Balkan Investigative Reporting Network: Balkan Insight Daily No. 306, July 1 2009

HEADLINES:

Croatian Preme Minister Resigns

Ivo Sanader, the Croatian Prime Minister has announced his resignation and withdrawal from politics. "My job is done, my political life ends now," Former Prime Minister told reporters at a news conference in the capital, Zagreb. "I have decided to withdraw from active politics and not to run for the presidency", he added.

Bosnia: West Postpones OHR Closure

Political deadlock and stalled reforms have forced the international community to postpone its decision to close the Office of the High Representative, OHR, media reported on Wednesday.

Albania Election Result in Suspense

With only a hundred ballot boxes still left to be counted, the right-of-centre coalition led by the Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha was running neck-and-neck with the opposition Socialists led by Tirana Mayor Edi Rama on Wednesday in Albania’s tightly fought parliamentary election.

Macedonia Opposition Taunts Gruevski over Minister’s Resignation

Macedonian opposition parties said the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Bocevski was a sign of the government’s inability to make progress with its European Union accession bid.

Bosnia Hopeful over IMF Deal

Bosnia and Herzegovina is hopeful that a compromise has been reached with the International Monetary Fund, IMF, which would allow this financial institution to activate a Euro 1.2 billion stand-by arrangement for the country.

MORE NEWS:

» Romania to Cut Number of Soldiers Abroad

» Karadzic: No Trial Date

» Kosovo to Pay $231Million Yugoslav Debt to WB

» Ceku Gets Back to Kosovo

» Kosovo Police Takes Back 307 Serb Officers

» Sofia Mayor Leads Election Polls in Bulgaria

» Storms and Floods Hit Northern Serbia

» Belgrade Universiade Opens Today

» Bosnia: Testimony About Indescribable Horrors

» Belgrade Roma In ‘Ghetto’ for Universiade

» Brussels Still Cautious About Albania Poll

» Albania Press Review - July 1

» Serbia Press Review –July 1

» Kosovo Press Review - July 1

» Romania Press Review – July 1

» Bosnia’s Press Review – July 1

» Macedonia Press Review – July 1

most popular:

Macedonia Deputy Prime Minister Quits

Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister, in charge of the country’s European integration, has announced his irrevocable resignation, the government said on Tuesday. It did not disclose the reason.

in depth:

Bulgaria’s Maverick Mayor Set For National Office

Former wrestler will have many problems to wrestle with – starting with the economy and coalition partners – if, as expected, he wins next week’s general election.

Comment:

Lessons for the Balkans from Belfast

The expulsion of Roma families from their homes in Northern Ireland shows how wrong the application of multi-culturalism can go when it is half-hearted.

feature:

A Small Victory

The possibility that Serbian citizens may be able to travel to the EU without visas from January of next year comes as great satisfaction for the deputy prime minister, Bozidar Djelic.

Blog:

Balkans and Baltics: Separated by Geography United by Custom

I guess many of you think that the further north you travel from the Balkans, the more customs and mindsets change. I certainly thought so.

Balkan Small Talk:

Belgrade Through the Eyes of Jaromír Linda

Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade

Did You Visit?

Fishy Happenings on the Danube

The “Days of the Danube” has been going on for most of the month on the shores of the river, and it will culminate this weekend with Fish Fest 2009 on the Dorcol riverside.

Real Estate:

Bulgaria: Sofia Housing Prices Plummet

A significant fall of the prices of residential properties in Bulgaria has been registered in the first four months of the year.

Tourism in Balkans:

Studenica

The UNESCO World Heritage Site, around four hours drive from Belgrade, rewards the visitor with some of the finest examples of 13th and 14th century Byzantine art, set amongst beautiful wooded surroundings.

Did You Watch?

Terminator is not Back, Just Yet

Arnie’s absence makes Terminator Salvation a far less enjoyable experience than its predecessors.

For further information:

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network