obrazovanja, sto će rezultirati legalizacijom i sluzbenim priznavanjem Sveučilista u Tetovu. Marija Lazarova iz Skopja za Southeast European Times - 29/09/03<br><br>Fotografije: Tomislav GeorgievHodnici i predavaonice Sveučilista u Tetovu puni su ljudi.
Za ovu je ustanovu, sada kada je makedonska vlada odobrila nacrt zakona kojim se utire put njezinoj transformaciji u treće drzavno sveučiliste, otpočelo novo razdoblje.
Premda je smjesteno svega 500 metara od Sveučilista za Jugoistočnu Europu (SEE), ono i dalje privlači studente.
Studenti koji se prijavljuju za ispite i raspituju za rasporede predavanja ispunjavaju ulaz u novu zgradu, koja je 2000-te postala novi dom sveučilista.Sveučiliste u Tetovu otvoreno je 1994., nakon čega je uslijedila policijska racija.
Do 2000. poduka se organizirala u privatnim kućama u selu Mala Rečica.
U biti, čitavo je selo stavljeno u sluzbu sveučilista, te se pretvorilo u studentsko naselje sa smjestajem, kafićima i drugim zastitnim znacima sveučilisnog zivota.
Ovdje je smjestena i administracija sveučilista.
Prvi je rektor bio Fadil Sulejmani, koji je radi ove ustanove visokog skolstva proveo deset mjeseci u zatvoru.Ovo je jedno od dva sveučilista u Makedoniji u kojima se nastava odvija na albanskom.
Drugo je Sveučiliste za Jugoistočnu Europu (SEE), privatna ustanova koja prima potporu EU.
Studente na Sveučiliste u Tetovu dijelom privlači relativno niska cijena studiranja (svega 150 eura godisnje, naprema 800 eura na SEE sveučilistu), kao i činjenica da ono predstavlja simbol teznje građana albanske narodnosti za mogućnosću studiranja na materinjem jeziku.
Premda su se diplomanti Sveučilista u Tetovu suočavali s problemima po pitanju njihovih diploma, budući da sveučiliste nije bilo sluzbeno priznato kao institucija u Makedoniji, u budućnosti će se ovo izmijeniti.Nakon sto parlament donese zakon o uspostavi trećeg sveučilista, uslijedit će kompleksan proces akreditacije.
Sveučiliste u Tetovu bit će financirano u skladu sa Zakonom o visem obrazovanju i programima.
Za četiri će se fakulteta i politehnički centar godisnje izdvajati oko 2 mil. eura.Upitan razmatra li se mogućnost spajanja Sveučilista u Tetovu i Sveučilista za Jugoistočnu Europu, Polozhani je rekao: "(...)nas je cilj oformiti ovu drzavnu visokoskolsku ustanovu, a oni će sami znati uređivati međusobne odnose.""Vlada će nastojati da Sveučiliste u Tetovu počne s legalnim radom sljedeće jeseni, premda je tesko ispuniti rokove, budući da pred nama stoji vrlo tezak posao", izjavio je zamjenik ministra obrazovanja Tale Geramitcioski.Prema riječima rektora Sveučilista u Tetovu Nexbedina Beadinija, ustanova će ostati na svojoj sadasnjoj lokaciji, koja pruza mogućnosti za sirenje.
Izjavio je kako se na sveučiliste od 1994. upisao 10.151 student, a trenutačan broj studenata iznosi 5.000.Rektorat će preseliti u zgradu Tetovo-tabak, smjestenu na ulazu u grad.
Restauracijski su radovi na zgradi u tijeku.
"Od vlade odobren nacrt zakona o osnivanju trećeg sveučilista rjesava problem Sveučilista u Tetovu, a ne pitanje viseg i visokog obrazovanja Albanaca", izjavio je Trajko Slaveski, član Izvrsnog odbora VMRO-DPMNE.Demokratska stranka Albanaca (DPA) također je osudila zakon, tvrdeći kako vladin prijedlog predstavlja tek djelomično rjesenje.
"Vlada nudi neozbiljna, parcijalna rjesenja koja sluze smirivanju situacije na području viseg obrazovanja Albanaca", izjavio je Zamir Dika, član parlamenta iz redova DPA.
Ipak, članovi DPA izjasnili su se kako će glasati za ovo zakonsko rjesenje.




Novac, koji je prividno bio usmjeravan na razvoj stočnog fonda ovaca, u stvarnosti je usmjeren u izgradnju noćnog kluba u Bajinoj Basti, malom gradu smjestenom u blizini granice s Bosnom i Hercegovinom.Odgovarajući na optuzbe, Raseta - Vukosavljević je pokusala zastititi skandalima opterećenu vladu.
Ustvrdila je kako su vlasnici i upravitelji noćnog kluba njezin svekar i sogor, te kako njezin suprug nema s klubom nikakve veze, izuzme li se poneko piće koje tamo popije.
Ministrica je također izjavila kako njezin suprug nema nikakvog motiva za kreditnu malverzaciju, budući da potječe iz bogate obitelji, te da su prihodi koje ostvaruje kao djelatnik u osiguranju dostatni za njegove potrebe.
Međutim, ova objasnjenja nisu u pretjeranoj mjeri zadovoljila srpsku javnost, posebice nakon sto je upoznata s činjenicom da je Raseta-Vukosavljević članica upravnog vijeća zaduzenog za distribuciju kredita.Opozicija je objeručke dočekala skandal, zahtijevajući prijevremene izbore.
Dva su ministra već podnijela ostavke u vladi, dok je zastupnica u parlamentu povukla svoje članstvo u Demokratskoj opoziciji Srbije (DOS) nakon sto je otkriveno kako nije bila prisutna tijekom glasovanja za novog guvernera Narodne banke, Kori Udovički, jer se u to vrijeme nalazila na odmoru u Turskoj; njezino je mjesto tijekom glasovanja u parlamentu zauzela nepoznata osoba.
Kori Udovicki je zamijenila Mlađana Dinkića, vodećeg čovjeka G17 Plus, pokrenuvsi sveopće nabacivanje blatom između svoje stranke i Demokratske stranke.Unatoč svemu, analitičari ne vjeruju kako će vladajuća koalicija DOS sazvati prijevremene izbore sve dok uziva većinu u srpskom parlamentu.
Očekuje se nastavak međusobnog blaćenja među političkim strankama, dok se parlament muči s malim strankama, kao i s ostacima stranaka iz bivseg rezima.
Uspjesnost vlade mogla bi ovisiti o pitanjima pridruzivanja u EU i poboljsanja zivotnog standarda - nesto sto građani Srbije tek trebaju dozivjeti.Ispitivanja javnog mnijenja daju naslutiti kako vlada trenutno uziva potporu 10 do 15 posto građana, sto je otprilike upola manje od potpore koju je Slobodan Milosević imao prije izbora 2000. godine. �ini se kako ovo opravdava zahtjeve opozicije za prijevremenim izborima; čak i ljudi koji uglavnom ne prate politička zbivanja svjesni su disproporcije između podrske koju DOS uziva u parlamentu i njegove nepopularnosti izvan parlamenta.
Prijedlog je upućen svim članovima vladajuće koalicije i demokratske opozicije.
Ipak, nije vjerojatno da će do sporazuma i doći, budući da opozicijske stranke znaju kako je vlada izgubila velik dio podrske.
Većina analitičara predviđa da će opozicija, u isčekivanju izbora, nastaviti provođenje svoje strategije otkrivanja skandala i nastojanja na diskreditaciji vlade.Drugi je faktor koji utječe na pitanje izbora od posebnog interesa.
S obzirom kako je Srbija već treću godinu za redom u tranzicijskoj recesiji, stvari za vladu ne stoje najbolje.
Ovo bi moglo implicirati stabilizaciju svjetskog trzista, dok se na čitavom Balkanu očekuje val novih investicija kao posljedica odrzavanja Olimpijskih igara sljedeće godine u Ateni.
Vladi odmaze nedostatak izvoza; ovogodisnji deficit iznosi 2,5 milijardi dolara.
Restrukturiranje i ponovna uspostava samostalnog gospodarstva nije dovrsena, a nije vjerojatno da će ovaj proces biti dovrsen prije 2004.
Iz ovog razloga, gospodarstvenici savjetuju vladi kako bi prijevremeni izbori mogli i ne biti tako losa zamisao.
U suprotnom, novac dobiven privatizacijom utrosit će se na ostvarivanje socijalnog mira; pritom sredstava najvjerojatnije neće biti dovoljno do redovitih izbora, zakazanih za iduću godinu.




Makedonija ne smije podcjenjivati mogućnost terorističkog nasilja 13/10/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">[Tomislav Georgiev]</font><br><br> Makedonski savjetnik za nacionalnu sigurnost Stevo Pendarovski u intervjuu danom dopisnici Southeast European Timesa Slobodanki Jovanovskoj analizira sigurnosnu situaciju u svojoj zemlji, odnose sa Sjedinjenim Drzavama, EU-om i NATO-om, kao i povratak prognanika. Slobodanka Jovanovska za Southeast European Times - 13/10/03SEE Times: Kakav će učinak moguće povlačenje američkih trupa s Kosova imati na Makedoniju i na regiju?Pendarovski: Ovo je omiljeno pitanje onih koji nisu u stanju u potpunosti pojmiti kako se regionalni kontekst na Balkanu uvelike izmijenio tijekom protekle tri godine, posebice nakon pada Milosevića.
Sve su vlade u regiji legitimno izabrane, a drzavna vodstva imaju jasna viđenja zapadnih standarda i kriterija.
Niti jedna se drzava ne nameće kao moguća regionalna hegemonija, te je prilično očito da nema potrebe za izrazenom vojnom prisutnosću Sjedinjenih Drzava.
Siguran sam, međutim, kako će Sjedinjene Drzave ostati politički i diplomatski aktivne u regiji.
U suprotnom bi političkim radikalima bila ponovno pruzena mogućnost da obnove nasilje i unazade čitavu regiju.
Međunarodna zajednica jednostavno ne moze dozvoliti da propadnu svi resursi, energija i novac ulozeni u ovu regiju tijekom proteklog desetljeća, čime bi bila propustena posljednja prilika za integraciju Balkana u euroatlantska kretanja.SEE Times: Predsjednik Boris Trajkovski izjavio je UN-u kako će Makedonija i dalje ostati dijelom koalicije u Iraku.
Pod kojim uvjetima i do kada?Pendarovski: Proteklih smo mjeseci sudjelovali u debati o strateskim odabirima Makedonije, čime je bila pruzena jedinstvena prilika onima koji se protive preuzimanju uloge u sklopu međunarodne antiterorističke koalicije da iznesu svoje argumente.
Njihova retorika, po mojem misljenju, nije ponudila zadovoljavajući odgovor na osnovno pitanje: koja je alternativa, odnosno postoji li ikakva razumna alternativa koju su vlasti previdjele?
Ljudi u Makedoniji imaju pravo znati prednosti, kao i cijenu, učesća u međunarodnim koalicijama ovog tipa.
NATO od samih svojih početaka nikada nije predstavljao samo vojnu instituciju iza koje stoji sirova snaga; predstavljao je i savez zemalja zasnovan na sukladnim civilizacijskim tekovinama i kulturalnim vrijednostima.
Postoje li ikakvi argumenti u prilog tome kako su nasa politička stajalista, demokratske tradicije i vizije budućnosti blize onima, recimo, Sjeverne Koreje, rado bih ih čuo.SEE Times: Hoće li Makedonija reagirati na zahtjev za oformljivanjem posebne vojne jedinice za intervencije u inozemstvu?Pendarovski: Buduća Makedonska Vojska mora biti transformirana u skladu s dvije osnovne premise.
Na unutarnjem planu mora potpomagati policiju u slučaju ugroze suvereniteta i neovisnosti zemlje ili izravnog napada.
S druge strane, mora posjedovati sposobnost integracije u strukture međunarodnih koalicija.
Vojske se ne obučavaju isključivo za obranu nacionalne sigurnosti, već i za pridonosenje sigurnosti u regiji, pa i sire.SEE Times: Kako gledate na odnos Makedonije i EU, posebice s obzirom na nedavno dovrsenu vojnu misiju Concordia?Pendarovski: Makedonske su vlasti tijekom proteklih sest mjeseci odrzavale stalan politički dijalog s EU.
Istovremeno smo bili domaćini dvama političkim izaslanstvima iz Bruxellesa i jednoj misiji s ciljem utvrđivanja činjeničnog stanja, te doslovce nitko nije zahtijevao nastavak misije Concordia tijekom 2004.
Upravo suprotno, na temelju zrelih procjena sigurnosnog stanja, obje su se strane slozile kako će u nadolazećem razdoblju zemlja trebati vise savjetodavnog vodstva i ekspertize po pitanju reformi u policiji.Razlog lezi u činjenici da smo suočeni s asimetričnim prijetnjama i sporadičnim slučajevima urbanog terorizma, sto očito spada u djelokrug Ministarstva unutarnjih poslova.
U skladu s tim, nas prioritet mora biti izgradnja vrhunski obučene, profesionalne i kompetentne multietničke policijske strukture koja će uzivati povjerenje svih građana, neovisno o njihovoj etničkoj pripadnosti.
Pruzanje savjetodavne pomoći u ovim pitanjima predstavlja mandat naredne misije EU pod imenom Proxima, koja će se značajno razlikovati od Concordie, te će, prema mom misljenju, biti u skladu s aktualnim kontekstom i potrebama u zemlji po pitanju sposobnosti suprotstavljanja budućim prijetnjama sigurnosti.
Ni u najmanjoj mjeri nisam stekao dojam kako zemlje članice EU nisu zadovoljne ovim ishodom.SEE Times: Opozicijska stranka VMRO-DPMNE protestirala je kako se makedonski dio Ohridskog sporazuma uopće ne provodi, posebice s obzirom na prognanike.Pendarovski: Broj prognanika u vise je navrata javno obznanjen.
Prosudbe relevantnih domaćih organa i međunarodnih misija su kako se njih 95 posto vratilo svojim kućama.
Smatram kako je ovo veliko postignuće.
Vjerujem kako će se s ovim ključnim izazovom morati suočiti politički i duhovni vođe, moralni autoriteti naseg vremena, koji običnim građanima moraju prenijeti poruku o vrijednostima i dobrobitima suzivota.SEE Times: U Makedoniji će uskoro biti pokrenut novi program razoruzanja.
Kako vi gledate na ovo?Pendarovski: Nisam u stanju predviđati ishod ove kampanje, no mogu iznijeti nuzne preduvjete za njezinu uspjesnost.
Kao prvo, kampanja mora biti nepristrana, sto znači da ju niti jedna etnička zajednica ne smije dozivljavati kao nesto usmjereno protiv nje.
Mediji bi morali igrati ulogu u pojasnjavanju razloga za ovakvu akciju, a političari moraju uvjeriti građane kako je drzava najbolji mogući jamac njihove sigurnosti i sigurnosti njihove imovine.
Nadalje, sve zakonske odredbe o dobrovoljnom predavanju oruzja moraju se primjenjivati na profesionalan način, uz koristenje viseetničkih policijskih snaga i uz vidljivo prisustvo članova misija EU-a i OSCE-a.Vlasti i mediji ne smiju davati maha neosnovanim očekivanjima i nerealističnim brojkama, te ih koristiti kao mjerilo uspjesnosti akcije.
Nigdje u svijetu problem ilegalnog oruzja nije u potpunosti rijesen jednom kampanjom u trajanju od 45 dana.




Očekuje li nas povratak razvojne ekonomije? 20/10/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Slobodno formiranje cijena i trzisna utakmica osnova su pravilne raspodjele sredstava. [SE Times]</font><br><br> Daniel Daianu, ekonomist i nekadasnji rumunjski ministar financija, ističe vaznost dobrih institucija i adekvatnih struktura za javno i korporativno upravljanje.
Prema njemu, ovi elementi utječu na gospodarstvo u cjelini. Daniel Daianu iz Bukuresta za Southeast European Times - 20/10/03Temeljna pravila ekonomske igre koja je u pozadini zdravog gospodarstva tesko mogu biti dovedena u pitanje.
Slobodne cijene i trzisno natjecanje neophodni su za pravilnu raspodjelu sredstava; postoji potreba za jasno određenim i zastićenim vlasničkim pravima da bi se unaprijedilo poduzetnistvo i trzisne transakcije; stroga ograničenja proračuna moraju biti utvrđena na svim područjima kako bi se zadrzala financijska stabilnost; dugoročno gledano, manji su proračunski deficiti bolji od velikih; tiskanje novca je lose za monetarnu stabilnost.
Istodobno, dakako, intelektualna netolerancija i dogmatski fundamentalizam stetni su za dobro vođenje politike koja treba biti pragmatična, a ne vođena postojećim uskim interesima.S novim tisućljećem pred nama, jos uvijek nisu doneseni zaključci o nekoliko sredisnjih pitanja koja su dijelila ekonomiste desetljećima.
Te nedorečenosti bi trebale pokrenuti iskreniju raspravu između onih koji vode politiku i vladinih savjetnika.
Dopustite mi da izdvojim neke od glavnih tema koje se odnose na situaciju u zemljama u razvoju:Iako većina ekonomista slobodno trziste smatra pozeljnim, postojanje velikih asimetrija i dinamičkih učinaka pruza opravdanje za trazenje nekog oblika zastite od strane zemalja u razvoju; neki to vide kao razliku između slobodne i postene trgovine.
Kao sto je Dani Rodrik rekao, slobodno trziste ne pogoduje uvijek gospodarskom razvoju.
Neuspjeh nedavnih trgovinskih pregovora u Cancunu ozbiljan je podsjetnik na ovu činjenicu, povezanu s nesuglasjem između onoga sto bogate zemlje deklariraju i onoga sto provode (općepoznat slučaj poljoprivrednih subvencija).Slobodno kretanje kapitala doista se pokazalo prijetnjom za nova trzista.
MMF vise ne preporuča otvaranje kapitalnog računa, kako je to činio prije jednog desetljeća, osim ako ne postoje adekvatni institucionalni preduvjeti i zakonska regulativa.Prisutan je obnovljeni interes za pogreske u koordinaciji trzista i spoznaja kako u ekonomiji postoji potreba za javnom intervencijom po tom pitanju.
Sirenje financijske i monetarne krize, kao i značajne nepravilnosti u djelovanju ostalih trzista (npr. u trgovini energijom) jasno govore u prilog jačanju sustava zakonske regulative i provođenje zakona od strane drzave (moglo bi se reći da "drzavni nadzor u sklopu trzisne orijentacije" dobiva na popularnosti).Neupitna je uloga vlade u opskrbi javnim dobrima.
K tome, neki će ustvrditi da je potpora industrijskom i tehnoloskom razvoju također dio uloge vlade.
EU-ov program Eureka, kao i niz obrambenih programa u Sjedinjenim Američkim Drzavama, mogu biti uzeti kao primjer industrijske politike.Ekstremni oblik fiskalnog neutralizma moze biti varljiv u svijetu velikih nejednakosti.
Nebrojeni su primjeri razvijenih, kao i novih ekonomija koje vrlo lukavo koriste fiskalna oruđa u svrhu promicanja nacionalnih ekonomskih ciljeva; takva oruđa mogu biti koristena da bi se unaprijedila domaća stednja.Tko je odgovoran za opskrbu javnim dobrima u svjetskoj ekonomiji?
Imaju li velike ekonomije moralnu i operativnu odgovornost u ovom slučaju, uključujući i koordinaciju različitih politika u svrhu otklanjanja neravnoteze u svjetskoj ekonomiji?Premda se ističe sredisnja uloga trzista u raspodjeli sredstava i nagrađivanju poduzetnistva, ekonomisti nastavljaju raspravu o ekonomskoj ulozi drzavne uprave.
Rasprave su potaknute teoretskim spoznajama navedenim u �Novim teorijama� (kako ih je nazvao Robert Gilpin): teorija visestruke ravnoteze koja postavlja mogućnost trajne labilne ravnoteze; teorija endogenog rasta, koja podriva neke temeljne postavke novije klasične ekonomije (poput "zakona o opadanju prinosa"); teza o "prednosti na trzistu" (povijesna uloga), vaznost zemljopisnog polozaja, uloga asimetrije i troskova informacija, uloga clustera u postizanju konkurentnih prednosti (koristenje grupacija u objasnjavanju konkurentnih prednosti Michaela Portera podsjeća na Gunnr Myrdaov koncept kumulativne uzročnosti, itd.
Nove Teorije se oslanjaju na teze o staroj razvojnoj ekonomiji, vraćajući je ponovno u srediste paznje.
Albert Hirschman, Paul Rosenstein Rodan, Ragnar Nurkse, Gunar Myrdal, Harvey Leibenstein i ostali ističu ulogu institucija i strukturalnih značajki siromasnih zemalja koje ih čine taocima različitih vrsta zamki.
To ujedno sugerira potrebu za pomoći u razvoju - odnosno onim sto je Rodan u znamenitom članku iz 1943. nazvao "Veliki poticaj".Da zaokruzim, aktualne rasprave o razvojnoj ekonomiji ponovno su otkrile nekoliko starih pitanja.
U ovom kontekstu ponovno se ističe prisutnost vanjskih čimbenika, visestruke ravnoteze, lose povijesne razvijenosti uloge na trzistu, zatvorenih krugova i "zamki nerazvijenosti", pri čemu svaki od ovih faktora nameće nebrojene izazove javnoj politici.
Sve je očitije kako javna politika (na nacionalnoj i međunarodnoj razini), premda ima svoju ulogu na polju korekcije propusta počinjenih od strane vlasti, također treba voditi računa i o greskama u koordinaciji trzista.
U tom smislu treba istaknuti vaznost dobrih institucija i adekvatnih struktura za javno upravljanje, kao i upravljanje u gospodarstvu, budući da su time uvjetovani krajnji učinci gospodarstva u cjelini.
Velike različitosti u ekonomskim rezultatima tranzicijskih (post-komunističkih) zemalja moraju biti u odnosu s različitim načinima funkcioniranja institucionalnih sustava i političkim raznolikostima.Moguće je da se, gledano u odnosu na vrlo razočaravajuću pozadinu loseg ekonomskog napretka većine zemalja u razvoju (isključujući Kinu i dijelove Indije), tranzicijske pogreske u mnogim post-komunističkim zemljama i negativne posljedice "nenadzirane" globalizacije, nalazimo na početku novog doba u razvojnoj ekonomiji.
Olivier Blanchard, Paul Krugman, Dani Rodrik, Joseph Stiglitz i ostali tvore izniman niz briljantnih ekonomista sposobnih da unesu vise realizma i kreativnosti u definiranje razvojne politike.




U Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu, ponovno pronađena Laburistička stranka usvojila je "Treći način" Anthonyja Giddensa kao svoju mantru.
Tijekom 1990-ih, krajnje glamurozni seminari su, pozivajući se na Billa Clintona, Tonyja Blaira, Gerharda Schroedera, Lionela Jospina i ostale, pokusali istraziti područje između tradicionalne socijalne demokracije i neobuzdanog liberalizma.
Ima ih nekoliko.
Općenito govoreći, iza toga se moze nazreti neprestana zelja za postizanjem kontrole nad nasim okolisem, posebice kroz veću učinkovitost.
Tijekom prvog tromjesečja prosloga stoljeća, "racionalizacija zivota" Maxa Webera značila je racionalno računovodstvo, racionalne zakone i racionalnu tehnologiju; isto se načelo moze prosiriti na "racionalno gospodarstvo" kao oblik egzaktne znanosti.
U 70-ima je jos jedan čuveni sociolog, Daniel Bell, zagovarao primat znanja i aktivnosti vezanih uz teoriju pri sređivanju naseg zivota i poticanju čovjekove tehnoloske i ekonomske premoći - sugerirajući da ekonomski čarobnjaci mogu osigurati politiku otpornu na budale.�ak se i sraz Keynesijanizma i monetarizma, kao dva glavna konkurentna makroekonomska primjera, moze sagledati u svjetlu traganja za konačnim zrnom mudrosti.
Drugi izvor politike stapanja je smrt komunizma.
"Kraj povijesti" Francisa Fukuyame mnogi su vjerojatno smatrali utjelovljenjem jedinstvene ideologije (liberalne demokracije), koja je trebala vladati svijetom.
Posljednje, no ne i manje vazno, globalizacija, kao utjelovljenje svjetskog trenda slobodnog trzista i smanjenja upliva vlade, također je dala poticaj viziji "idealnog" tipa gospodarske politike.Na početku novoga stoljeća, činjenice se opiru prevelikom pojednostavljivanju.
Postoje mnogi primjeri koji dokazuju da su suprotstavljene zamisli vrlo bitne, da stvarnost ne moze biti zbijena u prokrustovski ideoloski krevet i da je gospodarstvo i dalje mekse no sto bi neki od nas voljeli da ljudi vjeruju.
Budimo određeniji.
Sto se tiče politike, postaje sve jasnije da nije dovoljno kresati socijalno osiguranje i javni sektor da bi se postigli očekivani učinci; taj bi napor trebao biti popraćen učinkovitim propisima za razna trzista (posebice financijsko i energetsko), koja bi u protivnom lako mogla biti izmanipulirana.
Primjer "nove ekonomije" (za koju se tvrdi da kombinira visoke stope rasta s vrlo niskim stopama nezaposlenosti) pokazao se, jednostavno rečeno, priviđenjem 1990-ih godina.
Razvojna dostignuća posljednjih nekoliko godina u Sjedinjenim Drzavama i drugdje nude obilje dokaza u tom smislu, motivirajući zakonodavce da uvedu Okley-Serbanesov zakon.
Isto tako, suprotno prevladavajućim postavkama od prije ne tako puno godina, ekonomska politika, koja se trenutačno vodi u Sjedinjenim Drzavama i Europi, ne sprječava manjak proračuna tijekom zatvaranja kruga.
Ovo je objasnjenje onoga sto se krije iza vraćanja nekih od keynesijanskih osnovnih recepata u srediste pozornosti.
Svejedno je potrebno napomenuti da, dok keynesijanska makroekonomija očito danas uziva veći ugled, zemlje članice EU istodobno pokusavaju svoja trzista (radne snage, proizvoda, usluga, financija) učiniti prilagodljivijima.Kako se globalizacija uklapa u tu sliku?
Pritisak sve jače konkurencije tjera vlade da moderniziraju svoje javne sektore, sto izaziva nezadovoljstvo sindikata i građana.
No bogate zemlje Zapada ostaju socijalne drzave bez premca, iako se i one razvijaju.
Ovdje se moze primijetiti porast ili povratak Keynesijanizma u kreiranje makroekonomske politike, kombiniran s povlačenjem kada je riječ o socijalnoj politici; rezultat je očigledno proturječna politika.
Druga posljedica globalizacije je stvaranje programa međunarodne politike.
Sto propustom, sto svjesno, neke su manje mastovite politike bogatih zemalja ponovno intenzivirale značaj problema poput pravedne nasuprot slobodnoj trgovini; rjesavanja posvemasnjeg siromastva u svijetu; zastite okolisa kao javnog dobra čovječanstva; kodeksa ponasanja međunarodnih korporacija, rjesavanja učinaka zaraze na svjetsku ekonomiju i koordinaciju politike među vodećim ekonomijama svijeta.U stvari, tradicionalna neprestana bitka između ljevice i desnice - unutar okvira demokratske politike - djelomice je prebačena na međunarodnu scenu.
Debata o globalnom upravljanju (odnosno, o ustanovama i politikama) odrazava rastuću svijest da postoje problemi kojima se treba pristupiti na međunarodnom nivou, u multilateralnom kontekstu i rabeći pristup suradnje.
Izbor između globalizacije i "vođene globalizacije" je u prihvaćanju učinaka potpuno slobodnih trzista - s potpunim zanemarivanjem trzisnih neuspjeha i njihovih socijalnih posljedica - i pokusaja kreiranja međunarodne politike, koja bi trebala spriječiti ili rijesiti problem velikog neuspjeha koordinacije.
Debata o najpozeljnijem obliku kapitalizma i najučinkovitijoj vrsti mijesanja drzave u ekonomiju, djelomice se pretvara u debatu o suprotnim oblicima "globalnog kapitalizma".Drugi smjer politike ima smisla u globalnoj ekonomiji, u kojoj postoji prihvaćanje potrebe za međunarodnim javnim dobrima.
Inače, pod pojačanim pritiskom stranih trzista i ostalih prijetnji (uključujući terorizam, ilegalno useljavanje i sirenje bolesti), vlade bi posegnule za nacionalnim sredstvima zastite - poput sustava trzisnog protekcionizma, trgovinskih sukoba i konkurentne devalvacije.Ideologija nije mrtva.
Ona oblikuje socijalnu i gospodarsku politiku - iako na istančaniji način i slijedeći cikličke uzorke.
Mozda će se na nacionalnoj razini rjeđe osjetiti da se bojno polje ideja sve vise siri izvan nacionalnih granica.
U svakom slučaju, globalizacija će vjerojatno u sve većoj mjeri odrazavati borbu ideja, a tradicionalne će politike pojačano prekapati po međunarodnom području.
Način na koji zakonodavci pristupaju vrućim temama iz međunarodne ekonomije dat će naznake vezane uz njenu dinamiku.




Izgradnja ceste Durres-Kukes prioritet za albansku vladu 03/11/2003 Na sastanku kojim je predsjedao albanski ministar Fatos Nano, nacionalno vijeće za ceste odobrilo je zahtjevan projekt izgradnje ceste kojom bi se povezalo Durres, glavnu albansku luku, s gradom Kukesom na sjeveru zemlje.
Projekt predstavlja ključni dio vladine nacionalne strategije za razvoj albanske cestovne mreze. Orest Erzeni iz Tirane za Southeast European Times - 03/11/03 <br><br>Fotografije: Gent ShkullakuIzgradnja ceste koja povezuje glavnu albansku luku Durres s Kukesom, gradom na krajnjem sjeveru zemlje, predstavlja ključni dio vladine strategije za razvoj nacionalne cestovne mreze u razdoblju od 2003. do 2005.
Cesta će povezivati regionalne koridore u pravcu istok-zapad i sjever-jug, te će tako predstavljati jednu od glavnih cestovnih transverzala Albanije.
Bit će također i jedna od najtezih za izgradnju.Prema zavrsnom planu, odobrenom 7. listopada na sastanku nacionalnog vijeća za ceste, cesta s četiri prometne trake bit će duga 175 km, a očekuje se kako će stajati vise od 256 mil. eura.
Jos su dva dodatna plana predstavljena na sastanku kojim je predsjedao premijer Fatos Nano.
Jednim se predviđa cesta u duljini od 250 km koja će stajati 213 mil. eura.
Odlučeno je u korist plana kojim se predviđa izgradnja najkraćeg pravca, koji bi bilo moguće prijeći u dva sata.<table border="0" align="left" width="288" height="217"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/031103-SHABANphoto2.jpg" align="left" width="288" height="217"></td> <tr> <td><FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Albanski ministar prometa Spartak Poci (lijevo) i albanski premijer Fatos Nano (drugi slijeva) tijekom sastanka na kojemu se raspravljalo o cestovnom projektu Durres-Kukes.</font></td> </tr> </table> Cesta Durres-Kukes predstavlja prioritet za vladu, izjavio je Nano, dodajući kako će time biti stvorene optimalne mogućnosti za integraciju nacionalnog trzista i jačanje suradnje sa susjednim zemljama u regiji koja postaje sve otvorenija i sve integriranija.
Strategija vlade za razvoj albanske cestovne mreze razvijena je u suradnji sa Svjetskom bankom, Europskom investicijskom bankom (EIB), EBRD-om, te relevantnim agencijama EU, izjavio je Nano.Regionalne su implikacije jasne.
Cesta neće naprosto zavrsavati u Kukesu, već će biti povezana i s Morinom, smjestenom na granici Albanije i Kosova, čime će Pristina biti povezana s Jadranskim morem.
Projekt ima potporu svih glavnih političkih snaga u Albaniji, a prema tvrdnjama duznosnika u Tirani, podupiru ga i u NATO-u.Svjetska banka dovrsila je studiju izvedivosti neposredno prije sastanka na kojemu je cestovni projekt odobren.
Albanska je vlast osigurala međunarodnu financijsku potporu za neke dijelove ceste, dok će se ostali oslanjati na domaće investicije, uključujući i "Majkov porez".
Posebna je uloga namijenjena inzenjerijskim postrojbama albanske vojske, koja ima značajno iskustvo u izgradnji cesta u tesko pristupačnim planinskim predjelima.Albanija je općenito bila uspjesna u osiguravanju međunarodnog učesća i financiranja svojih nacionalnih cestovnih projekata.
U srpnju je potpisala sporazum sa Svjetskom bankom o kreditu od 11 mil. eura za projekt odrzavanja cesta; riječ je o dodatnim sredstvima koja se pridodaju iznosu od 14,5 mil. eura koje je Svjetska banka ranije osigurala za istu namjenu.
Financiranje 30,5 km duge dionice Koridora 8, kojim se povezuju Elbasan i Librazhd, osigurano je od strane EBRD-a i talijanske vlade.
Dionica duljine 82 km od Fierija do Tepelene, vrijednosti 65 mil. eura, također se gradi sredstvima koja su osigurana od strane EIB-e i EBRD-a.Albanska je vlada počela dodjelu koncesija za pojedine dionice ceste.
Već je odobrena koncesija za prvu, 55 km dugu dionicu Rogozhine-Tirana-Thumane, čija će cijena iznositi 150 mil. eura.
Ovim će projektom Albanija dobiti prvi autoput koji udovoljava europskim standardima i kriterijima.Nacionalna je cestovna strategija usmjerena na postizanje sto učinkovitije povezanosti albanske cestovne mreze i prometnih pravaca susjednih zemalja.
U tu su svrhu ceste koje povezuju granične točke planirane kao sastavni dio programa izgradnje.
EU i Svjetska banka financiraju izgradnju dionice Tri Mosta-Carshove, povezane na grčku granicu, kao i ceste Sarande-Konispol, koja se također nastavlja do grčke granice.
Dionica od Bunskog mosta u Shkodri do Muriquana jamči povezanost s crnogorskom granicom.
U tijeku su radovi i na cestovnoj vezi s Makedonijom, i to na dionicama Qukes-Qafe Thane, Peshkopi-Blace i Gorice-Liqenas.Drugi je ključni dio nacionalne strategije uspostavljanje veza s turističkim područjima na morskoj obali.
U tu se svrhu izgrađuju cesta Vlora-Saranda, koja se pruza juznom obalom zemlje, cesta Velipoja, smjestena u sjevernom obalnom dijelu, te ceste Divjaka i Seman u sredisnjem dijelu Albanije.




General Jones: Angazman NATO-a na Balkanu i dalje jak 24/11/2003 U trenutku kada dolazi do redefiniranja vojnih struktura diljem Europe, general James L. Jones, vrhovni zapovjednik NATO-a za Europu i zapovjednik američkog Europskog stozera, u ekskluzivnom intervjuu za Southeast European Times govori o budućnosti NATO-a na Balkanu, transformaciji Europskog zapovjednistva američkih snaga i ulozi novih NATO-ovih snaga za brze reakcije.Southeast European Times: Sjedinjene Drzave izjavile su kako smanjuju broj postrojbi na Balkanu.
Koji su ciljevi NATO-a u ovoj regiji i koja su vasa očekivanja po pitanju trajanja NATO-ove prisutnosti na tom prostoru?General James L. Jones: Angazman NATO-a na Balkanu i dalje je jak, prvenstveno u Bosni i Hercegovini (BiH) i na Kosovu.
Nekoliko tisuća NATO-ovih vojnika i dalje je aktivno prisutno u regiji.
Raspored povlačenja NATO-a iz BiH ili s Kosova nije definiran.
NATO ostaje angaziran u SFOR-u i KFOR-u sve do čvrste uspostave mirovnog procesa, opće uspostave vladavine zakona i ustaljivanja demokratskih izbora i institucija.
Sjedinjene Drzave, zajedno s većinom nacija koje pruzaju potporu ovim nastojanjima, već godinama reduciraju svoje snage na ovom području.SE Times: Američki ministar obrane Donald Rumsfeld zagovarao je transformaciju američkih snaga u Europi.
Sto ovo znači za Europsko zapovjednistvo američkih snaga i kako će se odraziti na zemlje jugoistočne Europe?Jones: Kao dio nastojanja američkog Ministarstva obrane (DOD) na sveobuhvatnoj transformaciji, Europsko zapovjednistvo američkih snaga razmatra načine transformacije i restrukturiranja nasih snaga i infrastrukture.
Nase viđenje transformacije povećat će nasu fleksibilnost, prilagodljivost i učinkovitost u svakoj od 93 drzave u nasoj zoni odgovornosti.Transformacija DOD-a sastoji se od četiri osnovna elementa: tehnologije, institucionalne reforme, operativnih koncepata, te nabave i upravljanja resursima.U kontekstu prosirenja NATO saveza u pravcu istoka, logično je da ćemo mi, kao dio američke vojske, u većoj mjeri angazirati te nove saveznike u vojnim vjezbama i operacijama, kako bismo povećali njihov stupanj spremnosti i unaprijedili međusobnu kompatibilnost.
Iz istih je razloga nuzno da se usredotočimo i na jug, odnosno na sjevernu Afriku, kako bismo se mogli pozabaviti nasim interesima i u toj svjetskoj regiji.Tijekom narednih nekoliko godina razvit ćemo i usavrsiti nas transformacijski plan, uzimajući u obzir stajalista nasih brojnih zemalja partnera i njihovih vojnih institucija.
U bliskoj ćemo budućnosti početi s provođenjem mjera koje zahtijevaju minimalni utrosak vremena i relativno male izdatke, čime će ovaj proces biti pokrenut.SE Times: Kakvo je vase viđenje preoblikovanja strukture Europskog zapovjednistva američkih snaga?Jones: Sadasnji profil snaga u sklopu Europskog zapovjednistva mora biti restrukturiran kako bi udovoljio potrebama koje proistječu iz promjena u nasoj regiji i novih interesa i izazova koje pred nas postavlja 21. stoljeće.
Nuzna je primjena tehnologija 21. stoljeća u transformaciji za 21. stoljeće nečega sto, kad govorimo o nama u Europi, jos uvijek predstavlja strategiju baziranja koja pripada 20. stoljeću.
Ekspedicijsko baziranje, s reduciranom infrastrukturom i rotacionim sustavom izmjene ljudstva, primjer je pravca u kojemu ćemo krenuti kako bismo postigli veću fleksibilnost, djelotvornost i učinkovitost operativnih snaga.
Ekspediciono je baziranje fleksibilnije i ekspeditivnije od permanentnog baziranja, a rezultat je napornog rada i suradnje s nasim saveznicima u procesu sirenja NATO-a u pravcu istoka.SE Times: NATO je naveo kako će oformljivanje njegovih snaga za brze reakcije biti okončano do kraja jeseni.
Mozete li nam reći nesto detaljnije o misiji ovih snaga i načinu njihove primjene?Jones: Uloga NATO-vih snaga za brze reakcije (NRF) očituje se u osiguravanju mogućnosti integriranog i posve sinkroniziranog djelovanja snaga na moru, kopnu i u zraku, uz jedinstveno zapovjednistvo, bilo gdje da Sjevernoatlantsko vijeće to zatrazi, a u svrhu prevencije sukoba ili eskalacije prijetnje.Misija jos nije precizno definirana.
Mogu vam reći da će NRF biti koristene kada i kako to bude potrebno, podrzavajući kolektivne odluke Saveza.
Misije bi mogle uključivati: neborbene operacije evakuacije, pruzanje humanitarne pomoći, reakciju na krizne situacije (uključujući misije odrzanja mira), protuteroristička djelovanja, te provođenje embarga.
Uz to, NRF će djelovati i kao snage prethodnice koje će osiguravati teren za dolazak dodatnih snaga kada se za to ukaze potreba.
Nas je cilj postizanje inicijalne spremnosti za djelovanje do listopada 2004., odnosno pune operativne spremnosti do listopada 2006.




AIDS na Balkanu: Prilika za izbjegavanje epidemije? 01/12/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">�lan Odbora za međunarodnu razmjenu studenata medicine Republike Srpske postavlja plakate za kampanju Stop-AIDS u Banja Luci kako bi podigao razinu osvijestenosti pred predstojeći Svjetski dan borbe protiv AIDS-a. [AFP]</font><br><br> Ovog je ljeta Svjetska banka upozorila kako postoji rizik pojave epidemije AIDS-a u jugoistočnoj Europi.
Neki su lokalni duznosnici ljutito reagirali, tvrdeći kako je Svjetska banka preuveličala problem.
Ipak, lokalne nevladine organizacije vjeruju kako je ovo izvjesće potaknulo napore na suzbijanju sirenja AIDS-a u regiji. Liz Barrett iz Zagreba za Southeast European Times - 01/12/03Broj osoba inficiranih HIV-om u jugoistočnoj Europi zanemariv je u usporedbi s drugim svjetskim regijama, primjerice s Afrikom ili dijelovima jugoistočne Azije.
U Bugarskoj je do danasnjeg dana otkriveno samo 366 slučajeva, a u Hrvatskoj 341 slučaj.
U Crnoj Gori su samo 52 osobe dijagnosticirane kao HIV-pozitivne.
Na zasad slabu rasprostranjenost bolesti moze se gledati kao na odličnu priliku za sprječavanje epidemije.
Lokalne nevladine organizacije poduzimaju dojmljive korake kako bi ugrabile ovu priliku i spasile balkansku mladez od bolesti.Uspjesna kampanja protiv HIV-a i AIDS-a zahtijeva vise elemenata.
Kao prvo, nuzno je odrediti razmjere problema.
Prema podacima iz UN-ovog programa za borbu protiv AIDS-a (UNAIDS), broj osoba za koje se zna da su zarazene mogao bi predstavljati svega 10 do 20 posto onih koji su HIV-pozitivni.
Ostali ne odlaze na testiranje, ostajući tako nesvjesni činjenice da su zarazeni.
Uslijed ovoga predstavljaju opasnost, budući da bi mogli godinama nastaviti siriti bolest prije no sto otkriju da su HIV-pozitivni.Za lokalne je nevladine organizacije prioritet lobiranje u zdravstvenim ustanovama kako bi se osiguralo besplatno testiranje uz zajamčenu povjerljivost rezultata.
Primjerice, u Crnoj Gori je jos uvijek nemoguće - čak i nezakonito - anonimno testiranje na HIV.
Svatko tko odlazi na testiranje mora dati svoje ime, sto znači da će vise ljudi biti upoznato s njihovim rezultatima; u tako maloj zajednici, informacije o tome tko je zarazen brzo se sire.
Ovo je samo po sebi iznimno obeshrabrujuće za osobe koje bi se htjele testirati.
Crnogorsko udruzenje za borbu protiv AIDS-a (CAZAS) lobira u vladi kako bi se promijenio zakon o testiranju.Rumunjska je po ovom pitanju odmakla daleko dalje, te je uspostavljeno devet regionalnih centara za testiranje.
No, tamo je i problem HIV-a daleko veći.
S oko 12.500 prijavljenih slučajeva, u Rumunjskoj je problem HIV-a daleko najizrazeniji u čitavoj regiji.
Uz to, većina je ovih osoba zarazena u dječjoj dobi koristenjem zarazene transfuzijske krvi u razdoblju od 1988. do 1991.
Ova je dobna skupina sada na pragu spolne zrelosti, čime se stvaraju pretpostavke za novu eksploziju zaraza.
I Bugarska sada nudi povjerljivost rezultata testiranja, no tek nakon sto je testiranje velikog broja ispitanika u kasnim 80-ima, prilikom kojega nije bila zajamčena tajnost rezultata, rezultiralo stigmatizacijom pojedinih drustvenih grupa.<table border="0" align="left" width="131" height="131"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/031201-LIZphoto2.jpg" align="left" width="131" height="131"></td> <tr> <td><FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Prema podacima iz UN-ovog programa za borbu protiv AIDS-a (UNAIDS), broj osoba za koje se zna da su zarazene mogao bi predstavljati svega 10 do 20 posto onih koji su u stvari HIV-pozitivni. [UN]</font></td> </tr> </table> Drugo je ključno pitanje za lokalne nevladine organizacije koje se posvećuju problemu AIDS-a liječenje već zarazenih osoba.
Ova je komponenta praktički potpuno nerazvijena.
Godine 2000., kada je makedonska organizacija HERA pokrenula pruzanje svoje usluge savjetovanja, utvrdili su kako zrtvama zaraze nije bilo omogućeno nikakvo liječenje.
Jedina opcija koja se pacijentima nudila bio je ulazak u programe kliničkog ispitivanja netestiranih medikamenata.
HERA je nastojala prikupiti donacije za nabavu lijekova, te je lobirala u vladi kako bi antiretroviralna terapija bila uključena u planove za nabavu lijekova.
Nevladine organizacije pruzaju također i usluge savjetovanja, te pomazu zrtvama zaraze u prikupljanju podataka o mogućnostima koje im se pruzaju.Treće veliko područje - prevencija - ujedno pruza i najvise razloga za optimizam.
Vladan Golubović iz CAZAS-a najvise se ponosi programima za edukaciju studenata i učenika srednjih skola koje je inicirala njegova organizacija.
CAZAS svake godine organizira ljetnu skolu za polaznike iz čitave zemlje, u kojoj sudionici uče o podizanju stupnja osvijestenosti po pitanju prevencije HIV-a i AIDS-a.
Oni se nakon toga vraćaju u svoje lokalne zajednice, gdje prosljeđuju stečeno znanje putem kampanja u skolama ili klubovima.Ostale kampanje za prevenciju usmjerene su ka visoko rizičnim grupama poput korisnika intravenoznih droga.
No statistike zaraze HIV-om na Balkanu razlikuju se od onih za druge krajeve svijeta.
Većina je zarazenih virus dobila heteroseksualnim odnosom.
Ovo odrazava neuobičajene socijalne okolnosti na Balkanu.
Kao rezultat djelovanja ovih čimbenika, spolno prenosive bolesti brzo se sire regijom.Ratovi u bivsoj Jugoslaviji također su odigrali ulogu.
Drustvena previranja tijekom posljednjih deset godina dovela su do povećane pokretljivosti stanovnistva.
Istovremeno, siromastvo i nezaposlenost, čimbenici čija je zastupljenost porasla uslijed visegodisnjih sukoba, često povlače za sobom povećano koristenje droga koje se apliciraju intravenozno.S druge strane, mladi ljudi obično posjeduju informacije o HIV-u i AIDS-u, no problem je u većoj mjeri uzrokovan stavovima, posebice u odnosu na siguran seks.
Na ovome je području značajno djelovanje RiskNet-a, regionalnog projekta financiranog od strane USAID-a i UN-a.
RiskNet se fokusira na premosćivanje "zapreka uzrokovanih stavovima" vezanim uz koristenje prezervativa.
Njihove ovogodisnje kampanje u Srbiji, Rumunjskoj, Bugarskoj, te Bosni i Hercegovini, usmjerene su na formiranje stava kako su kondomi �zakon� i podsjećanje mladezi da "isprika nema".
Fokusne skupine organizirane u sklopu kampanje pokazale su kako su mladi ljudi iznimno voljni govoriti o ovim pitanjima, a debate su bile vrlo zaostrene.Ipak, premda pozitivan publicitet i oglasavanje mogu pomoći u uvjeravanju mladih ljudi kako je potrebno prakticirati siguran seks, jos uvijek je potrebno hrabrosti za nadilazenje neugode pri kupnji kondoma.
Golubović naglasava kako CAZAS mora promijeniti i stav prodavača u ljekarnama, uslijed kojeg se ljudi nelagodno osjećaju prilikom kupnje kondoma.
Prema Goluboviću, srz problema s kojim se susrećemo pri borbi protiv HIV-a lezi u "vrlo konzervativnom okruzenju u kojem zivimo".




Je li Europski model odrziv? 08/12/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Općenito uzevsi, europske vlade od svojih građana traze da se u većoj mjeri oslanjaju na sebe i traze manje od drzave. [SETimes]</font><br><br> Postaje li nemoguće nositi se sa sve većom slozenosću drustveno-političko-ekonomske situacije u Europi?
Ekonomist i bivsi rumunjski ministar financija Daniel Daianu istrazuje mogućnosti razvoja Europskog modela. Daniel Daianu iz Bukuresta za Southeast European Times - 08/12/03Nedavno sam sudjelovao u radu odbora koji je raspravljao o tome je li "Europski model" odrziv.
S jedne je strane moguće pronaći karakteristike kapitalizma u Europi koje se jasno razlikuju od onoga sto obično nazivamo anglosaksonskom varijantom, kao i od tipa kapitalizma na koji nailazimo u prosperitetnim drustvima Azije.
S druge strane, socijalna je drzava, premda u nesto drugačijem obliku, sveprisutna karakteristika razvijenog kapitalizma diljem svijeta.
Stovise, pod utjecajem je globalizacije tijekom proteklih par desetljeća doslo do zamjetne konvergencije među shemama funkcioniranja kapitalizma.U Europi je prisutna izrazena drustvena i gospodarska raznolikost.
Razlikujemo skandinavski model (s naglaskom na drustvenu preraspodjelu), britanski model (koji je blizi američkom), te mediteranski model, koji se doima donekle "dezorganizirano" - premda rastući budzetski deficiti Njemačke i Francuske počinju dovoditi u pitanje ovu procjenu.
Neki analitičari izdvajaju zemlje sredisnje i istočne Europe koje pretendiraju na članstvo u EU kao primjere liberalnijeg (u europskom smislu) oblika kapitalizma.
Sto nam sve ovo govori o Europskom modelu?Kao odgovor na gore postavljena pitanja, moje je viđenje kako ne bi trebalo podcjenjivati utjecaj formiranja EU kao sustinskog procesa velikih razmjera.
Projekt EU moguće je analizirati na najmanje dvije razine.
Jedna ima korijen u samom procesu izgradnje unije, koji tezi ka uspostavi zajedničkih standarda, te uvođenju jedinstvenih pravila pri kreiranju politike i institucionalnih tvorbi.
Ovdje bih spomenuo Europsku socijalnu povelju, koja predstavlja pokusaj da se postigne veća uniformnost socijalnog aspekta unije.Istovremeno se projekt EU - zaglibljen u previranjima, političkim dilemama i kompromisima oko prosirenja i jačanja unije - suočava s izazovom upravljanja sve kompleksnijom situacijom.
Ova bi kontradikcija bila daleko manja da nije strahovitog pritiska globalizacije i konkurencije iz zemalja s jeftinom radnom snagom (uključujući i susjedne istočnoeuropske zemlje).Globalizacija, a posebice liberalizacija financija i trgovine, podriva darezljivu socijalnu drzavu u zemljama zapadne Europe.
Socijalna se pomoć reducira iz nuzde, a mirovinski se sustavi restrukturiraju.
Ovi bolni i politički vrlo osjetljivi procesi odvijaju se usporedno sa starenjem stanovnistva, koje predstavlja dominantnu demografsku tendenciju u Europi i drugim područjima.Općenito uzevsi, europske vlade od svojih građana traze da se u većoj mjeri oslanjaju na sebe i traze manje od drzave.
Premda globalizacija sadrzi netrivijalnu ideolosku komponentu, sile koje ovdje djeluju i same su dosegle veliku snagu uslijed tehnoloskih izmjena i zaostravanja trzisne utakmice.
Pri tome bi potonju komponentu bilo moguće iz sigurnosnih razloga obuzdati protekcionističkim zahvatima (u trgovini i kroz konkurentne devalvacije), no trenutno se čini da je njezin utjecaj nekontroliran.
Ono sto nas očekuje u daljoj budućnosti ovisi o brojnim socijalnim, gospodarskim i političkim varijablama, a i povijest po tom pitanju predstavlja značajan faktor.
Korisno je prisjetiti se sto je uslijedilo nakon viktorijanskog razdoblja u 19. stoljeću, za koje brojni povjesničari smatraju da predstavlja sazetak liberalizacije na najvisoj razini, uključujući i slobodan protok radne snage.Moze se ustvrditi kako globalizacija u sve većoj mjeri prebacuje ideolosku konfrontaciju ljevice i desnice u demokratskim drustvima na međunarodnu razinu.
Ovo se očituje kroz pojave poput antiglobalizacijskih kretanja u bogatim zemljama, zastoja u trgovinskim pregovorima, te pojačanog internacionalnog rivalstva socijaldemokratskih stranaka i stranaka desnog centra.
Autoanalitički proces rjesavanja siromastva u svijetu, utjelovljen u radu međunarodnih financijskih organizacija, moze također biti pripisan ovom fenomenu.Pravac daljnjeg razvoja Europskog modela ovisi o vise čimbenika.
Jedan je od njih povezan s načinom nosenja s povećanom kompleksnosću.
EU će radi gospodarske i socijalne funkcionalnosti morati iznaći prikladnija institucionalna i politička rjesenja.
Sukob ustaljenih obrazaca i ideja također će oblikovati stvari.
Primjerice, veliki promasaji na financijskim trzistima i trzistima energijom rezultirali su novim razdobljem u regulaciji trzista, a time i preoblikovanjem javne politike (jasan je primjer Oxley-Sarbanesov zakon u Sjedinjenim Drzavama).Politički je pragmatizam daleko trazeniji od političkog fundamentalizma, premda su nepokolebljivi ideolozi i dalje prisutni u sredistima moći.
Javna je politika natjerana na preispitivanje starih teza poput nuznosti snabdijevanja javnim dobrima od strane drzave kako bi povratila moralno uporiste izgubljeno nakon korporacijskih skandala.
Ovo je pitanje relevantno kako u domaćoj, tako i u međunarodnoj politici.
Za međunarodnu politiku, zastita okolisa, obuzdavanje i suzbijanje bolesti u siromasnim dijelovima svijeta, osiguravanje dostatnih količina pitke vode i borba protiv siromastva predstavljaju pitanja koja je potrebno hitno rjesavati, kao i pitanje borbe protiv međunarodnog terorizma.
Na svim ovim područjima Europski model ima sto za reći i učiniti.
Ipak, zeli li polučiti uspjeh, mora u značajnoj mjeri izvrsiti utjecaj na svjetski razvoj u narednim godinama i desetljećima, i to na gospodarskom, socijalnom i političkom planu.




Program koji omogućuje suradnju u drustvenim zajednicama postize impresivne rezultate 15/12/2003 <FONT size="1" color="gray" face="verdana">Program podrzan od strane USAID-a ponovno izgrađuje lokalne ekonomije i ozivljava duh drustvene zajednice. [USAID]</font><br><br> Nakon vise od deset godina rata i sankcija, zajednice su na Balkanu razorene, kako fizički, tako i po pitanju osobnih odnosa.
Ipak, Program revitalizacije drustvenih zajednica premosćuje ove podjele i pomaze u obnovi gradova i sela. Liz Barrett za Southeast European Times - 15/12/03Poznato je da je Robert Putnam napisao kako sve vise ljudi u suvremenoj Americi "kuglaju sami", implicirajući kako je doslo do dezintegracije lokalnih zajednica, te je individualizam uzeo daleko vise maha u drustvu.
Ova je fraza primjenjiva i na brojna područja na Balkanu.
Rat, kao i pritisci suvremenog načina zivota, razorili su drustvene zajednice.
Regija je puna gradova i sela kojima je očajnički potrebna ponovna izgradnja i obnova, no nedostaje im sredstava ili volje za pokretanjem akcija.
Novi program, podrzan od strane USAID-a, ubija dvije muhe jednim udarcem: ponovno izgrađuje lokalno gospodarstvo i ozivljava duh drustvene zajednice.
Ovo se postize mobiliziranjem ljudskih resursa, fokusirajući se pritom na unapređivanje kvalitete zivljenja.Tako je primjerice u Niksiću, u Crnoj Gori, ruzno odlagaliste otpada dugo predstavljalo trn u oku i narusavalo izgled lokalnog okolisa.
Kad je program Revitalizacija drustvenih zajednica demokratskim djelovanjem (CRDA) odrzao svoj prvi sastanak, otvoren za javnost, kako bi postavili pitanja o problemima s kojima se grad suočava, odlagaliste je definirano kao osnovni prioritet.
U roku od nekoliko mjeseci, stanovnici su zajedničkim radom ne samo rasčistili lokaciju, već su je i pretvorili u igraliste.
Projekt nije zahtijevao mnogo novaca, a zahvaljujući činjenici da su svi surađivali, posao je brzo dovrsen.
Dobrobit je unatoč tome bila iznimno velika.
Najbolje je od svega sto je stvoreno i pozitivno ozračje među stanovnistvom, među kojim sada postoji visa razina uzajamnog postivanja, kao i postovanja prema okolisu.Igraliste predstavlja tek jedan primjer.
Općenito, program nastoji na neki način potaći lokalno gospodarstvo, podrzavajući mala i srednja poduzeća (SME-ove), izgrađujući novu infrastrukturu, odabirući dio grada za obnovu ili investirajući u takozvanu "meku infrastrukturu", uključujući i programe obuke lokalnog stanovnistva.
Samo na prostoru Crne Gore, nedavni su projekti uključivali izgradnju pristanista u Plavu, obnovu parka u Tivtu, novu rasvjetu za tvrđavu u Baru i dječji vrtić u Kotoru.Metoda je na svakoj od lokacija identična.
Prije svega, organizira se javno okupljanje kojemu svatko moze prisustvovati.
USAID imenuje koordinatora za pojedinu drustvenu zajednicu, koji izlaze sto se programom nastoji postići i kako on funkcionira, te prikuplja prve zamisli vezane uz potrebe zajednice.
Nakon toga slijedi nekoliko sličnih sastanaka, sto omogućuje sirenje informacija i daje priliku većem broju ljudi da iznesu svoje stavove.Sudionici zatim biraju Odbor za razvoj lokalne zajednice koji se sastoji od 15-20 predstavnika.
Jedan član moze biti zaduzen za prikupljanje sredstava, dok će drugi biti odgovoran za odnose s lokalnim vlastima.
Organizatori nastoje zajamčiti angazman cjelokupne zajednice određivanjem kvota za učesće u radu Odbora.
Oko 15-20 posto članova moraju biti zene, a Odbor mora odrazavati etničku strukturu lokalne drustvene zajednice.U ovoj su fazi obično aktualna tri ili četiri prijedloga, te Odbor mora odabrati jedan od njih, sto se najčesće rjesava glasovanjem.
Nakon sto je projekt odabran, Odbor mora odlučiti kako postići svoj cilj.
Budući da članovi Odbora često imaju malo iskustva u ovakvim aktivnostima, koordinator za drustvenu zajednicu i USAID pruzaju potporu u ovoj fazi.
Ova potpora doista predstavlja ključnu točku u provođenju programa, te nastoji obučiti ljude kako bi u budućnosti sami bili u stanju provoditi ovakve projekte.
Primjerice, organizatori programa odrzavaju tečajeve o pisanju prijedloga ili podučavaju članove Odbora kako pristupati potencijalnim donatorima.
Odborima je najčesće potrebna pomoć u izradi studija izvedivosti i poslovnih planova, kao i savjeti o suradnji s lokalnom vladom ili relevantnim organima vlasti.
Riječima Vladana Raznatovića, voditelja projekata u crnogorskom uredu USAID-a, "naglasak je na pomaganju građanima da se organiziraju, povećaju svoj utjecaj i ostvaruju svoja prava, pokusava ih se pretvoriti u partnere lokalnih organa vlasti".Odbor mora prikupiti najmanje 25 posto sredstava, dok ostatak sredstava osigurava USAID.
Tih 25 posto moze se djelomice sastojati i od rada ili materijala koje osigurava sama zajednica.
Ukupna cijena projekata obično se kreće od 50.000 do 100.000 eura.
U Crnoj Gori zajednica sama prosječno snosi vise od 40 posto troskova.Raznatović objasnjava kako se program oslanja na dva trenda koji su trenutno aktualni na Balkanu.
Prvo, međunarodni se donatori počinju povlačiti, tako da sada presusuju ogromna financijska sredstva koja su ranije pritjecala u regiju.
Ovo znači da se ove zemlje moraju u većoj mjeri oslanjati na vlastite resurse, te je potreba za privlačenjem stranih investitora povećana.
Kao drugo, premda je vlast nekad bila vrlo centralizirana, lokalne vlasti sada preuzimaju sve vise odgovornosti.
Jedna je od tih odgovornosti i upravljanje vlastitim gospodarskim razvitkom i odlučivanje o raspodjeli lokalnih resursa.Pokretanje projekata nije uvijek jednostavno.
Raznatović navodi kako lokalni političari ponekad pokusavaju prisvojiti ove projekte: "Riječ je o iznimno moćnom oruđu, budući da ljudima pruzamo infrastrukturu.
Lokalni političari ponekad nastoje preusmjeriti sredstva i utjecati na projekte.
Najveći je izazov kako ostati neovisan."
Moćne interesne grupe i poslovni lobiji također ponekad pokusavaju dominirati sastancima i nametati svoja uska gledista.
Provoditelji projekta nastoje osigurati da on bude od koristi za čitavu zajednicu.U većini su slučajeva ljudi vrlo uzbuđeni zbog prilike da sudjeluju, te investiraju mnogo vremena u projekte.
Oko 350 projekata pokrenuto je od početka programa u Crnoj Gori u travnju 2002.
USAID procjenjuje kako je izravno uključeno 5 do 10 posto zajednice.
Prioriteti postupno prelaze s osnovne infrastrukture, poput osiguravanja pouzdane opskrbe čistom vodom, ka poduzetnijim metodama gospodarskog razvitka.
Ulice i kafići Kotora zivnuli su otkad je lokalni Odbor za razvoj lokalne zajednice postavio pozornicu u sredistu grada, na kojoj Udruga vlasnika kafe barova Kotora svake noći organizira performanse.
Staze oko gradske tvrđave predstavljaju ugodnije mjesto za setnju otkad je Odbor zaposlio radnike na njihovom čisćenju.
Ovo su mozda mali koraci, no daju jasnu poruku o tome sto drustvene zajednice mogu same učiniti ukoliko surađuju.




Europa prati napredak reforme drzavnih medija u BiH 22/12/2003 EU će sljedećih tjedana pozorno pratiti reformu neučinkovitog i financijski ograničenog sustava javnih medija u BiH s ciljem utvrđivanja potrebe za pomoći sustavu javnih medija od strane poreznih obveznika EU, kao i radi utvrđivanja hoće li Bosna i Hercegovina moći nastaviti svoj put prema Uniji. Beth Kampschror iz Sarajeva za Southeast European Times - 22/12/03Beskonačne političke kontakt emisije dosadne su gledateljima, te predstavljaju pouzdan pokazatelj problema u sustavu javnih medija (PBS) u Bosni i Hercegovini (BiH).
Manje je očito, premda vaznije, to da se PBS nalazi na rubu financijske propasti, ima previse radnika, upravljanje proračunom je lose, a broj ljudi koji plaćaju pretplatu malen je.Izglasavanje zakona o PBS-u u Vijeću ministara, kao sto su to lokalni političari nedavno obećali, vjerojatno će se i dogoditi - djelomično i zato sto je Europska komisija ustvrdila kako su zdravi drzavni mediji preduvjet kojeg je potrebno ispuniti kako bi se uopće uzela u obzir mogućnost pozivanja BiH da započne pregovore o pridruzivanju Uniji sljedeće godine.Iako su političari u proslosti odbijali izglasavati zakone koji bi im oduzeli moć nad eterom, vlade sada počinju shvaćati poruku da trebaju iskoristiti pomoć Europe koja se trenutno nudi prije no sto se sustav javnih medija naprosto raspadne, izjavio je Zoran Udovičić, predsjednik Media Plan instituta.
"Morat će izglasati zakon, naročito sada kad su mogući pozivi za početak pregovora", rekao je.Reforma sustava javnih medija u BiH znači očuvanje limitiranog kanala na drzavnoj razini i dva kanala entiteta, za koje je nedavna studija BBC konzultanta pokazala da su gomilali dugove od pola milijuna eura mjesečno tijekom proteklih godinu i po dana.
Studija predlaze da se otpusti 500 ljudi iz uprave i proda zgrada televizije u Sarajevu, koja nalikuje na bunker.Bijesan radnički sindikat odbija raspravljati o otkazima.
Drzavni premijer i premijeri entiteta nisu nalozili svojim Ministarstvima komunikacija restrukturiranje sustava do 7. studenog, čime je EU dano puno pravo da odbije pruzanje pomoći u vrijednosti od 1,5 milijuna eura, koliko je obećala izdvojiti za sustav drzavnih medija.Ipak, samo dan prije isteka roka, uprava sustava javnih medija obećala je smanjiti troskove, a premijeri su se slozili kako će biti donesen zakon koji bi predstavljao temelj jedinstvenog sustava sa zajedničkom infrastrukturom, čime bi se rijesilo i probleme sustava pretplate.
Ove odluke, donesene u posljednji čas, od Europske su komisije ocijenjene kao dostatan razlog da ne uskrate obećana sredstava.Uplitanje EU samo je posljednji u nizu međunarodnih pokusaja pomoći nemoćnom sustavu javnih medija u BiH.
PBS, osmisljen 1999. godine od strane tadasnjeg Visokog predstavnika Carlosa Westendorpa, ostao je vise koncept negoli realnost zbog razloga koji se kreću u rasponu od pomanjkanja sredstava do vladinog nepostivanja rokova i ad hoc rjesenja međunarodne zajednice.
Sada je cilj postaviti sustav javnih medija koji će odgovarati europskim normama - prisutan u čitavoj drzavi, kvalitetan, uz neovisno sastavljanje programskih shema i financiranje putem pretplate.Ipak, Udovičić iz Media Plan-a tvrdi kako je pesimističan po pitanju poboljsanja programa, budući da su brojni kreativni novinari i urednici napustili drzavu."Mozete na snazi imati odličan zakon, mozete čak i prikupiti sredstva iz pretplate, no tko će sastavljati program?" upitao je.
"Tko moze okupiti najbolju ekipu koja bi radila na programu koji će biti gledan i koji će zadovoljiti ljude koji plaćaju pretplatu?"Bolji bi plan, rekao je, predstavljalo uspostavljanje jedne radio-televizijske mreze za cijelu drzavu, izrazivsi pritom sumnju kako se u BiH mogu odrzati tri mreze, koliko ih danas postoji.Ipak, zakon bi mogao uvesti stegu među sadasnje članove uprave PBS-a.
Generalni direktor Drago Marić tvrdi kako je nepostojanje zakona, naročito na drzavnoj razini, bilo uzrok tome sto su do sada trosili sredstva u skladu s trenutnim priljevom, bez adekvatne raspodjele sredstava.Financijsko je stanje dodatno pogorsavao los sustav naplate TV pretplate.
Oko dvije trećine Bosnjaka jednostavno ne plaća mjesečnu pretplatu u iznosu od tri eura, koja se u Federaciji ispostavlja kao dio računa za potrosnju električne energije.
Marić kaze da bi novim zakonom moglo biti određeno da naknada za pretplatu bude dio računa za troskove fiksne telefonije, budući da je općepoznato kako telefonske kompanije nisu fleksibilne po pitanju dugovanja, te uskraćuju usluge čak i ljudima čije je dugovanje izrazito malo, sto bi moglo rezultirati postizanjem postotka naplate od 65 posto u svega dva mjeseca."Velika je opasnost da će ljudi pomisliti kako nećemo biti primorani mijenjati nista drugo ukoliko uspijemo prikupiti ta sredstva", rekao je, dodajući da je nuzno poboljsati i proizvodnju i kvalitetu zaposlenog kadra.Marić je izjavio kako je svjestan da su otpustanja djelatnika dio reforme.
PBS će nastojati smanjiti broj honorarnih suradnika, nagovoriti neke zaposlenike na prijevremenu mirovinu, te otpustiti dio manje talentiranih i manje poduzetnih djelatnika.Dodao je i kao plan BBC-a, premda predstavlja dobru polaznu točku, nije u potpunosti prihvatljiv, jer nigdje ne spominje beneficije za djelatnike koji će izgubiti posao."Naravno da alternativna radna mjesta ne postoje, a u mnogim su slučajevima ti ljudi jedini zaposleni članovi obitelji, sto znači da gladan neće ostati samo jedan čovjek, već pet osoba", rekao je.BBC Consultancy, konzultantski tim unajmljen od PBS-a, prema ovom pitanju ima stav jednak onome ostalih međunarodnih čimbenika u Bosni i Hercegovini - Bosnjaci mogu prihvatiti ili ne prihvatiti ponuđene savjete."Odluka o prihvaćanju, odbijanju ili modificiranju nasih savjeta u rukama je uprave i vladinih tijela.
Tako jeste i tako bi trebalo biti, te u skladu s time nije na nama da komentiramo ponuđene savjete", navodi se u nedavnoj izjavi.Sto će vlade i vijeće PBS-a učiniti ostaje za vidjeti, no Europska će komisija pratiti razvoj događaja oko obećanog smanjivanja troskova i zakonske regulative koja bi trebala biti donesena do 1. siječnja."Pomno ćemo to pratiti, jer je vazno da se o određene radnje ne samo dogovaraju, već i provode", izjavio je 10. studenog sef delegacije Europske komisije u BiH Michael Humphreys predstavnicima medija, dodajući kako će o tome ovisiti sljedećih 3 milijuna eura pomoći predviđenih za narednu godinu.




Siromaštvo i nezaposlenost i dalje muče Kosovo 18/05/2009 Prema UNDP-u, više od 17% stanovništva Kosova živi u krajnjem siromaštvu.
Uz njih je još mnogima potrebna pomoć vlade ili članova obitelji koji rade u inozemstvu. Besa Beqiri iz Prištine za Southeast European Times -- 18/05/09 Nezaposlenost i siromašto glavni su čimbenici koji bi mogli narušiti stabilnost na Kosovu, rekli su građani Kosovo u nedavnoj anketi UNDP-a.
Gotovo 40.000 ljudi u nekadašnjoj srpskoj pokrajini, koja ukupno ima oko 2 milijuna stanovnika, nema redovnih prihoda i treba pomoć vlade.
Državna pomoć ukupno iznosi od 45 do 75 eura mjesečno - mnogo manje od onoga što bi obitelji u toj zemlji trebalo za normalan život.
Prema kosovskom zamjeniku ministra rada i socijalne skrbi Gjergju Dedaju, tu je i više od 150.000 umirovljenika koji dobivaju mirovine (u prosjeku 70 eura mjesečno) od ministarstva i prešli su u kategoriju siromašnih.
Prema izvješćima UNDP-a i drugih međunarodnih organizacija, oko 37% stanovništva živi u siromaštvu, ispod granice od 1,42 eura na dan, a preko 17% ih živi u krajnjem siromaštvu - ispod granice od 93 eurocenta na dan.
"Siromaštvo nije moguće smanjiti samo davanjem socijalne pomoći ljudima, otvaranje novih radnih mjesta ublažilo bi siromaštvo.
Nemojmo transfomirati Kosovo u socijalnu državu u kojoj ljudi žive zahvaljujući socijalnoj pomoći, pretvorimo je u državu rada", rekao je Dedaj.
"Imamo strategiju za vanredne situacije, no to nije dovoljno", rekao je, dodavši kako ministarstvo nema vlastite službene brojke o stopi siromaštva na Kosovu uslijed nepostojanja popisa stanovništva i neregistriranih obiteljskih gospodarstava.


Emigracija igra veliku ulogu u očuvanju obitelji od krajnjeg siromaštva, napomenuo je ministar.
Više od pola milijuna stanovnika Kosova radi u zapadnim zemljama i šalje novac kući, pomažući svojim najbližima da isplivaju iz teške financijske situacije.
Studija koju su prošle godine proveli Statistički ured Kosova i Svjetska banka navodi kako su "migracija i slanje novca za domaćinstva predstavljali učinkovite načine da se zaštite od zapadanja u siromaštvo".
Procijenjeno je kako jedan od pet stanovnika Kosova ima barem jednog rođaka u inozemstvu koji mu šalje sredstva.
Međutim, količina se doznaka smanjuje zbog globalne financijske krize, kao i društenih promjena na Kosovu.
UNDP kaže kako je stopa nezaposlenosti na Kosovu najviša na zapadnom Balkanu - oko 45% radno sposobnog stanovništva je bez posla.
Uz to imaju i iznimno mlado stanovništvo, pola je građana mlađe od 25 godina.
"To znači kako na tržište rada svake godine stupa oko 30.000 ljudi, a izgledi za zapošljavanje su im loši", kaže organizacija UN-a.
Zamjenik ministra apelirao je na lokalne i međunarodne tvrtke da zapošljavaju mlade ljude na Kosovu.


"Imamo vrlo mlado stanovništvo koje je voljno raditi.
Naša je radna snaga vitalna", rekao je Dedaj, napomenuvši kako su gospodarstvo i radna mjesta prioriteti ove vlade.
Istakao je nedavni sporazum koje je njegovo ministarstvo postiglo s privatnom tvrtkom ITT iz baze Bondsteel, a prema kojemu će 250 mladih Kosovara biti zaposleno u bazama SAD-a u Afganistanu.
Budući da većina stanovništva Kosova živi u selima, siromaštvo predstavlja najozbiljniji problem u ruralnim područjima.
Službene statistike pokazuju kako je gotovo dvije trećine siromašnih u ruralnim dijelovma.
"Ruralna područja predstavljaju poseban izvor zabrinutosti; ona predstavljaju dom za više od 60% stanovništva Kosova.
UNDP pomaže u okupljanju poljoprivrednih zadruga i njihovom povezivanju s novim tržištima prema planu za poticanje zapošljavanja i unapređivanje produktivnosti Kosova", navodi UNDP.
Prema ovoj organizaciji, gospodarski je rast najbolji odgovor na probleme nezaposlenosti i siromaštva u novoj zemlji.
Međutim, budući da globalna kriza još ne jenjava, iznalaženje bi rješenja moglo dugo potrajati.




"On je izmučen čovjek, pjesnik najintimnijih misli i osjećaja koji vas neće vući za rukav da to uvidite", piše Nemiri na Mojblog.
"Time što nije glumio osobno raspoloženje na svoj način pokazao je poštovanje prema publici � a to se ne kupuje uz festivalsku ulaznicu ".
U Hrvatskoj, Fantasista iznosi svoje mišljenje o Svjetskom nogometnom prvenstvu.
Mentalitet jedne reprezentacije ogledalo je zemlje, tvrdi on.
"Hrvatska je priča za sebe. � 4.5 milijuna ljudi i isto toliko izbornika.
Postojalo je nacionalno jedinstvo kada je Brazil porazio hrvatsku reprezentaciju, ali onda je došlo do uzajamnih verbalnih napada nakon neodlučnog rezultata protiv Australije".
A Srbija i Crna Gora?
"Pa, raspala se država, a isto se dogodilo i s reprezentacijom".
U Albaniji su proteklih dana održani ulični prosvjedi protiv vlade. Our Man in Tirana daje izvješće iz prve ruke.
"Vrijedi sjetiti se kako organiziranje miroljubivih političkih prosvjeda nije nešto što treba podcjenjivati", ukazuje on.
"Čak i u zapadnoj politici javne prosvjede često prati mogućnost sukoba i nasilja.
Zato je bilo dobro vidjeti prosvjede koji su dobro organizirani, dobro vođeni i dobro osigurani".
Međutim hoće li to donijeti neku razliku, pita se Our Man?
"Ne dok albanski političari ne usvoje manje konfrontirajući i više kooperativan pristup politici, na što poziva predsjednik Moisiu".
U međuvremenu, bugarski blogger Plamen Popov zamjećuje uznemirujući fenomen -- bande koje iznuđuju novac od turista.
"Mladić s pištoljem za pojasom vozi rekreativno vozilo na obali i prikuplja po 5 leva za svaki šator u zamjenu za zaštitu.
Unatoč nizu skandala vezanih za tu vrstu iznude, općine i dalje iznajmljuju plaže tim samozvanim koncesionarima.
"Žele li oni da ti ljudi tjeraju turiste da sjede ispod suncobrana i na ležaljkama, ako je potrebno i tako što će ih prvo premlatiti?
Žele li desetke tih malih barova na plažama koji bacaju svoje smeće u rupe izbušene odmah do mora?
Žele li da nas ti ljudi maltretiraju svojim omiljenim pop-folk skladbama?"
Sa svjetlije strane, ruralna područja u Rumunjskoj sada imaju signal mobilne telefonije visoke kvalitete preko mreže Cosmote, piše Andreea Mira.
"To je dobra stvar -- s jedne strane kompanija je pronašla novo tržište: mještane, siromašni sloj tržišta kojeg druge takve kompanije do sada nisu uspjele iskoristiti.
"S druge strane, ta sela koja nemaju drugi način komunikacije sada imaju prigodu uživati u [mobilnim] telefonskim uslugama", piše Mira.
To je sve u pregledu blogova za ovaj tjedan.
Posjetite nas ponovno sljedećeg petka kako bi pročitali nove komentare, mišljenja i priče iz cijele jugoistočne Europe i slobodno nas kontaktirajte i pošaljite svoje komentare i sugestije.
Naša adresa je info@setimes.com.




Oni koji besplatno učitavaju softver prisiljeni platiti � ili koristiti Linux 21/07/2006 Sve je teže oslanjati se na piratske softver, piše bugarski bloger.
Također: nepridržavanje pravila u kompanijama u Rumunjskoj, problemi s prijevodom u turističkoj privredi, napori dragovoljke OXFAM-a na podizanju novog mosta u jednom zabačenom selu u Albaniji. Balkanblogs za Southeast European Times � 21/01/07 Budući da su softverske kompanije poboljšale svoje mogućnosti za slamanje piratstva, neki ljudi uviđaju kako je pred njima težak izbor, ukazuje Grigor Gatchev.
Skoro svakog dana, piše on, računalni stručnjaci u Bugarskoj vode razgovore poput ovog: "Grigor jesi li čuo za neki novi način za registraciju Windows XP?
"Što si probao do sada?"
"Pa, prvo sam koristio Javascript zapovijedi, ali su zatvorili tu rupu.
Potom sam pokušao ukloniti Genuine Advantage Add-on preko 'Manage Add-ons'.
Zatvorili su i tu rupu.
Netko mi je zatim pokazao trik kako se koristi 'Group Policy', ali niti to više ne funkcionira ..."
"Znaš što, jedino ti mogu predložiti nešto što će zauvijek riješiti tvoj problem registracije".
"Misliš da kupim Windows?
Možeš samo sanjati!"
Budući da je njegov poznanik tu ideju ocijenio kao strašnu, Grigor je predložio alternativu: Linux.
"Neće te koštati niti lipe", kazao je dobronamjerno.
Ali niti to nije naišlo na odobravanje.
"Kako možeš očekivati od mene da se odreknem svojeg Windowsa i kucam egzotične zapovijedi kao one koje smo koristili dok smo radili u DOS-u?
Znaš kad će se to dogoditi, zar ne"!
"Zapravo znam", odgovara Grigor.
"Dogodit će se točno 24 sata nakon što tvoj Windows prestane raditi dok ne platiš za njega".
Razgovor je završen psovkama koje nisu za objavljivanje.
Pišući iz Rumunjske, Opinii želi da vlasti učine više na suzbijanju nepridržavanja pravila na tržištu rada.
"Išao sam ne pet intervjua za posao.
Nakon uobičajenih testova započeli smo pregovarati o plaći.
Tražio sam određen iznos i oni su pristali.
Na sreću pitao sam ih hoće li mi cijeli iznos biti isplaćivan zakonski (odnosno hoće li cijeli iznos biti unesen u moj ugovor).
Na svih pet mjesta dobio sam isti odgovor: NE.
Kazao sam im kako ne mogu raditi za kompaniju koja ne plaća po pravilima.
Svi su bili iznenađeni mojim stajalištem.
"Na žalost to je uobičajena situacija u rumunjskim kompanijama", piše on, ukazujući kako niti kompanije niti vlasti ne vide poštivanje zakona kao bitnu stvar.
U turističkoj privredi znanje stranih jezika obično se smatra korisnim.
Ali to nije uvijek tako.
Kao što Bytiqis na blogu Southeast Europe Online zamjećuje nepotpuno znanje stranog jezika može predstavljati problem.
Kao primjer objavio je fotografiju natpisa kojeg je postavio jedan poduzetni Crnogorac, napisanog na albanskom i po svemu sudeći namijenjenog kosovskim turistima.
Međutim, zbog slovne greške na natpisu se reklamira nešto drugo, a ne sobe.
"Umjesto riječi 'dhoma' � on ili ona napisali su "loma", što na albanskom može značiti "prljavština" ili 'pokvarena osoba'.
Unatoč tome pohvaljujemo ih za inicijativu!"
Na ostalim blogovima: Dragovoljka OXFAM-a Rachele De Felice pokušava prikupiti novac za izgradnju novog mosta u malom selu Ure e Shtrentje, na sjeveru Albanije, izvješćuje se na blogu peshkupauje.
Bujice vode s planine srušile su prije nekoliko godina stari most podijelivši selo.
Ne samo što polovica stanovnika sela nije u mogućnosti otići medicinskoj sestri ili ići u školu, već se jedini put koji vodi iz sela nalazi na jednoj strani obale.
Ironično, ime sela u doslovnom prijevodu znači "skupi most".
Na blogu Optmizmu, bosanska blogerka Trešnja izražava zgražanje rastom potrošačkih cijena koje održavanje domaćinstva čini nedostižnim za velik dio mladeži.
"Natalitet u Federaciji BiH konstantno opada", zamjećuje Trešnja.
"To nije iznenađujuće imajući u vidu koliko je mladih nezaposleno".
Ovo je samo uzorak onoga o čemu su pisali balkanski blogeri ovog tjedna.
Priključite nam se ponovno sljedećeg petka kako bi pročitali nove komentare, opažanja i anegdote iz cijele regije.




Novi image za Srbiju  28/07/2006 Prag je imao svoje proljeće, zašto ne bi i Beograd?
Također u blogovima za ovaj tjedan: Bryan Ferry, rumunjski turizam i težak izbor za neke Bugare -- mobilni telefon ili obiteljski godišnji odmor?  Balkanblogs za Southeast European Times iz Tirane � 28/07/06 Svakoj promidžbenoj kampanji potrebna je tema.
Pišući iz Beograda Desperate Serbwife misli kako bi proljeće moglo biti idealan motiv za obnovu međunarodnog imagea Srbije.
To je uostalom vrijeme kada sve raste i cvjeta -- odlična analogija.
"To bi moglo pokazati kako je nakon problema devedesetih godina pomlađena Srbija počela cvjetati na različite načine -- u poslovanju, turizmu, demokratskoj upravi.
To bi se također moglo iskoristiti za stvaranje dojma kako, kao u proljeće, proces još uvijek nije završen, ali je uveliko na putu i ljudi trebaju ulagati ovdje na samom početku", piše ona.
"Mogu se raditi TV reklame s fotografijama Microsofta i ostalih kompanija koje su ovdje ulagale.
Mogu se pokazati studenti na sveučilištima kao simbol visoko obrazovane radne snage.
Mogao bi se pokazati gradonačelnik kako na sastanku u gradskoj vijećnici razgovara s vlasnicima malih poduzeća o tome kako poduzeća rastu u tom gradu.
Također bi se definitivno mogle pokazati prekrasne slike planina u proljeće".
Pišući o sličnoj temi, Biljana Srbljanovic otvara natječaj za "ono što je najbolje u Srbiji".
Vrijeme je da zemlja postane poznata po nečemu što nije vezano za hranu i piće, smatra ona.
Jedan od prijedloga: krema za kožu.
Prema riječima Srbljanović, beogradske ljekarne godinama prodaju vlastite kreme slične Strivectinu i Botoxu -- po znatno nižoj cijeni.
Srbijanski proizvodi "nemaju konzervanse, na biljnoj su bazi i što je najvažnije -- stvarno deluju", piše Srbljanović.
Zemlja bi možda na temelju uspjeha festivala Exit mogla steći reputaciju mjesta s odličnom glazbenom ponudom.
Žene će sigurno još dugo pričati kako dobro izgleda, iako je već napunio 60 godina!"
U drugim dijelovima Balkana: Rumunjska također pokušava unaprijedtiti svoj profil novim kampanjama koje za cilj imaju privlačenje turista.
Iako, piše Andreea Mira, nema koristi jednostavno pričati svijetu kako je zemlja prekrasna, te ima puno toga za ponuditi.
Ono što je stvarno važno, piše Mira, jest poboljšati mogućnosti turističke privrede.
"Bolje bi im bilo započeti program obuke za turističke menadžere, zato što kvaliteta turizma ovisi o njihovim ulaganjima: boljim hotelima, besprijekornim uslugama, profesionalnom osoblju � Zadovoljavanje posjetitelja pobjedničko je rješenje".
Susjedna Bugarska s druge je strane postigla uspjeh u privlačenju sve većeg broja stranih gostiju u svoja crnomorska odmarališta.
Loša strana toga jest to što brojni Bugari kažu kako si više ne mogu priuštiti odmor tamo.
Međutim, kako piše Rayna Ivanova, neki pritisnuti besparicom doista pate od pogrešno postavljenih prioriteta.
Nije neuobičajeno da osoba potroši oko 1.000 leva (510 eura) godišnje na mobilne komunikacije, piše Ivanova.
"To je također iznos koji bi bio dovoljan četveročlanoj obitelji za odmor na južnom dijelu Crnog mora pred kraj sezone.
Tako su, provodeći globalnu revoluciju, gospoda koja prodaju mobilne telefone zapravo reorganizirali naše proračune.
Možda si nismo u stanju priuštiti godišnje odmore, ali uvijek je tu taj mobilni telefon".
"Ako želimo bolji život � možda bi trebali učiniti nešto na reorganiziranju proračuna skupine ljudi, društva ili nacije", zaključuje ona.
To je dio onoga o čemu su blogeri pričali ovog tjedna.
Uživajte u svojim odmorima (ili novim zvucima mobilnih telefona) i ponovno nas čitajte sljedećeg tjedna kada ćemo imati nove komentare s cijelog Balkana.




Pretrpane idile u kolovozu  04/08/2006 Hrvatski bloger se pita: Je li to još uvijek raj ako je pola planeta tamo s tobom?
Također u pregledu blogova za ovaj tjedan: festival srednjovjekovne Sighisoare, zabrana pušenja na javnim mjestima u Albaniji, carinska konfuzija na granici Srbije i Crne Gore. Balkanblogs za Southeast European Times � 04/08/06 Tijekom kolovoza većina ljudi borave ili na plaži ili želi biti na plaži.
Hrvatski bloger Runngun međutim kaže kako bi radije bio u planinskim krajevima.
"Volim svjež zrak Gorskog Kotara, njegove zlatne krajobraze i divljinu", piše on.
Odlazak na jadransku obalu i njezine otoke, prema njegovu mišljenju, najbolje je ostaviti za ranu jesen, jer je tijekom ljeta tamo previše turista.
Hrvatska čini sve kako bi ojačala turizam na Jadranu, ali previše bi toga odmah moglo biti pogubno, smatra Runngen.
"Velik priljev gostiju mogao bi prije ili kasnije naštetiti turizmu.
Naravno ne u financijskom smislu, ali bi mogao uništiti onu ljepotu i romantičarski osjećaj naše obale -- i naše zemlje općenito -- po kojemu je poznata.
Sve ima svoje kapacitete, zar ne?
Ako recimo potražnja za vodom premašuje kapacitete sustava za vodoopksrbu, zna se što se događa.
Isto je i s turizmom".
"Uvijek treba ostaviti neki prostor i za nas kako bi se odmarali u prelijepom okruženju, bez straha kako će nas netko pregaziti", napisao je.
Ako Hrvatska ima obalu i otoke, Rumunjska ima svoje Transilvanijske tvrđave i folklor.
Jedna od najvećih ljetnih atrakcija u zemlji, srednjovjekovni festival u Sighisoari, održan je koncem srpnja. Gabi Nistorian kaže kako je ozračje tijekom trodnevnog festivala bilo neponovljivo -- "jedinstven duh kojeg čovjek mora doživjeti jednom godišnje!"
Međutim, s čuđenjem se pita zašto su reklamni panoi kompanija za mobilnu telefoniju "krasili" srednjovjekovne zgrade?
Trebamo li zamisliti kako Vlad Tepes pravi pauzu u pokolju kako bi otkucao SMS poruku?
Gabi također nije oduševljen zabranom konzumacije alkohola na javnom mjestu tijekom festivala.
"Nakon koncerata, turisti se okupe na ulicama ili u kampovima i pjevaju.
Ne razumijem kakva je u takvom ozračju uloga redarstvenika i njihovih kazni za ispijanje piva.
Zar nije ideja da se ljudi dobro provode?"
U međuvremenu, pušenje na javnim mjestima nije više dozvoljeno u Albaniji, jer vlada pokušava smanjiti postotak konzumiranja duhana -- koji je među najvišim u Europi.
Barovi koji se ne budu pridržavali zabrane mogli bi platiti kaznu u iznosu nekoliko stotina eura.
Kao što pokazuje rasprava na internet stranici peshkupauje , mišljenja su različita.
Jedan sudionik u raspravi ocjenjuje to kao "vrlo dobru inicijativu" i predlaže sljedeći korak: povećanje poreza na cigarete kao mjeru destimulacije.
Drugi se ne slaže s njim.
"Ne možete spriječiti ljude da puše.
To je njihovo pravo.
Možete zabraniti pušenje na javnim mjestima i slično, ali ne i u cijelosti uskratiti cigarete", napisala je sudionica u raspravi.
Jedan carinski službenik mu je pojasnio kako ne može dobiti pečat jer ne napušta bilo koju zemlju.
"Nisi sada bio u inozemstvu.
Samo si bio na moru", kazao mu je službenik.
Ali zar to ne uključuje prelazak međunarodne granice?
"Pusti to.
To ništa ne znači.
Nisi bio u inozemstvu.
Doviđenja", ustrajavao je službenik vrativši Pullenu putovnicu i isprativši ga.




Blogovi: medijska revolucija?  11/08/2006 Neki ih jednostavno "ne shvaćaju", dok ih drugi vide kao potencijal.
Također u pregledu blogova za ovaj tjedan: ovisnost o internetu, Albanija i proces integracije u EU, protukorupcijski napori u Bugarskoj.  Balkanblogs za Southeast European Times � 11/08/06 Udišu li blogovi novi život novinarstvu ili su samo još jedan oblik internet smeća? BiHnet nedavno je bio domaćin rasprave o tom pitanju a reakcije su bile dvojake.
"Puno je mladih talenata u blogosferi ", kaže jedan od komentatora, izražavajući razočaranje blogovima poznatih novinara i pisaca.
Drugi kaže kako još uvijek nije našao niti jedan domaći blog koji bi zadržao njegovu pozornost dulje od pročitanih nekoliko rečenica.
"Pojedincima se na ovaj način pružila prigoda dosađivati narodu i na ovaj način... čisto bacanje internet prostora ", piše on.
Lelly autor bloga Buduca novinarka misli kako su blogovi korisni, ali preferira one s osobnom notom.
"Ima nekoliko blogova koje redovito čitam, na kojima ljudi jednostavno pišu o sebi.
Imam svoj blog, ali većinom pišem o stvarima koje me muče... to je jednostavno neko malo mjesto na koje često svratim".
U međuvremenu, Ivana , koja piše iz Srbije, konstatira nešto što zvuči kao težak slučaj internet ovisnosti.
"S užasom sam shvatila kako sam ovisnik", piše ona.
"Nisam pijanac, niti pušač, niti narkoman -- ja sam ovisnik o internetu.
Sjedim ovdje i umjesto da na miru ispijam kavu i pišem nešto što sam naumila, ja na svakih 15 sekundi otvaram i zatvaram Firefox � Osjećam kako mi od bespotrebnog nerviranja pulsira u glavi.
"Čak i kada legnem spavati moram otvoriti mobilni telefon i pritisnuti malo plavo slovo i i pregledati e-mailove, vijesti, moj blog, moj bankovni račun -- točnije moj minus na računu... kao da se nešto važno dogodilo u posljednjih sat ili dva, ili koliko već nisam bila na internetu.
"Sve manje razmišljam o odmoru u studenom, a sve više o kupovini novog prijenosnog računala...
Na ostalim blogovima: Albanci bi trebali provoditi više vremena raspravljajući o procesu integracije u EU, piše Mento Beqa na blogu shekulli.
Umjesto toga, kada god dođe do te teme "rasprava se zatvara, kao da je to transcendentalan termin -- neosporiv, i dobro koje je Bog poslao Albaniji".
Ilir Avdiaj slaže se u svojem tekstu kako je potrebno da politički čelnici i cjelokupna javnost promjene svoje stajalište prema toj temi.
"Sama integracija ne može biti bit.
Bit je razvitak zemlje i naši politčari bi trebali pogurati više u tom smjeru".
Međutim, Bledar Zani uvjeren je kako će se to dogoditi s nastavkom procesa stabilizacije i priključenja.
"Svijest ljudi postat će važnija u drugoj fazi", piše on.
U Bugarskoj, Boycho Kamenov raspravlja o izjavi premijera Sergeya Stanisheva kako je na bugarskom narodu eliminirati korupciju.
"To je točno, ali ne u cijelosti.
Premijer je u pravu kako je na nama zaustaviti korupciju, ali bit će nam teško to ostvariti zbog strukture vlade.
Tlo ostaje plodno za korupciju prije svega zato jer vlast, najblaže kazano, nije organizirana na odgovarajući način.
Nema potrebe niti spominjati vladine posebne naloge o kupovini i koncesije kojima država zapravo legalizira korupciju".
"Ako, kao što premijer kaže, trebamo biti uspješni u borbi protiv korupcije, prvo moramo pogledati naš glomazan upravni sustav i staviti tiočku na usvajanje različitih zakona kojima se praktično legalizira korupcija", piše Kamenov.
To bi bilo sve u ovotjednom obilasku balkanske blogosfere.
Priključite nam se sljedećeg petka u novom izdanju i pošaljite svoje komentare na info@setimes.com. .




Rumunjska se sučeljava s preostalom sjenkom Securitatee  18/08/2006 Blogeri raspravljaju o uskomešanosti oko dosjea rumunjske tajne policije, značaju video snimki ratnih zločina i internet piratstvu. Balkanblogs za Southeast European Times � 18/08/06 Dosjei s kojih je skinuta oznaka povjerljivosti pokazuju kako su brojne poznate osobe u Rumunjskoj nekada surađivale sa Securitateom Nicolae Ceaucesca, što je ozbiljno uzdrmalo političku scenu u zemlji.
Jedan bloger upozorava na "lov na vještice".
"Trenutačno postoji samo jedna starosna kategorija u zemlji koja sebe može smatrati 'čistom' i koja ima pravo kritizirati: ljudi koji sada imaju najviše 40 godina", piše Delice.
Mađutim, čak i ta generacija trebala bi biti oprezna glede prenagljenog donošenja suda, dodaje.
"Mislite da ste Bog, pa možete zaključivati što je takav ugovor značio u to doba za određenu osobu.
"Ili kako su se naši djedovi nakada prijavljivali u Partiju?"
Bugarski bloger Boycho Kamenov pita se trebaju li se dosjei tajne policije u njegovoj zemlji dodatno ispitati kako bi se utvrdilo nalaze li se sada bivši doušnici na visokim položajima u strankama ili u vladi.
"U cjelosti je jasno kako se pitanje dosjea doušnika iz razdoblja komunizma ili prljavih poslova uvijek postavlja kako bi se isproviocirale promjene u vladi, a ne u pokušaju otkrivanja istine", piše on.
"Razvidna je činjenica kako tu odluku moraju donijeti građani na nacionalnom referendumu, a ne političari.
Potom se svi dosjei moraju objaviti na internetu kako bi bili pristupačni za sve.
To bi spriječilo nestanak pojedinih dosjea".
Sučeljavanje s prošlošću također je tema jedne druge rasprave koja se trenutačno vodi na Balkanu.
Pojavila se nova video vrpca na kojoj su prikazani zločini iz sukoba u Jugoslaviji, i dok neki tu vrstu dokaza vide kao ključnu za otkrivanje istine, drugi smatraju kako je previše podložna političkoj manipulaciji. Alias Damir smatra kako video snimka ukazuje na neugodnu činjenicu -- da se ratni zločinci nastavljaju slobodno kretati, često i po gradovima u kojima su počinili zločine.
Možda postoji još dosta takvih snimki koje još uvijek nisu ugledale svjetlo dana, kaže on.
"U ovom slučaju radi se o ARBiH i postrojbi Hrvatske vojske.
Iako su to pojedinačni slučajevi, ove postrojbe i odredi pripadali su nekom određenom zapovjedništvu, a počinitelji će vjerojatno u budućnosti biti pronađeni i osuđeni.
Zločin je zločin i -- bez obzira tko ga je počinio -- počinitelji moraju odgovarati za takvo djelo i biti kažnjeni", piše on.
"Živjela pravda -- ona dolazi sporo, ali ipak u većini slučajeva pobjedi".
Pišući iz Srbije, Milic i Milic zauzimaju suprotno stajalište.
"Zatrpani smo ovih dana balkanskom ratno-zločinačkom snuff produkcijom", pišu oni.
Sada kada su zločini na svim stranama vidljivi na video vrpci, tvrde oni, taj dokaz jednostavno pruža hranu nacionalistima koji teže umanjivanju značaja jednih zločina i isticanju drugih.
"Osim postuhumnog ponižavanja žrtava i dodatnog povrjeđivanja njihovih najbližih, kao i njihovih sunarodnjaka, [to] otežava napore onih kojima je iznad svega stalo do zadovoljenja pravde, kažnjavanja zločina, i uvođenja mehanizama lokalne, regionalne i međunarodne prevencije", ukazuju Milic i Milic.
U cjelokupno drugom tonu, albanski blog shekulli bio je domaćin žive rasprave koja se odnosi na autorska prava u digatalnom dobu.
U nekim slučajevima, tvrdi Fjodor Zotaj, piratski Hollywoodski filmovi pojavljuju se na albanskim televizijama i prije nego se službeno počnu prikazivati u kinima.
"Izgleda da se sučeljavamo sa situacijom od prije nekoliko godina, kada su sve televizijske postaje emitirale ukradene programe", ukazuje on.
To je točno, kaže drugi komentator, ali tko će se žaliti?
Piratstvo ipak znači jeftinu zabavu.
Treći pak ističe kako nema potrebe da Albanci pretjerano brinu o problemima "dalekih Hollywoodskih kompanija".
Fjodor Zotja odgovara: "Ako ne poštujemo zakon u jednom, pa u drugom slučaju i tako dalje, nećemo ga poštivati uopće.
Zakon je zakon i ne bi se trebao kršiti, bez obzira da li samo malo ili više".




Romania Extends Moratorium on International Adoptions 29/10/2002 Under EU pressure, Romania has agreed to extend its ban on international adoptions until 15 November, reversing earlier plans to lift it this month. (International Herald Tribune - 09/10/02; AFP, EurActiv - 08/10/02; AP - 02/10/02)Under EU pressure, Romania has agreed to extend its ban on international adoptions until 15 November, reversing earlier plans to lift it this month.
The EU pressed Romania to suspend adoptions after a draft report in June 2001 by special rapporteur Emma Nicholson denounced the system as corrupt and rife with child trafficking.The suspension affected some 3,500 prospective adoptive parents, including many in the United States, whose cases were blocked in the middle of processing.
Parents' groups have urged their governments to pressure Romanian authorities to lift the ban."We understand the reasons for the moratorium, but the solution is not to stop adoptions indefinitely but to fix the problems which led to the ban on adoptions," US Ambassador to Bucharest Michael Guest said in August.The EU now says that while progress has been achieved, Romania needs to overhaul its child welfare system in order to join the Union.
Brussels expects Romania to adopt new legislation on child protection before the end of the year and to ensure that the new institutions are in place from 2003 onwards.Over the past few months the government has been making more of an effort to crack down on child traffickers.
In April, it allocated almost $7m for the implementation of four national child protection programmes.
Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, who recently acknowledged that Romanian children have been sold over the Internet for up to $50,000, has said that the country's child protection system has been cleared of corruption.In 2000, there were over 57,000 children living in private and public care centres.
That number has dropped to less than 50,000 in 2002, while the number of children in foster care increased to nearly 38,000 in January 2002 from over 30,000 in 2000.
Since early 2001 the government has built 60 family-style foster care homes in place of the 47 large old-style orphanages it has closed.
The ban on international adoptions has been followed by a 50 per cent increase in domestic ones.Noting "the situation has altered dramatically since 1990," European Commission representative in Bucharest Jonathan Scheele said on 8 October that his annual report to Brussels would be "a positive reflection" of the progress that has been made.
But he cautioned against lifting the ban prematurely, as not only appropriate legislation is needed but also the ability to apply it.




Legal Reform Group Influences Immunity Law Package 28/10/2002 The mostly Bosnian legal reform unit within the OHR can point to its influence on a new package of laws on immunity recently imposed by High Representative Paddy Ashdown. By Beth Kampschror for Balkan Times in Sarajevo - 28/10/02The new immunity laws imposed on 6 October by Paddy Ashdown, the chief international officer in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), were the first laws to be created with the help of the mostly Bosnian legal reform unit within the Office of the High Representative (OHR).
The unit's job is to help draft laws as part of a new trend of international community partnership with local authorities."The changes that have been imposed are in fact the result of a round table that I organised with local lawyers," said Zoran Pajic, the head of the unit.
"We agreed on certain principles, and those became part of the immunity law."The new laws provide immunity only to high-level offices and give the courts, not Ashdown, authority to decide whether politicians should be removed.
The round table of lawyers from Sarajevo and Banja Luka concluded that immunity had previously been guaranteed to low-level officials and had been abused for personal gain.While previously the OHR had one tier for foreigners and another for Bosnians, it has recently opened all positions to BiH nationals."For too many years the international community kept local lawyers at arm's length, and preferred to involve people in projects as consultants or advisers," Pajic said.
"With the new concept of partnership, this has changed to a certain degree," he said.
"The OHR isn't going to stay here forever, so local experts will have to take over."The group is currently putting the finishing touches on new state-wide criminal and civil codes, which will reflect human rights concerns, the need for effective criminal procedures, and the growing emphasis in European and international law on what Pajic called "contemporary crimes," such as organised crime and terrorism.The code of criminal procedure is the first major piece of legislation coming out of the OHR that was deliberately drafted in the local language, he added.
It will be one of the main tools of the state-level court, which is to be in operation by early 2003.The House of Peoples has approved the legislation, but recent elections and the process of forming a new government could lead to delays.
In a worst-case scenario, Pajic said, the laws would be imposed."But we should give a chance to the newly-elected parliament, if they constitute themselves in a reasonable amount of time, let's say six weeks," he added.




Turkish Prosecutor Wants Leading Party Banned 28/10/2002 Turkey's chief prosecutor has called on the constitutional court to outlaw the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the apparent front-runner in early general elections scheduled for 3 November. (The New York Times - 25/10/02; AP, EurActiv.com, Anatolian News Agency, Dnevnik.bg - 24/10/02; Reuters, BBC, CNN - 23/10/02)Turkey's chief prosecutor has called on the constitutional court to outlaw the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which recent polls have identified as the probable winner in early general elections scheduled for 3 November.
The move could hurt the party's chances, though it is unlikely to be approved before the elections.On 23 October, chief prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu charged the AKP with violating laws on establishing and functions of political parties.
"The slightest deviation from the rules demanded by law" could threaten democracy in Turkey, the prosecutor stated.Observers close to the EU warned however that outlawing the party would likely anger the European Commission, which has already criticised Turkey for its decision last month to ban AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan from participating in the vote.
That decision was out of step with EU democratic standards, the Commission said.Formed last year, the AKP has drawn many former members of the Virtue party, which the constitutional court banned in June 2001 for "activities contrary to the principle of the secular republic."
Turkey has outlawed a number of other Islamist parties over the past decade.Erdogan, a former mayor of Istanbul, was banned because of a 1998 conviction for reading in public a poem which judges said incited religious hatred.
The ruling required him to step down as AKP leader and withdraw his name from the list of founding members.
Erdogan removed his name, but remained AKP leader."Resigning as a founder but continuing as leader ... was a clear sign of defrauding the law," Kanadoglu said in his charges against the party.According to a diplomat in Ankara, the chief prosecutor's move could harden "support among the party's 10 per cent Islamist hard core", though it could also scare off many conservative-minded voters.
"Overall, I think this could damage AKP, rather than help," the diplomat concluded.Recent polls show AKP drawing about 30 per cent of Turkish voters, coming in well ahead of the other key players.
Under Turkish law, a party needs to win at least ten per cent of the vote to enter parliament.Party spokesman Murat Mercan said the indictment would anger Turkish voters rather than hurt AKP.
"The Turkish people, after all, will not find this case a reasonable one," Mercan said, adding that "it may even increase votes for the party."




Washington Says Yugoslav Companies Helping Iraq Develop Cruise Missile 30/10/2002 The United States delivered new evidence to Belgrade indicating that state-run arms dealer Jugoimport has been involved in helping Iraq develop a cruise missile. (BCC - 29/10/02; The Guardian, Hoover's, Radio B92, Tanjug - 28/10/02; The Washington Post, BBC - 27/10/02; Reuters, AFP, RFE/RL - 25/10/02; Institute for War and Peace Reporting - 24/10/02)Yugoslav scientists have been working on the development of a cruise missile for Iraq and have frequently visited the country to implement the project, the United States said in a document delivered to authorities in Belgrade.
The non-paper, or aide-memoire, alleges that state-run arms dealer Jugoimport handled the contracts for the project, according to a senior Yugoslav official familiar with the document.In an accompanying letter, US Ambassador to Yugoslavia William Montgomery urged Belgrade to put an end to violations of the arms embargo on Iraq imposed by the UN in 1990.The document charges that Jugoimport and an Iraqi firm, Al Fatah, signed a contract on cruise missile development in February 2000.
It says that Jugoimport then assigned project components to five subcontractors - Infinity, Brunner, GVS, Temex and Interdeal - all run by or connected with Yugoslav Army officers.One of the subcontractors - Brunner - reportedly also helped Libya build a rocket propellant manufacturing facility and acquire US software to improve rocket targeting accuracy.
In the Iraqi cruise missile project, Brunner was involved in developing an MM 400 turbojet engine, the US aide-memoire said.The allegations follow earlier ones involving Jugoimport.
Last week, the US State Department accused the Yugoslav arms conglomerate of helping Orao, a Bosnian Serb aviation plant, supply Iraq with spare parts and repair services for its MiG fighter planes.
Jugoimport chief Gen Jovan Cekovic and federal Deputy Defence Minister Ivan Djokic both resigned as a result of the scandal, and the Yugoslav government launched an investigation.On Monday (28 October), Republika Srpska Defence Minister Slobodan Bilic and Army chief Novica Simic announced their resignations.Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica has downplayed the issue.
The Washington Post quoted him as saying the contracts came down "to overhauling older-generation aircraft engines, rather than to selling state-of-the-art weapons."But senior officials in Belgrade said the US-gathered evidence does not support Kostunica's statement.
Instead, they say, it indicates that Yugoslav firms were helping Iraq refurbish its military arsenal and develop a missile capable of accurately targeting neighbouring states.Military and political analyst Miroslav Lazanski, meanwhile, said that Yugoslav scientists could have produced turbojet engines for cruise missiles.
But Iraq will have difficulty operating the missiles, he added, because it lacks the required satellite system.
"A cruise missile is worthless without a satellite to give you navigation data," Lazanski said.




Bulgaria Seeking Higher Price for Telecom Monopoly 30/10/2002 Sofia will try to negotiate a higher price and fewer staff cuts before finalising the privatisation deal for the country's telecommunications company, says Bulgaria's privatisation chief. (Europemedia, Mediapool.bg, Dnevnik.bg - 29/10/02; Privatisation Agency, Reuters - 23/10/02)Bulgaria will try to negotiate a higher price and fewer staff cuts before the privatisation deal for the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC) is finalised, Privatisation Agency Executive Director Apostol Apostolov said Tuesday (29 October).
Talks with the US private equity group Advent International are due to begin by the end of this week; the privatisation agreement must be sealed by mid-December.On 23 October, the agency named Viva Ventures - a Vienna-registered company fully owned by Advent - as the preferred buyer of 65 per cent of BTC's assets.
Its bid included a price of 200m euros for the telecommunications monopoly and a reduction of the company's nearly 25,000-strong staff by 9,000 over a three-year period."BTC privatisation will be a major step towards restructuring and upgrading its network, which will help BTC face competition when its monopoly expires at the beginning of next year," Apostolov said as he announced the winning bid.The only other bidder - Turkish consortium Koc Holdings - offered to pay 185m euros and reduce staff to about 20,500 in three years.
Both bidders pledged to invest 50m euros to increase the company's share capital, and an additional 400m euros in improving the network's digitalisation rate, currently below 20 per cent.Trade unions have objected to the offered price and the 36 per cent staff reduction.
Telecommunications Minister Plamen Petrov agrees that the offered price is unacceptably low.
The opposition Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), meanwhile, has called for deferring BTC's privatisation until Bulgaria is invited to join NATO.Fitch rating agency analyst Edward Parker, quoted in Reuters, said completion of the deal would be an "indication that the government is able to take politically difficult structural decisions."At the peak of a boom in telecom sell-offs two years ago, the UDF-led government of former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov turned down a $610m bid for 51 per cent in BTC, including a GSM licence, placed by Greece's OTE and Dutch KPN.The lower prices now being offered reflect investment risk, due to the lack of an adequate legislative framework and a clear sector policy, and the low digitalisation rate of the network, Apostolov said.
As part of EU accession negotiations, Bulgaria has committed itself to increasing the digitalisation rate to 75 per cent.On Tuesday, the Supreme Administrative Court annulled the Privatisation Agency's decision to sell Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly.
Bulgartabac's financial situation improved during the privatisation process, the court said, but Apostolov's agency failed to seek improved offers from bidders, as required by the law on tenders.




Ashdown Sets Out Challenge for New BiH Government 04/11/2002 The parties that won the recent elections in BiH must reform the central government and the revenue system unless they want to lose foreign aid and potential investment, says High Representative Paddy Ashdown. By Beth Kampschror for Balkan Times in Sarajevo - 04/11/02Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will become the "stagnant pool of the Balkans" unless the nationalist parties that took power following the 5 October elections work to reform the country's "merry-go-round" central government and keep millions in customs revenues out of the pockets of criminals, said the country's top international official."Time is not on our side," High Representative Paddy Ashdown told parliamentarians, administrators and international investors in Sarajevo.Bosnians voted out the Western-backed, pro-reform government that came to power two years ago.
Ashdown said the victory by nationalist parties could scare off investors and countries that have been aiding BiH to the tune of $5 billion over the last seven years.He added, however, that the vote did not necessarily mean a return to nationalism, since the winning parties have also been promising reforms."If those parties that aspire to government in this country mean what they say about joining the reform movement, if they are really prepared to back up their words with deeds, then let them begin by ... playing their part in implementing these reforms without delay," Ashdown said.One such reform will be to transform the Council of Ministers, which currently functions as BiH's central government.
Ashdown said the Council's system of rotating leaders who also have to run their own ministries is "a recipe for instability, inefficiency and muddle."
He proposed a triumvirate made up of the Council chair and the treasury and foreign ministers.Politicians will also have to reform BiH's customs system.
It currently provides 60 per cent of state and entity revenues, but even conservative estimates say that between 153.3m and 306.7m euros are lost annually through fraud or mismanagement.
Ashdown said he has asked the European Commission to recommend improvements in the system.
He also urged the new government to pass a value-added tax.Other jobs for the new government will be to establish parliamentary commissions as "ethics watchdogs", rationalise taxation, make the state-level court operational by 31 December and adopt and implement civil service laws."There is a lot more to do before we will be able to say that Bosnia's lawless rule has been replaced by the rule of law," Ashdown said.
"We cannot rest until this country has a justice system that jails criminals, protects the innocent, and attracts foreign investment and stimulates local business.
We must not stop until this country is the most trusted legal space in the Balkans."




Balkan Countries Moving Towards Common Electricity Market 08/11/2002 Eight Balkan countries will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on 15 November as a step towards the creation of a common electricity market, ultimately to be integrated into the EU's internal electricity market. (RFE/RL, BTA, Seeurope.net, Online.bg - 15/10/02; Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe)Eight Balkan countries will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 15 November in Athens as a step towards the creation of a common electricity market, ultimately to be integrated into the EU's internal electricity market.The project covers Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Romania and Yugoslavia.
Implementation is expected to bring increased reliability, lower operating costs and better services, and will reduce the need for additional investments in new electricity generation capacity.
By 2005, non-household consumers will be able to buy electricity directly from the generating utilities.By signing the MoU, the countries will commit to move quickly in transforming their production and transmission companies into legally independent units with their own accounting, as required under the EU Electricity Directive.The project was proposed by the European Commission in close co-operation with the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, which supports projects in four areas: integrated border management, institutional capacity building, support for democratic stabilisation, and support for the integration of the region's transport, energy and environmental structure.
The Stability Pact has so far provided a total of about 3.46 billion euros in financial support for 46 projects.Stability Pact Special Co-ordinator Erhard Busek hailed progress towards the Athens agreement during a visit to Tirana last month, describing it as a "breakthrough".
Busek said that the "common market of 55 million consumers will become reality next year."Meanwhile, officials attending the fourth annual Southeast Europe Economic Forum, held in Sofia in October, stressed the importance of regional co-operation.Republika Srpska Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic said SEE countries should focus on free trade promotion, infrastructure projects and energy market liberalisation.
"The region's isolated small markets are not attractive to foreign investment, that is why attracting it is crucial to the formation of a common market."Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zarko Korac noted that countries in the region are now involved in new unique projects aimed at the creation of common markets and European integration.The process has already begun with the signing of bilateral free trade agreements, which Ivanic and Korac agreed were a step towards the creation of a common free trade area and attracting more investment.
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Nickolay Vassilev added that the agreements would promote the region's economic development.According to John Riddle, deputy special co-ordinator of the Stability Pact, the SEE countries are making progress in finalising bilateral free trade agreements.
Long-term economic growth is possible only if the SEE countries are effectively integrated into the world economy, he added.




Fund to Support Balkan Filmmakers 12/11/2002 The 43rd International Thessaloniki Film Festival opened in Greece on Friday (8 November); organisers have announced the creation of a Balkan Fund to support filmmakers from nine countries in the region. (Macedonian Press Agency, International Thessaloniki Film Festival Web Site - 17/10/02)The 43rd International Thessaloniki Film Festival opened in Greece on Friday (8 November), and organisers announced the creation of a Balkan Fund to support filmmakers from nine countries in the region.
The new initiative aims to contribute to the development, enhancement and promotion of Balkan cinematography.The organisers plan to make a more detailed presentation of the Balkan Fund (BF) initiative during the ten-day festival.
They said that the BF will finance feature film projects submitted by producers or directors from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey and Yugoslavia.
The deadline to submit applications is 30 March 2003.
The projects will then be reviewed by a panel and the approved films will be entitled to financial support of up to 10,000 euros each, though a documented interest in co-financing will be required.The artistic merits of proposed projects will be of prime consideration.
According to the <a href=http://www.filmfestival.gr/index_uk.htm>BF regulations</a>, the projects should also be original, authentic and rooted in the culture of the applicant's country, and should contribute to the development of the local film industry.This year's festival programme includes more than 160 films featuring artists from all over the world, including 14 to 16 feature films by new and emerging filmmakers within the international competition section.
A seven-member jury will select the winners of the Golden and the Silver Alexander awards, worth 36,700 euros and 22,000 euros respectively.More than 35 films highlighting the latest and most daring trends in independent global film production will be shown within the New Horizons programme.Groundbreaking works by filmmakers in the region will be shown within the Balkan Survey programme, while Greek films produced during the past 12 months will be presented in the Greek Films 2002 section.The festival will also include two retrospective programmes, featuring over 16 films by Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio and eight by Hungarian director Bela Tarr.
Bellochio's retrospective will be accompanied by an exhibition of works the director created during the pre-production stage of his films, first organised by Italy's Cinecitta International.Another programme will pay tribute to US director Bob Rafelson, featuring a selection of his films, including Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), as well as his latest, The House on Turk Street (2002).




Macedonian Government to Crack Down on Illegal Possession of Weapons 14/11/2002 A year after the fighting ended in Macedonia, the possession of small arms by civilians remains a problem.The new government is planning steps to remedy that. By Slobodanka Jovanovska for Balkan Times in Skopje - 14/11/02A year after NATO moved into Macedonia and conducted Operation Essential Harvest -- aimed at collecting arms and stopping the destabilisation of the country -- weapons are still present at most public events, including sports matches, weddings, elections and meetings.
Years ago, even setting off fireworks during celebrations was unusual, but now, especially in Tetovo, Gostivar and Skopje, using weapons for criminal or celebratory purposes is a weekly occurrence.According to some figures, the number of guns is increasing rather than declining, and the trend is becoming part of Macedonia's post-war culture.
At least ten people per day seek permits to buy arms from authorised dealers.
During the past two years, more permits were granted than during the previous ten.
Last year, the police uncovered ten tonnes of explosives and confiscated around 3,000 illegal arms from various locations.
But that is a fraction of the total number of illegal arms in the country, estimated in the hundreds of thousands.
After last year's conflict, Macedonian police arrested 800 people for illegal possession of 6,500 arms and 320,000 pieces of ammunition, enough to arm half of the Macedonian Army.To combat the problem, the new government is promoting an initiative to draft a law for the collection of illegal arms, strictly on a voluntary basis.
The idea is supported by the main coalition parties -- the SDSM and the Democratic Union for Integration -- and would apply to Macedonian Slavs and Albanians alike.
A priority, the whole operation is planned to last a month and a half.
Defence Minister Vlado Buchkovski recently said that his government will seek financial and other support from the international community.
The main goal is to establish a law for collection of arms before the arms become the law.The most important part of the initiative, Buchkovski said, is to start a regional campaign to highlight the problems caused by small arms possession not just in Macedonia, but in the entire Balkan region.The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has already supported similar action in Albania.
So far, the Human Security Programme, which is part of UNDP, has collected about 14,000 small arms and hundreds of tonnes of ammunition over the past few years.
A massive public awareness and information campaignwas launched to convince people to turn over their weapons in exchange for infrastructure projects worth several million dollars.
These projects have included rehabilitating schools, roads and bridges.




Standing Room Only Crowds Mark Annual Sarajevo Theatre Festival 15/11/2002 Two interpretations of the Buchner play Woyzeck and a Slovenian production of Sarajevo writer Adbulah Sidran's I Left my Heart in Zvornki were among the highlights of the 42nd annual international theatre festival in Sarajevo. By Beth Kampschror for Balkan Times in Sarajevo - 15/11/02 The play that blew everyone away during the 42nd annual MESS theatre festival in Sarajevo had to have been the brilliant combination of eye and ear candy - lighting and costumes and the music of Tom Waits - that was a Danish company's production of Woyzeck. <table border="0" align="right" width="288" height="61"> <tr> <td><img src="../../images/photos/021115-BETHphoto.jpg" align="right" width="288" height="61"></td> </tr></table>"This may not be a very objective choice though, because as I am a huge fan of Tom Waits I was bound to love it.
But it really was a first-rate production - acting, costumes, music, everything worked well together.
In fact I saw it twice," said Carole Mitchell, a British Embassy employee in Sarajevo who has been taking in MESS performances for three years in a row.
It was standing room only in the Sarajevo National Theatre both nights that the Robert Wilson-directed Woyzeck was performed by the Danish company Betty Nansen Teatret.
Most other performances during the 13-night festival in both Sarajevo and Zenica were sold out as well.
But it can be a bit surreal to see theatre in languages one doesn't understand.
This Woyzeck was in English, but with companies from Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia and from throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina - all performing in their native languages - the festival can sometimes resemble the Tower of Babel.
"MESS is a very good festival, but there is always a problem of accessibility because of the language barrier," Mitchell said, adding that her favourite annual festival in Sarajevo is the music-based Bascarsija Nights.
Annamaria Lang, an actress with Budapest's Kretakor Theatre, agreed.
During her company's few days in Sarajevo, they watched a Slovenian production of Sarajevo writer Abdulah Sidran's play U Zvorniku jasam ostavio svoje srce (I Left My Heart in Zvornik), but said it was a strange experience to see a play and not understand the text.
"We heard it's very good, this Bosnian piece about the war, and to know something about how they think about what happened here," Lang said, adding that her troupe had desperately wanted to come here and perform their version of Buchner's Woyzeck.
"We wanted it awfully," she said.
"This place is very interesting for us, and this festival is very famous in Europe."
The Sarajevo National Theatre production of Sidran's play has been running for about 18 months, but Slovenian company Slovensko Ljudsko Gledaslisce had a different interpretation, according to the Sarajevo-born director of the play, Zijah Sokolovic.
"We approached this performance like a real dramatic work, led by its own inspiration, and with the goal that we, as artists, begin speaking about the time in which we find ourselves," he said at a press conference the day after the production.




BiH Urged to Impose Full Civilian Control Over Military 01/11/2002 The discovery that a Bosnian Serb company has been selling arms to Iraq has led to calls by international officials for civilian oversight of the BiH military.
The government, meanwhile, has announced a ban on all exports of arms and military equipment. (The Guardian - 31/10/02; Reuters, RFE/RL -30/10/02; Defence News, BBC - 29/10/02)Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) military must be put under civilian control, High Representative Paddy Ashdown said Wednesday (30 October).
Similar calls have come from representatives of other international bodies following the discovery that a Bosnian Serb company, Orao, sold military equipment to Iraq.
Several senior Orao officials were fired last week, and on Monday the Bosnian Serb defence minister and the army chief of staff resigned."Mechanisms for civilian oversight of the military and the military-industrial complex are hopelessly inadequate," Ashdown said after a meeting with EU and NATO officials.
"We must now insist on proper civilian oversight at state level of the military-industrial complex and also a strengthening of borders, of the customs service."Ashdown's deputy, Donald Hays, said the arms sales constituted a breach of agreements with the UN, the OSCE and other international bodies.
"It is Bosnia and Herzegovina that will be held responsible, and it is Bosnia and Herzegovina that has to make this right," he said.
Hays welcomed BiH's decision on Tuesday to ban indefinitely all exports of arms and military equipment.According to BiH Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Azra Hadziahmetovic, the ban will remain in effect until a state-level licensing regime for arms trade is introduced and "this whole business of foreign trade in arms is fully under control."
According to reports, BiH authorities intend to have a code of administrative weapons control mechanisms in place by 15 November.
The government of Republika Srpska, meanwhile, has adopted a 20-point plan, to be implemented by 27 November.NATO and OSCE will support an assessment of the scope of violations and help establish appropriate measures for ensuring compliance, Defence News quoted OSCE spokeswoman Meta Anley as saying."We will be very closely watching what's going on, what action [Republika Srpska] takes, and if we deem the actions not fully appropriate, I'm prepared to take actions as required," SFOR commander Lt Gen William Ward warned.
He also called for the establishment of a unified state-level defence ministry, rather than having a separate ministry in each entity.
This is also a firm NATO requirement for BiH's membership of its Partnership for Peace programme.




Press Freedom in the Balkans: Where it Stands 25/11/2002 Most of the countries in Southeast Europe rank among the top 45 in the first worldwide press freedom index, published recently by a Paris-based group, Reporters Without Borders. (Novinite.com - 25/10/02; RFE/RL - 24/10/02; Reporters Without Borders, BBC - 23/10/02)Most of the countries in Southeast Europe (SEE) rank among the top 45 in the first worldwide press freedom index, published recently by a Paris-based group, Reporters Without Borders (RWB).
The index ranks 139 countries according to their respect for press freedom.
One of the conclusions drawn from the survey that produced the index is that media freedom depends on a country's material prosperity: a democratically elected government does not guarantee press freedom.The index was compiled on the basis of answers given by journalists, researchers and legal experts to 50 questions covering the whole range of press freedom violations - arrests and killings of journalists, censorship, pressure, state monopoly ownership, legal restrictions and media regulation.
The list does not include countries for which there was no reliable information.
Of the SEE countries, these are Albania and Macedonia.Finland, Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands share first place in the index.
Turkmenistan, Burma, China and North Korea rank at the bottom of the scale.
According to the RWB report, in the worst countries "press freedom is a dead letter and independent newspapers do not exist".
The very few independent journalists are constantly harassed, imprisoned or forced into exile by authorities, while foreign media are either banned or allowed only in small doses, and always subject to close monitoring.Of the SEE countries, Greece ranks highest at 19th, after the United States and Hong Kong.
Croatia rank 33rd after Namibia and Paraguay, Bulgaria is 38th after Mauritius and Peru, Bosnia and Herzegovina is 43rd after the Czech Republic and Argentina and is just two places ahead of Romania, which ranks 45th after Mali.
Yugoslavia is further down the list and ranks 60th after the Comoros and Gabon, but is well ahead of Turkey, which comes 99th after Kyrgyzstan and Jordan.The RWB's report notes that despite the Turkish government's reform efforts, many of the country's journalists are still being sent to prison and censorship is regularly exercised in the media.
Geographically, press freedom is particularly poor in southeastern Turkey.Of the other EU candidates, Slovenia's ranking is particularly noteworthy.
The country ranks 14th, after France, Austria and Belgium and is ahead of Costa Rica, Switzerland and the United States.EU member Italy takes 40th position, two places behind Bulgaria."Even in the European Union, we have noted violations of press freedom.
So it does not only occur in countries where we already knew there have been violations, but also in unexpected places such as Italy, where pluralism of information is being threatened", said Soria Blatmann, who is responsible for Europe at RWB.The report notes that the situation is particularly bad in Asia and that no Arab state is ranked among the top 50.
In Iraq, which ranks 130th, and in Syria, 126th, the state uses every means to control the media and stifle dissenting voices.




Macedonian Parliament Approves New Government 01/11/2002 The Macedonian Parliament approved the new government of Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski early Friday.
The 18-member government includes 13 representatives of the Together for Macedonia coalition and five members of Ali Ahmeti's Democratic Union for Integration. (AP, VOA, MIA - 01/11/02; RFE/RL, Reuters, MAKFAX - 31/10/02)By a vote of 72 to 28, the Macedonian Parliament approved the new government of Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski early Friday (1 November).
The 18-member government includes 13 representatives of the Together for Macedonia coalition, led by Crvenkovski's Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), and five members of Ali Ahmeti's Democratic Union for Integration (DUI).Addressing parliament before the vote, Crvenkovski promised his government would be open and accountable.
Referring to DUI's participation in the new government, he said it would contribute to restoring stability, co-existence and integration of the country's two ethnic groups.
"A party that won an overwhelming majority of Albanian votes and acquired a strong election legitimacy deserves to share power and responsibility," he said.He also promised to work for full implementation of the Ohrid framework agreement, which ended last year's ethnic conflict in the country.
"The real national and Macedonian interest is not to abandon, revise or obstruct the framework agreement, but on the contrary to implement it fully and on time," Crvenkovski said.
He also pledged that a detailed government programme for the next four years will be presented to parliament and the public, and outlined key areas of focus for the cabinet.They include fighting organised crime and corruption, reducing poverty, increasing employment opportunities and carrying out reforms in education, health and public administration.
EU and NATO integration remain the country's long-term strategic goal, the prime minister said.Crvenkovski emphasised the need for lasting peace and security in the country as a precondition for achieving governmental goals and for attracting much needed foreign investment to underpin pending reforms.
He added that his cabinet would soon resume negotiations with the IMF and the World Bank to ensure necessary financial support.Despite the host of problems and challenges facing his government, Crvenkovski expressed optimism about Macedonia's future.
"Optimists say Macedonia got its chance during the 15 September elections...
Pessimists say Macedonia got its last chance during the 15 September elections.
Despite the mountain of difficulties, I am confident that Macedonia has a chance."




Festival Takes BiH, Croatian and Serbian Films on the Road 29/11/2002 The On the Road Film Festival, aiming to promote reconciliation through features, shorts and documentaries, toured Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Yugoslavia this month. By Beth Kampschror for Balkan Times in Sarajevo - 28/11/02In a scene from Serbian director Andrijana Stojkovic's documentary Muzej radi samo drzavnim praznicima (Museum Only Open on Public Holidays), three young people atop a hill outside Mostar discuss what's happened to them in the past ten years.
"It's too soon to talk about all of these things," one girl says.But the philosophy behind the On the Road Film Festival, on tour throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia this month, is that now is the time to talk about these things.
Organised by the Nansen Dialogue Network in the Balkans and funded by the Norwegian Foreign Affairs Ministry, the festival has brought some 20 films from all three countries to local cinemas, based on the idea that dialogue isn't made up only of words."Film doesn't need words," said festival co-ordinator Ranko Milanovic-Blank.
You can see and more closely experience the other person's feelings without talking to them.
The first experience about the suffering of 'the other' is better through film."Milanovic-Blank said the idea was to include more provocative short films and documentaries, like Stojkovic's, in the programme, along with more well-known feature films.
While large audiences in all three countries have seen Ademir Kenovic's Savrseni krug (Perfect Circle) and Danis Tanovic's Nicija Zemlja (No Man's Land), the shorts and documentaries have until now had select audiences."This was to offer an opportunity for wider audiences to see these short films.
They're more stimulating for discussion," he said.Those discussions took place at a seminar and at question-and-answer sessions after some of the films.
Andrijana Stojkovic said after the screening of Muzej that her film was hard to make, because she asked her subjects in Belgrade, Mostar, Sarajevo and Zagreb questions about what their lives were like and what they feared."Those people are our friends, which was very important," she said.
"But it wasn't easy, it was very difficult for them to discuss what we wanted to talk about."The film was difficult to watch as well, with its scenes of destruction and sad commentary from the interviewees.
But not all of these war or war-aftermath films were completely without lightness. Sjecas li se Sarajeva? (Do You Remember Sarajevo?), a documentary made from home videos during the war, mixed scenes of shelled, burning houses with scenes of teenagers skiing down the streets in winter.
"Oh, I need a Band-Aid," deadpans a young man who's just had a friend remove a bullet from his shoulder with pliers.
Yugoslav director Goran Paskaljevic's 1998 black comedy Bure baruta (Powder Keg), had the full cinema shrieking with laughter when one unhinged Belgrader, enraged over a city bus driver's endless Balkan coffee break, steals the bus for a wild ride."Conflict is not always black," Milanovic-Blank said.
"Even during the war we had some fun here sometimes.
It's not simple, this suffering, just like the war wasn't simple."




Islamic Party Wins Landslide Victory in Turkish Vote 04/11/2002 Preliminary results show the Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections held Sunday (3 November) in Turkey. (AP, Reuters, AFP, CNN, BBC, FT, The Guardian, The Independent, Electronic Telegraph - 04/11/02)With 99 per cent of the vote counted, preliminary results show the Justice and Development Party (AKP) won a landslide victory in Turkey's early parliamentary elections, held Sunday (3 November).
If the results stand, AKP will have won over 34 per cent of the vote and more than 360 seats in the country's 550-member parliament - an absolute majority.Seeking to dispel concerns that its Islamic roots could pose a threat to Turkey's secularist foundations, AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the party would not seek to change anyone's lifestyle and that the country would continue on its traditionally pro-Western path.He also pledged that AKP would advance Turkey's EU accession agenda and implement an IMF-backed economic programme, though he added that changes might have to be made.The only other party likely to gain parliamentary representation is Deniz Baykal's Republican People's Party (CHP), which won over 19 per cent of the vote.
The CHP is the oldest political party in the country and was founded by the father of the Turkish secularist state, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in 1923.None of the remaining 16 parties appears to have met the ten per cent threshold required to enter parliament.
The centre-right True Path, led by former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, mustered 9.5 per cent, while incumbent Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has conceded defeat.
His Democratic Left garnered only about one per cent of the vote.Neither of Ecevit's coalition partners was able to pass the legal barrier in a vote seen as venting popular anger over the country's continuing economic crisis, poverty, unemployment and corruption.The AKP was established in August 2001, two months after Turkey's top court outlawed the Virtue party, an Islamist political grouping to which Erdogan belonged.
That party, in turn, succeeded Necmettin Erbakan's Welfare party, banned by the constitutional court in 1998.
In March 1994, Erdogan was elected to a four-year term as mayor of Istanbul as the candidate of the Welfare party.Erdogan is ineligible to become Prime Minister because of a 1999 conviction for inciting religious hatred, and the Constitutional Court is still mulling over a request by Turkey's chief prosecutor to ban AKP due to legal violations.Under Turkey's constitution, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is to designate the new prime minister, but AKP insists it will decide on the issue.The party has so far managed to avoid angering Turkey's powerful military.
In 1997, a pressure campaign led by the military forced the ouster then Prime Minister Erbakan, who emphasised the country's Islamic heritage.




From Soldiers to Businessmen: Bulgaria's Successful Model for the Region 05/11/2002 In the aftermath of the Cold War, many former members of Bulgaria's armed forces found themselves out of work and contributing to the country's high unemployment rate.
Now a new project is helping former military personnel transition to civilian careers. By Emil Tsenkov in Sofia for Balkan Times -- 05/11/02Georgi Chervenakov's background is a military one, but - as with many other Bulgarian officers - his military career is history.
Nowadays, Chervenakov is in the business of growing medicinal plants.
He was awarded 14,000 euros under the EU Special Accession Agricultural Rural Development programme.
He chose to grow lavender on a wild plot of land in Elena, northern Bulgaria.
The former sergeant also became the chairman of a newly founded association of producers of ether and other medicinal plants.
While the army lost an able rank commander, the business community gained a promising entrepreneur.As did other former communist states, Bulgaria inherited from the Cold War period a military society and an oversized army and security apparatus.
Therefore, the transition to democracy has been marked by a considerable reduction of uniformed personnel.
In 2000, the number of ground forces was reduced by 49 per cent.
Decommissioning military personnel has increased unemployment, which is perceived as the number one domestic problem.To tackle it, a local NGO - the Resource Centre Foundation (RCF) - is implementing, in close co-operation with the Ministry of Defence, a special programme designed to co-ordinate state and NGO efforts to facilitate the successful resettlement of redundant military servicemen.
It has opened a number of resettlement centres and temporary offices, covering 141 towns in Bulgaria.The centres have been visited by 12,225 servicemen and their families, and the RCF has organised 132 motivational training courses attended by over 3,000 participants.
Its experts offer professional orientation and qualification and legal consultations, in addition to information about job openings.
As a result, 61 per cent of registered ex-military personnel have started work, and a good number of them have started their own businesses.Another dimension of this public-private co-operation is the agreement signed between the RCF and the Ministry of Defence for military base conversion.
This project, which will convert bases near four Bulgarian municipalities into farming centres, received NATO approval, and is now in the fundraising stage.
When implemented, the project will provide both temporary and permanent jobs for decommissioned army personnel.What started as a promising Bulgarian project has received massive international support.
At the conference on Resettlement Programmes in Central and East Europe in April 2001, the project was deemed a unique model.
At the request of the Stability Pact and with NATO support, the RCF is assisting Yugoslavia, Croatia and soon Bosnia and Herzegovina in implementing similar programmes.




Montenegrin President Nominated as Prime Minister 06/11/2002 Montenegro's ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) has nominated President Milo Djukanovic to become the new prime minister.
The surprise move came some six weeks before presidential elections, in which Djukanovic was expected to run. (Reuters, AP, Tanjug, Radio B92 - 04/11/02)Montenegro's ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) has nominated President Milo Djukanovic to become the new prime minister, DPS sources said after a meeting of the party's leadership on Monday (4 November).
The surprise move came some six weeks before presidential elections scheduled for 22 December, in which Djukanovic was expected to seek another term.
The nomination will be presented officially during Tuesday's constituent session of the Montenegrin Parliament."The DPS main board has decided to nominate [Djukanovic] as the party's candidate for prime minister as the time before us requires energy, skill, authority and dedication to goals in the national interest," the DPS said in a statement following Monday's meeting of its Central Committee.
The party also praised its leader for his "vision of a European Montenegro".A coalition led by Djukanovic and the DPS won an absolute majority in early parliamentary elections on 20 October.
It now has 39 out of 75 seats in parliament.Still unclear is who would replace Djukanovic as the DPS candidate for president.
Analysts in Podgorica said it would likely be someone with close ties to the party, but who is not directly involved in politics.
Belgrade-based news sources, meanwhile, reported that outgoing Prime Minister Filip Vujanovic will be nominated for speaker of parliament.Under Montenegro's constitution, the president is entitled to serve two terms.
Djukanovic's first term expires at the end of this year, and some have speculated that he wants to reserve the second term as a future option should Montenegro become fully independent.As prime minister, he would be directly involved in the implementation of reforms, as Montenegro and Serbia move to revamp their relations within a looser union, as called for in an EU-brokered agreement.
Under the agreement, known as the Belgrade accord, each will be able to opt out of the union after three years.Meanwhile, progress has stalled in implementing the accord.
Members of the constitutional commission responsible for drafting the charter have been unable to reach agreement on several issues, including procedures for electing members of the joint parliament.The accord called for Serbia and Montenegro to modify their constitutions in line with the charter of their new union, or adopt new constitutions by the end of 2002.
But the constitutional charter has not yet been finalised.




Donors Praise Progress in Kosovo, Endorse Mid-Term Economic Priorities 06/11/2002 International donors commend the progress in Kosovo since the end of the conflict in 1999, but also stress the need for decisive implementation of the reform agenda to promote economic sustainability. (AP, AFP, UN News Service, World Bank, Seerecon.org - 05/11/02)International donors commend the progress in Kosovo since the end of the conflict in 1999, but also stress the need for decisive implementation of the reform agenda to promote economic sustainability.
Meeting in Brussels on Tuesday (5 November), representatives of 34 donor countries and 13 international organisations took stock of Kosovo's post-conflict accomplishments and discussed its medium-term economic prospects and priorities.
The conference was chaired by the European Commission and the World Bank.
It was the first to be attended by Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi and other members of the provisional government.
The head of UNMIK, Michael Steiner, and members of his team also took part.The 1999-2003 reconstruction and recovery programme that donors approved during the first conference for Kosovo is now in its third year.
Of donor commitments totalling 2.3 billion euros, disbursements are expected to reach 2 billion euros by the end of the year.
The funds have underpinned notable progress in restarting the public administration, in mitigating the impact of the conflict and developing a market economy.
Over the past three years, more than 40,000 houses have been rehabilitated or rebuilt; 80 per cent of the health clinics in rural areas have been reconstructed and equipped; 500 km of roads have been repaired; wheat production has increased substantially to meet 66 per cent of local needs in 2000 and 2001; school and university enrollment has seen a considerable increase; and essential public institutions, including the judiciary and police force, have been strengthened.But poverty and unemployment are still high -- the province has one of the poorest economies in Europe.
"Twelve percent of its population live in absolute poverty ... we export next to nothing and receive virtually no foreign investment," Steiner said.
He also points to the need to improve conditions for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) from minority communities, admitting that most of those who had not left Kosovo continued to live in "unacceptable" conditions.
"We must extend the benefits of progress to all of Kosovo's communities," Steiner said, appealing for further donor assistance."Only sustained high levels of economic growth can create jobs and incomes that pull many of the poor out of poverty and also provide economic opportunities for returnees," said conference co-chairman Christiaan Poortman, the World Bank's Country Director and Regional Co-ordinator for Southeast Europe.Rexhapi warned the EU against accepting any provisions in the draft constitution of Serbia and Montenegro that mention Kosovo as part of the new union.
His view was supported by Steiner who said that the final status of the Serbian province should be determined by the UN Security Council.Donors endorsed the economic priorities outlined in the government's programme, including fostering economic development and growth, and increasing employment; improving the living standards of vulnerable groups and the access to better quality education and healthcare; ensuring an efficient and transparent public administration; and providing equal opportunities for all citizens, while supporting refugee and IDP returns.Although the meeting did not aim to collect new pledges, donors estimated that an additional 450m euros would be required to finance Kosovo's public investment programme between 2003 and 2005 and 50m euros are needed for general budget support.




Serbia Sets Date for Repeat Presidential Elections 07/11/2002 Serbia's presidential election will be re-run on 8 December, the head of parliament announced Wednesday (6 November).
The decision came after the assembly revoked a legislative provision requiring a 50 per cent turnout in a presidential run-off. (AP, Times Online - 07/11/02; BBC, RFE/RL, Radio B92 - 06/11/02)Serbia's presidential election will be re-run on 8 December, the head of parliament announced Wednesday (6 November).
Natasa Micic added that the deadline for candidates to register would be 17 November.
The announcement came a day after the assembly revoked a legislative provision requiring a 50 per cent turnout in a presidential run-off.Because turnout in the original second round of voting on 13 October fell below the 50 per cent requirement, the election was invalidated and the whole process had to be repeated.Of the 11 candidates who originally ran for president, only the hard-line leader of the Serbian Radical Party, Vojislav Seselj, has declared his candidacy.
Coming in third in the first round of voting on 29 September, Seselj called on his supporters to boycott the run-off between the front-runners, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus.Kostunica, who came in first in both rounds, is expected to enter the race again.
Labus, who was backed by Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, has not indicated if he will run.
But observers believe a Labus candidacy is unlikely.Djindjic, meanwhile, said Wednesday that his party might support Kostunica in the upcoming vote.
That statement came as a surprise, as the two politicians have been locked in political bickering for more than a year."We would support a candidate who supports our reform agenda," Djindjic said Wednesday, adding, "I don't see an obstacle to supporting Mr Kostunica's candidacy if we can reach agreement on reforms."
The Serbian government's reform agenda includes closure of money-losing enterprises and imposing tight budgetary discipline.Speaking in Brussels, Djindjic also expressed hope that Yugoslavia would be able to join the EU by 2010.
Speedier reforms would allow it to catch up with Bulgaria and Romania, which are aiming for EU membership in 2007, he said.Kostunica, however, has often criticised Djindjic's reform policies, advocating a more moderate approach.Djindjic's statement followed an agreement between the ruling Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition and Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), ending five months of political impasse and allowing DSS deputies to resume their parliamentary seats.
DOS had expelled all 45 DSS deputies for boycotting the assembly and stalling the reform process.Following the deal, Kostunica and Djindjic issued a statement saying the DSS and DOS would work together for adoption of the constitution of the new joint state of Serbia and Montenegro.Welcoming the agreement, the spokesman for the OSCE mission in Belgrade, Laurent Rouy, said Wednesday it was of "fundamental significance for the normalisation of the most important institutions in Serbia and for a successful solution of key legal and constitutional initiatives."




Turkish President Holds First Meeting with Erdogan 08/11/2002 Turkey's Justice and Development Party (AKP) will nominate a candidate for prime minister next week at the earliest, party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday (7 November).
AKP may also take steps towards a constitutional amendment removing the obstacles that prevent Erdogan from holding the post. (BBC, Reuters - 07/11/02; FT, AFP, AP, Reuters, RFE/RL - 06/11/02)The Justice and Development Party (AKP) will nominate a candidate for prime minister next week at the earliest, party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters Thursday (7 November) after a meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
It was the first between the two leaders since AKP won a landslide victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections.Due to a 1999 conviction for inciting religious hatred, Erdogan himself is ineligible to become prime minister.
The AKP leader said that he and Sezer did not discuss possible nominees during their meeting."We did not go into that issue at all, that comes after the establishment of the parliament speaker and his office," Erdogan said, adding that the discussion had focused on Turkey's EU accession bid.Under the constitution, the president names the new prime minister, but Erdogan has indicated he wants a say in the process.Meanwhile, AKP official Koksal Toptan said the party would take steps to amend the constitution, removing the obstacles barring Erdogan from holding the post.
After a meeting with Erdogan earlier this week, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said he might support such an initiative.Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority.
With 34.2 per cent of the vote, according to preliminary election results, AKP will field 363 deputies in the new 550-seat parliament.
CHP was the only other party to pass the 10 per cent threshold required to enter parliament.
With 19.2 per cent of the vote, Baykal's party will have 178 deputies.
The remaining nine seats will go to independent candidates.Erdogan and Baykal have agreed to work together to advance the country's EU accession bid, a move Turkey's president has welcomed.Following the meeting with Sezer, Erdogan said: "We discussed the steps we're taking during the European Union process.
We are determined to receive clarity at the 12 December summit in Copenhagen."Among 13 EU candidates, Turkey is the only one that has not yet started accession talks.
Erdogan has said he will tour EU countries in the coming weeks hoping to muster support.He starts on 15 November with a trip to Greece, stopping on his way in Cyprus to visit the island's Turkish-held north.
Reaching a compromise with Athens on the Cyprus issue would be a positive step in itself.
European officials have also hinted that with an untested party with deep roots in banned Islamic movements now at the helm in Turkey, the EU will first want to see its capacity to implement reforms before giving the green light for talks.




Serbian Conference Targets US Companies 11/11/2002 Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic is urging US companies to invest in Serbia's market and help the region develop. By Igor Jovanovic for Balkan Times in Belgrade - 11/11/02On 4 November, Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic called on US companies to invest in Serbia's market and stake a position in a part of Southeast Europe that will "immensely develop" over the next ten years."We are aware that the success of the reforms will depend on our ability to institutionalise the market economy, to make it function according to clear rules of fair play for all participants, without any administrative interference, and with internationally accepted laws," Djindjic told a conference of US businessmen that was held in Belgrade on 4 November and 5 November.Pointing out the need to stabilise the region, he said the government's strategic goal was to make Serbia a centre that will attract five or six countries with a total of 50 million to 60 million people.Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica said that direct investment in the economy should become the main source of foreign funds."I am confident that the rule of law, i.e. a solid legal order that applies equally to everyone, is the best environment for investors, even for the biggest ones that can use their power to influence authoritarian rulers," Kostunica said at the opening of the conference.US Ambassador to Yugoslavia William Montgomery said the reform process is going very well, stressing that the results achieved in the past two years were among the best of the countries in transition.
However, he noted that the public is not yet noticing any concrete improvement in their standard of living."There are good grounds for real growth in the private sector and now is the time to invest in Yugoslavia," Montgomery said.Ross Connelly, a representative of the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation, said that successful implementation of economic reforms in Serbia would encourage US investment."Serbia lies at the centre of the Southeast Europe free trade zone, which is a dynamic market with an upward trend, a population of around 60 million in eight countries, and a market which has much to offer to US investors," he said at the closing of the conference, which attracted 40 US companies, including Citibank, DHL, Eli Lilly, Motorola, Oracle, Philip Morris, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Scarsdale-Harrison, AbCRO, Double D Tractor and PAIR.




Macedonian Politicians Split Over Future Of Task Force Fox Security Mission 11/11/2002 Little more than a month before NATO's Operation Amber Fox mandate ends, Macedonian politicians appear divided over which security organization or if any should assume the mission. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting, FT - 07/11/02; Reuters, AFP - 25/10/02)As NATO's Operation Amber Fox approaches the end of its mandate on 15 December, Macedonian politicians appear divided over which security organisation should assume the mission.Some believe it would be best for the NATO force to be replaced by units of the EU's new European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI).
But others insist that the presence of US military forces is still critically needed.
Opponents of an ESDI debut in Macedonia say the new rapid reaction force is still immature and inexperienced.The Amber Fox operation, originally due to end on 26 October, had to be extended until mid-December, as the EU's plans to take over were derailed by a continuing dispute between Greece and Turkey.
The two-year-long standoff concerns EU access to NATO crisis management assets.According to the Skopje-based daily Vecer, most of the country's political forces favour an extension of the NATO mission.
But Ljubco Georgievski's VMRO-DPMNE advocates waiting until disputes over the future of Euro-Atlantic relations are settled before deciding which mission should be deployed in Macedonia.On 3 November, politicians, cabinet officials, journalists, academics and other experts gathered in Skopje for a one-day meeting called by President Boris Trajkovski to discuss the matter."The timing of a final withdrawal will be a very delicate matter," NATO's Ambassador to Skopje, Nicolaas Biegman, said.
"Leaving too early could hinder the normalisation of the former crisis areas.
Staying too long could create a dependency syndrome.""We need an armed NATO presence because regaining control over dissident areas of Macedonian territory will be a highly risky operation," said Ljubomir Frckovski, a professor of international law who advises Trajkovski.
He added that in Macedonia, security is a more pressing problem than democracy or economic development and that NATO would be more effective than the EU in this area.Frckovski worries it could take another decade to deal with the legacy of illegal arms left over from last year's conflict: armed gangs emerged in western parts of the country.Nano Ruzin, Macedonia's ambassador to NATO, said his country "does not want forces that would use Macedonia as an experiment", nor would it accept bilateral forces such as the Greek-Italian mission in Albania.Trajkovski's security adviser, Stevo Pendarovski, said that although the country is "able to deal now with threats to our stability from inside, Macedonia needs foreign military support in the former crisis regions."Dimitar Mircev, a sociologist and former Macedonian ambassador to Slovenia and the Vatican, took a different stance, arguing there is no need for any foreign troops to enter Macedonia after Amber Fox's mandate ends.
"Last year's crisis is over," Mircev said.
"Implementation of the Ohrid Agreement will further stabilise the country, and all indicators show this new government will be stable."




IOC Upbeat on Athens Preparations for 2004 Olympics 27/11/2002 Athens is making good progress in preparations for the summer Olympics in 2004, International Olympic Committee inspectors said.
But they also thought the pace of preparations should not falter if all projects related to the games were to be completed on time. (AFP, Reuters, Times Online - 09/11/02; AP - 08/11/02; CNN - 06/11/02)Athens is making good progress in preparations for the summer Olympics in 2004, International Olympic Committee (IOC) inspectors said last month at the end of a three-day visit to the Greek capital.
But they also thought the pace of preparations should not falter if all projects related to the games were to be completed on time."I am very pleased to report that Athens is really taking Olympic shape," Denis Oswald, chief IOC inspector said 8 November.
"Significant progress has been achieved in several areas and our commission has been favourably impressed by what we have seen."Oswald, heading a team of about 40 IOC officials, visited Athens to assess the progress in all key aspects of the 2004 Olympics.
The mission's findings were far more positive than those in the report of former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch more than two years ago, when he warned that Greece could lose the Olympics due to the slow progress.Bur the IOC inspectors commended the Athens Olympics Committee organisers (ATHOC) for advancing the projects in the areas of road infrastructure and public transportation, as well as in the construction of some of the venues for the games.According to ATHOC Chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, the IOC's requirement for 20,000 luxury rooms to accommodate IOC members and VIPs has also been met.
She said a home rental scheme would be launched shortly to ensure that the accommodation needs of expected visitors are met.
Some 15,000 competitors and officials, 20,000 media representatives and hundreds of thousands of other visitors are expected to arrive in Athens for the summer Olympics, from 13 August to 29 August 2004.However some projects will require stronger efforts on the part of the organisers and the government to be completed on time."The schedule will be tight until the end.
It's very crucial that (Athens organisers) and the government keep the pace they had at the moment in order to be ready on time," Oswald said, warning about a "number of critical areas".
Among them were an indoor basketball venue, football venues and the construction of a modern dome of glass and steel at the main stadium for the games.Delays in the implementation of a project by acclaimed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava to erect an original, but complex, glass-and-steel dome at the main venue of the games, the Athens Olympic stadium, could prove a serious threat to the project and lead to its demise altogether.
Oswald told the organisers to move ahead with the construction provided it would be completed before the opening of the games."We need to have every guarantee that this part will be finished and we don't find ourselves with just a half a roof during the Games," Oswald said.




Robertson Envisions Larger NATO, Enhanced Capabilities 13/11/2002 At a breakfast policy briefing in Brussels, NATO Secretary General George Robertson highlighted some of the major transformations expected as a result of the Prague summit.
NATO enlargement and global security are at the top of the agenda. (NATO - 08/11/02)Terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and failed states pose grave threats to global security, NATO Secretary General George Robertson said during a breakfast policy briefing in Brussels on Friday (8 November).
"We will tackle these new threats with more than just upgraded defences.
We will also face them as part of a broader and more united political community," he said.Speaking ahead of the NATO summit in Prague, which will be held on 20 November and 21 November, Robertson highlighted some of the major transformations expected, including NATO enlargement.
Up to nine countries are to receive membership invitations, beginning the process of accession to the bloc, which currently consists of 19 nations.
Accession will likely be completed by 2004.The process will run parallel to EU enlargement.
Up to ten new members are likely to join the Union by 2004.
According to Robertson, the long-term effect of this dual enlargement will be better Euro-Atlantic security and a growing and deepening stability."Democracy in new member countries will be reinforced, because these countries will no longer be on the periphery - they will be fully part of a democratic community," he said.
"Economic prosperity will have every opportunity to flourish, because the security provided by NATO will underpin the benefits provided by the EU's markets.
And profound NATO-EU co-ordination in promoting European security will be natural, even an imperative, as common membership in both organisations becomes the norm."At the summit, the 19 heads of state are also expected to approve what Robertson termed "profound adaptations to the way NATO does business."
These would ensure that the security threats of the 21st century are addressed with the most modern, most effective military capacities possible, he added.Specifically, he said, NATO is taking steps to better co-ordinate and strengthen the organisation's collective efforts to defend against terrorism and detect weapons of mass destruction.
Other measures concern the overall modernisation of NATO forces to allow them to go where they are needed, when they are needed, for as long as they are needed.Defending common security will be neither free nor easy, Robertson acknowledged, but added "The Prague Summit will prove that NATO is up to the challenge.
With new membership, new missions and new military capabilities, NATO's transformation will make a quantum leap forward.
And as a result, the alliance will remain an essential pillar of our security, today and tomorrow."




International Community Proposes State-Level Customs Agency for BiH 22/11/2002 International community officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina are urging the country's politicians to consider establishing a state-level customs agency to stem the loss of millions of euros in customs revenues. By Beth Kampschror for Balkan Times in Sarajevo - 21/11/02Establishing a state-level customs agency in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is the only way for the country to collect millions of euros in customs revenues that currently fall into the hands of criminals, said international officials, after meeting with politicians from all parties in parliament."Such an administration can improve enormously the efficiency in the way revenues are collected, and can give a great push to the creation of a single economic space in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is certainly better geared to combat fraud and corruption," said the head of the European Commission economic department, Renzo Daviddi.All party representatives agreed at a seminar on 13 November that the present system needs reform.
Customs are currently collected by both entities - the Muslim-Croat Federation and Republika Srpska (RS) - and by the Brcko District, all in a country half the size of Portugal.By conservative estimates, BiH loses between 153m euros and 205m euros every year in customs undervaluations alone, and at least that much in customs evasion and smuggling.
Deputy High Representative Donald Hays characterised the current system as "a unique opportunity for crime and a puzzle for the international community."Recent comments in the media by RS politicians, who say they oppose a state-level customs agency, proved not to be as dire at the seminar, Hays said.
He said they agreed that the system needs reforming and that they want accountability for lost revenues."Unlike the posturing that was done in the press, behind closed doors these people came across as very reasoned, thoughtful and interested in finding solutions," Hays said.
"They will be invited to future meetings to come together, either at the technical level or the political level, to find solutions."RS politicians are known for their strict interpretation of the 1995 constitution provided by the Dayton peace accords, which gives power to the entities at the expense of the central government.
The EC's Daviddi, however, said that establishing a state-level customs agency would not violate the constitution."There is nothing in the constitution that suggests that the current system is the correct one, it seems to be based on a restrictive interpretation," he said.Allen Jensen, head of the EU's Customs and Fiscal Administration Office (CAFAO), said that continuing the present system is not an option.
He pointed out that in spite of CAFAO giving BiH a new computer system for customs collection and providing training for customs officers, the revenue losses continue."So the basic tool is there but it doesn't work," he said.
"The problem is that there are three customs services, and in spite of our efforts to make them co-operate, they will not co-operate."




Bulgaria Halts Unauthorised Arms Export Deal 13/11/2002 Bulgarian authorities announced they have uncovered and halted unauthorised exports of spare parts.
Top officials of a state-run defence company have been arrested. (AP, Reuters, RFE/RL, BTA, Dnevnik.bg, Mediapool.bg, Bulgarian Government - 12/11/02)Six top officials at Bulgaria's state-owned Terem weapons plant were arrested Tuesday (12 November) for violating a ban on exports of dual-use equipment.
The executive director and the entire managing board were also fired as authorities uncovered and halted the unauthorised export of spare parts for armoured personnel carriers, which were misrepresented as civilian products meant for tractors.
The recipient was a company based in Syria."We have prevented Bulgaria from being involved in an international scandal of breaking embargoes on arms trade with risky countries," a government statement said, adding that it had prevented the export of all the components, making it impossible for the end recipient to assemble useable products.On 10 October, Terem director Plamen Petrov signed a contract with Mihail Georgiev, of the Washington-registered Rodeos Investment, for export of the components.
The final recipient has been identified as Al-Karnak, based in Bab Alhala, Syria - one of seven countries on Washington's list of state sponsors of terrorism.Officials say the deal was authorised by Terem's CEO, Vlado Vladov, and executed with the complicity of the deputy director for finance, Kichka Yankova.
Terem EAD is a state-owned holding company with the Ministry of Defence as its sole shareholder.
In 2002, the holdings included seven regional military repair works in Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Dobrich, Plovdiv, Provadia, Sofia and Turgovishte.
The exported spare parts were produced in the Turgovishte factory.On 18 October, a shipment including a portion of the contracted parts was cleared by the Turgovishte customs office as spare parts for farm machinery.
On 11 November, police seized a shipment of about 100 components.A joint investigation is underway, and more arrests are expected.
Representatives of the ruling National Movement for Simeon II did not rule out possible resignations of political figures, in particular Deputy Defence Minister Mehmed Djafer, who heads Terem's managing board.Coming less than two weeks before NATO's summit in Prague, the scandal has raised concerns among politicians about its possible impact on Bulgaria's bid.
Several members of the ruling party, including Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, have described it as a provocation meant to impair the country's prospects for NATO membership.On Tuesday, Passy met with US Ambassador to Bulgaria James Pardew to inform him about the measures the government is taking.
He said Pardew expressed Washington's recognition of Sofia's prompt reaction.
But Passy also said that Bulgaria's membership in the alliance is not certain, and that an illegal arms deal at this time could have a negative effect.Measures are already in place to prevent defence companies from making similar deals in the future, a government spokesman said Tuesday evening.




Pressing for EU Bid, Turkey's Erdogan Promises Human Rights Reforms 15/11/2002 The leader of Turkey's new ruling party went to Rome on Wednesday (13 November) and outlined a nine-point plan to bring human rights in his country in line with EU standards. (FT - 14/11/02; AP, BBC, CNN, Seeurope.net - 13/11/02; EurActiv.com - 12/11/02)The leader of Turkey's new ruling party went to Rome on Wednesday (13 November) and outlined a nine-point plan to bring human rights in his country in line with EU standards.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the first item was sweeping constitutional reform.
His Justice and Development Party (AKP) won a landslide victory in Turkey's Parliamentary elections, held earlier this month.At a press briefing after his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Erdogan promised that rulings by the European Court of Human Rights would be implemented without delay and that there would be "zero tolerance" for torture.
The reform plan also includes lifting restrictions on freedom of expression and conscience, and providing real estate ownership rights to non-Muslim religious organisations.The AKP leader's visit to Rome was the first of a planned series of trips to European capitals to lobby on behalf of a starting date for EU accession talks.
Citing a lack of compliance with the political criteria for membership, the EU has kept Turkey on the waiting list for years.
Erdogan wants the 15-nation bloc to set a date during its December summit in Copenhagen."Turkey's success in this endeavour will set a great example for other Muslim nations and will prove to the world that Islam and democracy can co-exist," he said at the briefing.Analysts say that, in addition to reassuring a suspicious West that the AKP - despite its roots in Turkey's Islamic movement - is committed to a non-religious, pro-Western agenda, the trip may also have been intended to show that Erdogan, though currently ineligible to serve as prime minister, remains the key political player.
He is widely expected to run Turkey's new government from behind the scenes until he can assume the post.He is meeting EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Ankara on Thursday.
Next week, he is scheduled to leave for Greece and then travel to Madrid, London and Brussels."We think the time has come for us to move to accession talks, taking into account the progress we have made towards the Copenhagen criteria," Erdogan said in Rome, stressing that if an opening date were announced at the December summit, it "would encourage our determination on the reform programme."




EC Proposes Roadmaps for Bulgaria's, Romania's EU Membership 18/11/2002 On 13 November, the European Commission (EC) presented roadmaps to help EU candidates Bulgaria and Romania in their efforts to join the Union in 2007. (EC, BTA, Mediapool.bg, Dnevnik.bg - 18/11/02)On 13 November, the European Commission (EC) presented roadmaps to help EU candidates Bulgaria and Romania in their efforts to join the Union in 2007.
To support these efforts, the EC also proposed a substantial progressive increase in EU financial assistance to the two countries over the pre-accession period.
The roadmaps will be submitted to the Council of Ministers and to the European Council in Copenhagen on 12 and 13 December.The purpose of the roadmaps is to detail the concrete steps each country must complete to qualify for membership.
They are based on commitments each has already made during accession talks.
Economic reform and development of the needed administrative and judicial capacity are the focal areas.The roadmaps are individual and take into account each country's achievements, notes Bulgarian Minister of European Affairs Meglena Kuneva.
The fact that the end of 2006 is set as a deadline is, according to Kuneva, a guarantee that the EC sees Bulgaria's 2007 membership target as realistic.While expressing support for the two countries' aspirations, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenther Verheugen reiterated that they will be able join the Union only after they meet the membership requirements.
He also promised that Bulgaria and Romania would hear strong encouragement from the EU foreign ministers this week.The EC proposed that the two countries receive progressively increased financial assistance in the next pre-accession period to underpin their efforts to meet the membership criteria.
However, this assistance would be conditional on each country's progress in line with their roadmaps and on their capacity to manage and use funds effectively.Noting that both Bulgaria and Romania have begun to develop capacities for better use of existing funds, the EC said in its statement that if preparations are continued and intensified, the two would be ready to receive and use additional funds effectively from 2004 onwards.Meanwhile, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy said his government plans to wrap up negotiations on the Energy chapter of the EU accession process on Monday (18 November).
The energy chapter incorporates the preliminary EC position, which calls for Bulgaria to close units 3 and 4 of its Kozloduy nuclear facility by the end of 2006.
Bulgaria hopes to re-open the chapter provided an EU mission, which will be sent to assess the safety of the units, comes up with a favourable conclusion.In another development, a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation will participate for the first time at the European Parliament session in Strasburg, which opens Monday.
The delegation will attend the session that debates EU enlargement.




Annan Visits the Balkans as UN Prepares to Wind Down Two Missions 18/11/2002 UN Secretary General Kofi Annan began a trip to the Balkans on Sunday (17 November) with a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
The trip is expected to be Annan's last to the region before two UN missions there wind down next month. (Bloomberg, Reuters - 18/11/02; AP, AFP, VOA, UN News Service - 17/11/02; RFE/RL - 15/11/02)UN Secretary General Kofi Annan kicked off a tour of the Balkans on Sunday (17 November) with a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
The trip will likely be his last to the region before two UN missions there wind down next month.
During his four-day tour, the UN chief is also scheduled to visit Kosovo, Serbia and Croatia.Annan's central message will be the need to promote reconciliation and moderation, senior UN officials said ahead of the trip.
He is also likely to urge local authorities to co-operate more fully with the UN war crimes tribunal.At a ceremony in Sarajevo attended by top BiH officials, Annan unveiled a memorial to the 275 UN workers and soldiers who perished in Balkan conflicts during the last decade.He said the memorial would "reinforce our own determination - as peacekeepers, citizens and members of the human family - to build better lives for succeeding generations."
He urged the people of BiH to stay focused on peace and tolerance and on establishing a society based on rule of law, justice and democratic institutions.
"That is the only way to ensure that [Bosnians] will be firmly integrated into the European family," Annan said.
"And that is how we will know that the sacrifice of our peacekeepers has not been in vain."In January, the UN mission in BiH (UNMIBH) will transfer its authority to the first-ever foreign police mission organised by the EU.
Since the war ended in 1995, UNMIBH has overseen the restructuring and reform of local police and assisted the country's efforts to restore law and order.
Some 1,500 policemen from 43 countries are serving in BiH.Another UN mission expected to wind down next month is the tiny military observer force in the disputed Prevlaka peninsula, on the border between Yugoslavia and Croatia.
Annan is expected to discuss the still unresolved dispute with senior Yugoslav and Croatian officials during visits to Belgrade and Zagreb.Before heading to Serbia and Croatia, he will travel to Kosovo, where he is expected to call for reconciliation and peaceful co-existence among all communities.
With Annan expected there on Monday, High Representative Michael Steiner condemned two weekend incidents in the western part of the province, in which an Orthodox church was destroyed and another severely damaged by explosions.
Steiner described the attacks as acts of vandalism, aimed at undermining Kosovo's success on the eve of the UN leader's visit.
Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi condemned the incidents, and said province authorities would work closely with UNMIK and KFOR to bring those responsible to justice.
He pledged to repair the damage.




NATO Prague Summit to Set Accession Talks in Motion 19/11/2002 Though an official announcement has not yet been made, seven countries are expected to receive membership invitations at NATO's Prague summit, which opens Thursday (21 November). (Various sources -- 14/11/02 - 18/11/02)Seven countries are expected to receive membership invitations at NATO's Prague summit, which opens Thursday (21 November).
Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia will likely be invited to join, although an official announcement won't be made until the summit.
Three other applicants - Albania, Croatia and Macedonia - are seen as not yet ready.The invitations will not bring automatic membership.
Rather, they will set in motion a process of accession talks, with completion expected in the first half of 2004.
At that time, five of the likely new NATO entrants are also expected to become full-fledged EU members.Bulgaria and Romania failed to secure a place among the ten nations joining the EU in its first wave of enlargement.
But their contributions to the global fight against terror have helped them win an early invitation to join NATO.
Both have been acting as virtual members of the 19-nation alliance, offering access to strategic airstrips and naval bases on the Black Sea, as well as contributing troops to the international force in Afghanistan."Initially, I shared the scepticism about admitting such a large group," said Sen Joseph Biden, chairman of the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee.
"What changed my mind are the attacks of 11 September, the Romanian and Bulgarian governments' vigorous response to them and the increasing strategic importance of both countries to the war against terrorism."Membership for the two countries is expected to strengthen NATO's position in the Balkans and boost regional stability.
In addition, Bulgaria and Romania could play a strategic role in the event of a military strike on Iraq.
"Romania is committed to helping our American friends at a very difficult time," AP quoted Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana as saying.
His Bulgarian counterpart, Solomon Passy, has said that Bulgaria would act as an ally of the United States.Both countries have undertaken reforms to bring their military forces in line with NATO standards.
Bulgaria recently destroyed its Soviet-made SS-23, Scud and Frog missiles and is downsizing its army.
Romania's Army today numbers about 100,000 troops, half its strength in communist times.In related news, US President George W. Bush will visit Romania on 23 November, the day after the Prague enlargement summit , a spokesperson for Romanian President Ion Iliescu announced.
Bush will be accompanied by his wife Laura, Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.




Presidential Elections in Serbia Could Fail Again Due to Low Turnout 20/11/2002 Three candidates have registered to run in next month's presidential race, the Serbian Election Committee announced Monday (18 November).
In spite of parliamentary precautions, the election may fail again - due to a lack of voters. By Zoran B. Nikolic for Balkan Times in Belgrade - 19/11/02There will be three candidates in the third round of presidential elections in Serbia, scheduled for 8 December.
The favorite is Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, who won the most votes in the previous, failed elections.
Vojislav Seselj is Kostunica's main rival.
Borisav Pelevic, the candidate of the small nationalist Serbian Unity Party, is also in the race.Since Kostunica is running, the ruling Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS), decided it would not nominate its own candidate.
One democratic bloc decided not to stand in the way of the other democratic bloc's candidate, one might conclude.
But this decision is exactly what could invalidate the new presidential elections.In the earlier elections, Kostunica finished ahead of federal Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus, who had DOS support, and Seselj, who ran with the personal support of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.
In the run-off, Kostunica beat Labus by a large margin, but the minimal voter turnout of 50 per cent stipulated by law was not achieved.The need to change the election law became clear.
After three weeks of quarrels between DOS and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), parliament voted to remove the provision requiring a 50 per cent voter turnout in a run-off.
Under the new law, the turnout requirement remains applicable for the first round of an election, and a candidate wins if he gets more than half the votes.
Failing that, in the run-off between the two top candidates, the one who gets more votes will win.However, under the new law the elections would fail completely if first round turnout is less than 50 per cent.
There would be no run-off.This would not be a problem if the one million voters who chose Labus in the previous first round had someone to vote for this time, but they don't.
In a run-off between Kostunica and Seselj, many of them would probably turn out to vote for Kostunica.
But it could be extremely difficult to persuade them do so in a first round.It is critical for Kostunica that the Labus supporters participate in this first round, even if they vote against him.
He has been addressing social and economic issues he thinks could motivate them.
However, he has also chosen not to attack Seselj during the campaign, concentrating instead on criticising the government of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.For this reason, DOS member parties are reluctant to support him.
In addition, many Labus voters belong to national minorities, which are highly distrustful of Kostunica.After the failure of the last elections, the EU insisted that all necessary steps be taken to ensure that Serbia gets a new president.
But due to the ongoing disputes between Kostunica's party and DOS, there is a possibility that this election, too, may fail.




Annan Calls for Tolerance in Kosovo, Hails Yugoslavia's Reform Efforts 20/11/2002 Before heading on to Belgrade, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan assured the people of Kosovo that the UN would continue helping the province. (AFP - 20/11/02; UN, AP, VOA, Radio B92 - 19/11/02)UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, speaking in Pristina earlier this week, assured the people of Kosovo that the UN would continue helping the province.
He urged them to overcome the legacy of the past and build a tolerant, multiethnic society anchored by democratic institutions and the rule of law."Though Kosovo has already covered a lot of ground, it is now that the really hard part begins," Annan said Monday (18 November).
He added there was a need to redouble efforts to ensure that "the blessings of progress" reach everyone in the province.While in Kosovo, the UN chief met with international and local officials, including President Ibrahim Rugova, Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi, Parliamentary Speaker Nexhat Daci and Kosovo Serb politicians.After a visit to the ethnically divided northern town of Mitrovica and several villages, Annan noted that, although the situation still appeared difficult, there were signs of progress.
He condemned the recent bombings in which one Serbian Orthodox church was completely destroyed and another severely damaged."The incidents of last weekend, where bombs were thrown in the churches, is not anything anyone can condone," Annan said.After nearly two days in Kosovo, he headed on to Belgrade.
Speaking to the press after a meeting with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and other senior officials, Annan hailed the efforts Yugoslavia was making to reform its institutions and improve relations with neighbouring countries and the EU.
He expressed the hope that Yugoslavia will one day enter "the common European home."Annan said his discussion with Kostunica focused on interactions with the UN war crimes tribunal.
Kostunica acknowledged there were problems, but insisted the government was committed to co-operation with the international court.
Annan is to meet UN chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte in Belgrade on Wednesday.Another issue was Yugoslavia's participation in peacekeeping operations.
"I did remind the president that Yugoslavia was a very important peacekeeper and sent many soldiers to UN peacekeeping and I thought it was time that they reconsidered participation in this operation," Annan said.On Tuesday, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic called for direct talks with the political leaders of Kosovo, as a transitional step towards negotiations on the future of the province.
Djindjic, who says he discussed this proposal with Annan, wants talks to address security, the return of refugees and property matters, among other issues.




NATO Extends Macedonia Mission 21/11/2002 Under an agreement reached Wednesday, NATO will extend its mission in Macedonia for another six months.
But the EU could still take over in February if it is ready. (MIA - 21/11/02; BBC, Reuters, Reality Macedonia - 20/11/02; Reuters, ABC News - 19/11/02)NATO countries agreed Wednesday (20 November) to extend the alliance's presence in Macedonia for another six months, but left the door open for the EU to take over after a review in February.
The decision ended a deadlock over France's objections to the proposed extension."We have an agreement on Macedonia, a balanced agreement," a French diplomat was quoted as saying after the fourth meeting of NATO ambassadors since Monday.
France had insisted the new mandate be limited to no more than two months.
It also wanted clear provisions allowing the EU's evolving Rapid Reaction Force to take over as soon as it is ready.The changeover, originally set for mid-December, has been blocked by a continuing dispute between Greece and Turkey over EU access to NATO planning and assets.Under the new agreement, NATO's current 700-strong mission will be replaced by a smaller one when the current mandate ends on 15 December.
The new mission will be tasked with providing support to EU and OSCE monitors on the ground and with assisting Macedonia in the implementation of reforms to meet NATO membership criteria.NATO Secretary General George Robertson called Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski on Wednesday to deliver the news.
He said the alliance wants to see Macedonia stabilised as it makes further efforts to join the EU and NATO.Trajkovski is now expected to send a formal letter to NATO requesting the six-month extension.Reuters quoted a NATO diplomat in Brussels as saying that the strength of the new mission is still subject to debate.
"Some who want the EU in there want as many as possible.
Those who don't want it say as many as needed."
According to reports, the mission will comprise up to 400 troops, down from the current 700, and will not be given a specific name.
NATO's spokesman in Macedonia, Craig Radcliff, said it would be run by the alliance's Skopje office.Trajkovski and Robertson spoke as both were preparing to leave for the NATO summit in Prague, where Trajkovski was expected to present a report on Macedonia's achievements in the process of democratisation.
He will also promote an initiative for closer co-operation between Macedonia, Albania and Croatia in their preparations for NATO accession.




NATO Invites Seven New Members, Keeps Doors Open for More 22/11/2002 NATO members kicked off their summit in Prague on Thursday by formally inviting seven former communist states to join the alliance. (NATO, wires and media outlets -- 22/11/02 - 20/11/02)As NATO's summit in Prague opened Thursday (21 November), seven former communist states received formal invitations to join the 19-nation alliance.
Secretary General George Robertson characterised the decision to invite Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to start accession talks as "hugely significant" for NATO and the Euro-Atlantic community.The process will likely be completed by mid-2004.
The expansion is NATO's fifth and largest since its inception in 1949.
As it takes effect, NATO's borders will reach the Black Sea and the Baltic.NATO officials and member states, however, emphasised that this wave of expansion would not be the last, and that the door would remain open for other aspirants.
Albania, Croatia and Macedonia were assured that the alliance would continue to support their efforts to meet membership criteria."Today's invitees will not be the last.
Through the MAP [Membership Action Plan] process, we will continue to help you pursue your reform process, and we remain committed to your full integration into the Euro-Atlantic family of nations," Robertson said.Speaking at the forum, the presidents of Bulgaria and Romania, Georgi Parvanov and Ion Iliescu, welcomed NATO's decision and expressed support for further enlargement.Parvanov described the invitation as a "matter of great honour and recognition".
He also said it marked the beginning of an "even more difficult and responsible stage" of full political, economic and military adaptation, continued development of democracy and the market economy, and greater responsibility for the stability and security of Southeast Europe and the entire Euro-Atlantic area.Romania's Iliescu, meanwhile, said his country is "determined to continue to engage with full responsibility, energy and resources in the effort of preparations for full integration into the alliance."The two countries are considered strategically important for their geographic location on the Black Sea and as a bulwark in the fight against terrorism.
Apart from their ten-year track record of co-operation with NATO and their participation in international peacekeeping operations, Bulgaria and Romania have joined the campaign against this new global threat.Meanwhile, the head of the Yugoslav Parliament delegation to NATO's Parliamentary Assembly said that his country could be admitted into NATO's Partnership for Peace in the spring, provided it meets the requirements.
Miroslav Filipovic reiterated that admission remains conditional on improving co-operation on war crimes and dropping Yugoslavia's International Court of Justice lawsuit against NATO.




NATO Summit Marks Beginning of Major Transformations 25/11/2002 The two-day NATO summit in Prague ended on 22 November with the adoption of a set of decisions paving the way for significant transformations over the next two years. (NATO -- 21/11/02 - 23/11/02)The two-day NATO summit in Prague ended on 22 November with the adoption of a set of decisions paving the way for significant transformations over the next two years.
In addition to inviting seven Eastern European countries to join the alliance, NATO also adopted a package of measures to ensure it is able to adequately address the threats and security challenges of the 21st century.Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia were invited to start accession talks.
NATO heads of state also commended Albania, Croatia and Macedonia for their reform efforts, and pledged that this expansion, the largest ever, will not be the last.
The summit was the 16th since NATO's establishment in 1949, and the first of this century.The alliance also agreed on a set of far-reaching decisions that will modify its future roles and tasks.
The free world faces a "deadly cocktail of threats," NATO Secretary General George Robertson said, including "terrorists and their backers, failed states in which they flourish, and proliferating weapons of mass destruction".The heads of state agreed to create a NATO Response Force, composed of a technologically advanced, flexible, deployable, interoperable and sustainable force for land, sea and air operations.
They also adopted a decision to streamline the alliance's military command.
There will now be two strategic command structures - one for operations, headquartered in Belgium, and another for transformation, headquartered in the United States.
All details concerning these structural changes will likely be finalised by NATO defence ministers in June 2003.NATO members agreed also on a military concept for defence against terrorism and adopted five concrete initiatives in the area of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons defence.
Concerning Iraq, the allies pledged full support for implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and urged Baghdad to comply fully and immediately with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions.The new invitees issued a statement supporting the US policy on Iraq and stressing their readiness to back military action if needed to ensure that the UN Security Council resolution is implemented.Meanwhile, US Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones, in Skopje on Sunday (24 November), declared that NATO's doors remain open to Macedonia, Albania and Croatia.
Following a meeting with Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, she said the alliance strongly supports the efforts of the three countries to meet their Action Plans for NATO membership.In a related story, Bulgaria's Dnevnik daily reported that First Deputy Chief of General Staff Vice Adm Petar Petrov will become Bulgaria's chief negotiator in NATO accession talks.
NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen Joseph Ralston, will arrive in Bulgaria on Friday to meet with President Georgi Parvanov, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg and commanders of the Bulgarian Army.




Talks on Serbia-Montenegro Constitutional Charter Falter Again 26/11/2002 Despite a compromise reached last week, the process of drafting a new Serbia-Montenegro constitutional charter has broken down again over electing members of the joint parliament. (Radio B92, Tanjug, BETA - 25/11/02)Talks on the constitutional charter of the new state of Serbia and Montenegro faltered again Monday (25 November) as Montenegrin representatives disagreed with the incorporation of a provision on the election of members of the joint parliament.The election of MPs has been one of the main sticking points ever since talks on the charter began months ago.
Under a compromise reached last week, each republic would appoint its MPs to the first joint parliament for a two-year period, to be followed by direct elections for subsequent parliaments.But Dragan Kujovic, a member of Milo Djukanovic's ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and co-chairman of the constitutional commission tasked with drafting the charter, said the issue should be left to the republics to regulate.In addition, Montenegro's political parties have expressed disagreement about the proposed election procedures.Representatives of the opposition Socialist People's Party were quoted as saying they would not accept any procedures other than election by popular vote.
The leader of the Montenegrin Social Democratic Party, meanwhile, said the election procedures should be "regulated by the laws of the member states".Djukanovic, who resigned Monday as president to become the republic's prime minister, said a letter from EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana suggested the EU had no objections to last week's agreement.
The Serbian state news agency Tanjug quoted Djukanovic as saying the problem could be settled either through a new compromise, or through a revision of the Belgrade agreement.
That would complicate the situation further, Djukanovic said.Under the Belgrade agreement, the constitutional charter is to be the highest legal act of the redefined union of Serbia and Montenegro.
The accord envisioned that the charter would be presented to the republican assemblies by the end of June 2002.The DPS position "takes the process of adopting the Constitutional Charter a few steps back," said constitutional commission co-chairman Dragan Jocic.
A consensus exists among Serbian political parties on the election procedures, he said, adding that he doubts the Montenegrin parties would agree on the issue.
The commission's next meeting will be held in Podgorica, either late this week or early next week.In other news, Djukanovic will likely to be given the mandate Tuesday to form a new cabinet.
Parliament Speaker Filip Vujanovic, who will act as caretaker president until the 22 December elections, will present the mandate.
As for priorities of the new government, Djukanovic said his cabinet would concentrate its efforts on economic development as well as on reforms in education, the judiciary and public administration.




Steiner Visits Macedonia 28/11/2002 Regional co-operation is a key factor in the efficient fight against organised crime, UNMIK chief Michael Steiner said during his visit to Skopje on Wednesday (27 November).
He also reiterated UN support for the border agreement between Macedonia and Yugoslavia. (MIA, Makfax - 27/11/02)Regional co-operation is a key factor in the efficient fight against organised crime, UNMIK chief Michael Steiner said during his visit to Skopje on Wednesday (27 November).
He said the main goal of his visit was to reaffirm good neighbourly relations with the new authorities in Skopje, as well as to intensify joint efforts in combating regional crime.Reiterating UN support for the border agreement between Skopje and Belgrade, Steiner stressed the need for free movement of people and praised the decision of the Macedonian government to open two new border checkpoints with Kosovo.During the visit, officials from UNMIK and Macedonia's Interior Ministry signed a bilateral agreement on police co-operation, providing for stronger joint efforts in fighting organised crime and terrorism.
Steiner briefed President Boris Trajkovski on UNMIK's efforts towards Kosovo's further stabilisation, and discussed co-operation between his administration and Macedonian institutions.While in Skopje, Steiner also met with Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, his deputy, Musa Xhaferi and Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva.
Steiner and Crvenkovski discussed trade co-operation and the security situation in the region.At a news conference Wednesday, meanwhile, representatives of NATO, the EU and the OSCE emphasised the international community's support for the border demarcation process.Irena Guzelova, the spokeswoman for the EU representative in Skopje, said the border demarcation agreement between Yugoslavia and Macedonia is internationally recognised, and that the ongoing process should result in the physical demarcation of the border."The demarcation should happen in a stable and calm environment," she said, adding that the EU had allocated 1m euros to finance the process, though the funds had not yet been disbursed.The spokesman for NATO's mission in Skopje, Craig Ratcliff, said the alliance and the international community do not view the demarcation process as "a subject, or an area, that should cause concern".In other news Wednesday, the Skopje District court revoked the arrest warrants against former National Liberation Army leader Ali Ahmeti and 34 other individuals charged in connection with last year's insurgency.
A spokesman said that local authorities no longer had jurisdiction over the investigation, following the government's decision to hand over five cases of alleged atrocities to the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.




Turkish Parliament Approves New Government 29/11/2002 Turkey's new government was sworn in Thursday (28 November) after winning a confidence vote in parliament.
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul promised sweeping reforms and an overhaul of the constitution. (The Independent - 29/11/02; Reuters, AP, AFP, CNN, VOA, Anatolian Agency, EUobserver.com - 28/11/02; Anatolian Agency - 27/11/02)Turkey's new government was sworn in Thursday (28 November) after winning a confidence vote in parliament -- the last formality in the process.
Promising sweeping social and economic reforms and an overhaul of the constitution to bring basic human rights and freedoms in line with international standards, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul also pledged his government would work for all people in Turkey."Our duty is to improve the condition of all Turkish people and elevate them to the point they deserve," Gul told parliament.
The cabinet received 346 votes in favour, while 170 deputies voted against it.
Once again, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) won support from independent deputies.
That support could prove vital to AKP plans to amend the country's constitution.Gul is AKP deputy chairman.
The party, established in 2001 by former members of an outlawed Islamic party, won a landslide victory in the 3 November parliamentary elections, paving the way for the first single-party government in Turkey in more than a decade.The broad constitutional reforms the government is planning to carry out are aimed at meeting the EU's set of political criteria -- known as the Copenhagen criteria -- thus improving Turkey's chances for EU membership.
Turkey is the only country among the 13 candidates that has not yet started accession talks.
It now hopes that a date for opening membership negotiations with the 15-nation bloc will be announced at the EU summit in Copenhagen on 12 December.EU diplomatic sources said that the envisioned package of reforms would address most of the problems the Union has cited.
If approved, the new laws would abolish torture, make it easier to prosecute law enforcement officers and ease restrictions on journalists and civic groups.
According to reports, the government wants the measures submitted for parliamentary debate before the EU summit, now less than two weeks away.On Thursday, AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned from the final phase of a European tour designed to boost support for Turkey's EU bid.
Prime Minister Gul will further press the case before Britain's and Denmark's foreign ministers, due to visit Ankara next week.The AKP leaders have also pledged to wipe out corruption and poverty, as well as to implement economic reforms under a $16 billion IMF-backed programme.
Senior IMF representatives are expected to arrive in Turkey next week for talks with the cabinet.




World Bank Offers Hope for Porto Romano Cleanup 09/12/2002 Thousands of Albanians face an environmental disaster in Porto Romano, near the port city of Durres.
Now the World Bank is helping to clean up an area described by the UN Environment Programme as the worst "hot spot" in the Balkans. By Alban Bala for Balkan Times in Tirana - 09/12/02Porto Romano sits on a former marsh inhabited by more than 3,000 people, most of whom came to this village from the poorer north of the country after the fall of communism in 1992.
A year ago, the neighborhood was declared "a disaster area" by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).An elementary school is situated only 100 meters from the refuse of a chemical plant that once produced pesticides -- such as lindane, a nerve poison and carcinogen -- and sodium dichromate for leather tanning.
Yellow stains from Chromium VI cover the valley, and doctors say those living nearby absorb the poisons through their skin.UNEP estimates that evacuation, treatment and containment of the site would cost $10m.
The World Bank's spokeswoman in Tirana, Ana Gjokutaj, says $250,000 has been allocated for a feasibility study.
Now, the Bank plans to spend more than $5m on this project.
According to Gjokutaj, implementation is expected to start next year.According to the Environment Department in Durres, there are 20,000 tonnes of potentially dangerous chemicals on the site, including thousands of tonnes of lindane.
The factory was shut down in 1990, but newly arrived residents stripped its contaminated bricks to build their homes, and some even converted shops into living areas.
According to local accounts, people stole packing sacks dumped near the shore, mistaking the chemicals for paint.
Environmentalists say fish from a wide area in the Adriatic, sold in large quantities in Albania's capital, Tirana, are contaminated."The fact that the World Bank has chosen Durres instead of the other four hot spots in Albania proves that we have an environmental disaster in Porto Romano," said Ilir Qesja, director of the Environment Department in Durres.
Residents are expected to submit to rigorous medical checkups, while water contamination and the presence of the poison in plants will be studied.Albanian authorities say they are ready to support any anti-pollution initiative.
"We are confident the World Bank project will be effective", said an official with the Environment Ministry.




"Yugo-America" Project Reprised 13/12/2002 After 20 years, a small Serbian car is poised to re-enter American markets. By Dusan Kosanovic for Balkan Times in Belgrade - 12/12/02In the mid 1980s, the communist regime in Yugoslavia announced the "work of the century" -- exporting the Yugo to America.
Zastava, a company based in the industrial city of Kragujevac, manufactured the car.
But the project failed.
The Yugo's quality was poor compared to other cars in the same price bracket.
It became an artefact of the period, used for ironic purposes in Hollywood movies or as material for American avant-garde artists.After 20 years, though, the number one economic topic in Serbia is once again the so-called "Yugo-America Project."The government is under pressure to solve Zastava's problems, because the company's future has strong economic and social implications for Kragujevac and the surrounding region in central Serbia.
Attempts to find a suitable buyer for Zastava have foundered.Under the terms of a tentative deal reached in early October, a New Jersey company -- Nucarco, Inc. -- plans a joint venture with Zastava under the name Zastava Motor Works (ZMW).
Nucarco would own 80 per cent, Zastava, the rest.
The American partner would invest $150m over the next three years, while Zastava would provide know-how, technology, real estate and labour.Nucarco has also promised to improve the emissions levels of the vehicles, meeting European and US standards.
Many experts have said that Zastava's previous attempt failed not because its cars were impractical, but because of low quality and poor marketing.
The joint venture hopes to revive the troubled car factory in Kragujevac, and aims to break into US, South American and Asian markets with a well-advertised low price.Promising as all this may sound, the venture has nevertheless run into political problems in Serbia.
Representatives of the Democratic Party of Serbia have sharply criticised the business proposal, charging that Nucarco founder Malcolm Bricklin is untrustworthy and more interested in sales than in vehicle production.
In an interview for the Belgrade daily Blic, Zastava's legal representative, Miodrag Savicevic, said the agreement is not yet final.
Nucarco is now seeking support from the US government and banks.
If it fails, the deal could be called off, he notes.
It remains to be seen if the Yugo will get a second chance in America, or if this latest foray will be finished before it has even begun.




Delayed Tobacco Monopoly Sale May Mar Bulgaria's Investment Image 02/12/2002 The on-and-off sale procedure for Bulgarian tobacco monopoly Bulgartabak, which has been marred by legal wrangling, may prevent Sofia's government from meeting this year's privatisation targets and send a warning signal to foreign investors. By Alina Michailova for Balkan Times in Sofia - 02/12/02The troubled sale of Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly Bulgartabak, which since September has turned into a high-profile court battle, threatens to hamper the reformist government's privatisation plans and send negative signals to foreign investors.
Failure to complete the sale, which the cabinet of Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg pledged to complete this year, may undermine its efforts to tackle economic reforms agreed under loan deals with major donors -- the IMF and the World Bank.The sale, which began in March, has an important social impact as well.
A large part of the impoverished ethnic Turkish minority, that makes up around 10 per cent of Bulgaria's population of nearly eight million, make their living in tobacco growing and rely on Bulgartabak to purchase their product.
This is why the ethnic Turk Movement of Rights and Freedoms (MRF), a junior partner in the government, is anxious to see the deal finalised.The two main opposition parties - the centre-right Union of Democratic Forces and the Socialists - have already demanded the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Nikolay Vassilev, a former London-based financier who leads the government's economic team.
In his capacity of economy minister, he is supervising the sale.Bulgartabak's sale attracted four offers.
In August, the Privatisation Agency selected a consortium of Sofia-registered Tobacco Capital Partners and Dutch firm Clar Innis as an exclusive buyer.
The consortium, backed by Germany's Deutsche Bank, offered 110 million euros for a stake of 80 per cent.The other three candidates - Russia's Metatabak consortium, Vienna-registered consortium Tobacco Holding GmbH and Russia's Rosbulgartabak - appealed the sale procedure in the Supreme Court, arguing the Privatisation Agency acted illegally when it failed to allow them to sweeten their final offers after ranking the bids.The Supreme Court ruled in their favour, saying the agency should have sought improved offers due to better-than-expected financial results reported by the company during the sale process.
The court also annulled the agency's decision to name the Deutsche Bank-backed candidate as exclusive buyer.
The Privatisation Agency insists its sale procedure was fair and denies wrongdoing.In the latest twist of the legal battle, the agency is appealing the ruling before an extended Supreme Court panel, whose decision is final.
It would either uphold the lower court ruling or grant the appeal and allow talks finalising the sale with the selected buyer.
It might also order a new sale procedure.
The court said Friday (29 November) that it would issue its decision at the end of December.If the sale is further delayed, the government is unlikely to realise the $300m privatisation revenue planned for 2002.
Government officials say the state budget would not be affected, as the country has ample fiscal reserves.
But Saxe-Coburg has warned that the troubles surrounding this sale may affect Bulgaria's investment image.




SERDA Helping Foreign, Local Investors Do Business Around Sarajevo 04/12/2002 The Sarajevo Economic Region Development Agency (SERDA) is helping both foreign and local investors here by providing contacts, locations and information about getting credits from banks. By Beth Kampschror for Balkan Times in Sarajevo - 03/12/02An agency that provides help for businesses in the Sarajevo area proved to be invaluable for an American company searching for a factory location here, according to the company's general manager."The Sarajevo Economic Region Development Agency (SERDA) was able to provide us a lot of contacts in the Sarajevo area when we were first looking for locations to place our factory, and introduced us to a number of individuals in the private sector and a number of government officials," said IBD General Manager Heath Cox.In March, the concrete block manufacturing company plans to open a factory in Sarajevo, its second in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
Cox said that as many as 50 people could be employed there."[Without SERDA] it would've been a lot slower, we wouldn't have been able to meet as many people as quickly.
They were able to facilitate introductions and give us more credibility," he said.Though the agency helps foreign investors navigate the complicated business waters of BiH, its main goal is to work with local companies, said head of office Omer Vatric."One concrete thing we do is rebuild the broken links between the two entities," he said.
SERDA works in ten Federation municipalities and seven Republika Srpska (RS) municipalities in the greater Sarajevo area, where many companies have been split up since the war.
For example, Vatric said, the UNIS natural gas conglomerate broke into two firms, one in the Federation and one in RS.
SERDA has provided them a venue for discussions on potential common projects.SERDA also advises local companies on business plans.
The destroyed Trnovo rug factory in RS, for example, with SERDA's help, got Sarajevo Canton to offer them a 255,500 euro credit line so that banks would take the company's business plan seriously."It's the first example of the canton giving money to Republika Srpska for a company," Vatric said.
"It's a good signal that economy can cross the boundaries of the entities."SERDA technical adviser Fuad Curcic notes that other agency projects include a website that offers free portals to small- and medium-sized businesses.
The site has been up and running for a few weeks.
Future plans include creating what's called a business incubator."It's a building where new businesses can come in and get cheap rent and shared infrastructure for two to five years, and then they'd leave the incubator and go out on their own," he said, adding that the agency has its eye on an old factory building on the outskirts of Sarajevo.Cox said that he was pleased with his company's experience with SERDA.
"SERDA was one of the most useful organisations that we found in Sarajevo for doing business and knowing the right contacts."




Deliberative Poll in Bulgaria Leads to Significant Changes of Opinion 16/12/2002 A recent national Deliberative Poll in Bulgaria suggests people often change their views when they become more familiar and engaged with the issues. (Various sources - 15/11/02)A recent national Deliberative Poll on fighting crime in Bulgaria found that opinions on capital punishment, the independence of the prosecutor's office and other issues often changed as participants became more familiar and engaged with the topics.
Conducted in October, the Sofia poll was the first Deliberative Poll in an eastern European country.According to the Centre for Liberal Strategies (CLS), one of the organisers of the event, the results highlighted the importance of this technique as a democratic civic practice, as well as its unique potential to generate and sustain tolerance among people of different backgrounds, ethnic origins and social status.
The other organisers were Alpha Research, a marketing and social research agency, and bTV television channel.Deliberative Polling is a technique incorporating deliberation in small group discussions with scientific random sampling to provide public consultation on public policy and electoral issues.
It was developed by Professor James Fishkin of the University of Texas at Austin in 1988.The Bulgarian Deliberative Poll brought together 281 deliberators selected from a representative sample of about 1,200 randomly chosen participants in a pre-deliberation baseline survey on various crime-related issues.
A significant number of experts holding key positions in the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary participated in the three panels of the Deliberative Poll: Crime and Punishment, Crime and Society and direct dialogue.Members of the selected sample group received carefully balanced and publicly available briefing materials.
Deliberators then engaged in dialogue with experts and politicians based on questions they raised in small group discussions with trained moderators.
At the end of the poll, participants were asked to answer again the questions that were included in the baseline survey.
The post-deliberation opinions suggest the conclusions people might reach if they became more informed about issues, according to the CLS.Some changes of opinion were dramatic.
Before deliberation, 58 per cent agreed that the death penalty was the only punishment for certain kinds of crime.
After deliberation, support for this view dropped by 13 per cent, to 45 per cent.
Support for moving the investigation service to the interior ministry grew by 33 per cent -- from 45 per cent before deliberation to 78 per cent after deliberation.
Before deliberation, 30 per cent of the respondents thought the prosecution should be accountable to parliament.
After deliberation, 46 per cent held that opinion.Every thesis was presented with arguments supporting or opposing it, so participants could compare the different positions, Alpha Research head Boryana Dimitrova explained.
She added that before deliberation, 73 per cent of the respondents believed politicians didn't care about what they thought.
After only one deliberation event, support for that view dropped 21 per cent.




US Government's Train and Equip Programme Hailed as Success 17/12/2002 A US programme to train and equip the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's military is now complete, and considered a success both by the entity and the US government. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 17/12/02The US government programme to train and equip the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's (FBiH) military has been a great success, according to the programme manager in the entity defence ministry."We accomplished 2,800 hours of flying without even one accident, not even one," said programme manager Dzemal Najetovic.
"That's a first-class result."The six-year programme, dubbed "Train and Equip", ended this autumn.
The US government spent a total of $500m since August 1996 with the aim of transforming the Federation Army into a professional, Western-type army.
Soldiers have trained at a fighting simulation centre using US software, have taken various courses at the professional development centre and have received telecommunications and artillery training.Since 1996, the US government has donated 45 battle tanks, 85 armoured personnel carriers, 15 helicopters and 116 howitzers to the Federation."We've taken over some technology, mainly of American origin.
It's known in the NATO pact that America is the strongest country, and our military equipment is of American origin," Najetovic said.
"It's not the most modern, but it works."Now that the Train and Equip programme is finished, Najetovic said he doesn't see any major changes for the Federation military in the immediate future."I don't suppose that [future changes] would deal with reductions like we've seen so far," he said, referring to the dismissal of 10,000 soldiers from the Federation military earlier this year.
"I don't think that any big change will take place in the structure.
It won't be anything drastic."Najetovic said that the next step is finding a way to join NATO's Partnership for Peace programme and to proceed towards establishing a state-level military.
He said that the ministry and the army have complied with all the international community's requests so far and would continue to do so in the future."All aid in the future, from any country, will go through the secretariat of the Permanent Military Committee," he said, referring to an institution that deals with military questions from both entities.A US government official affiliated with Train and Equip said that the programme was a success in terms of creating stability in the region and making the military more NATO-compatible.
The official added that the United States would prefer that all countries providing assistance to BiH's two armies do so in the form of assistance to the state.




French Businessmen Have Big Plans for Serbia 30/12/2002 France wants to do more than simply trade with Yugoslavia.
French direct investments after the regime changeover in October 2000 total 120m euros.
This figure is expected to rise sharply in 2003. By Boris Milicevic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 30/12/02A delegation from the French Business Confederation (Mouvement des Enterprises de France -- MEDEF) and representatives of 35 companies visited Serbia last month, meeting with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus, National Bank Governor Mladjan Dinkic and Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
The fact that Ernest-Antoine Seilliere, the president of MEDEF, led the delegation is seen as an indication that France has big plans in Serbia.Seilliere said during the visit that French companies are showing increased interest in the privatisation of Serbian companies, especially in the banking sector.
They have been encouraged by reduced inflation and the policy of a stable exchange rate for the Yugoslav dinar.
Besides the banking sector, companies are interested in investing in the energy sector, infrastructure, the food industry and telecommunications.Telecommunications company Alcatel and Serbian Telekom signed a deal to install 200,000 new digital phone lines in Belgrade, Nis, Novi Sad, Pancevo, Kikinda, Zrenjanin, Smederevo, Pozarevac and Vranje.
Delivery is scheduled from 15 December to 25 March.
The investment will be supported by credits from the French government and BNP Paribas bank.Another company, Alstom, is interested in obtaining local concessions for distribution of electric power and investing in the repair of the Serbian distribution network.
Alstom has already equipped two main thermal power plants in Serbia and is the main supplier of equipment to the Serbian electric power industry.Lafarge, a manufacturer of building materials, bought the Beocin cement plant for 100m euros earlier this year.
Today the town has the highest average monthly salary in Serbia.
Lafarge plans to invest an additional 20m euros over the next two years.Gema, a chain specialising in house tools, announced a significant penetration into the Serbian market.
General director Philippe Bresson said that Gema will invest 20m euros in new stores, enlisting local partners.French exports to Yugoslavia during the first six months of 2002 reached 95m euros, an increase of 21m euros compared to the same period last year.
Yugoslavia's exports to France totaled 29m euros to 35m euros in the same period.
Since October 2000, French direct investments have amounted to about 120m euros.
That figure is expected to rise sharply in 2003.Members of the MEDEF delegation were impressed with macroeconomic stability in Serbia.
"The success of Lafarge, Alcatel and Societe General Bank in Yugoslavia showed that French entrepreneurs can have full confidence in the domestic market," said Seilliere.




Robertson Tells Albania, Macedonia NATO Door Remains Open 02/12/2002 NATO Secretary General George Robertson reassured Albania and Macedonia that although they were not among the seven candidates recently invited to start accession talks, the alliance's door remained open for new members.
But he said their chances depend on efforts to implement deeper reforms. (AP, Reuters, RFE/RL, MAKFAX - 29/11/02)NATO Secretary General George Robertson reassured Albania and Macedonia on Friday (29 November) that although they were not among the seven candidates recently invited to start accession talks, the alliance's door remained open for new members.
But he said their chances depend on efforts to implement deeper reforms.
During his brief visit to the two countries, Robertson also welcomed the initiative of Albanian, Macedonian and Croatian leaders to work together towards NATO membership.Visiting the two Balkan states a week after NATO's Prague summit, Robertson commended them for their recent progress and acknowledged the disappointment they must have felt after invitations were issued.
Albania and Macedonia, according to the alliance, need to implement further military reforms and strengthen democracy in their countries to bring them in line with NATO standards."Although there must be inevitable disappointment after Prague, I still believe that Albania can look forward with optimism to the future as part of integrated European structures," Robertson said in Tirana.
Stressing that the latest wave of expansion would not be the last, the NATO chief said the region must do more to improve border security and stop the free movement of criminals and traffickers."It is a very sad fact that this region seems to be very open for many criminal activities, but we haven't been able to establish an open area of commerce and for economic growth," Robertson said in Tirana after brief meetings with President Alfred Moisiu, Prime Minister Fatos Nano and Defence Minister Pandeli Majko.Nano said his government realised that in order to fully meet NATO's membership criteria it should continue doing its "homework" and hoped to achieve this "over the next three years".In Skopje, Robertson met with President Boris Trajkovski and Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski.
He praised Macedonia for the substantial progress it has made since last year's crisis, but said more must be done.
Reiterating his message that "the doors to NATO membership remain open," he encouraged Macedonia "to pass through the door".Robertson also commended Albania, Macedonia and Croatia for their recent initiative to form the so-called Ohrid-Adriatic group for trilateral co-operation towards NATO membership.
Noting the similar example of co-operation between Bulgaria and Romania ahead of the Prague summit, Robertson said this type of partnership paid off for them."This is a signal to NATO, the EU and the international community, that co-operation is the hallmark of the approach of these countries."




Sarajevo Haggadah Shown to Public for First Time 06/12/2002 The Sarajevo Haggadah, which survived centuries of upheaval -- including three wars in the 20th century -- is now on permanent display in a renovated room in Sarajevo's National Museum. By Beth Kampschror for Balkan Times in Sarajevo - 05/12/02The first-ever permanent public display of the Sarajevo Haggadah, a 600-year-old Sephardic Jewish manuscript, is a symbol of hope and ethnic tolerance in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), said officials at the opening of the book's special room in Sarajevo's National Museum."It simply proves that for hundreds of years we lived together and not that we only waited for hundreds of years to destroy each other," said the head of BiH's Jewish community Jakob Finci, who initiated the project three years ago.
"This room perhaps [represents] an embryo of development and of other cultural activities throughout the country, and I believe that it will also help the National Museum stand on its own two feet."Hundreds of diplomats, politicians, religious officials, journalists and other guests filled the newly-renovated National Museum on Monday (2 December) for a first look at the Haggadah -- a 109-page book of Passover rites and prayers that was originally used by a Barcelona family in the 14th century.
It now rests under a pyramid-shaped wood and glass case in a special room that also contains ancient documents from BiH's other religious traditions -- Islam, Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity.The Haggadah lies open to two of its 34 stand-alone illuminations, which are part of what makes the book so rare.
Other rarities noted by scholars include the depiction of the world being round -- a heretical concept in 14th century Spain -- and the depiction of the human form, which goes against Talmudic tradition.For the layman, the fact that the Haggadah still exists after all it's been through is what makes it a marvel.
Sephardic Jews fleeing newly Catholic Spain in 1492 brought the book along with them, and there is evidence it was in Italy around 1510.
Jewish merchants from Dubrovnik, in present-day coastal Croatia, are thought to have brought the Haggadah through the barren hills of Herzegovina to Sarajevo sometime in the 18th century.
It was sold to the National Museum here in 1894.During World War II, a quick-thinking museum director saved the Haggadah from Nazi confiscation by telling a Nazi general that an anonymous colonel had come the day before and taken the book.
In June 1992, another courageous museum director braved heavy shelling to rescue the Haggadah from the museum basement during BiH's most recent conflict.
Barring a brief showing after the war ended in 1995, the Haggadah had been in a Sarajevo bank vault ever since.The German government paid $20,000 for an Austrian expert to restore the Haggadah last winter, and the UN donated $50,000 to rebuild the special room.
Many other international donors contributed to that effort."The goal was to build a room that would house all the treasures of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to build on the culture and tradition that existed here, one of tolerance and mutual understanding," said the head of the UN mission in BiH, Jacques Paul Klein.




Montenegrin Official Arrested on Trafficking Charges 03/12/2002 Police in Montenegro arrested the republic's deputy public prosecutor along with two others suspected of involvement in the trafficking of women.
More arrests are expected, according to local media. (Reuters, Radio B92, UN - 02/12/02)Amid suspicions that government officials as well as criminal organisations are involved in trafficking of women, Montenegrin police have arrested the republic's deputy public prosecutor, Zoran Piperovic, and two other suspects.
Local media sources say more arrests are expected, including from among the republic's political elite."Montenegro is determined to fight any kind of organised crime and there are absolutely no protected people," said acting President Filip Vujanovic.Piperovic was arrested Saturday (30 November) and will remain in custody for 30 days pending the results of the ongoing investigation.
According to Belgrade-based Radio B92, criminal charges were also brought against Irfan Kurpejovic and Ekrem Jasovic, suspected of involvement in the illegal trade in women.
Piperovic has denied the charges.The arrests came after a Moldovan woman, a mother of two who had come to Montenegro in search of a job, sought police protection.
The woman said she had been forced into prostitution by Kurpejovic and later sold to Jasovic in return for a Mercedes."She handed over her passport and thus became a slave," said Ljiljana Raicevic of the Women's Safe House in Podgorica.
"Then her hell of isolation, debts and private parties started.
She learned the language very quickly and started to take drugs and attended dinner parties where she was offered work."On Sunday, Raicevic called on state prosecutor Bozidar Vukcevic to resign because of the scandal involving his institution.Ethnic conflicts and economic problems in the Balkans have created a favourable environment for human trafficking and other crimes.
The deputy public prosecutor was arrested just days after an international conference on organised crime in the Balkans was held in London, where leading politicians called for concerted action.
The arrests also came on the eve of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.On Monday, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan issued a special statement decrying the continuing practice of slavery.
"Action to combat slavery and slavery-like practices should not be limited to judicial and law enforcement measures," he said.
"We can also contribute to the eradication of slavery by tackling the social conditions, such as poverty, which make people vulnerable to exploitation, and by empowering people to take control of their own lives."




SFOR Says Detained Spy Suspect Linked to Al-Qaeda 04/12/2002 A man arrested in late October for allegedly spying on a US base in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network, SFOR said Tuesday (3 December). (AP, Reuters, Bloomberg, Radio B92 - 03/12/02; CNSNews - 21/11/02; AFP - 31/10/02)A man arrested in late October for allegedly spying on a US base in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network, SFOR said Tuesday (3 December).
SFOR spokesman Lt Cmdr Yves Vanier said the suspect, Sabahudin Fijuljanin, will remain in custody as the investigation continues.
The BiH Federation government has been approached for assistance in the probe.US peacekeepers based in the northeastern town of Tuzla apprehended Fijuljanin on 26 October on suspicion that he was spying on SFOR facilities and troops.
He was found to have passports from BiH and other countries and was also in possession of an anti-tank weapon.Vanier said Fijuljanin would be afforded an opportunity to meet with his lawyer and that SFOR would allow officials of the International Red Cross to visit him while he remains in custody.According to the Associated Press, Fijuljanin is originally from the Sandzak region of Yugoslavia, but has been living for many years in BiH with his wife and four children.
Two weeks ago, he was allowed to contact his family, SFOR said.Nikola Slavuljica, a police spokesman in Tuzla, told AFP in late October that during the 1992-1995 war, Fijuljanin had lived in Bocinja, a village in the country's north inhabited at the time by fighters from Islamic countries.
Under the 1995 Dayton peace accord that ended the war, all foreign fighters -- no matter their allegiance -- were to leave BiH.
But many stayed and obtained citizenship, some through marriage to local women."The main problem is the failure of the local government to make the various foreign fighters ... leave the country," said Milan Lovric, head of the BiH anti-terrorism team established in the wake of the 11 September attacks.A statement issued by the BiH interior ministry said that SFOR had provided the police with evidence against Fijuljanin and that the Interpol office in BiH was currently working with local authorities on the case.Lovric praised the co-operation with SFOR peacekeepers.
"In general, thanks to the international community and international organisations here, we manage to keep Bosnia free of attacks and other possible terrorist activities."In the wake of last year's terror attacks, several people have been held for questioning, amid suspected links to international terrorist organisations.
Among them were six Algerian men, who were handed over to the US government and transferred in January to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.




Washington Plans to Upgrade Turkish Military Bases 05/12/2002 The United States will hold discussions with Turkey on investing up to several hundred million dollars in military bases that could be used in a war with Iraq, US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said after talks with officials in Ankara. (AFP, FT - 05/12/02; AP, Reuters, BBC, CNN, MSNBC, RFE/RL - 04/12/02)The United States will hold discussions with Turkey on upgrading military bases that could be used in the event of a war with Iraq, US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said Wednesday (4 December) after two days of talks with officials in Ankara."We are talking potentially about tens of millions, probably several hundred million dollars of investment in several facilities that we might use," Wolfowitz said.
He cautioned that no formal agreement had been reached and that the United States had made no firm requests, but said he hoped talks would "fairly quickly" move to "the next level of discussions and decisions.""I am quite confident that we will in fact have a significant level of Turkish participation....
Exactly how much is something that we are working on these days," Wolfowitz said.His statement followed recent mixed signals from Ankara.
On Tuesday, hours after Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis suggested Turkey was ready to grant access to military bases near the Iraqi border, his ministry said in a statement that Yakis had only been talking about "possibilities".
Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said the government has not reached a final political decision and that any agreement on supporting action against Iraq would have to be approved by parliament.Meanwhile, Wolfowitz said US President George W Bush has invited the leader of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to talks in Washington.
AKP sources said the proposed talks would take place on 10 December.
Erdogan would be the first AKP official to visit Washington since the party came to power last month."There are many issues to discuss with him," Wolfowitz said.
"We want to continue not only with the military planning level talks but with the higher level political talks on Iraq."Washington has also reiterated its support for Turkey's hopes of joining the EU.
Before arriving in Ankara, Wolfowitz made a speech in London in which he urged the Union to open its doors to Turkey, which is seeking a firm date for the start of accession talks.
Though he termed the issue a European matter, he said it would be "unthinkable" to leave out Turkey.On Wednesday, Yakis said Turkey would not accept a solution in which the EU establishes a monitoring period before setting a date for negotiations.
He added that Turkey has already met more of the conditions for starting accession talks than some of the current candidates.
Erdogan, meanwhile, is to visit Denmark on 9 December to push for setting a date.




Croatia Says Interim Agreement on Prevlaka Reached With Yugoslavia 06/12/2002 With the mandate of the UN observer mission at Prevlaka about to expire, Croatia's Prime Minister Ivica Racan said that his country and Yugoslavia have reached a temporary agreement concerning the disputed peninsula. (Reuters, RFE/RL, HINA, Radio B92 - 05/12/02; AFP - 25/11/02)Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said Thursday (5 December) that Croatia and Yugoslavia have reached an interim agreement concerning the disputed Prevlaka peninsula.
Speaking after a government meeting, Racan said his cabinet had adopted a draft protocol and that he hoped Yugoslavia would also approve it.
The two sides are expected to sign the agreement 10 December, five days before the mandate of a UN observer mission is due to end.The peninsula is located on the Adriatic, some 45 km southeast of the Croatian city of Dubrovnik, and controls access to Yugoslavia's naval base at Kotor Bay.
Although the dispute centres on the common border, both Yugoslavia and Croatia have been saying that it is not over territory, but security issues.Following Croatia's secession from the former Yugoslavia and its war for independence in 1991, the UN established a small protection force at Prevlaka.
That force was replaced in 1996 by an observer mission, known as UNMOP, to monitor the demilitarisation of the strategic peninsula.
With only 27 members, UNMOP is the UN's smallest peacekeeping mission.
Its mandate ends on 15 December.During his recent trip to the Balkans, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told Croatian MPs: "You are now at peace with all your neighbours, and I hope you will soon be able to resolve all outstanding issues with them bilaterally, including that of Prevlaka."Racan then assured him that an agreement with Yugoslavia was only days away."A substantial portion of documents have been harmonised, although there are some remaining difficulties," the AFP quoted Croatian foreign ministry official Filip Vucak as saying on 25 November.
Vucak also voiced optimism that the protocol with Yugoslavia would be agreed on soon.The agreement would establish a temporary regime on the peninsula and determine jurisdictions and authorities, Racan said.
He declined to reveal any more details, saying the two governments have decided not to make the contents of the protocol public until both sides have signed it.
Even the venue of the signing is to be announced at a later date."I want to point out that [the protocol] does not define the final borderline...in the Prevlaka region," said Racan, adding that the matter would be the subject of future talks.
He also suggested that the co-operation of neighbouring countries might be sought in solving the problem.




Serbia's Repeat Presidential Vote Fails 09/12/2002 Serbia's latest attempt to elect a president failed, as voter turnout fell short of the 50 per cent required by law.
It is unclear if and when a run-off will be held. (BBC, Reuters, AFP, FT, The Guardian - 09/12/02; AP, CNN, Radio B92, RFE/RL, Centre for Free Elections and Democracy - 08/12/02)Serbian voters went to the polls Sunday (8 December) in the country's third attempt in as many months to elect a president.
But voter turnout fell short of the 50 per cent required by law, and it is not clear if and when a run-off will be held.Heavy snowfall contributed to the lackluster turnout, observers say, though voter apathy and discontent over low living standards are seen as the main factors.
Preliminary results indicated only about 45 per cent of registered voters went to the polls.As in the previous two votes, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica came in first.
The Belgrade-based Centre for Free Elections and Democracy, an independent elections monitor, put him well ahead of his two rivals, with almost 58 per cent of the vote.
Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj, whose candidacy was supported by Slobodan Milosevic, won 36 per cent.
Serbian Unity Party candidate Borislav Pelevic came in third, with 3.5 per cent.In the first elections, on 29 September, Kostunica failed to win an outright victory.
That led to a run-off two weeks later, but the vote was annulled due to low turnout, sending the whole elections process back to square one.
Legislation removing the 50 per cent requirement was adopted, but it applied only to a presidential run-off, and not to the first round held Sunday.
And existing law bars a run-off if voter turnout is too low during the first round, analysts said.Kostunica, whose current job is set to disappear in a few months under terms of the charter establishing the new union of Serbia and Montenegro, said he would not accept the results.
He repeated his earlier charge that voter registration lists contained a large number of invalid entries."You could say that they could go into the Guinness Book of Records," Kostunica said, also threatening to bring the case before the country's constitutional court.
His Democratic Party of Serbia lost a similar case after the October run-off.Accusing Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic of sabotaging the vote, Kostunica said the failure would not delay early parliamentary elections he has been promising, but rather would advance them.
The two former allies turned bitter rivals following the overthrow of Milosevic's regime in 2000; Kostunica has pledged to topple Djindjic's government.
Ahead of Sunday's vote, he refused the conditional support Djindjic offered."If the elections fail, Mr. Kostunica and those who advised him should take full responsibility as it will mean that he wrongly calculated his support," Djindjic said before casting his vote.Serbian Parliament Speaker Natasa Micic could become acting president until the impasse is resolved, according to sources in the prime minister's camp.
Djindjic has also indicated he may seek legislation allowing parliament to elect the president.




OSCE Adopts Anti-Terrorism Charter 10/12/2002 The 10th OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting ended Saturday (7 December) with the adoption of a set of documents, including a charter on fighting terrorism and a declaration on human trafficking. (AFP, Novinite.com - 08/12/02; OSCE, FT, BTA - 07/12/02; OSCE - 06/12/02)The 10th OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting ended Saturday (7 December) with the adoption of a set of documents, including a charter on fighting terrorism and a declaration on human trafficking.
With an eye to the organisation's future role, the ministers agreed on guidelines for an OSCE strategy to address 21st-century challenges.
The final declaration reaffirmed the participating countries' commitment "to work together to protect our peoples from existing and emerging threats to security.""Important decisions have been adopted and the commitment of the OSCE to furthering peace and stability has been strongly reaffirmed," said OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz.
Portugal currently holds the 55-nation organisation's one-year rotating presidency.Representatives from Vancouver to Vladivostok arrived in Portugal to attend the two-day meeting, which took place between NATO's transformation and expansion summit in Prague and the upcoming EU enlargement summit in Copenhagen.
The OSCE works in close and permanent co-operation with NATO and the EU, as well as with the UN and the Council of Europe.Da Cruz emphasised the importance of regional and global co-operation in support of the UN's anti-terrorism strategy.
"No organisation or state can meet this challenge on its own," he said.
AFP, quoting a draft of the anti-terrorism charter adopted at the meeting, said it calls for strengthened border controls and co-operation in tracing "links between terrorism and trans-national organised crime, money laundering, trafficking in human beings, drugs and arms."Participants also adopted a declaration calling on member states to intensify efforts, both domestic and abroad, to end human trafficking.
Da Cruz said the issue affects all OSCE states, whether they are "countries of origin . transit countries or countries of destination."US Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones, meanwhile, stressed the link between trafficking and terrorism.
"If you are going after traffickers, you are likely to be going after terrorists and criminals as well," she said.
"You are making sure you know who and what is crossing your borders.
You are looking at criminal financing, so you are also looking at terrorist financing."The ministers decided to hold an annual security review conference, starting in 2003.
They also approved Bulgaria's bid for the OSCE chairmanship in 2004.
Bulgaria will be the next country to hold the chairmanship after the Netherlands, which takes it up on 1 January.




Report Recommends Continued International Engagement in the Balkans 10/12/2002 The United States, the EU and international aid groups must strengthen their role in reconstructing the Balkans to ensure the region does not slip into instability, according to a report released Monday (9 December) by the Council on Foreign Relations. (Council on Foreign Relations, AP, The New York Times, RFE/RL - 09/12/02)The United States, the EU and international aid groups must strengthen their role in reconstructing the Balkans to ensure that the region does not slip into instability, political extremism and terrorism, according to a report released Monday (9 December) by the Council on Foreign Relations.Drawing particular attention to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Macedonia and Serbia -- including Kosovo -- the report identifies continuing sources of instability, including unemployment, lagging reforms, insufficient reconstruction and development funding, corruption and organised crime, and ethnic and religious tensions.
The consequences of neglecting these challenges could include growing poverty and increased illegal economic activity, as well as a greater likelihood of political extremism, insurgency and terrorism, the report warns.To address these challenges, the task force suggests, the international community should engage in setting the Balkans irreversibly on the path to EU standards of governance by 2010.
Co-ordinated action should be taken in five key areas: re-evaluation and clarification of its objectives and restructuring of its presence in the region; establishment of the rule of law and development of fair and effective systems of criminal and civil justice; economic restructuring, including in the banking, taxation, trade, and pension systems; refugee and internally displaced persons' return or resettlement; and education reform and civil society development.While working closely to accomplish these objectives, the international community should also make sure it includes reformist local leaders as partners in the process, the report adds.
The task force recommends that the United States remain actively involved in the Balkans as its presence is "an essential deterrent to violence".
It also calls on the EU to play a leading role in fostering political and economic reforms, and on NATO to play a stronger role in military reform.




Bush Reassures Erdogan of Washington's Support for Turkey's EU Bid 11/12/2002 US President George W. Bush met with Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday (10 December) and reiterated Washington's support for Turkey's EU bid. (AFP, FT, The Washington Post - 11/12/02; AP, Reuters, VOA, Anadolu Agency - 10/12/02)After meeting with Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, US President George W. Bush expressed Washington's support for Turkey's EU bid.
"We're impressed by your leadership and your party's strong victory," Bush told Erdogan on Tuesday (10 December).
"We join you side by side in your desire to become a member of the EU," he added.White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters that Bush "differs strongly with anybody in Europe who has suggested that because of Turkey's background, Turkey would not qualify.
The president does not think that should be a disqualification."
Fleischer described the meeting as "positive" and said the two leaders discussed Iraq, regional security and the economy as well as Turkey's hopes of joining the EU.Erdogan said discussions on Iraq focused on ways of defusing the conflict through peaceful means.
Speaking Monday night at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies, he said Turkey's preference was for war "to be the last resort."
But he stressed that Turkey would give the necessary support to ensure the UN resolution on Iraq is implemented.In addition to President Bush, Erdogan met with Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.
Later Tuesday, Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis held talks with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York.
The Anatolia news agency said the meeting focused on resolving the Cyprus issue.The AKP leader's visit came ahead of the EU enlargement summit in Copenhagen, which will take place Thursday and Friday.
France and Germany have proposed setting July 2005 as a conditional date for opening accession negotiations with Turkey, assuming a 2004 review finds the country has met EU criteria for human rights and the rule of law.
Turkey has said it opposes this plan.
On Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Ugur Zival said Ankara was willing to compromise and agree to delay negotiations until May 2004 at the latest.
But if Turkey is given a date to start talks in 2005, it would abandon its EU bid, Zival suggested.Meanwhile, the Turkish Parliament approved a constitutional amendment that would clear the way for Erdogan to run in a special election in the southeastern Siirt province.
If elected, he could move on to become prime minister.
Under current law, Erdogan is barred from holding public office because of a 1998 conviction for religious incitement.
The amendment is to be formally adopted Sunday.




Albania Seeking New Balkans Confidence Through Diplomacy 12/12/2002 Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta, on a visit to Moscow, said diplomatic efforts to improve relations with Russia and Yugoslavia would help strengthen peace in the Balkans. (Reuters, RFE/RL, RIA Novosti - 11/12/02)Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta said Wednesday (11 December) that diplomatic efforts to improve relations with Russia and Yugoslavia would help strengthen peace in the Balkans.
During a visit in Moscow, Meta said Tirana was intent on seeing that two decades of hostile relations with Belgrade are confined to the past."No one should doubt why Albanians and the Yugoslavs or Serbs are reflecting on the bitter history they are leaving behind, and [why they] are working to build a common future under the umbrella of the European Union," Reuters quoted Meta as saying.
"This is based on new standards for resolving problems and difficulties and trying to build new confidence in the region."Meta's statement came two days after Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano told visiting Yugoslav Minister of Health Milos Knezevic that their countries should play an active role in promoting regional co-operation in the Balkans as a means of enhancing development.
As a sign of improving relations, the Yugoslav national carrier JAT is due to resume regular direct flights to Tirana within days, after a break of more than two decades.While in Moscow, Meta met with a 28-member business delegation.
Accords were signed on increased university exchanges and on co-operation between the Russian and Albanian chambers of commerce.Intensifying contacts between businessmen and business organisations "will help us develop relations between our countries," said Moscow Chamber of Commerce head and former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov.
He added that Russian imports from Albania last year totalled a mere $30,000, while the volume of exports dwarfs that and still has growth potential.On Wednesday, Meta and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov agreed to strengthen political dialogue between their countries.
They also discussed the situation in the Balkans, including Kosovo.Meta said Tirana wants to see all countries, including Russia, demonstrate their commitment to full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1244 on Kosovo.
Albania supports self-governance and administrative institutions in the province, he added.
"Functioning of these institutions should be based on interethnic co-existence in Kosovo and integration into Europe," Meta said.Ivanov agreed that the status of the province must be resolved on the basis of the Security Council resolution.
Russia pulled out 1,200 troops from its KFOR contingent earlier this year and currently has some 600 soldiers in Kosovo.In separate news, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Wednesday, extending the mandate of the 350-strong Russian SFOR contingent until 31 July 2003.




UN Tribunal Grants Limited Immunity to War Reporters 13/12/2002 A five-member appeals panel at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague has ruled that war reporters cannot be compelled to testify before the court and that they should be summoned to the witness stand only under exceptional circumstances. (The New York Times, The Independent - 12/12/02; AP, BBC - 11/12/02)A five-member appeals panel at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague has ruled that war reporters cannot be compelled to testify before the court and that they should be summoned to the witness stand only under exceptional circumstances.
The decision is the first to grant limited immunity to journalists working in combat zones and is expected to set a precedent for other ad hoc courts and the new International Criminal Court.Wednesday's (11 December) ruling came in response to an appeal filed last May by The Washington Post and its reporter Jonathan Randal, who was subpoenaed to testify in the trial against ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Brdjanin.On 11 February 1993, the Post carried an article by Randal quoting Brdjanin as supporting the expulsion of non-Serbs from Banja Luka.
The former Bosnian Serb deputy prime minister is on trial for killing, torturing and expelling over 100,000 non-Serb citizens during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Resisting the court's order, Randal argued that compelling journalists to testify at such trials could jeopardise their ability to work in war zones.
His appeal was supported by 34 international news organisations, including CNN, the BBC and the Associated Press.
"We're delighted.
This is a really important decision for journalism and international law," Post managing editor Steve Coll said.
Floyd Abrams, a lawyer representing the news organisations that supported the appeal, described Wednesday's ruling as a "breakthrough" and said it ensures that war correspondents "can do their jobs without the concern they will be routinely placed in the impossible position of testifying against their sources."The decision allows the summoning of journalists to the witness stand only when the court is convinced the evidence "has a direct and important value in determining a core issue in the case" and provided the information cannot reasonably be obtained from other sources.
The appeals panel expressed doubt that the evidence Randal could provide fits either criterion, though prosecutors could still reapply for a new subpoena before a lower court.The judges emphasised that it was in the public interest that reporters are allowed to work freely in combat zones and can alert the international community to the horrors of warfare and human rights abuses.Florence Hartmann, a spokeswoman for the UN court's prosecutors, said the decision to seek another subpoena for Randal will likely be made next year.
"We're pleased that the court did not grant a systematic privilege for all journalists," she said.
"We welcome and understand the fact that the court is trying to prevent war correspondents from being subpoenaed unnecessarily."




Success of Montenegrin Presidential Election in Doubt 19/12/2002 With the most powerful opposition parties boycotting the 22 December Montenegrin presidential elections, low voter turnout may scuttle any chance of success. By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 19/12/02The For Change coalition, which includes the three strongest opposition parties in Montenegro, has decided to boycott the 22 December presidential elections.
The coalition decided it could not field a candidate capable of defeating Democratic Party of Socialists candidate Filip Vujanovic, who is strongly backed by Prime Minister-elect Milo Djukanovic.
The elections will also be boycotted by Djukanovic's former ally, the Liberal Alliance, a party that is now in fierce conflict with the Montenegrin government.The boycott decision could endanger the success of the elections, since Montenegrin election law requires a greater than 50 per cent turnout of registered voters in the first round.
Analysts in Podgorica doubt that Montenegro will get a president this year.Vujanovic faces no serious opponent, though ten other candidates are running.
The majority are non-party candidates with little chance of winning.
Therefore, Vujanovic's main task is to secure the required turnout.
To do so, he must convince voters committed to Montenegrin independence that his party's assent to forming a joint state with Serbia is not a betrayal of the idea of independence.
He stresses that after three years, citizens will be able to decide on the status of Montenegro.The For Change coalition is in a very difficult position, following their sound defeat in October's parliamentary elections.
A fresh defeat would signal the complete marginalisation of the opposition.
Furthermore, members of parliament from these parties will have to leave the Yugoslav government when the new union of Serbia and Montenegro is formed.Following talks with US Ambassador to Belgrade William Montgomery, the Montenegrin opposition announced that it would not lead an active anti-election campaign.
Montgomery emphasised that the international community expects the presidential elections to succeed.
The OSCE and the Council of Europe, viewing political stability as a key to continued reforms, are organising a media campaign to encourage voters to go to the polls Sunday.Yet the NGO, the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, conducted a poll earlier this month suggesting that less than 46 per cent of registered voters intend to do that.
The survey of 983 respondents, conducted from 5 December through 8 December, showed 36 per cent support Vujanovic, while the other ten candidates mustered a combined total of 5 per cent.




G-17 Plus Enters Serbia's Political Arena 18/12/2002 Possible conflicts between Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's Democratic Party and the reformist Serbian think tank G-17 Plus may prove counterproductive to Serbia's liberal, pro-European option. Analysis by Dusan Kosanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 17/12/02The decision by Serbia's influential economic think tank, G-17, to become a formal political party has brought into play some of the ambiguities surrounding this popular NGO.
Although Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus, who received about a million votes in September's presidential elections, will be the new party's president, analysts say it cannot count on receiving the same amount of votes.That's because in past elections, Labus was supported by Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's Democratic Party (DS), as well as by the parties of national minorities.The group's popularity is based on the political agenda of its experts.
But many consider its official positions dubious, because it is contradictory to maintain important governmental ministries while still remaining an NGO.
On the other hand, the members of G-17 Plus have had trouble deciding whether to enter the political fray.
In a serious blow to the organisation, popular Finance Minister Bozidar Djelic refused to take part in this transformation, explaining that G-17's political programme is overtly liberal, while he is more of a social democrat.Analysts believe that G-17 Plus may have made a strategic mistake by situating itself between the liberal-centre and centre-right, areas already occupied by the more powerful parties of Djindjic and Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica.
The group would stand a better chance of gaining political power if it co-operated closely with unions, to develop a strong party of the centre-left -- a political option which does not exist in Serbia.
That is unusual, compared to other European parliamentary democracies.The relationship between G-17 Plus and DS is interesting.
Labus was a DS member, but he withdrew after the September elections, claiming that Djindjic had failed to give him strong enough support.
The other influential leader of G-17 Plus, Yugoslav National Bank governor Mladjan Dinkic, had a stirring public debate with Djindjic about the national currency exchange rate.
Both parties are hoping for the support of liberal intellectuals, students, national minorities and the business sector.
Possible conflicts between the two parties could prove to be counterproductive, further empowering the strongest party in Serbia -- Kostunica's conservative Democratic Party of Serbia.Other parties with similar aims, such as the Civil Alliance of Serbia -- led by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic and the youthful, popular Parliament Speaker, Natasa Micic -- have emphasised that they intend to preserve good relationships with both DS and G-17 Plus.
Yet they have also said that it is time for parties of similar interest to unite and form an alliance.
Serbia is characterised by a very large number of parties, making it difficult to establish a stable political atmosphere.




Three-day Sentencing Hearing for Former Republika Srpska President Begins 16/12/2002 The final hearing in the case of former Bosnian Serb leader Biljana Plavsic opened in The Hague on Monday (16 December).
Plavsic pleaded guilty in October to one charge of persecution on racial, religious and political grounds. (BBC, AP - 16/12/02; Reuters, Radio B92 - 15/12/02)The final hearing in the case of former Bosnian Serb leader Biljana Plavsic opened in The Hague on Monday (16 December).
About a dozen witnesses are expected to come forward during the three-day hearing before the judges retire to determine Plavsic's sentence, a process usually taking several months.Plavsic, 72, was originally indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal on eight counts, including genocide and crimes against humanity.
After her voluntary surrender in January 2001, she pleaded not guilty to all charges.
But in a surprise expression of remorse in early October 2002, she "fully and unconditionally" admitted responsibility for the persecution of non-Serbs.
In a statement made during her provisional release, Plavsic expressed hope that her guilty plea would "offer some consolation to the innocent victims -- Muslim, Croat and Serb."Although the prosecution dropped the other seven charges against her following her plea, she could still face the maximum sentence of life in prison.
Both the defence and the prosecution have denied speculation that her move was part of a deal.
According to Plavsic, her only condition was not to testify at other trials.Among the witnesses expected to appear during the final hearing are former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and the former UN envoy to the Balkans, Carl Bildt.Former Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik is expected to testify for the defence.
Other prominent figures named as possible witnesses include Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel.
The BBC reports he might address the court Monday afternoon via a video link from Paris.Plavsic, a former biology professor, is the only woman and one of the highest ranking suspects indicted by the UN tribunal for atrocities during the Balkan wars in the 1990s.
Once a close ally of Radovan Karadzic, during the 1992-1995 war in BiH she was considered a hardline Serb nationalist, but later moderated her stance to become a driving force in implementation of the Dayton peace accord.
She served as president of the Bosnian Serb entity, Republika Srpska, from 1996 to 1998.




Plavsic Asks UN Tribunal for Justice 18/12/2002 Addressing the UN war crimes tribunal, former Bosnian Serb leader Biljana Plavsic admitted responsibility for the persecution of non-Serbs during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Reuters, The Independent, The Washington Post - 18/12/02; AP, BBC, CNN, Reuters, The New York Times, VOA, RFE/RL, Radio B92 - 17/12/02)Addressing the UN war crimes tribunal on Tuesday (17 December), former Bosnian Serb leader Biljana Plavsic admitted responsibility for the persecution of non-Serbs during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and appealed for justice."You must strive in your judgment to find whatever justice this world can offer, not only for me, but also for the innocent victims of this war," Plavsic told the three-judge panel presiding at her three-day sentencing hearing.She said that over time she had come to realise that "many thousands of innocent people were the victims of organised, systematic efforts to remove Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats from territory claimed by Serbs."
Because of a "blinding fear" that Serbs might become victims of their neighbours, as in World War II, the Bosnian Serb leadership became victimisers themselves, Plavsic said."The knowledge that I'm responsible for such human suffering and for soiling the character of my people will always be with me," said the highest-ranking Bosnian Serb official to appear before the court.
She is also the only woman to have been indicted by The Hague tribunal for war crimes during the conflicts in the Balkans.Plavsic initially pleaded not guilty to all eight counts against her.
But in a surprise move in October, she decided to plead guilty to one charge of persecution, defined by the court as a crime against humanity.
In exchange, the prosecution dropped the other seven charges, including two counts of genocide.The 72-year-old former biology professor was once Radovan Karadzic's close ally and his wartime deputy, but later severed relations with him.
After the end of the war Plavsic succeeded Karadzic as president of the Bosnian Serb entity, Republika Srpska.
While in this post between 1996 and 1998, she played a key role in implementing the Dayton peace accord.Addressing the court on Tuesday, former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright described the atrocities committed during the Bosnian conflict as "unimaginable horrors" reminiscent of the Holocaust, and said Plavsic, whom she characterised as a "very conflicted individual," bore some responsibility.
But she also credited Plavsic with taking a personal risk in breaking with other hard-line nationalists and supporting the Dayton peace agreement, and expressed respect for the Plavsic's admission of guilt and willingness to take responsibility.The judges also heard testimony from the international community's former High Representative, Carl Bildt, who praised Plavsic for her contribution to implementing the Dayton accord.
That process, he said, "would have been very difficult and more dangerous and almost certainly more violent" without her.Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel was among the other seven witnesses.
He urged the judges not to forget the victims of ethnic cleansing as they consider Plavsic's sentence, which is expected in a few months.The maximum penalty for crimes against humanity is life in prison.




Greece Outlines EU Presidency Priorities 20/12/2002 Greece, which takes over the EU presidency from Denmark in January, will seek to ensure that the EU enlargement process goes smoothly, top officials said. (The Guardian - 19/12/02; AP, UPI, Reuters, EUobserver.com, ANA, eKathimerini, Dnevnik.bg - 18/12/02; BBC - 17/12/02; EurActiv.com - 03/12/02)Greece, which takes over the EU presidency from Denmark on 1 January, will work to ensure that EU enlargement progresses according to the timetable agreed upon at last week's Copenhagen summit continue, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said Wednesday (18 December).
Papandreou, in Brussels to launch his country's turn at the six-month rotating presidency, also said Greece would work towards building a stronger international presence for the EU.The accession treaty inviting ten Central and East European countries -- Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia -- to join the Union in 2004 will be signed on 16 April in Athens.
Papandreou said Athens would also focus on advancing the accession strategies of Bulgaria and Romania "so that they can become members within the regular timetable and to make progress with a new partnership with Turkey."In Athens, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis said he believed Croatia could also make a swift progress on its accession course.
"This is our Europe," he said.
"We are sharing the future in a community of principles."Enlargement, institutional reform, economic strategy, a common foreign and defence policy, and immigration and migration will be Greece's five top priorities, he indicated.In the economic arena, Greece will seek to enhance competitiveness, employment, social cohesion and sustainable development, including the promotion of EU co-operation with the Balkans through agreements to remove trade barriers.Signing an accession treaty with Cyprus is also high on Greece's list of priorities.
In an interview with Reuters, Papandreou said he believed momentum towards reunification of the divided island could be kept up despite the failure to reach agreement last week on a UN proposal.
The prospect of starting accession talks with Turkey, and the EU's decision to admit Cyprus in 2004, both provided clear incentives for settling the dispute, he said.Greece has indicated that it will seek to finalise the treaty admitting Cyprus at the 16 April meeting, and that the EU would be prepared to admit only the Greek part of the island if a solution remains elusive.Turkey this week reiterated its objections to the EU decision, calling the conditions of the UN peace plan unacceptable.
But Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, under criticism for blocking efforts towards a settlement, said he would continue peace talks aimed at finding a solution until a UN deadline at the end of February.




Presidential Veto Clouds Erdogan's Prospects 20/12/2002 A presidential veto has dealt a blow to Justice and Development Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's hopes of becoming prime minister. (VOA, The Guardian - 20/12/02; AP, Reuters, BBC, CNN - 19/12/02)A veto imposed Thursday (19 December) by Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on constitutional amendments passed last week dealt a blow to Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's hopes of becoming prime minister.
While AKP says it will readopt the legislation without further consideration, Erdogan could still find himself barred from taking office if Sezer decides to call a referendum or bring an appeal before the Constitutional Court.The constitutional changes would remove restrictions barring Erdogan from being elected to parliament because of a 1999 conviction and jail sentence for promoting religious intolerance.According to Turkey's constitution, only a member of parliament may become prime minister.
With 440 out of 550 parliamentary deputies - including many members of parliament from the opposition Republican People's Party - supporting the amendments, AKP has the support to overrule the presidential veto.The prime minister's post is now held by Abdullah Gul, though Erdogan is widely seen as the country's de facto leader."We'll have to look at the decision but parliament will do what it has to.
It will again embrace what it has already done," AKP deputy head Hayati Yazici said after Sezer's veto.Sezer objected to the legislation on the grounds that the constitution could not be changed to benefit a particular person.
"It is clear that the constitutional amendment is subjective, concrete and aimed at one individual," the president said.But the Turkish presidential office carries limited powers, which will not allow Sezer to veto the legislation again.If Sezer backs off and signs the contested law, Erdogan would be able to stand in a by-election in the southeast province of Siirt early next year, become a member of parliament in February and then replace Gul as prime minister.
Electoral results in Siirt were cancelled and by-elections called for, following evidence of irregularities in the November poll.But his chances of gaining the top executive post would be dimmed if Sezer decides to call a referendum or launch an appeal.
Both scenarios would take several months to unfold, with a final result not likely until after the vote in Siirt.Thus, even though Erdogan is almost certain to win a referendum, his path to parliament - and to the post of prime minister - would be blocked.




Montenegro's Presidential Election Fails 23/12/2002 The presidential election held Sunday (22 December) in Montenegro failed because of insufficient voter turnout, according to representatives of two independent monitoring organisations. By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 23/12/02The presidential election held in Montenegro, Yugoslavia on Sunday (22 December) failed because of insufficient voter turnout, representatives of independent monitoring organisations reported.
Front-runner Filip Vujanovic captured more than 80 per cent of the vote, but many voters stayed away from the polls amid an opposition boycott, causing turnout to fall below the required 50 per cent.
Observers say disenchantment with politicians in the wake of a sex trade scandal also contributed to voter indifference.According to Podgorica's Centre for Election Monitoring and Belgrade's Centre for Free Elections and Democracy, only 209,800, or 45.9 per cent, of the 456,981 registered voters cast their ballots.
Vujanovic, the candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), received 176,000 votes, or 83.9 per cent.
Dragan Hajdukovic came in second, with 5.9 per cent.
The other nine candidates split the rest.
Western election monitors said there were no serious ballot irregularities.Montenegro's three strongest opposition parties, which make up the For Change coalition, boycotted the poll, as did the Liberal Alliance, a former DPS ally that is now in fierce conflict with the Montenegrin government.The same candidates will now have to run again in a repeat election.
While Montenegrin law does not specify a deadline, reports indicate the new round will be held in mid-January.
Vujanovic, meanwhile, will continue to serve as acting president -- a post he has held since Milo Djukanovic became prime minister.Vujanovic said Sunday that he was satisfied with the number of votes he received.
Urging those who abstained in the first round to vote next time, he told a news conference that he hoped the January round would give him "the several percentage points I need for victory."The Associated Press quoted him as saying: "Because of the huge destructive influence of those who called for a boycott, this round of voting has not succeeded ... but Montenegro will get a president in January, and I'm sure it will be me."Low turnout also caused presidential elections to fail for the second time in Serbia -- Montenegro's partner in the current Yugoslav federation -- earlier this month.
Serbia and Montenegro signed an agreement this year establishing a new, looser union in which each will have nearly full sovereignty.




Del Ponte Criticises Belgrade, Wants Outgoing Serbian President in The Hague 23/12/2002 UN chief war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte has again criticised Yugoslav authorities for unsatisfactory co-operation with the international criminal tribunal in The Hague. (AP, Reuters, ICTY - 20/12/02; UN -- 18/12/02 - 20/12/02; Radio B92 - 19/12/02 -22/12/02)UN chief war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte criticised Yugoslav authorities on Friday (20 December) for unsatisfactory co-operation with the international criminal tribunal in The Hague.
She also demanded that outgoing Serbian President Milan Milutinovic be handed over as soon as his term expires in early January.Speaking at a press conference in The Hague, del Ponte quoted a UN Security Council statement issued on 18 December which reminded all relevant states, "and Yugoslavia first of all," of their mandatory obligation to co-operate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
That obligation includes complying with the tribunal's requests for the arrest and transfer of indictees, making witnesses available and assisting in ongoing investigations, the statement indicated.Del Ponte said that Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic, who is head of the national council for co-operation with the ICTY, refused to speak with her over the phone despite a prior agreement.
"So much for a dialogue," del Ponte said.The Swiss prosecutor referred to media reports quoting Svilanovic as saying the ICTY was "a stone on the neck of Yugoslavia" and suggesting that all co-operation might be halted because of disagreements over the prosecution's assessment of the situation in Yugoslavia.Some of the requests Belgrade has failed to comply with were 20 months old, del Ponte said.
"The best results and fair results in the criminal trials of such importance as here in The Hague are only possible to achieve if the best possible documents are made available in a timely manner," she added, citing the trial of Slobodan Milosevic.But Svilanovic, speaking to Novi Sad's daily Dnevnik on Sunday, said the national council is fully committed to making all relevant documents available to the prosecution.
He added that achieving Yugoslavia's foreign policy goals, such as Council of Europre entry, hinged on co-operation with the UN tribunal.
"Suspects will be arrested and sent to the court," he said.At her press conference, del Ponte also briefed reporters about a letter she had sent to Yugoslav authorities, asking them to ensure that outgoing Serbian President Milan Milutinovic be handed over to the ICTY "immediately upon the expiry of his term of office" on 5 January.
A former Milosevic ally, Milutinovic was indicted by the ICTY for his alleged role in war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo.On Thursday, Belgrade-based Radio B92 quoted Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic as saying that Milutnovic would have go to The Hague to explain his role in the past events.
"Whether he will persuade them there is no reason to open a procedure against him, or he will be granted bail, or there will be some third way, I don't know," Djindjic said.




Sale of BiH Bank Ordered Following Fraud Revelations 24/12/2002 BiH High Representative Paddy Ashdown has ordered the sale of a bank that has been linked to Croat separatists. (Office of the High Representative, AP - 23/12/02; Institute for War and Peace Reporting - 20/12/02)Paddy Ashdown, the chief international officer in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), ordered the sale of Hercegovacka Bank after auditors found evidence of financial irregularities and funding of separatist political forces.
The auditors' report linked the bank to massive fraud and misappropriation totalling at least $100m.A statement issued by Ashdown's office Monday (23 December) said he made his decision after considering which of the three possible options allowed under law -- sale, recapitalising, or liquidation -- would best serve the interests of small depositors, individual businesses and the local economy."My priorities have been to ensure that the small depositors and individual businesses get as much of their money back as possible, and to preserve as much of the bank's branch network as possible.
The bank's branch network played an important role for depositors and small businesses in Herzegovina alike.
If this sale is successful, it will continue to do so," the statement quoted Ashdown as saying.The report links the alleged illegal operations with high-ranking Bosnian Croat politicians and officials.
One of the key players, according to the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), was former Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader and BiH Presidency member Ante Jelavic.
Ashdown's predecessor removed him from political office in March 2001 after his call for the establishment of Croat self-rule within BiH.
A month later, SFOR peacekeepers raided the bank's offices in Mostar and other towns, on suspicion that it was funding a Croat separatist movement.IWPR reports other leading figures allegedly involved in the Hercegovacka affair include HDZ parliamentary deputy Gen Ljubo Cesic Rojs, retired Gen Stanko Sopta, former Federation Defence Minister Gen Miroslav Prce and senior federal defence ministry official Gen Ivan Medic.
All are believed to have used the funds for personal gain in addition to promoting separatism in BiH.The report, which took more than 18 months to complete, was presented on 16 December by the bank's provisional administrator, Toby Robinson."From March 1998 to early 2001, 647 million German marks were deposited in the Hercegovacka Bank by the Croatian government.
At least 216 million marks intended as payment for soldiers, pensions and assistance for widows of war veterans, were used for other purposes," Robinson said.
"Some of the shareholders used the bank to finance a planned attempt to force a change in the constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina," she added, referring to the events in early 2001.The group involved in the illegal scheme used the bank to launder illegal profits as well to make payments intended to buy the loyalty of Bosnian Croat soldiers serving in the federal army, the report suggests.




Evictions Part of International Community Strategy to Implement BiH Property Laws 27/12/2002 More evictions and more temporary places to stay are the keys to the international community's new strategy for implementing property laws in BiH. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 26/12/02International agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are pressuring local authorities to evict people who are on property that is not theirs and to come up with places for evictees to stay, so that thousands of unresolved property claims can be settled by the end of next year."What I've noticed in our office is that now evictions are taking place faster.
In the past it was rather a problem," said Vanesa Zecevic, spokeswoman for the Commission for Real Property Claims (CRPC) of Displaced Persons and Refugees.The CRPC is one of five international agencies -- UNHCR, OSCE, OHR, CRPC and UNMIBH -- that work in tandem to put people back on the property that they lost during the war.
Under the Dayton agreement that ended the 1992-1995 war, the two million people that abandoned their homes have the right to return, and next year will see the final push to resolve the remaining 110,000 claims to property."The international community basically decided to push the enforcement," Zecevic said of the five agencies' New Strategic Direction, announced in September.
She said the strategy is backed up by the authority of the Office of the High Representative, which can dismiss mayors or housing authority officials who are blocking the process.Property law implementation steadily increased over the summer in BiH as a whole, according to UNHCR figures.
Zecevic said that the increase was a reflection of this year's record return figures and of the authorities realising that they had to evict illegal occupants during the summer reconstruction season."It's this reconstruction season that had a certain impact on them taking it seriously.
More evictions took place so people didn't find themselves on the street in the middle of the winter," she said.Zecevic said that local authorities have long stood in the way of implementation by failing to provide what's called alternative accommodation -- temporary places for those who have been evicted."This was a big excuse by the authorities," she said.
"One of the messages is that the international community will no longer accept the excuse that there's no alternative accommodation.""The authorities have taken the issue of alternative accommodation more seriously in view of the new strategic direction," a UNHCR representative said.
"These authorities have been asked by the IC to adequately budget for temporary accommodation so that the right to accommodation of the most vulnerable who are entitled to it and are facing evictions is respected."By the end of next year the agencies are hoping to see a dramatic increase in the property laws' implementation rate.
The figure as of the end of September was 62 per cent.




Serbian Prime Minister Says Outgoing President Will Go to The Hague 27/12/2002 Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic says outgoing Serbian President Milan Milutinovic must either surrender voluntarily to the UN war crimes tribunal or be handed over.
Milutinovic's term ends on 5 January. (Reuters, AP, CNN, Radio B92, Free Serbia - 26/12/02)Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic said Thursday (26 December) that outgoing Serbian President Milan Milutinovic will be handed over to the UN war crimes tribunal when his term in office expires on 5 January, unless he decides to go voluntarily.
He urged the president to start talks with the UN court concerning his surrender.
Milutinovic, along with four other former top Yugoslav officials, including Slobodan Milosevic, was indicted for atrocities allegedly committed during the 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo."The Hague cannot be avoided," Djindjic said Thursday.
"The only question is whether someone will go the thorny way... or voluntarily and ensure that their treatment there is a little better."
The prime minister was instrumental in Milosevic's arrest and subsequent extradition to The Hague last year.Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic, echoing Djindjic's statement, said Thursday "all indicted must be extradited because we cannot be accepted as members of the international community if we don't respect international obligations."
Svilanovic, who is also head of the council for co-operation with the tribunal, urged Yugoslav politicians to make the issue a top national priority, saying hopes for entry into the EU and other international bodies hinge on it.
Yugoslavia's perceived lack of co-operation had proved "a stumbling block in joining the Partnership for Peace", Svilanovic added.Meanwhile, the Belgrade-based Nacional quoted an unnamed source close to the president as saying Milutinovic will neither surrender voluntarily nor try to hide from the tribunal.
His five-year term ends on 5 January.
Belgrade had up until now declined requests by the UN court for his extradition, citing the immunity from prosecution he enjoys while in office.Under the law on co-operation with The Hague tribunal adopted by parliament in April, once judicial authorities receive a request for Milutinovic's extradition, they are to send it to a domestic court.
That court in turn must call on him to turn himself in or face arrest.
Djindjic said the law was quite clear and no exceptions would be made.A week ago, UN chief war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte criticised Belgrade for unsatisfactory co-operation with the tribunal.
She also said she had sent a letter to the Yugoslav authorities, demanding that Milutinovic be handed over to the tribunal "immediately upon the expiry of his term of office".




Bulgaria Shuts Down Reactors 30/12/2002 Bulgaria will begin decommissioning the first two reactors at its Kozloduy nuclear power plant on Monday (30 December), meeting a commitment to the EU to shut down the units by year's end. (Various sources -- 27/12/02)At midnight on Monday (30 December), Bulgaria will begin decommissioning the first two reactors at its Kozloduy nuclear power plant.
Shutting down the plant's oldest two units by year's end is one of Bulgaria's commitments to the EU, which also wants to see the two of the other four reactors at Kozloduy taken out of operation by 2006.Energy ministry officials insist closure of the units, which together total 880 megawatts, will not disrupt the power supply or result in price hikes; nor will not affect Bulgaria's position as a leading electricity exporter in the region.
They insist none of the 900 workers involved in the operation of units 1 and 2 will be laid off as a result of the closures.Shutting down each of the reactors can be accomplished in a few hours, but that is only the first part of a four-stage decommissioning project that will take 37 years to complete.
In the second, five-year phase, the level of radiation will be reduced, the facilities will be deactivated and the nuclear fuel drained.
The final phases will involve ensuring safe storage of the fuel, with completion of a dry storage facility expected by the end of 2010.
The estimated cost of the entire decommissioning process will be over $400m.The Kozloduy plant, located some 200 km north of Sofia, accounts for about 45 per cent of Bulgaria's electricity output.
The first four 440-megawatt reactors were installed between 1974 and 1982.
A series of accidents led to international concerns over their safety, but since 1991 they have been continuously upgraded.
Units 1 and 2 were last upgraded in 1999, when Bulgaria signed a memorandum with the EU agreeing to their closure by the end of 2002."Bulgaria will still be a leading exporter of electricity in the region after the closure of units 1 and 2 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant.
Opportunities to export between 5.5 billion and 6 billion kWh of electricity are conceivable in 2003", said Energy Minister Milko Kovachev, following the government's decision on 19 December to start the decommissioning process.A government forecasting agency said these prospects would remain unchanged until 2008 or even -- under certain circumstances -- until 2020.
But the agency also noted that additional power generating capacities are urgently needed.
While approving the closure of the units at Kozloduy, the government has also decided to resume a project to build a second nuclear facility at Belene.
That effort was halted in 1991, amid pressure from environmental groups.
Before its suspension, investments in the project totalled $1.2 billion.




OSCE Initiatives Facilitate Dialogue Between Representatives of Balkan Media 07/01/2003 How can children's TV in Kosovo be improved?
How can the media help foster inter-community dialogue?
Those were the questions addressed at two forums sponsored by the OSCE mission in Kosovo. (OSCE - 29/11/02)Ways to improve TV programmes for children in Kosovo and the role of the media in building inter-community dialogue were the themes of two forums sponsored by the OSCE mission in Kosovo.
The forums, held in Brezovica in November, were attended by professionals from Kosovo and other parts of the region.The four-day conference on improving the quality of TV programmes for children brought together journalists and media professionals from Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania.
It was the first conference of its kind in the region, and OSCE plans to organise a follow-up later this year.This training event was part of the OSCE's mandate to support institution building in Kosovo, including the development of a media sector in line with international standards.
According to the OSCE, most of the TV shows for children shown in Kosovo come from abroad, while only a few are produced locally.
Those made in the province are lacking in quality because most producers are not fully aware of the interests of children as viewers.
One aim of the conference was to encourage professionals to focus on the issue of how to raise the quality of children's broadcasting in Kosovo and neighbouring regions.To facilitate the discussions, participants were shown 26 of the most innovative programmes presented at this year's bi-annual Prix Jeunesse competition in Munich.
The second part of the forum included a series of workshops on writing for children.The forum was organised by the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Children's TV Belgrade, the Prix Jeunesse Foundation, the Goethe Institute and the ZDF television network.A second forum at Brezovica brought together journalists from Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro to discuss the role of the media in building inter-community dialogue.
The two-day event was held as part of the Civic Dialogue Alternative (CAD) project, designed to facilitate dialogue between NGOs in Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro.The project is co-financed by the OSCE, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Freedom House Foundation.The forum's goal was to enable NGOs and youth civil groups from across the region to come into direct contact and discuss issues of common concern.
Media representatives participating in the forum discussed ideas for future dialogue and joint initiatives, in view of reinforcing CAD's action plan for 2003.Earlier conferences and meetings organised under the CAD project were held in Pristina, in Novi Becej and Palic in the province of Vojvodina, and in Belgrade.




Telekom Srbija Trying to Extend Monopoly to Internet 14/01/2003 By attempting to smother small Internet Service Providers, critics say phone monopoly Telekom Srbija is trying to monopolise the Internet.
Since Telekom is significantly contributing to the state budget, authorities tolerate the company's contempt for court orders. By Zoran B. Nikolic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 14/01/03In addition to using its monopoly acquired during the Milosevic regime to maintain one of the highest phone rates in Europe, Telekom Srbija, the country's exclusive fixed telephony operator, is now trying to extend its monopoly to the Internet and all cable communications in Serbia.
There are no indications this strategy will change even after Telecom Italia, the main proponent of monopoly extension, sold its 29 per cent share back to the Serbian state postal company at the end of last year.
New authorities, continuously stressing the need to close the digital divide between Serbia and developed countries, appear to be doing nothing to stop the monopolist.Last spring, Telekom discovered that its income from international calls was falling rapidly.
Telekom blamed small Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that provided Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, rather than looking into the possibility of internal problems.VoIP, widely available in many countries, allows end users to make international calls over the Internet rather than via ordinary phone networks, avoiding fees for international calls.
The service is much cheaper partly due to its lower quality.
VoIP internationally accounts for some 3 per cent of the overall traffic, and much less than that in Yugoslavia.
Furthermore, Yugoslav ISPs provide only incoming calls from abroad.
Dialing foreign countries from Yugoslavia over VoIP is impossible.Telekom Srbija is predominately state-owned.
The Republic of Serbia owns 51 per cent.
In 1997 Telecom Italia acquired 29 per cent of the company and Greek OTE 20 per cent.
The two companies paid 941m euros providing that Telekom Srbija remains the only player in fixed telephony until 2005.Telecom is also the owner of the Serbian fiber-optic backbone cable connecting the country with Western Europe.
Thus all Serbian ISPs are actually Telekom's sub-providers.
Concerned over VoIP violation of its monopoly, Telekom first started monitoring suspect ISPs' traffic, and then obstructed their operations.
Finally, in June, Telekom simply cut off their ISDN connections.The ISPs sued and the Belgrade Commercial Court ordered Telecom to immediately restore the connections.
But Telecom refused to comply and terminated contracts with all ISPs in question.In mid-November, the Federal Anti-Monopoly Commission rejected the complaint of one of the disconnected ISPs that Telekom is illegally trying to widen its monopoly on the Internet.
The commission decided that VoIP was violating Telekom's rightful monopoly.
It based its decision on the recommendation of the Federal IT Ministry.Some ISPs provided their VoIP services using small satellite stations called Vsat.
After receiving the incoming call over Vsat, ISPs passed the signal on over local telephone lines.
Because of this, Telekom claims it also has monopoly on Vsat.
Telekom is trying to force the ISPs to join a new system by boosting the prices of their classic services.
Prices of multiple ISDN lines went up at the end of October, but only for ISPs.
Some of the services are ten times more expensive now.
This forced the ISPs to increase prices for end users from 20 to 100 per cent.The ISPs have uncovered a scandal involving the Intelsat earth station in Ivanjica, knocked out during the1999 conflict.
Last year, Telecom Italia's satellite unit, Telespazio, reconstructed it.
But due to poor equipment, the station is still out of order.
ISPs claim that the Italians did a bad job on purpose.
Before it was bombed out, the station handled Serbia's international calls.
Now all international calls go through Telecom Italia, which is making 25m euros a month on that account.




BiH Education Reform Moving Ahead 06/01/2003 Education reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina is now a comprehensive effort, with more than 200 organisations working together under the umbrella of the OSCE. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 06/01/03Six pilot schools in Republika Srpska participate in a project to use interactive teaching methods.
A primary school in Tuzla implements a programme where teachers work together to make lesson plans.
At a primary school in Mostar, parents have a Union of School and Home to make sure that parents and the school can communicate.These are the beginnings of what is now a comprehensive effort to reform education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
The country's problems with education -- which range from a fragmented system with 13 different education ministries to using outdated teaching methods to lack of access for returnee children -- are now being tackled by more than 200 organisations under the umbrella of the OSCE.
OSCE and local education officials presented a broad education reform agenda to the Peace Implementation Council in Brussels in November."This is a very exciting development, to have one strategy for BiH that's endorsed by all the ministries and stakeholders in education," said OSCE education adviser on non-discrimination and access Jo-Anne Bishop, adding that 80 per cent of the working groups' members were Bosnians.One of the groups involved in education in BiH is the European Commission (EC), which has allocated 19.3m euros to the education sector here since 1996.
The EC's Technical Assistance to Education Reform project, which deals with reforming primary and general secondary education, ran a series of workshops this year with groups of teachers, administrators and education ministers.
They came up with many recommendations that were incorporated into the OSCE paper.Among the recommendations were that general education should last for nine years instead of the current eight, that teachers should use more modern teaching methods than lecturing, that school management could be improved by establishing school boards with more say in how schools are run and that special-needs children should be included in general education, said Jadranka Ruvic, EC social cohesion task manager."These are very general recommendations, because this is a very long-lasting process," she said.
"It can't be developed within one year."The education concerns of BiH's minority groups -- among them Roma, Hungarians, Czechs and Ukrainians -- were aired at a recent workshop in Sarajevo organised by the European Centre for Minority Issues.
Ivan Brelak, who represented a Banja Luka-based Ukrainian association, said that the group has taken the initiative to bring in its own language professor for Ukrainian children in Prnjavor, and that this may be the key to addressing the needs of minority schoolchildren throughout the country."We're doing this with our own means, on our own initiative, without waiting for the international community or other authorities", he said.




Sava River Co-operation Brings Hope for Future 17/01/2003 Last month, the foreign ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Yugoslavia came together for a historic meeting.
By agreeing to co-operate in managing the Sava River, they paved the way for far greater co-operation, potentially overcoming the tensions of the past and ensuring a brighter future. By Liz Barrett for Southeast European Times -- 16/01/03Regional co-operation - the idea that the countries of Southeastern Europe should work together in some political and economic activities - is a touchy issue.
Sometimes a history of war between two countries makes co-operation controversial.
Sometimes the more advanced countries wish to avoid being associated with their poorer, more troublesome neighbours.The December meeting of foreign ministers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Yugoslavia was thus historic.
The four ministers came together in the Slovenian countryside to sign an agreement to co-operate in managing the Sava River, which flows through all four countries.
Slovenia's Foreign Minister, Dimitrij Rupel, said that "the signatures show that countries of the former Yugoslavia are capable of accepting differences from the past, but also of finding common goals for the future."The Sava is the main artery sustaining life in the region.
It catches water from 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the four countries' land mass and provides more than 80 per cent of total available water.
Yet the Sava is crippled by a number of problems, some caused by the wars in these lands.
Commercial traffic cannot resume until waterways have been cleared of debris, ports rehabilitated and other supporting infrastructure rebuilt.It is in the interests of all four countries to be able to use the river again, but no one country has found it worthwhile to do much on its own.
Only if all four governments work together can the river be restored to its former glory.
But it took the Stability Pact to bring them together when it set up a forum for discussion, known as the Sava Initiative, in June 2001.
The logic of co-operation then became obvious to those involved, and a working group quickly established priorities: clearing the river for navigation and co-operation to prevent floods.The agreement also establishes a framework for future planning.
Future working groups could try to predict the environmental impact of economic development in the area, or seek to use the water's resources for hydro-energy plants.
The countries will be much better equipped for preventing pollution, a problem which spills over national borders.In the longer term, though, the impact of this agreement could be far greater.
It has established a basis for co-operation among countries with tense relationships.
There is a broader scope for collaboration, particularly on other areas of basic infrastructure.
There could be great gains if Southeast Europe has a common electricity network, rather than the current jumble of incompatible connections, or an integrated financial framework.
At the source of the Sava River, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, some of the region's foreign ministers may have discovered the key to the region's future prosperity and stability.




Handover of BiH Civil Air Space Almost Complete 20/01/2003 BiH's recent admission into the European Civil Aviation Conference is just one part of the handover of civilian airspace to local authorities. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 20/01/03Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) recently joined the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), an organisation that promotes safe and efficient air transport systems in Europe.
The country joined along with Azerbaijan and Yugoslavia."We should acknowledge the great strides that these new member states have made, and in some cases the extreme difficulties they have had to overcome, both internal and external, to join ECAC," said conference president Alfredo Roma.In BiH's case, overcoming those difficulties has been part of the handover of its civil airspace to local control, which will be largely completed by the end of this year."It's a big achievement for BiH to become a member of ECAC -- we were a candidate for the last three or four years," said Yves Lambert, the co-ordinator of the European Commission and the International Civil Aviation Organisation project to help BiH join the civil aviation community.Lambert said that evaluation teams had noted so much progress between the October 2001 visit and the June 2002 visit that BiH was invited to join the organisation.
NATO troops were in charge of all airspace in BiH since the end of the war in 1995, but that control is being gradually handed back to local authorities.For example, SFOR and the civilian authorities signed an agreement on 1 July to start the first phase of the transfer of control over Sarajevo airport from the SFOR Air Detachment to civilian authorities.
The initial handover -- responsibility for security, rescue, fire fighting and medical emergencies -- was possible because the civilian airport authorities and municipal emergency services performed well during a May exercise in air accident response.
Local authorities are slated to take over complete responsibility for Sarajevo Airport by the end of the year.The foreign-run body overseeing aviation here has also given way to a new Civil Aviation Steering Committee, which will be led by the Office of the High Representative but will have representation from the entity ministries and other domestic government and aviation bodies.
The committee's job will be to improve and help BiH civil aviation institutions, monitor the safety oversight audit follow-up and make sure that BiH complies with requirements of the aviation organisations it has joined.Lambert said that the transfer and BiH's membership in ECAC are not the end goals of the EC/ICAO project.
Sarajevo Airport has had its own trained air traffic controllers since 1 January, as Banja Luka airport has had for the past two years.
Mostar Airport should have its own controllers by the end of 2003.Another step is for BiH to join the Joint Aviation Authorities, which is the European equivalent of the United States' Federal Aviation Administration.
It controls monitoring and regulating aviation operations."We have to progress in the fields of monitoring and such things, but that will be the next challenge for us," Lambert said.




Ex-Communist Bulgaria Advances Towards NATO Entry 24/01/2003 Bulgaria was once the Soviet Union's staunchest ally.
Now it has become one of the most loyal supporters of Washington and NATO in the Balkans, and is set to join the alliance in two years' time. By Galina Michailova for Southeast European Times in Sofia - 23/01/03Ex-communist Bulgaria, the Soviet Union's staunchest ally during the Cold War era, has become one of the most loyal supporters of Washington and NATO in the Balkans and is now set to become a member of the Western pact.In November, Bulgaria was one of seven East European states invited to join NATO.
It is scheduled to join in 2004, when the ratification process is completed.The country, once dubbed the 16th Soviet Republic due to its close ties with Moscow, has said it would allow the United States to use a Black Sea air base in the event of an attack against Iraq.But the road from 45 years of totalitarian rule -- during which the West was the enemy -- to becoming a US partner and future NATO member was not easy.
The short-lived governments that ruled Bulgaria during the first eight years after the collapse of communism avoided the issue of NATO.Bulgaria made a belated application in 1997, but was left out of NATO's first round of enlargement in 1999.
Since then, the country has struggled to meet membership criteria and convince the pact its membership is vital to the stability of the region, often described as Europe's powder keg.Analysts and diplomats agree Bulgaria's pro-NATO stand during the Kosovo conflict was crucial to its NATO bid.
In 1999, despite public opposition, the centre-right government of Ivan Kostov backed NATO's operations against neighbouring Yugoslavia, then ruled by Slobodan Milosevic.The cabinet allowed NATO aircraft to use Bulgarian airspace -- a milestone in Sofia's relations with the alliance, which started to view Bulgaria as a reliable partner.The goal of joining NATO, long a point of division between Bulgarian leftist and centre-right parties, is now a national priority.
President Georgi Parvanov, who in 1999 led a Socialist protest against NATO, has spared no effort in lobbying for membership since taking office in early 2001.
Polls show that over 70 per cent of Bulgarians favour membership in the pact.But Sofia's aspirations have led to tension in its relations with Russia, on which Bulgaria relies heavily for gas and oil supplies.Bulgaria's pro-NATO drive was cemented in mid-2001, when Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg was elected.
He appointed as Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, a passionate NATO advocate.
Before taking office, he headed a NGO that lobbied for membership in the pact.Passy introduced the principle that Sofia should behave as a de facto NATO member if it wants to become one.
To that end, Bulgaria allowed the United States to use its Sarafovo military base on the Black Sea during the war in Afghanistan, starting in late 2001.Although Bulgaria must do more to reform its armed forces and judicial system, cut red tape and fight corruption, the country is on its way to joining NATO.
Barring an unlikely change in its pro-Western policies, Bulgaria will become a member in two years' time.




Albania Sees Liberalising Markets in Southeast Europe as a Necessity 10/01/2003 Nine Southeast European countries have agreed to enhance their economic relations through Free Trade Agreements, aiming to create a mini-Shengen zone in the region.
Albania's government appears motivated towards regional integration and Euro-Atlantic policies, although discussions continue. By Alban Bala for Southeast European Times in Tirana - 09/01/03During 2002, the Albanian Parliament ratified Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with Macedonia and Croatia.
A technical framework for agreements has also been signed with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania.
That makes six countries with which Albania is getting ready to liberalise markets.
This month, Albanian Minister of Economy Arben Malaj is expected to visit Belgrade to discuss the matter further.He is confident that the political decision of Southeast European countries to fully liberalise their markets will have a strong positive impact.
"Of course, a new mentality within the region in the political framework is the best long-term investment.
In the economic and trade framework there are problems and difficulties, but it is necessary to be clear in our obligation towards regional and global policies," he said.According to Malaj, the new trading regime will give the Balkans an increasing volume of trade partnerships, orienting the influx inside the region and assuring mutual profits.
"The free trade policies should be accompanied by a more liberal policy of free movement for people and business," he said.
But the long queues in front of foreign embassies continue to make analysts sceptical.Luan Bregasi, head of the National Chamber of Commerce in Tirana, says the business community supports the initiative, although it is not satisfied with the process.
"Free Trade Agreements should not be dealt with as political campaigns and cannot be limited with pressing deadlines," he says.
"We have already been asking the government to identify the domestic producing enterprises and their production quotas."Sami Gjergji is the president of Floryhen Ltd, a leading company in chicken growth and egg production.
He says the business community was only superficially involved in the process of evaluating Free Trade Agreements."We were given no information on the markets of other countries.
Therefore we could not make any calculation and see the feasibility of this process, which I consider the future of our national economy," he said.The country spends more than $1 billion annually on imports, earning only $200m through a manufacturing-dependent export activity.
Of that, re-exports count for 60 per cent.
Albania exchanges with the region only 4 per cent to 5 per cent of its import-export volume.
"But the experience we have had should be taken into consideration in the process of negotiating with the EU, where over 80 per cent of Albanian imports come from," Bregasi said.Albania has shown a strong commitment to co-operating with the countries in the region, and the Foreign Trade Agreements will help further this link.




Yugoslav Armed Forces Reform 02/01/2003 International officials are welcoming Yugoslavia's overhaul of its military, but warn that fuller co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal remains a pressing issue as the country seeks to join Euro-Atlantic integration processes. By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 02/01/03Yugoslav authorities must carry out a detailed reform of the country's armed forces, Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic said during a meeting held in Belgrade in November.
Svilanovic told the gathering that democratic forces in Serbia inherited a well-trained military, but also an apparatus that exceeds the financial possibilities and needs of the state.The current size of the Yugoslav Army is 75,000, Svilanovic said, adding that authorities want to reduce that number to 40,000 to 45,000 over the next ten years.
He announced that military-related industry will have to undergo many changes and that the number of employees in this sector will be significantly reduced."It is realistic to expect the reforms to make Yugoslavia become a Partnership for Peace member soon", maybe even in 2003, Svilanovic said.International officials, meanwhile, expressed hope that Yugoslavia will continue to reform its armed forces to join Euro-Atlantic integration processes as soon as possible.The head of the OSCE mission in Yugoslavia, Mark Davison, said that armed forces reform was very important because it was a part of society's overall democratisation.
The military must be under strict democratic civilian control, he emphasised.British Ambassador Charles Crawford said that new structures have prevailed in Belgrade -- structures with which western countries can co-operate successfully.
But he also said that the international community has its standards and that it would insist on Yugoslavia's co-operation with The Hague tribunal and on determining how military co-operation with Iraq had been established.NATO representative George Katsirdakis said that Yugoslavia has not yet officially requested admission into the Partnership for Peace programme, and that it was therefore too early to discuss conditions for joining the programme.
He added that NATO is in contact with Yugoslav officials, and that Belgrade is on its way towards meeting all conditions presented in general to all countries before admission.Yugoslavia must continue the reform of its armed forces, Katsirdakis said, as well as positively influence the democratic processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Also, Yugoslavia must improve relations with its neighbours and help with the arrest of war crimes indictees, especially Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.




EU Launches BiH Police Mission 02/01/2003 A brief ceremony in Sarajevo on Wednesday (1 January) marked the official launch of the European Union Police Mission (EUPM), which replaces the UN's International Police Task Force (IPTF). (Reuters, AP, AFP, BBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Guardian - 01/01/03; EU, UN - 31/12/02; FT - 30/12/02)A brief ceremony in Sarajevo on Wednesday (1 January) marked the official launch of the European Union Police Mission (EUPM), which replaces the UN's International Police Task Force (IPTF).
The IPTF's mandate ended at midnight on Tuesday.
The EUPM, tasked with monitoring and training Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) police, represents the Union's debut in foreign operations and is viewed as a key test for its fledgling rapid reaction force, intended for peacekeeping and humanitarian missions both within and outside of Europe.Sven Fredriksen of Denmark, who headed the IPTF and continues as EUPM Commissioner, said his efforts would focus on building a police force that "serves and protects all people unconditionally", irrespective of ethnic origin.
"There can be no mistake, only the rule of law will place Bosnia firmly on the road to Europe," Fredriksen said, speaking at the handover ceremony before a group of police officers from representative nations.EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, meanwhile, termed the EUPM's deployment "a strong symbol of the collective will of Europeans to act jointly in this key task of consolidating stability and security in our continent."Only one-third the size of the 1,500-strong UN-led task force, the EUPM is comprised of 512 police officers, who will be assisted by 50 civilian monitors and 300 local staff.
The majority of personnel are from the 15 EU member states, while some 20 per cent are from 18 non-EU countries, including Russia and Canada.
The EUPM will answer to Paddy Ashdown, the international community's high representative in BiH.The mission will operate on a 38m-euro annual budget as it carries out the supervision and training of Bosnian police forces.
Areas covered in training will include investigating terrorism, corruption, organised crime, drugs and human trafficking.
The EUPM will also be responsible for the border police as well as the recently established central security ministry and information agency.
Within the context of the EU policy for the Western Balkans, and in particular the Stabilisation and Association Process, border control management and customs regulations must be harmonised with EU standards by the end of the EUPM's mandate in 2005.Like its predecessor, the EUPM will work in close co-operation with SFOR.
As the new mission took over from the UN on Wednesday, French SFOR peacekeepers transferred control of Sarajevo's airport to Bosnian authorities.
UN peacekeepers controlled the airfield during the 1992 war, while SFOR moved in after the signing of the Dayton peace accords.
The airport reopened to civilian flights in 1996.In addition to the police mission in BiH, an agreement between the EU and NATO last month on the use of assets paved the way for the Union's first-ever foreign military mission in Macedonia, set to begin in February.




International Officials Call for Partnership, Local Participation in Kosovo's Democratisation 03/01/2003 International officials have called for co-operation and commitment on the part of Kosovo's institutions and political leaders, so the province may proceed with its challenging agenda. (AP, AFP, UN Wire - 31/12/02; AP, OSCE, RFE/RL - 30/12/02)International officials have called for co-operation and commitment on the part of Kosovo's institutions and political leaders so that the province may proceed with its challenging agenda."What all of Kosovo's supporters are looking for is tangible progress on Kosovo's many tangible problems," UNMIK head Michael Steiner said Monday (30 December) in his annual address.
Such progress, he said, can only be achieved "in partnership, with Kosovo's institutions and the UN each playing its part."Meanwhile, the OSCE's top representative in the province, Pascal Fieschi, urged the people of Kosovo and their political leaders to fully participate in the process of democracy and reconciliation."Democracy means that basic rights have to be fully respected," Fieschi said in a New Year's message, adding that one basic right all should share is to live in his or her own home.
"For too many people of Kosovo, this is sadly not the case today," he said.Also Monday, Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie wrapped up a three-day visit to Kosovo in her capacity as goodwill ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
She voiced concern over the difficult conditions minorities in the province still face."People think that when a war is over, everything goes back to normal," Jolie said.
"But in Kosovo, the security situation remains questionable for minorities."
She visited refugee camps and met with representatives of different minority groups in Pristina and the northern town of Mitrovica.Of 200,000 members of Kosovo's minority communities that fled the province as a result of the 1998-1999 conflict, only about 6,000 reportedly have returned home.
The majority live in UNHCR-run camps under the protection of KFOR peacekeepers."Until last year, we had more people leaving Kosovo than coming back," Steiner told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Monday.
While noting a first-time reversal in this trend in 2002, Steiner said the return of displaced persons was one of the preconditions to be met before the province's status can be addressed.Other preconditions he listed include free movement of people, functioning institutions and a reliable legal system.
Politicians in Kosovo, including President Ibrahim Rugova, argue the province has made progress since the end of the conflict and is ready for independence.




Erdogan Calls for Cyprus Talks 03/01/2003 Justice and Development Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a radical change in Turkey's policy towards Cyprus. (AFP, The Guardian, The Independent, The Times - 03/01/03; AP, Reuters, BBC, Anatolian Agency, VOA - 02/01/03)The leader of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has called for a radical change in his country's policy on Cyprus and for the immediate resumption of talks on a UN proposal for the reunification of the divided island.
"I'm not in favour of the continuation of the policy that has been maintained in Cyprus over the past 30 to 40 years," Erdogan said Wednesday (1 January).Criticising Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for failing to work out a solution, Erdogan said "This is not Mr Denktash's personal business ...
It's the struggle of a nation for existence."Cyprus has been partitioned since 1974, when a coup backed by Greece led to a Turkish military invasion.
In 1983, the Turkish section declared independence, but has failed to win international recognition.
Only Turkey, which keeps a 35,000-strong force permanently deployed on the island, has acknowledged it.A peace deal between Turkish and Greek Cypriots by the end of next month would pave the way for the admission of the entire island into the EU in 2004.
It could also boost Ankara's own EU bid -- a key priority of the AKP's agenda.During its December summit in Copenhagen, the EU invited Cyprus to join along with nine other candidates, but said that unless the two sides reach a deal by the end of February, only the Greek section of the island would be admitted.
Citing health problems, Denktash failed to appear at the summit.Erdogan's remarks followed a huge demonstration last week by Turkish Cypriots in support of the UN reunification plan and against their leader's stance."If 30,000 people demonstrate at the same time in northern Cyprus, it means something is going on in northern Cyprus," Erdogan said.
"It is not an ordinary or chance event.
We have to think hard about this business.
You can't just sideline what the people think."Greek Cypriot politicians welcomed the shift.
"If this spirit prevails we are very optimistic that a solution can be reached by 28 February ", The Guardian quoted government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou as saying.How other Turkish political parties and the country's influential military reacted to Erdogan's statement was not immediately clear."What Erdogan said indicates a change in attitudes in Turkey about Cyprus", Huseyin Bagci, professor of international relations at Ankara's Middle East Technical University, was quoted by AP as saying.
"The position until now is that no solution was a solution. ...
Public opinion is against Mr. Denktash.
This is something new."In other news, by an overwhelming majority Tuesday, Turkey's Parliament voted to adopt legislation intended to discourage torture and enhance freedom of expression.
Under the new legislation, judges will not be allowed to substitute fines for prison terms for convicted torturers.
Courts will have less authority to restrict political parties and journalists will not be forced to disclose their sources to authorities.




UN Making Progress in Resolving Kosovo Housing Disputes 06/01/2003 A three-year investigation into property ownership is beginning to yield results.
Some 2,000 housing disputes have been resolved over the past two months, and an agency set up by UNMIK has pledged to settle the rest of the cases by the end of this year. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting - 02/01/03)A three-year investigation into property ownership in Kosovo is beginning to yield results, according to a recent report by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR).
Of some 25,000 housing disputes, 2,000 have been resolved over the past two months.
The Housing and Property Directorate (HPD), set up by UNMIK in 1999, is pledging to settle the rest of the cases by the end of this year.In the three years since its establishment, the HPD has been working in partnership with the Property Claims Commission (HPCC) to collect needed information.
Many of the cases are directly linked to the 1998-1999 conflict, during which an estimated 100,000 housing units were destroyed, but others date back to the late 1980s and the 1990s.Left without a home, many Albanians moved into urban area dwellings formerly owned by Serbs who fled the province at the end of the conflict, fearing revenge attacks.
Of the Serbs who decided to stay, many now live in enclaves such as the northern town of Mitrovica, often occupying homes that formerly belonged to Kosovo Albanians.Further complicating the job of the HPD and HPCC, a significant number of property claims predate the conflict.
In the late 1980s, some Albanians lost their property when Slobodan Milosevic's regime suspended the province's autonomy.
Thousands of Kosovo Albanians were sacked for participating in a general strike in response to Belgrade's move, and about 1,600 were driven out of the company flats they lived in.In a significant number of cases, Albanian workers were not allowed to move into newly-built flats, even though they had documents showing the flats had been specifically allocated to them by their employers.
In the 1990s, many of those dwellings were privatised, and owners often changed.
Despite discriminatory laws adopted in 1991, that barred Serbs from selling their property to Albanians, such property transactions were concluded, further complicating the job of the UN agencies."All these cases are now being considered," the IWPR quoted Pristina lawyer Avni Gjakova as saying.
In some cases, Gjakova added, three owners claim the same property.Although the process has been difficult, the agencies say they are making steady progress.
A 5.5m euro donation from the EU will double the current budget and is expected to further facilitate the work of the agencies, as is the assistance of four new international property experts.




Triumphant Croat Siblings Make Alpine Skiing History 08/01/2003 Croatia's most popular athletes made skiing history on Sunday (5 January), becoming the first siblings to win alpine World Cup races on the same day. (AP, The Times - 06/01/03; Reuters, AP, BBC, CNN, HINA - 05/01/03)Croatia's most popular athletes made skiing history on Sunday (5 January), becoming the first siblings to win alpine World Cup races on the same day.
Ivica Kostelic won the men's slalom title in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, only minutes after his younger sister, Janica, won the women's title in the World Cup slalom race in Bormio, Italy.For Janica, the victory was extra sweet - it came on her 21st birthday.Several thousand Croatians who had traveled to Italy and neighbouring Slovenia cheered on the siblings.
Meanwhile, supporters back home greeted the double victory with euphoria.Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan sent separate notes congratulating the skiers and praising them for their "spirit and motivation".For a country still coping with the aftermath of its 1991 war for independence, the two have provided an inspiring example of success achieved after years of poverty and hard work."The Kostelics are setting international standards for skiing in a country where most people don't even get to see snow during winter," the AP quoted a housewife in Zadar."You can't touch them," an elated teenage student in Zagreb cried.
"They're out of this world."But Janica Kostelic was more down to earth as she won her fifth World Cup victory this season and her 18th overall.
She now has 1055 points in the overall standings, with a comfortable margin between her and Italy's Karen Putzer, who ranks second with 569 points."There was nothing to it," said Kostelic, who won three gold medals and one silver in the Salt Lake City Olympics last year only months after a serious knee injury.
"I just let the skis go and went down the quickest," she told Croatia's Nova TV.As she finished the race's second leg with a combined time of 1:36.74 seconds, organisers greeted her with a giant yellow birthday cake with her name on it.
She beat the second-place finisher, Austria's Elisabeth Goergl, by 2.08 seconds - the biggest margin in women's slalom races since 1973.
Sweden's Anja Paerson came in third, with a combined time of 1:38.90 seconds."When I heard Janica had won by two seconds I was jumping up and down in joy," Ivica said.
"I'm happy she could have the present she wished for."Ivica Kostelic, 23, won the race with a combined time of 1:44.71 seconds, ahead of Austria's Rainer Schoenfelder and France's Jean-Pierre Vidal.
Kostelic leads the slalom standings with 218 points."Today could not be better.
My brother and I both won," Janica Kostelic said.
"It is a good present from him to me.
It couldn't be better than that."The two siblings compete again on 19 January - Ivica in the men's slalom race in Wengen, Switzerland, and Janica in the women's giant slalom in Cortina, Italy.




Free Medical Clinic for Kosovo Village 08/01/2003 Over 100 villagers from Debelde, near Kosovo's border with Macedonia, received medical and dental treatment during a free clinic on Sunday (5 January).
The majority of patients were elderly people and children. (KFOR - 07/01/03)Over 100 villagers from Debelde, near Kosovo's border with Macedonia, received medical and dental treatment during a free clinic on Sunday (5 January).
The majority of the patients were elderly people and children.The initiative was part of the Medical-Civilian Assistance Programme, or MEDCAP, which has been operating throughout the US-led Multi-National Brigade (East) sector in Kosovo since 1999, when NATO launched its KFOR peacekeeping mission in the province.
The programme aims to bring basic medical and dental care to remote villages like Debelde.
It allows American military medical professionals to work side by side with their Kosovo colleagues while providing humanitarian assistance to help improve the quality of life of the local population.The US medical team included doctors from the 2-63 Armour Battalion and a dental team from the 201 Logistics Task Force, both stationed at Camp Magrath, one of the three US KFOR bases within the MNB(E) sector.
They were joined Sunday by three local doctors."I thank you Americans for what you are doing here," Dr Ismail Halabaku, of the Vitina Health House, said.
"You are here to help my people and I am here to help my people."The free medical clinic, which lasted for six hours, was held at the Debelde school.
Medical professionals received 115 patients from the village, which is situated on a ridgeline along the Haj Ducki Put Mountain Range in eastern Kosovo.
Ailments treated included hypertension, sore throat, muscle aches and scabies.
Interpreters helped the patients communicate their complaints and concerns and translated physician instructions.The dental team saw 18 villagers and had to extract a lot of teeth -- a clear sign of poor preventive care in this remote area.
In one case, a woman had eight of her teeth pulled.Sunday's MEDCAP clinic was the second for Pfc Alberto Cruz of the 2-63 medical team.
"I like helping people, especially kids.
I enjoy making them happy."Working alongside their Kosovo Albanian colleagues, other members of the American team also found the experience rewarding.
"The relationship is mutually beneficial", said Capt Scott McClellan.The American medics said they were also planning a training initiative in the near future, under which they will conduct a series of classes at the Vitina Health House.




Montenegrin Parliament Approves New Prime Minister, Cabinet 09/01/2003 Milo Djukanovic was elected Montenegrin Prime Minister on Wednesday (8 January).
He promised a referendum on independence and said economic progress, minority rights and fighting organised crime would be among his government's priorities. (Beta - 09/01/03; AP, Tanjug, Radio B92 - 08/01/03)Montenegro's 75-seat parliament elected former president and Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) leader Milo Djukanovic as prime minister on Wednesday (8 January).
He received unanimous support from the ruling coalition's 39 MPs, but opposition deputies boycotted the vote.
Parliament also approved the new cabinet, comprised of four deputy prime ministers and 16 ministers.Before the vote, Djukanovic presented the government's programme, listing economic progress and reform, minority rights and the fight against organised crime and corruption as priorities.
He also promised a referendum on independence."With enough perseverance, responsibility and a bit of luck, Montenegro will be independent and internationally recognised," the AP quoted Djukanovic as saying.
"We shall then take full responsibility for our European future."Djukanovic, 40, has been described as a Western-leaning democratic socialist who favours the republic's independence from Serbia.
He stepped down from the presidency in November to take on the prime minister's post.
The move followed a general election, won by the DPS-led coalition.Filip Vujanovic, who stepped in to serve as acting president, then won the presidential election held on 22 December.
That vote was invalidated due to low turnout.Apart from DPS members, Djukanovic's cabinet -- the eighth since a multi-party system was introduced in Montenegro -- includes representatives of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Civic Forum and the Albanians Together coalition.Djukanovic and his ministers were voted in after DPS and SDP reached an agreement on the composition of the new government.
The main bone of contention was the post of interior minister, which will be held by former Supreme Court judge Milan Filipovic.
General agreement was reached after the coalition parties signed a deal giving DPS 80 per cent weight in making decisions and 20 per cent for SDP.After presenting his cabinet's priorities, Djukanovic said in his closing remarks that the government would be unable to solve problems facing Montenegrin society without public support.Political parties remain divided over the issue of the republic's independence.
While Djukanovic's cabinet is expected to push further in that direction, the opposition Socialist People's Party and Serbian National Party favour stronger ties with Belgrade.
The opposition has also criticised the new government as too large and too costly.




Albania, Macedonia to Boost Co-operation Toward EU Accession 13/01/2003 The foreign ministers of Albania and Macedonia say their countries plan to strengthen co-operation in various areas to advance their respective EU bids. (AP, MIA, Makfax - 09/01/03; EurActiv - 07/01/03)The foreign ministers of Albania and Macedonia said Thursday (9 January) their countries were planning to strengthen co-operation in various areas to advance their EU bids.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Tirana, Albania's Ilir Meta and his Macedonian counterpart, Ilinka Mitreva, said their countries would work out a joint approach for their EU accession.Mitreva and Meta believe their countries need to intensify economic co-operation on the basis of the Free Trade Agreement.
They also said Albania and Macedonia would boost co-operation in the areas of tourism, energy and infrastructure.
They believe that better co-ordinated joint efforts in the implementation of regional projects, such as Corridor 8, would also be of mutual benefit.
In that particular case, they cited the construction of a railroad between their two countries and other infrastructure projects that would boost overall regional development.Furthermore, the ministers agreed to bolster co-operation in the area of border control, to include prevention of drug trafficking and other kinds of cross-border organised crime.
They said a new crossing would soon be opened on their common border at Steble and a bilateral transborder trade agreement would be signed.Mitreva was on her first official visit to Albania since becoming a member of Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski's cabinet following the 15 September general elections."We have noticed a new dynamic and quality in our bilateral relations," she said.
"Macedonia is committed to good neighbourly relations and open dialogue for all issues of mutual interest."Her visit follows recent meetings between Crvenkovski and his Albanian counterpart, Fatos Nano; the countries' presidents, Alfred Moisiu and Boris Trajkovski; and defence ministers Pandeli Majko and Vlado Buckovski.Confident that an improvement in their bilateral relations would be of mutual benefit, Meta said "The basis of this new co-operation is in our joint interest, and moreover, in [the interest of] our joint efforts in the EU, NATO integration processes."While in Tirana, Mitreva met with Moisiu, Nano and Parliamentary Speaker Servet Pelumbi, as well as representatives of the Macedonian community in Albania.The next day, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula visited Skopje.
Croatia, like Albania and Macedonia, is not among the ten Central and East European countries expected to join the EU in 2004.
Picula's talks with top Macedonian officials were to focus on bilateral relations and efforts towards Euro-Atlantic integration.Later this month, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia are due to discuss the signing of a joint programme on trilateral co-operation in the process of their NATO accession.Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, whose country currently holds the six-month EU presidency, is scheduled to visit the three countries as part of a Balkan tour.
Greece has listed progress in advancing the Balkan countries' EU accession prospects as one of the priorities of its presidency.








New BiH Government Approved 15/01/2003 Three months after general elections, the parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina approved the country's new federal government on Monday (13 January), confirming Adnan Terzic of the Muslim Party for Democratic Action as prime minister. (OHR Sources - 14/01/03; Reuters, AP, VOA, RTRS, PBS BiH, NTV Hayat, BH Radio 1 - 13/01/03; BBC - 19/10/02)Three months after general elections, the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Parliament approved the country's new federal government on Monday (13 January), confirming Adnan Terzic of the Muslim Party for Democratic Action (SDA) as prime minister.Terzic's cabinet, including eight ministers, is dominated by representatives of the Muslim, Croat and Serb nationalist parties that won the October vote.
An engineer and SDA deputy leader, Terzic, 42, was appointed to the post in December.Outlining government priorities, Terzic promised to work to strengthen the rule of law, build closer ties with the EU and accelerate economic reform."Our aim is that Bosnia step forward into European integration and implement economic and political reforms," he told the 40 deputies attending Monday's session.
Of the 40, 24 voted in favour of the new government, while nine were against and seven abstained.Each of the three main ethnic groups in BiH - Muslims, Croats and Serbs - are equally represented in the new government, whose term is four years.Other members of the cabinet include Mladen Ivanic as Foreign Minister; Barisa Colak as Security Minister; Mila Gadzic as Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister; Ljerka Maric as Finance and Treasury Minister; Branko Dokic as Transportation and Communications Minister; Safet Halilovic as Civil Affairs Minister; and Mirsad Kebo as Minister for Human Rights and Refugees.Foreign Minister Ivanic and the six others were approved following clearance by the top international envoy in BiH, Paddy Ashdown.
Ashdown rejected the candidate proposed by the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) for justice minister, but has offered no explanation.
The post was left vacant for the time being.The October general election was won by the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ), the Muslim SDA and the SDS.
Their victory over more moderate pro-Western parties sparked some concern among observers, given their nationalist pasts.Analysing the results of the general elections, however, both Ashdown and the head of the UN mission in BiH, Jacques Klein, told a UN Security Council session on 23 October that the vote was not in support of nationalism.
They maintain it was a protest against the slow pace of reform, rather than against reform."They [voters] didn't punish their leaders for delivering too much reform, but for delivering too little.
It was a cry for help," Ashdown said.
"The mood of the people in this country is absolutely not to return to nationalism," he added.The two envoys also said BiH had made significant progress since the end of the war in 1995, but continued international support was needed to help it meet challenges ahead.
The country remains fragile; healing takes time, Ashdown noted, warning that parts of BiH are "still prone to topple into crisis".




Macedonia, Russia Discuss Expansion of Economic Ties 15/01/2003 Russian and Macedonian Foreign Ministers Igor Ivanov and Ilinka Mitreva discussed plans Tuesday (14 January) for an expansion of bilateral economic ties.
Following talks with Mitreva in Moscow, Ivanov singled out the energy sector as a particular area of future co-operation. (AP, MIA, Makfax, RIA Novosti - 14/01/03)Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov met Tuesday (14 January) in Moscow with his Macedonian counterpart, Ilinka Mitreva, discussing plans to expand bilateral economic ties.
Afterwards, Ivanov cited the energy sector as a particular area of future co-operation."Now that the political situation in Macedonia has stabilised, enormous possibilities have opened up" for enhancing economic co-operation, Ivanov said at a press conference, emphasising Russia's support for Macedonia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.In turn, Mitreva expressed gratitude for the support Russia lent her country during the 2001 crisis.
"Macedonia will not forget," she said.
"We wish to give credit to Russia for its contribution to the overall stability of the region."Mitreva also invited Russia to participate in the forthcoming privatisation of large state-owned enterprises in Macedonia.
Ivanov said this issue would be discussed during next month's session of the Russian-Macedonian inter-governmental commission in Skopje.
The parties are also expected to discuss ways to improve bilateral trade and economic ties as well as sign a free trade agreement.
Mitreva said such an agreement would be of mutual benefit.Once talks on the agreement are completed, Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski will visit Russia, as the head of a ministerial and business delegation.
This is expected to take place in June.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will likely visit Macedonia later this year.Natural gas, oil and electric power were some of the specific areas of co-operation discussed during Mitreva's visit to Moscow.
Macedonian news sources said some particular projects of interest to Russia included the construction of a gas pipeline network in Macedonia and in the supply of equipment for the Bitola 2, Oslomej and Negotino power plants.Apart from the economic co-operation issues, Mitreva and Ivanov also discussed international developments, Southeastern Europe's integration in Euro-Atlantic structures, as well as other issues of mutual interest.
Ivanov voiced Moscow's support for Macedonia's EU bid.
According to him, "the problem of stability in this country [Macedonia] has great international significance, and its success largely depends on the overall atmosphere in the Balkans."The two foreign ministers signed a Consular Convention on Tuesday.
"Russia completely supports the efforts of the Macedonian leadership aimed at maintaining the territorial integrity and single nature of the state," said Ivanov.Focusing on problems in the Balkans, Ivanov said "developments around Kosovo ought to proceed from UN Security Council resolution No.
1244, while Bosnia and Herzegovina settlement demands further international efforts based on the Dayton agreements".
Promoting the idea of a Balkan conference, Ivanov said its aim would be to ensure that all parties pledge to respect internationally recognised boundaries in that part of the world, and commit to other measures for boosting regional peace and stability.A draft agreement for cultural co-operation in 2003-2005 was also discussed, envisioning the organising of "Days of Russia" in Macedonia in July and August this year, and then "Days of Macedonia" in Russia in 2004.




NATO Peacekeepers Stage Operational Exercise in Kosovo 16/01/2003 A military exercise that seeks to demonstrate NATO's continued commitment to peace and security in the Balkans was launched by the Alliance in Kosovo on Wednesday (15 January). (AP - 15/01/03; KFOR - 14/01/03)A military exercise that seeks to demonstrate NATO's continued commitment to peace and security in the Balkans was launched by the Alliance in Kosovo on Wednesday (15 January).
The month-long exercise, code-named Rapid Guardian 2003, aims to train and enhance the capabilities of NATO reserve forces to carry out peacekeeping operations in this region.
The event kicked off with helicopter low-level operations and a mass paratroop drop.Rapid Guardian 2003 involves American and British components of a recently organised "Over-The-Horizon-Force" (OTHF) - a pool of forces from NATO and Partnership for Peace member nations.
The OTHF is comprised of Operational Reserve Forces (ORF) and Strategic Reserve Forces (SRF), each four battalions in strength.
The comparative advantage of the OTHF to forces in the past is that they are more rapidly deployable.Both the ORF and SRF are multi-national professional forces, which are also both mobile and versatile.The ORF can be put into action on short notice and need only 72 hours to deploy their first command elements and manoeuvre units.
They are capable of reinforcing the forces based in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to deal with any military contingency.The SRF has broad military capabilities, ranging from light and airborne infantry, amphibious, air mobile, armour, artillery and air attack capability.In addition to the British ORF and US SRF troops, a company of KFOR peacekeepers from Multi-National Brigade (South West) is also taking part in the exercise to enhance its operational impact, demonstrate KFOR's multinational commitment and increase the proficiency of conducting cross sector combined operations.Quoting Squadron Leader Tony Adams, a spokesman for KFOR, the Associated Press said the majority of those involved in the exercise were American troops based in Italy and Germany, but would not reveal the exact number of participating soldiers.KFOR Commander Lt Gen Fabio Mini has been named director of the exercise and Adm Gregory Johnson, the Joint Force Commander within the NATO Headquarters responsible for the Balkan Operations, its co-ordinator.
Both will act under the supervision of Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Gen Joseph Ralston.According to a KFOR press release, Rapid Guardian 2003 is one of a continuing series of training events intended to ensure that SRF units or other reserve forces, designated for operations in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, are ready for employment at any time in the KFOR area of responsibility.NATO launched its peacekeeping operation in Kosovo following its 78-day air campaign in the province in 1999 and has since been in charge of security there.
The initial 50,000-strong force has been scaled down over time, so that today KFOR numbers about 30,000 peacekeepers from 37 NATO and non-NATO nations.




Olympic Torch Unveiled in Athens 17/01/2003 At a special event in Athens on Wednesday (15 January), International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and the chief organiser of the 2004 Summer Games, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, unveiled the Olympic torch. (VOA, AP, AFP, Official Web Site of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games - 15/01/03)At a special event in Athens on Wednesday (15 January), International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge and the chief organiser of the 2004 Summer Games, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, unveiled the Olympic torch.Inspired by the olive leaf, the two-toned 68-centimetre torch is made of olive wood and magnesium and weighs 700 grams.
It was created by Greek artist Andreas Varotsos, whose design was selected from 13 bids.
Smooth and gentle, the elongated oval of the torch renders the perception that it is the continuation of the flame itself.
The flame does not simply belong to the torch but rises as an extension of the torch-bearer's hand, according to a description on the Athens 2004 Olympics website."The torch is fantastic.
The design is wonderful, very pure lines, and also takes the inspiration from the olive tree, which is so symbolic for the Olympic Games and for Greece," said Denis Oswald, head of the IOC co-ordination team for Athens.Besides being a global symbol of peace and freedom, the olive tree has been one of Greece's most powerful symbols since ancient times."It perfectly features the image of contemporary Greece.
We were inspired by the way this torch will reflect the spirit of Greece along with the values of peace and hope to every place it travels," Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said.As one of the main symbols of every Olympics, the torch of the Athens 2004 Olympics is also in harmony with the emblem of the Games -- a circular wreath made of an olive branch."I tried to incorporate in the torch as many elements of Greek civilisation as possible, aiming through it to develop a dialogue among people, which is the basic objective of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Idea," said Varotsos.In a prelude to the Games, the torch will -- for the first time in history -- cross all five continents during a several-month relay in 2004.
The journey begins in Olympia, a small village in the Peloponnese where the Olympics were held in ancient times.
From there, the lighted torch will change hands until it is brought back to Greece for the lighting of the Olympic stadium flame at the opening ceremony on 13 August.At Wednesday's ceremony, IOC President Rogge stressed that the relay provides a rare opportunity for ordinary citizens to become involved in the Games, adding that 15,000 to 20,000 people -- "anonymous citizens of all countries who are also protagonists of the Games" -- were expected to join the relay.




Italy, EU Invitees Support Croatia's Euro-Atlantic Bid 21/01/2003 During a summit in Zagreb, the prime ministers of Italy, Hungary and Slovenia voiced full support for Croatia's hopes of quick accession into Euro-Atlantic structures. (HINA - 19/01/03 - 16/01/03; Hoover's, Makfax - 17/01/03; EurActiv - 15/01/03)During a summit of the Quadrilateral group in Zagreb on Friday (17 January), the prime ministers of Italy, Hungary and Slovenia voiced full support for Croatia's hopes of quick accession into Euro-Atlantic structures.
They also agreed to boost relations in the area of integration processes and to expand economic ties within the group.
The leaders pledged to seek close co-operation in other areas, including defence and peace operations, fighting organised crime, environmental protection, science and culture."We strongly supported the process of Europe's integration and stated that co-operation between the members of the Quadrilateral was along the line of making that integration process more substantial," Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said at a joint press conference with his Italian, Hungarian and Slovenian counterparts, Silvio Berlusconi, Peter Medgyessy and Anton Rop.Stressing that Croatia's EU and NATO admissions were of key interest to the group, Hungary's Medgyessy said the summit had come up with a proposal for the development of a pre-accession programme to help Croatia's integration efforts."Having in mind Croatia's intention to join the EU, they [the prime ministers] reaffirmed their intention to fully support Croatia during this process," a joint statement said.The statement, called the Zagreb Declaration, called on the upcoming EU summit to provide further incentives for Balkan countries seeking Union membership.
Ten invitees, including Hungary and Slovenia, are to sign their accession treaties at the April summit, which will be held in Thessaloniki.The Quadrilateral was established in 1996 at Italy's initiative.
At the outset, it was a trilateral formation consisting of Italy, Hungary and Slovenia.
Croatia joined during a summit in Italy in September 2000, and presided over the group's activities in 2002.
Slovenia will chair the group in 2003.
Rop says the focus would be economic co-operation and regional development.Meanwhile, Macedonian news agency Makfax quoted Croatian Minister for European Integration Neven Mimica as saying his country hopes to get a starting date for entry negotiations in 2005 and hopes to complete them within a year, so that Croatia could join the EU in 2007.
Mimica added that Zagreb will submit its application for membership in the coming weeks.On Monday, Croatia's Racan launched a tour of European capitals, aiming to boost support for that bid.
In Berlin, he met with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, and afterwards described Germany as a strong supporter of Croatia's EU accession.
He invited Schroeder to visit Croatia to discuss forms of co-operation.




Former Serbian President Arrives in The Hague 22/01/2003 Former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic, wanted on war crimes charges, arrived in The Hague on Monday (20 January).
He is expected to enter a plea during the coming days. (Various sources -- 20/01/03 - 21/01/03)Former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic arrived in The Hague on Monday (20 January) and is expected to enter a plea before the UN war crimes tribunal during the coming days.
Milutinovic has been indicted on charges of crimes against humanity and violation of the laws or customs of war, stemming from his role in the 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo.
He surrendered to the tribunal three weeks after his five-year presidential term expired at the end of December.Milutinovic was flown into the Netherlands on a Yugoslav government airplane and then taken to the UN tribunal's Scheveningen detention unit.
A few hours later he was summoned to a meeting with chief UN war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte.
A spokeswoman for the prosecution said the two had not discussed whether he would agree to testify in the trial against Slobodan Milosevic in exchange for a reduction in charges, and that del Ponte only "explained his rights in the presence of two lawyers and informed him of the normal request from the prosecution for an interview."A former member of Slobodan Milosevic's inner circle, Milutinovic claims he was a mere figurehead, rarely involved in decision-making or operations, and with little power to exercise influence on Serb forces in Kosovo.
The most important role Milutinovic played during his presidency was heading the Serbian delegation to the US-sponsored Rambouillet peace negotiations in February 1999.
The failure of those talks led to NATO's campaign in Kosovo.Milutinovic has been indicted alongside Milosevic and three other former top Serb officials as a member of a joint criminal enterprise to expel a substantial portion of the Albanian population from Kosovo, to ensure continued Serbian control over the province.
Besides Milosevic, two of the other indictees -- former Yugoslav Army Chief Gen Dragoljub Ojdanic and former Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic -- are already in The Hague.
The fifth indictee, former Serbian police commander Vlajko Stojilkovic, committed suicide in April 2002.As his presidential term ended, Serbian officials encouraged Milutinovic to turn himself in, saying this could help him obtain release on bail pending trial.
Yugoslav authorities have given the UN court guarantees that Milutinovic, who has undergone two heart surgeries in recent years, will show up at his trial and fully co-operate with the tribunal.According to Belgrade-based Radio B92, his defence team will be headed by British lawyer John Livingstone, who has previously represented Bosnian Serb war crimes indictee Dusan Tadic."Just like any other defendant in The Hague, Mr Milutinovic wishes provisional release.
We will be filing an application as soon as we possibly can.
As far as his chances are concerned, I haven't actually seen the guarantees but I think I know roughly what their contents will be," a cautious Livingstone told reporters.
He characterised the case as difficult, and said it was very different from any other in which he had participated.




Bulgarian President Visits Moscow, Receives Award 22/01/2003 Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, in Moscow to accept an award for his contributions to Orthodox unity, met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
He received assurances that Russia will speed up procedures for settling its debt to Bulgaria. (AP, BBC, BTA, RIA Novosti, bTV, Mediapool, Dnevnik - 21/01/03)Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on Tuesday (21 January).
Parvanov was in the Russian capital to accept an award for his contributions to Orthodox unity.During their meeting in the Kremlin, Putin promised to speed up procedures for settling his country's $100m debt to Bulgaria.
Repayment is to be discussed when the Bulgarian-Russian Commission for Economic Co-operation meets this week in St Petersburg.
Part of the debt is likely to be repaid in nuclear fuel and another part in cash.Putin said co-operation between Bulgaria and Russia has intensified lately.
While welcoming the increased volume of bilateral trade, totaling $1.5 billion in 2002, he voiced regret over the failure to alter the structure of trade between the two countries.
The two leaders discussed a goods-for-services formula, and Putin confirmed Russian interest in both Bulgaria's power engineering sector and in the privatisation of its energy companies.
Russia, he said, is also interested in projects to increase the transit and consumption of natural gas in Bulgaria.
Aleksey Miller, CEO of Russia's Gazprom, is expected to discuss this with Bulgarian officials during his visit to Sofia in early February.The two presidents outlined specific aspects of Putin's visit to Bulgaria, which will take place from 1 March to 3 March.
The Russian and Bulgarian foreign ministers are scheduled to meet before the end of January.While in Moscow, Parvanov attended a special ceremony hosted by the International Fund for Unity of Orthodox Peoples and received its annual award for 2002, honouring his "outstanding efforts to consolidate unity between Orthodox peoples."The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II, praised Parvanov's efforts towards the reunification of Bulgaria's split Orthodox Church, citing a law adopted by parliament last December that aims to end the schism."I accept this prize as president of a country where religious rights and the equality of Christians, Muslims, Jews and others are guaranteed by the Constitution and other laws and, more importantly, are a fact of life," the Bulgarian leader said during the ceremony.Parvanov said he would donate the $20,000 accompanying the award to two schools in southern Bulgaria and towards the establishment of an annual student achievement award at the University of Sofia, among other initiatives.




The Council of Europe's Role in Integrating Southeast Europe 27/01/2003 With current public attention in Southeast Europe firmly focused on EU enlargement, it is easy to underestimate the relatively low-key efforts of the Council of Europe to bring together all nations in the continent and beyond. By Emil Tsenkov for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 27/01/03While Turkey is knocking on the EU's door, the Western Balkans are engaged in the EU Stabilisation and Association process, and Bulgaria and Romania have recently become eligible for EU membership in 2007, almost all of these countries have seats at Europe's Palace - the Strasbourg-based headquarters of the oldest intergovernmental pan-European structure.
With the exception of Yugoslavia, all the South European states are members of the Council of Europe (CoE).
Bosnia and Herzegovina became one of the most recent member-states along with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Last November the CoE Committee of Ministers extended an invitation to Yugoslavia "to become a member of the Council of Europe as soon as the Constitutional Charter is adopted by the Parliaments of Serbia and Montenegro".
Currently, Yugoslavia has a guest-country status and its representatives attend the CoE forums.The current Maltese chairmanship of the CoE Council of Ministers emphasises the process of political unification of Greater Europe and the strengthening of social and cultural dimensions of European integration on a continent-wide scale.
It is not an easy task to unite all of Europe's countries in one family of democratic nations.
Yet Strasbourg is on the verge of fulfilling this old pan-European dream.
Enlargement, however, is not considered an end in itself.
New member nations are required to subscribe to common European values and to support the emergence of a coherent system for protecting human rights in Europe.
The fact that an increasing number of cases brought before the Court of Human Rights for Europe originate from the Balkans is both a sign of the new consciousness of its citizens about their rights and a cause for concern about the performance of the judiciary in some of these states.The CoE's recent emphasis on anti-terrorism also has an important impact on the region.
The "Guidelines on human rights and the fight against terrorism", adopted by the Council on 11 July, is the first international legal document of this type designed to help states strike the right balance between the requirements of efficiently protecting society and preserving fundamental rights and freedoms.Not surprisingly, the ministers emphasised "their strong belief that intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, a welcome process in itself, could indeed contribute both to reducing certain causes of terrorism and the support from which it may benefit".
Such a balanced attitude on a divisive issue is particularly important in a region, where political extremists exploit inter-religious and ethnic relations.Culture usually comes last on the international agenda - but not so in the CoE, which places a particular weight on the claim of the uniqueness and universality of national cultural heritage of its member countries.
Moreover, its information centres and bureaus throughout Southeast Europe are becoming the focus of discussions about responses to globalisation and the invasion of mass-culture in this particularly vulnerable sphere.These achievements are not obscuring both the global and European challenges to the Council in a time of profound change and crisis in the existing world order.
Still, nobody can ignore the fact that this oldest of the continental institutions speaks with the newest of European voices: those coming from the Balkans.




Special Police Unit Blocks Roads, Demands Meeting with Leaders 23/01/2003 Armed members of a controversial police unit known as the Lions blocked a road near the Macedonia-Kosovo border, demanding job security and payment of back wages. (Reuters, AP, VOA, Makfax - 22/01/03)Scores of Macedonian anti-riot police troops were involved in a stand-off with some 1,000 armed members of a controversial special police unit, known as the Lions, about 20 km from Skopje on Wednesday (22 January).
Angered by calls from government officials to dissolve the unit, the Lions blocked a road leading to Macedonia's border with Kosovo.Heavily armed and dressed in camouflage uniforms, the protesters used jeeps and trucks to form the blockade.
Hundreds of anti-riot police were sent, but had to pull back more than 100 metres to avoid a clash.Following failed negotiations with Interior Ministry officials, the protesters said they would not withdraw until their demands were met.
The Lions are demanding to be granted regular police status and their back wages be paid.
They also want a meeting with President Boris Trajkovski and Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski."The blockade is on until we meet Trajkovski," Toni Mihajlovski, a spokesman for the Independent Syndicate of the Lions, was quoted as saying.
He added that the protesters would resort to force only if they had to defend themselves.
Mihajlovski criticised the authorities for their attitude to the unit and the local media for running an anti-Lions campaign.The Macedonian news agency Makfax quoted a senior police commander as saying no promises were made to the protesters and that "it was made clear to the Lions that the riot police would resort to force unless the roadblocks are removed in due time.""At the moment the situation is very tense, but calm," a police official said.
"Talks to end the stand-off failed."The controversial special police unit was formed two years ago by former Interior Minister Ljube Boskovski to fight rebels during the country's seven-month conflict.
Following the adoption of a Western-brokered peace plan in August 2001, international officials called for the unit to disband.
Given its strong ties to the former ruling VMRO-DPMNE party, Western officials and opposition politicians alike charged that former Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski's government had used the Lions for its own political goals.Since the September 2002 parliamentary elections, officials from the new government have called for reforms in the country's interior ministry and for building a reliable civilian police force.
Some have also called for the dismantling and transformation of the Lions, most of whom were brought into the unit as reservists and had no previous policing experience.




US, Allies Stepping up Efforts to Nab Karadzic 24/01/2003 The US special envoy for war crimes, Pierre-Richard Prosper, said the international community will step up efforts to catch Bosnian Serb war crimes indictee Radovan Karadzic. (AFP - 24/01/03; AP, Reuters, VOA, RFE/RL - 23/01/03)The international community will step up efforts to catch Radovan Karadzic, the US special envoy for war crimes issues said Thursday (23 January).
During a two-day trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Pierre-Richard Prosper also vowed that the UN war crimes tribunal would remain operational until Karadzic has been brought to justice.Last year, SFOR troops made at least two unsuccessful attempts to arrest him.
The former Bosnian Serb leader, who has been on the run since 1996, is believed to be hiding either in the mountains southeast of Republika Srpska (RS) or in Montenegro.
Karadzic reportedly enjoys heavy bodyguard protection and the support of local villagers.
He is also said to have received support from businessmen connected to the Serb Democratic Party.
Following last year's raids, peacekeepers said they had found evidence linking Karadzic with BiH's criminal underworld.Prosper suggested the international community would use new tactics that would depend less on SFOR.
"We are prepared to use a variety of tools at our disposal... in order to bring him to justice," he said at a press briefing in Sarajevo after a meeting with High Representative Paddy Ashdown.
"We intend now to formulate measures to begin to take action against... those who support the structure which is supporting Karadzic," he added.Prosper said there were "people of influence" among Karadzic's supporters, and promised they would be questioned.
As efforts to apprehend him are stepped up, the names of those people "will become abundantly clear", he added.News reports quoted Ashdown and diplomatic sources in Sarajevo as suggesting possible measures include visa bans and the freezing of bank accounts.
They could be applied against dozens of suspected Karadzic helpers, including officials, politicians and businessmen.Before heading on to Banja Luka for a Friday meeting with RS's new Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, and other officials, Prosper said he would urge them to step up their co-operation."We are looking to the authorities in Banja Luka to accept their responsibility . step forward as credible members of the international community and take action to bring Radovan Karadzic to justice," he said, adding this would signal which side they were taking.
"They too have an active responsibility to look for the person," Prosper said.




Yugoslav Foreign Minister Says Arresting Mladic Problematic 27/01/2003 Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic said arresting wartime Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic could be problematic.
Svilanovic's statement reinforced doubts about Belgrade's willingness to capture one of the UN war crimes tribunal's most wanted suspects. (AP, ABC - 26/01/03; The New York Times, AP, Radio B92 - 24/01/03; RFE/RL - 23/01/03; RFE/RL - 22/01/03)Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic said Sunday (26 January) that arresting wartime Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic could be problematic.
Svilanovic's statement reinforced doubts about Belgrade's willingness to capture one of the UN war crimes tribunal's most wanted suspects.
Yugoslav authorities have continuously denied claims by tribunal prosecutors and other Western officials that Mladic is hiding in Serbia under armed bodyguard protection, saying they have no knowledge of his whereabouts."We first have to establish Mladic's whereabouts," Svilanovic told AP.
"If we are certain that he is in Yugoslavia, then we would have to be sure that the arrest is feasible."Gen Mladic was indicted by The Hague tribunal largely for his alleged involvement in the killing of at least 7,300 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.
Together with Radovan Karadzic, he tops the UN court's list of 23 most wanted Balkan war crimes suspects.In his interview with AP, Svilanovic suggested that a move to detain Mladic could lead to a clash between government forces and Mladic's bodyguards.
Western officials have said some of them were linked to the Yugoslav military.
"It is questionable whether our forces have the ability to arrest him without serious incidents," Svilanovic said Sunday.
"The question is - do we have adequate resources for that?"The military are under Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica's direct control.
Believing the UN tribunal is biased against Serbs, Kostunica has been reluctant to increase Belgrade's co-operation with The Hague.Svilanovic, who also chairs his country's council on co-operation with the UN tribunal, is said to have called on visiting US envoy for war crimes, Pierre-Richard Prosper, last week for Washington's assistance in apprehending Mladic.The United States has given Belgrade until the end of March to step up co-operation with The Hague.
During his visit, Prosper demanded that Mladic, as well as Veselin Sljivancanin and Miroslav Radic, former officers indicted for alleged war crimes in Vukovar in 1991, be handed over to the UN court by 31 March.Voicing doubts that Belgrade could meet the deadline, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic said that while co-operation with The Hague tribunal was a priority for his government, he did not know where Mladic was hiding.
The two other indictees, he said, were thought to be hiding in Serbia.Two days before Svilanovic's interview, Djindjic called on Washington and the international community to ease pressure on Belgrade on issues relating to its co-operation with The Hague tribunal.
"We want to co-operate, but we also have other priorities, like sorting out the economic situation and improving the people's standard of living," Djindjic said Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.




Prodi Voices Support for Croatia's EU Membership Bid 28/01/2003 The European Commission said it would support Croatia's bid and urged it to continue implementing reforms to meet the Union's membership criteria.
Hoping for an EU membership in 2007, Croatia is planning to submit its application next month. (Reuters, HINA - 27/01/03; HINA - 24/01/03; Greek EU Presidency Website)The European Commission (EC) said Monday (27 January) it would support Croatia's bid and urged it to continue implementing reforms to meet the Union's membership criteria.
Hoping for an EU membership in 2007, Croatia is planning to submit its application next month.
Prime Minister Ivica Racan has been touring European capitals to drum up support.He got some on 20 January, when Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder assured him of German backing.
A week later, Racan visited Brussels for talks with EC President Romano Prodi."After this meeting we are working together, but the responsibility lies with Croatia," Prodi said Monday.
He says once Croatia submits its application, things would follow a smoother course but noted "it is not yet possible" to determine when Croatia will join the Union.Zagreb says it plans to submit its membership bid on 18 February.
Observers believe at least another year will pass before Croatia is given an entry date for its accession negotiations, given the time the EU will need to conduct a comprehensive review on the level of compliance with political and economic criteria.Croatia, which gained its independence in 1991, is currently an associate member and part of the EU Stabilisation and Association Process - the first step towards an eventual full-fledged membership."We are aware of our obligations and the tough road that lies ahead of us before we become ready to join the Union," Racan said after his hour-long meeting with Prodi.
Croatia has been praised for its economic performance and Racan appeared confident that his country would fulfil its obligations in the areas of co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal, refugee returns and minority rights, as well as in implementing media, judicial and economic reforms.
He vowed Croatia would try to sort out recent misunderstandings over the extradition of ailing retired Gen Janko Bobetko.
In response to Croatia's refusal to hand him over to The Hague, Britain froze ratification of Croatia's Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU.
The Netherlands has also postponed final ratification of the agreement, although both parliamentary houses have voted in favour of the deal.During a recent visit to Zagreb, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, whose country currently holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, hailed Croatia's economic and political reform efforts.
He also voiced support for the intended EU membership application.
Papandreou described Croatia as a "success story" that could "serve as an example for a region that has had conflicts, problems, strife. showing we can go beyond this and all become part of a community of values, which is the EU."
He also praised Croatia for its efforts towards enhancing regional co-operation.As part of his effort to ensure individual EU member support for Croatia's bid, Racan will be visiting Athens, Rome and Vienna.




Macedonia to Disband Lions Unit 30/01/2003 Macedonian Interior Minister Hari Kostov said Tuesday (28 January) the government has decided to disband a special police unit, known as the Lions.
The unit was set up by the previous government in 2001. (MIA, Makfax, Institute for War and Peace reporting - 28/01/03; Transitions Online - 27/01/03)Macedonian Interior Minister Hari Kostov said Tuesday (28 January) the government has decided to disband a special police unit, known as the Lions.
It was set up by the previous government in 2001.
After months of uncertainty over the unit's future, 1,000 of its members staged a protest last week that kept them locked in a tense two-day standoff with government forces.
They demanded a meeting with President Boris Trajkovski and that unit members be granted a regular police status.Under the government decision, 600 of the 1,200 Lions who meet the interior ministry's employment criteria would join the regular police force.
Those who are ineligible to be hired will be dismissed, Kostov said."The unit does not comply with the needs of the Republic of Macedonia.
For this reason it has to be transformed," the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) quoted Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski as saying last Friday after he and Trajkovski held three hours of talks with representatives of the Lions.While acknowledging every citizen's right to participate in peaceful protests, Crvenkovski said the Lions' behaviour was "outside constitutionally approved rights".
The protesters drew arms when regular police forces arrived on the scene to end their blockade of a road linking Skopje with a crossing point on its border with Kosovo.
To prevent an escalation of the tension, the government forces withdrew partially.As the crisis evolved, Crvenkovski's ruling Social Democrats issued a statement urging a "solution within the institutions", while Stojan Andov, the leader of the opposition Liberal Party, suggested that a special law be drafted to settle the issue.
Calling the roadblocks a "misunderstanding", Hisni Shakiri of the Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, called for a peaceful solution, saying the laws should be obeyed by all, with or without uniform.
"Violent protests are not democratic.
The problem has to be solved peacefully," Shakiri insisted.The prime minister suggested last Friday that as part of the deactivation, one part of the unit would join the regular police, another would join a special police unit called the Tigers, while a third group would join the military."With this proposal, jobs will be secured for about 600 members of our unit," said Lions spokesperson, Toni Mihajlovski, confirming that Lions' leaders had decided to accept the government's proposal.




Strong Earthquake Rocks Eastern Turkey 29/01/2003 An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale rocked a mountainous area in eastern Turkey early Monday (27 January), leaving at least one person dead and several injured.
The epicentre was in the sparsely populated province of Tunceli, 1,200 km east of Ankara. (Anadolu Agency - 28/01/03; AP, Reuters, BBC, CNN, Sky News, Online.ie - 27/01/03; BBC - 22/06/02; 19/08/99; 17/08/99)An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale rocked a mountainous area in eastern Turkey early Monday (27 January), leaving at least one person dead and several injured.
The epicentre of the quake was near the town of Pulumur in the sparsely populated province of Tunceli, 820 km east of Ankara.
The tremor, which was also felt in the nearby provinces of Sivas, Erzincan and Erzurum, damaged houses in at least five villages."I think there is great damage in the villages," Turkish Public Works Minister Zeki Ergezen said as he flew off to Elazig, a regional centre.
"Magnitude 6.5 is quite strong.
The effects could be quite devastating," he added.The only fatality -- a 65-year-old woman from the village of Saglamtas, near Pulumur -- was killed when her home collapsed.According to Istanbul-based Kandilli Seismology Centre, the earthquake hit Pulumur at 7:25 am local time, and was followed by three aftershocks of 3.1 on the Richter scale, also felt in the surrounding area.
About 223 aftershocks measuring below 3.0 on the Richter scale rocked Pulumur between 7.26 am Monday and 9.03 am Tuesday.Minister Ergezen told the Associated Press that three students were injured as they jumped out of the window of their hostel in a panic.
Three more people in the Erzincan province were injured under similar circumstances.Early reports quoted Pulumur Mayor Mesut Coskun as saying the earthquake had damaged several buildings and that there was an urgent need for tents, as people were too scared to go back to their homes despite the low temperatures.
A local official said falling rocks had blocked some roads.
This coupled with poor weather conditions were complicating the efforts of rescue workers.A quake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale killed 97 people in Pulumur in 1967.
About ten years ago a 6.8-strong quake with its epicentre near Erzincan left more than 650 people dead.
Some of the more devastating earthquakes in recent years killed over 18,000 people.
Most of the country lies on an about 1,000-kilometre long geological fault, called the North Anatolian Fault.
It is blamed for roughly a dozen quakes over 6.7 magnitude since 1939.




Romania, Croatia Discuss Expansion of Economic Co-operation 30/01/2003 Enhancing bilateral economic co-operation was one of the key issues Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase discussed with his Croatian counterpart Ivica Racan during a one-day official visit to Zagreb on Wednesday (29 January). (Rompres - 30/01/03; Reuters - 29/01/03)Enhancing bilateral economic co-operation was one of the key issues Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase discussed with his Croatian counterpart Ivica Racan during a one-day official visit to Zagreb on Wednesday (29 January).
Noting that an overall improvement in dialogue between the two countries allowed bilateral trade volumes to double in 2002, the two officials agreed there was room for further growth.One of the priority projects Nastase and Racan discussed was the Constanta-Omisalj Pipeline, linking the Black Sea with the northern Adriatic.
Noting the project's potential benefit to the entire region, the two leaders stressed the importance of stepping up efforts to finalise it."We want to make the Constanta-Omisalj Pipeline operational as soon as possible," Nastase said after the talks.The terminal at Omisalj can accommodate the largest tankers, with a load capacity of half a million tonnes of oil.
Omisalj is also the final point of another pipeline, the Druzhba-Adria linking the Russian oilfields with the Adriatic, whose capacity is up to 300,000 barrels per day.Addressing local environmental groups' concerns about possible oil spills and environmental damage to the Adriatic coast -- Croatia's main source of tourism revenue -- Racan assured that both projects would be implemented in compliance with environmental standards.
Nastase said he expects the ambitious project to bring Caspian oil to the region would attract the interest of other Balkan countries."Croatia intends to have the okay of the countries in the region without which the project cannot develop in good conditions," Racan said.Other areas of co-operation they discussed included the power sector, heavy industry, electronics, petro-chemistry and pharmaceuticals, noting that Croatia's joining the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) provides for a sustainable development of bilateral relations.Nastase also said there was scope for improving the ties between businesses in the two countries, setting up joint stock companies, encouraging mutual investments and other initiatives.The two prime ministers later attended the opening of the Romanian-Croatian Economic Forum, which was followed by the signing of a co-operation agreement between Romania's Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Zagreb Fair.Nastase also met with Croatian President Stipe Mesic and Parliamentary Speaker Zlatko Tomcic, emphasising his country's support for Croatia's bid to join the EU and NATO.
He said the moves would contribute to a united, stable and prosperous Europe, as well as to the consolidation of Euro-Atlantic ties.




Yugoslavia, an Anachronism! 31/01/2003 When the Federal Parliament adopts the Constitutional Charter of the redefined union of Serbia and Montenegro, almost 73 years after its foundation, Yugoslavia will cease to exist. By Dusan Kosanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 31/01/03Yugoslavia entered into existence in October 1929, when King Alexander Karadjordjevic decided to change the name of his realm, created after the World War I, from the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
The new name was a Serbo-Croatian coinage of the words "south" and "Slavs".
Under the monarchy, Yugoslavia was a highly centralized state, dominated by the Serbian political elite - a fact which caused unrest and frustration among other nationalities.During World War II, Josip Broz Tito's partisans abolished the monarchy and established the republican federation, under the rule of the Communist Party.
The country functioned as a soft dictatorship, but it allowed the equal development for all six federal republics.
In terms of foreign affairs, Tito cultivated an independent attitude towards the Soviet Union, and gained sympathy from the West for the single European Communist country outside the Iron Curtain.
After Tito's death in 1980, however, the lack of substantial reforms and the country's inability to make a peaceful transition resulted in the disintegration of the so-called second Yugoslavia.The third Yugoslavia, established in May 1992 as a federation of two remaining republics - Serbia and Montenegro - was the product of Slobodan Milosevic's propaganda campaign.
The old world-known name was kept for tactical reasons, catering to the wish for a smooth succession from communist Yugoslavia.
But none of Milosevic's plans came to fruition.
The third Yugoslavia, instead of receiving the awaited pat on the shoulder, was doomed by punitive sanctions imposed by the UN for its involvement in the 1991-1995 wars in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.Only after Milosevic was toppled on October 5, 2000, the state - under the name of Yugoslavia - first experienced democracy.
The new Yugoslav President, Vojislav Kostunica, stressed from the beginning that the federation of Serbia and Montenegro should no longer function under the name Yugoslavia.What followed were drawn-out and tedious negotiations between the two republics on the future of the state union.
On March 14, 2001, with help from the EU envoy Javier Solana, the highest ranking officials of Serbia, Montenegro and the federal state reached an agreement to establish a looser union of two republics, which would eventually join the EU.
The agreement was a constant subject of scrutiny, which led to a long delay in its implementation.
Finally, at the beginning of December 2002, the Constitutional Commission, the body in charge of drafting the new union's constitution, finished its nine month-long work.
When the Federal Parliament adopts the Constitutional Charter, a move expected next month, Yugoslavia will cease to exist.Lately, the public seems to be impatient to find out the consequences of this future name change.
The issues causing the worries are rather practical.
Despite its negative political associations, Yugoslavia is a known, and widely accepted "brand" in terms of culture and sports.
Consequently, many fear that the intended name change could result in a partial loss of national identity.
But those in power fiercely believe that Serbia and Montenegro are old European states which do not need to be concealed under a different name.
And the two alone cannot stand for the real Yugoslavia - the 20th century federation of the Balkan Slavs, a country that is no more.




Albania, Montenegro Seeking Broader Co-operation 31/01/2003 Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta's meetings with Montenegrin leaders emphasised intensifying co-operation and developing relations between the two countries. (AP, Tanjug, ATA - 30/01/03)Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilir Meta said Thursday (30 January) that his meetings with Montenegro's leadership were an illustration of the improvement in the relations between the two countries.
Meta held talks in Podgorica with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, Parliamentary Speaker Filip Vujanovic and Foreign Minister Dragisa Burzan.
The leaders pledged to develop closer co-operation in the energy and tourism sectorsand also to open a new border crossing to facilitate trade and eliminate bottlenecks in traffic between the two countries."This visit reconfirmed the good co-operation between the two countries, a concrete communication and concrete projects, which express the will for further strengthening of relations," Burzan said at a joint press conference with his Albanian counterpart.
He said their discussions had focused on two main issues: protecting the waters of Shkoder Lake and defending the rights of minority populations.Prior to his arrival in Podgorica, Meta travelled to parts in eastern Montenegro populated by ethnic Albanians.
The community represents 6 per cent of Montenegro's population of 650,000 people and is represented in the republic's legislature."It is the time for Albanians of Montenegro to enjoy the benefits of reforms for the stability of the country and the region," Meta said.
Commending the Albanians for their support for democratic developments in Montenegro and the overall stability of the region, Meta said their contribution was "an important factor for strengthening relations between the two countries and promotion of regional integration".Burzan promised efforts to further enhance the integration of the Albanian community into Montenegrin society.For his part, Meta vowed that his country was "committed to creating vast opportunities for the Montenegrins in Albania, as strengthening of inter-ethnic cohabitation is a condition for the stability of the two countries".Among the range of projects Meta discussed in Podgorica were a border crossing point at Vermosh-Plava, expected to be opened in the spring, as well as several projects in the area of tourism.
The Albanian and Montenegrin transport ministers will meet in the near future to discuss infrastructure projects.A statement issued by Djukanovic's office after his meeting with Meta said the twoleaders had agreed that relations and co-operation between their countries should expand at all levels.
One of the first initiatives towards this end would be a meeting between the prime ministers of Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia, to be held in Podgorica in the near future.Welcoming the positive developments in the relations between Albania and Montenegro, Vujanovic voiced confidence that their co-operation would further intensify in future.




Bulgaria Launches "Coming Home" Project 05/02/2003 The return of highly-skilled and well-educated emigrants could play a crucial role in paving Bulgaria's future.A national career guidance programme aims to provide the kind of information that young professionals need when considering a return home. By Svetla Dimitrova for Southeast European Times in Sofia - 04/02/03Over the past 12 years, between 300,000 and 900,000 people are estimated to have left Bulgaria for Western Europe and North America.
Many of these highly-skilled and well-educated emigrants have proven successful in their professional careers.
Nevertheless, a large number are believed to be willing to return home to help their country pave its way to a better future.
But few are likely to make that decision without being clear about employment opportunities back home.Taking this into account, the Ministry of Economy, the government's Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (ABA) and JobTiger OOD launched the Coming Home project on 21 January as part of a national career guidance programme they initiated last year.
Through various planned initiatives, the Bulgarian Dream programme seeks to provide opportunities for young Bulgarian professionals and undergraduate economists to improve their skills and qualifications and achieve professional realisation.The goal of the Coming Home project is to provide full and continuously updated information about the Bulgarian job market that young professionals would need when considering a possible return home.
By using a professional and systematic approach, the best comprehensive job bank and interactive information tools, and the most advanced technology, the three project co-ordinating institutions hope to draw more young Bulgarians back home.Two of the three signatories of the project agreement, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Nikolay Vassilev and ABA head Anton Piralkov, are themselves among the number of Bulgarian professionals who left a successful career abroad to return home.
Vassilev, for example, was Senior Vice President and Director for Central and Eastern Europe Studies at Lazard Capital Markets in London prior to joining the cabinet in 2001.
His colleague, Finance Minister Milen Velchev, also left a similarly attractive job in London as Emerging Markets Vice President at Merrill Lynch to take a cabinet post.
These are not isolated cases.
The majority of Vassilev's advisors also had well-established careers before returning to Bulgaria.
There are other similar examples in both public administration and the private sector.More foreign investments will eventually encourage more people to come back, JobTiger Manager Thomas Higgins says.
A not-for-profit company, JobTiger is fully owned by the Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund.
It was established in late 2000 to provide reliable and integrated Internet-based recruitment solutions.
Over time it has developed a vast database, serving its over 80,000 registered users and more than 2,400 registered Bulgarian companies.
The company received the annual Bulgarian award for Best Website for Online Services for 2001 and was selected by an international jury as the Most Successful Debut of the Year.With its comprehensive database and good contacts with Bulgarian embassies abroad, businesses and expatriate clubs and associations, churches and cultural organisations, ABA is also expected to contribute significantly to this long-term co-ordinated effort.




EU Police Mission Continuing Nightclub Raids in BiH 14/02/2003 The EU Police Mission is continuing the UN's brothel-busting programme, hoping in the process to improve police investigations and co-operation between Bosnia and Herzegovina's fragmented police forces. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 13/02/03Bosnian police raided 47 nightclubs last month under the close watch of the EU's Police Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUPM), a sign that criminals involved in Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) nightclub business will have to stay on their toes even though a UN anti-trafficking programme ended along with the UN mandate in December.Planners of the EU mission had not indicated as late as last spring whether they would continue the UN's Special Trafficking Operations Programme (STOP), which was the international community's first concentrated effort to stop trafficking in women and forced prostitution here.
Some estimate that criminal groups have smuggled between 6,000 and 10,000 foreign women into BiH, many of whom are working in nightclubs against their will.But because thwarting this trade is linked to stopping other international crime -- such as illegal border crossings and smuggling -- and to improving police investigations and co-operation among BiH's 14 separate police forces, it made sense to continue the anti-trafficking work with a new programme, said EUPM spokesman Jon Oskar Solnes."FIGHT [Fight and Intervention Against Human Trafficking] is complementary to the long-term strategy, which is to gather intelligence on the criminals who are doing this, and you do that by enhancing police capacity," he said, adding that improving surveillance and forensics techniques were some of the general EUPM goals.The EUPM has assumed a monitoring role since taking over from the UN's 1,600-strong international police force on 1 January.
About 500 higher-level EUPM managers are at 43 locations around the country to monitor the police at managerial levels.
Solnes said that this is reflected in the way that the EUPM monitors local police raids on brothels."These are advisers, these are not the guys who will be jumping through doors and windows," he said.
"They're looking over the shoulders of the BiH police."The 200 police involved in the 17 January raid closed one nightclub in Tuzla took one trafficking victim in Bijeljina to a shelter and brought illegal-entry charges against three women working in Travnik.
But Solnes emphasised that though the raids may receive all the media attention, the EUPM focus is on the day-to-day improvement of police work.
How the police present evidence in court, for example, is one area that needs improvement."You have to build a bridge between [the police and the courts], so that cases don't get bogged down and evidence doesn't get old," he said.The EUPM is also looking to improve the State Border Service and to help develop a state-level agency that would serve as a clearinghouse for information sharing between BiH police and international police agencies, such as Interpol.Solnes said the monitoring and advising was the best way the EU had envisioned sustainable police forces in BiH.
"The thing that would be the best would be that when we leave here, nobody would notice," he said.




Macedonian Neurosurgeon Tested his Health in Antarctic 12/02/2003 In an expedition to Antarctica that started in Bulgaria last November, noted Macedonian alpinist and neurosurgeon Jovica Ugrinovski placed his country's flag at the South Pole, alongside those of 40 other nations. By Slobodanka Jovanovska for Southeast European Times in Skopje -- 11/02/03It took about 15,700 km by plane and another 1,000 km by ship for Macedonian neurosurgeon Jovica Ugrinovski to arrive in the Antarctic.
He was the first Macedonian to travel from the small Balkan country to that distant and sparsely populated part of the world.
As part of a 13-member international expedition composed mostly of Bulgarian and Spanish experts from various fields, he traveled by plane from Sofia to Milan and from Milan to Buenos Aires, and later by ship from Ushuaia to Livingston Island at the South Pole.Dr Ugrinovski's primary mission was to provide healthcare to members in the expedition, to examine the effects of severe living conditions on the heart and blood circulation, and, as a personal goal, to examine human behaviour after long periods of isolation in extreme conditions.
Those conditions, he said, "were not as severe as in the Himalayas, where it's very high and the temperatures are very low, provoking health problems very easily.
But the weather is totally unpredictable and it seems to change every 15 seconds, mostly because of the strong winds, sometimes as high 160 km per hour."Part of Ugrinovski's popularity as a neurosurgeon in Macedonia stems from an incident several years ago, when he saved the life of former President Kiro Gligorov after an assassination attempt.
However, he is also known as a passionate mountaineer who has participated in several expeditions:climbing the highest mountains in Europe, Africa and the Himalayas.
However, this expedition to Antarctica was more for research than enjoyment.
It also opened the door for other Macedonian scientists to take part in international missions at the South Pole as members of the Polar Research Centre that he recently created in the main University in Skopje -- "Kiril i Metodij".Ugrinovski's two-and-a-half-month expedition began in November and ended in January.
All members of the expedition stayed and worked at the research base at Livingston Island.
There they conducted geological, bacteriological, biological, meteorological and other experiments that will be continued by others.
"In the winter it is almost impossible to stay there, but it is summer this time of the year and the lowest temperature at night was only -12 C.
But it's not exactly night because there is daylight all the time, " Ugrinovski explained.He conveyed pride in being the first Macedonian selected by the European Board for Polar Research to take part in the expedition and the first Macedonian to spend an extended period of time in the Antarctic.
He said his main impression from the trip was that "everything is white."
Few people, radio contact only once a week, penguins and a few other birds, the ocean, snow and ice -- that's the Antarctic.




Success of Montenegrin Presidential Elections in Doubt 06/02/2003 According to the latest public opinion polls, Sunday's (9 February) repeat presidential elections in Montenegro will likely fail due to insufficient voter turnout. By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 06/02/03For the presidential elections in Montenegro to succeed, more than 50 per cent of voters are required to cast their ballots.
However, according to the most recent research conducted by the Centre for Democracy (CEDEM), an NGO in Podgorica, only 46.3 per cent of eligible voters will head to the polls Sunday (9 February).
Before the first round on 22 December, CEDEM accurately forecast that the elections would fail due to a poor voter response.If the repeat elections fail, Montenegrin law calls for the entire election process to start over.
In that case, new candidates would be able to enter the field.
Currently only those candidates who ran in December are allowed to run.
But Montenegrin law does not establish a deadline for calling the brand-new presidential elections.If enough voters go to the polls on Sunday, the winner will be whichever candidate receives an absolute majority of the vote.
If no candidate fulfils this requirement, the two leading candidates will take part in a run-off, in which the 50 per cent voter turnout is not required for the elections to be valid.Although 11 candidates participated in the December elections, the only real contender for president was Parliament Speaker Filip Vujanovic, a member of the ruling For a European Montenegro coalition.
In the last election, he won 80 per cent of the vote, but failed to become president due to insufficient voter turnout.
Vujanovic now believes that the elections will succeed, as a new government has been formed in the interim, and the Constitutional Charter of the new union of Serbia and Montenegro has been adopted.However, the government is currently embroiled in an unresolved affair concerning the trafficking of women.
Opposition parties claim that many Montenegrin statesmen are mixed up in the affair.
In addition, surveys suggest that the public doubts the new government will carry out promised reforms.
In addition, the opposition pro-Yugoslav coalition intends to boycott Sunday's election.
Without its participation, the vote has little chance of success.
The opposition is accusing Vujanovic and his party of using threats and blackmail to force voters to the polls, claims Vujanovic has had to repeatedly deny during his campaign.In spite of this, the ruling coalition still enjoys a considerable advantage.
By law, should an election fail, presidential duties are to be carried out by the parliament speaker -- none other than Vujanovic himself.
Yet analysts believe that should Sunday's round fail, the election law will be changed, scrapping the 50 per cent turnout requirement in the first round.
The OSCE agrees, insisting the law is outdated and needs to be replaced.




UNMIK Chief Discusses Regional Issues With Mitrovica Leaders 03/02/2003 Michael Steiner held talks with local government leaders and met with residents of Mitrovica during his visit Saturday to the ethnically divided town. (UN, Tanjug - 01/02/03; UN, KFOR - 31/01/03; UN - 20/01/03)UNMIK head Michael Steiner visited Mitrovica on Saturday (1 February) to discuss the situation in the region with local government leaders, including Municipal Assembly President Faruk Spahija and Deputy President Mursan Ibrahimi.
UNMIK assumed authority in the northern section of the ethnically divided town about two months ago and opened its office there, establishing full control over an area that has seen violent clashes in the past."We have brought the northern part of Mitrovica out of the grey zone.
And I will stick to my promise that there will be no partition," Steiner said in a recent televised address to the people of Kosovo.
The situation in Mitrovica is now calm, including in the so-called confidence zone around the main bridge over the Ibar, linking the two sections of the town.
Since mid-December, 20 newly graduated Serb officers have been conducting regular policing out of the Mitrovica North police station.Steiner's visit was part of his ongoing efforts to promote stability and development in the region.
While in Mitrovica he took the local officials to the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA), which has recently opened an office in the north, accessible to people from all over the province.
The UN chief considers the KTA a key institution for Kosovo's economic future, as it is tasked with managing the privatisation of publicly-owned enterprises.
A number of quick impact projects that have received donor funding are expected to improve life in Mitrovica.For example, a recent UNMIK publication noted that the issuance of license plates in the northern section will help overcome the appearance of lawlessness created by unregistered vehicles driving around this part of town.
The opening of a planned bus line linking the two sections is also expected to improve freedom of movement in this area.To further facilitate freedom of movement for both civilians and the military, KFOR - which works in co-operation with UNMIK - started building a by-pass around the south of Mitrovica in November 2002.
A French engineering batallion is implementing the project, which includes construction of 300m of road, a 40m-long bridge and the amelioration of an existing 1.5km-long road.Before returning to Pristina, Steiner talked for an hour with Mitrovica residents about issues affecting their daily life.One of the main problems Kosovo faces is the high level of unemployment.
A recent Rinvest Economic Institute survey placed overall unemployment in Kosovo at 49 per cent.
The survey found that joblessness among the province's youth stood at an alarming 72 per cent, while Kosovo's Statistics Office and the Labour Ministry say the youth unemployment rate is about 57 per cent.A recent announcement of job positions within the UNMIK Administration in Mitrovica received an enthusiastic response, attracting more than 500 applications.




Court Wants Milosevic's Son Arrested 04/02/2003 A court has issued an arrest warrant for Slobodan Milosevic's son, but locating him continues to prove difficult.
The younger Milosevic is wanted for alleged involvement in violence against pro-democracy activists. (AP, VOA, INET News - 03/02/03; AP, Reuters, CNN, BBC archive news reports)The Municipal Court of Pozarevac issued an arrest warrant Monday (3 February) for former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's son, Marko.
Municipal public prosecutor Miroslav Vojinovic said the court has also sent out a circular with Marko Milosevic's name on it.In November 2001, the Pozarevac court indicted the younger Milosevic for his alleged involvement in an assault against an activist of Serbia's Otpor (Resistance) student pro-democracy movement.
The indictment said that in March 2000, while Milosevic was still in power, his son and six associates seized Otpor's Zoran Milovanovic.Threatening to kill him with a power saw, they insisted that he reveal the identities of the movement's leaders and publishers, as well as information about Otpor's sources of funding."[Marko] switched on the power saw and threatened to cut him up and throw him into the Morava River," the prosecutor's indictment said.The incident involving Milovanovic was described as only one among many cases of violence against Milosevic's adversaries during the last months of his rule.
At the time, Otpor played an active role in the efforts to oust Milosevic.
It conducted a large-scale campaign accusing the former president and his family of crime and corruption.Soon after his father's fall from power, Marko fled the country.
His whereabouts remain unknown, although he is widely believed to be hiding somewhere in Russia or another former Soviet republic.
Staff of the Yugoslav Embassy in Moscow are said to have checked an address in the Russian capital that Marko's lawyers have given the court, but the information proved to be false.During his father's rule, Marko managed to amass a great personal fortune through various business ventures.
His numerous possessions are said to include several pizzerias, a duty-free chain, a nightclub and an amusement park called "Bambiland".
With his bleached blond hair and playboy image, Marko became notorious for his rowdy behaviour and obsession with fast cars.
Some reports suggested involvement in drug dealing, as well as in smuggling of contraband cigarettes, alcohol and gasoline.His wife Daniela and son Marko Jr initially left with him for Moscow, where his father's brother Borislav was serving as Yugoslavia's ambassador.
Daniela and her son later returned home to live with Milosevic's wife, Mira Markovic.
Speculations continued about Marko's whereabouts, placing him mostly in Russia, but also in China and Cuba.If brought to justice and convicted, he could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.




IMF Approves Stand-By Credit for Croatia 05/02/2003 The IMF has approved a stand-by credit intended to support economic and fiscal reforms in Croatia.The country's economic programme for 2003 emphasises stablisation of the public debt ratio, increasing labour market flexibility and stepping up privatisation. (HINA - 04/02/03; IMF - 03/02/03)The IMF announced Monday (3 February) the approval of a 14-month $146m stand-by credit in support of Croatia's economic and financial programme through April 2004.
The government, however, is not planning to draw funds under the credit, as its intentions are to treat the arrangement as precautionary.Following the decision, IMF First Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chairwoman Anne Krueger commended the Croatian government for its economic programme for 2003, saying it would begin "to lay the foundation for fiscal sustainability and sustained high economic growth rates".
To achieve a long-term effect, she said, the measures in these areas would need to be followed by continued fiscal adjustment and structural reform in the years to come.The main emphasis of the programme is on stabilising Croatia's public debt ratio, increasing labour market flexibility and improving progress in privatisation.Based on an anticipated improvement in external conditions, the impact of structural reforms and other factors, economic growth is expected to rise to about 4.5 per cent this year from an estimated growth of 4 per cent in 2002.
Average inflation, which IMF estimates at between 2.2 per cent and 2.4 per cent during 2002, is targeted to remain below 3.5 per cent in 2003.
In the event that circumstances threaten to upset price stability, the Croatian National Bank (CNB) would tighten its monetary policy.The chief objective of the fiscal programme for 2003 is to stabilise the general government debt ratio.
To achieve this, Croatia's budget for 2003 envisages a further reduction of the general government deficit to 5 per cent of GDP, from an expected 6.2 per cent of GDP in 2002.
A deficit of this size, according to the IMF, would help stabilise the debt ratio at 57.5 per cent of GDP - the estimated level at the end of 2002.To ensure that its fiscal adjustment objectives are achieved, the 2003 programme rests on a tight wage policy in the government sector, including a general wage freeze and the implementation of reforms in the defence sector, with an intended reduction of employment by 12,000 in the first nine months of 2003.
In addition, nominal reductions of bonuses and allowances for central government workers are also planned.
CNB financing for the government is planned to stand at 1.3 per cent of GDP.Stressing the importance of structural reforms for achieving sustainable high growth, the IMF said they would help increase competitiveness and employment, as well as economic growth in the medium term.The 2003 programme also envisions improvement of transparency in the fiscal area, as well as further strengthening of the legislative framework in the financial sector.
Some of the specific measures include a new foreign exchange law, implementation of a new banking law, and a new regulation to calculate the net open foreign exchange position of banks.The Croatian government also plans to step up the privatisation and restructuring of key state-owned enterprises, including the oil and power companies, the deposit insurance agency and the pension fund.
A labour law already submitted to parliament is expected to increase labour market flexibility.
Legislative measures including new company, competition and bankruptcy laws are also envisioned, as well as steps towards judicial reform.




Ten East European Countries Back US Position on Iraq 07/02/2003 Following US Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation before the UN Security Council, ten East European countries -- once members of the communist bloc -- declared unequivocal support for Washington's stand on Iraq. (International Herald Tribune, Electronic Telegraph, Times Online, CNN, AFP - 06/02/03; AP, Reuters, BBC, UN News Service - 05/02/03)Ten East European countries issued a strongly worded statement following US Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation before the UN Security Council on Wednesday (5 February).
The countries, known as the Vilnius Group, voiced unequivocal support for the US stand on Iraq and called for an adequate response to the threat the Baghdad regime poses to international peace and security.In its statement, the group -- consisting of Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia -- said Powell had presented "compelling evidence" of Iraq's efforts to hide its arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and deceive UN arms inspectors, and of its links to international terrorism."Our countries understand the dangers posed by tyranny and the special responsibility of democracies to defend our shared values.
The trans-Atlantic community, of which we are a part, must stand together to face the threat posed by the nexus of terrorism and dictators with weapons of mass destruction," the former communist states said.
Seven of the signatories have already been invited to join NATO, while Albania, Croatia and Macedonia are hoping for an invitation.The ten countries said they had thus far supported all efforts for a peaceful solution to the Iraqi crisis, but were now convinced that Baghdad was in "material breach" of Security Council Resolution 1441 and were ready to participate in international actions to ensure Iraq meets its obligations."The clear and present danger posed by Saddam Hussein's regime requires a united response from the community of democracies.
We call upon the UN Security Council to take the necessary and appropriate action in response to Iraq's continuing threat to international peace and security," the declaration said.In a speech following Powell's presentation, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy said that Iraq should either comply with the resolution by 14 February, when the UN inspectors are due to brief the council again, or be forced to do so.
Bulgaria is the only Vilnius Group member currently sitting on the Security Council.Although the ten countries have only a limited ability to contribute significantly to possible military action, the support they are likely to provide could include medical staff, anti-mine units and chemical protection gear.
Bulgaria and Romania have promised logistical support and use of their airspace.
Macedonian television reported Wednesday that Skopje is ready to join the US-led coalition.The Vilnius Group's statement follows a similar initiative by eight other European countries.
Last week, EU members Britain, Denmark, Italy, Portugal and Spain -- along with EU invitees Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic -- published a letter expressing their support for Washington's stand on Iraq.
With the Netherlands also considered a staunch supporter, the number of European states now backing a military response has reached 19.In Turkey, meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul officially pledged support.
He told reporters Wednesday that there was nothing more his government could do to achieve a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis.
"We believe that in line with our national interests, we should act together with our strategic ally, the United States," he said.




Turkish Parliament Allows Upgrading of Military Bases 07/02/2003 A motion allowing US personnel to upgrade facilities in Turkey in preparation for possible military action against Iraq was approved by the Turkish Parliament on Thursday. (CNN, AFP, The New York Times - 07/02/03; AP, Reuters, BBC, FT, VOA, Anatolian Agency - 06/02/03)Turkey's Parliament voted to allow US military and technical personnel to upgrade airbases and ports in the country that could be used in the event of a war with Iraq.
The motion, submitted by Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, was passed by 308 votes to 193 during a closed-door session of parliament Thursday (6 February).
A second measure, which will likely be considered later this month, would grant permission for the deployment of US troops to Turkish military bases.In a televised address earlier Thursday, Gul assured that the legislative measure did not imply Turkey would enter a war against Iraq, or that Turkish troops would not take part in combat.
"We have to think about our national interests," the Turkish daily Hurriyet  quoted Gul as saying Wednesday.
"Whatever Turkey's interests require is what we're going to do.
From today on, I think we're going to have to act together with our strategic partner, the United States."However, the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that Turkey would continue to work for a peaceful solution.
"We are only taking measures in the face of increasing probability of a war ...You cannot just sit back and watch a fire burn next door: your own house might catch fire," he said.Thursday's decision authorises US military and technical personnel to work on the "renovation, development, construction, expansion and infrastructure work at military bases, facilities and ports" over a period of three months.
Media reports have suggested some 3,500 US Army engineers and other technical staff could soon arrive to begin the upgrades.
Using bases in Turkey would allow the opening of a second, northern front against Iraq.Hailing Turkey's decision, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said US President George W. Bush "welcomes the vote" and would continue to work closely with Turkey to ensure Iraq's compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1441."Turkey is a stalwart friend and a staunch NATO ally," Fleischer said, commending Ankara for "facing up to difficult issues in a serious and conscientious way."
The United States "respects the principles of the Turkish government in bringing this issue to the Turkish Parliament," he added.Turkey is concerned that a war in Iraq could spark unrest among Kurds both inside Turkey and in its southern neighbour, with the potential for serious economic and social impact on the country.
Turkey is the only NATO member that shares a border with Iraq.Meanwhile in Brussels, NATO Secretary General George Robertson affirmed the alliance's solidarity with Turkey and promised a decision soon on measures to defend the country.




Montenegro Holds Second Failed Presidential Election in a Row 10/02/2003 Montenegro failed to elect a president Sunday, the second such failure in less than two months.
The problem -- too few voters bothered to show up. By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 10/02/03The repeat presidential election held in Montenegro on Sunday (9 February) has failed.
Voter turnout was again below the legally required 50 per cent, according to sources at the Centre for Election Monitoring and the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy.According to the two organisations, voter turnout was 47.1 per cent of about 457,000 registered voters.
Out of the 11 candidates, Filip Vujanovic of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists and Social Democratic Party was the clear front-runner.
Vujanovic won 81.7 per cent of the vote, the organisations said.While acknowledging the election had likely failed, Vujanovic refused to concede defeat before official results were announced.
He said there was still a small chance the final figures could change once the vote takes place at about 80 polling stations in mountainous areas that never opened due to bad weather.Some 1.5 per cent of voters in the north did not go to the polls because of the snow.
The vote will be held there when conditions improve, but monitors predict this would not be enough to validate the overall election."This obliges me to run again if my party nominates me," Vujanovic said, citing the large number of votes he received.
He will retain his current posts of parliament speaker and acting president until a new president is elected.Opposition parties, led by the Socialist People's Party (SNP), again boycotted the poll.
The SNP argues the ruling coalition is ruining the economy, while some other parties have accused it of giving up plans for independence.Election laws required a repeat election with the same candidates after the initial vote, held on 22 December, failed.
Turnout, at 45.9 per cent, was even lower in that election.Sunday's developments leave both Serbia and Montenegro -- which became part of a new union on 4 February -- without elected heads of state.
But analysts say this is unlikely to cause major problems with the union, whose institutions will be set up in a month, provided the governments of the two republics remain stable.Since Montenegro's election was a failure, the entire process will have to be repeated from the beginning.
Under the constitution, elections are called by the speaker of the legislature, though there is no legal deadline.
Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said earlier that the legislature would soon debate amendments to electoral laws aimed at eliminating turnout requirements, a move backed by the OSCE and local NGOs.




Kosovo Politicians Retract Plans for Declaration of Independence 10/02/2003 Following warnings from the international community that unilateral initiatives could jeopardise stability, Kosovo politicians are backing away from plans for a declaration of independence. (Various sources - 09/02/03)A group of Kosovo politicians said Sunday (9 February) they have decided not to go ahead with a planned declaration of independence because it would trigger a conflict with the international community.
Returning from Washington on Saturday, Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova and Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi said the time was not right for parliament to make such a move, but added that they would continue supporting independence.Last week, 42 members of Kosovo's 120-seat parliament backed a motion calling for the adoption of a declaration of independence.
The move was in response to Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's suggestion that NATO should allow Serbian troops to return to Kosovo and his subsequent call for a June conference on the province's final status.Reacting to the motion, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana sent a letter to the chairman of the assembly, Nedzat Daci, warning that any such efforts towards independence would constitute a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
Furthermore, Solana said, it was not within the powers of the assembly to adopt a declaration of independence.
Echoing statements by UN officials last week, he stressed that any talks to determine final status would be premature.During a UN Security Council meeting last Thursday, UNMIK chief Michael Steiner took a similar position.
"I don't believe that 2003 is the time for finally solving Kosovo's status", Steiner said.Reiterating its full support for the "standards before status" policy, the Security Council stressed the need for meeting benchmarks in eight key areas: functioning of democratic institutions, rule of law, freedom of movement, return of refugees and internally displaced persons, the economy, property rights, dialogue with Belgrade, and the Kosovo Protection Corps."The fulfilment of these targets is essential to commencing a political process designed to determine Kosovo's future, in accordance with resolution 1244," said German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger, whose country currently holds the Council's rotating presidency.
"The Council strongly rejects unilateral initiatives which may jeopardise stability and the normalisation process, not only in Kosovo but also in the entire region."Steiner said UNMIK's focus in 2003 would be on fulfilling the standards."What are our priorities?
Jobs, security and multiethnicity," he said.
"This is what the international community wants.
And this is what people in Kosovo want."Further efforts would also be made in the areas of transfer of power, establishing direct dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, and preparing for European integration.Steiner added, however, that "our focus on standards in no way precludes opening direct talks between Pristina and Belgrade.
On the contrary, dialogue with Belgrade is one of the eight benchmarks.
As the Secretary General has said, talks on issues of mutual interest should start as soon as possible."




International Monitors Say Montenegro's Election Law Must Be Changed 11/02/2003 A team of international monitors concluded that Sunday's (9 February) presidential election in Montenegro was in line with international standards, but warned that reforms are needed to prevent another failed election. (AFP, The Guardian, VOA - 11/02/03; OSCE, AP, BBC, CNN, RFE/RL, Radio B92 - 10/02/03)Following the second failed presidential election in six weeks, international election observers urged Montenegro to reform its election law and abolish provisions that set the stage for an infinite succession of unsuccessful votes.
"These provisions, which are unique to Serbia and Montenegro within the OSCE region, must be changed before the next presidential vote is scheduled," the chief of the OSCE monitoring mission in Podgorica, Nikolai Vulchanov, said Monday (10 February).As in the first presidential vote on 22 December, Parliamentary Speaker and acting President Filip Vujanovic, who represents Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic's ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), won over 80 per cent of the vote.
But voter turnout -- at around 47 per cent -- was below the 50 per cent minimum necessary for the results to be valid.
The main opposition Socialist People's Party (SNP) again boycotted the election and did not field its own candidate.
Most of its supporters followed suit and did not go to the polls.The prospect of an indefinite repetition of elections "carries the risk of protracted political instability," Vulchanov warned.
Expressing regret over the opposition boycott, he also strongly criticised DPS for attempting to increase turnout by pressuring public sector employees to vote.Similar turnout provisions invalidated recent presidential elections in Serbia, the other member of the new Serbia-Montenegro union that came into existence last week.
There, insufficient voter turnout deprived front-runner Vojislav Kostunica, the president of now-defunct Yugoslavia, of a victory.A new presidential election is expected in Montenegro within the next two to three months.
Vujanovic has said he will run again if nominated.
SNP spokesman Dragan Koprivica says his party would field a presidential candidate if the election law is changed.The 65-member team of international observers said Montenegro's election administration had done its job in a professional and transparent manner and that there were no major irregularities Sunday.
The mission concluded that the vote was generally in line with international standards, but stressed the urgent need for election legislation reform before the new vote is scheduled.The OSCE also identified other problems in Montenegrin election law that should be addressed.
These include the mandate of current election administration bodies, requirements for calling and scheduling repeat elections, procedures for calculating the number of votes cast, and criteria for candidates' eligibility.




Croatian President Meets With EU, NATO Chiefs in Brussels 12/02/2003 Croatian membership in the EU will help realise the vision of a united Europe, President Stipe Mesic said during a visit to Brussels, where he met with European Commission President Romano Prodi and NATO Secretary General George Robertson. (HINA, Hoover's, EUobserver - 11/02/03; VOA, European Commission - 10/02/03)Croatian President Stipe Mesic has wrapped up a two-day visit to Brussels.
He arrived Monday (10 February) to discuss his country's forthcoming application for EU membership.
European Commission (EC) President Romano Prodi assured him of Commission support but linked Zagreb's accession prospects to the implementation of key reforms and improvements in the areas of human rights and refugee issues.Prodi added that the Commission stands ready to provide Croatia with any assistance it might need along the way, including practical advice and financial support.
He also stressed that, should the EU request the EC's opinion on the application, that opinion will be based on the country's performance in implementing reforms.Croatia planned to submit its membership application on 18 February, but must delay that due to a hastily arranged EU summit on Iraq now scheduled for the same day.
Croatian media sources report that Prime Minister Ivica Racan's visit to Athens has been rescheduled for 21 February and that the application will be submitted then.
Greece, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, has been busy trying to work out a common EU position on Iraq.Mesic said that ahead of its actual submission, the EU application had already produced a very positive effect on Croatian public opinion.
"We realise that this is our destiny, to be part of Europe," he said.His two-day visit to Brussels was at the invitation of the Belgian Royal Institute for International Relations.
Addressing the Institute Tuesday night, Mesic said Croatian membership in the EU would offer the possibility of "starting the implementation of the final phrase of the project Unified Europe."
The notion of a united Europe, stretching from the Atlantic to the Urals, could only be realised if all European states are truly included, he said.Discussing the Balkans, Mesic said his country was following a course of normalisation of relations with neighbours, including Serbia and Montenegro.
Croatia's efforts, he added, are aimed at bringing the standards of conduct in the Balkans closer to Europe so that the region "transforms itself into Europe".On Tuesday, Mesic also met with NATO Secretary General George Robertson to discuss Croatia's bid to join the alliance.
He briefed Robertson on progress in reforming the military to bring it into line with NATO standards.
The talks also focused on other obligations Croatia is expected to meet, including co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal.Following his visit to Brussels, Mesic was scheduled to arrive in Tirana Wednesday to participate in the Summit Towards NATO, hosted by Albanian President Alfred Moisiu.
Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski is attending along with Mesic.
US Ambassador to Tirana James Jeffrey will represent Washington.
According to Moisiu spokesman Arjan Konomi, the summit "will define the common goal and the respective obligations regarding the integration path of [the] three countries towards NATO."




Romania Approves Participation in Possible War Against Iraq 13/02/2003 Lawmakers in Romania have approved plans to deploy troops abroad as part of the effort to disarm the Iraqi regime.
Addressing parliament, the foreign minister said the country should stand firmly on the side of US efforts. (AP, VOA, Rompres, RFE/RL - 12/02/03)Romania's Parliament voted Wednesday (12 February) to allow the deployment of 278 troops abroad in case of a conflict with Iraq.
Bucharest will assemble a unit specialising in nuclear, biological and chemical decontamination and de-mining, as well as military police and medical teams.The decision, which passed by a vote of 351 to 2 with 74 abstentions, also grants permission for use of Romania's airports and airspace by the United States.
Parliament acted on a call by President Ion Iliescu earlier this week, following Washington's request for support in a possible military intervention against Iraq.According to the Rompres news agency, the troops will include a 70-strong defence unit, a military police platoon of 25, a medical detachment of 30, an engineering detachment of 149, and four staff officers to serve on the coalition's command unit.Romania is among seven former communist countries invited to join NATO and one of the ten Eastern European countries that recently declared support for US efforts to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction.
It is also part of the US-led anti-terror coalition assembled in the wake of the 11 September attacks.Addressing lawmakers Wednesday, Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana warned of the risk of inaction.
"If Saddam Hussein is not disarmed and is allowed to develop his capabilities, he could strike Romania and [the rest of]
Europe," he said.Geoana was quoted as saying in a radio interview that Romania should also consider possible participation in a post-war reconstruction of Iraq.NATO Secretary General George Robertson is to address the two chambers of parliament during his upcoming visit to Bucharest early next month.
He will be touring capitals of the countries invited to join NATO.In another development, the Romanian and US defence administrations exchanged official notes Wednesday authorising Romanian access to the Partnership for Peace Information Management System.
The system was created to ensure military collaboration in the IT sector and quick information links between NATO command centres and partner countries.
It is based on satellite communications among 17 partners and 4,600 users from ministries, national security councils, military academies, institutes for security studies and civil defence organisations.
Romania will continue to use the system after joining NATO.




New Civil Service Agency Begins Work 25/02/2003 Bosnia and Herzegovina's new Civil Service Agency is trying to move the civil service away from being a playground for politicians' friends and relatives and towards becoming a merit-based service independent from politics. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 25/02/03Getting papers stamped at a government office usually entails the staff member barking "Can I help you?" and ferociously stamping the papers with a bang.
Calling a ministry for information means a machine-gun-like retort followed by the phone being hung up.
The surly service at the post office can ruin one's afternoon.Scenarios like these will one day fade away, if the trickle-down theory held by state-level Civil Service Agency director Jakob Finci proves to be viable."The general public is almost never in touch with civil servants at the state level, but it's my feeling that if the state level is working properly, then it will improve the civil service at all levels," he said.
"[The challenge is] how to infect all the civil servants with the same approach - to be punctual, to be nice to the clients, to answer questions properly.
These are the small wheels that should turn properly.
We should start somewhere, and we're starting at the top."The agency, inaugurated on 6 February, is making sure that civil servants are on the job because they're qualified, not because they're in a certain political party or because they're a member of parliament's cousin.
At the state level, this means jobs within the presidency, the Council of Ministers, parliament and eight ministries.The agency also will be busy creating a centralised employee database, conducting workshops and training, recruiting employees and resolving any conflicts between civil servants and institutions.But the agency's job now is that of detective - checking everyone's files to see if people have the correct degrees and to see how they were hired into the service.
If there's no sign that they were hired in an open competition, Finci said, it is safe to assume the person got in either because of political connections or nepotism.
The person won't be fired; rather, their job will be opened to public competition and the employee can apply for the job.Agency employees had to pass a series of tests to get their jobs, including one 105-question exam on how governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) work that would please the most hardened civics teacher.Finci said that the point was to create an efficient and impartial civil service that will remain constant even when a new government comes to power.
"It's not easy to run a country in which civil servants change every two years," he said, adding that politicians' new four-year mandates shouldn't affect the civil service either.Finci said he was optimistic about the trickle-down theory, as his agency already shares documents and information with the Republika Srpska's agency.
The Federation should pass a law to create theirs by the end of next month.UN High Representative Paddy Ashdown seems to agree, saying at the inauguration ceremony that the new Civil Service Agency, the conflict of interest law and limited political immunity would "move BiH towards being one of the cleanest political places in the Balkans".




Serbian, Montenegrin Parliaments Adopt Law on New Union's Legislature 14/02/2003 The parliaments of Serbia and Montenegro have taken the first step in the process of implementing the Constitutional Charter establishing their new loose union. (AP, Radio B92, OSCE - 13/02/03)On Thursday (13 February), the parliaments of Serbia and Montenegro adopted a law specifying the procedures for electing members of the union's new joint legislature.
The measure is the first step in the process of implementing the Constitutional Charter, which marked the end of Yugoslavia and the establishment of a loose union of its two constituent republics.Under the accompanying law on implementation of the charter, each republic's parliament is to adopt its own laws on the indirect election of members of the union's joint parliament."I am greatly encouraged by the fact that this significant process began today," Dragoljub Micunovic, speaker of the outgoing Yugoslav Parliament said Thursday.The implementation law obliges the Yugoslav president to call indirect elections for the union's new parliament within five days of adoption of the law on the electing members.Members of the new 126-seat parliament will be appointed directly.
Serbia will hold 91 seats, Montenegro the remaining 35.The law adopted by Serbia's Parliament provides that its MPs are to be elected from parties currently represented in the republic's assembly.
The law was passed by a vote of 128 to 84, with no abstentions.
MPs from Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia voted against it.Under the Montenegrin law, 19 of the republic's 35 MPs will be representatives of the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic's Democratic Party of Socialists and the Social Democrats.
Of the remaining seats, 14 will go to the pro-Belgrade coalition Together for Change, led by the Socialist People's Party.
The two other seats will be shared by the Liberal Alliance and the Coalition of Albanian Parties.Belgrade-based Radio B92, however, quoted representatives of the Democratic Union of Albanians and the Democratic Alliance of Albanians in Montenegro as saying they would not send a deputy to the new parliament, to protest the constitutional charter preamble describing Kosovo as part of Serbia.Also in Belgrade, the head of the OSCE mission to Serbia-Montenegro, Ambassador Maurizio Massari, presented the OSCE's plan of action to assist the newly constituted union on Thursday."One of our priorities is to assist this process through expertise so that the republics of Serbia and Montenegro are furnished with the best possible constitutional mechanisms, given the socio-political environments in both republics," Massari said.The main focus of the plan, drawn up after consultations with a broad range of players across the political spectrum in both Serbia and Montenegro, is on constitutional assistance and ongoing programme activities.
Other priorities include providing assistance to domestic war crimes trials and in the fight against human trafficking; supporting the new parliament through training and other initiatives; providing support for the democratic process in southern Serbia; further engagement in the fight against organised crime; and implementation of necessary media legislation.




NATO Sets Stage for Defence Assistance to Turkey 17/02/2003 NATO's Defence Planning Committee agreed late Sunday to begin planning for the deployment of surveillance aircraft and Patriot missiles in Turkey -- moves intended to bolster the country's defence in case of a possible war against Iraq. (NATO, AFP, BBC, CNN, VOA, Times Online, The New York Times, The Independent - 17/02/03; AP, Reuters, RFE/RL - 16/02/03)Ending a month-long stalemate, NATO agreed Sunday (16 February) to begin planning steps to reinforce Turkey's defence in preparation for a possible war against Iraq.
NATO Secretary General George Robertson said members of the Alliance's Defence Planning Committee (DPC) had unanimously agreed on the substance, timing and steps for integrating the bloc's collective solidarity with Turkey."The 18 NATO allies -- members of the integrated military structure -- agreed today to task military planners to begin their work and advice on preventive deployment of AWACS airplanes, NATO support for deployment of theatre missile defences of Turkey, and support for allied chemical and biological defence capabilities," Robertson said late Sunday.
The agreement came after 13 hours of what he described as "arduous but constructive" talks."Alliance solidarity has prevailed.
NATO nations have assumed their collective responsibility towards Turkey, a nation at the moment under threat," Robertson said.
Actual deployment will have to be approved under a separate NATO decision.Turkey is the only NATO member that borders Iraq.US Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns described the agreement as a "very big step forward."
It ended a lengthy impasse triggered by the opposition of France, Germany and Belgium.
On Sunday, Germany dropped its objections.
Several hours later, Belgium followed suit.
Germany has already agreed to loan Patriot missiles to the Netherlands to then be deployed in Turkey.
France withdrew from NATO's integrated military command in 1966 and is the only member of the Alliance that does not sit on the DPC.Meanwhile, Turkey gave Iraq an ultimatum Sunday to meet all UN Security Council resolutions.
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz arrived in Istanbul for a short visit at the weekend, meeting Turkish counterpart Mehmet Ali Sahin and ruling party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkish officials said Ankara could do nothing more to prevent a military strike unless Saddam Hussein co-operates.Also Sunday, five US Air Force cargo planes arrived in Turkey's military base near Diyarbakir.
US military personnel are preparing the base for a larger contingent, though Turkey has not yet given final permission for their arrival.
A parliamentary vote had been expected Tuesday, but Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said Sunday that the motion might be delayed.
Local press reports have suggested that the scope of US financial aid to Turkey remains to be clarified.
Gul emphasised, however, that Turkey was committed to providing help to the United States and would not back out of its position.




Iron Church in Istanbul Slipping Towards the Sea 17/02/2003 St Stephan Bulgarian Church in the middle of Istanbul is on the move.
The century-old church is gradually sliding towards the sea and unless restoration begins soon, a unique piece of the world's architectural heritage will be lost. By Vahit Bora for Southeast European Times in Istanbul - 17/02/03Istanbul is not only the city where two continents meet, but also a place where different civilisations gather.
The city is surrounded by unique masterpieces of both Islamic and Christian architecture.
One of them, known by locals as the "Iron Church", is located on the southern coast of the Golden Horn.
But the church, a landmark in Bulgarian history, requires special care.The church was established early in the 20th century.
Until the middle of the 19th century, the Bulgarian minority in the Ottoman Empire were members of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Driven partly by nationalist impulses, the Bulgarians decided to found their own church.Stefan Bogoridi, one of the Bulgarian leaders in Istanbul, officially demanded the foundation of a Bulgarian church in 1848.
He argued that although Greeks and Bulgarians were both Orthodox peoples, Bulgarians could not fully understand the services in Greek Orthodox churches due to the language difference.
The Palace accepted their demands and the first presbytery was established in the same year.
A cornerstone in Bulgarian history, the presbytery significantly contributed to efforts to build a church.
Finally on 1 March 1870, it was declared by an imperial edict that the Bulgarian minority had the right to establish their own church, and that it should be recognised by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.The Bulgarians decided to build the church at a location close to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate on the Golden Horn coast.
However they later realised that the ground that they had chosen was too soft to construct a reinforced concrete building, which is why iron and steel was used in the construction.
An Austrian firm began to manufacture parts for the building in Vienna in 1893.
The inner and outside surfaces of the church were covered with metal plates.
Then all the parts were integrated with large bolts and clinches.When construction was complete, the great journey started.
Parts of the church were loaded onto a ship which travelled down the Danube to the Black Sea and finally to Istanbul.
It took one and a half years to connect all the parts.
In 1898, the church opened its doors to worshippers.A century later, only a few hundred people from the Bulgarian minority remain in Istanbul.
The keeper of the church said that between 20 and 30 people visit the church during religious festivals, plus occasional tourists.
Besides being left in solitude, the church has another serious problem.Professor Mete Tapan from Istanbul Technical University and architect Hasan Kuruyaz?c? assert that the building is sliding towards the sea due to spaces left in the ground.
They claim that small-scale earthquakes and even the rumble of passing trucks increase cracking in the walls.
Representatives of the Bulgarian minority have applied to both Turkish and Bulgarian Ministries of Culture for aid in restoration but the bureaucracy appears to be very slow.
As a result, the historic church is creeping further towards the sea each day.




Micic Seeks End to Political Impasse, Encourage More Participation by Women 21/02/2003 Natasa Micic assumed the role of caretaker president of Serbia on 29 December 2002, becoming the first female head of state in Serbian history.
At 37, she is also the youngest.
In a recent interview with Southeast European Times correspondent Davor Konjikusic, she talked about prospects for Serbian elections, Euro-Atlantic issues and more. By Davor Konjikusic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 20/02/03SE Times: When do you expect the next presidential elections to be held?Natasa Micic: Earlier this month, the Serbian Parliament adopted the Constitutional Charter of the new State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.
This document stipulates a specific deadline for adopting the new constitutions for the republics.
That deadline is six months.
This means that by autumn we will have to adopt the constitution, and that legal act will have to include norms on the manner of electing the president.
On the other hand, in Serbia we had two unsuccessful presidential elections on no less than two occasions in the past several months.
I think that the most probable road to resolving the situation concerning the election of a president is for politicians and experts to agree on a fast and efficient manner of amending the constitution in a way that would establish feasible rules for electing a president.SE Times: It appears that you spent a lot of your time consulting with representatives of different parliamentary groups on the issue of organising the next presidential election, with an earnest desire for Serbia to get an elected president the third time around.Do you expect success?Micic: Upon assuming office I announced that I would deal with this issue.
Sincerely, my goal is not to stay in this job for very long.
It is very important for the state, above all, to demonstrate that it can make a basic effort and can resolve this problem.SE Times: Do you think that the elections turnout could exceed 50 per cent or is the proposal from the international community for the mandatory turnout to be abolished being considered at all?Micic: One of the proposals is to abolish the mandatory electoral turnout.
But then you must also redefine the president's authority and manner of recall.
According to the existing legal system, the procedure for recalling a president is very complex, with a vote from the majority of registered voters being required in a referendum.
You cannot have a very low mandatory voter turnout on the one hand and on the other very strict conditions and a high mandatory voter turnout for recalling a president.SE Times: What does the Serbian Parliament intend to do regarding Euro-Atlantic integration and how does it intend to realise its desired goals?Micic: Well, now that the Constitutional Charter has been adopted, the situation is much clearer.
The Serbian Parliament must go on with its daily order of business: to discuss and adopt reform laws.
Its other job is to control the work of other government institutions.
There is a clear and unwavering political will for entering this process and I think that political conflicts and battles will not stand in the way.SE Times: How will implementation of the Constitutional Charter help governments and citizens of the future State Union realise their goals?Micic: First, it helps them by virtue of the fact that the situation has become clearer -- who does what, who answers to whom and who finances what.
It also helps because the international community has defined partners, which will speed up the process of integration.
We will enter the Council of Europe and will begin the process of coming closer to the EU.
We will have a smaller and less expensive administration.
I hope a more efficient one, also.SE Times: How has the participation of women in Serbian politics improved and can you, as the first woman president, assist in improving women's rights?Micic: Statistically, there are four to five times more women in politics today than before 5 October 2000.
We are still not satisfied with those numbers, nor are we satisfied with the essence.
In the position of president I can help as a figure, as a symbol of the fact that Serbia is no longer a society of men only.SE Times: After the adoption of the Constitutional Charter, Serbia stands to get a new constitution -- when do you expect that enormous task to be completed?Micic: I mentioned the six-month deadline stipulated in the Charter.
I hope that the new constitution will be complete by this autumn.SE Times: What are your plans once you withdraw from the position of acting president?Micic: I will remain in my initial position of parliamentary speaker.
There is still a lot of work to be done there.




No Anti-war Demonstrations in Tirana 24/02/2003 Perhaps more than in any other nation in the region, solidarity with the United States over the Iraq crisis is a combination of the government's official stance with domestic public opinion. Commentary by Orest Erzeni for Southeast European Times in Tirana - 24/02/03Albania was among the few countries in Europe where demonstrations against a possible war in Iraq were not held during the past weeks.
This was not because such demonstrations are forbidden, or for lack of small pacifist groups.
Rather, it was because such a thing would be considered inappropriate both by the authorities and the public.
Perhaps more than in any other nation in the region, solidarity with the United States over the Iraq crisis is a combination of the government's official stance with domestic public opinion.Tirana views the Declaration of Solidarity with the United States, signed by eight EU states on 30 January, as well as the fact that more than 15 states within NATO agreed to send defensive systems to Turkey, as diplomatic relief for the stance that the Albanian state has chosen.The prevailing notion in Tirana is that the country is supporting the right cause against a dictatorial regime that presents an international threat and supports the disarmament of Iraq.
The current solidarity with the United States is also seen as a choice between the world anti-terrorist coalition and international terrorist forces.
President Alfred Moisiu presented the stand towards Iraq in a 12 February declaration delivered during the Summit of the Presidents of Croatia, Macedonia and Albania.
The declaration firmly established Albania in the anti-terrorist coalition.Albania has also supported the intervention in Afghanistan and sent a military unit there.
The country was also among the first to indicate its willingness to make its land, seaports and air available to the international coalition against Iraq.Incumbent and opposition political forces have a common attitude when it comes to the United States, seen as a main strategic ally.
Influential politicians as well as the rank and file consider solidarity with the United States as an historic obligation, one that has roots in the immediate past as well as in an earlier era.
Former US President Woodrow Wilson supported the independence of the new Albanian state at the beginning of the 20th century.
More recently NATO, led by the United States, intervened to save the people of Kosovo from genocide.
Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, encouraging people to remember Normandy, stated that Albanians do not forget.
They have an early historic memory and an immediate one.It is strongly believed in Tirana that the stance Albania has taken on the Iraqi crisis will not create problems in negotiations with the EU for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
The opening of the first round of negotiations in Tirana on 13 February seemed to justify this optimism.




KFOR Detains Indicted Former Rebels 18/02/2003 Three former rebels suspected of involvement in atrocities against Kosovo civilians were arrested Monday by KFOR troops.
The arrests coincide with the opening of a war crimes trial against four former KLA members. (KFOR, AP, Reuters, BBC, CNN - 17/02/03)On Monday (17 February), KFOR troops arrested three former rebels indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal for their alleged involvement in atrocities against Kosovo civilians.
Haradin Bala, Isak Musliu and Agim Murtezi are the first Kosovo Albanians to be charged by The Hague tribunal for war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo.No casualties were sustained in the operation, which was carried out in co-ordination with UNMIK, a KFOR press release said.
Bala, Musliu and Murtezi -- all former members of the disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) -- have been taken to a secure location pending their transfer to The Hague.Praising the KFOR soldiers and officers involved in Monday's operation for their "courage, professionalism and dedication", NATO Secretary General George Robertson described the action as "a significant new step" in the alliance's efforts to crack down on war crimes suspects in the Balkans."This should also send a message that we will act against any person indicted for war crimes, regardless of their ethnicity.
Each fugitive sent to The Hague makes it easier to build a lasting peace in the Balkans," Robertson said.Haradin Bala is known also as Shala, Isak Musliu as �er�iz and Agim Murtezi as Murrizi.
The three were indicted for war crimes they allegedly committed between May and July 1998 when they served as commanders or guards at the Lapusnik prison camp in Glogovac.
According to KFOR's statement, the three men committed or otherwise aided and abetted the imprisonment and cruel treatment of both Serb and Albanian civilians.Robertson took the opportunity to urge all Balkan war crimes suspects wanted by the UN tribunal to surrender voluntarily.
"I call on all remaining fugitives in the region, in particular Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, to surrender to the tribunal.
Let me be crystal clear to those with guilty consciences.
You have only two choices: turn yourself in with dignity or justice will be brought to you.
The net is closing."Monday's arrests coincided with the opening, amid tight security, of the first war crimes trial in Kosovo against four former KLA rebels, including Rustem Mustafa, known also as commander Remi.
He and his subordinates -- Latif Gashi, Nazif Mehmeti and Naim Kadriu -- were indicted by an international prosecutor on charges of kidnapping, beating and torturing fellow Albanians because of their alleged collaboration with Serb forces during the 1998-1999 war.
Three of the defendants are also facing murder charges.With 50 witnesses expected to appear before the judges in Pristina, the trial is expected to take more than two months.
It is considered one of the most sensitive since the province came under UN control in June 1999.




Kosovo Lawmaker Heads for The Hague 19/02/2003 A fourth suspect has joined three former KLA members who were transferred to The Hague earlier this week.
Fatmir Limaj was the highest ranking of the four and is alleged to have played a leading role in atrocities committed during the 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo. (AFP, Reuters - 19/02/03; AP, Reuters, BBC, VOA, Radio B92 - 18/02/03)UN chief war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte confirmed on Tuesday (18 February) that Haradin Balaj, Isak Musliu and Agim Murtezi, who were arrested by KFOR troops a day earlier, have been transferred to The Hague.
A fourth suspect, Fatmir Limaj, has also been detained and was expected to join them there shortly, according to del Ponte's spokeswoman, Florence Hartmann.Belgrade-based Radio B92 quoted Hartmann as saying that Limaj was detained on Tuesday in "a Balkan country."
She described the arrest as a part of that country's full co-operation with the UN tribunal.The four suspects have been charged with war crimes against Serb and Albanian civilians committed during the 1998-1999 Kosovo conflict.
It is the first indictment the UN court has brought against former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).
Limaj, 33, was the highest-ranking of the four and is said to have played a leading role in the alleged atrocities.
He is accused of ordering the execution of more than ten captives in July 1998.
He will also face charges for running a detention camp where prisoners were subjected to brutal and inhuman treatment.Quoting the indictment, the UN tribunal said in a press release that "the co-accused are charged with planning, instigating, ordering, committing, or otherwise aiding and abetting in the planning, preparation, or execution of acts or omissions such as imprisonment, violence and murder against Serb and Albanian civilians in the KLA Lapushnik prison camp in Kosovo, in 1998."Following the end of the conflict in Kosovo, Limaj became a co-founder of Hashim Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK).
He currently heads the PDK's public relations department and acts as the party's spokesman.
He is a member of Kosovo's Parliament.Reuters quoted Limaj as saying earlier by phone that he had been unaware of the UN tribunal's indictment against him.
"I'm not worried about any indictment and I don't feel guilty," he said.
"If I'm one of the suspects ...
I'll turn myself in voluntarily," he added.Belgrade has repeatedly criticised The Hague for failing to indict former KLA rebels.
On Tuesday, Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic said Limaj's detention was "good news" and that he hoped to see more KLA leaders face justice at The Hague.




Macedonia Pledges Co-operation with UN War Crimes Tribunal 20/02/2003 Macedonia's Chief Prosecutor Aleksandar Prcevski said Wednesday (19 February) that his country would adopt a law on co-operation with the international war crimes tribunal.
He spoke after a meeting with chief UN prosecutor Carla del Ponte. (VOA, MIA, Makfax, Radio B92 - 19/02/03)Macedonia has promised co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal in the investigation of atrocities related to the 2001 conflict in the country.
Chief UN war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte held talks with Macedonian Chief Prosecutor Aleksandar Prcevski on Wednesday (19 February).
Afterwards, Prcevski said he and del Ponte had agreed on the need for a law on co-operation with The Hague-based tribunal."Any violation of human rights is liable to punishment and perpetrators should be convicted.
The Prosecution Office pledges passage of a law on co-operation with The Hague tribunal.
Once the law is enforced, Macedonian legislative authorities will be given an opportunity to co-operate with the tribunal without problems," Prcevski said.He also promised his office would work together with the UN court to identify all cases of possible war crimes during the six-month conflict two years ago.
But he said that there had been no discussions about opening new cases.The UN tribunal is currently investigating five cases of alleged atrocities in Macedonia.
However, del Ponte refused to provide any details, including about possible indictments, until the investigation process is complete."I am very pleased to hear ... about full co-operation that can be of great help for us to finish our investigation," she told reporters after her meeting with Prcevski.Answering a reporter's question, Prcevski said there was only a brief discussion on the formal character of the amnesty law adopted following the end of the conflict.
The difficulties national institutions face in implementing this law were the result of its hasty passage and the lack of consultations with legal experts in the process of its drafting, he said.Del Ponte arrived on a two-day visit to Skopje on Tuesday afternoon.
The trip to Macedonia is part of a tour of the Balkans, including Serbia and Montenegro."My visit is aimed at improving the co-operation between Macedonia and the tribunal," she said, upon arrival at Skopje's airport.Apart from Prcevski, del Ponte also met Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, Interior Minister Hari Kostov, Justice Minister Ismail Dardhishta, as well as officials from the foreign ministry.
She left for Kosovo on Wednesday for talks with UNMIK officials.




Verheugen Says Romania Making EU Accession Progress, But 2003 Critical 21/02/2003 Romania has a good chance of meeting its accession goals, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said during a two-day visit to Bucharest.
But entry into the EU in 2007 depends on addressing existing weaknesses, including corruption and the need for judicial reform. (EUobserver.com, Seeurope.net, Rompres - 21/02/03; Rompres - 20/02/03)EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen has commended Romanian authorities for the progress the country has made on its EU bid in the past two years.
Expressing support for Romania's plans to complete accession negotiations by late 2004, ahead of a possible EU membership in 2007, Verheugen stressed this year would be critical.Verheugen, who arrived on a two-day visit to Bucharest on Thursday (20 February), said Romania must demonstrate significant progress in fighting corruption and judicial reform before the end of this year.
While acknowledging the authorities' efforts to tackle corruption, Verheugen said much remained to be done.
One concrete measure the European Commission (EC) has been pressing for is the adoption of an anti-corruption package that would disallow politicians from sitting on company managing boards."We judge a high level of corruption as a political problem," Verheugen said "and not only as a judicial problem".The EC has been for the past two years voicing concern over the level of judicial independence in Romania.
It is now urging the authorities to act as quickly as possible to ensure that the judicial system is free from political pressure.Verheugen assured Romanian President Ion Iliescu that the EU stands by the enlargement decisions announced at the Copenhagen Summit last December.
He was quoted as saying that Romania has a good chance of meeting its accession goals, but must address existing weaknesses before the EC's next progress report, scheduled for October.
The EC supports Romania's intentions to step up its accession talks in view of their possible finalisation in late 2004, Verheugen said, but stressed that this would largely depend on the country's preparations.
He said Romania would probably be recognised as a functioning market economy in the EC's report this year.In other news, the IMF completed its ten-day mission in Romania Thursday, reporting encouraging economic progress in the country.
The IMF team reached an understanding with state authorities on a supplementary letter of intent and welcomed the government's decision to continue discussions on privatisation of the largest Romanian bank, BCR.
The IMF executive board is expected to confirm positively the third performance review under the standby agreement in the second half of April.
However, the confirmation is conditioned on several prior actions, aiming to improve financial discipline in state-owned enterprises and to retain the downward inflation trend.
The government is also expected to file additional documents on near-term economic priorities.




Djindjic Escapes Alleged Assassination Attempt 24/02/2003 A truck driver with local mafia connections and ties to a Milosevic-era secret police chief nearly crashed his vehicle into a car carrying Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
Police are calling the incident an assassination attempt. (The Guardian - 24/02/03; CNN, AP - 23/02/03; Radio B92 - 21/02/03)Police in Belgrade are saying that a near-accident involving Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was probably an assassination attempt.
A truck almost hit the car taking Djindjic to Belgrade airport on Friday (21 February) morning.The driver has a criminal record and alleged ties to a local mafia group, and is said to have received instructions over his mobile phone shortly before the accident."Our initial investigation shows that it was an obvious assassination attempt," AP quoted a police officer as saying.Police sources said the truck made an abrupt swerve into the lane of the prime minister's speeding car, and only the quick reaction of Djindjic's driver prevented a crash.
Djindjic, who was on his way to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), proceeded to the airport.The truck reportedly had Austrian license plates, and the driver has been identified as Dejan Milenkovic, nicknamed "Bugsy".
A police statement said he was arrested for driving the truck with "falsified documents" and that the investigation into the incident and his criminal activities would continue.Initial investigation has shown that the Milenkovic, 33, received "a call on his mobile phone telling him that the prime minister's motorcade was approaching before he cut sharply across the highway," a police officer said.
"Only a miracle saved the prime minister."Commenting on the incident from Banja Luka Friday, Djindjic dismissed speculations that the near-accident was an assassination attempt, suggesting it was the act "of an irresponsible driver who was trying to learn to drive his truck on the highway".
However, after further police investigation, Djindjic concurred Sunday that the incident was an attempt on his life.Serbian media drew parallels between Friday's incident and a similar one in 1999, in which four aides accompanying Vuk Draskovic, opposition leader at the time, were killed.According to Belgrade media, Milenkovic had close links with former secret police chief Milorad Lukovic, known as Legija, whose name has come up repeatedly during Slobodan Milosevic's trial in The Hague.
UN prosecutors are trying to prove that the former Yugoslav president exercised direct command over Lukovic and his unit, which was reportedly involved in ethnic cleansing campaigns in Croatia, BiH and Kosovo during the 1990s.
Media reports have described the former secret police officer as one of the most powerful figures in Serbia's criminal world today.




Croatia Officially Seeks EU Entry 25/02/2003 The EU Council of Ministers is expected to discuss Croatia's membership application in April.
Croatia, which hopes to enter the EU in 2007, formally applied for membership. (EUobserver.com - 24/02/03; The New York Times - 23/02/03; HINA, Reuters, BBC - 21/02/03)On Friday (21 February), Croatia became the first Western Balkan country to formally apply for EU membership, which it hopes to gain in 2007 together with Bulgaria and Romania."Croatia is formalising its strategic goal of becoming an integral part of this new political entity," Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Athens as he handed the one-page official application, co-signed by President Stipe Mesic, to his Greek counterpart Costas Simitis.
Greece currently holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, which will be taken over by Italy on 1 July."United Europe is an unprecedented challenge of the new era and Croatia has a right to participate in this magnificent process," Racan said.
He also acknowledged that, despite his country's strong progress in recent years, there was a lot more it had to do.The application was accompanied by a multimedia CD entitled "RE: member Croatia", featuring speeches by Mesic and Racan, basic facts on Croatia, and photographs of its tourist and historical heritage and of its celebrated athletes Goran Ivanisevic and Janica Kostelic.Commentators have noted that Croatia is more advanced economically than EU candidates Bulgaria and Romania, which are both more than halfway through their accession talks.
But it needs to make strong efforts to meet the Union's basic political criteria, demonstrating full co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal and securing conditions allowing refugees to return to their homes."Croatia is fully aware of the principles on which the union is based - freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law... and we are determined to respect and promote them," Racan said.An isolated country during the rule of former President Franjo Tudjman, Croatia has improved its ties with the EU since the reformist coalition, led by Racan, swept the nationalists out of power in 2000.Simitis said the Greek presidency of the EU will forward the Croatian application to all members of the group in April.
If none of them voice any objections, the European Commission (EC) could start accession talks.
The EC is unlikely to announce its position on the request before mid-2004.At a meeting in Paris on Monday, French President Jacques Chirac assured Mesic of his support for Croatia's EU bid.
A French government spokeswoman also praised Zagreb for its "courageous reforms" of the past three years.Croatian media, meanwhile, quoted a statement by Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner saying that Austria would lobby for quick approval of the application and an accelerated accession procedure for Croatia.
She stressed Croatia's importance as a major trade partner with Austria.Croatia seeks to become the second of the former Yugoslav republics to step firmly on the EU road.
Slovenia is among the ten East European countries invited to join the Union in 2004.
A possible EC decision to start accession negotiations with Croatia would send an encouraging signal to other countries in the region, which are also seeking EU integration.




Seselj "Volunteers" for The Hague 27/02/2003 Vojislav Seselj left voluntarily for The Hague this week, saying he is convinced he will "defeat" the tribunal in a challenge he cannot resist.
Will his attitude hold steady during the trial?
And what will become of the Serbian political scene in view of his departure? By Dusan Kosanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 27/02/03Vojislav Seselj left Belgrade for Amsterdam on Monday (24 February), taking a regular JAT flight, and reported to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
He announced that he plans to defend himself with the help of 15 lawyers.
Seselj used the day leading up to his departure to attract media attention, with the goal of augmenting the popularity of his Serbian Radical Party.
He gave a number of interviews on Saturday at a congress exclusively scheduled before his departure.On 21 February, the ICTY confirmed an indictment against Seselj, putting an end to media speculation on the subject.
His claim that he was aware in advance of the existing indictment against him was also confirmed.The indictment charges Seselj with eight counts of crimes against humanity and six counts of violations of the laws and customs of war.
According to the indictment, Seselj participated in a joint criminal enterprise whose purpose was the permanent forcible evacuation of non-Serb people from one-third of the territory of Croatia, large parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and from parts of Vojvodina.
The joint criminal enterprise came into existence before 1 August 1991, and continued until December 1995.
The indictment charges that Seselj was part of this enterprise until September 1993, at which time he had a conflict with Slobodan Milosevic.Seselj is also charged with taking part in war propaganda and spreading hatred towards non-Serb people, as well as inciting his volunteer units and other Serb forces in Croatia and BiH to commit crimes.
During his public speeches, the indictment states, he called for the expulsion of Croat civilians from parts of the Vojvodina province in Serbia and thus spurred his followers and local authorities to engage in a persecution campaign against the local Croat population.The ultranationalist politician has already declared that his "heroic departure" should enhance his popularity.
Months ago, he confidently declared to the media that he couldn't wait to go to The Hague, but the Netherlands was refusing to grant him a visa.
Analysts believe his popularity, despite the show he is going to put on in front of the jury, is going to be short-lived, and that his Serbian Radical Party, along with Milosevic's Socialist Party, is destined to disappear from the forefront of Serbian politics.
Such a change would allow the Serbian political scene to focus on the existing democratic parties, which could be highly significant for future reforms.On Wednesday, in his first appearance before the tribunal, Seselj refused to enter a plea.
He demanded that the entire indictment be read to him -- a process that took more than three hours -- and then said he needed more time to study it.
The defendant refused to stand up for the court, accused the judges of trying to convict him, claimed he did not understand Croatian words and insisted on defending himself.
The court gave him 30 days to enter a plea and warned that it would enter a "not guilty" one for him if he did not comply.




EU Unites Over Proposed Takeover of BiH Peacekeeping in 2004 26/02/2003 The EU plans to take over peacekeeping in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2004, a plan that many EU foreign ministers approve.
However, BiH officials have requested a continuing US presence in the country after the takeover. (FT - 25/02/03; AP, AFP, Reuters, EUobserver.com, EU - 24/02/03)EU foreign ministers have supported plans envisioning an EU takeover of the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in early 2004.
The proposals, tabled as a joint British-French paper on Monday (24 February), call for a close co-ordination with NATO to ensure that the transition runs smoothly and urged the Alliance to start preparing for this "at the earliest opportunity"."The EU force should not be weaker than the NATO force it replaces," the paper said.
"The handover should be accomplished smoothly and on the basis of a strategic military analysis shared between the two organisations."The British-French proposals were complemented by a strategy paper by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, also emphasising the need for close co-operation with NATO and the United States, as well as for the future mission to retain a robust mandate.BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic, however, called on the United States Monday to keep some of his troops in the country even after the EU takes over the peacekeeping effort in BiH.
Ivanic welcomed the EU initiative, but said even a symbolic US deployment would send "a strong political message."
Ivanic went on to explain that continuing US presence would make sure that key international players would continue to "take Bosnia seriously."Solana said the proposals did not imply "a US exit" from the region.
"Any suggestion that the transatlantic partnership, that has underpinned the Dayton Peace process from the beginning, is weakening would be damaging in Bosnia and Herzegovina," he said.EU officials stressed that after the handover, Nato would continue to play a role in any EU-led operation, as it would provide access to its planning, as well as common assets and capabilities.
An EU-NATO deal reached last December allows the EU to use NATO planning, logistics and intelligence for its own crisis management operations.The plans presented at the EU's regular meeting in Brussels on Monday seek to define the Union's longer-term strategy for a stronger military and security role in the Balkans and are part of the development of a European Security and Defence Policy, under which a rapid reaction force of up to 60,000 troops is to be made operational by mid-2003.
The troops would be deployable within 60 days for operations of up to one year in and outside Europe.The EU is due to make its peacekeeping debut in mid-March with the planned take-over of NATO's peacekeeping mission in Macedonia, which would also serve as a rehearsal and a test for the much larger operation in BiH.While only 350 European troops are to replace the NATO-led force in Macedonia, the seven page British-French plan suggests that the EU could deploy around 12,000 European soldiers to maintain stability in BiH, which is about as many as NATO has currently on the ground.




Serbia, Montenegro Elect Members of New Joint Legislature 26/02/2003 The Serbian and the Montenegrin parliaments voted Tuesday to elect the members of the new federal parliament. (AP, VOA, Radio B92, Serbian Government Website - 25/02/03)The parliaments of Serbia and Montenegro voted Tuesday (25 February) to elect the members of the union's new 126-seat joint legislature.
The 91 Serbian and 35 Montenegrin deputies will stand for more than a dozen political parties and groupings currently represented in the parliaments of the two republics.
While the majority of the seats have gone to pro-democracy parties and coalitions in both republics, a little less than a third will be taken by hard-line opposition politicians.The Serbian Parliament approved the list of nominees by a vote of 164 to 28 and three abstentions.
A breakdown of the Serbian seats in the new joint legislature shows that the Democratic Opposition of Serbia Reform caucus is taking 37 seats.
The Serbian Democratic Party will have 17, the Socialist Party of Serbia 12 and the Serbian Radical Party eight, while the Social Democratic Party and the Serbian Unity Party are taking five seats each.
The Christian Democratic Party and the Democratic Alternative will have two seats each, and the People's Socialist Party and the Serbia caucus will each take one.In Montenegro, 67 of the 68 lawmakers attending the republican parliament's session on Tuesday voted in the collective electoral list, including 19 deputies representing the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists and the Social Democratic Party coalition, nine members of the Socialist People's Party, three from the Serbian People's Party, and two each from the People's Party and the Liberal Alliance.
The Montenegrin Albanian parties are not fielding their representatives in the new joint parliament, in protest against provisions in the Constitutional Charter that refer to Kosovo as an integral part of Serbia.
The Charter was adopted earlier this month.The deputies will be appointed to a two-year term after the outgoing federal parliament verifies their mandates at its closing session on Friday or Monday.
When the parliament is constituted, the lawmakers will elect a new president of the union, replacing Vojislav Kostunica, the president of the former federation.
Montenegro's Svetozar Marovic, a 48-year-old lawyer and close aide to Prime Minister Milo Dukanovic, is the only candidate for the post.Under the EU-brokered Serbia-Montenegro Agreement signed in Belgrade on 14 March 2002, the president is then to nominate the members of the joint council of ministers.EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana praised Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and Kostunica for their courage in seeing through a series of difficult decisions.
Solana was quoted as saying Tuesday that Serbia-Montenegro had better chances of eventually joining the EU as a joint state than they would as independent republics.
He stressed, however, that accession prospects hinged on their capacity to meet strict criteria for EU membership, including implementation of key reforms.




Ashdown Sacks Managers at Bosnian Serb Electric Company 28/02/2003 High Representative Paddy Ashdown fired two senior managers at Elektroprivreda RS, following an audit report that showed the publicly-funded electric utility lost millions due to corruption and mismanagement. (Office of the High Representative in BiH, AP, RFE/RL, Hoover's - 26/02/03)The top international envoy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Paddy Ashdown, fired two senior officials at an electric company in Republika Srpska (RS) on Wednesday (26 February).
Svetozar Acimovic, general manager of Elektroprivreda RS, and company board member and former RS Energy Minister Bosko Lemez were dismissed a day after the Office of the High Representative (OHR) released an audit report showing the company was losing millions of dollars due to corruption.Ashdown said he expected RS authorities to properly investigate the affair and undertake the necessary measures to sanction all responsible.
He also asked the government of the Bosnian Serb entity to put all of the company's projects on hold pending the appointment of new managers.Elektroprivreda is a public company funded from the RS budget.
The OHR is expected to present similar audit reports next week on the Elektroprivreda companies in Sarajevo and Mostar, in the Federation of BiH (FBiH)."Mismanagement, conflicts of interest, theft and neglect are costing Elektroprivreda RS at least 166 million convertible marks [$91 million] annually," Ashdown's deputy, Donald Hays, said.Ashdown cited particular violations which Acimovic and Lemez committed, including willful or negligent failure to ensure effective and proper management, failure to introduce minimum financial controls and record keeping, and the awarding of contracts significantly below market value or contrary to the rules and procedures regarding award of tenders.In one case of tender manipulation, the company signed a contract with a London-based firm, the Energy Financing Team (EFT), for the sale of surplus electricity at below-market prices.
EFT bought the electricity from Elektroprivreda and then resold it to Montenegro at a profit of 40 per cent; a more typical profit margin is said to be in the range of 1 to 5 per cent.
Elektroprivreda also hired EFT to build new capacity in the entity and to export surpluses in the next 30 to 50 years.Ashdown said the two officials personally made financial gains from the misuse of their office.
He ordered Acimovic barred from holding any public or political office until further notice, as well as from receiving remuneration or enjoying any of the privileges his position at Elektropriveda could entail.
He also urged the RS government to dismiss the current board of RS Elektroprivreda and establish a new one in a transparent manner."Bosnia cannot go on like this, with one of its major public corporations being abused in this way, and its citizens being systematically robbed by those who are supposed to serve them," Ashdown was quoted as saying in Sarajevo on Wednesday.




Eyeing Karadzic Arrest, International Community Goes After Supporters' Finances 04/03/2003 The Office of the High Representative hopes that breaking up the network that supports indicted war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic will make it easier to arrest him. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 04/03/03Radovan Karadzic would likely have a hard time keeping up his present lifestyle -- which reportedly involves moving under armed guard from one eastern Bosnian safe house to another -- without his network of supporters, who are sheltering, feeding and financing him in his seventh year on the run from the UN war crimes tribunal.By throwing a wrench into that network, the Office of the High Representative (OHR) hopes that it will be easier to arrest the wartime Bosnian Serb leader.
High Representative Paddy Ashdown announced last month that his office would upset the network by going after its sources of financing.OHR spokesman Kevin Sullivan wouldn't disclose details about plans to cut off support for Karadzic, indicted for genocide stemming from the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.
But he noted that cutting support networks helped bring another well-known tribunal indictee to trial."When you're undertaking an exercise like this, you don't show the details of what you're doing.
But if you look at the process which was undertaken in order to break up the support networks around Slobodan Milosevic, you'll see that there was a systematic process that ended with his arrest after several elements of support had been removed."Assuming that Karadzic supporters' sources of money are less than above-board, such an operation would probably entail going after "businesses" that include smuggling organisations, prostitution rackets and individuals skimming money off companies to support Karadzic.Sullivan said that disrupting Karadzic's network fits in with the OHR's overall aims in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)."If you're in a society that has considerable latitude for lawlessness, then clearly individuals who are on the run are going to benefit from that.
As reforms are instituted, including customs and VAT reform, the public finances of BiH and its entities will be less open to fraud and therefore will be less open to funnelling money to criminals, including war criminals."Arresting indictees is technically the job of local police.
But given the local authorities' unwillingness -- especially in Republika Srpska -- to order arrests, SFOR has stepped in the past.
It has arrested 27 indictees since June 1997, the most recent of which were last July.SFOR spokesman Yves Vanier said that the high representative's announcement was welcome.
"Anything that can move us toward apprehending the remaining PIFWCs (persons indicted for war crimes) is something that's supported by SFOR."
He added that at-large war crimes indictees are a hindrance to reforms in the country.OHR also believes that arresting The Hague's most-wanted indictees -- Karadzic and his wartime military commander Ratko Mladic -- are vital to BiH's development.According to Sullivan, "[Karadzic's arrest] is essential for the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it's also crucial as a means of freeing Republica Srpska from international isolation and disrepute."




OSCE Begins Training Montenegrin Police Officers 10/03/2003 Law enforcement in Montenegro recently received a boost from the OSCE when 11 instructors launched a six-month training programme. By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 10/03/03An OSCE-sponsored training programme for Montenegrin police officers was launched last month in Danilovgrad.
The programme will last six months and about 720 trainees are scheduled to participate, according to Maurizio Massari, head of the OSCE Mission in Belgrade.Patrolmen, border police and police are eligible and will be trained by 11 OSCE instructors."Development of the law enforcement sector is a very important part of efforts to consolidate the institutions of the Montenegrin system," Massari said at the opening ceremony on 17 February.
He added that the programme would be of use both to Montenegro and international law enforcement institutions.
He said it adhered to international standards and that the OSCE instructors had already participated in similar programmes organised in Belgrade and southern Serbia.Montenegrin Interior Minister Milan Filipovic said at the ceremony that the programme was "of great importance to the successful implementation of reforms in the interior ministry intended to transform it into a modern public service".Filipovic said over 2,000 interior ministry officials would attend training courses, viewed as an important condition for the success of reforms.
"That includes intense international co-operation with relevant institutions, including the OSCE," he added."The complex interior ministry reform process also requires harmonisation with the modern legislation in force in the countries of the EU," Filipovic said.
The minister added that the Montenegrin legislature would soon be debating bills on law enforcement and national security, developed in co-operation with OSCE experts.As interior ministry priorities in the near future, Filipovic listed security and control of the border, as well as efforts "to properly organise law enforcement to successfully combat corruption and organised crime".




Western Balkans Neighbourhood Getting Safer, World Bank Official Says 11/03/2003 Regional co-operation in the Western Balkans is making the area safer, according to the World Bank's Christiaan Poortman. (World Bank, VOA- 14/02/03)The World Bank's outgoing director for the countries making up the Western Balkans said recently that the region is becoming safer.
One reason, Christiaan Poortman added, is the increasing level of co-operation among states there.Following his appointment as Country Director for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in 1997, Poortman's responsibilities expanded over time to include Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia-Montenegro.
He also has been co-ordinating efforts, jointly managed with the EU, for the reconstruction of the region.Speaking to reporters last month, Poortman said that both organisations have noted the positive effects of promoting regional co-operation and links to Western Europe.
"The countries of the Western Balkans are giving meaning to regional integration," he said, noting the important role the EU and the Stability Pact have played in the process.Community-level development -- a process largely dependent on individual involvement -- has also proven effective, according to Poortman.
In BiH, 116,000 credits have been provided over the past five years, to low-income micro-entrepreneurs under a Bank project supporting local initiatives, which has helped sustain over 170,000 jobs.
Loan repayment rates are close to 100 per cent.
The project, Poortman said, has been one of the Bank's most successful in the region.
Lending has reached over $2 billion in the past decade.One of the biggest lessons coming out of the region, according to Poortman, is that once the basic social needs are met, allowing credit for small business and individual entrepreneurship is one of the most critical components of a country's recovery.He also noted the successful implementation of market reforms in Serbia over the past two years and voiced optimism about Macedonia, where the government that came to power about five months ago has made ethnic reconciliation one of its top priorities."Very importantly, this is a government that has put the war against corruption very high on its agenda," Poortman said.
"And all this, to me, means this is a government that is serious in terms of its economic development programme and how it wants to tackle this."The Bank's biggest priority in terms of furthering development in the Western Balkans involves "the nexus of issues around growth and bringing in the private sector", he added.
Poortman stressed that security, including legal and financial security, is key to private sector development and to the creation of an environment that attracts foreign investment and stimulates economic growth.He believes the challenges the countries in the region now face include establishing the rule of law, fighting corruption, attracting private investment and reducing dependence on foreign aid.He listed procedural, legal and banking reforms as areas in which the Bank could lend support, while the EU could play a leading role in tackling corruption.




Sarajevo Again Marking 1914 Assassination 14/03/2003 Sarajevo will once again mark the place where teenager Gavrilo Princip killed the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, but this time there'll be no interpretation offered at the site. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 13/03/03There is scant evidence that the world changed on this Sarajevo street corner 89 years ago.
Trams rattle past, women in fur hats lug shopping bags down the street.
Nothing at first glance reminds one that it was here that a Bosnian Serb teenager's two pistol shots provoked a world war and the subsequent redrawing of the map of Europe.But if you look closely, under a wooden shield covering the wall on the corner, there's a new plaque there: "On this site, on 28 June 1914, Gavrilo Princip assassinated the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie."This modest plaque is the first part of a project to mark the Sarajevo assassination -- this time without any subjective labels.
During the 1992-1995 war in BiH, city authorities deemed 19-year-old Princip a terrorist.
They ripped out the monument bearing his footprints.
The communists had honoured Princip for firing heroic shots that liberated his people from tyranny.Project head Bajro Gec said the new plaque is a sign that the city is taking a just-the-facts approach to marking the site."The public needs to have it pointed out loud and clear," he said.
"[We have] the simple goal of marking the Sarajevo assassination, so that it can be part of the world perspective and so that people know about it."World War I began after the Austro-Hungarian empire blamed Serbia for the murders.
Princip got his pistol from the Black Hand, an organisation of Serbian military officers who advocated a Greater Serbia -- stretching from western BiH to southern Macedonia.
In a city that suffered a three-and-a-half year siege in the 1990s because of Greater Serbia politics, commemorating the assassination is a sensitive issue.So this time around there will be no interpretation of the facts.
Unlike the old museum at the site, which lauded Princip as a liberating hero, the new exhibit will merely present assassination artefacts within the context of what was happening in Sarajevo around the turn of the century."People will see that everything's based on historical data, on facts -- how it happened, why it happened -- so that visitors will able to make their own conclusions," Gec said.He added that they need a space in which to exhibit all the 100-year-old artefacts, which have been in a depot at the Jewish Museum since the original museum was destroyed in the early 1990s.
For now, however, they'll have to make due with a 60,000 KM donation from the city to both renovate the old museum and reinstate the footprints monument.
The unveiling is set for 6 April.Gec said the idea that the site needs to be marked, regardless of how the event has been interpreted in the past, is slowly coming into its own."There's more of the opinion [among people here] that this place needs to be marked, but in the sense that it's a place where a world historical event happened," he said.




Back to History, Nature and Rusticity: a New Brand of Tourism Spreads Through Southeast Europe 17/03/2003 The Southeast European countries may be lagging behind their Western partners, but their rich historical heritage, beautiful landscapes and pastoral culture of hospitality represent a largely undiscovered tourist treasure.
Recently, the EU has started supporting a variety of non-traditional forms of tourism in the region. By Emil Tsenkov for Southeast European Times in Sofia- 17/03/03An ex-sportsman, professional hunter and amateur poet, Raicho Gunchev has been pioneering a new field, eco-tourism, during the last decade.
After registering his own company, he traded his rifle for a video camera and began organising horse-riding expeditions in the Stara Planina mountains, as well as survival exercises and archery competitions for Western tourists.
Although he invariably dresses in Wild West cowboy outfits, Gunchev is reviving the equestrian roots of ancient Bulgarian culture.
So far, his followers include a small but faithful group of Western tourists, who share his passion for wild nature and history.A variety of rural and eco-tourism activities have been proliferating in Bulgaria for the last few years.
Local tour operators attract foreign visitors with the prospect of safaris, fire-dancing in remote villages, or exploring semi-deserted religious sanctuaries.
Wine-tours are becoming a popular theme.
Tourists are invited to taste excellent red wines and the famous local goat cheese in newly privatised wine-cellars and nearby rustic guesthouses.
This year both President Georgi Parvanov and Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg attended the feast of Trifon Zarezan -- the folkloric patron of winegrowers.In neighbouring Romania, the myth of the infamous Vlad the Impaler, also known as Count Dracula, is becoming a popular tourist theme.
Tours include Vlad's Wallachian capital Targoviste, his fortress, his birthplace and even the Borgo Pass, immortalised in Bram Stoker's novel.
Recently it was announced that a Dracula Theme Park will be built near Bucharest by the end of 2004.
However, the bloodthirsty medieval prince isn't Romania's sole tourist attraction.
Visitors are also drawn to the country's variety of pastoral and traditional settings.Rural tourism is becoming a hot topic throughout Southeast Europe, especially after the EU started to encourage the development of this sector.
Special funds for supporting tourist and craft activities were allocated for the region.
Under the EU's PHARE programme, Bulgaria alone will gain 10m euros for funding local projects.
Two-thirds of this is dedicated to cultural tourism, while 3.3m euros will go towards eco-tourism.
Beneficiaries include Bulgarian municipalities, regional administrations and NGOs.




Greek Terror Trial Opens Amid Unprecedented Security 03/03/2003 Suspected members of the 17 November terrorist group went on trial Monday (3 March) at a prison near Athens.
Cameras are banned in the courtroom and the defendants are sitting behind bulletproof glass. (BBC - 03/03/03; AP, Reuters - 02/03/03; BBC - 19/07/02)The trial of 19 alleged members of Greece's November 17 terrorist group opened in Athens on Monday (3 March), amid unprecedented security.
Described as the largest criminal prosecution in the country in decades, it is expected to last several months.
The defendants are being tried behind bulletproof glass at a special courtroom at the Korydallos top security prison.
If convicted, most will likely be sentenced to life in prison.The suspects are believed to be responsible for 23 assassinations, more than 100 bombings, and scores of robberies over the past 28 years.
The far-left guerrilla group, named for a student uprising against Greece's former military dictatorship, emerged with the murder of CIA Athens station chief Richard Welch in 1975.
It then embarked on a series of killings, targeting industrialists, foreign diplomats and Greek politicians.
British military attach� Brigadier Stephen Saunders, shot in June 2000, was the group's most recent victim.For almost three decades, authorities failed to capture even a single member of the group.
In June 2002, however, the long-sought breakthrough came with the arrest of Savas Xiros, following a bungled bomb attack that left him seriously injured.
A series of subsequent raids eventually led to the capture of the other suspects, including Alexandros Giotopoulos, thought to be the group's founder and leader.
Also facing trial are Savas Xiros's brothers, Vasilis and Christodoulos, as well as November 17's alleged chief assassin, Dimitris Koufodinas.Giotopoulos, a 58-year-old economist who has been charged with almost 1,000 offences, is maintaining that he is innocent and that his November 17 role was "invented by the Anglo-American secret services".However, fingerprints on arms seized by police during last year's raids were found to match those of Giotopoulos.Following his arrest, Vasilis Xiros admitted responsibility for the murder of Britain's Saunders and that of Anglo-Greek businessman Constantinos Peratikos in 1997.Koufodinas has claimed "political responsibility" for the actions of November 17, according to his lawyer, Yianna Kourtovik.
But Kourtovik also said the suspect is denying guilt for actions attributed to him "according to the way they are explained in the case file".The defendants insist that the outcome of the trial, which is being conducted by a specially established panel of three judges, has been decided in advance.Sparking protests from journalists, authorities have barred cameras and tape recorders from the courtroom, saying they want to prevent the trial from turning into a public spectacle."The authorities want to guarantee a trial beyond reproach... to throw light on an affair that caused pain and damaged the country for 30 years," Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos said.Among the spectators Monday in the packed courtroom was Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyanni, whose husband was one of the victims.




Solution on Cyprus Still Out of Reach? 07/03/2003 UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has proposed simultaneous referenda on a settlement to the Cyprus issue, but with leaders on both sides expressing doubts, a solution remains elusive. By Vahit Bora for Southeast European Times in Istanbul - 07/03/03Turkish and Greek Cypriots await a Monday (10 March) deadline after UN Secretary General Kofi Annan invited their leaders to come to The Hague and tell him whether they would agree to a 30 March simultaneous referenda on a comprehensive settlement.The last week of February was a critical one in Cyprus, but ended without a solution.
During Annan's talks in Ankara, Athens and Cyprus, he repeatedly said that this is the last chance for a solution.
The leaders of the two sides, however, were unable to reach a compromise by the previous deadline of 28 February.
While they agreed to go The Hague, it seems that both leaders are reluctant to accept the proposed referendum.Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash thinks that it would not be "correct and democratic".
Accepting Annan's invitation does not mean accepting his offer, Denktash said after Annan left Cyprus on 1 March.
He believes that the main concept of the plan -- the Turkish community is a minority that needs special protection -- remains unchanged.
He also said that if the territory between Guzelyurt and Yesilirmak is ceded to the Greek side, as Annan's revised plan proposes, then nearly 50,000 Turkish Cypriots would become refugees.Many political analysts believe the main reason Denktash rejected the referendum is that the majority of Turks on the island do not support him anymore.
About 70,000 Turkish Cypriots -- one third of the community -- took to the streets of the island's divided capital, Nicosia, on 27 February to support the UN plan.On the Greek Cypriot side, newly elected leader Tassos Papadopoulos is also uncomfortable with the referendum offer.
Some Greek Cypriot officials think it would amount to bypassing Papadopoulos, who promised in his campaign to negotiate more "furiously" than predecessor Glafcos Clerides.Meanwhile, Tacan Ildem, an adviser to Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, told journalists on Thursday (6 March) that the UN plan is far from Turkey's expectations.
He spoke after a meeting between Turkish officials and Turkish Cypriots.
Participants approved a revised version of the UN proposal that will be presented by Turkish Cypriots shortly.




Yugoslav President Steps Down as New Union's Parliament is Inaugurated 05/03/2003 The new joint parliament of Serbia-Montenegro held its inaugural session on Monday.
In his farewell address, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica called for a smooth transition. (AP, BBC, Radio B92, Tanjug - 03/03/03; Radio B92 - 04/03/03)Vojislav Kostunica, the last president of Yugoslavia, stepped down on Monday (3 March) as the new joint parliament of Serbia-Montenegro held its first session.
In his farewell address, he urged lawmakers to make sure the transition proceeds in a dignified and constructive manner."The challenge you face is enormous; it is an historic one.
We must not mourn the name of Yugoslavia ... but concentrate on the democratic reforms of our society."Under the EU-brokered accord that set the stage for the new union, the two constituent republics will hold independence referendums after three years of co-existence.
But Kostunica voiced confidence that the joint state would outlive that three-year timeline.On Monday, parliament verified without voting the mandates of its 126 members.
Of them, 91 were elected by the Serbian Parliament and 35 by the Montenegrin assembly.
They will serve for two years and will be replaced after a general election.
By a vote of 75 to 18, with three abstentions, lawmakers elected Dragoljub Micunovic of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia as parliamentary speaker.
Milorad Drljevic of Montenegro's ruling Democratic Party of Socialists was elected deputy speaker.Lawmakers also adopted temporary rules on the constitution and on the organisation and operation of parliament, pending the approval of permanent regulations, due to be drafted within two months at most.Proceedings had to be adjourned for more than an hour as Serbian opposition parties protested the verification of seats, insisting that the composition of the legislature did not accurately reflect the real will of the Serbian people.
The new parliament is dominated by representatives of the ruling parties and coalitions in the two republics.Some opposition MPs requested more time to study draft laws concerning the election of the union's president and members of the council of ministers, while the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party demanded live TV broadcasting of all parliamentary sessions.Deputies are to meet again on Thursday to start the process of electing a president.
Svetozar Marovic, a 48-year-old lawyer from Montenegro, is the only candidate for the post.
The president will chair a five-member council of ministers in charge of joint defence, foreign affairs, finance, economic relations and human rights issues.
Three of the ministerial seats will likely go Serbs and two to Montenegrins.




The Adriatic 3 Charter -- a Ticket to NATO? 06/03/2003 A new combined initiative of Albania, Macedonia and Croatia called the Charter of the Adriatic 3 could pave the way for those countries to join NATO sooner rather than later. By Orest Erzeni for Southeast European Times in Tirana - 06/03/03Albania, Croatia and Macedonia believe they now have a greater chance of joining NATO earlier than becoming a part of the EU.
The three countries have established strong co-operation in the form of a new three-party initiative called the Charter of the Adriatic 3.Drafted immediately after NATO's November summit in Prague, the initiative demonstrates their ambition to speed up preparations to become members of the alliance.Enthusiasm is high, especially in Tirana, where on 27 February the general secretaries of the foreign ministries of the three states met for the final discussion of the Charter.
It will be approved by the three foreign ministers during a meeting in Dubrovnik on Friday (7 March).The regional initiative was endorsed in Tirana on 12 February during the summit of the Albanian, Croatian and Macedonian presidents.
Albania's Alfred Moisiu announced that they would sign the Charter in March.The Adriatic 3 Charter initiative enjoys broad political and public backing in all three countries.
Public opinion generally views US support as the greatest hope for realisation of the initiative.
President George W. Bush indicated such support when he met with Moisiu, Croatian President Stipe Mesic and Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski during the Prague Summit.Moisiu has hailed the initiative as a partnership among the three countries and the United States.
In a letter sent on 21 January, Bush welcomed their decision to work together to join NATO.
Washington has emphasised the importance of establishing modern military forces; despite this challenge, there is a conviction in Tirana that the United States will be a determining factor.
There are even plans for the Charter to be signed in Washington.The governments in Tirana, Zagreb and Skopje seem convinced that through their combined efforts, they will increase their chances to board the NATO train.
They view the Adriatic 3 Charter as the right ticket for that journey.




Kosovo Albanian War Crimes Indictee Transferred to The Hague 05/03/2003 Former Kosovo Liberation Army Commander Fatmir Limaj is scheduled to make his first appearance before the UN war crimes tribunal on Wednesday.
Limaj, accused of atrocities committed at a prison camp in Kosovo, was arrested while on vacation in Slovenia. (AP, VOA, Radio B92, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - 04/03/03; Transitions Online - 24/02/03)The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) confirmed Tuesday (4 March) that Fatmir Limaj has been transferred to the court's detention centre near The Hague.
The former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander was arrested in Slovenia two weeks ago for his alleged involvement in war crimes committed between May and July 1998.
Limaj is scheduled to make his first appearance before the UN court on Wednesday and is expected to plead innocent.On 27 January the ICTY indicted Limaj and three others -- Haradin Bala, Isak Musliu and Agim Murtezi -- for atrocities committed at the Lapusnik prison camp in Kosovo in 1998.
The indictment is the first the UN tribunal has brought against former KLA members.Limaj, 32, is charged with four counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and imprisonment, and five counts of violations of the laws or customs of war, including murder and cruel treatment.He is believed responsible for the operation at the Lapusnik prison camp, where rebel forces interned at least 35 Serb and Albanian civilians during the period covered by the indictment.
Under Limaj's command and control, a number of the detainees were allegedly beaten, tortured and murdered.
On 25 July 1998, KLA forces abandoned the camp.Limaj was arrested on 18 February at Slovenia's Kranjska Gora ski resort, about 80 km northwest of Ljubljana, a day after KFOR peacekeepers arrested Bala, Musliu and Murtezi in Kosovo.
About ten days later, the UN war crimes tribunal dropped all charges against Murtezi and ordered his immediate release after finding no evidence that he was the person named in the indictment.Confirming Limaj's extradition, Slovenian Interior Ministry spokesman Franc Stanonik said Tuesday he was flown to the Netherlands on a commercial flight.Fatmir Limaj is currently a member of the Kosovo Parliament and vice president of Hashim Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo.According to statements from his attorney, Peter Ceferin, Limaj will plead not guilty to all counts.Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova was quoted as saying "It is a matter for The Hague tribunal and justice, and I am sure that if those people did not commit any crime, they will be released."
Calling for co-operation with the UN tribunal, he said justice must be served without interference from political forces.




Electricity Audits Prove Politicians Abusing Public Companies 24/03/2003 The international community's audits of BiH's electricity utilities suggest the extent to which politicians may be using public companies for their own benefit. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 24/03/03The open secret that some politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) use public companies as their playground is finally being documented by a series of audits into the country's electricity utilities, said an analyst in Sarajevo."I think it's a wonderful way of putting the cat amongst the pigeons.
It demonstrates to the population that their political leaders have been fleecing them for years," said director of the International Crisis Group's BiH project, Mark Wheeler.
"These public companies are their cash cows, and it's now being shown to people the way it works."A 5 March report on an audit of Elektroprivreda Mostar painted a picture of monies paid out to fictitious companies, a 2001 loss of $27.7m and a political party -- the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) -- that used the company as a bank.
A similar report uncovered corruption in Republika Srpska's electric company."I don't think there's one citizen of BiH who doesn't know they're being ripped off by the public companies," High Representative Paddy Ashdown told the press after the report's release.
"But many, like me, are surprised by the scale of this."The audit uncovered the fact that HDZ offices never paid electricity bills, and that the company awarded contracts to companies connected with the party.
Elektroprivreda Mostar also paid for the printing of election materials.The Mostar audit looks bad for the HDZ, especially because it's been promoting itself as a reformist political party since last autumn's elections.
Party member and member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic has been implicated in the scandal, because he was on salary as the company's special adviser."The HDZ has become a sweetly reasonable party as far as the international community is concerned," Wheeler said.
"It's somewhat inconvenient that its corrupt past should be so much in the forefront of public consciousness just when it's looking like the HDZ has mended its ways."Ashdown announced on 6 March that he was amending laws on donations by public firms and a law on the deregistration of companies, but did not sack anyone from Elektroprivreda Mostar.
General manager Matan Ziric has resigned.
Ashdown has asked the government to appoint a new managing board and interim manager, and to freeze all the company's contracts until the new board is appointed.
But Ashdown said it will be up to the courts to decide what happens to those suspected of crimes.Wheeler said that he hoped the audits, which were conducted in just over two months, would provide enough information to prosecutors."They've been done amazingly quickly," he said.
"We can only hope they are strong enough to sustain real judicial investigations and trials."




Turkish Prime Minister Welcomes Army Chief's Statement on US Troop Deployment 06/03/2003 A statement by Chief of General Staff Gen Hilmi Ozkok, supporting the deployment of US troops in Turkey could boost momentum for passage of a second motion.
The government's initial resolution failed to win parliamentary approval Saturday. (CNN, The New York Times, Times Online - 06/03/03; AP, Reuters, UPI, Anadolu Agency - 05/03/03)Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has welcomed a statement by the country's Chief of General Staff, Gen Hilmi Ozkok, in support of a government motion to allow the deployment of more than 60,000 US troops in Turkey for a possible war against Iraq."The Turkish armed forces' view is the same as the government's and is reflected in the motion our government sent to parliament," Ozkok said Wednesday (5 March).
"The war will be short if a second front is opened from the north."
He added that whether or not there is direct Turkish involvement, the country would be affected by the potential war."If we don't take part, we will suffer the same damage, but it won't be possible to get compensation for the losses we suffer ... or for us to have a say afterwards," the general said.
The United States has offered Turkey an economic aid package worth up to $30 billion.Parliament failed to pass the resolution Saturday.
Out of 550 deputies, 264 voted in favour and 250 against.
But 19 MPs abstained, while 17 were absent.
The measure fell three votes short of the necessary margin.The vote came a day after a meeting of Turkey's National Security Council (NSC).
Asked why the NSC had not made clear its position after the meeting, Ozkok said to do so would have put pressure on parliament, which would not have been democratic or in line with the constitution."It's a good statement," Gul said, commenting on Ozkok's words from Qatar's capital, Doha, where he was attending a meeting of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.The statement of support from Turkey's military comes at a time when Gul's government reportedly plans to resubmit the resolution to parliament.
Meanwhile, some MPs who originally opposed the resolution have indicated they will now vote in favour.
Justice and Development Party (AKP) legislator Vahit Erdem said that some members reported a change in their stand even before Ozkok spoke.Returning to Ankara, Gul said the ruling party and the government were "assessing the subject of a second motion and in the coming days we will all follow what happens".Observers believe, however, that the ruling party will not submit a new resolution before Sunday's by-election in Siirt.
AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is running for a seat in parliament that would open his path to the prime minister's post.




Italian Foreign Minister Says Bulgaria's Position on Iraq Doesn't Threaten EU Bid 07/03/2003 Bulgaria's stand on the Iraq crisis will not affect the country's EU membership prospects, according to Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini. (AP, BBC, BTA, Mediapool.bg, Novinite.com - 05/03/03; AP - 04/03/03; Reuters - 27/02/03)Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini assured Bulgaria on Wednesday (5 March) that its firm stand on Iraq would not endanger its EU membership prospects.
Frattini, who arrived on a two-day official visit to Sofia on Tuesday, also welcomed Bulgaria's close co-operation with NATO and encouraged it to host military bases for alliance member nations."Bulgaria or any other country's firm position on the Iraqi crisis cannot influence negatively its integration with the EU," Frattini said at a joint press briefing with his Bulgarian counterpart, Solomon Passy.Frattini, whose country has been listed along with Britain, Spain and Denmark among the EU member states supporting the US stand on Iraq, said that no effort should be spared towards a peaceful solution to the crisis."Everything must be done to reach a peaceful solution, to move within the domain of the UN, but also to make sure that the Security Council has its credibility," said Frattini, adding "to have credibility means that it is not possible to prolong the inspections indefinitely."
He said the Council should seek a broad consensus on the Iraqi issue; failure to do so would be a "trauma" for the international community.Italy is not among the 15 current members of the Security Council, where Bulgaria holds a non-permanent seat.
While both countries have repeatedly stated their preference for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, they have also said they would back military action if no other option remains.As part of the build-up for a potential war on Iraq, Bulgaria has already offered the United States use of its Sarafovo air base in the town of Bourgas on the Black Sea and a 150-strong unit to handle non-conventional warfare threats.Upon his return from Washington last week, Defence Minister Nikolay Svinarov said Bulgaria could possibly provide four or five bases to the United States, stressing this would be beneficial to both the national economy and security.Frattini expressed support for Bulgaria's efforts to maintain close contacts with NATO and provide military bases to members of the bloc before the country's actual admission to the alliance.
"Many European countries, Italy included, have authorised the use of their bases," he said.
"We do it because we believe that the military pressure on Iraq is an important instrument that can make Saddam Hussein disarm."Recalling a promise he made during his election campaign in Bourgas about two years ago, to see that all military bases in the region become NATO bases, Passy said "the sooner they are transformed, the better."Commenting on Bulgaria's stand on Iraq, Dimiter Abadjiev, of the right-wing opposition Union of Democratic Forces, said Wednesday his country wants to see a quick solution to the crisis and that only the US-British approach could lead to this end.
The firm US position, Abadjiev said, has recently proved much more productive than the softer approach taken by other countries.On Thursday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged support for Bulgaria's EU membership efforts, in a letter to his Bulgarian counterpart, Simeon Saxe-Coburg.
British Minister for Europe Denis MacShane presented the letter during a meeting with Passy.
MacShane said no connection should be sought between the Bulgarian position on Iraq and its EU integration efforts.
He expressed hope that the EU would reach a uniform stance on Iraq soon.




Erdogan Wins Parliamentary Seat, Will Likely Become Turkish Prime Minister 10/03/2003 Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party won Sunday's by-elections in the province of Siirt, allowing party leader Recip Tayyip Erdogan to replace Abdullah Gul as prime minister. (Reuters, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Independent - 10/03/03; AP, BBC, Reuters, VOA - 09/03/03)Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), won a seat in parliament during by-elections held Sunday (9 March) in the southeastern province of Siirt.
The victory makes it possible for Erdogan to replace his close associate Abdullah Gul as prime minister.Finals results show the AKP won some 84.7 per cent of the vote on Sunday.Erdogan, 49, a former Istanbul mayor, led his party to a landslide victory in parliamentary elections last November.
Due to a conviction, however, he was barred from holding public office.
After the elections, parliament amended the constitution to remove that obstacle.
Although Gul holds the prime minister's post, many regard Erdogan as the country's actual leader.Gul is expected to step down on Wednesday once the election results are verified, but will likely retaining a seat in government, as foreign or economy minister."This date of 9 March is a turning point in the struggle for a democratic state, a state of rights, a just state," Erdogan was quoted Sunday as saying.He is expected to ask parliament to vote once again on a government decision to allow the United States to deploy more than 60,000 troops in Turkey for a possible operation against Iraq.
In his first comments after the election, Erdogan said he needed to form a cabinet before he could deal with the issue.
He made it clear that a decision would not come until after the UN Security Council has voted on a new resolution drafted by the United States, United Kingdom and Spain.The AKP leader wants clarification concerning the role Turkey would play in shaping post-war Iraq.
In addition, he is seeking stronger guarantees from the United States that Iraq's ethnic Turks -- numbering between two and three million -- will be adequately represented in any new government formed after the conflict."We talk about a political approach, so what will Turkey's role be in the end?
If Turkey will not have any role, why is it sharing such a risk?
This is not clear.
It has to be clarified," Erdogan said.Meanwhile, a multi-billion dollar economic aid package that Washington has offered Turkey in exchange for troop deployment remains in the balance."If a deal [with the United States] wasn't done, I think you'd have a major reaction on the markets...
I think it's got to be done in the next week, not the next two weeks," Tolga Ediz, director of global economics at Lehman Brothers in London, was quoted as saying.




Croatian Prime Minister Says EU, Economic Development Are Country's Priorities 12/03/2003 Croatia is facing a rare chance to shape its future freely, Prime Minister Racan told members of his party at an assembly on 8 March. (Seeurope.net - 10/03/03; HINA, Hoover's - 08/03/03; RFE/RL - 07/03/03; Hoover's - 01/03/03)Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan told members of his Social Democratic Party (SDP) this past weekend that the country's two main priorities were EU accession and economic development.Addressing an assembly in Zagreb on Saturday (8 March), he said the path towards EU integration would not be easy and that its accomplishment depends solely on the efforts of the Croatian people."The road to Europe is open, marked, and the speed at which Croatia will arrive in Brussels depends on us," Racan said, adding that the country now faces a rare chance to shape its future freely, without the influence of outside forces.
"For the first time there are no foreign troops on Croatian soil, for the first time we don't have a foreign boss, not even a 'father'," he said.Croatia submitted its formal application for EU membership last month, hoping to join the Union in early 2007, with Bulgaria and Romania.Racan told SDP members that what Europe wants to see in Croatia is respect for human rights, more refugee returns, as well as co-operation with neighbours and international institutions, including the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
"There is still not enough agreement in Croatia about these issues," he warned.His remarks came two days after Croatian President Stipe Mesic told Goran Svilanovic, the foreign minister of Serbia-Montenegro, that their two countries and Bosnia and Herzegovina should make joint efforts to tackle the issue of refugee returns.Focusing on the other priority -- economic development -- Racan acknowledged that the government has been slow in implementing needed reforms, but said it had moved the country "away from the brink of an economic, even political abyss, while simultaneously maintaining stability".Discussing infrastructure projects, he cited 1.8 billion euros of investments in the country's railway sector, a gas supply system and a highway linking Zagreb with the port city of Split."The Zagreb-Split highway is the test of our abilities, it will be an opportunity to gauge the development capabilities of our municipalities, cities and counties," Racan said, also announcing a highway project to link Split with Dubrovnik further to the south.




Iraqi Diplomats Expelled from Romania 12/03/2003 Five Iraqi diplomats were asked to leave Romania after the country determined their activities were "incompatible with their status."
Other expulsions may follow. (AP, Reuters, BBC, CNN, RFE/RL, Rompres - 10/03/03)Romania's Foreign Ministry said Monday (10 March) that five Iraqi diplomats had been expelled from the country for "activities incompatible with their status", a phrase used widely as a euphemism for spying.The move followed the expulsion from the United States last week of two UN-based Iraqi diplomats.
Calling on national governments to take similar actions against suspected agents of the Baghdad regime, Washington said it had identified 300 such agents in 60 countries, including some serving as diplomats.Romanian officials denied that the expulsions had been carried out under US pressure, describing them instead as a "purely Romanian operation"."The decision was taken after concluding the incompatibility of the activity of these people regarding the provisions of the Vienna Convention for diplomats," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
It did not give any details about the specific accusations against the five.Prime Minister Adrian Nastase was quoted during a visit Friday to Sweden as saying that the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) was "checking" on some members of the Iraqi Embassy staff.
"Our secret services are attentively surveying the movements of personnel from the Iraqi Embassy in Bucharest, and in certain cases there have been problems."The foreign ministry has not identified the expelled diplomats.
However, ministry spokesman Cosmin Dobran confirmed that Iraq's Ambassador to Romania, Majid Saad Hamid, was not among them.According to Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, the expulsions took place without any problems.
Ministry sources said four of the Iraqis and their families left the country hours after being notified; the fifth was not in Romania on Saturday, when the decision was made.During the rule of the late dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu, Romania was on friendly terms with Iraq.
Following the overthrow of the communist regime in late 1989, however, relations between Bucharest and Baghdad soured, especially as Romania chose the path towards Euro-Atlantic integration.Romania is now among the countries supporting Washington's stand on Iraq and recently offered its air and military facilities, as well as several hundred non-combat troops, for a possible war.Last week, Bucharest said it had closed its embassy in Iraq.SRI Director Radu Timofte told lawmakers several days ago that over a third of the approximately 3,000 Iraqis residing in Romania had left the country in February; he said his service was keeping an eye on "just a few" of those that stayed behind.Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ioan Rus suggested Monday that more expulsions of Iraqi citizens would follow shortly "for security reasons".
But he emphasised that Iraqis engaging in "economic, cultural or tourist activity" were still welcome in Romania.




OSCE, UN Report Finds Kosovo Minorities Still Face Discrimination 27/03/2003 A new report concludes ethnic minorities in Kosovo still face some old concerns and recommends the government and the international community step up to address them. (OSCE, UNHCR - 10/03/03)Although the situation in Kosovo has generally improved, ethnic minorities in the province continue to face security problems and lack access to basic services, the OSCE and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have found.
In their latest joint assessment, the tenth such report in four years, the two organisations conclude that there has been no "fundamental" improvement in the overall welfare of minority communities and conditions do not allow the large-scale return of minority Serbs and Roma."Notwithstanding the stabilisation of the security situation, the fear of harassment, intimidation and provocation remains part of everyday experience for members of minority communities throughout Kosovo," accordingly to the report, released on 10 March.The report expresses serious concern over the continuing inability of minorities to travel freely and safely.
Lack of mobility affects access to health care and education, narrows employment opportunities and ultimately does not allow individuals to lead a normal life.
Another issue of concern is lack of property rights.
In addition, minority access to justice and public, civil and political structures remains limited.Given this, the two organisations recommended that UNMIK and other international players on the ground remain actively involved and that the province's provisional institutions of self-government show a firm commitment to dealing with the situation."The provisional institutions of self-government have a fundamental role to play in providing protections for minorities against discrimination," the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Pascal Fieschi, said earlier this month.
"They must be actively involved and take ownership over the return dynamic, sending visible signs of tolerance to their communities."The international bodies noted that despite encouraging progress towards meeting the goals set forth in their previous assessment, "discrimination remains a reality at the practical level, with the recommendations from the previous assessment generally not having been implemented."
According to the report, discriminatory practices "persist in access to and apportionment of services and are exacerbated by continuous freedom of movement problems and the entrenchment of parallel structures".The report recommended that if the conditions of minorities are to be improved, discriminatory practices must be identified and eliminated and effective measures addressing discrimination must be provided.
It also called the passage of anti-discrimination legislation drafted by the OSCE."Inter-community dialogue, confidence-building measures, commitment of the local authorities and a bottom-up approach represent key elements for improving the conditions of Kosovo's minorities," said Walter Irvine, the UNHCR's top official in Kosovo.On 11 March, the OSCE mission there announced a new project it is sponsoring that aims to build bridges between all communities and between different media outlets, by stimulating constructive discussion on sensitive issues through a series of live multiethnic radio debates.
The first four will focus on human rights, crime and violence, unemployment and the economy, and reconciliation.




Serbia Mourns Assassinated Prime Minister 13/03/2003 As Serbs cope with the murder of their reformist prime minister, regional and international leaders are expressing their condolences.
Zoran Djindjic was gunned down Wednesday in an apparent attack by an organised crime group. (Various sources - 13/03/03)Acting Serbian President Natasa Micic declared a state of emergency in Serbia Wednesday (12 March) following the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
A pro-Western reformist who played a key role in toppling Slobodan Milosevic and handing him over to the UN war crimes tribunal, Djindjic was shot Wednesday outside the government's main building in downtown Belgrade.
He died at hospital, prompting the government to declare a three-day period of national mourning.Djindjic, 50, headed the country's first non-communist government starting in January, 2001.Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic has been appointed acting prime minister.As national flags flew at half-mast, hundreds of Belgrade residents came to pay tribute to Djindjic, placing flowers and lighting candles at the scene of the murder.Condolences began pouring in almost immediately.
US President George W. Bush said through a spokesman that the prime minister would be remembered "for his strong leadership during Serbia's successful struggle to end the dictatorship of Slobodan Milosevic".
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan deplored "this act of political violence marring the process of democratic normalisation in Serbia".
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the "murder is a loss to all those, from whatever political party, who have made strenuous efforts to deliver a better future for Serbia."In separate statements Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac urged Serbia to continue on the road of democratic reform and European integration.Leaders in Croatia also condemned the assassination and expressed hopes the democratic process in Serbia-Montenegro would continue.
"I hope this insane act will not have any long-term negative consequences on the stability of Serbia, the common state of Serbia-Montenegro and the situation in the region," Croatian President Stipe Mesic said in a telegram to Svetozar Marovic, Serbia-Montenegro's new president.In an official statement, the Serbian government blamed the murder on an organised crime group known as the Zemun Clan and said the goal of the assassins had been to create chaos and lawlessness in Serbia.
A member of the same group is suspected of trying to kill Djindjic in a traffic accident less than one month ago.
Several members face arrest.Milorad Lukovic, known also as Legija, tops the list.
A Milosevic loyalist, Lukovic headed Serbia's special "Red Berets" police unit during the conflicts in the Balkans in the 1990's.
He is believed to be a Zemun Clan leader.Investigators believe one or two assassins waited in ambush inside or on the roof of the empty Institute for Statistics just across the street from the government building.
Police reportedly arrested three people after finding two sniper rifles on the roof.On 21 February, Djindjic was nearly killed when a truck cut in front of his motorcade on a Belgrade highway.
He linked the apparent assassination attempt to his government's efforts to crack down on organised crime and corruption.
That effort, together with his pro-Western stance -- the keen pursuit of market reforms and a commitment to bringing war criminals to justice -- earned him many enemies."If someone thinks the law and the reforms can be stopped by eliminating me, then that is a huge delusion," Djindjic was quoted as saying following last month's incident.




EU Voices Support in Wake of Djindjic Assassination 14/03/2003 As police hunt for the killers of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, EU officials arrived in Belgrade to pay their respects, and the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe called for speeding up Serbia-Montenegro's CoE accession. (FT, Electronic Telegraph, Times Online, The New York Times - 14/03/03; AP, Reuters, BBC, CNN, RFE/RL - 13/03/03)Serbian police have rounded up dozens of suspects in connection with Wednesday's (12 March) assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, who was fatally shot outside the main government building in Belgrade.Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic said police have arrested more than 70 people, including former state security chief Jovica Stanisic and his deputy, Franko Simatovic.
Eight of those captured were key members of the Zemun criminal gang, believed to be behind the assassination plot.
But the main suspects, including the gang's alleged leader, Milorad Lukovic, remain at large.A former head of Serbia's special "Red Berets" police unit, Lukovic and his men are believed to have targeted the prime minister in retaliation for his fight against organised crime.
Arrest warrants reportedly were to be signed for Lukovic and other alleged crime bosses the day Djindjic was killed.
Lukovic's unit has been linked to major atrocities in Kosovo.Zarko Korac, one of Serbia's five deputy prime ministers, said the Zemun group is "probably the best organised gang in the Balkans, with millions of euros obtained from kidnappings".
The gang has contacts within the police and access to inside information, he added.
"Several of them have been in hiding for several days, which is very close to an admission of guilt.
They declared a war on our state and we declare war against them," Korac said.On Wednesday, acting President Natasa Micic declared a state of emergency.
That allows police to detain suspects without evidence and keep them in custody for up to 30 days without access to legal counsel.
Micic said the state of emergency would remain in effect until the assassins are caught.
Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia has criticised the emergency measures, describing them excessive.
It also called for the formation of a transitional cabinet.The head of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, Erhard Busek, said the Mafia has repeatedly tried to secure political influence in Serbia.Busek urged the country's leadership to unite, saying Serbia now "has an ideal opportunity to clean things up".Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and the Union's External Affairs Commissioner, Chris Patten, arrived in Belgrade to pay their respects to Djindjic and offer support.
"We want to make it absolutely plain that we intend to work with you.
There will be no turning back - we will help you pass every obstacle," Patten pledged.
Solana told reporters the leaders of Serbia-Montenegro are united in handling the current crisis.
He promised to ask the forthcoming summit of European leaders to adopt additional measures to help Serbia-Montenegro.On Thursday, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) President Peter Schieder urged the CoE to consider Serbia-Montenegro's accession in April, saying the process should be speeded up to ensure further development in the wake of Djindic's assassination.
"I feel that there is now an urgent need to offer the country assistance, support and co-operation," Schieder said.In related news, the Serbia-Montenegro Parliament has decided to meet Monday to elect the first government of the new union.
Lawmakers were originally scheduled to hold a session Thursday, but postponed it as a result of the crisis.




Zoran Zivkovic Nominated as Serbia's New Prime Minister 17/03/2003 As authorities work to track down the killers of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, the party he headed moved quickly to nominate his successor. (The Independent, The New York Times, The Guardian, AFP - 17/03/03; AP, Reuters, BBC, CNN, FT, VOA, Radio B92 - 16/03/03)Seeking to prevent political chaos following the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, Serbia's Democratic Party (DS) held a special session Sunday (16 March) and nominated its deputy leader, Zoran Zivkovic, as Djindjic's successor.
His appointment will likely be approved by parliament this week."I will do whatever is necessary to enable the continuity of the good work of the Serbian government," Zivkovic said following his nomination.
"There is no dilemma.
Djindjic has set short, mid and long-term goals for us."
He vowed to continue his predecessor's fight against organised crime.As for the state of emergency imposed Wednesday by acting President Natasa Micic, Zivkovic said it should be lifted by the end of April.
"It was not introduced against the citizens, but against organised crime, in order to find those who killed Djindjic," he added.
At the same time, he rejected a call from Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia for a broad coalition government.Zivkovic, 42, served as federal interior minister until last month, when Yugoslavia was replaced by the new loose union of Serbia-Montenegro.
Prior to that, he was mayor of Nis and a staunch opponent of Slobodan Milosevic.
He is considered a pro-Western reformist with a commitment to democratisation.Meanwhile, authorities continue the search for those behind the assassination.
Serbian police reported that more than 300 suspected gang members were rounded up and large quantities of arms and drugs seized during raids last week.
Among those captured at the weekend was Mladan Micic, nicknamed "the Rat".
He is a prominent member of the Zemun Clan gangster organisation, which is believed to have carried out the attack.
But key suspects Milorad Lukovic, Dejan Milenkovic and more than a dozen other leading members of the gang remain at large.On Friday, police began demolishing a fortified complex owned by Dusan Spasojevic, suspected of plotting Djindjic's murder.Reuters reports that four of the detainees have been granted protected witness status and are said to have confirmed alleged connections between the Zemun gang and a Colombian drug cartel.
The group, linked also with Milosevic's security services, is considered responsible for about 50 murders."Our main goal will remain the battle against organised crime," The Independent quoted Zivkovic as saying in an interview.
"We have to stabilise the political conditions and finish the process of creating the institutions of the new state, Serbia and Montenegro."Meanwhile, parliament is expected Monday to appoint the new union's five-member council of ministers, which was to have included Zivkovic as minister of defence.
On Sunday, the Democratic Party tapped Boris Tadic for the post.




EU Peacekeeping Operation in Macedonia Authorised 19/03/2003 EU foreign ministers have given the green light to an unprecedented military mission, which will begin at the end of March.
An EU force will take over the work of the NATO force deployed in Macedonia. (EUobserver.com - 17/03/03; BBC, AP, CNN, Makfax - 14/03/03; Greek EU Presidency, NATO, EU)EU foreign ministers gave their final approval Tuesday (18 March) to the start of the Union's first military mission.
Beginning on 31 March, a force of 320 soldiers and 80 civilians will replace NATO's current Operation Allied Harmony in Macedonia.
The foreign ministers also pledged to enhance stability in the Balkans following last week's assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.After months of negotiations, the EU and NATO finalised a security pact on 14 March, clearing the way for the transfer.
The accord, signed by NATO Secretary General George Robertson and Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou during a two-day meeting of EU defence ministers in Athens, permits the exchange of confidential information between the two organisations, as well as the Union's access to NATO planning and logistical facilities.On Monday, Robertson announced that the alliance had agreed to allow the EU rapid reaction force to take over from Allied Harmony.
Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski handed an official invitation for the deployment of Union troops to EU security chief Javier Solana in Brussels.Robertson said the agreement was "one of the most important foundation stones" of the EU project for building a common security and defence policy.Papandreou, whose country holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, described the accord as a symbol of the confidence between the alliance and the Union, saying that it comes "at a particularly crucial time for the Balkans and for Europe in general."The EU-led operation in Macedonia is seen as a key test of the Union's determination and preparedness for such missions, particularly in light of its plans to take over the 13,000-strong NATO peacekeeping operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina next year and its ambition to have a 60,000-strong rapid reaction force in place by the middle of this year.Saturday, at a joint press conference with Solana following the Athens meeting, Papandreou said there were many obstacles and delays the EU had to overcome to meet its goal.
He said measures have been taken to ensure the required armament systems are in place and that shortfalls are addressed, adding more efforts would be needed.Echoing his words, Solana said the process of developing the capability to assume responsibility for crisis management would not be completed overnight.
"Upgrading the capabilities of the EU will be a continuous process that has to continue with determination and has to be led by the ministers of defence and the ministers of foreign affairs.
But it has to have the engagement of all the countries to continue producing capabilities which are sufficient for the needs that the world of today is going to face," Solana said.




BiH Directors Building on Tanovic's Success 18/03/2003 Some of Bosnia and Herzegovina's film directors are noticing that both foreign producers and domestic audiences are paying closer attention to their work after their countryman won last year's Oscar for Best Foreign Film. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 18/03/03Ever since Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)-born director Danis Tanovic waved his Best Foreign Film statue at last year's Oscars and announced, "This is for my country; this is for Bosnia and Herzegovina," other directors in BiH have noticed that what they do is gaining more attention, both domestically and internationally."Now our movies are coming from a country that also has an Oscar," said director Dino Mustafic, who recently released his first feature film, Remake.
"The worldwide success of No Man's Land is drawing the attention of the world film industry towards film authors from Bosnia and Herzegovina."Filmmakers here are building on that buzz. Remake, the violent story of how war affects the friendship of Tarik and his Serb best friend, interwoven with Tarik's father's story from World War II, was chosen among the top five films, out of 450 screened at the recent Rotterdam festival.
Sarajevo's Skenderija hall was packed for the local premiere last month.
One can't turn on a television without seeing ads for the film, or the stubbly, soft-spoken Mustafic giving yet another interview.Foreign producers are now paying more attention to BiH, said another director here, who won the Goteburg Film Festival's 2002 CineBosnia award of 10,000 euros to make her second short film Selma."You don't have many production companies or serious producers here, [but] with a mix you can make something," said Aida Begic.
"Everything else depends on us and on people working here.
You have to have a Bosnian base."Begic said that filmmakers are using the momentum from Tanovic's Oscar, pointing out that Remake is among three features to be released this year alone.
And one tangible result of Tanovic's success is that for the first time in history, BiH has a fund for cinema."The Oscar woke up these politicians here.
They're seeing that it's a real industry that can employ a lot of people," she said.What that industry produces can also be helpful, making people laugh at the absurdity of post-war life or providing some kind of catharsis for what people suffered during the war itself.
Begic's work leans towards the former.
Among the recognisably funny characters in her first short film Prvo smrtno iskustvo (First Death Experience), is a greasy, gold-chain-wearing official who refuses to issue a young man an ID card because the man was reported killed during the war.
Begic said she'd also include comic relief in her first feature about a village of women trying to survive five years after the war.Remake went the other way, according to Mustafic.
"We need cathartic movies that speak about our recent past.
They are also important as a testimony so the evil and the stupidity of war do not repeat again," he said, adding that the other two features coming out this year are not war films.




Macedonian Children Exchange Guns for Books 31/03/2003 Illegal possession of weapons continues to be an issue in Macedonia, but the government and NGOs are tackling the problem, starting with the children. By Slobodanka Jovanovska for Southeast European Times in Skopje - 31/03/03The children from Skopje and Resen turned in their pistols and received books.
Together, they sent a message to adults that life is better without weapons.
It was part of a campaign called "For Life Without Arms", which started in February.
Journalists for the Rights of Women and Children and for Protection of the Environment in Macedonia, an NGO, launched the campaign.According to a statement by the NGO's president, Natasha Dokovska, the motivation comes from the many murders and shootings in Macedonia, in which young people are often the victims.
The president of the Macedonian Parliament, Nikola Popovski, said the government promised to adopt a new law for disarmament within its first 100 days in power, but has not yet started the project.
The idea is to continue with this awareness campaign until disarmament is complete, and for no less than six months.The first campaign action was called "Books for Guns".
Schoolchildren were encouraged to give up toy weapons, receiving books as a reward.
The action, organised three times, demonstrated that children better sense the necessity of the project than do many adults.
So far, Macedonian children have returned 900 plastic guns, all of which will be recycled and used as a material for a statue that will symbolise the action.
To help promote the campaign, the NGO engaged popular singers and actors.The Information Centre for Voluntary Disarmament, which is part of the project, hosted a forum last month to discuss the role of the international community in solving this urgent problem.
No one, the forum concluded, seems to know the precise number of illegal guns, but it is estimated that there are about 600,000 small and light arms in Macedonia, many obtained during the 2001 conflict between government forces and ethnic Albanian rebels.Given that the transition in Central and Eastern Europe contributed to organised crime and wars in some of the countries, the number of illegal arms is not surprising.
Every third person in the country is armed with guns, rifles, mines or bombs.
The media have reported that secondary schools look like military camps.
The abundance of knives, poison gases and guns found at schools has resulted in at least one tragic incident.The most disturbing fact is that the illegal trade in arms is actually increasing.
From 1998 to 2002, 750 cases of illegal possession of arms were recorded, involving more than 1,000 persons and around 9,000 confiscated weapons.
Until now, the fight against organised crime has been focused on illegal drugs and prostitution, but there are still an enormous number of arms to be collected.
Today the government is working diligently to propose a new law for voluntary disarmament.
With assistance from Norway and the Netherlands, a Macedonian arms "harvest" will finally begin this summer.




Macedonia Ready to Support US-led Campaign in Iraq 18/03/2003 Macedonia is ready to help in the potential military campaign against Iraq, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski said Monday.
President Trajkovski has urged his country not to miss a "rare and historical opportunity to stand behind its allies and strategic partners." (Seeurope.net, Dnevnik, Makfax - 18/03/03; AFP, RFE/RL, MIA, Makfax, SEE Online - 17/03/03)Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski said Monday (17 March) his country was ready to provide the United States logistical support, military infrastructure and use of its airspace for a war with Iraq.
He went on to add that Washington should consider Macedonia an ally.Under the constitution, the decision must be approved by the national legislature, which is dominated by members of Crvenkovski's For Macedonia coalition.Earlier, President Boris Trajkovski said it was crucial for Macedonia to "stand behind the United States and do this clearly and unambiguously in appropriate form and procedure in compliance with the constitutional order".
He also said that failure to act accordingly could put the country's stability and development at risk."If Macedonia misses this rare and historical opportunity to stand behind its allies and strategic partners, Macedonia risks a more unfavourable position in realising its security and developmental perspectives," Trajkovski warned.Macedonia was among ten Central and East European countries that signed a statement in early February, expressing support for the US stand on Iraq.US President George W. Bush sent a letter to Crvenkovski on Monday, expressing thanks for Macedonia's support.
He praised Trajkovski and Crvenkovski for their "vision and principled leadership", their commitment to the implementation of the Ohrid peace agreement, and for joining the international anti-terror coalition."Together, we will confront and defeat the threat to global security posed by the combination of weapons of mass destruction, the scourge of terrorism, and those states that sponsor or abet terrorism", Bush wrote, assuring Crvenkovski also that the United States "will not forget those who have stood with us".Although Macedonia is not going to be involved in any direct combat action, it hopes to be part of the post-war reconstruction of Iraq.Defence Minister Vlado Buckosvki is expected to discuss his country's role, as well as its preparations for NATO accession, when he meets in Washington this week with US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and others.In other news, NATO Secretary General George Robertson announced that the Alliance has agreed to let the new EU rapid reaction force take over its mission in Macedonia.
"Today, the North Atlantic Council has decided to terminate Operation Allied Harmony in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as of 31 March with a view to the EU commencing a successor operation," Robertson said in a statement.
NATO will keep a senior civilian and a senior military representative in Skopje, to help the government reform its security system and move towards NATO membership.During a meeting in Brussels on Monday, Trajkovski officially handed an invitation for the deployment of EU troops in Macedonia to EU security chief Javier Solana.
He, in turn, urged the Western Balkan countries to co-operate in strengthening regional stability and security, as well as step up efforts in the fight against organised crime and corruption.




Djindjic's Political Agenda May Be Fulfilled by His Successors 19/03/2003 As long as the government succeeds in its fight against the mafia and war criminals from Slobodan Milosevic's regime, Zoran Djindjic's death will not have been in vain.
Success against organised crime would also lead to the realisation of his political agenda -- a democratic Serbia within a united Europe Commentary by Dusan Kosanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 19/03/03The Serbian Parliament appointed Zoran Zivkovic, vice-president of the Democratic Party (DS), the new prime minister on Tuesday (18 March).
DS's two other vice-presidents, Cedomir Jovanovic and Boris Tadic, have been nominated to the highest governmental posts: vice-president of the Serbian government, and minister of defence.
Out of respect for the late Prime Minster Zoran Djindjic, the DS has decided not to elect a new party leader until after the parliamentary elections in 2004.
In short, the assassinated prime minister's closest allies have been appointed to central governmental positions, and have announced their plans to uproot organised crime.Such decisions have resulted in speculation about a possible broad coalition government, an idea proposed by Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), or even early elections.
Jovanovic, the leader of student demonstrations in 1996-1997, said that elections have a regressive effect on stabilisation.
He believes that a new attempt at a coalition with the DSS is impossible and that "Serbia cannot afford to be indecisive."
Djindjic's cabinet, he said, has the strongest support in the Serbian Parliament; thus there is no reason why it should not resume its reform project.Jovanovic told Radio B92 that no form of incompetence or cowardice would be tolerated in the federal court and the judiciary.
"I believe that in this country there are still enough decent policemen and judges, so that we can win," he said.Zivkovic, meanwhile, has declared that the state of emergency imposed after last week's assassination will continue until April at the latest, adding that international officials have shown complete understanding of the drastic decisions implemented by the Serbian government.
The state of emergency permits involvement by special military divisions, which could be highly effective in uprooting the numerous, well-armed criminal groups.
Zivkovic urged citizens to try to live normally.
He said the state of emergency is directed at criminals, not at human rights or the freedom of the media.Across Serbia, police have arrested nearly 800 people.
However, the most wanted suspects -- including Milorad Lukovic, also known as Legija, and Dusan Spasojevic -- are still on the run.
Justice MinisterVladan Batic has implemented special laws in Serbian jails, forbidding communications between prisoners and the outside world.
In the Central Belgrade jail, 100 new spaces have been created for alleged members of the Zemun criminal clan.
Orders have been given for a more rigorous monitoring of the building.In the New Cemetery in Belgrade, mourners still gather, leaving flowers and lighting candles for Djindjic.
By some estimates, his funeral procession drew close to a million people into the streets of Belgrade.
Some analysts view this as a gauge of public support for the government's struggle to build a modern, democratic Serbia in Europe.
Polls suggest the next month will be key: if the government wins the war against the mafia and war criminals from the Milosevic regime, Djindjic's death will not have been in vain.




Suspects in Greek Terror Trial Withdraw Confessions 20/03/2003 Suspected members of the November 17 terrorist group have recanted their confessions, claiming they were coerced.
The defendants are accused of involvement in a spate of murders, bombings and robberies that began in 1975. (The Guardian - 19/03/03; BBC, VOA - 18/03/03)Four of the 19 suspected members of a Greek terrorist group are denying earlier confessions, claiming they made them under pressure and torture.
The trial against suspected November 17 terrorists opened in Athens two weeks ago and is expected to take months.The defendants, accused of murders, bombings and robberies committed since 1975, would likely face life sentences if convicted.
However, they will not be punished for crimes committed before 1983, due to a 20-year statute of limitations upheld by the judges at the outset of the trial.
Therefore, the court will not look into several cases, including the 1975 murder of a CIA station chief.
In all, November 17 is believed responsible for a total of 23 slayings over the 28 years.Prosecutors say a British military attache, gunned down in June 2000, was the group's last victim.
The others allegedly include four US officials, prominent Greek politicians and industrialists and two Turkish diplomats.On Tuesday (18 March), the three-member court heard testimony concerning a shooting in 1984 that wounded a US soldier.
Army Sgt Robert Judd did not appear in person, but was represented by a lawyer.Savvas Xiros, an icon painter, was the first November 17 suspect captured by Greek police, during a botched bombing attempt that left him injured.
Subsequently, 17 other men and one woman were arrested, including the suspected leader of the group, Alexandros Giotopoulos.On Tuesday, Xiros claimed his confessions were extracted through psychological pressure and drug torture, an allegation he earlier made to the media."My pre-trial interrogations were conducted during my hospitalisation, following cruel and inhuman torture with the use of psycho-pharmaceuticals and sedatives," the defendant said during the hearing, adding that prosecutor Ioannis Diotis had conducted his interrogation without identifying himself.Some defendants complained before the court that during the interrogation, they had not been allowed access to their lawyers and that the questioning had been conducted in the presence of armed, hooded police.Denying Xiros's allegations about police exercising pressure on him, public prosecutor Christos Lambrou said that he had wanted to confess for religious reasons.The defence requested that officials involved in the investigation be summoned to the witness stand and that tapes of the suspects' interrogation be played in court.But the prosecution asked that all appeals be rejected.Several of the defendants, including Giotopoulos, have pleaded not guilty to charges of terrorism, while others have admitted responsibility for operations blamed on the group.




Bulgarian, Romanian Premiers Reiterate Support for US-led Operation Against Iraq 21/03/2003 Bulgarian Prime Minisiter Simeon Saxe-Coburg and his Romanian counterpart, Adrian Nastase, are reiterating support for efforts to disarm the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. (AP, BTA, Rompres, Mediapool.bg, Dnevnik.bg, Seeurope.net - 19/03/03)The prime ministers of Bulgaria and Romania reiterated their support for US-led military action in Iraq, and the United States added Bulgaria to the list of countries publicly supporting efforts to disarm the regime of Saddam Hussein."Iraq refused to disarm as wanted by the international community, and hence chose to face the 'serious consequences'," Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg said in a televised address to the nation Wednesday (19 March).
"The weapons of mass destruction that Iraq possesses are a threat to peace and security."Saxe-Coburg also said he regretted the failure of diplomatic efforts to reach a consensus within the international community.
His statement came amid criticism from President Georgi Parvanov, who disagrees with the decision to enter the US-led coalition.But in Bucharest on Wednesday, Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase emphasised his country's support for it, adding that the Iraq crisis unveiled "tension in the world system" which he described as likely to become "a pretty extensive issue in the future".In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters that Bulgaria had changed its mind after initially preferring to remain among the 15 countries privately backing the United States.
On Tuesday, the administration listed 33 members of the coalition against Iraq.
Balkan states on the list are Albania, Macedonia, Romania, and Turkey.Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy said the government's initial decision had been due to cabinet concerns about what he termed "fragile balances" among state institutions.Officials in Sofia say the 150-member non-combat personnel who would help with nuclear, biological and chemical decontamination could leave for the Gulf by Friday.
As have other countries in the region, Bulgaria is stepping up efforts to strengthen national security.
Round-the-clock border surveillance is being introduced in the 12-mile zone of Black Sea territorial waters; ships caught smuggling people, drugs or arms within the past five years have been placed on a list of high-risk vessels.In addition, the country has adopted a plan to protect 25 to 30 strategic targets.
The health ministry says all precautionary measures have been taken against a possible biological attack.Romania's Civil Protection Command has also taken steps to ensure the safety and security of the population and to guard strategic sites.In other news, US Ambassador to Croatia Lawrence Rossin voiced disappointment with Zagreb's wavering support for the US operation to disarm Iraq.
"We are talking about war and peace.
However, your government has decided to shirk its responsibility and play a reserved role," he said in an interview.
Rossin said the government's indecision would have an impact on ties between Washington and Zagreb.




Corruption Targeted Within Serbian Judiciary 25/03/2003 Authorities have dismissed 35 judges and arrested a deputy state public prosecutor, in a move that marked the beginning of crackdown on corruption within the Serbian judiciary. By Dusan Kosanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 25/03/03Serbian authorities have moved swiftly to reform the country's judiciary.
First, lawmakers dismissed 35 judges, including seven Supreme Court justices.
Supreme Court Vice President Zoran Ivosevic has retired, and the head of the Court, Leposava Karamarkovic, has announced her resignation.Legislators also adopted amendments to a set of judiciary laws that would make courts work more efficiently.
"The judiciaries haven't done their job for a long time.
For example, 52 per cent of the trials of drug dealers and arms traffickers ended with 'not guilty' verdicts, which is not to be allowed.
That doesn't happen anywhere in the world," said Bojan Pajtic, the ruling coalition's caucus whip.On 19 March, police arrested state deputy public prosecutor Milan Sarajlic, saying he had links and contacts with the Zemun clan, believed to have been behind the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
A police statement issued 13 March said the Serbian public prosecution offices and Sarajlic's home were being searched.
He has admitted being on the payroll of Zemun gang leader Dusan "Siptar" Spasojevic.Several days before the Djindjic assassination, Serbian Minister of Justice Vladan Batic had already strongly criticised the country's judiciary, warning that the government and police would remain incompetent in fighting crime unless the courts decided to handle their duties responsibly and courageously.
The first of several scandals occurred following the October 1998 murder of four associates of then-opposition leader Vuk Draskovic, in a pre-arranged car accident.
The assassins, led by former secret police chief Rade Markovic, received minor sentences.
Public outrage grew with the fleeing of Dragoljub Milanovic, former director of Serbia's central TV station.
Milanovic was sentenced to ten years in prison for failing to evacuate station offices, despite being aware they would be attacked during NATO strikes in 1999.
Though charged with a lethal crime, he was only apprehended after his sentence was announced.Many judges were confidants of Slobodan Milosevic.
During his dictatorship, they punished members of the independent media as well as anti-government activists.
Last year, as a step towards uprooting corruption, the government decided to raise judges' salaries to 500 euros -- three times higher than the average salary in the country.
But this move has been deemed insufficient.
Instead, a need has been expressed for the complete overhaul.Slobodan Vucetic, chairman of the Constitutional Court of Serbia and a distinguished opponent of Milosevic's dictatorship, believes that incompetent and unprofessional judges must leave the judiciary, as well as those who violated human rights during the former regime.
This would require separate proceedings conducted against each of the judges.
The threat creates a sense of insecurity and fear among them, prompting them to seek acceptance and backing by political parties -- a familiar way to gain followers.




More Than 1,000 Arrested in Crackdown on Organised Crime in Serbia 21/03/2003 As Serbian authorities continue to search for the killers of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, the country's deputy prosecutor has admitted to being on the payroll of the criminal gang presumed responsible for the murder. (FT - 21/03/03; AP, BBC, Radio B92, RFE/RL - 20/03/03)More than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the slaying of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, Serbian officials said Thursday (20 March).
They promise more arrests, as the chief suspects remain at large.A day earlier, police arrested Deputy Prosecutor Milan Saraljic on suspicion of links to the Zemun clan, the criminal gang blamed for killing Djindjic.
Officials say during his interrogation, Saraljic confessed to being on the payroll of a drug cartel run by the Zemun group.
They say he also admitted taking orders from one of the cartel's leaders, Dusan Spasojevic, whom police believe is among those who plotted Djindjic's murder.The fired prosecutor said he had recently received 150,000 euros, out of a promised 1m euros, for information concerning the whereabouts of a protected witness.
Sarajlic has also admitted responsibility for obstructing investigations since October 2000.
Cases under investigation included the murders of several key figures in Serbia."Milan Sarajlic exerted pressure and lobbied within the judiciary," the government said in a statement.Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic, meanwhile, announced the forced retirement of 35 judges, including seven Supreme Court members.
"The inefficiency of the courts enabled some killers and other criminals to avoid justice for years," Batic said.The sackings were followed by the resignation Thursday of the Supreme Court's head, Leposava Karamarkovic, who said she was stepping down under "political and media pressure"."There will be new arrests in the following days because there is a connection between the Zemun gang and parts of the security service and judiciary.
The results of the investigation so far show that there are still remnants of the criminal regime of Slobodan Milosevic," Ivan Andric of the Civil Alliance of Serbia was quoted as saying Thursday.The Associated Press reported that Serbia's Supreme Defence Council has fired the chief of the country's intelligence, Maj Gen Aca Tomic, but there were no clear indications that the move was part of the ongoing crackdown.Mladjan Dinkic, the governor of Serbia's Central Bank, said Thursday the campaign against organised crime should continue, but that the state of emergency declared by acting Serbian President Natasa Micic should not extend beyond April.
Micic has said it will remain in effect until the perpetrators are caught.Key suspects, including the actual assassins, have not been apprehended.
Declining to give names, Serbian Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic said two of the suspected killers have been identified.
A photograph of a third suspect, believed to be part of the group that gunned down Djindjic on 12 March, has been published in several newspapers.
Police are still trying to identify him.Meanwhile, Serbia's new Prime Minister, Zoran Zivkovic, has suggested that the murder was politically motivated and that some parties might be banned, though he added that such a move would be up to the constitutional court.
Slobodan Orlic, a senior member of the ruling coalition, described ultranationalist Vojislav Seselj's Serbian Radical Party and the Serbian Unity Party, founded by the late paramilitary leader Zeljko Raznatovic (Arkan), as the "political inspirers of the assassination".




Romania Says Still Considering Possible Suspension of Iraqi Diplomatic Mission 24/03/2003 Romania is mulling over a US request to close the Iraqi embassy and expel the remaining diplomats.
Five have already been expelled, and the Iraqi ambassador has been recalled by Baghdad. (Rompres -- 15/03/03 - 24/03/03; RFE/RL, Seeurope.net - 22/03/03; Reuters, AFP - 21/03/03; Reuters, AP - 15/03/03)Romanian authorities said Saturday (22 March) they are still deciding whether to suspend operations of the Iraqi diplomatic mission in the country.
The clarification followed reports suggesting Bucharest had already made the decision.After consultations with officials at the US Embassy in Bucharest on Friday, foreign ministry spokesman Cosman Dobran told reporters that Bucharest was analysing Washington's request for the expulsion of Iraqi diplomats.
Two junior diplomats remain at the embassy, according to Dobran.Earlier this month, Romania expelled five Iraqi diplomats, citing activities incompatible with their status.
Last week, Iraqi Ambassador to Romania Saad H Majid left the country.
Baghdad said he had been recalled due to alleged attempts by the Romanian intelligence services to recruit him.Denying the accusations, Dobran said Bucharest was told Majid was being called back "for consultations".
Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana said on 17 March that Majid had been recalled after having "abused" his diplomatic status.
He stressed that Majid had not been asked to "betray" his country.
The minister added that the move was serious, but normal practice and did not imply a severing of diplomatic relations between the two countries.Neighbouring Bulgaria -- like Romania, a member of the so-called "coalition of the willing" -- is also still considering the US request to expel Iraqi diplomats, according to Foreign Minister Solomon Passy.
On Sunday, he described the issue as a "philosophical" one, adding that the Iraqi diplomats should decide by themselves whether they support Saddam Hussein's regime.
Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Ivanov said a decision would be made after authorities have reviewed the options offered by international law, above all the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and after they have received some additional information from Washington.The opposition Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) says authorities should have expelled the head of the Iraqi diplomatic mission in Sofia earlier for some threatening remarks he made about Bulgaria.
In early March, Iraqi Charge d'Affairs Yahia Mahdi said during a visit to Bourgas that any US base used for launching attacks on Baghdad would become subject to Iraqi retaliation.
He went on to say that the attack against Iraq would start from the Sarafovo base in Bourgas, currently used by US forces.
Mahdi later said his statement had been misinterpreted.




Former General, Aides Convicted in Croatian War Crimes Trial 25/03/2003 A trial widely seen as a test of the Croatian judiciary's ability to handle war crimes cases ended Monday with the sentencing of a former army general and two others. (AP, Reuters, BBC, VOA, RFE/RL, HINA - 24/03/03)Croatia's highest profile war crimes trial to date ended Monday (24 March) with prison sentences for former army Gen Mirko Norac and two others, convicted of organising and carrying out the execution of 50 Serb civilians in the town of Gospic during Croatia's war for independence in October 1991.Norac, 35, the most senior Croatian officer convicted of war crimes in a domestic trial so far, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
He was indicted on charges of ordering the Gospic roundups and killings, and of personally shooting one woman.
The court considered, as mitigating circumstances, Norac's youth at the time of the crimes and the fact that they were committed during a time of fierce battle.The prime suspect in the case, Tihomir Oreskovic, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Although he was Norac's subordinate, the majority of the witnesses identified him as the de facto commander at the time of the events in Gospic, less than 150 km southwest of Zagreb.The third defendant, Stjepan Grandic, was given ten years in prison, while a fourth, Ivica Rozic, was acquitted.
A fifth person was acquitted earlier this year for lack of evidence.When the trial opened more than a year ago, all defendants pleaded not guilty, insisting they had no involvement in the summary executions in the fields outside Gospic and that they were only defending the town from Serb attacks.About 150 witnesses testified over the course of the proceedings.As the trial at the Rijeka County Court ended, presiding judge Ika Saric said more should have been brought to justice, but that it was "a matter for the prosecution, not for the court".The defendants faced a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Explaining the verdict, Saric drew a picture of reigning terror in Gospic.
She said the fact the killings remained hidden for many years was due to a conspiracy of silence.Oreskovic's lawyer, Zeljko Olujic, described the verdict as draconian and vowed to file an appeal before the Supreme Court.
He said that the defendants should have been tried in Gospic."We are surprised at the ruling, but we hope we will prove that Tihomir Oreskovic did not commit the act he was charged with," the attorney added.On Monday, some 150 Croatian war veterans gathered in front of the court to hear the verdict.
Noric's arrest two years ago provoked a 100,000-strong nationalist demonstration.
The UN tribunal had contemplated trying the retired general but finally decided to hand over the case to the Croatian judiciary.
The trial has been widely seen as a test of its ability to handle war crimes cases.




Djindjic's Suspected Assassin Arrested, Investigation Continues 26/03/2003 Police have arrested the man suspected of fatally shooting Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
The alleged assassin is a deputy commander of a special operations unit. (The New York Times - 26/03/03; AP, Reuters, BBC, AFP, RFE/RL, Radio B92 - 25/03/03)Serbian authorities said Tuesday (25 March) they had arrested the man suspected of killing Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
Djindjic's successor, Zoran Zivkovic, identified the alleged assassin as Zvezdan Jovanovic, a deputy commander of Serbia's Unit for Special Operations (JSO).
The JSO's commander has also been detained.
Late Tuesday, the government decided to disband the notorious unit, created by Slobodan Milosevic's regime.The new prime minister said Jovanovic, 38, was arrested Monday and "has been detained for further investigation".
Zivkovic said the suspect was linked to the criminal gang known as the Zemun Clan, believed to have planned and carried out Djindjic's assassination.
The gang's leaders and prime suspects in the high-profile murder case -- including former JSO top commander Milorad Lukovic -- remain at large despite an ongoing crackdown on organised crime in Serbia."This is not the end of the investigation," Zivkovic said.
"We are happy with what has been done, but we won't be satisfied until all those involved in this murder are arrested and tried."Of nearly 3,700 people rounded up for questioning since 12 March, over 1,000 have been arrested.
Charges have reportedly been filed against almost 400.
The investigation has also unveiled close connections between Serbian organised crime groups, the judiciary and the entertainment business.Along with Jovanovic, police arrested another JSO, Sasa Pejakovic, suspected to have aided the sniper in carrying out the assassination.
The suspected weapon -- a German-made Heckler Koch G3 sniper rifle -- was found hidden in the capital's New Belgrade district.
A police statement later on Tuesday said that the results of ballistic tests had shown unambiguously that Jovanovic fired the deadly bullet.JSO commander Dusan Maricic has also been detained for suspected links to the Zemun gang.
Following an extraordinary session on Tuesday, the government said it had decided to disband the unit."The government has ordered unit members to hand in their weapons, equipment, uniforms and official identity cards," it said in a press release, adding that it has assigned the Gendarmerie the task of securing the JSO premises in the northern town of Kula.During the Balkan conflicts in the 1990's, the Milosevic regime sent crime figures to fight with its infamous paramilitary forces, commanded by Zeljko Raznatovic.
Known also as Arkan, Raznatovic was gunned down in Belgrade in early 2000.
Following the end of the conflict, the former paramilitaries were allowed to join regular police forces linked to a criminal world running lucrative drug trafficking operations.
Milorad Lukovic is a former JSO commander and is reportedly one of the bosses of a powerful drug cartel.By declaring war on organised crime in Serbia and promising to arrest UN war crimes indictees, Djindjic infuriated many.In November 2001, JSO officers staged protests against the government, saying they would no longer participate in the arrests of those wanted by The Hague tribunal.




Macedonian Lawmakers Approve EU Peacekeeping Mission 27/03/2003 The Status of Forces agreement ratified by Macedonia's Parliament on Wednesday opens a new phase in relations between Macedonia and the EU, according to Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva. (AP, VOA, RFE/RL, MIA, Makfax - 26/03/03)Macedonia's Parliament voted Wednesday (26 March) to approve an agreement with the EU, paving the way for the Union's debut in peacekeeping.
A 320-strong EU-led force is set to replace the NATO mission in Macedonia on 31 March and remain on the ground for the next six months.
It is seen as a major test for EU ambitions in the areas of security and defence.The mission, dubbed Concordia, will include troops from 27 countries, including 14 non-EU nations, and will be led by France.
Prior to Wednesday's vote, the commander of Concordia, Brig Gen Pierre Maral, discussed the specifics of the mission with Macedonian officials, including President Boris Trajkovski and Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski.
On Tuesday, Maral voiced confidence that Concordia would be as successful as NATO's Allied Harmony.
He will be reporting to German Adm Rainer Feist, who is entrusted with the overall command of the EU operation, but who is also second in command of NATO forces in Europe.The purpose of the EU-led mission is to foster the peace process in Macedonia, as well as to help the country fulfil its obligations under the 2001 Ohrid framework agreement and implement economic reforms on the agenda of its Stabilisation and Association Process with the EU.Under the accord, the EU force is obliged to respect Macedonian law and inform authorities about any changes in the number of troops, military equipment and vehicles stationed in the country."The EU is in fact continuing the constructive work launched by NATO, especially in regard to the mobile liaison teams," EU spokeswoman Irena Gjuzelova said, adding that NATO and the Union shared similar views about Macedonia's security needs.All 88 lawmakers attending Wednesday's session voted in favour of the Status of Forces Agreement with the EU."The ratification of this law opens a new phase in the relations between Macedonia and EU," Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva told parliament, noting that Macedonia would be the first non-EU member state to enter into a partnership with the 15-nation bloc outside the economic and political arena.
She said Macedonia would contribute to EU efforts to solidify its common security and defence policy.Reminding lawmakers that the responsibility for security and stability in Macedonia lies mainly in the hands of the national institutions, Mitreva added that as the EU mission completes its tasks, Macedonia would no longer need foreign troops.




NATO Invitees Take Another Step Towards Membership 28/03/2003 Foreign ministers of the seven NATO candidate countries signed the protocols of accession at a ceremony Wednesday. (AP, BBC, Novinite.com - 26/03/03; NATO)Seven central and east European countries moved a step closer to NATO membership Wednesday (26 March), when the 19 permanent representatives to the North Atlantic Council signed the protocols of their accession to the alliance.
These documents are now subject to ratification by the current NATO members.
Once the process is completed, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia will be invited to formally join the alliance at its next summit in May 2004.The signing ceremony at NATO headquarters in Brussels was attended by the foreign ministers of the seven countries that received membership invitations during NATO's November summit in Prague.
Since then, the countries have held two rounds of accession talks with NATO experts, covering both the formal obligations of membership, as well as specific issues and reforms they would be expected to carry out to enhance their contribution to the alliance.
Following the discussions, each of the invited countries has submitted a letter of intent confirming its interest, willingness and ability to join NATO, accompanied by a timetable for the completion of the agreed reforms, which might continue after the country's entry into the alliance.The accession protocols are amendments to NATO's founding document, the North Atlantic Treaty, signed in Washington on 4 April 1949.
They allow the seven countries to become parties to the Treaty and members of NATO.
Following their ratification by all NATO member states, the invited countries will also have to ratify the protocols before sending all relevant accession documents to the US State Department.At the ceremony, NATO Secretary General George Robertson called it "a vindication of the vision of all those who have, for many years, sought to anchor their countries firmly to a Europe with which they share democratic values" and "a testament to the hard work of all those who have been involved in turning that vision into a reality".Confident about the successful completion of the ratification process by the next NATO summit in May 2004, Robertson urged the invitees to remain focused on the implementation of their reform programmes, "to ensure that they can make a meaningful contribution to this alliance".Robertson also praised the alliance for opening its doors to the seven former communist countries and voiced confidence that this decision would go down in history as a "turning point in the building of a Europe reunited and free: a Europe united in peace, democracy and common values, from the Baltics to the Balkans, from the Atlantic to the Black Sea.
A Europe united in an unbreakable bond with North America."
Robertson added that this would not be NATO's last expansion.
The door of the alliance "remains open", he said.




Two Top Djindjic Assassination Suspects Killed in Shootout 28/03/2003 Serbian police announced Thursday that two leaders of the Zemun Clan were shot dead while resisting arrest.
Authorities say Dusan Spasojevic and Mile Lukovic refused to surrender when police tracked them down near Belgrade. (Reuters, BBC, CNN, The Independent - 28/03/03; AP, AFP, VOA, Radio B92 - 27/03/03)Two of the top suspects in the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic died in a shootout with police Thursday (27 March) night.
Officials say Dusan Spasojevic and Mile Lukovic, leaders of the Zemun Clan criminal gang, were killed while resisting arrest.The incident took place in the town of Barajevo, about 25 km south of Belgrade.
Spasojevic and Lukovic were reportedly armed with M70 assault rifles and grenades.
According to a government statement, no casualties were reported among the special police.Police, meanwhile, are continuing their hunt for the top suspect and alleged mastermind of the assassination.
Milorad Lukovic, the chief leader of the Zemun gang, is a former commander of the Special Police Unit (JSO), known also as the "Red Berets".The government disbanded the 300-strong unit earlier this week after arresting several of its top officers in connection with the 12 March murder.
JSO deputy commander Zvezdan Jovanovic, who was captured Monday, has been identified as the man who fired the fatal bullet.
Another JSO member, believed to have aided Jovanovic, was also detained.
Before ordering the unit to disband, authorities arrested its commander, Dusan Maricic, for his alleged ties to the Zemun Clan.The elite unit was founded in 1991 by two allies of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
Jovica Stanisic and Franco Simatovic were among the first to be detained in the sweep on organised crime initiated hours after Djindjic's murder.About 15 former members of the JSO have been arrested on suspicion of complicity in the assassination.
Djindjic made many enemies by declaring war on organised crime and vowing to send war crimes suspects to The Hague.Jovanovic is said to have fought in Kosovo during the 1998-1999 conflict and to have been decorated by Milosevic.
He reportedly served also as the dictator's bodyguard.The parliamentary leader of the ruling Democratic Opposition of Serbia coalition, Bojan Pajtic, said in an interview Thursday that the former president's "pillars of power" and "repressive mechanisms" were finally crumbling.
He added that the investigation into Djindjic's killing has uncovered "an alarming link between the secret services and organised crime" in Serbia.Serbia's acting President Natasa Micic, who imposed a state of emergency following Djindjic's death, said that with the latest arrests "Organised crime has been defeated."The Zemun gang, thought to be part of a large international network of heroin and cocaine dealers, controls 80 per cent of the local drug market.
The government vowed Thursday to continue the manhunt for remaining members.




Milosevic's Wife Wanted for Questioning 31/03/2003 The body of former Serbian President Ivan Stambolic was found last week following confessions by former security officers.
Slobodan Milosevic and his wife, Mirjana Markovic, are suspected of ordering the killing. (Times Online, The Independent, Electronic Telegraph, The Guardian - 31/03/03; AP, BBC, CNN, AFP, VOA, Radio B92 - 30/03/03)Serbian police have warned former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's wife, Mirjana Markovic, to immediately turn up for questioning over a key political murder or face an international arrest warrant.
The authorities said Saturday (29 March) they had "credible suspicions" about Markovic's involvement in the killing of Ivan Stambolic.Once Milosevic's mentor and close friend, Stambolic was president of Serbia from 1986 until 1987, when his protege staged a coup and replaced him.
By August 2000, when Stambolic disappeared while jogging in a Belgrade park, the two had become bitter opponents; Stambolic was seen as a possible challenger to Milosevic in presidential elections the same year.On Friday, the interior ministry said Stambolic's body had been discovered buried in a pit in the hills near Novi Sad.
According to police, the grave had been prepared in advance and Stambolic was executed, with two shots to the head.
They said one of the killers, a member of the recently disbanded Special Police Unit (JSO), had led them to the site.Following the discovery, police reportedly launched a search for Mirjana Markovic at the couple's Belgrade residence and at their house in hometown of Pozarevac.
Authorities later issued a statement saying Markovic had left Serbia on 23 February and was currently hiding in Russia."Through her lawyer, Mrs Markovic is urged to return to the country immediately and contact the police for questioning.
If she does not follow this appeal, an international arrest mandate will be issued against her," the statement read.Additional information released Sunday said five JSO members were paid about $50,000 to kill Stambolic.
The payment was made through Milorad Lukovic, the unit's commander at the time.
Lukovic, who also led a paramilitary unit during the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, is the prime suspect in the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic."The killing of Ivan Stambolic was a paid, political killing.
It is justified and logical to assume that the direct order for the killing came from the [Milosevic-Markovic] couple ...
It seems that we are dealing with a family that ordered murders," Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zarko Korac was quoted as saying in an interview.On Sunday, Markovic sent a fax to a Montenegrin newspaper, denying responsibility for the murder and accusing the government of trying to damage her husband's "brilliant defence" in his war crimes trial in The Hague.
Markovic also insisted that her family had nothing to do with any other crimes in the former Yugoslavia.It was unclear where the fax had originated.
But Markovic's daughter, Marija Milosevic, told the Montenegrin daily Publika that her mother was in Moscow visiting her son, Marko, who fled the country soon after his father's overthrow in October 2000.
"She's in Moscow to meet Marko.
It's not an escape," Marija said in an interview Sunday, adding that Markovic was "surprised" to hear about the international arrest warrant she could face if she failed to return for questioning.
"Let them [the police] issue a warrant," Marija quoted her mother as telling her in a telephone conversation.




Suicide Rate Up in Kosovo Since War 02/04/2003 A recent survey shows a 300 per cent increase in the suicide rate in one district in Kosovo. By Natan Dotan for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 02/04/03According to a recent survey by American psychologist Majd Kamalmaz, there has been a 300 per cent increase in the suicide rate in Kosovo's Drenica district over the past three years.Kamalmaz's research revealed that, in the 40 years before the war, there had been only one case of suicide in the Drenica district.
The three years since the end of the war, however, have seen over 30 such cases.The suicides in Drenica were all of Albanian nationality and were for the most part males between the ages of 17 and 28.
While there were two cases of older suicides -- one a 56-year-old man, the other a 70-year-old woman -- the trend is overwhelmingly affecting the younger generation.According to the Diagnostic Systems Manual (DSM IV), written in the United States by a group of psychologists, the number of registered suicide attempts in Western countries is usually three times greater than the number of actual suicides.
This proves significantly applicable in Kosovo, as there are several obstacles to an accurate measurement of the number of suicides.UNMIK police say it is difficult to register the number of suicides because, legally, these are not considered crimes.
Furthermore, suicide attempts often go unreported; they are kept secret within families, said police spokesman Barry Fletcher.
This leads the police to suspect that the actual number of suicides is much greater than the number of registered cases.Kamalmaz suggests that the increase in the suicide rate may be a result of the post-traumatic stress that followed the war.
Exacerbated by the loss of close relatives and the material damage and consequent decline in social and economic conditions, such stress leads to depression and feelings of hopelessness."Social conditions alone do not explain a suicide," explains the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), an American non-profit organisation.
Underlying mental problems -- likely post-traumatic stress caused by the war in the case of Kosovo -- are the fundamental causes.In the past, suicide has also been kept in check by the close family structure that is one of the unique elements of Kosovo society.But the problem in Kosovo is that people have nowhere to go for appropriate professional help, Kamalmaz said.
He is concerned that there has been an insufficient allocation of funds for the treatment of mental health in Kosovo, resulting in a lack of professional staff to deal with the issue of suicide.According to both the AAS and DSM IV, the immediate causes of suicide are usually depression and substance abuse.
The link to substance abuse is extremely relevant in Kosovo, as a recent WHO/UNICEF survey revealed extremely high levels of heroin use, especially in Pristina.The situation in Drenica calls for immediate intervention, Kamalmaz said.
One suggestion, which has seen extensive implementation in other parts of the world, is the establishment of a phone support line available 24 hours a day, through which people would be able to relate problems and receive advice.
Kamalmaz also suggested the establishment of a special group of leaders, donors and experts to target this situation.




Political Compromise in Tirana is Functioning 04/04/2003 Albania's two main political parties have put aside their differences and approved the establishment of a commission to examine the use of public funds by the city of Tirana. By Orest Erzeni for Southeast European Times in Tirana - 03/04/03Last month, the Albanian Parliament approved the establishment of a parliamentary commission to investigate the use of public funds, since 1992, by the municipality of Tirana.
To arrive at this vote, the two main parties, the ruling Socialist Party (SP) and the opposition Democratic Party (DP) had to overcome a political conflict that dogged parliament for one month.DP had requested establishment of a parliamentary commission to investigate the activities of Mayor Edi Rama, who was elected in 2000 with SP support.
Initially, the SP rejected the request, arguing there were no constitutional bases for creating a parliamentary commission for persons without immunity, who would normally be investigated by the state's attorney.The disagreement triggered the kind of verbal sniping both parties had tried so hard to stem.
Last June, the leaders of the two parties, Fatos Nano and Sali Berisha, reached an agreement establishing a basis for political stability.
It played a key role in a series of political developments, including the election of President Alfred Moisiu by consensus, the avoidance of preliminary parliamentary elections, establishment of the investigation commission for the State Informative Service, and reform of some state institutions.
Because of the compromise, the EU on 31 January lifted the last obstacle to opening negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania.But the approach of local elections, scheduled for autumn, has led to political tensions.
The toughest race is the mayoral one in Tirana, the post Rama currently holds.
He has created the image of a charismatic and energetic mayor, receiving a prize from the UN last year for his work on behalf of the city.
The public consensus is that he will be a strong candidate in the fall.
The attacks by opposition parties are interpreted as the start of the campaign.During parliamentary debate on the commission to investigate Rama, Prime Minister Nano warned that the spirit of co-operation that started last year is being questioned.
But on 11 March, the two sides found common language.
The SP agreed on the establishment of the commission, while the DP agreed that it would investigate not only Rama, but the period starting in 1992 when the municipality was ruled by DP.Even the complaint filed at the Constitutional Court by 40 Socialist deputies, and the court's decision on 18 March to consider the argument only in the presence of opposition deputies, are viewed as reflecting the desire for consensus.The political compromise achieved by Nano and Berisha has overcome -- to a certain extent -- a difficult test.
Still unclear is whether it will survive the autumn election.




Experts Call for Improved EU Approach to Western Balkans' Integration 07/04/2003 The EU needs to improve the way it provides support to and designs new assistance strategies for the Western Balkans, some area experts say. (EUobserver.com - 19/03/03; European Stability Initiative)Analysts with experience in Southeast Europe have called on the EU to improve its approach to the Western Balkans, to increase the impact of its assistance to the region.
During a discussion of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee last month, experts said the EU needed to show greater commitment in providing necessary support and introduce new assistance strategies to make accession prospects more realistic for Western Balkan countries.The purpose of the discussion was to help prepare for the Stability Pact Parliamentary Conference scheduled for May, which in turn will prepare the June Thessaloniki European Council meeting.
The Western Balkan countries, which have already been promised EU entry in the future, will be invited to a "strategic summit" within the framework of the Greek forum.Albania, Macedonia and Croatia have signed Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA) with the EU.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia-Montenegro are not there yet.
In February, Croatia submitted an official application for EU membership, which it hopes to gain in early 2007, together with Bulgaria and Romania.
Albania and Macedonia are planning to follow Croatia's example later this year.Vladimir Gligorov, of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, says on the one hand, the approach of the SAA process was too slow, while on the other, the Union was unintentionally not always supporting the right people in the region.
He feels it is critical therefore that the EU show greater commitment in providing the needed support.The president of the European Stability Initiative (ESI), Gerald Knaus, told the members of the European Parliament that the Western Balkans region faces two major threats today: organised crime and social and economic decline.By introducing more cohesion in its strategy for the region, the EU could help solve the social together with the economic problems, Knaus said, adding that in return, the Western Balkan countries should commit themselves to carry on the reform process and the fight against organised crime.
Furthermore, he recommended that the Union work in partnership with those countries towards the development of their own domestic cohesion instruments.A recent ESI paper outlined three benchmarks for measuring the success of the Thessaloniki summit.
The first was a pledge to make cohesion an explicit EU objective in the Western Balkans, which would require commitment of more meaningful resources and greater involvement by EU institutions.
The ESI went on to explain that making a serious commitment to cohesion in the Western Balkans was more about developing new assistance strategies rather than about mobilising large new financial resources.The second benchmark would be a commitment to apply the lessons learned from the cohesion policy, implying also a more effective use of funds.The third benchmark would be a commitment to sustaining the levels of assistance in a proportion that will not lead to a wider gap between candidate countries, such as Bulgaria and Romania, and the countries of the Western Balkans.The ESI said that if the currently planned assistance for the Western Balkans of 500m euros for 2006 -- equalling only 1 per cent of the regional GDP -- were doubled to 2 per cent, it would still be lower than the amount envisioned for Bulgaria and Romania that year.




First 600 Srebrenica Victims Buried at Potocari Memorial Site 01/04/2003 After eight years, the survivors of the Srebrenica massacre have a memorial site to mourn their loved ones. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 01/04/03It was the same place where they'd last seen their men alive -- a looted factory just outside the small Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) town of Srebrenica.
In July 1995, thousands of men, women and children here were frantically begging the Dutch UN peacekeepers at the factory to do something to save them from the Bosnian Serb army that was about to overrun the town.When the military entered what had been designated a UN "safe area", they put the women on buses for BiH government territory.
The men stayed.On Monday (31 March), nearly 600 of them were buried here, at a memorial site just across the road from that factory."We're here in this sacred place next to 600 graves of our loved ones, next to 600 witnesses to the crime," said Mothers of Srebrenica member Almedina Dalibasic.
"We're sending a message to all of those who used knives and bullets as justice and hatred as law and order."Thousands of family members and other mourners came to the cemetery, where the 600 modest coffins were the first of as many as 8,000 to be buried.Identifying many of the victims from mass graves in the area has just recently been made possible using DNA technology that matches survivors with their lost relatives.
More than 40,000 people went missing after the wars in the former Yugoslavia.The relatives began pouring in at dawn.
The cobbled walkway arcing around the site was crowded with women in scarves, crouching and weeping by the lines of green-covered coffins."What's there to say?" said one as she surveyed the gravesite.
"Anyone can see that we're all still suffering."By the afternoon, buses from throughout BiH had brought thousands of survivors back to the factory.
Islamic community leader Mustafa Ceric led a prayer over loudspeakers.
"May God forgive them for their sins, and may Srebrenica always be a reminder," he said.
Then the burials began, as more than 2,000 men with spades shovelled dirt over the coffins, the sound echoing off the surrounding mountains.While these first burials might represent some sort of closure for some of the survivors, officials here maintain that there can be no lasting peace, reconciliation or healing here until the those indicted for the massacre -- fugitives Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic -- face justice."We, the international community, are only too well aware of our historic duty to put right the mistakes of the past.
We will not let up until that duty has been discharged," said High Representative Paddy Ashdown.In light of stoning incidents and rioting in the Republika Srpska (RS) in past years, security for the funerals was noticeable.
RS police officers lined the highway every 100 metres from Vlasenica, 20 km away.
Closer to the site, hundreds of police were ready with riot gear.
Two SFOR helicopters also patrolled the valley.BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic said that while everyone in BiH is always urged to look to the future, in this case people have to look at the past and never forget what happened here."That's my obligation, because of the victims and because of truth and justice," he said.
"This is also my obligation to see that Srebrenica never happens again, not in Bosnia and Herzegovina or anywhere else in the world."




Romanian Anti-Corruption Legislation Endorsed; No Confidence Motion Defeated 01/04/2003 A package of anti-corruption laws drafted by Romania's ruling party and backed by the cabinet has received automatic parliamentary endorsement after a no confidence motion submitted by the opposition failed. (Rompres - 01/04/03; AP, Reuters, Rompres - 31/03/03)The Romanian government survived a motion of no-confidence Monday (31 March) initiated by opposition parties critical of a package of anti-corruption bills.
As a result, the legislation received automatic endorsement without parliamentary debate.Fighting rampant corruption is a key requirement for Romania's accession to the EU and NATO; failure to address the issue could jeopardise the country's chances for joining either.
As in other eastern European countries, the period of transition has created a favourable environment for the spread of corruption and abuse of power.
Little has been done in Romania since the fall of communism in late 1989 to tackle the problem.But as Prime Minister Adrian Nastase's cabinet stood by the package of 15 anti-corruption laws drafted by the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), the opposition demanded that the bills be withdrawn, insisting they were ineffective and could not adequately address the issue.
Three opposition parties holding about 40 per cent of the seats in the 482-member legislature -- the Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the nationalist Greater Romania Party (PRM) -- then submitted a motion for a vote of no confidence.
They claimed that by assuming responsibility for 15 laws, the government was violating the constitution, which only allows it to assume responsibility for a programme, a declaration of general policy or a draft law.However, the PSD and its partners -- the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania and the Romanian Humanist Party -- enjoy a comfortable parliamentary majority.
The motion was eventually rejected by a 280-163 vote.But during the heated debate that preceded the vote, lawmakers from both sides traded accusations of corruption.
Criticising the bills as cheap propaganda, opposition MPs said they would only fuel more corruption and shield suspected corrupt officials."This is a cocktail of laws designed to mislead public opinion to think that the government is fighting corruption," Lucian Bolcas of the PRM said.
"But in fact the [corrupt] structures will remain unharmed."Rejecting the attacks, Nastase said anti-corruption laws should have been adopted a decade ago, adding that further delays would only work against the country's interests.
The new legislation, he said, seeks to prevent conflicts of interest and promote public accountability.
It envisions amendments to the money laundering regulations, as well as measures to disallow MPs and government officials from sitting on commercial company boards and force them to publish their assets."The government is determined to firmly implement the new bills, to prevent and fight corruption ... these issues are vital for Romania's national interests," Nastase told parliament."In the light of Romania's joining NATO and the EU, both of which enjoy the full support of the UK, it is essential that Romania should enforce the appropriate legislation it has adopted," British Ambassador Quinton Quayle said in a press release issued Monday.Unless President Ion Iliescu returns the legislation to parliament for reconsideration or seeks the Constitutional Court's opinion, the laws could be promulgated within the next ten days.




Former Yugoslav Army Chief Detained 02/04/2003 Investigations into organised crime in Serbia have uncovered links between the underworld and remnants of the Milosevic regime.
Authorities arrested the former Yugoslav strongman's army chief Tuesday, and are closing in on the leader of a paramilitary group suspected of involvement in political killings. (AP, Reuters, VOA, RFE/RL, Radio B92 - 01/04/03)Serbian media reported Tuesday (1 April) that authorities have arrested the former Yugoslav Army chief of staff, Lt Gen Nebojsa Pavkovic, in connection with the assassination last month of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.Appointed by Slobodan Milosevic, Pavkovic led Serbian forces during the 1998-1999 campaign in Kosovo and retained his post as army chief until late June 2002.
Reports following his dismissal suggested he could face fraud charges and possibly a war crimes investigation by the UN tribunal in The Hague.According to the AP, his arrest is linked to the reported use of an army helicopter in a murder attempt that occurred during Milosevic's rule.
Serbian Renewal Movement leader Vuk Draskovic, who survived two attempts on his life, has told the Frankfurt-based Serbian-language daily Vesti that during the second incident -- which took place in the Montenegrin resort town of Budva -- his would-be assassins left the scene in a helicopter belonging to the Yugoslav Army's Seventh Battalion.Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zarko Korac was quoted as saying the ongoing investigation has shown that Milosevic authorised the use of the helicopter.Other Milosevic aides also arrested Tuesday included former customs chief Mihalj Kertes, believed to have played a key role in the secret financing of Serb rebel and paramilitary forces during the conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Croatia, as well as former Yugoslav Interior Minister Svetozar Simovic and Ivan Markovic, a senior official of the Yugoslav Left -- the party of Milosevic's wife, Mirjana Markovic.Police said they were closing the net around organised crime boss Milorad Lukovic, considered the chief suspect in Djindjic's murder.
A former paramilitary commander who later headed the recently disbanded Special Police Unit (JSO), Lukovic is the leader of the Zemun Clan criminal gang.Authorities believe that the JSO, under his command, was instrumental in the abduction and killing of former Serbian President Ivan Stambolic in August 2000, which Mirjana Markovic is suspected to have ordered.Belgrade-based Radio B92, meanwhile, reported that officials at the UN war crimes tribunal have refused to comment on speculations that Lukovic has been seeking a deal to be given a protected witness status, implying immunity from prosecution and a new identity, in exchange for information on Bosnian Serb war crimes fugitives Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic expressed hope Tuesday that the state of emergency in the country would be lifted by the end of the month.
He added, however, that changes in criminal proceedings and the penal code would have to be made first, including an increase in the detention period to 60 days for terrorism, war crimes and organised crime.




Sarovic Resigns Over Illegal Arms Sales to Iraq 03/04/2003 The scandal over arms exports to Iraq by a company based in Republika Srpska has been exacerbated by the discovery of spying by the Bosnian Serb entity's military intelligence.
On Wednesday, BiH Presidency Chairman and former RS President Mirko Sarovic resigned. (Times Online, The Guardian - 03/04/03; AP, AFP, BBC, Reuters, CNN, Office of the High Representative, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office - 02/04/03)Mirko Sarovic, the Serb chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) tripartite presidency, resigned Wednesday (2 April) after being implicated in scandals involving illegal arms sales to Iraq and an alleged spying affair."Aware of the atmosphere of enormous pressure, I decided to submit my resignation as I did not wish the damaging implications of this affair to continue," Sarovic said in a statement.
A member of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) founded by Radovan Karadzic, Sarovic, 46, was elected to BiH's Presidency in a public vote last October and was the first to take its eight-month rotating chairmanship.A recent report by international investigators found Sarovic politically responsible for the export of parts and services for Iraqi fighter jets by the state-owned Orao military company, based in Bijelina, Republika Srpska (RS).
The exports violated the UN arms embargo against Iraq, and had been going on since 1997.
Evidence of the trading surfaced during an SFOR raid on the company's premises last September.
Sarovic was RS President between December 2000 and November 2002, and chaired the Bosnian Serb entity's Supreme Defence Council during that period.In March, another SFOR operation uncovered evidence that RS military intelligence has been spying on NATO and other international organisations, neighbouring countries, and BiH institutions and officials.
The espionage, which violates the 1995 Dayton peace accords, has occurred over several years, including the period of Sarovic's RS Presidency."It is no exaggeration to say that these activities could have placed this country's stability in jeopardy," said Paddy Ashdown, the international community's chief officer in BiH.
"With war under way now in Iraq, possibly involving weaponry from this country, I cannot overstate the seriousness of this affair.""In both cases, the constitution of the Republika Srpska itself establishes that Mr Sarovic was the senior official with political responsibility in these matters," he added.
Ashdown reportedly confirmed that he had been ready to fire Sarovic had he not resigned.In a related development, Ashdown issued a series of decisions Wednesday aimed at strengthening state-level command and control over BiH's armed forces.
The measures include abolition of the RS Supreme Defence Council and removal of all references to "statehood, independence and sovereignty" in the RS constitution, bringing it into line with the BiH constitution.
A task group from the OSCE will prepare a paper on how to merge the commands of the two armies.RS and the Muslim-Croat federation are to propose by the end of this month measures for placing their weapons industry under civilian control.Serb parliamentarians in the BiH legislature are now expected to elect a replacement for Sarovic.
The SDS has already said it will nominate Borislav Paravac.




Three US Aid Agencies Set up Balkan Trust for Democracy 04/04/2003 USAID, the German Marshall Fund and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation have teamed up to provide aid intended to strengthen democracy building in the Balkans.
The Balkan Trust for Democracy project will help fund eligible organisations and institutions in several countries. (AP, Seeurope.net - 03/04/03; USAID, German Marshall Fund - 02/04/03)Three US agencies pledged Wednesday (2 April) to provide $25m in aid to several countries in Southeast Europe, in support of efforts to strengthen democracy.
The Balkan Trust for Democracy project will disburse grants to eligible organisations and institutions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the province of Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia and Montenegro.
Headquartered in Belgrade, it will become fully operational this summer.The initiative is the product of a public-private partnership between the USAID, the German Marshall Fund (GMF) and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
In a joint statement, the three agencies said that while Southeast European countries "have made great strides in establishing democracies, there is still work to be done to finish the complex transition from communism.""The Balkan Trust for Democracy represents a long-term commitment . to help these countries meet their goals of democratic consolidation and membership in NATO and the EU," the statement said.Funding will go to NGOs, local and regional governments, educational institutions and the media.
It will be provided within the framework of two principal programmes financed by the Balkan Trust.Under the first, Linking Citizens with Government, grants will be awarded for projects fostering connections between citizens and governments, to monitor the work of the government and to promote public awareness about citizens' rights and responsibilities.The second programme, Co-operation and Collaboration, will support cross-border co-operation projects seeking to promote political and civil society development essential to long-term stability across the region.From the $25m available to the Trust, nearly $2m in grants will be awarded each year to eligible groups and organisations."The Balkan Trust for Democracy will serve as a model of how public and private institutions can join together to help support good governance and civil society engagement throughout the world," said USAID Administrator Andrew S Natsios.USAID and the GMF are each contributing $10m to the joint initiative.
The Mott Foundation is providing the remaining $5m.
The GMF is setting aside an additional $2m to cover the Trust's administrative expenses.
By design, USAID funds will last for ten years; afterwards, the Trust will continue operating with funds from the GMF and other donors invited to join as the initiative becomes operational."The Mott Foundation believes that this initiative will be a cornerstone for achieving the vision that we have for the region -- stable and productive democracies and engaged citizenry throughout the Balkan peninsula," the statement quoted Mott Foundation President William S White as saying.




Bosnian Croat War Crimes Suspect Arrested 07/04/2003 Eight years after he was indicted by The Hague tribunal for war crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian Croat Ivica Rajic was arrested Saturday. (AP, Reuters, HINA - 06/04/03; International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia)Bosnian Croat Ivica Rajic was arrested Saturday (5 April) in Zagreb, almost eight years after being indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal for alleged atrocities during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
If extradited to The Hague, he will be the last of 18 Bosnian Croat indictees to appear before the court.Rajic, 45, is being held responsible for the killing of at least 16 Muslim civilians during an attack on the village of Stupni Dol in central BiH on 23 October 1993.
At the time, Rajic, also known as Viktor Andric, commanded an operational group of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), and as such, allegedly ordered the attack.
During it, the more than 200 survivors were forced to flee the village; their property was virtually destroyed.The Croatian Interior Ministry announced the arrest in a statement on Sunday, saying it was carried out "on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague".
The brief statement added that Rajic had offered no resistance during arrest and that he had been taken to the investigation centre of the Zagreb County Court.According to Rajic's attorney, the investigating judge ordered a three-month detention for his client as the law governing Croatia's co-operation with The Hague tribunal provides.
Lawyer Zeljko Olujic also explained that Rajic should be extradited to the court in The Hague before the detention period has expired.According to the Associated Press, the court was expected to start transfer proceedings right away."At the moment I do not know whether the defence will agree with his hand-over or whether we shall conduct the legal battle here in Croatia," Olujic said.
The lawyer said he was unfamiliar with the details, but believed that his client was "indicted by the Hague-based tribunal for alleged crimes in Stupni Dol".
He was also quoted as saying that he would challenge the judge's decision before the Zagreb County Court.The Associated Press cited to a survivor of the Stupni Dol attack, who testified before the UN tribunal in 1996 the horror she had felt as she watched HVO troops kill her mentally handicapped husband and drag her daughter away.According to his lawyer, Rajic has denied all charges brought against him during the initial questioning, stressing he was proud of all his actions as an HVO member.Confirming Rajic's arrest, Florence Hartmann, spokeswoman for the UN war crimes prosecution, said she did not know when he would be extradited, as "it all depends on how quickly he is processed by local officials in Croatia, but that process usually doesn't take very long."Welcoming the news about Rajic's detention, the head of the Muslim Commission for Missing Persons, Amor Masovic, saw it as a sign of deeper resolve by Croatia to deal with war crimes suspects.




Serbian Police's "Sabre" Intervention Finally Results in Victory 15/04/2003 Serbia cannot afford to miss the opportunity to settle accounts with war criminals and mafia gangs, said Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic. Analysis by Dusan Kosanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 15/04/03The Serbian public finally has a reason to be satisfied.
No one could have expected that the Serbian police, in only four weeks, would have succeeded in finding almost all of the alleged assassins of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
The investigation also shed light on a number of crimes committed by gangs, allegedly on the orders of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
Serbia's drug market has been successfully disbanded.
Hospital psychiatric wards are filled with drug addicts in a critical phase of abstinence and police have taken rigorous measures to protect pharmacies from possible robberies of controlled substances.Since 12 March, the day of Djindjic's assassination, the "Sabre" police operation has uncovered shocking new discoveries on an almost daily basis.
Dark secrets of the old regime have been revealed overnight, including the mysterious disappearance of the former President Ivan Stambolic and the murders of journalists and opposition activists.
The trails lead back to former Special Police Unit (JSO) commander Milorad "Legija" Lukovic, as well as to Radomir Markovic, Serbia's former chief of secret police.
Most importantly, evidence gathered during the interrogations suggests that Milosevic and his wife ordered the kidnappings and murders.
The "pillars of power" that terrorised the citizens of Serbia for more than 13 years seem to have crumbled overnight.The police have destroyed the top five crime gangs in Serbia, and disbanded the JSO, also known as the Red Berets.
Of the three suspected assassins, the alleged mastermind -- Legija -- is still on the run.
Some believe he is hiding in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while others suggest he failed to escape from Serbia.
His alleged accomplices, Dusan Spasojevic and Mile Lukovic, were killed in a shootout while resisting arrest.A difficult question remains.
Wasn't the loss of the most capable Serbian politician too high a price to pay?
Why did it take Djindjic's death for the government to confront organised crime and war criminals?
The answer can only be given in due time.
What is certain, according to Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic, is that Serbia cannot afford to miss the opportunity to finally settle accounts with war criminals and mafia gangs.
By doing so, the country honours Djindjic's dream of a democratic Serbia.




Serb Officials Promise All War Crimes Indictees Will Be Arrested 08/04/2003 Serbian officials seem ready to fulfil pledges to co-operate with The Hague, after months of criticism from war crimes prosecutors and Western governments. (AP, BBC, EUobserver.com, Fox News, Radio B92, Mediapool.bg, Tanjug - 07/04/03; AP - 06/04/03; Reuters - 05/04/03)Recent statements by Serbian officials suggest they are now willing to meet obligations to the UN war crimes tribunal; they promise to arrest all those wanted by The Hague-based court."We have a responsibility ... to wrap up co-operation with The Hague tribunal, so we can say that our obligation towards that international court has been fulfilled," Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic was quoted as saying Monday (7 April).War crimes prosecutors and Western governments have been criticising the authorities in Belgrade for their insufficient co-operation, particularly their failure to hand over some of the most wanted war criminals, including Ratko Mladic.
Chief UN war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte has been claiming for months that Mladic is hiding in Serbia under army protection, an allegation Belgrade has been denying.
Former army officers Veselin Sljivancanin and Miroslav Radic are also wanted by prosecutors in The Hague for their alleged involvement in the 1991 murders of hundreds of civilians near the Croatian city of Vukovar.On Monday, Zivkovic admitted that Mladic might have been under the protection of "certain individuals within the army".
He told Belgrade-based Radio B92 "We will be able to say with certainty whether they [indicted war crimes fugitives] are here."
He believes that the removal of the former military intelligence head, Aco Tomic, and the appointment of a new defence minister will ensure a full control over the army.In a similar statement on Saturday, Serbia-Montenegro Defence Minister Boris Tadic told a Montenegrin TV station that he did not know whether the army or "some alienated power centres" were protecting Mladic, but that "We will conduct the widest possible investigation."Tadic's statement came a day after the Serbia-Montenegro government amended the law on co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal, removing the time limitations over the arrest and extradition of war crimes indictees.
The original text allowed the extradition only of suspects indicted prior to the law's adoption about a year ago."Several new indictments can be expected," said Serbia-Montenegro Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic.He said Saturday that those suspected of orchestrating the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic were also linked to war crimes.
He added that Slobodan Milosevic's trusted allies, former state security officials Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic, would be handed over to The Hague tribunal should it "announce their indictments".
Following Djindjic's murder, both were taken into custody and are being investigated for suspected links to organised crime.Simatovic was the first commander of the recently disbanded Special Operations Unit (JSO) that took in former members of paramilitary units that fought in the Balkan wars.
JSO deputy commander, Zvezdan Jovanovic, was arrested about ten days ago on suspicion of firing the bullet that killed Djindjic on 12 March.
Radio B92 reported Monday night that Jovanovic has confessed.Zivkovic announced Monday that the government would propose that the state of emergency be lifted by the end of April.
He added that Serbia's general elections would likely be scheduled in the autumn, before the terms of present members of parliament expire.
He said the situation in the country is under control, despite the fact that Zemun clan leader Milorad "Legija" Lukovic is still at large.




Officials Say Djindjic's Assassination Was First Step of Plan to Reinstate Milosevic Allies 09/04/2003 Authorities say the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was part of a plan to bring Slobodan Milosevic's allies back to power, as two more arrests are made in the case. (The Independent - 09/04/03; AP, AFP, CNN, VOA, Radio B92 - 08/04/03)The assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was the first step of a planned coup against his government and the eventual return of Slobodan Milosevic's allies to power, Serbian investigators said Tuesday (8 April).
The plan envisioned the killings of other politicians and officials to create chaos and panic that plotters thought they needed to achieve their goal.
What they failed to anticipate was the swift police clampdown on organised crime and the public's grief over Djindjic's murder.Two people were arrested late Tuesday for alleged contacts with the criminal gang suspected of organising the assassination.
Aco Tomic headed the Yugoslav Army intelligence service until last month, while Rade Bulatovic served a former security adviser to ex-Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica."The investigation into the killing of Zoran Djindjic has revealed important evidence of meetings and agreements between the main organisers of the assassination" and Tomic and Bulatovic, according to a government statement.The arrests appeared to foreshadow a possible crackdown against Kostunica and his neo-nationalist party.
Critics of the massive police sweep that followed Djindjic's slaying claim it is being used to clamp down on political opponents of Serbia's pro-Western government.In an interview with the Blic daily Wednesday, Kostunica said he wasn't aware of the meetings the two allegedly had with crime bosses.
He accused unspecified government officials of links to organised crime, and claimed allegations against his associates were politically motivated."The tragedy of Djindjic's assassination and the state of emergency are being used for a crackdown against political opponents," Kostunica said.
He denied suggestions that he had special ties with Tomic.
"I co-operated with him as I did with other members of the army command," he said.Unidentified sources close to the investigation have said that Zvezdan Jovanovic, who was arrested on 25 March on suspicion of killing Djindjic, had admitted responsibility for his death, claiming he had done it out of conviction.
He had also confirmed that the alleged boss of the Zemun Clan criminal gang, Milorad Lukovic, had ordered Djindjic's killing to forestall the disbanding of the Special Operations Unit (JSO) and the handover of its members to the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.Hours after the 12 March assassination, authorities targeted Lukovic and other members of the Zemun gang as the suspected organisers.
At the time, Jovanovic was deputy commander of the JSO, rooted in Milosevic's notorious paramilitary units that fought during the 1990s Balkan wars.
Many members were subsequently linked to Lukovic's gang.
Two key members of the group were killed while resisting arrest and Lukovic, himself a former paramilitary fighter, remains at large.
The JSO was recently disbanded; a number of its members were arrested.The state of emergency imposed in Serbia on the day Djindjic was killed has allowed the police to conduct a sweeping crackdown on organised crime groups and those linked to them.
About 7,000 people have been rounded up for questioning since.
More than 2,000 of them have been kept in custody.
Hundreds are expected to face trial.The state of emergency, which the government says might be lifted later this month, allows the authorities to keep suspects in detention for up to 30 days without access to legal counsel.
This period could, reportedly, be extended to 60 days.Belgrade-based Radio B92 reported that the 12 March shooting was the fifth attempt on Djindjic's life since early February.Speaking on condition of anonymity, officials told the Associated Press that the organisers, now dubbed the "Hague Brotherhood", had hoped that the assassination would create an atmosphere of panic and havoc in Serbia.
This, they hoped, would allow them to topple the government and replace it with people loyal to Milosevic, who would ensure that no war crime indictee is extradited to The Hague.




Southeast European Countries Resolute at Regional Summit 10/04/2003 The leaders of Balkan countries declared their resolve to fight organised crime and to foster regional co-operation, at the summit of the Southeast Europe Co-operation Process in Belgrade. By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 10/04/03At the end of the summit of the Southeast Europe Co-operation Process (SEECP) in Belgrade, on Wednesday (9 April), the heads of state and government of nine countries in the region adopted a joint declaration.
It said that the aim of all countries in the region was to become members of the EU and to take part in shaping Europe's future.The leaders of the Balkan countries advocated continued regional co-operation, especially in the fight against terrorism and organised crime.
They reiterated that joining European institutions remains a regional priority.
In the statement, the nine countries pledged to adhere to the principles of "inviolability of borders and peaceful settlement of disputes" and promised to work with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.At the same time, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, Serbia-Montenegro and Croatia said they want a swift end to the war in Iraq and advocated a peaceful solution to the crisis.
They maintain that the UN should play a central role in the Iraqi crisis, including humanitarian aid and the country's reconstruction.The further liberalisation of visa regimes, the creation of a free trade zone in the Balkans and co-operation in telecommunications, transport and energy were declared priorities in regional co-operation.Those attending the summit condemned organised crime, which they say undermines peace and stability in Southeastern Europe.
"We were deeply affected by the brutal murder of the Serbian premier, Dr. Zoran Djindjic.
We welcomed the steps taken by the Serbian government, aimed at the continued programme of reforms, and have promised lasting support.
We also welcomed the admission of Serbia-Montenegro into the Council of Europe," read their declaration.Albanian President Alfred Moisiu called for development of regional co-operation in the EU and NATO integration efforts of the countries.
He said his country plays a vital role in securing regional stability and praised the SEECP initiative as a means of boosting political and economic development in the region.European Commission Chairman Romano Prodi told those attending that the key to joining the EU is political will.
"No political agreement can eliminate or reduce the criteria needed for EU membership," he said Wednesday.
Prodi called on the countries of the region to co-operate, because this was the way for them to prepare for the European structures.
"The process of Europe's unification will not end until the Balkan countries accede to the Union," he said.Croatian President Stipe Mesic said Wednesday that his country would file an application to join the SEECP shortly.
Croatia now has the status of observer in the investment and co-operation initiative, hoping to improve its relations with countries in the region.For his part, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who also serves as chairman of the EU, discussed the June EU summit in Thessaloniki.
He said it would send "a strong message" that the Balkans remain the key priority and that the Union is dedicated to the eventual membership of all Balkan countries.




Bulgaria Launches Country's Largest Power Project 11/04/2003 Bulgaria's Maritsa East 3 thermal power plant is getting a major overhaul, using an infusion of foreign cash on a scale unseen before by the power sector. (BTA, Novinite.com, Mediapool.bg - 09/04/03)Bulgaria launched a 580m euro project for the rehabilitation and upgrade of its 840 MgW Maritsa East 3 thermal power plant, said to be the largest foreign investment in the country's power sector.
The project, launched Wednesday (9 April), aims to extend the plant's planned operational life by more than 15 years and to bring its output in line with international environmental standards.Built in the late 1970's and early 1980s, the thermal plant is part of the Maritsa East power complex and comprises four 210 MgW units.
Implementation of the project is expected to boost Maritsa East 3's output capacity to 900 MgW and reduce the current levels of harmful sulphur dioxide emissions by over 90 per cent, bringing them in line with international standards.
Furthermore, it is expected to create nearly 600 new jobs, while Bulgarian companies are likely to be awarded sub-contracts worth almost 80m euros during the three-year implementation period.
After it is completed, coal supplies will be secured under long-term agreements with the Maritsa East Mines and the entire output of the power plant will be sold to Bulgaria's National Electricity Company (NEK).Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, who attended the official opening of the project the southern town of Stara Zagora, stressed its strategic national and regional importance.
He also believes it should send a strong signal to international investors.
He described it as "the first large project of environmental importance" that meets European standards, adding that it would have a great impact on the life and health of Bulgarians.
He also thanked the representatives of the two foreign companies participating in the project -- US-based Entergy and Italy's Enel -- for their "patience".
Negotiations on the project began in 1998.
The third participating company is Bulgaria's NEK.In April 2002, Entergy and Enel agreed on financing and formed a joint venture, Energiina Kompaniya Maritsa Iztok III AD, controlled by NEK (27 per cent), Enel (44 per cent) and Entergy (29 per cent).Last December, Entergy and NEK reached financing agreements with the EBRD, Credit Agricole and Societe General.
They in turn are to seek additional funding from other commercial banks.
The contribution of Bulgarian banks totals 50m euros.Stressing that the project was the biggest foreign investment in the country's power sector, Energy Minister Milko Kovachev described it also as Bulgaria's EU entrance visa.
Geoffrey Roberts, President and CEO of Entergy Wholesale Operations, said "Bulgaria is the place for investors to be, right here and right now."Enel Vice President Andrea Brentan said the company had strategic interests in the region, noting the political stability, effective economic policies and liberalisation of the power market in Bulgaria as positive factors.
Together with its subsidiaries, Enel is Italy's largest power company and accounts for more than 50 per cent of the country's total electric power output.




Greek Officials Promise Timely Completion of 2004 Olympics Projects 15/04/2003 Despite delays and missed deadlines, Greek officials are confident all projects for the 2004 Summer Olympics will be completed on time.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) inspectors say it is feasible, but have cautioned organisers to stay on track. (ATHENS 2004 Organising Committee, BBC - 10/04/03; AP, Reuters, CNN - 09/04/03)Greek officials have assured International Olympic Committee (IOC) inspectors that, despite some delays, all projects for the Summer Olympics in Athens will be completed in time for the games, which open 13 August 2004.
After almost three days of touring venues and sites, many still under construction, the inspectors voiced confidence on 10 April that everything could be in place if the current momentum is sustained.
They cautioned the organisers to stay on track, in the face of tight deadlines."Everything that needs to be done in the next 500 days is feasible," Chief IOC Inspector Denis Oswald said, but warned that any "unexpected" developments could put the projects at risk.
"Preparations must now move from their current high quality of operational planning to actual delivery," Oswald said.
"If things go to plan with the same speed we have seen in the last two months, we are confident everything can be achieved for a successful Games."In late February, IOC President Jacques Rogge expressed "serious" concerns about the slow progress in the construction of venues and security for the 2004 Olympics.
"I regret to say that there has been a slippage in the deadlines," he was quoted as saying.
"There is a sense of urgency which needs to be found."While acknowledging previous problems that caused some delays, Greek officials and organisers now say preparations have picked up and that there has been significant progress, including in the construction of Olympic venues and transportation infrastructure."We Greeks have the games running in our blood.
We would never put their quality at risk," the head of the Athens 2004 Organising Committee (ATHOC), Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, was quoted as saying.In a press release, Daskalaki assured that all involved were "working hard throughout Greece".
Athens will be ready to host seven test events -- archery, canoe-kayak, cycling, equestrian, rowing, sailing and beach volleyball -- at their respective Olympic venues 12 months before the opening ceremony, ATHOC said.According to Daskalaki, many of the problems that occurred earlier were resolved through improved co-ordination among agencies.The ATHOC chief said that over 70,000 people have already signed up to serve as volunteers during the Games, only 14 months after the official launch of the programme.
According to media reports, the organisers should have a list of 150,000 volunteers for the 17-day event, as 60,000 would be needed daily.A US company was hired several weeks ago for the security programme, which Daskalaki said "is and will always remain our top priority.
We continue to take into consideration anything that affects the security environment, and we adjust our plans accordingly".The operational plans for all Olympic venues also have been completed.
The ticket sales programme is due to be launched on 12 May, while the programme for the Greek part of the Olympic torch relay will be presented within a few weeks."The preparations for the Olympics are very good.
This does not mean that there aren't some problems.
Problems will exist until the last hour as in all cases," said Greek Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou.




Solana Offers EU Support to Serbian Government 11/04/2003 Nearly a month to the day Serbia's Zoran Djindjic was gunned down, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana pledges both moral support and economic assistance to the government he left behind. (AP - 11/04/03; AP, AFP, FoNet, Blic, BBC Serbian Government Website, Tanjug, Radio B92, BETA - 10/04/03)EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told officials in Belgrade on Thursday (10 April) that the Union supports the Serbian government's actions against organised crime in the wake of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's assassination.
He also promised EU economic assistance to help the country cope with its looming budget deficit.Solana began his two-day visit by meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic, his deputy, Nebojsa Covic, and the foreign and defence ministers of Serbia-Montenegro, Goran Svilanovic and Boris Tadic.
He is also scheduled to meet Serbia-Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic and Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic before leaving Friday.The ongoing campaign against organised crime was a key issue on the agenda during the meeting with Zivkovic.
Solana told reporters afterwards that the Serbian prime minister has "full support both from me and the EU" for decisive actions taken against organised crime following Djindjic's slaying.
Zivkovic said they also discussed legislative changes necessary to ensure the efficiency of the fight against crime once the state of emergency has been lifted.Another issue they discussed was the budget deficit Serbia is facing as a result of the actions taken following the assassination.
The EU will try to provide as much economic assistance as possible to help the government close the gap, Solana pledged at a joint press conference with Zivkovic.Another focal point in the talks, Zivkovic said, was the action plan for the harmonisation of Serbia and Montenegro's economic systems.
He noted that the initial 31 March deadline has been extended by a month.
Solana said the measures envisioned in this area were of great importance not only for the country's European integration, but also for EU assistance to Serbia.
Zivkovic assured him that despite the huge differences between the economic and tariff systems in the two republics, the harmonisation of the union's internal market was feasible and would be completed by month's end.Solana is expected to discuss this issue with Djukanovic as well, so that the EU can start preparing a feasibility study, which, according to Zivkovic, was the main precondition for opening talks with the Union.After his meeting with Solana, Tadic said Solana promised to provide personal assistance in military reforms; to that end, a defence adviser will be sent to help shorten the process.
The two agreed that Belgrade's co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal remains a key prerequisite for Serbia-Montenegro's membership in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme.




BiH Military Restructuring Will be Tough Job, Analyst Says 18/04/2003 The BiH presidency's recent promise to NATO that it would work to put the two entity militaries under common command will be a hard one to keep.
But given recent military-associated scandals, it's essential. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 18/04/03Placing Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) two entity militaries under a common command, as the BiH presidency recently promised NATO that it will work to do, will be a very difficult job, but one analyst said it has to be done."The old Yugoslav Army did that by having mixed units where they could, but trying to reintegrate these units is going to create huge problems," said Richard Bennett, a senior analyst at Armed Forces Intelligence Research.Bennett added, however, that such reintegration is necessary not only to avoid scandals like the recent arms-for-Iraq affair, in which a company from the Republika Srpska (RS) violated the UN embargo by selling weapons to Iraq, but also to remove the influence of foreign fundamentalists who served in the Bosnian Army during the 1992-1995 war."Merging the armed forces into a national armed force is probably one of the ways that [the international community] can see as achieving that as quickly as possible," he said.The idea of restructuring the two entity militaries has been more prominent than ever lately, given the fallout from the arms-for-Iraq scandal and the recent discovery that the RS military had been spying on politicians and international organisations.
Mirko Sarovic, chairman of the tripartite BiH presidency, resigned on 2 April over the scandal.
He was president of the Bosnian Serb entity when the Orao company signed the contracts with Iraq.The same day, High Representative Paddy Ashdown abolished the RS's Supreme Defence Council and removed provisions in both entities' constitutions that made any references to the entities having state power.
He also said that he would establish a commission with the OSCE to figure out the barriers to a state-level command, which would not only bring the military under common control, but is also a prerequisite for BiH's membership in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme.On 10 April, NATO Secretary General George Robertson said that a common command and control were "absolute prerequisites" for BiH to join the Partnership for Peace programme.
"It is intolerable in this age that there should be a military setup like the one that we have here," he said.Objections to a common BiH military come most often from politicians in the RS, who consider the Dayton agreement -- which ended the conflict and created the two entities -- to be the final word.
RS President Dragan Cavic told the press on 10 April that a common army would not be possible according to the entity constitution.But Ashdown's office, which has the final word as far as post-Dayton BiH is concerned, released a statement that day announcing that further steps must be taken."Some of these, such as a State Ministry of Defence and a single chain of command at the state level, would possibly go beyond Dayton," the statement read.
"But if BiH wanted to join NATO they would have to be adopted."




Croatia Receives Mediocre Grades from EU 14/04/2003 The European Commission's latest report on Croatia sees progress as mixed.
The government will need to work harder in the coming year if it is to be accepted as an accession candidate and allowed to start negotiations.
Its success in elections is also at stake. By Liz Barrett for Southeast European Times - 14/04/03The European Commission (EC) expressed mixed views about Croatia's progress towards European integration in its second annual report on the Stabilisation and Association Process, released 28 March.
It welcomed the government's "strong commitment" to implementing its Stabilisation and Association Agreement, but said that not enough had been done to overcome certain short-term priorities identified in last year's report.Among these priorities are several longstanding areas of controversy between Brussels and Zagreb.
For instance, the Commission expressed concern that the new law on broadcast media does not fully protect Croatian radio and television from political interference.
Co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal on the former Yugoslavia also remains lukewarm, while only limited progress has been achieved on the return and reintegration of Serb refugees despite important legislative changes.
On all of these issues, the coalition headed by Prime Minister Ivica Racan has failed to live up to expectations that it would distinguish itself as reformist, liberal and western-oriented, in contrast to its nationalist and isolationist predecessor, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).Other outstanding issues are controversial for different reasons.
The EC urges a massive overhaul of the public administration, along with structural reforms for the ailing economy.
Both are essential to the country's long-term prosperity, but both would mean major job losses in a country with already-high unemployment and vocal trade unions.
While a more cohesive government might be able to reach agreement on these sensitive matters, Croatia's coalition of five is notoriously bad at reaching consensus.In other areas, the reasons for lack of progress are less clear.
The poor functioning of the courts is a major problem: the backlog of civil law cases stretches to 1.3 million.
But a working group created by the ministry of justice has apparently not produced any concrete results, while no concrete steps have been taken to improve training for the country's relatively young and inexperienced judges and other judicial staff, according to the report.Neven Mimica, Croatia's Minister for European Integration, appeared happy with the Commission's report.
He said the assessment equalled a "grade between C and B on a school test".
Moreover, he said he hoped that Zagreb's application to become a candidate for accession would be approved this month.
Although Croatia is the clear frontrunner among the Western Balkan countries, his view seems optimistic since the EU procedures are lengthy.
While the EU's Council of Ministers is likely to consider Croatia's bid for membership in coming weeks, it would then need to ask the Commission to prepare an official Opinion -- a process which could take up to a year.Timing is crucial for the current government, which desperately needs concrete success on EU integration to boost its popularity.
The EU is currently one of only two issues -- the other being road-building -- where the government has widespread approval.
In all other policy areas, voters are highly disappointed and look increasingly likely to opt for a change of government in parliamentary elections due, at the latest, by March 2004.
A positive opinion could come in the nick of time, allowing the government to ride into elections on the crest of a wave.
If it does not, a possible return to power by the HDZ -- only partially reformed -- could pose a further setback to Croatia's membership ambitions.




Students Killed, Injured in Bus Crash in Northern Greece 14/04/2003 A truck loaded with plywood crashed into a school bus, killing 24 teenagers and injuring 31.
The students were returning home Sunday from a school trip to Athens. (Reuters, The Independent, Times Online, ANA, MPA, News.bg - 14/04/03; AP, AFP - 13/04/03)Twenty-four teenagers were killed and another 31 people were injured late Sunday (13 April) in Greece when a truck loaded with plywood hit a school bus.
The crash occurred at a narrow winding road section in the Tembi Valley, some 350 km north of Athens.
It is described as the country's worst traffic accident in 30 years.The driver of the lorry, who is said to have sustained minor injuries, has been arrested as the investigation continues."I lost control of the truck and I got onto the wrong lane and crashed with the bus," the driver was quoted as telling Greek television.
"After the crash the plywood sheets just slammed into the vehicle.""Whatever emerges as the cause of this -- which will be investigated -- it remains a tragic event," said Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who was expected to visit the scene of the accident.Survivors and police sources said the truck was going down the hill at high speed when its plywood-loaded trailer suddenly veered into the opposite lane as the bus was approaching.
It then hit the left side of the bus, slamming it onto the rocks bordering the road.The bus was taking 48 students, aged 14 to 16, back to their village of Makrohori -- 70 km north of the site of the accident -- following a three-day trip to Athens.
They were less than an hour from home."I saw the timber flying at us and turned to my pupils, shouting at them to get their heads down.
But it was too late," said Panayota Zioga, one of three teachers accompanying the students.
All of the teachers and the school bus driver survived the crash.The collision sent the timber off the truck.
"It was like a razor chopping off half of the bus," Reuters quoted a rescue worker as saying.The sheets reportedly knocked off the supports of the bus's roof and it collapsed on to the pupils' heads.
Hitting the plywood strewn over the road, three cars driving behind the bus burst into flames, but none of the occupants was injured, according to reports."I was dragged out by a friend but there were dead bodies everywhere," one of the teenagers told Greek television.
"There was blood everywhere."
Television reports showed rescue workers pulling mangled bodies from what remained of the bus, with its seats strewn on the road.
The vehicle was almost flattened by the impact.
Shocked survivors, their faces bloodied, were shown weeping by the side of the road.A dozen ambulances carried the victims to hospitals in Larissa and Katerini.
Most died at the scene from head injuries, according to doctors.
The death toll may climb, as some of the injuries are severe.




Macedonian Government Signals Readiness to Legalise Tetovo University 17/04/2003 Tetovo University in Macedonia is on the path to becoming recognised as part of the country's education system.
That could help smooth ethnic tensions. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting - 11/04/03; various background sources)Established in 1994, the Albanian-language Tetovo University (TU) could officially become part of Macedonia's education system once the procedures for its legalisation are completed.
Although the process might take many months, agreement has been reached to start legalisation talks, and TU authorities have pledged to work towards meeting the required criteria.
Legalisation of the institution would imply not only recognition of its diplomas and access to much needed state funding, but would also soothe long-lasting ethnic tensions over the issue.On 17 March, TU authorities and the Albanian members of the government, representing the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), reached an agreement on starting legalisation talks.
According to local reports, the agreement envisions creating a seven-member "initiative commission" to focus on the issue, working in close co-operation with the DUI.
The agreement followed a week-long protest by TU students, who demanded internal reforms and steps for making their institution official."There is a clear need for a larger number of high education institutions for Albanians," Education Minister and DUI member Aziz Polozani told lawmakers on 27 March.
"There is political will to include institutions such as Tetovo University in the system."Four days later his deputy, Tale Geramitcioski, said the legalisation process had been launched, but warned "it would only be applied to those TU faculties which meet the standards required by law."TU's acting rector, Naxhmedin Beadini, pledged the university would work in close co-operation with the education ministry to meet the government criteria.Since its inception, TU has been partly funded by student tuition fees, but largely by contributions from ethnic Albanians living abroad.




Serbia-Montenegro Parliament Paves Way for New Extraditions 16/04/2003 Serbia-Montenegro's Parliament made way for the extradition of all indictees wanted for war crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1990s. (AP, Reuters, BBC, Radio B92, Serbian Government Website - 14/04/03)The parliament of Serbia-Montenegro voted on Monday (14 April) to broaden co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal, making way for the extradition of all those indicted for atrocities committed during the Balkan wars in the 1990s.
The 126-seat legislature passed the amendments to the law on co-operation by a vote of 77 to 16.
There were six abstentions, and 26 MPs did not vote.By adopting the changes, lawmakers scrapped a provision in the original law that allowed the handover of only those indicted before April 2002, when the legislation was first passed.
That provision had posed a major obstacle to increased co-operation.According to Belgrade-based Radio B92, the 16 who voted against the amendments were all Serbian members of parliament, while the abstainees were all from Montenegro.
Slobodan Milosevic's Socialists and the Radical Party of Vojislav Seselj, himself an indictee, opposed the amendments.
Serbia's ruling Democratic Opposition of Serbia and the Democratic Party of Serbia, which are usually at odds, joined in support of them.In a statement announcing the law's adoption, the Serbian government said it empowers the union's Ministry of Human and Minority Rights to decide on the extradition of Serbian and Montenegrin citizens to The Hague, while assigning the responsibility for the transfer of the indictees to the interior ministries of the two member states.
The amended law also gives the Council of Ministers authority to allow witnesses and suspects to disclose classified state and military information as part of UN tribunal proceedings.Goran Svilanovic, the foreign minister of the central government, told parliament that co-operation with the tribunal is key to ensuring the success of the country's foreign policy.
He also disclosed that the tribunal was about to issue as many as seven new indictments.Media reports speculated that two of Milosevic's aides -- Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic -- could be among the new indictees.
Both were security chiefs during the Milosevic regime and were among the first to be detained in connection with Zoran Djindjic's assassination last month.
Under the original law, their extradition would have been impossible.However, several suspects indicted prior to April 2002 remain at large, including Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.
The former is believed to be hiding in Montenegro, the latter in Serbia.
As for another fugitive -- former Yugoslav Army officer Veselin Sljivancanin -- Svilanovic warned that unless he surrenders, he would be arrested.
"It would be best for Sljivancanin to go to The Hague and prove his innocence there," the minister said.




Time for a New EU Policy on the Balkans? 17/04/2003 What will happen to the Balkans after the first wave of EU enlargement in May 2004?
For some, EU membership remains a long way off.
Is a new approach needed to speed up the region's European integration? Analysis by Liz Barrett for Southeast European Times in Budapest - 17/04/03On Wednesday (16 April), history was made in Athens.
Ten countries, eight of them from formerly communist Eastern Europe, signed a treaty to join the EU.
They will formally enter the Union in May 2004, 15 years after emerging from authoritarian rule.
A democratic and secure future may now be assured.
Prosperity, too, may come with time.
But for those not included, the feeling of being an "outsider" will be all the stronger.
Where does EU enlargement leave the Balkans?Bulgaria and Romania must cope with the psychological blow of being the only East European countries that, despite taking part in accession negotiations for a number of years, have not made the grade.
However, their position is envied by countries of the Western Balkans -- Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia-Montenegro.
For these states, the route to the EU appears much less certain.The EU's Stabilisation and Association Process, launched in 1999, finally gave the Western Balkans the prospect of becoming EU members one day.
And it has also proved a useful stimulus to reforms, offering the "carrot" of European integration to governments willing to fulfil EU conditions, rather than just the "stick" which hung over talks with Brussels in the past.
But the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) has weaknesses, and these could become increasingly apparent after the first wave of EU enlargement.First of all, it is not clear that the SAP carrot is attractive enough to hold the attention of the countries that are lagging behind.
Croatia has made the most of the SAP and the country's application for full EU membership is now to be reviewed by the European Commission.
But for BiH and Albania, getting a Stabilisation and Association Agreement is a distant prospect, while the promise of full membership is so far off as to offer little motivation to bear the pain of reforms.
For these countries, there is a serious risk that the momentum for EU-oriented reforms will start to fade.A second problem is that there is often a clash between the EU's conditions and the immediate priorities of governments in the region.
A recent paper from Oxford University's Southeast European Studies Programme has called for the EU to make conditionality more of a two-way process, listening to the needs of the region as well as stipulating the conditions necessary to comply with EU standards.
In this way, Balkan governments might feel more "ownership" of reformist policies, and would be less inclined to shirk their responsibilities when faced with domestic opposition to reform.Thirdly, as the European Stability Initiative (ESI) has argued, EU aid to the region is currently too small and badly targeted to kick start the kind of reforms necessary for EU integration.
According to the ESI, the Union should extend its regional development policy to the Balkans.
Regional policy, and the accompanying structural and cohesion funds, have been used with considerable success in the EU itself to accelerate the economic development of poorer regions.
One of the policy's strengths is its reliance on national governments to highlight development priorities and raise part of the funds.
In this way, it helps to build local institutional capacity.
Moreover, it would address structural problems facing the region as a whole, while allowing individual countries to proceed towards EU membership on their own merits.So far, the EU has denied the need to change its policy.
But Greece, which currently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers and is a keen sponsor of Balkan development, plans to raise the subject at its Thessaloniki summit in June.
As the summit approaches, the debate will likely intensify, as the pros and cons of new suggestions are elaborated.
No obvious answers are in sight, but an important dialogue is beginning which could culminate in a new approach to the Balkans after the first phase of enlargement.




Bulgarian, Romanian Presidents Call for Expansion of Bilateral Economic Ties 16/04/2003 Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and his Romanian counterpart, Ion Iliescu, met in Sofia on Monday and discussed ways to boost co-operation on a wide range of economic, political and strategic issues. (Various sources -- 16/04/03 - 14/04/03)Bulgaria and Romania should make the best of their already positive political dialogue and boost the level of bilateral economic co-operation, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and his Romanian counterpart, Ion Iliescu, said in Sofia on Monday (14 April).
They also said their countries should continue working together to achieve their common strategic objective of Euro-Atlantic integration and urged the EU and NATO to leave behind disagreements over Iraq when judging aspiring members."Bulgaria has no political problems with Romania; political dialogue is conducted for solution of problems in the economic sphere," Parvanov said during a joint press conference with Iliescu on Monday.The Romanian president was on a two-day official visit to Sofia.
Upon his return to Bucharest on Tuesday night, Iliescu described his trip as a sign of continuing dialogue between the two countries and an opportunity to establish closer contacts between their business circles.
He was accompanied by his foreign and education ministers, as well as a large business delegation.As they opened an economic forum of Bulgarian and Romanian businessmen on Monday, the two heads of states called for an improved balance of bilateral investments and for the removal of obstacles hampering the free movement of goods and people between their countries.According to official data, there are 340 Bulgarian companies in Romania and only 21 Romanian firms in Bulgaria.
Trade exchange in 2002 stood at a little more than $320m.One way to improve bilateral economic co-operation, according to the heads of state, is to reduce or eliminate the road tolls Bulgarians and Romanians have to pay upon crossing the shared border.The joint statement signed by Iliescu and Parvanov also pointed to the construction of the second bridge over the Danube River at Vidin-Calafat as a further step to stimulate and improve bilateral trade and economic relations.
The statement noted the importance of developing additional ferry services on the river.As for integration into the EU and NATO, "We expect that each country will be judged according to its own accomplishments and not according to its position on one or another global issue," Parvanov said."We don't want to be forced to choose between Europe and the United States, because what they have in common is much more than the temporary differences," Iliescu said in a lecture before the Bulgarian Atlantic Club, an NGO lobbying for NATO accession.Foreign ministers Solomon Passy and Mircea Geoanna met separately to discuss opportunities for joint political lobbying for EU membership, as well as opportunities for greater co-operation in areas such as external relations; defence and security; and justice and home affairs.




Protected Witness Links Milosevic to Paramilitary Terror Campaigns 17/04/2003 Serb militias operating during the 1991-1995 conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia received direct orders from Yugoslav security services.
This is according to a witness who said she had worked for the "Tigers" paramilitary group and its leader, the late warlord Arkan. (AP, AFP, UPI, The Glasgow Herald, RFE/RL, Radio B92 - 16/04/03)Paramilitary terror campaigns in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Croatia during the early 1990s were ordered by Slobodan Milosevic's security chiefs and bankrolled by the former Yugoslav leader, a protected witness told the UN war crimes tribunal on Wednesday (16 April).Appearing under the code name B-129 and with her image blurred on court screens, the witness was described as a former secretary to warlord Zeljko Raznatovic.
Better known as Arkan, Raznatovic led the "Tigers" paramilitary group.The witness, who reportedly served at the group's Belgrade headquarters, said she kept a diary of its operations.
She said the Tigers took direct orders from state security and from Milosevic's security chiefs, Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic.
"Arkan always told me that without orders from the state security, the Tigers never went anywhere," the witness said.
She went on to reveal that she handled more than $2m, most of which came from the security services.Stanisic and Simatovic were among the first to be detained in connection with the 12 March assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
Officials in Belgrade have said both are likely to face UN war crimes indictments.During the conflicts in Croatia and BiH, the Tigers organised the transportation of volunteers from Belgrade to paramilitary camps in the two countries.
"They never had any prisoners of war," the witness said, recalling how the paramilitaries boasted about their operations.
"I took this to mean they executed all prisoners."B-129 told the court that the Tigers' headquarters received between 3m to 4m Deutsch Marks from Stanisic's office during the security service's campaigns in BiH in 1994 and 1995.
Another Milosevic aide, former customs chief Mihalj Kertes, was also involved in the financing schemes through a deal involving cigarette and liquour smuggling.
The witness said the Yugoslav Army provided the Tigers with weapons and gasoline, acting on the orders of Milosevic's army general, Dusan Loncar.The UN war crimes tribunal indicted Arkan in 1997 for involvement in the killings of hundreds of civilians.
But in January 2001, he was shot dead in the lobby of a Belgrade hotel, thus never faced trial.
Speculation was widespread that Milosevic orchestrated the murder to eliminate a potential witness.In other news, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic said Wednesday that the state of emergency in the country would most likely be lifted next week, now that parliament has adopted legislation giving police enhanced powers to combat organised crime.




Turkey Seeks Key Role in Iraq's Post-War Reconstruction 21/04/2003 Turkey is striving to improve the position of local companies in the competition for contracts and trade relations with Iraq. (FT, Reuters - 17/04/03; Anadolu Agency, The New York Times, Reuters - 16/04/03)Seeking an active role in Iraq's post-war reconstruction, Turkey is taking steps to improve the position of local companies in the tough competition for contracts, and to revive trade relations with its southern neighbour.A meeting organised by the foreign ministry on 15 April brought together government officials and private sector representatives to discuss the country's positions and economic opportunities in the reconstruction process.
The ministry said a special unit, headed by senior Turkish diplomat Ahmet Okcun, has been set up to co-ordinate lobbying efforts by the administration and local businesses.Advantages for Turkey include its geographical location and the proximity of its Mediterranean ports, Mersin and Iskenderun, to the Iraqi border, as well as the country's strength in construction, the energy sector, telecommunications and food industries.
Local officials hope Turkey will get 20 per cent of the reconstruction contracts, expected to reach a total of some $600 billion over the next decade.To further boost its position, Ankara is planning to open a second border crossing with Iraq and renew regular flights to Baghdad by the national carrier, Turkish Airlines.
Other measures reportedly include possible financing of projects by Turkish Eximbank, as well as appointment of a representative to the Pentagon's Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance.
A mission of the Turkish business association is due to visit Washington next month to "warm up" bilateral relations.A former US ambassador to Ankara and current chair of Friends of Turkey, Mark Parris, said there was "no predisposition" in Washington against the participation of Turkish companies in the reconstruction process.US Secretary of State Colin Powell called Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to thank Turkey for allowing humanitarian aid to pass through its territory and for its own contributions to the relief supplies."The world will be Turkey's oyster as far as reconstruction contracts in Iraq are concerned," the Financial Times quoted Parris as saying.
"Turkish companies are right next door, they have the experience, and they built a lot of the things that now need rebuilding."




Serbia-Montenegro Getting New World Bank, IMF Credits 18/04/2003 A new agreement with the World Bank provides for $11m in technical assistance for Serbia-Montenegro.
It comes a day after the IMF approved a new $137m tranche intended to support the country's economic programme. (Serbian Government, Radio B92, Hoover's, Seeurope.net - 17/04/03; IMF - 16/04/03)Serbia-Montenegro will receive $148m in new credits from the World Bank and the IMF, and government officials expect more funds to be made available soon.
The head of the Bank's mission in Belgrade, Rory O'Sullivan, and International Economic Relations Minister Branko Lukovac signed a credit agreement Thursday (17 April), providing for $11m in technical assistance.A day earlier, the IMF approved a new $137m tranche for Serbia-Montenegro under a three-year extended arrangement, intended to support the country's economic programme until 2005.
Totalling some $889m, the arrangement was approved in May 2002.The World Bank loan aims to support privatisation and restructuring of banks and companies, including some of the most problematic state-owned enterprises in the country.
It will also support implementation of a comprehensive bank resolution strategy, aimed at creating a viable financial sector.
According to O'Sullivan, the loan is part of the Bank's assistance programme, totalling $200m, for Serbia-Montenegro in 2003.Lukovac said talks in Washington earlier this week between a Serbia-Montenegro delegation and Bank officials confirmed that even stronger support is forthcoming.
Serbian Finance and Economy Minister Bozidar Djelic said Tuesday that the Bank plans to release two $40m tranches as part of a social sector reform loan, as well as a second financial and private sector reform credit.Djelic also announced that the IMF would back the holding of a donor's conference for Serbia-Montenegro in September.Commending Serbia-Montenegro authorities "for the impressive further progress in stabilisation and reform achieved in 2002" and welcoming the "renewed commitment to reform of the new government following Prime Minister Djindjic's tragic assassination", IMF First Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair Anne Krueger called for "continued prudence and vigilance in policy implementation".She also stressed the need for a tightening of monetary policy and further fiscal consolidation and for even greater decisiveness in the next and more difficult stages of implementing reforms."The formation of the state union of Serbia-Montenegro in early 2003 will enhance political stability and provide a unique window of opportunity for carrying forward the reform process," Krueger said, adding that the harmonisation of economic systems in the member states should help improve overall economic efficiency.In other news, the OSCE expressed satisfaction with the Serbian government's efforts to fight organised crime, and commended the government for announcing it will likely lift the state of emergency next week.
The head of the OSCE mission to Serbia-Montenegro, Maurizio Massari, said Thursday that observers had determined there were no major violations of human rights in Serbian prisons, following multiple arrests in the aftermath of Djindjic's murder.




Albanian Police Crack Down on Human Trafficking 21/04/2003 Albanian police have busted another human trafficking ring connecting the Balkans with the United States.
Officials say regional groups have revived the traffic in illegal refugees. By Alban Bala for Southeast European Times in Tirana - 21/04/03Albanian police have announced the arrest of those allegedly involved in a new human trafficking ring operating between Tirana, Belgrade and New York, and top police officials recently confirmed there is evidence that regional rings have revived trafficking through Albania.Speaking on 16 April, Tirana Police Director Ilirian Zylyftari said a police crackdown on speedboat traffic had prompted smugglers to involve Tirana's newly-opened JAT office in their schemes.
"The trafficking of illegal refugees was accomplished through the use of JAT Airlines," Zylyftari said.On 14 April, Serbian border police repatriated six Albanians who were carrying false travel documents.
The six had reportedly paid 7,000 euros to be supplied with documents and to be allowed to cross the border illegally at Rinas Airport.
Police arrested the airport's border control chief, Dorian Mu�a, and the shift controller of the JAT flight, Eqerem Bisha.
They also detained three of the trafficking victims.Zylyftari expressed the hope that they would be "a valuable source in order to uncover the head of this human traffic ring".
Officials at the prosecution office in Tirana described the ongoing investigation as promising, though they gave no details.Certain rings act regionally, Zylyftari said.
To stop them, Albanian police have organised a double-check system, where ad hoc structures control travel agencies and the border police.Last week, police arrested the directors of the Besa football team, who were smuggling 30 young boys -- recruited as "under 21 players" -- to Italy.
The boys said they paid 2,000 euros for the trip to Italy, where they were planning to remain as illegal immigrants.Though human traffickers now keep a lower profile, in Tirana one can still easily buy a forged Shengen visa for 1,500 euros.
A false travel document costs around 500 euros.Six months ago, police broke up a ring of human traffickers that operated between Tirana and New York.
For $12,000, illegal "tourists" were given European passports, sent to London, and then to South America before finally crossing the southern border into the United States.
Albanian police arrested eight people, including police officers in the passport production department.
According to Zylyftari, that channel has now been closed down.Meanwhile, a government minister has denied involvement in trafficking.
On Saturday, Albanian Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Arta Dade rejected allegations by Democratic Party spokesman Edi Paloka that officials of the ministry had issued fake visas to young people from Kavaje, allowing them entry to the Netherlands under the guise of a football team.
Dade said the ministry would adopt measures to prevent similar cases in the future.




Hungary to Become Major Investor in Southeast Europe 21/04/2003 Hungarian investors are beginning to see Southeast Europe as a major business opportunity on their doorstep.
Increased Hungarian investment would boost the economy of the region and would give the Balkans an ally in the enlarged EU. By Liz Barrett for Southeast European Times in Budapest - 21/04/03Hungarians are waking up to the fact that to their south lies an emerging market of 55 million people -- or 110 million, if Turkey and Greece are included.
Safe in the knowledge that Hungary will become an EU member next year, Budapest no longer fears that closer association with these countries will cause it to be labelled as part of the Balkans and hence excluded from international clubs.
Rather, the government and the business community are hoping to portray Hungary as the gateway to a region with vast untapped potential.At the end of March, the Hungarian government hosted Stability Pact member states at a conference in Szeged, a city close to the Serbian border.
The event focused on trade development and liberalisation within the region, but also provided an opportunity for investors from the Balkans and Hungary to network and make contacts.Trade liberalisation in Southeast Europe has already made great progress in recent years.
A total of 21 bilateral Free Trade Agreements have been signed by the seven countries, removing many of the barriers that existed in the late 1990s.
However, weak infrastructure remains a big hindrance to trade.
Road and rail networks were damaged during the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Croatian conflicts, as well as the NATO action in Serbia and Kosovo.
And most governments in the region have been reliant on international aid for reconstruction and repair.
Progress has been made, but getting from one part of Southeast Europe to another is still often a cumbersome process.However, Hungarian investors are beginning to see this weakness as an opportunity and are planning to bid for EU funds to build motorways throughout the region.
A highway between Budapest and Belgrade is a particular priority, since it would help connect the core of the EU with Greece and on to the Middle East.
EU funds may also be available for road building on international corridor five, which would link Hungary to Trieste, Italy.Better roads would of course pave the way for improved trade in many other sectors, but Hungarian small- and medium-sized businesses still need encouragement.
Hence the Hungarian government has set up a national co-operation and development programme, with a budget of 6m euros, for 2003 alone.
The Balkans is a major target area for the fund, which will provide support -- through export credit insurance and interest subsidies -- to Hungarian companies wishing to export to or provide consultancy services for the region.
Hungary already exports around $1.7 billion worth of goods to Southeast Europe and imports $700m worth.
Overall, trade turnover between Hungary and the Balkans grew by 15 per cent last year.While the new fund will help smaller companies to trade with Southeast Europe, some Hungarian giants are also investing in the region, focusing on the opportunities presented by privatisation.
Hungary's national telecoms provider, Matav, has a $350m stake in Macedonia's MakTel, and a similar-sized investment in Romania.
Another large Hungarian firm, oil and gas company MOL, has expressed interest in buying Croatia's INA.
Serbia's utility companies are also likely to prove attractive assets.Clearly, Southeast Europe represents a great business opportunity for Hungary.
But the Balkans can also expect to gain from a closer partnership.
Not only is foreign investment badly needed, but Southeast Europe would also benefit from having a sponsor for its cause in the new enlarged EU.




Reforming the Security Sector: Bulgaria is Facing its Ultimate Cold War Heritage 22/04/2003 Internal problems and lack of resources continue to plague the Bulgarian security sector.
The government is adamant to solve the problem, in light of the country's NATO entry next year. By Emil Tsenkov for Southeast European Times in Sofia - 22/04/03During the Cold War, Bulgarian secret services had an extremely negative image.
The "Bulgarian umbrella", used to poison the dissident writer Georgi Markov, became a widespread metaphor for KGB style political killings.
And until last year, when Pope John II denied there was Bulgarian involvement in the attempt on his life in 1981, the country's secret services were considered to be the subcontractors of their Soviet masters.After the democratic change in 1989, the secret services followed a pattern similar to that in neighbouring countries, described by one expert as "transformation without reform".
The top officers in the services were relieved from their functions and political police were suppressed.
With the emergence of the National Service for Combating Organised Crime in the early 1990s, the distinction between some of the secret services and the elite police units became even less obvious.
Overlapping activities, lack of co-ordination and inexperienced new recruits became a hallmark of transitional-type intelligence and police services.The unfinished reforms left the local secret service community divided along political, as well as institutional lines.
The National Intelligence Service and the state protection service remained under the orders of the president, while counter-intelligence -- the National Security Service -- and other lesser secret services were put under the umbrella of the interior ministry.
This division is also reflected at the level of the co-ordination bodies.
The Security Council is under the authority of the prime minister, while the Consultative Council on National Security is an auxiliary to the president.
One of the indicators of unfinished reform is that there is no special law defining the secret services' status and functions.Ill managed, under-funded and slow to adapt to dramatic internal and international changes throughout the 1990s, the Bulgarian security sector was no match for local Mafiosi or the emerging transnational organised crime networks.
The latter even employed some of the leading figures of the former political police and counter-intelligence.
For some top Mafiosi, buying information from acting security agents became even more prized than corrupting key members of the judiciary and law enforcement.The current drive towards reforming the entire system reflects the resolve, on the part of Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg's government, to cope with organised crime and corruption, while adjusting to the new challenges of terrorism and global criminal networks.But the issue has also been made more urgent by the prospect of Bulgaria's entry to NATO.
Facing mounting Western criticism, Bulgarian authorities were swift to introduce a new law on specified information and are currently trying to limit the risks of leaking sensitive data to non-NATO states.
The long postponed institutional reform is likely to overcome the current disparities; that in turn could pave the way for a more rapid integration of the country into a Westernised security system.




Vukovar Massacre Suspect Surrenders to Serbian Authorities 22/04/2003 Miroslav Radic was charged in 1995 with commanding a unit that took about 200 people from a hospital in Vukovar and then executed them. (Reuters, The New York Times - 22/04/03; AP, VOA, BBC, CNN, Radio B92, Serbian Government - 21/04/03; International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia)Former Yugoslav Army Capt Miroslav Radic has surrendered and has been taken into custody, the Serbian government said Monday (21 April).
One of three former Yugoslav officers indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal for their alleged role in a 1991 massacre in Croatia, Radic is the second of the trio to turn himself in."Radic gave himself up and, therefore, will be eligible for the same government guarantees as other indicted Serb suspects who surrendered of their own volition," Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Cedomir Jovanovic said, implying that after his transfer to The Hague, Radic might be released pending trial.The UN tribunal indicted him in 1995, along with Mile Mrksic and Vesselin Sljivancanin, on six counts of grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, violations of the laws or customs of war and crimes against humanity.
The three allegedly ordered the killing of at least 200 Croats and non-Serbs on 20 November 1991, at a location near the eastern Croatian city of Vukovar.
Mrksic, the highest ranking officer among them, surrendered last year and pleaded innocent to all charges.
Sljivancanin is still at large.In late 1991, following a siege that lasted nearly three months, the Yugoslav Army and Serb paramilitary units took control of Vukovar.
The army unit with primary responsibility for the attack and subsequent occupation was the brigade commanded by Mrksic.
Sljivacanin was security officer of the brigade, as well as commander of a military police battalion.
Radic, in his mid-thirties at the time, commanded a special infantry unit.In the last days of the siege, several hundred Croats and other non-Serbs sought refuge at a Vukovar hospital, believing that it would be evacuated in the presence of neutral international observers, as agreed by the Yugoslav Army and the Croatian government on 18 November 1991.But after Yugoslav Army units took control of the hospital, investigators say at least 200 people were loaded on buses and driven first to the army's barracks and then to a pig farm at Ovcara, about 4 km southeast of Vukovar.
Following several hours of beatings by army and paramilitary soldiers that left at least two dead, the people were divided into groups and driven to a field where they were shot and killed.
Afterwards, a bulldozer buried the victims in a mass grave at the same location.Exhumations in 1996 revealed the bodies of 198 men and two women.On Monday, the Serbian government called on Sljivancanin and the two other most wanted war crimes suspects -- Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic -- to also surrender, promising the country would continue to meet its obligations to the UN tribunal and other international bodies.




Turkey Indicates Willingness to Participate in Iraqi Peacekeeping, Awaits Details 23/04/2003 Turkey seems willing to participate in post-war peacekeeping efforts in Iraq.
However, details are still being ironed out. (Anadolu Agency, FT - 21/04/03; AP, Reuters, VOA - 20/04/03; Reuters - 19/04/03)Turkey is considering a request from the United States to send peacekeeping troops and technical experts to Iraq to assist in the reconstruction and stabilisation of the country.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul indicated Monday (21 April) that the government had agreed in principle, but was awaiting concrete terms and details before final approval.Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Gul said that in addition to troops, Washington had requested doctors and other experts to help in humanitarian work and the rebuilding of Iraq."We are saying yes to all of these but it will become clear in the coming days how things will proceed and under what conditions," Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency quoted Gul as saying.He suggests Ankara is awaiting specifics from the US administration concerning the number of requested troops and the status of the proposed peacekeeping force -- that is, whether Turkish soldiers will be part of a mission led by the United States or NATO, or will operate under a UN mandate.
Turkey also wants more details concerning how the operation will be funded."How their expenses will be met, how they will go and come back, everything should be clarified in writing," the foreign minister said.
Washington made the initial request in the form of a non-paper -- an unofficial diplomatic note that is not necessarily binding to either party.
According to media sources, the Turkish military has responded "positively" to the US call for assistance.Turkey thus could join several other European countries, including its northern neighbour Bulgaria, which have offered to contribute troops for post-war humanitarian, security and other tasks in Iraq as part of a proposed multinational peacekeeping force.Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Svinarov said on Monday (21 April) the ministry has started recruiting a new contingent for deployment in Iraq.
The soldiers will join the international peacekeeping force and are expected to perform guard duties, protecting buildings and convoys.
The unit, numbering 170, will likely include 25 to 40 experts from an earlier 97-man chemical and biological decontamination unit that the Bulgarian Parliament approved prior to the start of war.
The quick resolution of the conflict prevented the deployment of that company, and on Monday, Svinarov said he had ordered its disbanding.Romania, which had also approved sending troops to Iraq, has also indicated that it will join the peacekeeping force.




Poll: Changes may be in Store for Serbian Political Scene 25/04/2003 Opinion polls indicate that confidence in the Serbian government, judiciary and police is growing.
The number of those who think that Serbia is on a good course has also increased.
However, that new optimism could be affected by the ruling coalition's infighting. By Dusan Kosanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 24/04/03Following Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's assassination, officials of the ruling Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition showed great unity and determination in solving the state crisis.
But disagreements, and even open conflicts, within the DOS have resurfaced.Djindjic's successor, Zoran Zivkovic, and National Bank of Serbia Governor Mladjan Dinkic confronted each other in a media showdown recently.
Dangerous escalation of the conflict surrounding the legal status of the Serbian central bank was prevented by a closed-door meeting between the two officials.
Dinkic also had several conflicts with Djindjic.
Observers attribute the friction to the rivalry between their respective parties, G17 Plus and the Democratic Party (DS).
According to political analysts, these clashes could herald the reshuffling of political parties in Serbia.According to a research poll conducted by Medium Index -- a Gallup International public opinion agency -- the approval ratings of former Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), Slobodan Milosevic's Socialist Party of Serbia and the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) have dropped since the assassination.
The DOS coalition's popularity has grown, while the DS has become the most popular party in Serbia.
If elections were to be held now, only four parties would gain parliamentary entry.
The DS would obtain 17.7 per cent of the vote, the DSS 14.2 per cent, the SRS 6.5 per cent and the recently founded G17 Plus would get 6.3 per cent.
But a large part of those polled, 41 per cent, said they have no opinion or would abstain from voting.When it comes to individual politicians, more than 50 per cent of the public have confidence in the G17 Plus leader, Miroljub Labus.
Dinkic, also a G17 Plus member, follows Labus.
Kostunica's rating is dropping because of criminal allegations against some of his colleagues.
Kostunica has also been criticising the Serbian government, which has the public's confidence.
Serb Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj has lost support because of his alleged connections to organised crime and the fact that he may have had information on Djindjic's assassination.
Milosevic is losing popularity due to his alleged involvement in political murders.Now that the state of emergency has been lifted, more citizens may voice their political attitudes, which could affect party ratings.
If the successful policy of the Serbian government continues, the ruling parties will stay dominant.
In case of party conflicts, G17 Plus is most likely to profit, because it keeps its distance from the fray.In the view of many political analysts, a period of integration is imminent, with the DSS positioning itself as the Christian democratic option, the G17 as the liberal wing leader, and the DS continuing to follow the course set by Djindjic, towards a social democrat orientation.
Regional groups and the ethnic minority parties from the northern province of Vojvodina also stand good chances of success in the political game, but other small parties will have to form alliances with some of the stronger ones.




Albania Looks to Strategic Privatisation 25/04/2003 Albania has announced plans to privatise certain business sectors to stimulate the economy.
But no one expects it to be easy. By Orest Erzeni for Southeast European Times in Tirana - 24/04/03To stimulate economic growth, Albania has decided to privatise strategic sectors of the economy, areas that continue to be dominated by state ownership and control.
The government has drafted a schedule for an organised privatisation campaign, set to take place from June through October.On 14 April, Prime Minister Fatos Nano told parliament that the goal of strategic privatisation is to use the momentum offered by market circumstances.
He said that the privatisation of the Savings Bank, the telecommunication company Telecom, and the state insurance company INSIG is already under way.
The list of sectors and companies that the government has put in its privatisation programme includes the energy corporation KESH, the General Directory of Railways, the Sea Port of Durres, the oil and gas sector, the coal mining and water supply sectors, and Albtransport.International financial institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF have continually encouraged privatisation of the strategic sectors.
The IMF has made strategic privatisation a condition for signing an agreement with Albania next year.
EBRD's Noel Doyle visited Tirana earlier this month to lend support to the privatisation process, focusing specifically on Telecom, INSIG and the Savings Bank.
According to Finance Minister Kastriot Islami, negotiations with EBRD to purchase 40 per cent of INSIG will be completed in June.
The campaign for the privatisation of the Savings Bank is to begin in September.Strategic privatisation is not an easy undertaking.
It has often been carried out under the influence of the policy and the electoral interests of the political parties in power, which have viewed it as a means to gain political capital in and outside the country.
Because of insufficient administrative governance, some companies have reduced their economic activity during the process of the strategic privatisation.
In some cases, this has caused some foreign companies to disengage.However, it appears that political interference in the process is diminishing.
Nano has stressed two parameters:public ownership must not be given away "for a piece of bread", and strategic privatisation will not be used for electoral credibility.Albanian governmental and financial institutions, as well as Albanian businesses, are aware that they cannot achieve this alone.
They have asked for the help of the international financial institutions.
According to government experts, the strategic economic objectives are undergoing careful international monitoring.
Privatisation is intended to increase efficiency and profitability, making companies and sectors more attractive to foreign business and more profitable domestically.
Within this framework, the European Bank of Investments recently gave a loan to KESH to build new electric substations and lines.
At the beginning of April, KESH announced an international bid for the project.




BiH Authorities Step Up Border, Internal Control 24/04/2003 High Representative Paddy Ashdown called an urgent meeting Wednesday to devise a plan intended to prevent an inflow of criminals, now that the state of emergency in neighbouring Serbia has been lifted. (Office of the High Representative, Reuters, VOA - 23/04/03)A day after the state of emergency was lifted in Serbia, authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) said border and internal controls would be tightened to prevent suspected criminals from entering.
Measures to be taken include strengthening co-operation between respective institutions in BiH and Serbia-Montenegro.The state of emergency allowed authorities in Serbia to arrest suspects without a warrant and keep them in custody for up to 30 days without being charged.
The government said Tuesday that about 4,500 people have been detained since the 12 March introduction of the emergency measure.
About 3,700 face charges."It now seems likely that the... substantial number of those currently detained in Serbia will be released either because the investigations are completed or because they will be defending themselves against any further charges at freedom," the top international envoy in BiH, Paddy Ashdown, told Reuters.The crackdown on organised crime in Serbia is believed to have prompted a cross-border repositioning of some Serbian gangs' criminal activities into BiH.
Concerned that some of the current detainees -- particularly those with financial or family ties in BiH -- might cross the border, Ashdown called an urgent meeting on Wednesday (23 April) to devise an anti-crime plan.The meeting was attended by the state security ministers and interior ministers of the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, the heads of the State Border Service and the State Information Protection Agency, and the commissioner of the EU police mission in BiH.In a statement, the Office of the High Representative said participants had agreed on a number of measures, including stepped up co-operation and communication with neighbouring states.
BiH will ask Serbian authorities for information on individuals who are about to be released from jail and will offer all possible assistance and co-operation to prevent criminal activity either in BiH or Serbia-Montenegro by those released.
Both of these steps were to be taken within 24 hours.Further measures, to be introduced during the next two to three weeks, include reaching agreements among a wide range of officials in Serbia and BiH, as well as in the Bosnian Serb entity, Republika Srpska."It is very important for us to support the fight against criminality in Serbia and to make sure the backwash of all this does not affect Republika Srpska in the first incidence but BiH... as a whole as well," Ashdown was quoted as saying after the meeting.Lifting of the state of emergency in Serbia did not bode a crisis in BiH, Ashdown said, adding that the measures were intended to prevent one from happening.
"What we do believe is that the scale of organised crime in the Balkans does represent a crisis -- and the measures we have decided upon today are part of the long-term serious effort to tackle that crisis head on," he said.




Milosevic, Eight Others Charged With Key Politician's Murder 25/04/2003 Slobodan Milosevic and several of his associates were charged Thursday with the murder of Ivan Stambolic.
Former security service chief Radomir Markovic is among the nine individuals indicted in the case. (FT, IHT, Irish Examiner - 25/04/03; AP, Reuters, BBC, CNN, VOA, RFE/RL, Radio B92 - 24/04/03)Serbian police have filed charges against former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for allegedly ordering the abduction and killing of a political rival, Ivan Stambolic, in 2000.
Eight Milosevic allies are also accused of involvement in the former Serbian president's murder, a police source said Thursday (24 April).
The charges have been filed with the Belgrade district prosecutor's office, which will carry out an investigation into the case before deciding whether to indict the suspects."We have evidence that Milosevic suggested Stambolic's permanent removal," the unnamed police official said.Stambolic disappeared while taking his morning jog in a Belgrade park on 25 August 2000, only weeks before presidential elections in which he was expected to run against Milosevic, a former ally turned foe.
The case remained unsolved until 27 March, when police discovered his remains during their investigation into the killing of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
Stambolic's corpse was found buried in a ditch on the Fruska Gora Mountain in Serbia's northern Vojvodina province.A paramilitary unit loyal to Milosevic is believed responsible for the murder; Milosevic himself now stands accused of orchestrating it.
According to police, the paramilitaries took Stambolic to a forest in Vojvodina, where they shot him twice in the head.A mentor to Milosevic and his close friend for many years, Stambolic became Serbian president in January 1986 and remained in the post until December 1987, when his protege staged a political coup and replaced him.
The two then became bitter opponents.
Stambolic was among the critics of Milosevic's policies during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s.Belgrade district prosecutor Nenad Ukropina told the media that former state security chief Radomir Markovic has been charged along with Milosevic.
Former special operations commander Milorad Lukovic, wanted in Djindjic's murder, is reportedly also on the list of suspects and the only one still at large.Still unclear is whether charges will be pressed against Milosevic's wife, Mirjana Markovic, who is also suspected to have played a role in Stambolic's murder.
Several days after his body was discovered, police ordered Markovic to immediately turn up for questioning.
After she failed to do so, authorities issued a warrant for her arrest.
The former first lady is believed to be hiding in Russia.
Her son, Marko Milosevic, is thought to be hiding there as well; he faces unrelated criminal charges.In other news, Radio B92 reports that Serbia-Montenegro Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic sought support for his country's crackdown on war crimes fugitives and individuals suspected of involvement in political killings, during talks in Moscow on Thursday.




Bulgaria Says Suspected SARS Patient Improving 28/04/2003 Bulgarian health authorities reported a possible SARS case Thursday.
The World Health Organisation has added Bulgaria to the list of countries affected by the outbreak. (BTA, Dnevnik.bg - 27/04/03; HINA, bTV, BTA - 26/04/03; AP, RFE/RL, BBC, bTV, BNN, Novinite.com - 25/04/03; Romania.com - 04/04/03)The World Health Organisation (WHO) has added Bulgaria to the list of countries affected by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) after being notified about the country's first suspected case.
The only other Balkan country on the list is Romania, which has also reported one case.On Thursday (24 April), Bulgarian health authorities said they had reported a possible SARS case to the WHO.
Blood samples have been sent for testing at one of the international health body's 11 laboratories capable of diagnosing the SARS virus.
Results are expected within the next few days.The patient, a 33-year-old man, returned to Bulgaria on 16 April after a long stay in Toronto, the city with the highest incidence of SARS cases in Canada.
Three days later, he was taken to Sofia's Infectious Diseases Hospital after developing SARS symptoms -- high fever, coughing and general weakness.
His symptoms were comparatively mild, doctors said.Tests have confirmed that the man has had a flu, but doctors said it was not the cause of the pneumonia he developed subsequently.On Sunday, Dr Katya Ivancheva of the Infectious Diseases Hospital was quoted as saying the patient's temperature was within normal limits, coughing had subsided and his appetite was back.
He is being treated with antibiotics and vitamins.That same day, Bulgaria evacuated a group of diplomats and technical staff from its embassy in China, where the total number of SARS cases exceeds 2,750.
Upon arrival at the Sofia Airport, the group was subjected to special security procedures.
A second charter flight is planned for 5 May.
None of the 100 Bulgarians in China, including about 30 students attending universities in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanking, is said to have contracted SARS.As a result of the outbreak, Bulgaria tightened border medical control at Sofia Airport and the Black Sea ports of Varna and Bourgas two weeks ago.
The foreign ministry has advised Bulgarians to avoid travel to China, Singapore and the other affected countries.Turkey is said to have tightened sanitary control measures at the Kapikule crossing point on its border with Bulgaria, following the reports about the suspected SARS case.Meanwhile, the Croatian state news agency HINA reported Saturday that Istria border police barred eight Chinese citizens from entering the country, due to suspicions they could be infected with the virus.
Two in the group had high temperatures.




Turkey, Bulgaria Seek to Resolve Discord over Energy Deal 28/04/2003 A bilateral agreement between Turkey and Bulgaria has hit a snag, but diplomatic efforts are under way to resolve the problems. (Various sources -- 22/04/03 - 24/04/03)Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will pay a two-day visit to Sofia on 12 May to discuss issues of mutual interest, including problems related to a bilateral energy deal.
In addition, Bulgarian Energy Minister Milko Kovachev and Regional Development Minister Valentin Tserovski are expected to travel to Ankara in early May, hoping to break a deadlock surrounding the ten-year agreement, signed in 1998.On Monday (21 April), state-owned Turkish Electricity Trade and Contracting Inc (TETAS) decided to suspend all electricity imports from Bulgaria, citing Sofia's failure to move ahead on two infrastructure projects that are part of the deal.
Earlier, the company warned Bulgaria it would discontinue electricity imports, but reversed its position following diplomatic efforts.Under the agreement, Turkey was to import electricity from Bulgaria in return for Turkish companies' participation in a highway construction project and a $300m hydroelectric power plant project.Turkey has been purchasing between 3.5 billion and 4.0 billion kilowatts of electric power from Bulgaria annually, at a price of $0.0355/kilowatt.
This amount accounts for about 55 per cent of Bulgaria's annual electricity exports and between 7 per cent and 8 per cent of the national electricity output.
Bulgaria's annual proceeds from the deal stand at about $150m, including a net profit of around $50m.Turkish firm Ceylan Holding, was initially contracted for the infrastructure projects, but it went bankrupt in 2000 and Bulgaria has been looking for a new strategic investor."We acknowledge that there is a delay [in the two projects], which is caused by reasons that do not depend on us," Reuters quoted a Bulgarian Energy Ministry official as saying.
Expressing the ministry's surprise and disappointment at TETAS' decision to halt the power purchases, the official described it as "hasty".Earlier this month, Gul denied media reports about possible cuts in his country's electricity imports from Bulgaria, and even suggested the imports could increase.
He and his Bulgarian counterpart, Solomon Passy, met on the sidelines of the Southeast Europe Co-operation Process summit in Belgrade on 8 April.
It was then that Gul's visit was agreed upon, according to Passy's ministry.According to the Sofia-based Mediapool news agency, Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler backed TETAS' earlier warning, but its enforcement was delayed at the insistence of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry alerted Gul about the issue.Bulgaria's Dnevnik daily quoted an unnamed Gul adviser as saying Ankara was trying to ensure that another Turkish company is contracted in place of Ceylan.The expectations are that Turkey and Bulgaria will manage to sort out their differences and the agreement will not be cancelled.




Four Southeast European Countries, Italy Launch Trans-Adriatic Co-operation Initiative 30/04/2003 The 101m euro Trans-Adriatic Interreg IIIA cross-border initiative was officially launched Monday (28 April) at a conference in Sarajevo. (HINA, Agenzia Giornalistica Italia, Office of the High Representative, Tanjug - 28/04/03)At the Trans-Adriatic Interreg IIIA Conference in Sarajevo on Monday (28 April), the foreign ministers of Italy and four Southeast European countries adopted a declaration endorsing a new cross-border co-operation programme.The initiative will support projects aimed at fostering small and medium-size businesses, improving public administration, and strengthening institutions and services, particularly in infrastructure, transport and telecommunications.
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, Italy and Serbia-Montenegro are the countries participating in the programme, developed under the EU's Interreg IIIA community initiative.The total cost of the programme is 101m euros.
Of that, 60 per cent is being contributed by the EU and 30 per cent by the Italian government.
The seven Italian regions in the country's Adriatic zone will contribute the remaining 10 per cent.
The funds must be disbursed by 2006.
Implementation of the first series of projects could begin as early as this autumn.Speaking after the forum, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the new initiative would serve as tool for promoting and supporting EU integration.
Italy, which takes over the six-month rotating EU presidency from Greece on 1 July, plans to present the programme during the Thessaloniki European Council in June.
During Italy's presidency, Frattini said, his country would support similar initiatives aimed at bringing the Southeast European countries closer to the EU.Frattini's counterparts -- Albania's Ilir Meta, BiH's Mladen Ivanic, Croatia's Tonino Picula and Montenegro's Dragisa Burzan -- voiced their appreciation for the new initiative.
One specific project under consideration by Croatia, according to Picula, is the Adriatic-Ionian highway, linking the Italian coast with that of the eastern Adriatic."Regional development and cross-border co-operation on the regional level is what the EU itself is all about: the more we can do to transfer that experience beyond our borders, the better," the international community's top official in BiH, Paddy Ashdown, said in his address at the forum.
"We are starting to make borders less symbols of division and hostility, and more into examples of co-operation and fruitful exchange.
It is the first step towards the long-term prospect of EU membership," Ashdown said.During the Sarajevo conference, Meta and BiH Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister Mila Gadzic signed a bilateral Free Trade Agreement.
The two ministers said the FTA confirms the willingness of their countries to participate jointly in the integration processes in the region.




Official Tells Security Council UNMIK Must Stay 29/04/2003 Kosovo is not ready for the UN to pull out, a senior official tells the Security Council. (UN - 23/04/03 - 25/04/03; Radio B92 - 24/04/03)A senior UN official has urged the Security Council to reject calls to end UNMIK, saying it plays a critical role in promoting dialogue and multiethnicity in the province, and aids the long process of establishing independent and functional governing institutions."The Mission has balanced the competing, and often conflicting, desires of the leaders and people in Kosovo without giving fodder to extremism," Assistant Secretary General Hedi Annabi said on 23 April, during the Security Council's open session on Kosovo.
Any support the Council provides UNMIK would be welcome, Annabi said as he briefed attendees on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's latest report, focusing on the continuing transfer of responsibilities to Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of self-government.In a major step towards this end, a Transfer Council, made up of representatives of UNMIK and the provisional institutions, has been established.
The council will continue to pass on power to the provincial government in a phased manner, considering the target institutions' capacity, Annabi said.
He cited transfer of administrative and operational responsibilities of the Tax Administration to the provisional institutions as a recent positive development.Other changes include the improved representation of minorities in the civil service and the increased number of displaced persons returning to the province.
The fact that the operation for the arrest of Kosovo Albanians wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal was conducted without any significant incidents was also noted as another positive signal.
A further area of progress, Annabi said, is the continued development of the Kosovo Police Service.Although the rate of criminal incidents over the first quarter of 2003 remained generally consistent with the last reporting period, acts of extremism appear to be on the rise while voices of moderation have been weak and muted, the report noted.
It pointed to a number of recent incidents, including the 12 April bombing of a railway bridge in northern Kosovo.The Kosovo Assembly has not been able to bridge political and ethnic divides and, despite Steiner's opposition, there have been attempts to implement a law on higher education that failed to take into account the interests of Kosovo Serbs, Annabi said.
Four laws were returned to the legislature as incompliant with UN Resolution 1244 and the constitutional framework."Important minority issues such as freedom of movement, use of language and alphabet, and receipt of fair share financing from the municipalities remained problematic with little tangible progress," the UN official said.
He added that the mission has come under increasing pressure from various sides, aiming to undercut UN resolutions and challenge Steiner's authority.There was a discussion following Annabi's briefing.
Members reaffirmed support for the "standards before status" policy, which Annabi said would remain the framework for the way forward.In related news, the Kosovo Parliament's international co-operation committee announced Monday it had prepared a proposal to set up a foreign affairs ministry.
The committee said it would soon table the project to the Transfer Council.
Foreign affairs is one of the areas which falls under UN jurisdiction.
Steiner has maintained that only non-reserved powers should be transferred to local institutions.




Turkish Tourism Sector Hopeful After the End of Iraq War 30/04/2003 The Iraq war hurt tourism in Turkey.
However, hotel bookings are on the rise again and those in the tourism sector believe they will offset losses in April and May and reach their goals. By Vahit Bora for Southeast European Times in Istanbul - 28/04/03The Iraq war led to an overall decrease in tourism around the world.
Iraq's neighbours, including Turkey, felt the effects almost immediately.
Hotel bookings, a convenient indicator, fell by nearly 60 per cent in March.
One popular hotel among tourists in Antalya, had a 15 per cent occupancy rate during the first half of April.
After the collapse of the Baghdad regime, however, many foreign visitors seem to be changing their minds about travel.
Hotel bookings are beginning to rise, implying a profitable season for Turkish tourism.Surveys conducted during the war showed that safety concerns were the main factor deterring tourists from visiting Turkey.
According to Turkish Minister of Tourism Guldal Aksit, both the Turkish and foreign press misled people during the war.
"The media reported as if Turkey was actively involved in war," Aksit said.
"Many people in Europe unfortunately had thought that there were military operations that were also taking place on Turkish territory, but it is totally wrong," she said at a press conference last month.Tourism companies and hotel owners say they had cancellations in April and May, but the increasing number of new reservations signal that the summer season may be better.
Representatives of the tourism associations say that the majority of Europeans preferred to postpone their holidays instead of canceling.Meanwhile, the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has affected tourism in the countries of East Asia.
Some Turkish companies regard the situation as an opportunity, and are designing public relations activities to attract tourists searching for a SARS-free destination.
Turkish hotel owners are also inviting organisations and companies to hold their conferences in Turkey.The tourism ministry has increased public relations and promotional activities.
This year, the target group includes not only Western European countries but also Central and Southeast European countries.
In April and May, mass media advertisements will be extended to 50 countries.If its initiatives succeed, the Turkish tourism sector is poised to recover the losses of April and May.
That means 15 million tourists and $13 billion of tourism income, reaching the 2003 targets.




Seselj Among 45 Charged in Assassination; Milosevic Faces New Charges 30/04/2003 Last month's murder of Zoran Djindjic was part of a conspiracy to topple Serbia's reformist government and return nationalist forces to power, the country's interior minister said.
Police have charged 45 people with involvement in the assassination, including ultranationalist political figure Vojislav Seselj. (The New York Times, The Independent - 30 /04/03; Serbian Government, AP, Reuters, AFP, BBC, CNN, Radio B92, VOA - 29/04/03)Police in Serbia have formally charged 45 people with involvement in the 12 March assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
The list of indictees includes Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj, senior officials, and dozens of members of the Serbian underworld.
Separately, authorities have charged former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and six others with the attempted murder of opposition political leader Vuk Draskovic in 2000.Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday (29 April), Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic said Djindjic's murder was part of a conspiracy dubbed "Stop The Hague", which aimed to overthrow Serbia's reformist government and return nationalist forces to power."This was a terrorist-political assassination," Mihajlovic said.He added that two bosses of the Zemun Clan criminal organisation planned and carried out the murder plot.
Dusan Spasojevic was killed in a shootout with police while resisting arrest.
Milorad Lukovic, the former commander of a disbanded elite police unit and the prime suspect in Djindjic's slaying, is still at large, as are nine others.Seselj, who surrendered to the UN war crimes tribunal on 23 February and now awaits trial in The Hague, has been charged with incitement.
He allegedly encouraged the two gang leaders to carry out the assassination.The ultranationalist politician is among five -- including former Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica's security adviser, Rade Bulatovic, and former military intelligence chief Aco Tomic -- who have been charged with "associating to commit hostile activities".
Bulatovic and Tomic are said to have promised the conspirators that the army would not intervene to prevent a coup following Djindjic's killing.
Mihajlovic said 15 people were directly involved in the plot, while the others have been charged with either conspiring or indirectly helping to execute the plan.Kostunica issued a statement on Tuesday, describing Bulatovic as a "political prisoner" and urging authorities to release him immediately.
Kostunica has repeatedly accused the Serbian government of using the assassination probe to undermine his Democratic Party of Serbia.In a separate move on Tuesday, the Serbian Interior Ministry charged seven people, including Slobodan Milosevic, with trying to kill Serbian Renewal Movement leader Vuk Draskovic in June 2000.
Five of the accused are former state security members.
The sixth is former Yugoslav Army Chief of Staff Nebojsa Pavkovic.According to the Associated Press, Milosevic might be tried in absentia in Serbia.
His trial in The Hague is not expected to conclude before 2005.Several days ago, Serbian police filed criminal charges against him for "inciting" the killing of another political opponent, former Serbian President Ivan Stambolic, in August 2000.




Children Trapped Following Massive Earthquake in Turkey 01/05/2003 The death toll in Thursday's massive earthquake in southeastern Turkey could top 150, officials said.
More than 100 schoolchildren were trapped under the rubble of their school dormitory. (AP, Reuters, BBC, CNN, AFP, Analou Agency - 01/05/03)A massive earthquake struck southeastern Turkey well before dawn Thursday (1 May), killing at least 84 people and trapping more than 100 children under the rubble of their flattened boarding school.
Almost 400 people were injured according to early reports, and local officials say the death toll could top 150.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called an emergency cabinet meeting.The quake, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, occurred at 3:27 am local time and lasted 17 seconds.
Its epicentre, according to the Istanbul-based Kandilli seismology centre, was about 15 km northeast of the city of Bingol.
At least 25 buildings and a bridge in the city's centre have reportedly collapsed.
Experts are warning people to stay away from damaged buildings, as some aftershocks could be of a magnitude of 5.0.
At least 22 aftershocks followed in the first several hours after the quake, the strongest measuring 3.8.Among the collapsed buildings was a four-story school dormitory, housing up to 200 primary and secondary school children.
Rescuers pulled at least 72 children from the wreckage.
Five students were found dead, according to the city's mayor, Feyzullah Karaalsan.News reports from the site said children could be heard crying for help from under the debris of the panicked concrete building, while tearful parents and onlookers watched rescuers dig through the rubble.
Soldiers had to restrain parents who tried to climb up and claw through the wreckage.
Many reportedly questioned the quality of the building's construction.
"The stable I built did not collapse, but the school did," the AP quoted one parent as saying.Erdogan, who left for the region accompanied by his health and interior ministers and other officials, said that thousands of tents, blankets and teams equipped with sniffer dogs have been sent to the underdeveloped and sparsely populated region.
Roads are poor, which is impeding rescue efforts.
Electricity and telephone service were cut off by the quake.Turkey lies on the active North Anatolian fault and has suffered a number of devastating earthquakes in the past.
In 1971, a quake in Bingol killed about 900 people.
In August 1999, two powerful earthquakes killed more than 17,000 people in the northwest.




Bulgaria's Borissov Retains Interior Ministry Position 01/05/2003 Bulgarian Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Boyko Borissov's resignation was rejected by the prime minister Wednesday.
Borissov tried to leave his post in the wake of a report disclosing government officials' ties to criminal figures. (Various sources -- 23/04/03 - 30/04/03)Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg rejected the resignation of Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Gen Boyko Borissov on Wednesday (30 April).
Borissov submitted his resignation on 25 April, days after announcing a report on organised crime.
The report allegedly linked local officials, magistrates and politicians to the underworld.In a letter to Borissov, Saxe-Coburg said he had studied the situation carefully, and did not see any reason to accept the resignation.
On Sunday, Saxe-Coburg told reporters Borissov's resignation was "prompted namely by statements, which he made maybe somewhat hastily, and he himself decided that this is an adequate reason to resign from such a responsible position, which does him honour".Borissov, speaking to reporters after his resignation was refused, said it had not hampered the work of law enforcement.
"The work of the interior ministry has not been on hold during the time of my resignation."
He denied that he wanted to leave the ministry because of a conflict with Interior Minister Georgi Petkanov.Before leaving for a three-day working visit to Moscow on 22 April, Borissov told the media that a report on the crime situation in Bulgaria would be given to the prime minister and the president.
The report was prepared by the interior ministry and special services.
Borissov, who has been calling for months for radical legislative changes to facilitate the fight against crime, said he hoped it would help the relevant institutions take necessary measures.The paper discusses the operational schemes of local criminal gangs, their bosses and members, as well as attacks they have launched against rival group members.
It reportedly offers proposals for legislative changes, and has the Serbian law on fighting organised crime attached.
According to Borissov, there are three main criminal groups in Sofia, each at war with the others.In an earlier statement, Borissov cited photographs showing magistrates and politicians in the company of members of the underworld.
Before his departure for Moscow, however, he stressed that the existence of a criminal connection was not proven.Meanwhile, local papers published pictures showing Finance Minister Milen Velchev, Transport Minister Plamen Petkov and ruling party MP Miroslav Sevlievski in the company of businessman and alleged underworld figure Ivan Todorov, also known as "the Doctor," on his yacht in Monaco.
Velchev and Todorov have denied ever meeting each other, while Petkov and Sevlievski said they did not know much about Todorov at the time the picture was taken.On 18 April, Todorov survived an incident in which his Mercedes was blown up on a highway in central Sofia.
One of his bodyguards was killed.




Tirana Pressures Macedonia's DPA to Adhere to Ohrid 02/05/2003 The recent push by opposition parties in Macedonia towards establishing "ethnic states" has led Tirana to speak out in support of the Macedonian government and the Ohrid agreement. By Orest Erzeni for Southeast European Times in Tirana -- 02/05/03Declarations by the leaders of the Macedonian opposition VMRO-DPMNE and the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA), questioning the validity of the Ohrid peace accord and calling for the establishment of "ethnic states", have set off a political firestorm in Skopje and are also a cause for concern in Tirana.
Authorities there have been trying to use their links to Albanian political parties to prevent a rise in interethnic tensions.Albanian Foreign Affairs Minister Ilir Meta described the recent declarations as contradictory to the process of regional integration and co-existence of the two main communities.
He expressed that view to Arben Xhaferri during a telephone conversation on 22 April.
Meta asked the DPA leader, who is part of the Ohrid agreement, not to default on pledges to implement the agreement, which the Albanian government has supported since the beginning.Meta said that he has been in continuous communication with leaders and ethnic Albanian political parties in both Macedonia and Kosovo.During a meeting with US Ambassador to Croatia Lawrence Rossin, Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano confirmed his government's rejection of the idea of "ethnic states".
Macedonia's integration into Europe will only be achieved through the Ohrid accord, Nano said.
In the past few weeks, the Albanian government has conducted a series of high-level bilateral meetings in an effort to strengthen relations with Macedonia.As part of those efforts, Albanian Army Chief of Staff Pellumb Qazimi paid an official visit to Skopje on 24 April.
There, he said that the Albanian armed forces support the integration, not the division, of Macedonia.Senior Albanian officials are convinced that their voices will be heard by ethnic Albanian opposition parties in Macedonia, because in the end these politicians are well aware of the electoral cost of a divorce from Tirana.
At the culmination of attempts to join NATO and the EU, the loss of international trust in regional policy will not be tolerated.




Serbia-Montenegro Takes Further Step Towards Improving Co-operation with The Hague 02/05/2003 Authorities in Serbia-Montenegro have ordered members of the armed forces to detain war crimes indictees found on army property, and to submit any information they have on individuals wanted by the UN tribunal.
The move is intended to dispel suspicions that the army is sheltering suspects, says Defence Minister Boris Tadic. (Deutsche Welle - 02/05/03; AFP, Reuters, Radio B92 - 01/05/03)The government of Serbia-Montenegro ordered the country's armed forces on Thursday (1 May) to arrest individuals wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague.
The army must now detain anyone who is indicted by the tribunal and happens to be on army property.
A statement issued by the defence ministry stressed the order applies to all professional military personnel as well as to civilian army staff."When the accused are found at a military facility, military vehicle, military airplane or ship, professional members of the army of Serbia-Montenegro are obliged to act according to their service rules and detain them," the order said, specifying that it covers all suspects, regardless of their current rank or position.
Personnel are to keep detainees at army premises, pending their handover to the interior ministry.The order obliges army personnel to submit any information they may possess about war crimes suspects to the command of the nearest army or institution immediately.
It also makes clear that failure to comply with this order will be considered a violation of military discipline.Defence Minister Boris Tadic said the move sought to dispel suspicions that the army was sheltering war crimes suspects, particularly Ratko Mladic, and to remove a potential barrier along Serbia-Montenegro's path to membership in international programmes such as NATO's Partnership for Peace.Tadic said he expects Mladic to surrender, adding that he will be arrested and turned over to the tribunal if he fails to do so and is found on Serbian territory.
The former Bosnian Serb general has been indicted for his alleged role in the massacre of more than 7,000 boys and men at Srebrenica in 1995.War crimes indictee Veselin Sljivancanin, one of three former Yugoslav officers indicted for the killings of about 200 Croatians and non-Serbs at Vukovar in 1991, is also likely to turn himself in, Tadic indicated.In other news, former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic has filed papers with the UN tribunal asking for a provisional release pending trial.
His lawyer, John Livingstone, argued that Milutinovic demonstrated good faith by surrendering voluntarily once his term as president was over.
He produced a letter written by the late Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, which praised Milutinovic's contribution to the peaceful transition to democracy in Serbia.
The lawyer also noted that the former president has undergone heart surgery, and said that preparing his defence at home would lessen the strain on his health.




US Pledges Support for Balkan Countries' NATO Integration 05/05/2003 Albania, Macedonia and Croatia signed the US-Adriatic Charter together with the United States on Friday (2 May) in Tirana.
US Secretary of State Powell praised the three Balkan nations for their achievements and promised continued support. By Alban Bala for Southeast European Times in Tirana - 05/05/03Thousands of young Albanians welcomed US Secretary of State Colin Powell as he walked along Tirana's main boulevard on Friday (2 May).
He was in the capital to meet with the foreign ministers of Albania, Macedonia and Croatia and to sign the US-Adriatic Charter.Powell said the charter aims to underscore "US support for the efforts the three countries make toward eventual full integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions, especially their NATO aspirations".Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva said in a joint press conference that they hope to see the United States give "an additional impetus in the spirit of Vilnius to their common endeavor towards a full membership in NATO".The Adriatic Charter, an initiative following the 1998 US-Baltic Charter, was proposed jointly by the presidents of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia to US President George W. Bush at the NATO Prague Summit in November 2002.
Bush welcomed the Adriatic initiative as a strong contribution toward his vision of a whole, free and peaceful Europe.
The charter foresees the establishment of a Partnership Commission, which would review the progress achieved towards meeting the required standards.Noting the achievements of the three Balkan countries, Powell said the United States intends to continue assisting them in implementing reforms.
Every country will be judged individually in terms of progress made, he added.The foreign ministers welcomed the US commitment, saying it would strengthen democratic institutions, civil society, the rule of law, market economies, human rights and civil liberties for all people in Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and other countries of Southeast Europe."Some problems we can solve by ourselves," Mitreva said.
"Some others we cannot.
But there are no problems we cannot solve together, we -- Macedonia, Albania, Croatia and the United States of America."During his four-hour visit to Tirana, Powell also signed the Article 98 Agreement with the Albanian government.
It requires Albania "to refrain from surrendering or transferring a US government official, employee, military personnel, or national by any means to the International Criminal Court without the consent of the United States."




Turkey Mulls Government Reforms 05/05/2003 Turkey's recently proposed draft legislation related to local administrative reform has aroused the suspicions of municipal authorities, secularist institutions, labour unions and intellectuals. By Fatih Baran for Southeast European Times in Istanbul - 05/05/03The Justice and Development Party (AKP) is promising to transfer a significant number of centralised bureaucratic functions to local authorities, paving the way for an American-style government.
With a comfortable majority in the Turkish Parliament, AKP should have no problem pushing through the reforms.
However, the proposed legislation is raising the hackles of stanch secularist institutions, intellectuals and labour unions.The country adopted the parliamentary system in 1920.
Even before the republic was founded, Turks debated whether or not a presidential system mirroring that of the United States would be preferable.
At the time, lack of roads, education and communication made it virtually impossible to hold direct elections, since the electorate was unable to vote under such circumstances.
This situation, plus a one-party system, contributed to a centralisation of power in Ankara.
Three attempts at multi-party politics ended with the military taking control of the government.
After the 1980 coup, however, political life in Turkey achieved a level of stability.As the population grew, so did the government in Ankara.
Reform has been on Turkey's agenda for a long time, but the options have been either to reduce the number of personnel or to devolve some of the power concentrated in Ankara.
Critics have complained for years that the central government has been unable to solve local problems, while centralisation contributes to inefficiency and constant delays.During the 1989-1993 presidency of the late Turgut Ozal, there were discussions about adopting a presidential system.
The initiative came from Ozal himself, who also proposed the creation of seven regions and the devolution of central power to them.
But conservatives and the military disapproved, citing the ongoing, low-intensity war with the autonomy-seeking Kurdistan Workers' Party, based in southeastern Turkey where most Kurds live.Ozal's motives in introducing such a system came under fire.
Many felt that he sought the transfer of elections from parliament to the people as a means of keeping himself in the post.
Presidential tenure is currently limited to a single, seven-year term.
Ozal's successor, the widely popular Suleyman Demirel, raised the issue again, and again it was dropped amid similar suspicions.Over the past ten years, successive governments have failed to reform the central administration in part because they were coalitions based on two or three parties of differing political persuasions.
In addition, government positions are traditionally handed out to influential party supporters or their relatives.The clamour for reform has grown, however.
The IMF recently joined the chorus, insisting on bureaucratic reform and the elimination of nonessential jobs, as part of the criteria for issuing credits to Turkey.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said 21 April that he would welcome an American-style government with a president and the devolution of centralised powers.Local administrative reform, as part of public administration reform, was one of the main platforms in AKP's election manifesto.
The draft legislation was submitted to parliament this past week.
Under the legislation, most ministries that have municipal offices would hand over their authority to local administration, with the exception of strategic ministries -- interior, foreign affairs, national education, health, finance and justice.
Supervision of the municipalities would fall to the audit department, while the authority to dismiss mayors would be transferred to the judiciary from the interior ministry.The reform would also bring some changes to the structure of the central government, leading to the merger of state institutions tied to deputy prime ministers and certain ministries.
The AKP argues that such reforms will increase efficiency in the public sector.As details emerged, however, the country's secular institutions, intellectuals and labour unions have launched an attack.
According to the unions, the closure of ministry offices would lead to unemployment and extra taxes.At the same time, the municipal mayors have objected to expanding the authority of government-appointed governors.
The legislation also provides for a Local Administrations Committee, whose chairman would be appointed by the government.
According to the mayors, these changes would block the authority they would acquire through the reforms.Intellectuals reject some aspects of reform, arguing that these will mean a greater burden placed on the shoulders of the long-suffering public.
Transferring the authority to impose taxes to local administrations would not strengthen them economically, and they would have to levy additional taxes.The intellectuals also warn that the AKP, built on the ashes of the Islamist Virtue Party, may be out to change Turkey's secular structure.
Despite protests to the contrary from Erdogan and other AKP officials, Turkey's secularist institutions, as well as its intellectuals, remain suspicious.
President Ahmet Sezer has accused the ruling party of trying to penetrate state administration with Islamic ideology.
In turn, Erdogan has criticised Sezer for blocking government appointments to public office.




Election Victory Likely for Montenegrin Ruling Coalition 06/05/2003 Since the major Montenegrin opposition parties have not found a common candidate, it is almost certain that the ruling coalition's candidate, Filip Vujanovic, will win Sunday's presidential election. Analysis by Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 06/05/03Montenegro will definitely get a new president in the 11 May election.
The favourite is the ruling bloc's candidate, Filip Vujanovic, who is currently speaker of the legislature.Other candidates include Miodrag Zivkovic, representing the Liberal Alliance of Montenegro -- an opposition party that strongly advocates independence -- and independent candidate Dragan Hajdukovic, who advocates the concept of Montenegro as an "ecological country".The previous two election rounds in Montenegro failed because voter turnout was below 50 per cent.
Those outcomes resulted from a decision by the largest opposition bloc, the For Change coalition, to boycott the election.
Since then, however, election laws have been amended and an opposition boycott would be pointless.This time, the three leading opposition parties comprising the For Change coalition failed to agree on a common candidate, and the coalition has fallen apart.
Serbian-Montenegrin Ambassador to Italy Miodrag Lekic and former Montenegrin Interior Minister Andrija Jovicevic have been mentioned as possible opposition candidates.
The two could have jeopardised Vujanovic's victory, but their candidacies were dropped because of disagreements with the coalition leaders.According to the latest public opinion polls, 35.8 per cent of citizens are likely to vote for Vujanovic, 8.9 per cent for Zivkovic, and 3 per cent for independent candidate Hajdukovic.
Around 33 per cent of citizens will not vote.Although the ruling coalition's election victory is almost certain, polls show they face another threat: public distrust.
Polls indicate that 45.6 per cent of citizens do not believe Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic's government will complete the promised reforms, and 47.1 per cent are dissatisfied with the results achieved so far.




Milosevic-Era Security Chiefs Indicted for War Crimes 06/05/2003 Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic, already jailed in connection with the killing of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, now face extradition to The Hague. (AP, Reuters, AFP, BBC, VOA, Radio B92 - 05/05/03)The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has indicted former Serbian state security chief Jovica Stanisic and his deputy, Franko Simatovic, charging them with crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war.
The charges stem from their control over Serb paramilitaries in Eastern Slavonia and Krajina during the 1991-1995 conflict in Croatia."The indictment includes persecution of Croatians, Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats in Krajina, Eastern Slavonia, areas of Croatia and various territories throughout Bosnia," UN tribunal spokesman Jim Landale said Monday (5 May).
In addition, Stanisic and Simatovic are charged with the murder and deportation of Croats and Muslims during the conflicts that followed Yugoslavia's break-up in the early 1990s.Stanisic held the post of security chief during the Milosevic regime and is said to have been one of the former president's most trusted allies until at least 1998.
According to UN prosecutors, he had overall responsibility for the country's paramilitary units, implicated in various atrocities during the Balkan conflicts.Under Milosevic, Simatovic headed a unit of Serbia's state security division and became the first commander of an elite police force, the Special Operations Unit.
Also known as the Red Berets, the unit was created in 1991 and has been linked to the former paramilitaries.
It was disbanded following the 12 March murder of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.The day after the assassination, Stanisic and Simatovic were arrested.
According to sources in Belgrade, they could be handed over to the UN court within the next three weeks.Serbia-Montenegro Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic, who also chairs the country's council on co-operation with the ICTY, said procedures for the transfer would be launched once the indictment arrives in Belgrade.
"I believe the final decision will be that they will be transferred to The Hague," Svilanovic told Radio B92 on Monday.Last month the Serbia-Montenegro Parliament amended the country's law on co-operation with the ICTY, scrapping an article that, for all practical purposes, disallowed the extradition of suspects indicted after April 2002.In other news, Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic announced that authorities have mounted a massive manhunt for retired Col Veselin Sljivancanin, a Yugoslav officer charged with the killings of 200 civilians in Vukovar in 1991.
He is the last of the so-called "Vukovar Three" -- the group of former officers indicted for this atrocity -- who remains at large.
Meanwhile, the UN tribunal reported that the trial of four former Bosnian Serb officers has been postponed until Thursday.
No reasons were given for the delay.
The four men will be tried for their alleged roles in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.




Bulgarian President Says Organised Crime Report Incomplete 06/05/2003 Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov has criticised a recent report on organised crime, saying it is incomplete and fails to illustrate the level of power held by the underworld. (Various sources - 30/04/03 - 04/05/03)Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov has criticised a recent report on organised crime, warning that it is incomplete and fails to shed light on the underworld's levels of power."Bulgaria will never solve the problem of organised crime without confronting the "big bosses", Parvanov said, adding that the debate set in motion by the report must continue.
The key point, he said, was to determine the legislative, professional and government measures that need to be taken for an effective fight against organised crime."The report displays double standards.
It names several magistrates, and probably has good reason to do so, but we should also trace the other line -- of possible connections between organised crime and politicians," Parvanov told reporters while on a visit to Bulgaria's southern town of Belovo on Thursday (1 May)."I will continue to insist that the chiefs of the special services supply me with all the information they have on the ties between politicians, magistrates and interior ministry representatives with organised crime," the president said.
"If there is no such information, this should be stated clearly so as to dispel all doubts."Asked several days later if he knew the names of those he described as "sharks" in the criminal world, Parvanov said such information has been reported to the Consultative Security Council.On 30 April, the government announced a plan submitted by Interior Minister Georgi Petkanov, aimed at improving interaction between institutions and the regulatory framework needed for a successful fight against organised crime, corruption, smuggling rings and money laundering.The plan proposes the establishment of a Co-ordinating Centre for Crime Control, comprising representatives of the National Service for Combating Organised Crime, the Economic Police, the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office, the National Customs Agency, the General Tax Directorate, the Financial Intelligence Agency and local prosecution and investigative offices.Commenting on the new structure, Parvanov said its work would only be successful if the representatives of the judiciary participated on an equal footing.
He reiterated his belief in the need for a special structure -- outside and independent of the executive -- for fighting corruption.




Former Bosnian Serb Officer Admits Guilt for Srebrenica Massacre 07/05/2003 One of four Bosnian Serb officers indicted in connection with the 1995 Srebrenica massacre has cut a last-minute deal with prosecutors at The Hague, and is now offering to testify against his fellow defendants. (Reuters, The New York Times - 07/05/03; AP, AFP, VOA - 06/05/03)As part of a plea deal with UN war crimes prosecutors, a former Bosnian Serb captain agreed on Tuesday (6 May) to plead guilty to one charge of persecution, a crime against humanity, in connection with the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.
Momir Nikolic also agreed to testify against other war crimes suspects.
In return, the prosecution agreed to drop four other charges against him, including genocide, and to propose a prison sentence of up to 20 years."Momir Nikolic agrees that he is pleading guilty to Count Five [persecutions] because he is in fact guilty and acknowledges full responsibility for his actions that are the subject of the indictment," Reuters quoted the plea agreement as saying.Along with Nikolic, three other Bosnian Serb officers -- Vidoje Blagojevic, Dragan Obrenovic and Dragan Jokic -- have also been indicted in connection with the massacre, in which more than 7,000 Muslim boys and men were systematically slaughtered.
Initially, all four indictees pleaded not guilty to the UN tribunal's charges against them, which include genocide or complicity to commit genocide, extermination, murder, and forcible transfer of Bosnian MuslimsIn early July 1995, when the Bosnian Serb Army staged its attack on Srebrenica, Nikolic was deputy commander for security and intelligence of the Bratunac Brigade, which was involved in the events.As part of the agreement with the UN prosecutors, Nikolic has admitted that more than 7,000 Bosnian Muslim men from the Srebrenica area, aged 16 to 60, were murdered between 12 July 1995 and 1 November 1995 and that he committed the atrocities "because the victims were Bosnian Muslims".In a signed personal declaration attached to the agreement, he also confessed to attending a meeting on 12 July 1995 to discuss "the operation to transport the women and children to Kladanj and separate, detain and kill the able-bodied Muslim men in Potocari".
His superiors then told him it was his "responsibility to help co-ordinate and organise this operation".He also admitted his involvement in the exhumation from mass graves and reburial of those killed in the massacre.
"I co-ordinated the effort to exhume and rebury Muslims from mid-September to October 1995," Nikolic said.The surprise change of plea came on the day the UN tribunal was scheduled to open the trial against Nikolic, Blagojevic, Obrenovic and Jokic.
It has now been postponed until 14 May.Nikolic's agreement "to testify against the co-accused and in any other trials hearing or other proceedings before the tribunal," makes him the first Bosnian Serb officer ready to shed light on the Srebrenica massacre.
Prosecutors are expected to seek a 15 year to 20 year prison sentence for Nikolic, while the defence is expected to call for a 10-year term.However, the agreement reached between the prosecution and the defence, including the sentencing recommendations, is not binding for the judges.
The judge who heard the plea on Tuesday raised several objections and asked both the defence and the prosecutors to submit a new plea bargain agreement.A teacher by profession, Nikolic, 48, was transferred to The Hague in April 2002 following his arrest by SFOR troops.Others indicted over the Srebrenica massacre include war crimes fugitives Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic.
In 2001, the UN court sentenced former Bosnian Serb general Radislav Krstic to 46 years in prison for genocide at Srebrenica.




Turkish Construction Companies Face Probe in Quake Aftermath 07/05/2003 Turkish officials say faulty building and substandard materials may be partially to blame for the devastating destruction caused by the 1 May earthquake.
The tragedy has revived a debate on construction practices in Turkey. (Various sources -- 04/05/03 - 06/05/03)A number of construction companies in Turkey have come under scrutiny following the earthquake in the eastern province of Bingol on 1 May.
Hundreds of buildings collapsed or were badly damaged in the catastrophe.Among them was the Celtiksuyu public boarding school, built in 1998.
The four-story structure became a pile of rubble within seconds as the quake, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, shook the region in the early hours of the day.
Of the 198 students that were in their beds at the time, 115 were rescued and 83 perished.Bingol Governor Huseyin Avni Cos said Monday (5 May) the overall death toll had reached 176.
According to Cos, 309 buildings in the region were completely destroyed.
More than 2,500 are damaged and dangerous to live in, and almost as many are damaged but still habitable.Many are blaming shoddy construction practices, arguing that proper implementation of strict construction standards would have resulted in fewer casualties.
Some experts have attributed the "pancake" collapse of the boarding school to insufficient reinforcement and use of substandard materials."Just as it might be faulty building, the placement may have been wrong, or there may have been neglect by state officials doing the inspection.
The investigation will find out who is responsible.
The builders will be arrested sooner or later," Reuters quoted Cos as saying.On Monday, the province's chief prosecutor, Ali Erbay, said he was opening an investigation, promising it "will be completed in the shortest possible time".
He also said an arrest warrant has been issued for the owner of the Bozkus Insaat company, which built the boarding school.The tragedy has revived a heated public debate over the quality of construction in Turkey, where earthquakes are common.
The country lies on the active North Anatolian fault.Two major earthquakes near the city of Adapazari killed nearly 20,000 people in 1999.
Assessments later indicated that poor construction contributed to that death toll.
Investigations found that contractors bought off politicians to win construction projects, which they then built using cheap, substandard materials rather than the high quality ones for which they billed.While Turkey has since imposed much stricter regulations, law enforcement and inspection are said to be inefficient, leaving the construction sector vulnerable to corruption.After a government meeting Monday, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said legislative changes would be made.Meanwhile, Tuncay Taymaz, head of the earthquake seismology department at Istanbul Technical University, urged authorities to consider a national "master plan" for the next major earthquake to hit the country.
"We keep writing reports and making suggestions, but nobody listens," the seismologist said.




Serbia's Economic Perspective 09/05/2003 It is widely recognised that the murder of late Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic is a reason to hasten economic reforms, and many officials in Serbia realise that they have a stake in the vision that Djindjic struggled to achieve. By Dejan Grastic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 08/05/03During the state of emergency in Serbia, more than 1,000 people were arrested.
Zoran Djindjic's alleged assassins are in custody, and officials say the murders of Ivan Stambolic and Milan Pantic have been solved.
Other crimes perpetrated during the regime of Slobodan Milosevic have been uncovered, and members of the police and judiciary with alleged links to organised crime have been sent to jail.
It is widely recognised that the murder of Djindjic is a reason to hasten economic reforms, and many officials realise that they have a stake in the vision that Djindjic struggled to achieve.According to Serbian Finance Minister Bozidar Djelic, there will be no exceptions in arrangements and all agreed credits will be realised.
EU government leaders have promised help with the balance of payments, by means of the CARDS programme and all other forms of support associated with the process of stabilisation.On Wednesday (7 May), the European Agency for Reconstruction announced it has approved an aid package, totalling 229m euros, for Serbia-Montenegro in 2003.
Richard Zink, the head of the agency, said the lion's share of the funds would go for economic reforms and reconstruction.As predicted by economic experts, the final clash with the mafia has greatly encouraged foreign investors.
During a visit to Washington by Serbian officials, the IMF board approved a loan of $137m.
Goran Pitic, the minister for economic relationships with foreign countries, announced that a new sponsors conference could be held in Belgrade this autumn.
Pitic believes $1m could be raised for the construction of institutions, and for energy, traffic, health services and education.Vesna Kostic, a spokeswoman for the Belgrade office of the World Bank, confirmed that her institution is prepared to provide financial help to Serbia.
That help would come in the form of a $540m credit through 2004.
She also said that the payment could be delivered quickly.Meanwhile, the announcement of tenders for the tobacco industry in Nis and Vranje are expected soon and should attract many of the world's leading companies.
Minister of Economy and Privatisation Aleksandar Vlahović confirmed that the announced participants in the tenders are willing to continue co-operation.
All see Serbia as an attractive investment destination, he said.Mladjan Dinkic, governor of the Central Bank in Serbia, said that combating economic crime is a logical continuation of the clash with organised crime.
"It is time for a complete renaissance.
If we establish a legal state and form a strong police force, we will have a chance to create stable conditions for rapid economic reforms."




NATO Welcomes Serbia-Montenegro Military Reform, Offers Help 08/05/2003 Defence Minister Boris Tadic, meeting in Brussels with NATO ambassadors, presented Serbia-Montenegro's programme for military restructuring.
Tadic said he now expects his country will join the Partnership for Peace programme this year. (AP, Reuters, RFE/RL, Radio B92, Tanjug, Washington File - 07/05/03)Serbia-Montenegro's hopes of joining NATO received a boost Wednesday (7 May) as ambassadors of the alliance hailed the country's military reform efforts and offered assistance in implementing further democratic changes.
The expression of support came a day after Belgrade moved to place the general staff of the federal army under civilian control.Defence Minister Boris Tadic said he now expects Serbia-Montenegro will join the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme this year, adding that earlier PfP membership is a key goal of the administration.Meeting with NATO ambassadors in Brussels, Tadic and Army Chief-of-Staff Branko Krga presented a programme for military restructuring and civilian control, which they said is already in progress.On Tuesday, Serbia-Montenegro's Supreme Defence Council announced that the army general staff would become an organisational unit within the defence ministry, and that military officials would be appointed by the Council of Ministers of the joint state, as recommended by the defence minister."At the heart of our national strategy for military reform lies our commitment to the creation of a modern non-aggressive army that is under strict civilian control," Tadic was quoted as telling the ambassadors.
He also sought NATO's support for his country's efforts to fight organised crime and corruption, which he said has plagued the Balkans for years.According to Belgrade-based radio B92, Tadic and Krga also presented Serbia-Montenegro's concept for regional security, which calls for a common Balkan security policy and seeks to ensure there are no alliances between some Balkan states against others.An official quoted by AP described Tadic's presentation as "very convincing", and said NATO has offered to send an expert team of reform advisers to the country.
"The murder of [Zoran]
Djindjic galvanised the emphasis on reform.
There is a sense of urgency that did not exist before and we want to develop closer relations," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.At the same time, the ambassadors cautioned that Serbia-Montenegro still has much to do in order to meet the conditions for PfP membership, including full co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal and the International Court of Justice."We will continue to co-operate with The Hague tribunal and I am sure that we will meet all the pre-conditions.
I want to believe that we will become a member of the PfP this year," Tadic said.Acknowledging the reform efforts, US President George W Bush on Tuesday authorised sales of military equipment to Serbia-Montenegro.
A White House statement said Bush "determined that defence co-operation with Serbia and Montenegro will encourage continued defence reform and strengthen Serbia and Montenegro's democratic institutions".




EBRD Pledges Further Support to Post-Communist Countries 09/05/2003 Southeast Europe has made considerable progress, but challenges remain, according to the EBRD.
The Bank held its 12th Annual Meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan earlier this week. (Various sources -- 30/04/03 - 05/05/03)According to the EBRD, trade and investment links among all Southeast European countries have grown, and the region has made remarkable progress.
But the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic is a reminder that the transition process is still fragile in this part of Europe, the Bank warned.The assassination "highlighted the continuing risks and the continuing need for strong international support for this region.
We have been impressed by the progress made in Serbia-Montenegro since that tragic event," Clare Short, the chairwoman of the EBRD Board of Governors, said in her closing statement at the institution's 12th Annual Meeting in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, on 4 May and 5 May.The EBRD was established in 1991, following the collapse of communism, with a mandate to "help build market economies and democracies" in 27 countries stretching from central Europe to central Asia.
Today, it is the largest single investor in the region and mobilises significant foreign direct investment beyond its own financing.Over the past 12 years, total loan commitments to the 27 countries have grown to 21.6 billion euros, of which 3.9 billion were loaned in 2002 alone.
In addition, last year the Bank was instrumental in mobilising investments totalling 8.8 billion euros, which represent more than a quarter of the foreign direct investment in the region.
EBRD investment in the Southeast European countries increased by more than 25 per cent over 2001, reaching 865m euros.What makes the EBRD unique among international financial institutions is that it demands democratic reforms, as well as economic reforms, from borrower states.Addressing the board of governors, EBRD President Jean Lemierre said two lessons could be drawn after 12 years of experience in transition, namely that "prosperity comes from commitment to open markets" and that "close relations with neighbours drive progress at home".According to the EBRD, one of the most tangible results of the commitment to reform is the fact that eight countries in its region of operations are set to become EU members next year.
Two others -- Bulgaria and Romania -- are expected to follow soon.The meeting in Tashkent was the first to take place in a Central Asian country.
Previous annual meetings were hosted by Eastern and Central European countries, including Bulgaria and Romania.
The choice for this year's venue generated controversy, given Uzbekistan's poor human rights record.
According to human rights organisations, there are an estimated 6,500 political prisoners in the former Soviet republic, and many have been tortured.
The Bank, however, said its main goal this year was to place the focus on Central Asia.The forum brought together about 3,000 participants, including businessmen, NGOs, journalists and officials.




SFOR Troops Detain Suspected Member of War Crimes Fugitive's Support Network 09/05/2003 A man thought to have acted as the driver and bodyguard for war crimes fugitive Lubomir Borovcanin has been detained following a joint operation by SFOR and Bosnian Serb police. (BBC, Reuters, AFP, SFOR - 08/05/03)SFOR has announced the arrest of a man suspected of helping Bosnian Serb war crimes fugitive Lubomir Borovcanin, the wartime commander of a special police brigade, evade justice.
The detainee, Dragan Vasiljevic, was apprehended early Thursday (8 May), during a joint operation by SFOR and Bosnian Serb police."Vasiljevic is suspected of being part of the network supporting Borovcanin and is thought to have acted as his driver and bodyguard," SFOR spokesman Jeff Coverdale told reporters."This detention was carried out under SFOR's continuing mandate to maintain a safe and secure environment within Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)," SFOR said in a press release.
It called for continued co-operation by leaders in the country's two entities, the BiH Federation and Republika Srpska (RS).Earlier this year, High Representative Paddy Ashdown announced a campaign targeting individuals and institutions that help war crimes indictees avoid arrest.
Vasiljevic's detention is the first conducted by SFOR as part of this campaign.
Ashdown also imposed financial sanctions against former RS Justice Minister Momcilo Mandic, thought supply crucial help to the UN war crimes tribunal's most wanted indictee, Radovan Karadzic.
Mandic has since been arrested by Serbian police in connection with the investigation into Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's assassination.Vasiljevic was arrested at home in the town of Bjelina in northeastern BiH.
Assisted by RS police, SFOR troops surrounded the house before breaking in and arresting him at 0700 local time.
Vasiljevic's computer and mobile phones were reportedly confiscated.Coverdale said Vasiljevic was being questioned by SFOR personnel and would later be handed over to the RS authorities for further action.
SFOR's mandate allows peacekeepers to hold BiH citizens in detention for an unlimited period of time.A former senior Bosnian Serb police officer, Borovcanin was indicted in September 2002 on six counts of complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws or customs of war.
He was allegedly involved in the extermination, murder, persecution, forcible transfer and torture of Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica, Potcari, Zvornik and other areas in July 1995.In an unrelated development, the UN tribunal said Thursday the trial against one of the highest ranking Bosnian Serb indictees -- former speaker of the RS Parliament and one-time Karadzic ally Momcilo Krajisnik -- is being put off indefinitely.
The trial had been due to open on Monday.
The court attributed the move to the suspension of Krajisnik's lawyer by US legal authorities.




Albanians to Help Rebuild Iraq 12/05/2003 Albanian companies are interested in participating in the post-war reconstruction of Iraq.
The United States has invited Albanian firms to invest, and has also proposed that an Albanian official become governor of Basra. By Ardi Pulaj for Southeast European Times in Tirana - 12/05/03Albania, which provided support to the US-led coalition during the war against Saddam Hussein's regime, now wants to join efforts to build a free Iraq."After 12 years of transition, domestic companies have the proper capacity to participate in the investments in Iraq," said Albanian Minister of Economy Arben Malaj.The United States has invited Albanian companies to do so.
In Tirana, the invitation is viewed as a reward for the support the country demonstrated during the war.
Albania allowed coalition forces to use its territories, ports and air spaces and has sent 74 commando troops to Iraq for peacekeeping missions.Concerning the invitation, Malaj said "the participation of Albanian companies is a good chance for them.
Now they have the possibility to participate in a new and long-term partnership.""Our companies can contribute in construction investments, based on the experience they already have in this field, while for other projects I think that the Albanian companies need more help to increase the possibilities of contacts with US companies," Malaj said.
Albanian companies should invest more in the marketing sector to create a better and clearer profile of their own activities, and also to increase their contacts with foreign partners, he added.Meanwhile, the US Trade Association (USTA) is organising a meeting this month that will be attended by representatives of USAID and the US Embassy in Tirana.
The purpose of the meeting will be to define the criteria that Albanian companies must meet to facilitate their co-operation with US companies working on Iraq's reconstruction."The role of USTA is that of mediator between interested Albanian companies and US companies," said USTA managing director Floreta Luli-Faber.
"We also will assist with the procedures for completing the documents.
We admit there are a large number of Albanian companies that are interested in participating in Iraq's reconstruction."The US State Department recently offered the position of governor of Basra to Albanian Deputy Foreign Minister Luan Hajdaraga for the next six months.Albania's ties with Washington entered a new era during the Iraq war.
Albanians are grateful to the United States for ending ethnic cleansing by Slobodan Milosevic's regime in Kosovo.
That gratitude was among the reasons for deciding to support war in Iraq.




Recent Arrests Signal More Co-operation with War Crimes Tribunal 12/05/2003 Several arrests of war crimes suspects suggest that the political climate in countries of the former Yugoslavia may have changed.
With conditions turning against them, the remaining fugitives are likely to face the UN tribunal sooner or later. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 12/05/03The recent arrests of several high-profile war crimes suspects is a sign not only that the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) may be able to close in five years, but also that the region's politics have changed and that justice will be served regardless of the suspects' ethnicities.A lawyer at an NGO that supports the ICTY said that while talks have been held to close the tribunal by 2008, the arrests signal the changing political atmosphere in Serbia-Montenegro."[There have been] changes in politicians and the political scene there, and in their willingness to be more co-operative with the tribunal -- access to archives, authorising witnesses to testify, sending more accused," said Coalition for International Justice lawyer Judith Armatta.On 5 April, Croatian authorities arrested Bosnian Croat suspect Ivica Rajic, who was indicted for the October 1993 massacre of Muslim civilians in central Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
About a week later, NATO peacekeepers arrested former Bosnian Army commander Naser Oric and transferred him to The Hague.
Oric was indicted for war crimes against Serb civilians around Srebrenica in 1992 and 1993.His arrest has been controversial, because Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic -- Bosnian Serb leaders indicted for the massacre of 8,000 Muslim civilians at Srebrenica in 1995 -- are still fugitives.
But Carlos Yordan, a visiting instructor to The Hague from Hamilton College in the United States, said the arrest highlighted the court's impartiality."If he has committed or ordered others to carry out war crimes he must be tried, and the tribunal will decide whether he is guilty or not," Yordan said.
He added that some of the high-profile suspects in BiH are now a liability to the nationalist political parties they once served."Some of these 'big fish' are a threat to these parties' ability to reform themselves and appeal to a new breed of voters that will vote according to nationalist leaders' ability to deliver important social services, create jobs, address corruption and so forth," he said.
"[The suspects] are part of mafia organisations and they profit from black markets that must be eradicated if BiH is to reform its economy and attract needed investments."Neighbouring Serbia's recent moves -- including bringing in former Republika Srpska Justice Minister and close Karadzic associate Momcilo Mandic for questioning, and voting with Montenegro to increase co-operation with the tribunal -- have been surprising to many who predicted the end of that co-operation following the March assassination of Zoran Djindjic, Serbia's reformist prime minister.Armatta said that those actions, shakeups in the military and BiH High Representative Paddy Ashdown's initiative to cut Karadzic's financial support networks meant that both fugitives would eventually face the tribunal."What we've seen with Ashdown is a real decisiveness to do something," she said.
"There's also a recognition of some others in the international community that to close down [the ICTY] without having Karadzic and Mladic here would in some ways be a defeat."




Ruling Coalition Candidate Wins Montenegrin Presidential Election 12/05/2003 Preliminary, unofficial results show that Filip Vujanovic, nominated by the Montenegrin ruling coalition, is the republic's new president.
He will hold office for the next five years. By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 12/05/03Filip Vujanovic, the speaker of parliament and a former prime minister, won a landslide victory in Sunday's (11 May) Montenegrin presidential election, according to preliminary results from several polling organisations.
The Podgorica-based Centre for Election Monitoring said exit polls showed Vujanovic won more than 63 per cent of the vote; other organisations put the figure at 65 per cent.
Official results will be announced in several days.Vujanovic, 48, a lawyer and father of three, has also previously held the posts of justice minister and interior minister.
His victory gives Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic's ruling coalition, which triumphed in last year's legislative elections, near-total power in Montenegro.
It also follows two previous presidential elections that failed because of low turnout.
Afterwards, changes were made to electoral laws eliminating turnout requirements.Miodrag Zivkovic, from the radically pro-independence Liberal Alliance, came in second with 31 per cent.
He conceded defeat shortly after the first results were announced, saying he was pleased with his performance.
Independent candidate Dragan Hajdukovic, who ran on an environmental platform, finished third with 3.9 per cent.The election was marred by major boycott: over half of voters did not vote.
One explanation is that the three largest opposition parties, which form a coalition called Together for Change, did not nominate a candidate.
The coalition was hit by internal strife before the election and the parties decided to go their separate ways.
Their supporters, who back strong ties with Serbia, opted for a boycott because Vujanovic, Zivkovic and Hajdukovic all support independence.Addressing supporters late Sunday, Vujanovic pledged to call a referendum for independence after three years.
He promised to bring Montenegro closer to the EU and ensure that Serbia-Montenegro becomes a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace programme.
In February, Serbia-Montenegro replaced the old Yugoslav federation; the new loose union gives both republics almost complete independence, but keeps them linked by a slender central administration.
Each republic has the right to hold a referendum on independence after three years."I will be the president of all citizens, who will lead Montenegro towards the EU," Vujanovic told reporters, adding his priorities would include economic and social reforms.




Group Finds Human Rights "On Hold" in Turkey 13/05/2003 The human rights issue has dogged Turkey for decades.
It is still too early to see whether or not the Justice and Development Party (AKP) can make a difference. By Fatih Baran for Southeast European Times in Istanbul - 13/05/03The Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD) has released a new report evaluating the country's human rights situation during the first three months of 2003.
According to the report, which primarily covers prohibitions on free speech and instances of torture, there were no positive developments."We have underlined the fact of torture in this report as has been done previously," the IHD said.
"Unfortunately, we could not observe any progress in this field.
Again in the field of freedom of expression, we observe that public prosecutors and judges do not interpret the codes in favour of freedom."Turkey has made strides, however, to improve human rights in broadcasting and provide education in Kurdish, in keeping with aspirations to become a full member of the EU.
The coalition government of former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit implemented a number of reforms last year.
The government of former Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has finalised them, while stressing their critical importance to Turkey's success with the EU.However, the IHD report indicates a continuing lack of freedom of expression.
It finds that "four radio stations and one local television channel were suspended for 180 days from broadcasting by the High Council for Radio and Television.
Six newspapers and journals were closed for 79 days; nine journalists were taken into custody; and seven books, 17 magazines, seven newspapers and three posters were confiscated and banned on charges such as offending Turkish morality, inciting people against different political factions, etc."Turkish law forbids torture, but there have been notable lapses in punishing those responsible, with the accused given minor sentences or released altogether.
In one well-known case, police were accused of torturing teenagers arrested for putting up anti-government posters.
The case dragged on for seven years.
It was only in March that ten policemen drew prison sentences of five to ten years.
The case's speedy resolution, just four months after AKP assumed power, raises the question of how the government can bring its influence to bear on the courts and how independent the judiciary is in Turkey.
It's still too early to tell.




New Anti-Corruption Strategy in Macedonia May Duplicate Existing Initiative 13/05/2003 The government of Macedonia is cracking down on crime and corruption, starting at the top.
But does its new programme duplicate one already proposed by a state commission? By Slobodanka Jovanovska for Southeast European Times in Skopje - 13/05/03The past few years have been a paradise for corrupt politicians in Macedonia.
Enormous amounts of money were given to some parliamentarians, public monies were transferred to private pockets, state-owned companies were sold to foreign investors at depressed prices, and customs officers took bribes instead of controlling the border.
Corruption was so pervasive that the International Crisis Group, in a recent report, said "every country has its own mafia, but in Macedonia the mafia has a country".The new government, which took power in September 2002, vowed to fight corruption and organised crime.
Eight months later, the list of senior party officials under investigation or in custody is a long one.
It includes many high-ranking members of VMRO-DPMNE and the Democratic Party of Albanians, a former minister, general managers of state-owned companies, members of parliament and directors of public institutions.In April, the government promoted a new anti-corruption strategy that it intends to introduce to parliament.
It plans to use the strategy as a base for constitutional and legislative changes that will provide legal measures for punishment, and eliminate the conditions for corruption at high levels and in public administration.Under the initiative, secret agents will keep track of the personal incomes and wealth of politicians, judges, public prosecutors, custom officers, policemen, tax collectors and members of other professions considered the most corrupt in Macedonia.
Government officials will not be protected by political immunity as they were before.
New institutions will be created to control donations to political parties, and a new council will be empowered to dismiss or appoint for life public prosecutors and judges.Though not yet approved, the strategy has provoked mixed public reaction, especially since the country already has a commission for fighting corruption.
It recently organised a forum, bringing together 40 experts from Macedonia and the Council of Europe to prepare its own anti-corruption programme.
Commission president Slagjana Taseva believes the government's proposal only partly addresses the complex problem of corruption.
The president of the Macedonian NGO Transparency, Zoran Jachev, has a similar opinion.
"The strategy," he says, "is just a copy of some others which proved to be inefficient in other countries.""There is no comparison between this government and the previous one from the aspect of corruption," he says.
"I believe that this government has a strong political will to stop the corruption.
The problem is: how long will this commitment last?"According to Jachev, pressure from the international community to fight corruption and organised crime is likely to be so persistent that the government will have no other choice.
But the fight in Macedonia, he argues, must be co-ordinated, not duplicated; to be effective, the government should focus on the commission's initiatives.




US Calls for Increased Communication Between Belgrade and Pristina 13/05/2003 Stephan Minikes, the US Ambassador to OSCE, believes dialogue would help "ease tensions and reinforce ongoing efforts to promote meaningful Serb participation" in Kosovo institutions. (Washington File - 12/05/03)Building a multiethnic, democratic society in Kosovo that respects the rule of law is essential both for the sake of its people and for the greater stability of the entire region, the US Ambassador to the OSCE told members of the 55-nation body.
Addressing the OSCE's Permanent Council, Stephan Minikes also called for increased dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina."The situation in Kosovo, and in the Balkans more generally, continues to be of great importance to the United States," Minikes said in Vienna on Thursday (8 May), noting the recent visits of Secretary of State Colin Powell to Belgrade and Tirana and his upcoming trip to Sofia.In a speech following a report by UNMIK chief Michael Steiner, the ambassador voiced Washington's support for efforts to "enhance and sustain" the dialogue on technical issues between Belgrade and Pristina.
Through its field missions, Minikes said, the OSCE could also play a role in the process.Increased communication would help "ease tensions and reinforce ongoing efforts to promote meaningful Serb participation" in Kosovo's provisional institutions, the US official said.
Voicing support for ongoing efforts to transfer all non-reserved authorities to the provisional institutions of self-government by the end of 2003, Minikes said work in this area should be carried out in close co-operation with local leaders."The effective implementation of Security Council Resolution 1244 requires a healthy dialogue between UNMIK and the international community.
This includes more consultation with Belgrade," Minikes said.He also noted the need for improvements in a number of areas, such as creating a favourable environment for sustainable refugee returns.
For this, he said, "respect for minority rights is absolutely required".Minikes noted Washington's commitment to provide more than $14m this year towards continuing the momentum for sustainable returns to Kosovo, and called on international donors "to follow-through as soon as possible to make 2003 truly a watershed year for minority returns".Other areas the ambassador cited as needing improvements were legislation and respect for the rule of law.
Urging local leaders and lawmakers to focus on laws that address "practical problems" and are congruent with their mandate, Minikes said UNMIK should make sure that all legislation is in line with constitutional safeguards and can be quickly enforced.Stressing contributions the United States and other international donors have made to the fight against organised crime in the Balkans, Minikes said acts of violence and terror would not be tolerated.
"We therefore urge all local leaders in Kosovo to speak up and take a stand against violence and terror of any kind."




Canada Provides Health Care Reform, Refugee Assistance to BiH 14/05/2003 During a three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Canadian Minister for International Co-operation Susan Whelan reaffirmed her country's support for peace and prosperity in BiH and the Balkans. (CNEWS, CTV - 11/05/03; AFP, Canada News Wire, Canadian International Development Agency - 09/05/03)Canadian Minister for International Co-operation Susan Whelan arrived on a three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on Friday (9 May) to reiterate Ottawa's support for reform efforts and the refugee return process."Canada remains committed to peace and prosperity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Balkans region as a whole.
We will continue to work with the people and the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to build a better future," Whelan said.As she left for BiH, the minister announced new contributions totalling $8.7m, of which $6m is to underpin the third phase of the Family Medicine Development Programme.
Initiated in 1995 and run by Canada's Queen's University, the programme seeks to improve the practice of family medicine and support the disabled, war victims and youth.
The new funding is meant to ensure its continuation throughout BiH, as well as its expansion into Serbia-Montenegro.Refugee returns were another key item on Whelan's agenda.
According to the minister, $2m of the new contributions will be donated to the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to find long-term solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons in the Balkans.Of the remaining funding, $550,000 is to be used for strengthening Canada's participation in SFOR, NATO's mine detection activities, and infrastructure reconstruction projects for returning refugees and internally displaced persons.Finally, $150,000 has been earmarked to support the Canadian International Demining Corps' efforts to improve mine detection dog teams' capacity to clear land for returning refugees.During her visit, Whelan met High Representative Paddy Ashdown and other international officials.
On Saturday, Whelan and Canadian Ambassador to BiH Sam Hanson attended a ceremony to mark the opening of a restored community centre and unveil a plaque in memory of Sgt Marc Leger.
The $48,000 project is situated in the Livno Valley in eastern BiH, where Leger was on rotation until 2000.
While there, he led efforts to repair the homes of returning Bosnian Serb refugees and helped them choose community leaders.More than half of the project's funding came from a memorial fund Leger's widow set up following his death in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan, while the rest was covered by the Canadian International Development Agency.




2004 Olympics Organisers Launch Worldwide Ticket Sales Campaign 14/05/2003 The first day of ticket sales for the 2004 Summer Olympics surpassed the same day of sales for the Sydney Games in 2000. (Reuters, AP, AFP - 13/05/03; Washington Post, VOA, AP, Reuters - 12/05/03)Tickets for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens went on sale Monday (12 May) and organisers said demand was high on the first day of the month-long campaign.
With about three million tickets set aside for the public, they advised people to make their bookings early, rather than wait until the closing date of 12 June."It's still too early to say, but you can be sure that there will be great demand for them so it is best to act now and book tickets early," Greek government spokesman Telemachos Hytiris said.Although concrete figures for Monday's sales were unavailable, ticketing manager Mary Manolopoulou said requests from national Olympic committees, which sell tickets to the public, exceeded the initial orders for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.Residents of non-EU countries can buy tickets either through their national Olympic committees or an authorised dealer, while those living in any of the EU member states can do so through the 2004 Olympics Web site, by phone or at a branch of Greece-based Alpha Bank.
The three US licensed agents -- Cartan, Jet Set Sports and CoSport -- have already secured about 150,000 tickets, but expect demand to boost that number to more than 170,000.In addition to the three million tickets for the public, 2.3 million have been reserved for International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials, sponsors, TV rights holders and others associated with the games.
Organisers said all those tickets have been already purchased.To make the tickets affordable for Greeks, the Athens Olympic Committee (ATHOC) has decided to sell tickets at prices that are, on average, 34 per cent lower than those for the Sydney Olympics.
About two-thirds of the 5.3 million tickets cost between $11 and $33.
The top price for a single sports event is $327, while an "Olympic experience" package will cost almost $82,000.
Those who want to watch the opening ceremony at the Olympic stadium will have to pay between $109 and $1,035 per seat.According to the Washington Post, the major ticket agent in the United States will offer some extras, including cruise and vacation packages, terrorism insurance and high-security lodging.
Cartan, for example is said to be offering six-day cruise liner packages, pricedbetween $6,700 and $13,800.No special ticket quota has been reserved for Greeks.
Manolopoulou said this has not created any problems for ATHOC thus far.Tickets will also be distributed through a lottery in mid-summer and any unsold tickets will go on sale in September.
Greece hopes to generate about $200m from ticket sales alone, amounting to 9 per cent of the estimated total revenue from the 17-day games, which open on 13 August 2004.Athens, however, is concerned about "the participation of representatives of Asian countries affected by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)", Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said Monday, after a meeting of top Olympics organisers and government officials, chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis.Expressing hope that the SARS crisis will have been resolved by the time of the games, officials said they were awaiting an IOC decision on possible measures following its meeting Friday in Madrid.On Tuesday, the Greek Health Ministry reported on the first suspected SARS case in the country -- a foreign flight attendant who was recently in Hong Kong.




Turkey's AWACS Purchase Provokes Public Reaction 15/05/2003 Turkey's contract to purchase Airbourne Warning and Control Systems aircraft from Boeing has raised eyebrows, in light of the current economic problems in the country. By Fatih Baran for Southeast European Times in Istanbul -- 15/05/03The Turkish government's decision to buy four Airbourne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft from the Boeing Corporation is being criticised.
The aircraft, intended to boost Turkey's radar surveillance capabilities, come with a price tag of $1.1 billion.
Some charge that such defence spending is excessive at a time when Turkey is in dire straits economically.In addition, the daily Vatan has argued that the government is buying the aircraft to avoid further damage to strained Turkish-American relations.
In response to such criticism, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the government signed the contract at the request of the general staff.
Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul also rebuffed critics, saying the procurement was not a favour to anyone.
He added that the government would not have bought the AWACs if the general staff felt they were unnecessary.According to Defence Ministry Undersecretary Ali Ercan, $700m of the $1.1 billion paid for the aircraft will be returned to the economy through offset agreements.
"Turkey will pay $1.1 billion for four planes and six systems and will take delivery of planes in 2008," Ercan said.
"As response to this, we have taken an offset contract worth $500m.
All of this offset will be used by the Turkish aerospace industry, which will produce plane parts for Boeing.
Furthermore, with the contribution of ASELSAN and Havelsan making electronic and software production, $200m will stay in the country.
In this case, we will pay a total of $1.1 billion, and at least $700m of this $1.1 billion will return to the country's economy.""We are carrying through with this project on the basis of requests from the Turkish Armed Forces," he added.
"There is no anxiety about approaching the United States or Israel for the purchase of AWACS.
Turkey's needs and interests have priority."




Trial Against Srebrenica Indictees Opens in The Hague 15/05/2003 Three men are on trial for Europe's worst mass execution since World War II.
The testimony of a fourth -- Momir Nikolic, who last week pleaded guilty to one count of crimes against humanity -- could prove crucial. (AP, AFP, BBC, Reuters, VOA, UN Wire - 14/05/03; International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia)The trial of three former Bosnian Serb army officers, indicted for their role in the killing of thousands of Bosnian Muslims at Srebrenica in July 1995, opened at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague on Wednesday (14 May).
Vidoje Blagojevic, Dragan Obrenovic and Dragan Jokic are facing charges of crimes against humanity and violation of the laws or customs of war.Two of the men -- Blagojevic and Obrenovic -- held command positions in the Bratunac and Zvornik brigades involved in the takeover of the UN safe haven and the subsequent executions.
They face an additional charge of complicity to commit genocide.All three have pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against them by UN prosecutors, blaming their superiors and subordinates for the atrocities.
If convicted, they could be sentenced to life imprisonment."These accused and their troops were absolutely critical to the success of the murder operation and none of them had the strength of character or courage necessary to say 'no' and to walk away," prosecutor Peter McCloskey said in his opening statement.The Srebrenica massacre has been described as the worst atrocity in European history since World War II.
McCloskey termed it "a Bosnian genocide".Led by Gen Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb army staged an attack in early July 1995 on the Srebrenica enclave -- at the time, a UN safe haven under the protection of lightly armed Dutch peacekeepers.
After occupying the town, Mladic's troops summarily executed over 7,000 Muslim men and boys, aged 16 to 60, dumping their bodies in mass graves."Men were separated from their wives, from their kids, from their families.
Their IDs and property were taken and heaped in piles.
It was clear that no one intended to do anything with these people but murder them," McCloskey said as he presented the prosecution's case, showing documentary evidence and transcripts of intercepted communications.The joint indictment initially included a fourth former Bosnian Serb officer, Momir Nikolic.
But in a surprise move last week, he pleaded guilty to one count of crimes against humanity and agreed to testify against the other indictees.
In exchange, the prosecution dropped the other charges against him, including genocide.Nikolic testified that the massacre was part of a planned operation, in which he played a co-ordinating and supervising role.
He also confirmed that more than 7,000 men and boys were killed.His testimony could strengthen the prosecution's cases against others indicted over Srebrenica, including Mladic, Radovan Karadzic and former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.




EU Trade Commissioner, Candidate Country Ministers Meet 15/05/2003 The EU will face some challenges after its enlargement in 2004, according to the Union's trade commissioner. (Rompres - 10/05/03; EurActiv.com - 09/05/03; European Commission, BTA - 08/05/03)EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy and the line ministers of the 13 EU candidate countries met in Bucharest on 9 May and 10 May to discuss co-operation within the WTO ahead of the body's September ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico."We know that speaking with one voice on trade matters makes us stronger in the world trade scene.
This meeting provides an excellent opportunity to send a strong signal of our determination to a successful outcome of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA)," the commissioner said.The DDA negotiations would remain a top priority for the EU until the Cancun meeting, Lamy told the forum.
While much must be done before September, he added, the EU was generally "on track".
He also said the Union has decided to postpone "any decision on new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) initiatives until after the DDA".The conference was the last in this format before ten of the candidate countries -- Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia -- join the EU in 2004.Apart from WTO co-operation issues, the participants discussed developments in the EU trade policy since their previous meeting of this type in Malta a year ago, as well as specific trade aspects related to the enlargement process.While voicing confidence that wide support exists for the EU policy concept, Lamy said the decision-making system would face legitimacy and efficiency challenges and would need to adapt to a larger number of members.
"An explicit parliamentary support can only increase the legitimacy of the negotiator in international forums," he said.
"And as a negotiator, I am in favour of that."He also expressed concern that enlargement could undermine the decision-making procedure, since in a number of cases the rule requires unanimous support for decisions to be passed.
"Maintaining 25 rights of veto cannot enable us to act effectively," Lamy said.Regional trade issues were also on the forum's agenda, including trade initiatives with the Western Balkans, economic relations with Russia and other former Soviet republics.During his visit to Bucharest, Lamy met with President Ion Iliescu, Prime Minister Adrian Nastase and Minister for European Integration Hildegard Puwak.
He also delivered a speech to representatives of the Romanian business community.




Powell Says US-Bulgarian Relationship Very Close, De Facto Alliance 16/05/2003 During a visit to Sofia, US Secretary of State Colin Powell met with Bulgarian leaders, thanking them for their support in the campaign against Saddam Hussein's regime. (Various sources -- 15/05/03 - 16/05/03)US Secretary of State Colin Powell thanked Bulgaria Thursday (15 May) for supporting the US-led campaign against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.
Powell arrived in Sofia to attend celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the United States.
He met with Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, President Georgi Parvanov and Foreign Minister Solomon Passy."I want to publicly thank the government of Bulgaria, and the people of Bulgaria for their courageous stand," Powell said at a joint press conference after meeting with the prime minister.
"As President Bush has said, we don't forget our friends."Describing relations as "very close" and a "de facto alliance", Powell noted the country's support during UN Security Council debates on Iraq, as well as its participation on the ground in Afghanistan.
"In fact, Bulgaria proved itself willing to send its sons and daughters to this effort, the most profound commitment that a country can make."Powell pledged Washington's support for Bulgaria's efforts in fighting corruption, carrying out judicial reforms and promoting economic growth -- steps which he described as key ones for future NATO members to take.
During talks with Parvanov, he urged Bulgarian institutions to strengthen controls over exports of arms and goods with possible double uses, and to protect classified information.Answering a question about the possible deployment of US military bases in Bulgaria, Powell said the past ten years have seen a significant downsizing of US forces in Europe, while NATO territory has expanded with the addition of new members.
"So, it is quite appropriate to review how our forces are distributed throughout Europe and see whether or not there is a more logical distribution of our forces.""We might want to put in place facilities that give us access to training areas in other countries, or that facilitate the movement of our forces through Europe to other parts of the world, as we change the strategy of NATO, not to deal with the Soviet Union, but to deal with terrorism, to deal with regional crises in other parts of the world," Powell added."It is all one Europe, one NATO, one alliance, one Europe whole, free and at peace.
That is our commitment and our obligation," he said.Bulgaria and the United States established diplomatic relations on 19 September 1903, when Washington's first envoy, John Jackson, presented his diplomatic credentials to King Ferdinand, the grandfather of Bulgaria's current prime minister.




Report Says Turkey Has Not Met EU Political Criteria 16/05/2003 A European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee report criticising some of Turkey's political criteria has drawn fire from Turkey and some European countries.
The parliament has suggested reforms to bring Turkey closer in line with the EU. (EUobserver.com, NTV MSNBC, Turks.US - 13/05/03; European Parliament - 12/05/03)The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a report Monday (12 May), saying Turkey has not yet met the Copenhagen political criteria for EU membership.The initial report -- drafted by a Dutch member of the parliament, Arie Oostlander -- drew strong criticism both from Turkey and from some European countries.
The committee eventually adopted it after a heated debate and almost 300 amendments.Many were angered by Oostlander's critical remarks concerning the Kemalist foundations of the Turkish Constitution.
He juxtaposed the Turkish foundations with European democratic principles, arguing the latter should form the basis of a new constitution.These remarks were reportedly removed in the amended version, but criticism of the Turkish military's influential role in civilian affairs was retained.
The adopted amendments support Oostlander's finding that the army continues to maintain "a central position in the Turkish state and society, and that Turkish citizens credit it with greater importance even than other state institutions, including the parliament".The report calls on Turkish authorities to ensure that the role of the army is limited to strictly military tasks, and to consider developing a new political and constitutional system that would guarantee the principles of a secular system without military supremacy over civil institutions.European Parliament members also urged Turkey to make radical structural changes in the position and form of its National Security Council.
Some even suggested that it be eventually abolished.The report urges Turkey to reform its judicial system.
It also encourages authorities to strengthen the principles of the primacy of international law over national law in the case of substantial differences relating to respect for human rights and the rule of law.
This, the report states, is "necessary in order for Turkey to be brought more closely in line with the standards prevailing in the Member States of the EU".Changes were also recommended in Turkey's electoral system, to amend provisions that allow only those parties that have surpassed a 10 per cent threshold to be represented in parliament.The European Parliament also made it clear that a solution to the Cyprus issue "is of vital importance to relations between the EU and Turkey", and urged authorities to seek a solution based on the plan proposed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.A decision on whether the EU will open accession negotiations with Turkey would be made at the end of 2004.
Turkey has been recognised as a candidate since September 1999, more than 12 years after it submitted its application for membership in April 1987.




Sofia Increases Control over Arms Exports 19/05/2003 With Bulgaria on the brink of NATO membership, Sofia is being pressured to invoke stricter export controls on military items. By Emil Tsenkov for Southeast European Times in Sofia - 19/05/03During his visit to Sofia on Thursday (15 May), US Secretary of State Colin Powell praised Bulgaria as "the US right hand in the war against terrorism".
Americans and West Europeans, however, remain concerned about illegal sales of Bulgarian arms to Middle Eastern countries.
These worries were fuelled after last year's disclosure that a state-owned company, Terem, exported spare parts for armed vehicles to Syria, with Iraq as the alleged end-user.Authorities in Sofia were quick to repair the damage to credibility.
Additional measures were taken to limit the risks of similar deals.
It was decided that all future sales by arms-producing companies within the system of the defence ministry would have to be approved by the minister.
Stricter controls were also enacted in customs, with a particular focus on export of items for dual use.
Military experts voiced their support for the introduction of a control system on the internal traffic of arms, which will permit authorities to trace the quantities and types of weapons sold to private companies within Bulgaria.
Just days before Powell's visit to Sofia, some of those responsible for the Terem deal were demoted by the government.Bulgaria has relatively modern arms export control laws.
Beginning in December 2002, state control was imposed on arms brokers, and their activities are considered to be a part of the export package.
A two-tier control system was put in place -- a specialised council at the ministerial level issues trade and brokering licenses, while an export control committee at the economy ministry authorises the enactment of actual arms deals.
The country has also joined all relevant international instruments.Among the critics is opposition member of parliament Ivo Tzanev, who argues that legal loopholes and corruption still could prevent state authorities from tracing shadowy arms deals involving foreign brokers.
In a soon to be released report on Bulgaria's arms trade control by experts of the Sofia-based Centre for the Study of Democracy and the UK think tank Saferworld, a number of proposals are put forward to improve the legal environment, introduce harsher punishment for illegal arms traders and empower law enforcement agencies to do their job in a more efficient way.Conceived during the communist era as a 90 per cent export oriented sector, the Bulgarian arms industry became one of the most technologically advanced sectors in the local economy, and its products were highly prized in a number of third world countries.With the current limitations on arms exports to conflict zones and the shrinking of the Bulgarian Army to an all-time low, however, what was once a burgeoning industry is becoming increasingly redundant.
That could spell trouble, especially for towns like Kazanluk and Sopot, whose industry is predominantly military-related.
Sky-high unemployment rates represent a security hazard as well as a social problem.
The emerging black market of small arms involves some workers at the redundant factories, and organised crime is increasingly better armed than local police.Much is seen as hinging on Bulgaria's entry into NATO, which is expected to speed up the integration of the country's military-industrial complex into Western military markets, and to give a boost to foreign investment in this previously pioneering sector of Bulgarian industry.




Turkey Ends 40-Year Travel Ban on Greek Cypriots 19/05/2003 Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the lifting of travel restrictions as a gesture of goodwill, and called on Greek authorities to take reciprocal steps. (International herald Tribune - 19/05/03; Washington Times, AP, CNN, Anatolian Agency - 18/05/03; BBC, Anatolian Agency 17/05/03; AP, BBC, AFP, Reuters - 23/04/03)Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday (17 May) that Turkey is lifting travel restrictions on Greek Cypriots, allowing citizens of the southern part of the divided island to visit Turkey for the first time in almost 40 years.
Describing the move as a gesture of goodwill towards the Greek Cypriot authorities, Erdogan has called on Greece to take reciprocal steps."Turkey is opening its gates to all Greek Cypriots," Erdogan said in the southern resort city of Antalya.
In the past, the only Greek Cypriots allowed to visit Turkey were officials attending international forums.
That will change Thursday, with visitors being given one-month visas at the Turkish border upon entry.
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the new arrangement covers only tourist visas.The measure follows a series of similar steps taken by the Turkish Cypriot leadership last month to improve relations with Greek Cypriots, including the lifting of travel restrictions.
For the first time in decades, hundreds of citizens have been able to cross the UN-patrolled dividing line running through Nicosia."We need peace.
We no longer gain anything from quarrelling," the BBC quoted Erdogan as saying.
"We now expect Greece to take reciprocal steps."Cyprus has remained divided into a Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north since 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a short-lived coup by supporters of union with Greece.
About 40,000 Turkish troops are deployed in northern Cyprus.
Ankara alone recognises the breakaway state there, while not recognising or maintaining trade and diplomatic relations with the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot government.
A Turkish official, quoted on condition of anonymity, has said that the new measure does not imply a change in Ankara's position on this issue.Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos has been quoted as saying, following Erdogan's announcement, that the Republic of Cyprus has not imposed any "embargo" on Turkish Cypriots.
Existing restrictions are part of international obligations the authorities had to observe, Papadopoulos said.Cyprus is among ten countries due to join the EU in 2004, but the membership will apply only to the Greek Cypriot south.
Efforts earlier this year to reunite the island under a UN plan were blocked by the Turkish Cypriot leadership, and the EU has made clear that Turkey's chances to join the club will remain dim as long as the island remains divided.




Western Balkan Countries Expected to Open Their Borders 19/05/2003 Border control, stabilisation and assistance programmes will be discussed at the border security conference in Ohrid later this week. (Dnevnik.com.mk, Dnevnik.bg - 29/04/03)The EU, NATO, the OSCE and the Stability Pact expect the five Western Balkan countries to agree by the end of May on opening their borders in accordance with European standards, the Macedonian daily Dnevnik reported last month.The five countries -- Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia-Montenegro -- are due to meet for a border security conference in Ohrid on 22 May and 23 May, to be hosted by Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski.
Albania's and Croatia's prime ministers, Fatos Nano and Ivica Racan, have reportedly confirmed their participation, while BiH and Serbia-Montenegro have not yet responded to the invitation.UNMIK chief Michael Steiner is likely to be accompanied by Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi.
The EU will be represented by Greece, which currently holds the bloc's six-month rotating presidency.
Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia also are expected to send delegations.According to Dnevnik, the five Western Balkan countries are likely to be asked to commit to three short-term political goals: open, secure borders across the region following European standards; further regional stabilisation through the strengthening of institutions and the rule of law; and assistance to Albania and Macedonia, specifically in the areas of border security and smuggling prevention."The alliance initiates regional co-operation, after which it will become clear that the Balkan countries are responsible for their own borders," the paper quoted a Brussels-based diplomat as saying.NATO's approach is fully supported by the EU, which uses its CARDS programme and other funding instruments to address border issues in the region."The stability of the Balkans is impossible without the security of the borders, a serious fight against organised crime and all types of smuggling, and in Macedonia's case this is the greatest challenge," Dnevnik quoted an unidentified senior NATO diplomat as saying.The problems between Albania and Macedonia -- which, together with Croatia, aspire to NATO membership -- would likely be discussed at the conference.
According to Dnevnik, the alliance could this time take a firmer stand and push for concrete action within the framework of available resources and actual needs.One of the measures Macedonia must take is to transfer border control responsibilities from the military to the police.
On Friday (16 May), Defence Minister Vlado Buckovski said that would happen during the second half of 2003.
In an interview with Radio Free Europe, Buckovski said the handover would start at the Macedonian-Greek border, followed by the Macedonian-Bulgarian border.
He said the multiethnic composition of the police should be increased prior to transferring control at the borders with Serbia-Montenegro and Albania.
He added that the country has problems at all four borders, especially with regards to human trafficking.Buckovski and Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva left for Brussels Sunday to brief NATO states on the progress in implementing reforms.




Wolfowitz: US Not Seeking Immunity by Disapproval of ICC 20/05/2003 The American government's disapproval of the International Criminal Court has nothing to do with protecting US citizens who violate the rules of war, US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said. By Beth Kampschror for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo - 20/05/03During a visit with American peacekeepers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on Friday (16 May), US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz worked to clarify why Washington is seeking immunity for US citizens from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC)."The United States is not seeking immunity for its people if they commit war crimes.
War crimes must be prosecuted, and if they're not prosecuted in the jurisdiction where they took place, the United States government has and will prosecute American citizens that commit war crimes," he said.
"We simply don't believe that the ICC, which has no political supervision over it, is a fair or appropriate mechanism to submit American soldiers or citizens to."BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac and US Ambassador to BiH Clifford Bond signed an agreement Friday exempting all US nationals in BiH -- not just peacekeeping troops -- from extradition to the ICC.
BiH is the 35th country to sign such a reciprocal agreement with the United States.The adopted draft will be sent to the BiH Council of Ministers, and then back to the presidency before being forwarded to parliament for a vote.
BiH Presidency member Dragan Covic said he hoped that parliament would ratify the agreement within a month.Wolfowitz said the US remains committed to the region even as it fights the war on terror elsewhere.
The steady reductions of troops -- the United States and other countries have reduced the numbers to about 18,000 from 60,000 in 1995 -- is a sign that they're trying to accomplish the mission with smaller numbers of soldiers."As we've said repeatedly, we came into this together, we will go out together," he said.
"Not only is there an important humanitarian mission, but I think it's also clear that achieving stability in the Balkans is part of the fight of the war on terror.
We do not want to see this part of the world become a source of instability for Europe."Wolfowitz also visited nearby Srebrenica, where hundreds of graves now surround a new memorial near the site of Europe's worst massacre since World War II."The United States remains strongly committed to this mission here," he said.
"It's not only about preventing the occurrence of horrors such as Srebrenica, it's much more than that.
It's about creating the conditions for the people of BiH to become a real part of Europe and the trans-Atlantic community.
It may be a long way to go, but you've come a long way as well."




Is Turkey Solving the Kurdish Problem? 20/05/2003 Kurds in Turkey were urged to rebel earlier this month, but nothing happened.
Ankara's human rights reforms may be taking away the separatists' only trump card. By Fatih Baran for Southeast European Times in Istanbul - 20/05/03In April, the head of the Kurdistan Democracy Congress (KADEK), Osman Ocalan, called on Kurds to rise in rebellion in major metropolitan areas.
He set 8 May as the day this "War of Defence" would occur.
But that day has come and gone with no visible sign of any uprising.Turkey's Kurdish problem turned bloody when members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) carried out attacks in 1984 in the southeastern part of the country.
Their goal was an autonomous Kurdish state.
From that date onwards the region became a battlefield for low-intensity war and martial law was declared.
In 1987, martial law was converted into what was termed "Emergency Rule Government" (OHAL) and applied to 11 cities and provinces in eastern and southeastern Turkey.About 36,000 people died in the course of this conflict, which only began to quiet down in 1999 with the capture of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who then called on PKK guerrillas to put down their guns and leave Turkey.
This they did, but militants from the organisation remain in the mountains of northern Iraq.The PKK then began giving priority to political efforts to justify its struggle and legitimise its position as a liberation movement.
The party changed its name to KADEK and Abdullah Ocalan's brother Osman assumed control of the organisation.
The decrease in terrorist activities led to the abolition of OHAL in November 2002.Since then, discussions have arisen over the possible establishment of an undersecretariat that would be based on economic rather than security measures.
Livestock breeding and agriculture were crippled throughout the region during the war.
A Return to the Village Project was launched last year to relocate people displaced from their villages.Turkey's desire to become a full member of the EU has also led to human rights' reforms that authorise broadcasting and education in Kurdish.
Currently, this reform is on hold due to the coalition efforts in Iraq.
Matters have been further complicated by a judicial decision in March to close Turkey's only legal pro-Kurdish party -- the People's Democracy Party -- on charges of helping and supporting KADEK or the PKK.
Its successor, the Democratic People's Party, has also been the target of a lawsuit aimed at closing it.The Turkish government, however, is expected shortly to pass a Law of Contrition that would allow KADEK members to come out of the cold, express their regret and rejoin mainstream Turkish society.Meanwhile, the possibility of a Kurdish state being formed in northern Iraq as a result of the US-led action against Saddam Hussein's regime has raised alarm bells in Turkey.
Turks believe that if an independent Kurdish state, or even a Kurdish state as part of a federated Iraq, were to control the oil-rich cities of Mosul and Kirkuk, Turkey's Kurds might demand more rights.
The remnants of terrorist cells in the Iraqi mountains might flow into Turkey and organise terrorist activities.However, reforms, coupled with the sheer exhaustion of the people of eastern and southeastern Turkey after so many years of conflict, make an uprising unlikely, either now or in the future.
If the Turkish government follows through on its pledges, it will take away the human rights trump card that PKK/KADEK has long held.




Del Ponte Hopes Belgrade, UN Tribunal Entering New Era of Co-operation 20/05/2003 The UN war crimes tribunal's chief prosecutor sounded a rare note of optimism after meeting with top Serbia-Montenegro officials. (BBC - 20/05/03; AFP, AP, CNN, VOA, RFE/RL, Radio B92, Serbian Info - 19/05/03)Belgrade and the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague are entering a new era of co-operation, the tribunal's chief prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, said Monday (19 May).
Her comments followed talks with top Serbia-Montenegro officials, who said they are committed to fulfilling international obligations."The future will tell whether it will be so but, personally, I don't doubt it," del Ponte said following an hour-long meeting with Serbia-Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic.He told del Ponte that all those indicted for war crimes committed during the Balkan wars in the 1990s would either surrender or be handed over in the near future.
He said Serbia-Montenegro's goals of European integration would be impossible to achieve without full co-operation with the UN tribunal."Anyone who obstructs or works against co-operation with The Hague is endangering the future of Serbia-Montenegro and its citizens," Marovic said.
Earlier in the day, del Ponte met with Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic and received similar assurances.During her one-day visit to Belgrade, the third this year, del Ponte again called for the extradition of top Bosnian Serb war crimes indictee Ratko Mladic and 17 other fugitives.Western and UN war crimes officials have been maintaining for months that Mladic is hiding in Serbia, something Belgrade authorities have repeatedly denied.Speaking prior to del Ponte's visit, her spokeswoman, Florence Hartmann, said the prosecution had "very recent information that Mladic is in Serbia. about his regular presence in Serbia".
Hartmann also said the court was currently looking for some 150 military documents linked to the case of Slobodan Milosevic.After his meeting with the UN prosecutor, Zivkovic confirmed they had discussed Mladic, but said no new information had come up.
The prime minister pledged that the former commander, who faces charges of genocide for his role in the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will be arrested if found in Serbia.
"There is no doubt about it," Zivkovic said.
Meanwhile, Serbian authorities promised to provide more information from secret archives to help prosecutors bring war criminals to justice.In Belgrade, del Ponte also said the tribunal was prepared to transfer some war crimes cases to Serbian courts -- an issue that has long been on Belgrade's agenda of talks with the tribunal.
Del Ponte suggested this could happen once the necessary laws are in place.Del Ponte's next stop is Sarajevo, where she is scheduled to meet with representatives of BiH authorities, the international community and SFOR.
Discussions are expected to focus on the detention of war crimes suspects and the possibility of the BiH State Court processing such cases.




SFOR Hopes to Net Karadzic Before Mission's End 21/05/2003 SFOR commander Gen William Ward described the arrest of Radovan Karadzic as "unfinished business" which peacekeepers hope to complete before the end of their mission.
Meanwhile, the chief UN war crimes prosecutor called on Karadzic to surrender. (Reuters, AFP - 20/05/03)Apprehending Radovan Karadzic and 20 other war crimes indictees is one of the unfinished tasks that NATO-led peacekeepers hope to complete before leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), SFOR commander Gen William Ward said on Tuesday (20 May)."There is still some unfinished business.
There are still persons indicted for war crimes who are out there that we want to apprehend -- Karadzic, Mladic and others," Reuters quoted Ward as saying in an interview.Karadzic was indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal in November 1995 on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws or customs of war.
The charges are connected with a series of atrocities, including the Srebrenica massacre.
He has been on the run since 1996 and is widely believed to be hiding either in Republika Srpska or in neighbouring Montenegro.
A network of supporters is believed to have helped him escape justice so far.
Last year, he managed to evade at least two attempts by SFOR troops to apprehend him.On Tuesday, chief UN war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte called on Karadzic to give up voluntarily, voicing confidence he will end up in The Hague one way or another.
"I believe that NATO is doing a lot and there will be an imminent arrest and that is the reason why I'm calling for voluntary surrender," she told reporters.
"I'm expecting him [Karadzic] in The Hague ... because he knows that now he will not have more time to hide," she said.During a visit to Sarajevo, del Ponte praised SFOR for their efforts to arrest war crimes suspects and said she believes there is a stronger political will on the ground now for the measures she has been pushing before NATO and the international community.In Brussels, meanwhile, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic said his government was committed to delivering all war crimes suspects on its territory to the UN tribunal.
NATO Secretary General George Robertson confirmed that Belgrade has promised also to arrest Ratko Mladic if he is found in Serbia.
Robertson warned that co-operation with the UN tribunal continues to be a "critical condition" for Serbia and Montenegro's admission to the Partnership for Peace programme.At The Hague meanwhile, Dragan Obrenovic pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges related to the Srebrenica massacre.
He becomes the second Bosnian Serb, after Momir Nikolic, to accept responsibility for the mass persecution and slaughter of Bosnian Muslims in July 1995.
Obrenovic, a former army officer, pleaded guilty to charges of crimes against humanity after the tribunal decided to abandon two of the initial counts against him -- genocide and war crimes.




Croatia Pushes for Boost in Refugee Ruturns 22/05/2003 The return of refugees displaced by the conflict in the former Yugoslavia is a top priority.
Croatian President Stipe Mesic suggests a trilateral agreement might help. By Natasa Radic for Southeast European Times in Zagreb - 22/05/03Croatian President Stipe Mesic wants to speed up the refugee return process and has suggested a trilateral agreement that would be promoted by the highest ranking politicians of Croatia, Serbia-Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.Once signed, the document would give a clear political signal not only to those who still need to return to their previous homes, but also to EU and NATO officials who have been emphasising the returns as a crucial issue that must resolved in the region.More than eight years after the end of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, the governments of the countries involved are still trying to encourage refugees to return to their homes.
But there are problems: some houses have been destroyed, others inhabited by new occupants.Immediately after the conflict, foreign governments tried to speed up the process by providing substantial financial assistance.
They were involved in rebuilding, encouraging refugee returns and educating people about the benefits of reconciliation.
After the countries in the region developed their own plans to convince people to return, foreign assistance began to wane.Although Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia-Montenegro all have expressed the desire to join the Euro-Atlantic alliances, the political establishment in Brussels clearly stated that the process of returns is a crucial issue that needs to be accomplished.
The results achieved so far are encouraging, but not substantial.
Some refugees do not want to return to their previous hometowns because they have embarked on a new life elsewhere.
Those who are willing to come back need the opportunity to restart their lives and reclaim their property.Mesic has decided to take a leading role and persuade others to encourage the process of return by sending a clear message.
His initiative has been well received.Since their democratic transitions, the countries in the region have started co-operating more closely.
New steps towards stability and a lasting peace must be taken.
Mesic believes that now is the appropriate time to close conflict-related chapters, such as the problem of refugees, and has called for international assistance.After negotiations are concluded, the trilateral document will be signed at a high-level meeting.
According to Mesic, the agreement should be based on common principles and values, and followed by concrete measures that would yield clear results.




Deadline for Passing the New Serbian Constitution Expires in August 22/05/2003 Considering how long it took Serbia and Montenegro to agree on the federal constitutional charter, as well as the number of issues to be regulated by the new Serbian Constitution, many analysts predict Serbia will miss yet another deadline. Analysis by Dusan Kosanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 22/05/03The Serbian Parliament has appointed a 27-member commission to draft the new constitution by August.
Following public discussions, the constitution is to be adopted by a parliamentary majority.
It is to be ratified only if also backed by a citizens' majority vote in a referendum.
Every parliamentary caucus has a representative on the commission, except for the Serbian Radical Party, which refused to participate.The Council of Europe's (CoE) special envoy to Belgrade, Verena Taylor, said she received confirmation from Serbian Acting President Natasa Micic that parliament would invite the Venice Commission to participate in developing the new constitution.
The Venice Commission was founded in 1990 with the aim of helping member countries tackle their constitutional issues.The adoption of a new Serbian Constitution was one of the major pre-election promises made by leaders of the ruling DOS coalition.
They argued that it was unacceptable for Serbia to enter the 21st century with former President Slobodan Milosevic's constitution, which deprived the provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina of their autonomy and triggered conflicts in the region.
The issue was pushed aside due to the more urgent problem of economic reform, but it resurfaced after the Serbia-Montenegro Constitutional charter was adopted.
Serbia and Montenegro are required to harmonise their highest legal acts with the charter within six months of its adoption.
This means that Serbia has to come up with a new constitution by August.
Considering how long it took the member states to agree on the charter, analysts are sceptical as to the authorities' ability to meet this deadline.The territorial organisation of the state is the greatest stumbling block.
The Democratic Party (DS) and the parties of Vojvodina maintain that Serbia should be decentralised and asymmetrically organised by regions, with Vojvodina as an autonomous province with more independence, due to its specific history.
The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) is in favour of the country's administrative division into five regions with same jurisdictions, each with around two million citizens -- Belgrade, Vojvodina, Central Serbia, Southeast Serbia and Kosovo.
The opposition is generally against any kind of autonomy, which they see as instigating separatism.
The key issue is finding a solution for Kosovo, whose final status is uncertain.The parties are also at loggerheads on the status of the president of the state.
The DS and most of the DOS members advocate the parliamentary system as the best solution for Serbia, with the president elected in parliament and given symbolic authority.
The DSS, however, thinks that it is dangerous to have the prime minister and government as the sole centre of power, and favours a strong president, elected directly.Due to the many disputes, Serbs fear a repeat of long and tedious negotiations they witnessed when officials from Serbia and Montenegro were harmonising their drafts of the constitutional charter.




Zivkovic: Serbia-Montenegro to Meet Partnership for Peace Conditions by Year's End 22/05/2003 The door to entry into the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme is open, NATO Secretary General George Robertson assured Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic in Brussels. (Radio B92, Serbian Government - 21/05/03; NATO, AP - 20/05/03)Serbia-Montenegro wants to join the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme and will work to meet all the conditions this year, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic told NATO Secretary General George Robertson during a visit to Brussels on Tuesday (20 May).
Zivkovic is the first Serbian prime minister to visit NATO headquarters.While assuring him that the door is open, Robertson said that some preconditions remain.
One he described as "critical" is full co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal, including the extradition of Ratko Mladic to The Hague."Serbia-Montenegro has an ambition to join the Partnership for Peace; an ambition that we share," Robertson told reporters after his meeting with Zivkovic."The prime minister has made it clear that if Gen Mladic is on Serbian territory, he will be arrested and his indictment and arrest warrant will be discharged in relation to the international criminal tribunal.""We will do everything we can so that by the end of this year there will be no obstacles to us joining this programme," Zivkovic said.
"There is no reason why Serbia-Montenegro should be left out."
He added that all war crimes indictees residing in the country will be handed over to The Hague tribunal, or will be tried in local courts.Robertson said NATO will enter into arrangements with Serbia-Montenegro to help the union prepare for PfP membership.
A specific programme tailored to the country's needs will be developed, with particular emphasis on defence reform.
He praised Serbia-Montenegro Defence Minister Boris Tadic's "clear determination" to reform the federal armed forces.Zivkovic said those reforms "have the full support of the government of Serbia".On Wednesday, Tadic called on NATO -- and Germany in particular -- to help Serbia-Montenegro in the area of defence policy.
Ending a two-day visit to Berlin Wednesday, he told his German counterpart Peter Struck that without the support of NATO and Germany, Serbia-Montenegro would have trouble building up a solid defence policy.
Tadic urged that an international team of defence experts visit Belgrade.




Serbia's Sweet Turns Sour 23/05/2003 Serbia's sugar industry could be hit hard by a three-month EU suspension of special trade concessions.
The country is witnessing fierce debates over who is to blame for the setback. By Dusan Kosanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade - 23/05/03Following the EU's three-month suspension of special trade concessions on sugar for Serbia-Montenegro, Serbia is witnessing fierce debates over who is responsible for the setback, likely to cause significant damage to the already impoverished industry.
Local officials claim there was no fraud in sugar exports -- sugar being the only duty-free product Serbia-Montenegro exports to the EU.Serbian Trade Minister Slobodan Milosavljevic and Agriculture Minister Dragan Veselinov maintain that the EU's powerful sugar lobby has realised that Serbian producers make up a large part of the market.
However, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) issued a harsh response that "the institutions in Brussels, unlike those in the Western Balkans, do not succumb to pressures of any kind."Former Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus warned in early March that sugar exports had been brought into question due to serious indications that a Vojvodina-based sugar refinery had breached the deal on sugar exports to EU.
"It has imported bagged sugar, repacked it into one-kilo plastic sacks and proceeded to export it," Labus said.Some media reports have pointed to MK Komerc General Manager Miodrag Kostic as the one to blame.
MK Komerc owns three sugar refineries in Serbia, and the suspension was allegedly introduced because an OLAF commission was not allowed access to the company's documentation.
Kostic has adamantly rejected accusations that his company prevented OLAF from monitoring imports and exports, arguing that only documentation concerning the company's business secrets was withheld, and blaming the ban on Labus.
The Serbian Federal Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations just sat on the issue for two months, Kostic claims.The EU's Internal Market Commissioner, Fritz Bolkestein, said the suspension will be used to "to verify, together with Serbia-Montenegro, whether measures can be put in place to ensure that tariff-free access is limited to sugar actually originating there."Following talks with European Commission (EC) officials in Brussels earlier this month, Labus said that Serbia-Montenegro's exports to the EU had met with purely "technical, and by no means political" problems.
He described as irresponsible allegations by Serbian officials that political reasons were behind the affair."If the issues with our customs' reliability are resolved, we can export the entire annual sugar production to the EU, not only the surplus," said Labus, adding that what really matters is that the sugar is actually produced in Serbia.
He announced that in two months, OLAF's commission would revisit Serbia and establish whether customs control has improved.
Observers say the measures would have been introduced even earlier, but were delayed by the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.On 7 May, Assistant Chief of the EC Office in Belgrade Jan Villem Blanckert said that 16 EU customs and tax experts have come to help Serbia tackle its sugar exports issues.
"Their number will soon be increased to 30, and our experts will, in co-operation with the Serbian customs, try to establish a reliable customs system for all products," he said.
Blanckert added that the customs issue must be urgently addressed.
"Today it is sugar, tomorrow it could be steel or some other product," he said.




Parties Push for Popularity as Election Campaigns Kick Off in Croatia 23/05/2003 The 2004 elections in Croatia may seem a long way off, but the political parties are already gearing up. By Ivana Erceg for Southeast European Times in Zagreb - 23/05/03Even though no one knows the precise date of the next elections in Croatia, most of the political parties have begun campaigning.
The elections are currently scheduled for 2 April 2004.
But according to Prime Minister Ivica Racan, the ballots may be cast in early December or after 25 January 2004.Racan has urged ministers to put government issues before the priorities of their parties.
One of his concerns is Croatia's bid to join the EU.
"The government has to answer 4,000 questions dealing with Croatian candidature to the EU.
If Croatia wants to become a member, mistakes cannot be allowed and no one has the right to act irresponsibly."Because of public disappointment with the government's hesitation in implementing radical economic reforms and speeding up privatisation, Racan's popularity is at risk.
According to some polls, his Social Democratic Party (SDP) would receive only 13 per cent of the vote if the elections were held now.
The former governing party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), would receive around 22 per cent of the vote.
SDP's main partner, the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), would win 10 per cent, which is 6 per cent less than in 2001.
The only governing party on the rise is the Croatian People's Party (HNS), which increased its popularity from 4 per cent last fall to 9 per cent this spring.
The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) subsequently left the ruling coalition and split, and is not likely to cross the electoral threshold of 5 per cent.Although HDZ is the strongest party in Croatia, party president Ivo Sanader has launched negotiations with right and centre-right opposition parties -- the HSLS, former foreign minister Mate Granic's Democratic Centre and the Croatian Rights Party, run by orthodox nationalist Anto Dapic -- about a possible right-wing coalition.
HDZ is hoping that HSS will change its mind and form a partnership with it, rather than with SDP.Completion of the Zagreb-Split highway and an invitation for Croatia to become a member of the EU could enhance the government's image, working in Racan's favour.
When Croatia submitted its application for EU membership, he pledged to promote the principles of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law on which the EU is based.Racan has also expressed support for the extradition of suspected Croatian war criminals to The Hague tribunal.
In a surprise turn of events, Croatian police located and arrested war crimes suspect Ivica Rajic.
On 10 May, Croatian police announced a reward of 350,000 kuna for any useful information concerning a second indictee, Gen Ante Gotovina.To further boost its image, Racan recently hired Croatian television spokesman Kresimir Macan as a special consultant.
The government also bought a parcel of land in Bleiburg to build a monument in memory of Croats killed by Tito's partisans at the end of World War II.
If the government's public approval rating increases, Racan's popularity should rise as well.




U Marsalovom centru pruzena je potpora reformama u Srbiji i Crnoj Gori 26/05/2003 U Marsalovom centru u Njemačkoj odrzan je dvodnevni seminar za zvaničnike ministarstva Srbije i Crne Gore, usmjeren na reformu oruzanih snaga i obrambenog sustava. Igor Jovanović za Southeast European Times iz Beograda - 26/05/03Ministar obrane Srbije i Crne Gore Boris Tadić rekao je da je seminar koji je organizirao Marsalov centar za sigurnosne studije bio �izuzetno značajan� za nastavak reformi u njegovoj zemlji.
Tadić, delegacija ministarstva obrane, i američki zvaničnici, bili su među sudionicima seminara odrzanog 21. i 22. svibnja u Njemačkoj.
Događaj je organiziran na zahtjev američkog veleposlanstva u Srbiji i Crnoj Gori.Cilj seminara je bio da se pomogne Ministarstvu obrane Srbije i Crne Gore u tekućem procesu reforme sigurnosnog sustava i dalje demokratizacije.
Marsalov centar je izabran zato sto je jedna od vodećih skola za sigurnosne studije i ima iskustvo u rjesavanju slozenih problema u jugoistočnoj Europi.
Teme razgovora uključivale su proračunsku kontrolu, gospodarske pristupe reformi oruzanih snaga, vojno zakonodavstvo, i iskustva drugih balkanskih zemalja glede priključivanja programu NATO-a Partnerstvo za mir.Ovaj događaj je predstavljao �prigodu za nas da vidimo kako izgleda dobro organizirano ministarstvo obrane i vojska�, rekao je Tadić dodavsi da bitne reforme moraju biti dovrsene u slijedeće dvije godine.Umorstvo srbijanskog premijera Zorana ?inđića prije dva mjeseca dovelo je do procesa drastičnih reformi u sigurnosnom i obrambenom sustavu Srbije i Crne Gore.
Reformski proces vodi Tadić, koji je također potpredsjednik ?inđićeve Demokratske stranke.
Smatra se da je na polju reforme sigurnosnih sluzbi u razdoblju od atentata učinjeno vise nego u prethodnih 18 mjeseci.Prije odlaska u Njemačku Tadić je priopćio da će reforma oruzanih snaga trajati između sest i osam godina, ističući da su glavni koraci već poduzeti.
Najvazniju promjenu predstavlja podređivanje glavnog stozera Vojske Srbije i Crne Gore Ministarstvu obrane.
Taj potez je omogućio izravnu civilnu demokratsku kontrolu oruzanih snaga zemlje i naisao je na veliko odobravanje zapadnih zemalja.
To je također navelo Predsjednika SAD Georgea W. Busha da ukine zabranu na izvoz oruzja Srbiji i Crnoj Gori.
Vlasti u Srbiji i Crnoj Gori opisale su Bushov potez kao vazan znak američke političke potpore reformama koje se provode u zemlji.Američki ambasador u Beogradu William Montgomery izjavio je nakon seminara da je pravo vrijeme da se pomogne Srbiji i Crnoj Gori u reformi sigurnosnog sustava.
On je pozdravio reformski kurs i rezultate koji su postignuti do sada, kao i odlučnost unije glede integracije sa Europom i NATO-om.
Montgomeri je rekao da će Sjedinjene Drzave nastaviti podupirati reforme u Srbiji i Crnoj Gori.




Forumu su prisustvovali predsjednici Hrvatske i Makedonije, kao i predsjednici vlada Albanije, Kosova, Republike Srpske i dvije konstitutivne republike Srbije i Crne Gore.
Također se očekuje da će Bugarska i Rumunjska postati članice EU 2007. godine, a Turska se vodi kao kandidat za prijem u EU od 1999. godine.




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