Eurasia Press & News

The Catholic Archdiocese of Shkodra on Tuesday said it will excommunicate anyone involved in traditional blood feuds, as concern grows about the revival of so-called honour killings.In a statement reflecting growing concern over the level of so-called blood feuds in Albania, the Catholic Church in Shkodra, said that, “Prompted by …

Macedonia is pushing ahead with a controversial law that puts the Foreign Ministry directly in charge of accrediting foreign journalists.After the government this week submitted a draft law on Foreign Press Materials, Foreign Movies and Foreign Information Activity to parliament, a debate is expected to start next week. According to …

In a major change of the diplomatic guard, new ambassadors from three very important countries are settling into Belgrade this week.Carrying flags and flowers, about a hundred people gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Belgrade on Monday to say farewell to the outgoing ambassador, Aleksandr Konuzin, who thanked …

Prime Minister Victor Ponta’s visit to Brussels has not entirely eased EU concerns about Romania’s respect for the rule of lawPrime Minister Victor Ponta on Tuesday claimed that Romanian-EU relations, strained by the bitter political infighting between the government and the President, were back on track. They “have become normal,” …

A Turkish soap opera has inspired locals in the Croatian city of Osijek to mull rebuilding the wooden Ottoman-era bridge that once spanned the river Drava.Following the popularity in Croatia of the TV series “Suleiman The Magnificent”, the Society of Turkish-Croatian Friends in the eastern Croatian city is promoting the …

Macedonia has undertaken significant reforms this year as part of its EU accession agenda and can expect a positive progress report, says European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule.Fule praised the pace of progress in Macedonia after speaking on Monday with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and the Vice Prime Minister in charge …

The Tirana prosecutor’s office is investigating a judge in Durres who is accused of abuse of power by freeing a murder suspect.According to the prosecutor, Judge Neritan Tabaku stalled the publication of the arguments on a previous murder case against a local gangster, Ilir Xhakja, for nearly 17 months, blocking …

As Serbia’s State Auditors finalise their account of the public debt for 2011, the Finance Minister has accused the former government of concealing its true size.Radoslav Sretenovic, head of the State Audit Institution, DRI, is to publish the final data on the public debt as it stood on December 31, …

The cash-strapped country has postponed the sale of the plastics manufacturer Oltchim.Romania on Monday again extended the deadline for receiving preliminary bids in the sale of its 55-per-cent stake in cthe hemical producer Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea to September 21. The economy ministry pushed back the deadline, responding to the fears …

Head of Serbia’s Office for Kosovo says that Belgrade wishes to restart negotiations with Pristina as long as there are no preconditions.Aleksandar Vulin, head of the Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo, said that Serbia was “ready for negotiations and wants to negotiate” with the breakway former province. “However, we do …