Balkans

New Rightist Coalition Forming in Bulgaria

A new rightist coalition is being formed in Bulgaria, as parliamentary parties Union of the Democratic Forces (SDS) and Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) are in an advanced stage of the talks among them, Sunday. DSB’s Ivan Ivanov said at a party conference in Plovdiv, that the final decision …

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Croatia General Convicted Of Diamond Theft

A Croatian court sentenced retired general Vladimir Zagorec to seven years in prison on Monday for abuse of office and for stealing $5 million worth of diamonds from a safe in the Ministry of Defense upon leaving his post as an assistant to the minister in 2000. Although Zagorec is …

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First EULEX Trial Draws Kosovo Serb Protest

The EU’s law and justice mission in Kosovo, EULEX, prepared to launch the first trial under its mandate on Monday, against a protest by Serb judicial workers opposed to the work of the mission which they see as supporting Kosovo’s independence from Serbia. The trial against two Kosovo Serbs accused …

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Ivanov Leads Macedonia Presidential Race-Poll

Georgi Ivanov, the presidential candidate of the ruling VMRO DPMNE party in the March 22 election, has a clear lead ahead of his Socialist Party rival, shows the latest opinion poll done by local think thank Centre for Research and Policy Making. Over 30.5 percents of the respondents said they …

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Italy To Hire Convicted Romanian Hacker

A 22-year old convicted Romanian hacker is to be hired by the District Attorney’s office in Como, northern Italy, to help it catch paedophiles and other online criminals, Romanian TV station Realitatea reports. Gabriel Bogdan Ionescu was arrested in 2007 and is currently serving a 3-year sentence in jail in …

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Macedonia Unveils 8 Bln Eur Investment Plans

Macedonia plans to invest an unprecedented 8 billion euros on strategic infrastructure projects stimulate long-term development over the next seven years, the government said on Sunday, also mentioning plans for a nuclear power plant. The money to improve energy capacities, transport, environmental protection, education and culture will partially come from …

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World Bank Probe “Damaged” Albania Relations

lbania’s Minister of Finance accused the World Bank on Friday of damaging their excellent relations with a probe by an independent investigative panel on a coastal management project that has embarrassed the conservative government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha. “We regret to note that Bank’s internal issues are being transposed …

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Rights Group Slams Harrassment Of Kosovo NGO

International human rights group Front Line accused Kosovo’s public telecoms company of harrassing civil society group COHU!, and called for a prompt investigation into the matter. The managing director of Kosovo’s Post and Telecommunications Kosovo, PTK, Shyqyri Haxhaj, accused the wife of COHU! director Avni Zogjani, a PTK employee, of …

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Bulgarian Labor Minister Expects Crisis Unemployment Rise in 2009

Emilia Maslarova, Bulgaria’s Minister of Labor and Social Policy, has suggested that unemployment in the country will rise sharply over the next few months. Maslarova expects many more people to be looking for work in 2009, Darik Radio reported Saturday. Maslarova stated that the government’s new work program will aim …

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New coalition is forming between DSB and UDF after long circle of negotiations

Plovdiv. New coalition is forming between Democrats for Strong Bulgaria /DSB/ and Union of Democratic Forces /UDF/ after long circle of negotiations. This is what MP and DSB member Ivan Ivanov said at press conference FOCUS News Agency reporter informs. Negotiations are almost finished, Ivanov added. The new coalition will …

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