Mon 20 Jul 2009
On Monday 20 July the second phase of the country’s controversial Ergenekon case started. The trial against Ergenekon, a shadowy crime network that has alleged links within the state and is suspected of plotting to topple the government, resumes today, with the appearance of 56 suspects whose names appear in the second indictment. The suspects will be interrogated about their links with four failed coup attempts, namely, Ayışığı (Moonlight), Sarıkız (Blonde girl), Yakamoz (Sea sparkle), Eldiven (Glove). The prosecution wants life sentences against retired generals Şener Eruygur and Hurşit Tolon, who are accused of being senior leaders of an alleged ultra-nationalist gang named Ergenekon. The generals are on trial along with 54 other suspects, charged in the same indictment, the second to emerge from the long-running probe into Ergenekon.
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Thu 16 Jul 2009
The international community has strongly condemned the dead of a prominent Russian human rights activist, Natalya Estemirova. Estemirova has been found dead yesterday in Ingushetia, hours after being kidnapped in the North Caucasus region.
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Wed 15 Jul 2009
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On Saturday 20 June the European Forum organised a successful conference in Pristina on Kosovo and its road to EU membership, which was attended by more than 70 people. Representatives from almost all affiliated parties in the region were present, as well as representatives from some EU countries, NGO’s and international organisations.
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Wed 15 Jul 2009
The European Commission (EC) today adopted a proposal for granting visa free travel to the Western Balkans. This allows citizens of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro to travel to the Schengen countries without visas. The proposal needs to be approved by the Council of Ministers after having consulted the European Parliament. If approved, the visa free regime will apply as early as from 1 January 2010.
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Tue 14 Jul 2009
On 13 July Russian President Dmitri Medvedev paid an unexpected visit to one of Georgia’s breakaway regions, South Ossetia. He said Russia would continue supporting the state. It was the first time a Russian leader visited the secession state, since both South Ossetia and Abkhazia were pronounced independent by Russia following the 2008 August war with Georgia.
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Mon 13 Jul 2009
Today leaders of Turkey and four EU countries signed a landmark agreement that is aimed at reducing Europe's reliance on Russian energy. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan and his counterparts from Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania signed the intergovernmental deal to allow the EU- and U.S.-backed Nabucco pipeline to cross their territory. Germany is also part of the consortium working on the pipeline, but it does not have a transit role.
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Mon 13 Jul 2009
After unofficial results were announced of the parliamentary poll held on 28 June in Albania, the Socialist Party of Albania (SPA) declared it will not recognise them if the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) does not count the remained ballot boxes from the region of Fieri, as was stated by SPA’s chairman Edi Rama. The CEC has yet to release the official results there as a result of political pressure on the vote counting process. Preliminary results suggest the SP got nine seats, followed by the ruling Democratic Party (DP) with six. The SP's claims are based on the CEC’s decision not to count the votes in some small election centres, which, the SP says, would secure them the ninth seat. The CEC is also working to complete work in Vlora and Elbasan.
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Thu 9 Jul 2009
The Newsflash of the European Forum of Democracy and Solidarity is a bi-monthly news bulletin covering relevant political developments in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe, and the South Caucasus. Click here to read the fifth Newsflash of 2010.
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Wed 8 Jul 2009
US President Barack Obama arrived in Moscow on July 6th for his first working visit to the country in the capacity of President.
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Tue 7 Jul 2009
US President Barack Obama is in Moscow for a three-day visit in an attempt to 'reset' the relationship that's been troubled for some time now. His planned meetings incluce President Medvedev, Prime Minister Putin and representatives of the Russian civil society and opposition.
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Tue 7 Jul 2009
Following a debate that lasted nearly the entire day, the Parliament of Croatia last night approved the formation of a new government which will be headed by the new Prime Minister, Jadranka Kosor. Croatia has thus a female Prime Minister for the first time since its independence in 1991. She was given the post of PM when her predecessor Ivo Sanader unexpectedly and without giving a reason resigned last week.
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Mon 6 Jul 2009
Tensions are starting to rise in Albania following the parliamentary election that was held on 28 June. The unofficial results have created some misfire and disagreement between the ruling right-wing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the Socialists.
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Thu 2 Jul 2009
Today it was reported that with 99 percent of the ballots counted Albania’s ruling Democratic Party (DP) has claimed victory in Sunday’s general elections. “Our coalition was certified by the people,” Prime Minister Sali Berisha, head of the DP, told a cabinet meeting today. EU integration will be the most important issue in the next four years in government,” he added.
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Thu 2 Jul 2009
On 1 July leader of Croatia’s Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zoran Milanovic, has called for early parliamentary elections, following the resignation of the Prime Minister and leader of the ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) , Ivo Sanader on 1 July. Milanovic affirmed that Croatia needs “a new leadership, a new political direction and new answers from progressive politicians”.
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Thu 2 Jul 2009
On 1 July it was announced that a leading member of the opposition movement ‘Other Russia’ has died in prison after reportedly falling from a window. Prison officials say Rim Shaigalimov (52) committed suicide, yet his relatives think he was murdered.
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