Latest News
Kostunica’s Party Leaves
Presidency of Yugoslav Ruling Coalition
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- President Vojislav's
Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) says it will no longer
participate in the presidency of the ruling Democratic Opposition of
Serbia (DOS) coalition. The final straw for DSS was the draft law on
co-operation with the war crimes tribunal. Both DSS and the Montenegrin
Socialists oppose the extradition of Yugoslav citizens to The Hague.
This is the third walkout from the leadership of the 18-party coalition.
A senior official, Ljiljana Colic, explained Friday (8 March) that DSS
would not leave all DOS structures, and would continue to work with DOS
at the local level. (B92 - 10/03/02; AP, AFP, Tanjug, Glas Crnogoraca -
09/03/02)
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International Community Welcomes
Adoption of Macedonia's Amnesty Law
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The international community
commended Friday (8 March) the adoption of the amnesty law by
Macedonia's Parliament, describing it as a major step towards the
implementation of the peace plan. NATO Secretary General George
Robertson hailed lawmakers in Skopje for their "vision and
courage", calling the measure a cornerstone for reconciliation
among ethnic groups. The EU, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the UN,
and the United States delivered similar messages. It is believed that
some 3,000 former members of the now disbanded National Liberation Army
will be amnestied, as well as some 250 others. (A1 TV, MIA - 08/03/02)
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Vilnius Group Foreign Ministers
Urge NATO to Sustain Open Door Policy
SKOPJE, Macedonia -- The Vilnius Group countries
called on NATO Friday (8 March) to prove that its open door policy will
be sustained beyond the Prague summit in November. The foreign ministers
of the ten candidate countries issued a joint declaration after meeting
in Skopje. They affirmed the willingness of Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to
integrate into the Euro-Atlantic structures with an eye to a united and
peaceful Europe. They also called on the international community not to
leave southeastern Europe isolated, stressing the region has great
potential.
Saturday meanwhile, Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon
Saxe-Coburg met in Bucharest with Romanian President Ion Iliescu and
Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, in a bid to streamline co-operation
towards NATO and EU accession. They agreed their chances for NATO
integration would grow if they start acting as partners rather than
competitors. (Rompres, AR Press, BTA, Sega - 09/03/02; MIA, A1 TV -
08/03/02)
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Kostunica, Ashdown Agree on Need
for Stable Bosnia
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Yugoslav President Vojislav
Kostunica met Friday (8 March) with Bosnia's newly appointed
international representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Paddy
Ashdown. Afterwards, they agreed that respect for borders, law and
order, and the eradication of corruption are key priorities.
A spokesman for outgoing BiH High Representative
Wolfgang Petritsch, meanwhile, accused authorities in Republika Srpska
of failing to arrest even a single war crimes suspect. "Failing to
live up to international obligations sends a very negative message with
regards to future European integrations and possible future
investments," spokesman Oleg Milisic said. The EU office in Bosnia
issued a similar statement, calling the Bosnian Serb entity the last
refuge for war crimes suspects. (AFP, Tanjug, A1 TV - 08/03/02)
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UN Mission Says Kosovo Government,
President Cannot Declare Independence
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Kosovo President Ibrahim
Rugova and Prime Minister Bairam Rexhepi cannot declare Kosovo’s
independence, reiterated Susan Manuel, chief spokeswoman of the UN
mission in Kosovo Saturday (9 March). Referring to statements by both
Rugova and Rexhepi, Manuel noted their mandate does not allow them to
decide on the status of the province.
Elsewhere Saturday, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran
Djindjic said the conflict in southern Serbia was not escalating and the
crisis will not recur there. He predicted that implementation of the
stabilisation plan for the region would be finalised by the end of
March. Based on that, ethnic Albanians would be integrated into local
state institutions. (Vecernje Novosti, Tanjug - 09/03/02)
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Bosnia Shuts Down Islamic Charities
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- Bosnian
authorities reportedly have decided to close three Islamic charities
after uncovering evidence of financial misconduct. A local TV station
says that the US-based Benevolence International Foundation (BIF) and
the Global Relief Foundation (GRF), as well as the Saudi-based
Alharamain will be banned from operating in Bosnia. According to the
report, investigators have been unable to obtain evidence of links to
terrorism, but have discovered a number of suspicious transactions. The
US government has frozen the assets of BIF and GRF, accusing them of
financing Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.
Meanwhile, on Friday (8 March), the international
community's High Representative in BiH, Wolfgang Petritsch, marked the
second anniversary of Brcko District. He congratulated authorities there
for the progress they have achieved. Brcko enjoys single administrative
status in BiH together with the two entities. (AFP, OHR Sources -
08/03/02)
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Albania’s Majko Calls on Local
Governors to Help Fight Corruption
TIRANA, Albania -- Albania's Prime Minister Pandeli
Majko Saturday (9 March) urged local authorities to support the central
government's efforts to combat corruption. Majko requested that the
prefects prepare reports on measures undertaken at the local level in
this direction. He also insisted that they take steps to improve tax
collection rates and tighten fiscal control. Pervasive corruption
recently caused a crisis in the ruling Socialist Party and triggered the
resignation of former Prime Minister Ilir Meta’s cabinet. (Balkan Web,
ATA - 09/03/02)
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Five members Leave Bulgarian Ruling
Party's Parliamentary Group
SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Five members left the parliamentary
group of Bulgaria's ruling coalition National Movement Simeon II (NMS
II) Friday (8 March), following a run-in with its leader, Prime Minister
Simeon Saxe-Coburg. He had demanded three members resign for supposedly
circulating letters critical of the government. Two others left as well.
Still unclear is whether they will remain in the Assembly. NMS II 's
parliamentary group says it would be "immoral" for them to do
so.
On Sunday meanwhile, Bulgaria's largest opposition
party -- the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) -- elected a new leader at
its 13th national conference. Former Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihailova,
who currently chairs the UDF parliamentary group, beat out the incumbent
chairperson Ekaterina Mihailova with just over 60 per cent of the vote,
according to national radio. (BTA - 10/03/02; Dnevnik - 09/03/02; BTA,
Mediapool - 08/03/02)
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Croatian President Urges Ruling
Parties to Sign Agreement
ZAGREB, Croatia -- President Stipe Mesic Saturday (9
March) urged the five ruling parties to overcome the current government
crisis by signing an agreement based on principles rather than personal
ambitions. If no agreement on a cabinet reshuffle can be reached, the
next best solution would be early parliamentary elections, he said.
Friday meanwhile, the president of the European
Commission, Romano Prodi suggested Croatia might become a full member of
the EU even before some of the current official candidates. Although
Croatia is not recognised as an official EU candidate yet, Prodi says
Zagreb could quickly fulfill EU accession criteria. (HINA, HRT,
Infopress - 09/03/02)
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