Last week started with cabinet changes in the Macedonian government following the resignation of the minister of education. At the same time, reports from the country are showing 4% growth in industrial production, placing Macedonia ahead of some EU countries in terms of economic recovery.
Orient Express Weekly (20-26 May 2013)
Kosovo, Serbia, Germany On Wednesday a framework agreement on implementation of Belgrade-Pristina agreement was reached. It is seen as an important step in what is expected to be a delicate implementation process. It is understood that the framework agreement does not envisage immediate dissolution of local authorities in ethnically Serbian northern Kosovo, which was one […]
Regional Consequences of Croatian EU Accession – Report from Day 02
The second day of the Conference Regional impact of Croatia joining the EU, speakers drew a number of economic and political lessons for Southeast Europe as they assessed challenges in the wake of the Croatian joining the EU. In the first session of the second day participants focused on the expected changes in regional economic […]
Regional Consequences of Croatian EU Accession – Report from Day 01
International Conference “Regional impacts of Croatia joining the EU” (17-18 May), organized by CisBalk and Centre for applied European studies (CPES) at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, started with a movie “Twilight of Heroes – Croatia, Europe and International tribunal” (part of the documentary series “Return to Europe”).
Orient Express Weekly (13-19 May 2013)
Legal and illegal businesses connecting Balkan countries Legal and political manoeuvring around the case of suspected Balkan drug kingpin Naser Kelmendi continued last week as the Bosnian court froze Kelmendi’s property in the country, including a well-known Sarajevo hotel. The decision is part of the preparations for the expected extradition of Kelmendi who was arrested […]
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set
Baroness Catherine Ashton writing for the Russian Коммерсантъ describes the Balkans as the “cradle of war for 100 years”. A notion Afghans, Arabs, Kenyans, Malayans, Irish, Boers, Zulus, or Chinese among others would find hard to comprehend. Wikipedia: List of Wars Involving Great Britain
Orient Express Weekly (15-21 April 2013)
Baroness Ashton of the Balkans On Thursday Serbian PM Ivica Dačić and his Kosovo counterpart Hashim Thaci put their initials on the final text of the agreement on the special status of the Serb municipalities in Kosovo. Last week’s two additional rounds of talks mediated by the EU’s Catherine Ashton resulted in a compromise solution […]
Orient Express Weekly (8-14 April 2013)
Still no solutions to the regional disputes The previous week started with the Serbian government officially refusing the EU-brokered offer on the status of ethnic Serbs in Kosovo. Apparently, the offer was not presented in writing, but consisted of a set of principles read out to the Pristina and Belgrade delegations last Tuesday by Catherine […]
Greek-Macedonian naming dispute
An opportunity to name a country is a rare occasion. Greek politicians have been savoring this opportunity for 22 years. Why don’t we all join them? What name would the Orient Express readers choose for Macedonia? Choose among the proposals already discussed, or even better – be creative and help Greece and Macedonia overcome their […]
Orient Express Weekly (1- 7 April 2013)
Serbia-Kosovo Talks Hit Stalemate The week has started less than promisingly for Belgrade and Pristina, as their representatives failed to reach agreement in the 8th round of EU mediated talks. Both delegations arrived back at their capitals without having agreed on the role and jurisdiction of the Association of Serbian Municipalities in Kosovo. After 12 […]
