|
13 March Latest News
Macedonian Donor Conference Nets 307m
Euros
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The international donor conference netted
a better than expected 307m euros for stabilising Macedonia’s economy Tuesday
(12 March). The donors also promised an extra 274m euros for general economic
development once specifics have been determined. The event was attended by 38
countries.
In Skopje, meanwhile, authorities released 18 ethnic Albanians
detained over the course of last year's insurgency. The Ministry of Justice also
halted court proceedings against 270 other defendants. The cases of all other
detainees are to be processed by 15 March. Excluded from the amnesty will be 19
members of the now disbanded National Liberation Army. A court ruled Tuesday the
19 will remain jailed on charges of inciting "war genocide" and crimes
against civilians. (Nova Makedonija - 13/03/02; BBC, AFP, A1 TV -- 12/03/02)
Back to top
Robertson: NATO To Decide on Balkan Troop
Numbers Within Weeks
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- NATO's secretary general says the
alliance will decide within weeks whether to reduce its forces in the Balkans.
On Tuesday (12 March), George Robertson denied reports that a decision had
already been made. He did say, however, that servicemen are needed elsewhere and
reductions will be made if it is determined that they are not needed in the
Balkans. Currently, NATO has 19,000 troops in Bosnia and 40,000 in Kosovo. The
United States has already started to pull some of its forces out of Bosnia. (AFP
- 12/03/02)
Back to top
Progress Reported in Yugoslav Federation
Talks
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- The governments of Montenegro and
Serbia reportedly have reached agreement on 10 of the 12 principles of the
federation model, according to the BETA news agency, quoting EU diplomatic
sources in Brussels Tuesday (12 March). The remaining issues are said to involve
the currency and the economic organisation of the federation. EU security chief
Javier Solana is scheduled to travel to Belgrade late Wednesday, hoping to wrap
up the talks. While pleased with the progress, "the job," he says,
"is not yet finished". (FoNet - 13/03/02; BBC, Tanjug B92 - 12/03/02)
Back to top
Croatian Coalition Averts Crisis
ZAGREB, Croatia -- In a bid to avert a political crisis, the
five members of Croatia's ruling coalition agreed Tuesday (12 March) to a
cabinet reshuffle proposed by the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS). HSLS
leader Drazen Budisa will become a deputy prime minister supervising the
ministries of interior and foreign relations. First Deputy Prime Minister Goran
Granic will preserve his post as an independent cabinet member. The parties
agreed to relieve two ministers of their duties, both HSLS members. The party
will pick their replacements. All parties in the coalition will meet again
Friday to discuss a declaration of support for the cabinet's programme, which
Prime Minister Ivica Racan insists upon.
The parties have not yet agreed on co-operation with the UN
war crimes tribunal. Budisa, who has opposed extraditions to The Hague, says he
is optimistic that a deal can be reached. (Vecernji List, Jutarnji List -
13/03/02; AFP, HINA, HRT - 12/03/02)
Back to top
International Community Urges BiH
Politicians to Agree on Constitutional Reforms
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- Bosnia’s main
party leaders were to meet Wednesday (13 March) to discuss constitutional
reforms. Tuesday, the international community urged them to reach an agreement.
High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch has set an end-of-March deadline for the
two entity parliaments to pass changes guaranteeing equal status to all peoples
across the country.
Meanwhile, representatives of both entities and the three-man
BiH presidency are visiting NATO headquarters in Brussels Wednesday to discuss
membership in the Partnership for Peace programme. (OHR Sources, FTV, FENA -
12/03/02)
Back to top
Albania's Opposition Rejects Report on
General Elections
TIRANA, Albania -- Albania's leading opposition party, the
Democratic Party (DP), said it disapproves of the Central Election
Commission’s report on last year's general elections. During discussions in
parliament Tuesday (12 March), DP leader Sali Berisha said the report is not in
line with recommendations of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights. The DP has repeatedly refused to accept the election results,
accusing the ruling Socialist Party of vote rigging. (ATA - 13/03/02)
Back to top
EU-Romania Association Council Reviews
Progress of Accession Talks
BUCHAREST, Romania -- The EU-Romania Association Council met
Tuesday (12 March) to review where Romania stands in accession talks with the EU.
The council noted that Romania has already closed nine chapters, while 17 others
are under negotiation. Romania plans to close the accession talks early in 2004,
but will insist that the EU set a precise timetable for its accession and for
that of Bulgaria.
Also Tuesday, Defence Minister Dan Ioan Popescu announced
plans to restructure under-utilised defence plants to start producing
non-military goods. (Mediafax, Rompres, BBC - 12/03/02)
Back to top
New Leader of Bulgaria's Opposition Party
Reshuffles Executive Body
SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Nadezhda Mihailova, the new leader of
Bulgaria's largest opposition party, the Union of Democratic Forces, appointed a
new executive body Tuesday (12 March). She removed most of those close to former
Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, leaving only her rival and predecessor at the party
leadership post, Ekaterina Mihailova. The moves become effective 19 March.
Meanwhile, a delegation from Macedonia is visiting Bulgaria to
implement a new joint agreement for Bulgaria to train Macedonian border
policemen. The countries agreed last month to co-operate in the fight against
illegal immigration and terrorism. (Sega, Dnevnik, Trud, Standart, Mediapool -
13/03/02)
Back to top
Croatian Fishermen Protest Border Agreement
With Slovenia
NOVIGRAD, Croatia -- About 100 fishermen in the northern
Adriatic waters of Novigrad, Croatia, staged protests Tuesday (12 March) against
the recently signed border agreement with Slovenia. They argue that Slovenian
access to the Adriatic coast near the border will endanger the fish population
and jeopardise the livelihoods of some 200 families in the county of Istria. The
agreement allows the issuance of permits to Slovenians and Croatians near the
border to travel without visas to specified zones along the seacoast.
Elsewhere Tuesday, the Yugoslav-Croatian commission on border
demarcation held its second session in Zagreb. It is to propose a draft land and
sea border agreement that would be submitted to the governments of Yugoslavia
and Croatia for approval.
Meanwhile in Belgrade, Yugoslav and Slovenian officials
wrapped up a first round of talks Tuesday that should eventually lead to a
bilateral free trade agreement. The next round will be held in Ljubljana next
month. (FoNet - 13/03/02; HINA, BBC, Tanjug - 12/03/02)
Back to top
|
