September, 2009

• 7 September

  Greek PM promises ‘tough medicine’

  GREECE Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has kicked off his campaign to win against the odds in a October 4 snap election by promising painful spending cuts, in the teeth of union opposition. In an annual economic keynote speech, the outgoing conservative leader vowed that if he won his third …

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• 7 September

  CE human rights commissioner to visit Chechnya, Ingushetia

  RUSSIA The Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, who arrived with an official visit to Russia last week, is heading on Monday to Russia’s North Caucasus republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia. Thomas Hammarberg will visit Chechnya and Ingushetia to meet with the presidents of both republics and heads of …

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• 7 September

  Indicted Politician in New Albanian Cabinet

  ALBANIA The head of the Republican Party, former defence minister Fatmir Mediu, indicted on abuse of power charges over a deadly munitions depot blast on March 15, 2008, is to head the Environment Ministry. In a coalition deal announced by Prime Minister Sali Berisha today, the Republican Party, which returned …

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• 7 September

  Bosnia Drifts Away from EU, NATO

  BiH The current “very negative” political situation and stagnation of key reforms threaten to delay the closure of the Office of the High Representative, OHR, and move Bosnia away from EU and NATO membership, a senior US diplomat said. “What is especially frustrating is that we believe that, for most …

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• 7 September

  Ahtisaari Warns Holdouts on Kosovo

  KOSOVO Nobel laureate Marti Ahtisaari has warned the EU that the failure of Balkan and EU states to recognise Kosovo stands as a bulwark against the bloc’s future expansion. “Those countries that have been in conflict in the past have to be able to see the reality, and […] have …

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• 7 September

  President to Address Romanian Parliament

  ROMANIA Romanian President Traian Basescu will give a keynote speech to parliament on September 15, addressing the primary political and social issues facing the country. On Monday, the leaders of the country’s bicameral parliament decided Basescu would address the legislature on the same day the government takes responsibility for three …

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• 7 September

  Bill Clinton Statue Ready in September

  KOSOVO The long-awaited statue of former President Bill Clinton will be unveiled in Pristina at the end of month, the team behind the tribute has said. Agim Rexhepi, head of the Friends of the USA asociation, which has previously hosted many events to show gratitude to the US for its …

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• 6 September

  Albanian opposition says to boycott parliament

  ALBANIA Albanian opposition the Socialist Party said on Saturday that it will boycott the first session of the country’s new parliament set for Monday, Xinhua news agency reported. Opposition lawmakers met Saturday and called for an investigation into the conduct by the ruling Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha …

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• 5 September

  Karadzic asks for additional 14.171 hours

  HOLLAND The prosecution hasn’t shown any serious intention to reduce the scope of this mega trial – Karadzic states in his letter to ICTY Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic said on Friday that, due to large number of documents and testimonies he needs to read, he requires additional 14.171 …

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• 5 September

  I am innocent; there was no evidence against me

  CROATIA ‘Captain Dragan’, a man accused of war crimes, was released after three years spent in an Australian prison ‘Captain Dragan’, was released after three years spent in an Australian prison. Ivan Simonovic, Croatia’s Minister of Justice, plans to appeal against it. Dragan Vasiljkovic, better known as ‘Captain Dragan’, was …

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