Balkans

While having substantially declined since1998, the level of poverty among children in Southeast Europe (SEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is still too high, according to a new UNICEF study, released on Wednesday (October 18th).

UN envoy says Kosovo process on track to meet year-end deadline 19/10/2006 BRUSSELS, Belgium — Martti Ahtisaari, the chief UN mediator for talks on Kosovo’s future status, told reporters Wednesday (October 18th) that he would present his plan for the future of the province by the end of the year, …

Macedonian Prime Minster Nikola Gruevski arrived on a three-day visit to Germany on Monday (October 16th) hoping to win Berlin’s backing for his country’s EU and NATO bids.

Presidents of the Southeast European countries adopted a declaration Monday (October 16th) pledging co-operation in the fight against organised crime and terrorism. The move came during a meeting at the Serbian military complex of Karadjordjevo, hosted by Serbian President Boris Tadic.

After six months of negotiations, New Jersey-based Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. has acquired over 70% of Pliva Pharmaceuticals, Croatia’s largest drug company. The deal was finally closed earlier in October. Pliva, s regional leader in the industry, has more than 80 years of tradition behind it. Once the deal is officially …

Del Ponte submits negative report on Serbia to EU, SAA talks to remain frozen 17/10/2006 LUXEMBOURG — UN chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte presented her report on Serbia’s co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to the EU Troika — top diplomats of former, current and future …

Albanian president refuses to fire chief prosecutor TIRANA, Albania — President Alfred Moisiu announced on Friday (October 13th) that he would not fire chief prosecutor Theodhori Sollaku, despite government allegations that he maintained links to organised crime. “In the report presented, I have not seen any abuse of laws or …

The Hungarian-US consortium Biotech Energy will build a bio-ethanol plant in Zrenjanin, Serbia. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2009, the project represents the largest-ever green field investment in Southeast Europe.

Sanader: Croatia deserves to join EU within two to three years 05/10/2006 ZAGREB, Croatia — Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said on Wednesday (October 4th) that his country deserves to join the EU in the next two to three years, adding it would be unacceptable for accession to occur after 2010. …

In mid-May, then Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and G17 Plus party leader Miroljub Labus resigned, citing the government’s failure to meet Brussels’ conditions for continuing pre-accession talks with Serbia — notably the arrest of Ratko Mladic. But Finance Minister Mladjan Dinkic managed to persuade the party’s majority to stay in …