Ahtisaari wins Nobel Peace Prize
10/10/2008
OSLO, Norway -- Former UN Special Envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari has won this year's Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Foundation announced on Friday (October 10th). The Nobel committee cited "his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts". The former Finnish president served as UN special envoy for talks on the final status of Kosovo and mediated a 2005 accord in Indonesia's Aceh province. He also worked to resolve conflicts in Namibia, Iraq and Northern Ireland. Ahtisaari said he is "very pleased and grateful" to receive the award. (BBC, B92, Reuters, AP - 10/10/08)
Montenegro, Macedonia recognise Kosovo's independence
10/10/2008
PODGORICA, Montenegro -- Both Montenegro and Macedonia recognised Kosovo's independence in a co-ordinated move Thursday (October 9th). Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Rocen announced his government's decision. "This is not a decision against Serbia, but for our future," he said. In response, Serbia expelled Montenegrin Ambassador to Belgrade Anka Vojvodic, saying she "is no longer welcome in our country".
In Skopje, Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki announced the Macedonian government also recognises Kosovo's independence. Lawmakers overwhelmingly adopted a resolution filed by the two ethnic Albanian parties, the Democratic Party of Albanians and the Democratic Union for Integration. Crucial support for the resolution came from the ruling VMRO-DPMNE. The opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia abstained. "This is a move that corresponds with reality. We believe it will not endanger our relations with Serbia," Milososki said.
Also Thursday, Serbia announced it is reinstating its ambassadors to the United States and other countries -- including Japan, Canada and Australia -- that recognised Kosovo's independence earlier. In July, Belgrade returned its ambassadors to 22 EU member states that had recognised the former Serbian province's independence. (Vjesti, Dnevnik, Vecer, Utrinski Vesnik, Zeri, Koha Ditore, BBC, Express, Kosova Sot - 10/10/08; RTCG, MINA, Makfax, MIA, A1, Tanjug, B92, FoNet, Beta, AFP, Reuters, AP, RTS, VOA - 09/10/08)
Turkish air force bombs northern Iraq, kills PKK militants
10/10/2008
ANKARA, Turkey -- Warplanes and artillery units bombed bases of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, killing a large group of PKK militants, the armed forces said on Friday (October 10th). The operation took place late Thursday, military spokesman General Metin Gurak said, without providing the location or the number of PKK militants killed. The offensive was the latest in a series of punitive operations in northern Iraq to avenge a PKK ambush a week ago that killed 17 Turkish soldiers.
On Thursday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Ankara expects more support from authorities in northern Iraq and in the EU to fight the PKK. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn condemned last week's PKK attack, as did Iraqi Kurdish regional Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.
Meanwhile, police detained three suspects over Wednesday's attack on a police shuttle bus in Diyarbakir, Turkey, that killed five people and injured 20. Police are hunting for another suspect, allegedly responsible for planning the crime. All the suspects are allegedly PKK members. (Zaman, Vatan, Milliyet - 10/10/08; CNN Turk, Anadolu news agency, Hurriyet, NTV - 09/10/08)
Cypriot leaders discuss future federal administration
10/10/2008
NICOSIA, Cyprus -- President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat are meeting Friday (October 10th) in the latest round of direct talks aimed at reunifying the divided island. They are expected to discuss how to shape the future federal executive body under the chapter "Executive power and power sharing". After this chapter closes, observers expect the next issue to be property rights.
Also Thursday, a group of international statesmen known as The Elders, which includes former US President Jimmy Carter and South African Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, called on Cypriot leaders to seize this opportunity to reunite the island. "The two leaders have an appointment with history," Tutu told a press conference during a visit to Nicosia. "Failure is not an option." (Anadolu news agency, Hurriyet, CNA, Politis, Philelefteros - 09/10/08)
Albanian banks will not suffer from international crisis, IMF says
10/10/2008
TIRANA, Albania -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) assured observers on Thursday (October 9th) that Albanian banks would not suffer ill effects from the ongoing international financial crisis, as Albania's banking sector lacked integration with the world economy, IMF representative in Tirana Ann-Margret Westin said. "It is a fact that banks in Albania are not exposed to the so-called 'toxic' financial instruments that have been the source of the crisis," Westin noted. She advised the government to follow careful fiscal policies to guarantee investors it is capable of maintaining macro-economic stability. (Shqip, Panorama - 10/10/08; Top Channel, Top News - 09/10/08)
RS parliament warns against provocative rhetoric
10/10/2008
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- The parliament of Republika Srpska (RS) warned it would use "all means" to protect Bosnian Serbs against hard-line comments that threaten to fan interethnic tensions in BiH, local media reported on Thursday (October 9th). RS lawmakers did not rule out a possible referendum on independence as one possible measure. "RS expresses its readiness to use all legal and political measures, including the right to a referendum, to defend its legitimate interests and protect its identity confirmed by the Dayton Peace Accords," said a note prepared by parliament that is to be discussed at an extraordinary session Monday. At issue is a statement by BiH Presidency Chairman Haris Silajdzic, who questioned the viability of the Dayton Peace Accord in a speech to the UN General Assembly last month. (Dnevni Avaz, Nezavisne Novine, Balkan Insight - 09/10/08)
Romania's public servants stage warning strike
10/10/2008
BUCHAREST, Romania -- Over 100,000 public servants staged a warning strike Thursday (October 9th) to demand a 50% pay hike. The Federation of Public Servants' Unions Sed Lex organised the protest after negotiations with the finance ministry failed last week. Public servants stopped work for two hours, blocking activity in tax offices, pension departments, city halls, financial administrations, customs and local councils. Protesters also picketed the government's headquarters in Bucharest for two hours. Fresh talks with the government are scheduled for Friday. (Mediafax, Ziare, Realitatea TV, Agerpres - 09/10/08)
Bulgaria's Stanishev dismisses National Security Agency's deputy director
10/10/2008
SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev dismissed Ivan Drashkov, deputy director of the National Security Agency (NSA) on Thursday (October 9th). Drashkov was involved in a recent scandal over allegations that the agency was illegally monitoring journalists. Last week, Eliana Maseva, a member of parliament's committee for internal control, said the NSA has investigated a wide range of journalists in order to stop information leaks from the agency. In September, a similar scandal erupted over claims that the agency was illegally tapping the personal phones of several lawmakers and businessmen for political purposes. (Darik, BNR, BNT, BTA, Focus, novinite.com - 09/10/08)
Serbia's DS rules out possible coalition with Nikolic's party
10/10/2008
BELGRADE, Serbia -- President Boris Tadic's Democratic Party (DS) ruled out forming a coalition with the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), an offshoot of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) formed by former SRS deputy leader Tomislav Nikolic, media reported on Thursday (October 9th). DS Deputy Chairman Dragan Sutanovac said any coalition with the SNS would be politically "absolutely unnatural". Nikolic founded the SNS after splitting with the SRS because of a disagreement with jailed party leader Vojislav Seselj over the party's position on ratifying the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. (Danas, Politika, Beta, B92 - 09/10/08)
EU urges Albania to reform judicial system
10/10/2008
TIRANA, Albania -- Helmut Lohan, head of the European Commission (EC) delegation in Tirana, urged Albania to continue reforming its judicial system, media reported on Thursday (October 9th). "Reforms are needed to allow the system to be independent from political influence, despite changes in government," Lohan stressed. He also urged political leaders to speed up and complete work on the Election Code and other preparations for next year's elections. (Gazeta Shqiptare, Alsat - 10/10/08; BalkanWeb - 09/10/08)
Supermarket blast kills one, injures three in BiH
10/10/2008
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- An explosion at a supermarket killed one person and injured three others Thursday (October 9th) in the central town of Vitez. One of the wounded is in serious condition. The incident happened at noon when shoppers found three explosive devices in the store, police spokesperson Ljubica Tomasevic said. Still unclear is whether the explosives were "planted or thrown", police said. (FoNet, RTRS, B92, Reuters - 09/10/08)
