UNMIK to ignore results of Serbian elections in Kosovo
15/05/2008
PRISTINA, Kosovo -- UNMIK is refusing to recognise the winners of weekend local Serbian elections held in Kosovo, insisting the results are illegal. "None of the elected in these elections will be a partner of UNMIK," UNMIK spokesman Alexander Ivanko said on Wednesday (May 14th). "We will talk only to the representatives appointed by UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker in the five municipalities with a Serb majority," he added. While reiterating that Serbia's effort violated its international obligations, he said UNMIK wants to establish good relations with the government in Belgrade.
In other news, Kosovo Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni continues his swing through Central America, seeking recognition of Kosovo's new statehood. On Wednesday, Hyseni was in Panama, meeting with ambassadors and diplomats representing Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. He briefed them on developments in Kosovo since Pristina declared its independence on February 17th, stressing actions to protect minorities. (RTK, BBC, Telegrafi, KTV - 14/05/08; Koha Ditore, Zeri - 13/05/08)
Russia, India, China support resumption of talks regarding Kosovo's status
15/05/2008
MOSCOW, Russia -- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says the governments of Russia, India and China all want to see talks resume between Belgrade and Pristina on Kosovo's final status, even though Pristina declared independence nearly three months ago. After a trilateral meeting Thursday (May 15th) in Ekaterinburg between the foreign ministers of the three countries, Lavrov said, "We think [Kosovo] should be resolved exclusively based on international law. The unilateral declaration of Kosovo contradicts Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council."
Separately Wednesday, Serbia announced its opposition to NATO plans to train Kosovo's security forces. Serbian General Staff chief Zdravko Ponos spelled out the position on the sidelines of a regular meeting of chiefs of the defence staff from the 26 NATO allies in Brussels. He noted, however, that regardless of the differences Serbia has with most NATO members regarding Kosovo's status, Belgrade will continue to co-operate with the alliance in reforming its military. (ITAR-TASS, BTA, Vesti - 15/05/08; AP, RIA Novosti, Beta, Tanjug, Blic - 14/05/08)
Romania's Tariceanu says Italian immigration measures won't target EU citizens
15/05/2008
BUCHAREST, Romania -- Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said on Wednesday (May 14th) that new measures Italy plans to take against illegal immigration will not affect EU citizens. That assessment followed what he described as a "positive" telephone conversation with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini. "[Frattini] informed me that the series of measures regarding immigration that the Italian authorities are preparing are aimed at citizens of countries that are not members of the EU," Tariceanu said. Bucharest is concerned that the initiatives primarily would target Romanian nationals, following a series of high-profile crimes. On Monday, Tariceanu asked Interior Minister Cristian David to visit Rome "urgently" to discuss measures planned by Silvio Berlusconi's government. (Nine o'clock - 15/05/08; Mediafax, Rompres, Hotnews.ro - 14/05/08)
RS's Dodik says Lajcak has no authority on frozen foreign currency savings debt
15/05/2008
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- High Representative Miroslav Lajcak lacks the authority to intervene in the frozen foreign currency savings debt issue, Republika Srpska (RS) Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said on Wednesday (May 14th). Nor, he said, does the BiH Constitutional Court have the authority to decide anything. Instead, he suggests, local institutions must solve the problem. Earlier this week, Lajcak urged the Constitutional Court to address issues arising from the existence of two laws -- at different levels of power -- that deal with the frozen foreign currency debt. Regulation of the old savings debt was originally under uniform, state-level purview. However, this past January, RS adopted its own legislation and introduced a separate system that violates BiH law, according to Lajcak's office. (RTRS, SRNA - 14/05/08)
IPA Adriatic programme promotes its activities in Albania
15/05/2008
TIRANA, Albania -- The European Integration Ministry, the Italian Embassy and the European Commission held an information day Wednesday (May 14th) about the Instrument of Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Adriatic cross-border co-operation programme. Deputy Integration Minister Zef Bushati said it will facilitate Albania's process of stabilisation and association with the EU. European Commission delegation in Tirana chief Helmut Lohan stressed that cross-border co-operation is an important component of the process. "Through this programme, we aim to strengthen contacts with each other as an important attribute for integration," Lohan said. (BalkanWeb, News 24, Ministry of EU integration official website - 14/05/08)
Albania's Topi calls for stronger ties with Israel
15/05/2008
JERUSALEM, Israel -- Albanian President Bamir Topi was in Israel on Wednesday (May 14th) marking the 60th anniversary of the country's founding. He called for more bilateral co-operation and stressed the importance of opening a future Israeli embassy in Tirana. For her part, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni praised Albania for supporting stability and peace in the region.
On Tuesday, Topi attended an international conference in Israel, where he discussed harmony among various religions. "Tolerance is a part of Albania, part of the Albanian identity," he said. (BalkanWeb, Top Channel - 14/05/08)
Greece gripped by another wave of strikes
15/05/2008
ATHENS, Greece -- Another wave of strikes took place in Greece on Thursday (May 15th). Organised by one of the biggest trade unions in the country, the GSEE, this one protests recent privatisations, including the deal reached by the state telecommunications company, OTE, with Germany's Deutsche Telekom, as well as pension reform and high consumer prices. OTE and ports have stopped work for 24 hours. Employees of the national electricity utility (DEI), the national postal service (ELTA), Olympic Airlines and the water supply and sewerage company in Athens are closing for five hours, a little longer than the walkout by public sector employees. Banks are also closed. (DPA - 15/05/08; ANA-MPA, AP - 14/05/08)
Turkey's CHP submits another no-confidence motion against government
15/05/2008
ANKARA, Turkey -- The main opposition People's Republican Party (CHP) submitted another no-confidence motion against the government Wednesday (May 14th). It came only a day after parliament rejected a motion alleging the government encouraged police to assault demonstrators during a May Day rally in Istanbul. This time, the motion alleges Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan abused his office by intervening "before and after the tender for the sale of the ATV television channel and the Sabah newspaper, through which he secured advantages for one of the buyers [the Calik group]".
In other news, an explosion killed two and injured five early Thursday about 40km northeast of Ankara province. The blast occurred at a dairy factory in an industrial complex in Cubuk. Investigators say a boiler may have been involved. (Sabah, NTV, AP, NTV, Anadolu news agency, Hurriyet, Zaman - 15/05/08; Hurriyet, NTV - 14/05/08
Cyprus bans private ferries to Lebanon
15/05/2008
NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The government announced on Wednesday (May 14th) a safety-motivated ban on private boats ferrying people to and from Lebanon. Cypriot port officials explained that according to international agreements, transporting people by water must be aboard passenger ships, not yachts, which lack the necessary documentation. The only exception would be ferrying doctors from the Doctors of the World organisation to Lebanon. The move came amid local media reports that boat owners were charging large amounts of money to ferry people both out of and into Lebanon, where unrest and violence over the past week affected international links. (Phileleftheros, Reuters, Middle East Online - 14/05/08)
