Girodivite: Centro Studi Est Europa: synthetic overview of January 25, 2010

Centro Studi Est Europa: synthetic overview of January 25, 2010

Synthetic overview taken from the press releases we received today.

We look for collaborators and partners.

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Monday 25 January 2010, by Emanuele G. - 595 letture

Today news:

* Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (Bosnia and Balkans)

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Balkan Insight Daily No. 449, January 25, 2010

> For further information: www.birn.eu.com

* Belarus News and Analysis (Belarus and Cis)

Update of January 25, 2010:

EP concerned over Poles’s plight in Belarus

Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya Holds Consultations with Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleynik

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Meets with Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleynik

Belarus issues 2009 steel production results

Kazakhstan to invest in Belarus oil refining factories

Belarus harrasses Polish minority

Organizations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Belarus to increase production volumes by 13-15%

Turkmen President to pay official visit to Belarus

Journalists in Belarus need your support

> For further information: www.data.minsk.by/belarusnews/index.html

* Camera di Commercio Italiana per la Romania (Romania and Italy)

Pubblichiamo in allegato il Bollettino Legislativo e la Newsletter Economica. Entrambi afferenti al mese di gennaio.

> For further information: www.cameradicommercio.ro

* Central Asian News Service (Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia)

Daily news report of January 25, 2010

> For further information: www.ca-news.org

* Civil Georgia (Georgia)

Daily news online of January 23, 2010

> For further information: www.civil.ge

* Collegium Musicum (Bulgaria)

Rousse State Ballet in our in Italia in aprile, luglio, agosto e dicembre.

> For further information: info@collegiummusicum.org

* Council of the European Union (Belgium)

Council conclusions on Bosnia and Herzegovina: Operation ALTHEA

FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting Brussels, 25 January 2010

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

“The Council reiterated its full support for the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH); and confirmed that Operation ALTHEA was an important part of the EU’s comprehensive efforts in BiH to support a political process aimed at enabling BiH, on the basis of the necessary reforms, to continue to move forward in the EU integration process.

The EU underlined its commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with the Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement. The Council also declared strong support for the High Representative/EUSR Valentin Inzko and called on all parties in BiH to comply with all decisions taken by him and not to seek to challenge his authority.

The Council recalled the decisive progress made by Operation ALTHEA towards accomplishing its mandate and in particular the completion of the military and stabilisation tasks provided for by the Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement; and underlined Operation Althea’s significant contribution to the stability and security of BiH. Building on these achievements, the Council decided to start providing non-executive capacity-building and training support, within the framework of the Operation, subject to the completion of the necessary arrangements. The Council underlined in this context that security sector reform was an important part of the overall reform process in BiH, where EU military engagement through non-executive capacity-building and training tasks would contribute to strengthening local ownership and capacity.

The Council underlined the EU’s commitment to supporting BiH efforts to maintain the safe and secure environment. Operation ALTHEA’s executive mandate will continue in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1895 (2009). The Council expressed the readiness of the EU, should the situation require, to maintain an executive military role to support these efforts beyond 2010, under a UN mandate.

The Council confirmed that it will continue closely to monitor the situation in BiH. To this end, it intends regularly to review the operation, taking into account the internal situation in BiH as well as developments concerning the international community’ s presence, including the future role of the EUSR.

These elements should be seen as part of the EU’ s overall engagement and complementary to the wide range of instruments that contribute to a prosperous and secure BiH.”

Direct link

> For further information: www.consilium.europa.eu

* Le Courrier des Balkans (France and Balkans)

Le Bulletin du Courrier des Balkans N°688

Balkanofonik 2010 : J-13

> For further information : http://balkans.courriers.info

* Ebrd (England, Eastern Europe, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia)

Press releases - Press releases: week ending 22 January 2010

EBRD ups 2010 forecasts for some countries, recovery remains fragile

> For further information: www.ebrd.com

* Interfax (Russia and Cis)

Interfax Russia & CIS Diplomatic Panorama January 25, 2010

> For further information: www.interfax.com

* Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Zagabria (Croatia and Italy)

U četvrtak, 28. siječnja u 19.00 sati u knjižari Profil Megastore, Bogovićeva 7, održat će se susret s književnikom Paolom Rumizom povodom Večeri talijanske kulture u organizaciji Talijanskog instituta za kulturu u Zagrebu i Profil Multimedije.

Paolo Rumiz je priznati talijanski novinar, rođen u Trstu 1947. Istaknuo se kao posebni izvjestitelj lista Il Piccolo i kasnije kao kolumnist lista La Repubblica. Sredinom 80-ih godina prošlog stoljeća bio je aktivan prenositelj vijesti s Balkana, a na istom području radio je kao reporter tijekom rata u Hrvatskoj i Bosni i Hercegovini. Nastavlja pratiti ratna zbivanja i na drugim frontovima. U studenom 2001 izvještavao je o američkom napadu na Afghanistan te je bio aktivan u Islamabadu i Kabulu. Poznate su i njegove reportaže i putopisi o putovanjima širom Italije i Europe. Prešao je živopisnih 7000 km i spojio granice orijenta sa zapadnom Europom i pri tom promijenio razna prijevozna sredstva od bicikla, trajekta do željeznica. Višestruko je nagrađivan za novinarski rad; nagrada Hemingway (1993), Marco Luchetta (2006) kao i za mnoge zapise s brojnih putovanja. Na hrvatski su prevedene njegove knjige: Maske za masakr. Ono što nismo željeli znati o ratu u Jugoslaviji, Durieux, 2000; Odavde do Lepanta, Slobodna Dalmacija, 2005; Tri biciklista: od Trsta do Istanbula, Mara, Pula, 2007.

Bilješke s putovanja u nepoznatu Italiju je prva u nizu talijanskih večeri u knjižari Profil Megastore gdje će posjetitelji imati priliku upoznati lik i djelo Paola Rumiza. Slijede pojedinačna i grupna predstavljanja nekih od najnagrađivanijih i najcjenjenijih predstavnika talijanske kulturne scene. Plijeni pažnju gostovanje Snježane Husić i Marinka Koščeca koje će se održati 25. veljače povodom objavljivanja knjige Baol - Mirna noć režimska u nakladi Sysprinta, a premijerno će se osvrnuti na značenje i vrijednost Stefana Bennija, talijanskog satiričara, pjesnika i novinara.

Slijede Istarske priče i susret s književnicom Nelidom Milani na rasporedu 25. ožujka, a živost istarske književnosti dodatno će obogatiti Corinna Gerbaz Giuliano i Silvio Forza.

Giovedì, 28 gennaio alle ore 19 nella libreria Profil Megastore, avrà luogo un’incontro con lo scrittore Paolo Rumiz nell’ambito delle Serate di Cultura italiana organizzate dall’Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Zagabria e da Profil Multimedia.

Paolo Rumiz, noto giornalista italiano, e’ nato a Trieste nel 1947. Si e’ distinto come inviato speciale de Il Piccolo e in seguito come editorialista di La Repubblica. Dalla metà degli anni Ottanta del secolo scorso segue attivamente gli eventi dell’area balcanica. e anche successivamente come reporter in prima linea durante il conflitto in Croazia e poi in Bosnia ed Erzegovina. Continua a seguire gli eventi di guerra anche su altri fronti. Nel mese di novembre 2001 e’ stato inviato ad Islamabad e a Kabul per documentare l’attacco statunitense all’Afganistan. Sono noti i suoi reportage che narrano dei viaggi compiuti attraverso l’Italia e l’Europa. Ha attraversato oltre 7000 chilometri avvicinando le frontiere orientali all’Europa occidentale, alternando diversi mezzi di trasporto, dalla bicicletta al traghetto, al treno. Ha conseguito numerosi premi per il suo lavoro giornalistico: premio Hemingway (1993), Marco Luchetta (2006), e per le narrazioni dei suoi numerosi viaggi. Tra i suoi libri ricordiamo: con Carlo Cerchioli, Fotoreporter italiani nell’ex Jugoslavia, Editore Petruzzi, Danubio. Storie di una nuova Europa, 1990, Vento di terra. Istria e Fiume, appunti di viaggio tra i Balcani e il Mediterraneo, Mgs Press, 1994; Maschere per un massacro - Quello che non abbiamo voluto sapere della guerra in Jugoslavia, Editori Riuniti 1996 (1999); Est, Feltrinelli 2003; con Francesco Altan, Tre uomini in bicicletta, Feltrinelli 2002; È oriente, Feltrinelli 2003 (2005); con Monika Bulaj, Gerusalemme perduta, Frassinelli 2005; La leggenda dei monti naviganti, Feltrinelli 2007 Annibale. Un viaggio, Feltrinelli 2008; L’Italia in seconda classe, Feltrinelli 2009

Taccuino di viaggio in un’Italia sconosciuta e’ la prima di una serie di serate italiane nella libreria Profil Megastore dove i visitatori avranno occasione di conoscere il personaggio e l’opera di Paolo Rumiz.

Seguiranno presentazioni individuali o di gruppo di alcuni dei più premiati e più apprezzati rappresentanti della scena culturale italiana. Attira l’attenzione la conversazione di Snježana Husić e Marinko Koščec che avrà luogo il 25 febbraio in occasione della pubblicazione in lingua croata del volume Baol : una tranquilla notte di regime per i tipi della casa editrice SysPrint e che spiegherà per la prima volta l’ importanza e il valore di Stefano Benni, scrittore satirico, poeta e giornalista.

Seguiranno i Racconti istriani e l’incontro con la scrittrice Nelida Milani, in programma il 25 marzo cui contribuiranno, a illustrare la vivacità della letteratura istriana, Corinna Gerbaz Giuliano e Silvio Forza.

> For further information: www.iiczagabria.esteri.it

* Istituto Polacco di Roma (Italy and Poland)

“Il 27 gennaio di quest’anno, il Giorno della Memoria non somiglierà a nessuno dei precedenti per almeno una ragione: perché nel frattempo è scomparso Marek Edelman.” Sergio Luzzatto, Il sole 24 ore, Domenica 17 gennaio 2010

L’Istituto Polacco di Roma insieme alla Biblioteca Europea e con il patrocinio della Fondazione Museo della Shoah, dedicherà a Marek Edelman un’intera serata del 28 gennaio 2010. Al ricordo parteciperanno, tra gli altri, Adam Michnik, direttore del quotidiano Gazeta Wyborcza, Wlodek Goldkorn e Ludmila Ryba, curatori del libro “C’era l’amore nel ghetto”, nonché Gad Lerner.

In allegato il nostro comunicato stampa e una foto di Marek Edelman (copyright: Piotr Uss Wasowicz (Beres & Baron Media Productions)

> For further information: www.istitutopolacco.it

* Latvian Centre for Human Rights (Latvia)

Newsletter of January 25, 2010

> For further information: www.humanrights.org.lv

* Memorial (Russia and Cis)

Krasnodar Krai: Member of HRC Memorial is Continuing to Face Persecution

The authorities of Krasnodar Krai are continuing to persecute the human rights activist, Anastasia Denisova — president of the Youth Group for Tolerance ETHnICS and a member of Human Rights Center Memorial.

On January 11, 2010 at 1:20 in the afternoon, the major of the police, head investigator for special cases P.P. Ignatenko, and members of the OBEP A.V. Gasparyan and V.V. Lin’kov, the two of whom (a man and woman) being witnesses, entered a rental apartment along with the owner of the apartment where Anastasia Denisova was located. As the landlady would later report, the members of the police had at first appeared at her house. They had proposed that she came with them as they were intending to search the apartment which the woman was renting to the photojournalist Yury Ivashchenko. They explained to the landlady that they were conducting "a special operation to confirm the identities of those living there with that registered in connection with a terrorist threat" and her presence was necessary, "in order to avoid any complications with the search." According to the landlady, the man and woman, who turned out to be witnesses arrived with the police officers. At first the landlady mistook the female witness for a member of the police as she was seated in the police car and holding a folder with documents and a purse in her lap which she then passed to A.V. Gasparyan.

Having entered the apartment, the police officers presented Anastasia Denisova with declaration for a search as part of the initiated criminal case in accordance with article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("violation of intellectual property rights"), connected with the use of unlicensed computer programs. Anastasia asked them to present the document for the initiated criminal case; however, the investigator stated that she would receive a copy of the declaration later when she came in for an interrogation.

They searched only a single room in the apartment from 1:25 pm until 4:17 pm and didn’t look over the kitchen, bathroom, nor entrance at all. A laptop belonging to Ivashchenko was taken during the search inside of which was a hard drive and flash card belonging to Denisova. The officers paid special attention to the documents of ETHnICS, brochures for human rights monitoring, and a photoalbum Uprooted about individuals without citizenship in Kransnodar Krai. They were inquiring whether the materials had been created on the computers there, how many copies had been made, etc.

The head of the UVD press-service for the city of Krasnodar, I. Shakalov, stated "The search was sanctioned — being based upon the decree of the Lenin District Court of Krasnodar, as part of the initiated criminal case in relation to Denisova according to Article 146 part 3 paragraph G of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("illegal use of intellectual property to a particularly large degree")." "The examiner’s findings have already confirmed," Shakalov added, "that on the computers confiscated from the office of ETHnICS in October of last year were installed pirated programs. The investigation is continuing."

On January 12, 2010 at 2:50 pm at the police precinct №1 UVD of Kransnodar (Western District), the interrogation of Anastasia Denisova began. Investigator P.P. Ignatenko interrogated Anastasia in the presence of her attorney, M.A. Dubrovina, provided by the Interregional Human Rights Association AGORA. Denisova stated that she would not give a deposition until she had a look at the documents of the case and results of the technical search. Ignatenko showed her and Dubrovina the declaration for the court appointed technical examination from January 11, 2010 by the regional branch of the Union of Criminalists. Anastasia’s attorney has filed a request for an expert examination at another institution. The investigator has asked Denisova to present recommendations from her place of residence and work by January 26.

On January 12, 2010, a written pledge not to leave the city was taken from Anastasia Denisova.

Anastasia believes that they are pressuring her due to her human rights activities. "The illegal persecution and all the actions by the security officials directed at me over the last few months, I believe are in connection to my social work: legal awareness for international students, monitoring of stateless ethnic groups in the region, and my work for the Georgian-Russian Civil Dialogue," stated Anastasia. "I think that there is an actual order out to end our organization’s existence. And that may now be said not only about the intention to close our organization, but about the attempt to deprive me of my freedoms. I can not for now comment upon the case about "bootlegged goods," as it is necessary to familiarize myself with the expert analysis and other case materials. Besides, charges of any kind were not brought against me.

In Russia there are well known incidences when cases are identified as "pirated materials," and these cases have been used by the security officials to suppress civil activists and journalist, in particular, in Volgograd, Samara, and Nizhni Novogorod. There are also well known incidences when members of the police have manipulated the computer harddrives which they have confiscated."

In an interview with Novaya Gazeta, Anastasia Denisova repeated her statement that "all the problems, are most likely connected with the activities of ETHnICS: for the last three years we have been in court with a tax inspection, which we won. We were wanting to open a bank account and resume work. It is possible that the problems are connected to our monitoring of stateless ethnic minorities in Krasnodar Krai."

For more information (in Russian) visit Memorial’s web-site: http://www.memo.ru/2010/01/19/1901101.htm.

Anastasia Denisova is the president of the Youth Group for Tolerance ETHnICS, a member of Human Rights Center Memorial, a member of the coordinating council for the International Youth Human Rights Movement, a coordinator for the group GROZA (in Krasnodar Krai), an expert for the OSCE, and a partner for the Russian-Georgian Civil Dialogue social organization.

The Krasnodar Krai Societal Organization Youth Group for Tolerance ETHnICS was first incorporated on the 24th of March 2004. The organization carries out educational activities for youth and teacher’s bodies in the form of cultural interaction between different ethnic groups; monitors and researches in the field of tolerance; renders legal and psychological support for the estabishment of open-minded attitude toward “otherness”. One of the group’s aims is directed is that of engaging the youth in goodwill activities and encouraging youth initiatives for the spreading of the idea of tolerance.

> For further information: www.memo.ru

* Osservatorio sui Balcani e Caucaso (Italy, Balkans and Caucasus)

Uno sguardo su società e politica

La storia del documentario in Croazia: le due guerre mondiali, gli anni ’90, i nostri giorni. Un’intervista a Hrvoje Turković, presidente dell’Unione dei film club croati e autore di diversi saggi su questo genere cinematografico

Read

Flutti e polemiche

Centrali idroelettriche portate al limite, letti dei fiumi saccheggiati, abusi edilizi. Sarebbero queste le cause secondo l’opposizione al governo Berisha delle recenti inondazioni che hanno sconvolto il nord dell’Albania. Un approfondimento

Read

> For further information: www.osservatoriobalcani.org

* Polish Institute of International Affairs (Poland)

Please find enclosed next issue of the Bulletin – “Polish-led EU Battle Group” by Marcin Terlikowski.

For the next half a year, the Polish-led European Union’s Battle Group, with Polish troops comprising half of its personnel, will be on a standby, ready to be immediately sent on a military mission if such a need arises. But the likelihood of the Group’s deployment is not high, mainly a result of major weaknesses of the very system under which EU battle groups operate. Overcoming that system’s dysfunctionality and rationalizing the mechanisms for generating forces for EU military operations may be the subject of Polish initiatives when this country holds the EU’s rotating presidency in 2011.

Please find enclosed next issue of the Bulletin –“USA and Laws of War (Al-Bihani v. Obama)” by Rafał Tarnogórski.

On 5 January 2010, the U.S. Federal Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by a Guantanamo detainee, a Yemeni Ghaleb Nassar Al-Bihani, who was challenging the legality of his extrajudicial detention and alleging a violation of the principles of international laws of war. The court found the detention lawful in the light of U.S. law.