Senior US general visits Turkey for talks on fighting terrorism, PKK
04/07/2008
ANKARA, Turkey -- General James Cartwright, vice-chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived on Thursday (July 3rd) in Ankara to discuss the fight against terrorism, including the operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The US Embassy says Cartwright met with Turkey's chief of the General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit, and his deputy General Ergin Saygun. This is Cartwright's third visit to Ankara since November 2007. Turkey, supported by US military intelligence services, has been conducting military operations against PKK bases in northern Iraq for months.
In other news, the Turkish General Staff announced that the seaside resort of Antalya will host a three-day meeting of the Balkan countries' General Staff chiefs beginning on Sunday. Officials from Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Greece will attend, as will NATO and EU military delegations. (Zaman, Turkish Daily News - 04/07/08; AFP, Hurriyet - 03/07/08)
Gruevski to hold final round of talks before announcing Macedonia's new ruling coalition
04/07/2008
SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Prime Minister-designate Nikola Gruevski will hold one more round of talks with the Democratic Union of Integration, the Democratic Party of Albanians and the Party for a European Future, government spokesman Ivica Bocevski said. Gruevski held a third round of consultations with the three parties on Thursday (July 3rd). Bocevski denied rumours the talks ended in failure, saying negotiations are proceeding as scheduled. Daily Utrinski Vjesnik cites an unidentified source who says the coalition agreement will be signed on Monday. (Utrinski Vesnik, Dnevnik - 04/07/08; Makfax, A1 TV - 03/07/08)
Bulgarian opposition to seek new no confidence vote due to problems with EU
04/07/2008
SOFIA, Bulgaria -- The opposition plans a new vote of no confidence against the cabinet based on problems with the absorption of EU funds and corruption, the co-chairman of the Bulgarian People's Union, Stefan Sofiyanski, said on Thursday (July 3rd). Opposition parties plan to spend about a week discussing the motion and streamlining their case. Media reports suggest they will launch the move before the regular report by the European Commission (EC) -- due at the end of July -- to avoid parliament taking its summer recess before the vote is held. The EC report is expected to criticise Bulgaria for corruption and misappropriation stemming from the utilisation of EU funds in recent months, as well as for recent scandals that rocked the interior ministry. (24 Chasa - 04/07/08; Focus, bTV, Dnevnik - 03/07/08)
Croatia upbeat on NATO membership
04/07/2008
ZAGREB, Croatia -- Deputy Prime Minister Damir Polancec said on Thursday (July 3rd) that in addition to security benefits, Croatia will enjoy significant economic benefits from next year's NATO membership. Speaking at an international conference on NATO entry in Zagreb, Polancec said he expects membership to boost foreign investment and foster economic growth. "Potential investors will feel more secure now when they decide to invest in Croatia. It is of particular importance, as we want to attract more greenfield investors than was the case in the past, when we had very few," Polancec said.
Also Thursday, Croatian Foreign Minister Goran Jandrokovic met with Czech counterpart Tomas Pojar. They praised the current level of bilateral ties, with Jandrokovic indicating his country's support will come in handy during the Czech presidency of the EU, which begins in January. (Vjesnik - 04/07/08; Javno.com, HINA, Reuters - 03/07/08)
Gregorian backs Transparency International BiH in row with Dodik
04/07/2008
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- Principal Deputy High Representative Raffi Gregorian expressed his support for the corruption watchdog NGO Transparency International BiH (TI BiH) on Thursday (July 3rd). Earlier this week, Republika Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik said he was aware of malpractice on the part of TI BiH, including the racketeering and blackmailing of certain RS businessmen. Gregorian met with TIBH representatives and said afterwards the organisation "has never been contacted by police, questioned or served any notice by the courts. There have been repeated announcements by representatives of the RS government of legal action against the organisation which has never resulted in concrete action. If anyone believes that there is a civil or criminal case to be answered, it should be done through the courts, and not public statements." (OHR website, Fena - 03/07/08)
RS proposes special relations accord with Montenegro
04/07/2008
PODGORICA, Montenegro -- Republika Srpska (RS) Prime Minister Milorad Dodik met with Montenegrin counterpart Milo Djukanovic in Podgorica on Thursday (July 3rd) and suggested a special relations agreement be signed between the entity and Montenegro. Dodik said that the Dayton Agreements give RS the right to endorse such accords. RS already has one with Serbia, despite severe criticism by the other entity, the Federation of BiH. Dodik and Djukanovic also discussed co-operation in energy, transport and tourism as well as the possibility of building an additional border checkpoint.
Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski was also in Podgorica on Thursday, meeting with President Filip Vujanovic. They focused on efforts to boost economic relations and the possibility the two countries can support each other in their Euro-Atlantic integration bids. After the meeting, Vujanovic said regular air service would be established between Montenegro and Macedonia. (RTRS, PBS, RTCG, MRT, MIA - 03/07/08)
Ambassador says US wants to strengthen strategic partnership with Romania
04/07/2008
BUCHAREST, Romania -- US Ambassador to Romania Nicholas Taubman said his country is determined to strengthen its strategic partnership with Romania. In a statement marking the July 4th US Independence Day, Taubman said co-operation is not limited to the defence and military sectors, as US companies such as Ford and Emerson have opened factories in Romania this year. Taubman also congratulated Romanian authorities on their organisation of the NATO summit in Bucharest in April and thanked Romania for its contribution to international peacekeeping efforts. (Rompres, Mediafax - 04/07/08)
OSCE says Kosovo judiciary ineffective in aftermath of March 2004 ethnic violence
04/07/2008
PRISTINA, Kosovo -- In a report titled "Four Years Later" published on Thursday (July 3rd), the OSCE criticised Kosovo's judiciary for its handling of cases stemming from the March 2004 riots. The report noted continued difficulties in securing witness statements, widespread failure to sentence alleged perpetrators and long delays in proceedings. According to the report, courts in many cases did not account for an ethnic motive as an aggravating factor. Tim Guldimann, head of the OSCE Mission noted "Deeds cannot be undone, but proper legal action must follow." Nineteen people were killed and over 900 injured in the riots sparked throughout Kosovo by two ethnically-motivated incidents.
In other news Thursday, President Fatmir Sejdiu signed a decree to establish a Kosovo embassy in Turkey. Embassies have been decreed in nine other countries, but it is not clear when exactly they will open. (Kosovalive, Kosovapress, TurkishPress.com - 04/07/08; OSCE website, B92, Makfax - 03/07/08)
Cypriot parliament ratifies Lisbon Treaty
04/07/2008
NICOSIA, Cyprus -- Lawmakers ratified the Lisbon Treaty, the document that streamlines the workings of the enlarged EU, on Thursday (July 3rd). By a vote of 31 to 17 with one abstention, Cyprus became the 20th EU member state to ratify the treaty. The ruling Communist Party voted against ratification, arguing European citizens didn't have enough input in the treaty's final preparation. To take effect on January 1st 2009, it must be ratified by all 27 EU member states. (Kathimerini, Cyprus Mail, Philelefteros - 04/07/08, CNA, ANA-MPA, Naftemporiki - 03/07/08)
