While refreshing myself recently in Novi Sad, I started a conversation with an affable hostel owner who told me of his two sons on a high-school exchange in America. For them, it had been a bit disappointing, he explained.
Albanian Opposition Launches Protests
Tirana | 30 April 2010
Tens of thousands of supporters of the main Albanian opposition Socialist Party participated in a protest in Tirana on Friday afternoon as the Socialists pressure the government to hold a recount of the June 28 parliamentary elections.
CoE Pushes Bosnia to Change Constitution
Sarajevo | 30 April 2010The Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly, PACE, warned Bosnia on Thursday that it must urgently take measures to change its constitution, notably to end discrimination against minorities, or face serious consequences.
Macedonia Uncovers Additional Weapons Stash
Skopje | 30 April 2010Macedonian police on Thursday seized a large stash of personal firearms and explosives hidden in several bunkers in the mountainous terrain near the border with Kosovo. On Friday, the police reported that they had found an additional large cache of weapons, including sniper rifles, mortars, and missiles, in the same area, as their search continues.
Tapping Claims Put Spotlight on Macedonia’s Secret Police
Skopje | 30 April 2010 | By Sase Dimovski
Skopje district court
Revelations that the secret police have been following and eavesdropping on prosecutors are raising concern about the whether the service is above the law.
Greek Crisis Threatens Whole Balkan Region
Sofia | 30 April 2010 | By Victor Kotsev
Euros
Even the best-case scenario threatens to create an economic crisis and prolong the transition process for the Balkan countries.
Poor Infrastructure Keeps Kosovo Off Tourist Map
Pristina | 26 April 2010 | By Besiana Xharra
Prizren
Pristina was listed a ‘highlight’ of the Western Balkans in the Lonely Planet guide – and officials claim tourist numbers are rising – but the lack of basic amenities continues to deter many visitors.
Ban on British Cars Drives Kosovars to Court
Pristina | 26 April 2010 | By Petrit Collaku
The people of a village where many locals own right-hand-drive UK cars have joined a legal challenge to a July 2009 ruling which banned such vehicles from the roads.
Insults and Dialogue
By Borjan Jovanovski30 April 2010 A recent simulation of the Athens-Skopje ‘’name’’ talks showed that if there were a genuine willingness of both sides to talk and there were a genuine openness to compromise, the hitherto opposing sides could draw considerably closer.
Albanian Village Shrugs off Image as Cannabis Capital
By Gjergj Erebara26 April 2010 Balkan Insight visits the remote village of Lazarat, off-limits to the police, where locals are keen to shed their reputation as outlaws whose main business is drugs.
IP Theft: Laws are Not Enough
By Laura Wolfs28 April 2010 IP owners claim that piracy affects both their investment levels and government tax revenues from legal sales but there will be little improvement without a sea-change in attitudes and greatly improved enforcement procedures.
