News
Leader Yabloko resigns
Tue 24 Jun 2008
During the Yabloko party congress on 21 June, Grigori Yavlinski (56) resigned as leader of the liberal opposition party. Yavlinski was the leader of Yabloko for fifteen year and in the early 1990s played an important role by the development of a market economy in Russia. However, critique on Yavlinski grew within the party after Yabloko failed to gain representation in the Duma in the latest parliamentary elections in 2003 and 2007. After the failed elections of December 2007, there were increasing calls for his resignation. Yavlinski will be succeeded as party leader by Sergey Mitrochin, leader of the Moscow branch of Yabloko. With the election of Mitrochin, Yabloko seems to have chosen for the moderate wing of the party as opposed to the more radical wing, which is led, amongst others, by Yabloko St. Petersburg leader Maksim Reznik. [more] |
Macedonia: Party of prime minister wins elections marred by violence
Mon 02 Jun 2008
Preliminary results show the centre-right VMRO-DPMNE coalition led by Prime Minister Nikola Grueski has won most votes in the Macedonian parliamentary elections held on 1 June. According to the results, published after 97 percent of the votes were counted, the VMRO-DPMNE coalition won 48.21 percent of the votes. This could mean that the coalition will receive a majority of the parliament’s 120 seats. The “Sun – Coalition for Europe” block led by the Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia is trailing behind with 23.19 percent of the vote. The country’s two ethnic Albanian parties also managed to secure representation: the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) won 11.23 percent of the vote, while rival Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) won 10.33 percent. [more] |
Georgia Elects Its Parliament
Mon 26 May 2008
On 23 May the Georgian Central Election Committee released its data regarding the May 21st Georgian Parliamentary Elections, stating that the results are not expected to change. [more] |
Pro-European coalition wins Serbian elections
Tue 13 May 2008
Parliamentary elections in Serbia, held on 11 May, were won by the pro-European coalition led by the Democratic Party (DS) of President Boris Tadic. The elections were called after the governing coalition of DS and Prime Minister Vojistav Kostunica’s Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) collapsed early March due to differences over Serbia’s course towards European integration. DSS argued against further ties with the EU now that most member states have recognized Kosovo’s independence, whereas the DS, which also was against Kosovo independence, does not think this issue should influence Serbia’s European integration. This remained one of the biggest themes during the campaign period leading up to the elections, and led many to see the elections as a referendum on Serbia’s future path – towards EU integration, or towards isolation and enhanced ties with Russia. [more] |
Dmitry Medvedev inaugurated as Russia’s new president, Vladimir Putin new prime minister
Thu 08 May 2008
At a Kremlin ceremony on 7 May, Russia’s former president Vladimir Putin formally stepped down and Dmitry Medvedev was sworn in as his successor. Dmitry Medvedev won the 3 March presidential elections, in which he was actively supported by Putin who had named him his preferred successor. [more] |
EU to sign Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia
Tue 29 Apr 2008
On 29 April, EU foreign ministers decided to allow Serbia to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, initialled in November 2007. Up until now, signing of the agreement had been blocked by the Netherlands and Belgium, which demanded Belgrade to complete its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal before the document was being signed. [more] |
Mass detentions on Freedom Day in Belarus
Wed 26 Mar 2008
The celebration of the Belarusian National Republic 90th anniversary on 25 March in Minsk ended with mass arrests and beating of people. Opposition protesters and riot police clashed when the demonstration attempted to move from Yakub Kolos Square to the centre of the Belarusian capital. [more] |
Maxim Reznik released from custody
Tue 25 Mar 2008
On 24 March, Yabloko St. Petersburg leader Maxim Reznik was released from custody. On 21 March, a court had already ordered the release of Maxim, who had been detained by the police during the night of 2 March on charges of disrupting public order and hitting a police officer. However, many suspected the charges were in fact politically motivated. [more] |
Court orders release of Maxim Reznik
Fri 21 Mar 2008
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) - A St. Petersburg court ordered the release of a Yabloko St. Petersburg leader Maxim Reznik on 21 March, whose jailing on charges of hitting a police officer prompted protests and allegations that the case was politically motivated. [more] |
Dutch MPs ask Minister of Foreign Affairs about arrest Maxim Reznik
Mon 17 Mar 2008
On 13 March, 2 MPs of the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) asked formal questions to Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the arrest of Yabloko St. Petersburg party leader Maxim Reznik. [more] |
EU backs AK Party in battle with courts
Mon 17 Mar 2008
The EU is supporting embattled Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in his struggle with prosecutors who want his moderate Islamist party shut down, with the bloc's enlargement chief saying the accession process will go ahead despite the ongoing constitutional crisis. [more] |
Serbian government formally proposes parliament dissolution
Mon 10 Mar 2008
| The Serbian government has sent a proposal for the dissolution of the parliament to the president. In its meeting in Belgrade today, the cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, also decided to propose the date for the new elections to be May 11. [more] |
Leader Yabloko St. Petersburg detained
Fri 07 Mar 2008
In the night from 2 to 3 March the chairman of St Petersburg Yabloko branch was arrested. He is accused of “insuld the representatives of state” and to “use of violence toward representatives of state”, precisely – toward three militiamen. On 4 March the judge Olga Andreeva, in breach of the law, has decided behind closed doors to detain Maxim Reznik for 2 months. In protest, Maxim went on hunger-strike. Read here the statement of Yabloko. [more] |
US Scraps Aid For Bosnian Serb Party due to stance on Kosovo independence
Tue 04 Mar 2008
Milorad Dodik, the Prime Minister of Bosnia's smaller Bosnian Serb entity, Republika Srpska, will no longer receive aid from three United States-based funding programmes, local media reported Monday. According to Bosnia's US Embassy, Dodik's Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) "does not fulfill the USAID’s criteria for helping political parties in consolidation and development of parliamentary democracies." This decision by the US came after statements on Kosovo from Dodik, who strongly opposes the independence of Kosovo and has signalled the Bosnian Serb entity could opt for more sovereignty within the Federation. [more] |
Dmitri Medvedev wins Russian presidential elections
Mon 03 Mar 2008
The 2 March Russian presidential elections were won in a single round by Dmitri Medvedev. According to the Russian Central Election Commission, Medvedev, who was endorsed by Putin as his favourite successor and was widely expected to win the elections, won over 70 percent of the votes, with a voter turnout of 69 percent. [more] |
Armenian government declares state of emergency after opposition protests over elections
Mon 03 Mar 2008
On 2 March the Armenian government declared a 20-day state of emergency after violent clashes between opposition protesters and armed police. Eight people were killed and hundred of others were injured. The authorities say they had to restore order after 11 days of mass demonstrations against the ruling government. The protests began after the presidential election on 19 February. The election was officially won by prime minister Serzh Sarkisian, but the opposition claims the election were rigged. Former President Levon Ter-Petrosian was reportedly placed under house arrest. The Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), have voiced concern about the situation in the country. The OSCE is sending an envoy to try to arrange talks between the government and the opposition. Human Rights Watch has called on Armenia to conduct a prompt and independent investigation into the use of lethal force by security forces. [more] |
PES Presidency decides to lift suspension provisional membership Smer-SD
Thu 21 Feb 2008
In its meeting on 14 February 2008, the PES Presidency agreed by qualified majority to lift the suspension of the Slovakian party Direction-Social Democracy (Smer-SD)’s application for membership. [more] |
Armenian Prime Minister Sarkisian wins presidential election
Wed 20 Feb 2008
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian won the presidential election in Armenia on 19 February. According to complete but preliminary data released by the Central Election Commission, Sarkisian won the presidential ballot with 52.86 percent of the vote; his closest challenger, former President Levon Ter-Petrossian, placed a distant second with 21.5 percent, followed by former parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian (16.67 percent), Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun candidate Vahan Hovannisian (6.2 percent); and former Prime Minister and National Democratic Union Chairman Vazgen Manukian (1.28 percent); the remaining four candidates polled less than 1 percent of the vote. Voter turnout was estimated at 69 percent. (reactions: 1)[more] |
Europe split on Kosovo independence
Mon 18 Feb 2008
| EU foreign ministers will meet today (18 February) in an attempt to thrash out a joint reaction to Kosovo's declaration of independence amid strong divisions over whether to recognise the newborn state. While the Union's four largest nations – Britain, France, Germany and Italy – are expected to announce their recognition directly after the meeting, at least six other countries, including Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Spain and Greece, insist they cannot back Kosovo's unilateral decision to break away from Serbia. [more] |
Kosovo Declares Independence From Serbia
Sun 17 Feb 2008
 | Kosovo has become the world's newest state, as it declared independence from Serbia in an extraordinary parliamentary session on Sunday 17th of February 2008. Prime Minister Hashim Thaci read the declaration, saying the new country will be "dedicated to peace and stability." (reactions: 1)[more] |
Incumbent president Boris Tadic wins second round Serbian presidential elections
Mon 04 Feb 2008
According to the preliminary data of the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID), pro-western incumbent president Boris Tadic of the Democratic Party (DS) was re-elected in the second round of the Serbian presidential ballot held on 3 February, with 50.5% of the votes. His opponent, nationalist Tomislav Nikolic of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), received 47.9% of the votes. Turnout was high for Serbia, at approximately 67.6%. [more] |
Nikolic leading in first round of Serbian presidential elections
Mon 21 Jan 2008
According to exit polls, the first round of the Serbian presidential elections on 20 January 2008 was led by Tomislav Nikolic, with about 39 percent of the vote. Incumbent president Boris Tadic came in second, with an estimated 35 percent. Turnout was high for Serbia, at approximately 61 percent. Although nine candidates took part in the elections, it was clear before the ballot that it would come down to a contest between pro-Western Tadic and nationalist Nikolic. [more] |
Thousands of Georgians protest against election results
Mon 14 Jan 2008
On Sunday 13 January thousands of people took to the streets of the Georgian capital Tbilisi in protest at what they say were rigged presidential elections last weekend. At least 50,000 opposition supporters protested to demand a second round of voting. The protesters also vented their anger towards Western observers who have said the polls were essentially democratic, despite some ‘irregularities’. [more] |
New Kosovo Cabinet Unveiled
Thu 10 Jan 2008
| The leader of the Kosovo Democratic Party, PDK, Hashim Thaci announced the new line-up of the Kosovo's cabinet on Tuesday, after reaching a landmark coalition deal with rivals, the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK. Thaci said seven ministries will go to the PDK, the party which won most seats in the November 17 election. Five ministries will be led by the LDK, while three other ministries will be run by Kosovo's ethnic minority groups. [more] |
Two largest parties in Kosovo reach deal on ruling coalition
Tue 08 Jan 2008
Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK) leader Hashim Thaci and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Fatmir Sejdiu have reached agreement on Kosovo's new ruling coalition, PDK deputy leader Hajredin Kuci said on 5 January. [more] |
Saakashvili wins Georgian presidential election
Mon 07 Jan 2008
According to the preliminary official results Mikhail Saakashvili has been re-elected president of Georgia. He won the presidential election of 5 January with 52.8 percent of the vote. This means he will not have to contest a second-round run-off. Opposition leader Levan Gachechiladze came in second with about 27 percent of the votes. The opposition has already alleged the vote was rigged and mounted protests in the capital, Tbilisi. [more] |
Democratic Party of Moldova and Social Liberal Party agree on merger
Wed 19 Dec 2007
On 15 December the national councils of the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) and the Social Liberal Party (PSL) announced their intention to merge. The decision to approve the Agreement of Fusion was adopted within separate meetings of the two parties. [more] |
Presidential party expected to claim all seats in Kyrgyz parliament after 16 December elections
Mon 17 Dec 2007
According to preliminary results, in the parliamentary elections that took place in Kyrgyzstan on 16 December, president Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s Ak-Jol party is expected to have won all 90 seats in parliament. The polls were the first under the new election law, which stipulates that elections take place solely on the basis of party lists, and which furthermore has increased the number of seats in parliament from 75 to 90. [more] |
Kosovo leadership rules out hurried steps towards independence
Mon 10 Dec 2007
| EU foreign ministers are gathering in Brussels to discuss the future of Kosovo, Serbia's breakaway province, as the deadline for a negotiated deal between Belgrade and Pristina expires today (10 December). The European Union's mediator for Kosovo, Wolfgang Ischinger, will arrive to brief all 27 ministers on the results of diplomatic efforts led by the troika of envoys from the US, the EU and Russia. [more] |
Troika submits final report on Kosovo
Mon 10 Dec 2007
Four months of negotiations between the Serbs and the Kosovo Albanians on the Kosovo status ended without any results, the international troika of mediators said in a report submitted to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on December 7th. The UN Security Council will hold official discussions on the Kosovo status issue on December 19th. [more] |
BiH initials key deal with EU
Thu 06 Dec 2007
| In an abrupt end to the political crisis of the last several weeks, BiH leaders agreed on a compromise deal that paved the way for initialising a Stabilisation and Association Agreement. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and acting BiH Prime Minister Nikola Spiric initial the Stabilisation and Association Agreement on December 4th in Sarajevo. Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has taken the most important step so far on its EU accession path. At a ceremony Tuesday (December 4th), acting Prime Minister Nikola Spiric and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn initialed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement -- a prelude to signing the deal. [more] |
Russian elections widely criticized
Wed 05 Dec 2007
In elections marred by allegations of intimidation and fraud, the pro-Kremlin Unified Russia party has won a landslide victory. Two other pro-Kremlin parties, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and A Just Russia, also made it into parliament with 8.2 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively. All other parties fell below the 7 percent barrier. [more] |
Nikolaj Statkevich heads new Belarusian party named Narodnaya Hramada
Wed 28 Nov 2007
On 25 November, the founding congress of the social-democratic opposition party Narodnaya Hramada took place in Minsk. Nikolaj Statkevich was chosen as the party’s leader. [more] |
Election commission publishes first official preliminary results from Kosovo vote
Mon 26 Nov 2007
The province's Central Election Commission issued the first preliminary results Monday 19 November of the parliamentary and local elections held Saturday 17 November. The results, based on 80% of ballots, confirmed the victory of the main opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo, with 34% of the vote. [more] |
Croatia: HDZ wins the most mandates, SDP hoping for a coalition
Mon 26 Nov 2007
According to the preliminary results by the State Election Committee (DIP) at 04.00 on 26 November, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) won 60 mandates, three more than the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Thanks to a high response in the 11th constituency, the HDZ will probably get another six MPs from diaspora. [more] |
Riot police detains protesters in St. Peterburg
Mon 26 Nov 2007
On 25 November Evgeniy Konovalov, the chairman of the Russian Social Democratic Union of Youth in St. Petersburg has been detained by the riot police on the Palace Square. Evgeniy Konovalov and others arrested with him were released 45 minutes later in the area of Petrogradskiy region without registration of detention. [more] |
Russia: Garry Kasparov charged over rally
Sat 24 Nov 2007
The Russian authorities have charged opposition leader and former chess champion Garry Kasparov following clashes with police in Moscow, it was reported on 24 November. He and other opposition figures were detained during a rally organised by Mr Kasparov's Other Russia coalition.Mr Kasparov was charged with resisting arrest and organising an unauthorised protest. [more] |
Jordan's Islamists dealt heavy blow in elections
Thu 22 Nov 2007
The Islamic Action Front (IAF) was dealt a heavy blow by the legislative elections on Tuesday 20 November as the number of its deputies dropped to six, according to official results announced on Wednesday 21 November. The results, announced by Interior Minister Eid Fayez at a press conference, also showed that women’s representation rose to a record of seven, six of them winning under a quota system. [more] |
Kosovo's PDK claims victory after Saturday elections
Mon 19 Nov 2007
Kosovo's main opposition party has claimed victory in Saturday's 17 November parliamentary and local elections in Kosovo. With nearly all votes counted, Hashim Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leads with 35%, while the ruling Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) is trailing with 22%. It is the LDK's first defeat in the five elections held in the province so far. [more] |
ODIHR unable to observe Russian Duma elections
Fri 16 Nov 2007
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has informed the Russian authorities that the Office will be unable to act upon their invitation to observe the 2 December elections to the Russian State Duma. [more] |
Bosnia’s Prime Minister Nikola Spiric resigns
Wed 14 Nov 2007
On 12 November, Bosnia’s tripartite presidency accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Spiric after having tried to dissuade him from stepping down. Spiric, an ethnic Serb, resigned on 1 November in protest of the recently announced reform measures by BiH High Representative Miroslav Lajcak aimed to boost the process of decision-making by parliament and government. [more] |
Türk leads in Slovenia elections
Mon 12 Nov 2007
Leftist former diplomat Danilo Türk is set to become Slovenia's new president, as preliminary results suggest he has a huge lead over his centre-right rival. Former prime minister Lojze Peterle conceded after exit polls showed Mr Türk getting almost 70% of the vote. Mr Peterle - who helped lead Slovenia to independence from Yugoslavia - was well behind despite topping a first-round vote last month. Mr Türk, 55, was backed by the main left-wing opposition parties. Mr Peterle had the support of the governing centre-right coalition. [more] |
Georgian Labour Party leader wanted for 'coup plotting' and 'espionage' news
Fri 09 Nov 2007
Shalva Natelashvili, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, has been charged with espionage and conspiracy to overthrow the government, Nika Gvaramia, deputy chief prosecutor, said on 8 November. Charges have been brought, he said, based on evidence obtained through surveillance on employees of the Russian embassy in Tbilisi, whom the Georgian side has described as operatives of the Russian intelligence service. (reactions: 1)[more] |
Socialist International discusses prospects for peace in the Middle East
Fri 09 Nov 2007
Socialist International leaders and members of the SI Middle East Committee, including the Labour Party and Meretz-Yachad of Israel and the Palestinian movement Fatah, met in Tel-Aviv and Ramallah on 29 and 30 October, to discuss the prospects for a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict presented by the forthcoming Annapolis conference. [more] |
Serbia and EU Initial Key Agreement
Thu 08 Nov 2007
| The European Commissioner for Enlargement has said he does not exclude the possibility that Serbia may be granted EU candidate status by the end of next year. Olli Rehn was speaking on Wednesday after Serbia and the EU initialled a Stabilization and Association Agreement – an important milestone on the way to negotiating Serbia’s eventual EU membership. [more] |
EC says EU should include Western Balkans in enlargement
Tue 06 Nov 2007
The enlargement of the EU towards the Western Balkans is crucial to ensuring strategic stability and to preventing future conflict, says a report by the European Commission set for release Tuesday (November 6th). Radio Free Europe quoted the report on Sunday, saying that countries in the Western Balkans can expect EU membership in the mid- and long-term. The report also says that Kosovo's status must be resolved for the good of regional political and economic development. [more] |
Bosnian PM resigns over reforms
Thu 01 Nov 2007
Bosnia-Hercegovina PM Nikola Spiric, an ethnic Serb, has quit in protest at an international envoy's efforts to introduce reforms supported by the EU. The envoy, Miroslav Lajcak, last month pushed through measures aimed at speeding up decision-making in Bosnia's often fractious central parliament. But Bosnia's Serbs fear the changes will mean they lose influence to the country's other main ethnic groups. The current crisis is said to be Bosnia's worst since war ended in 1995. [more] |
PIC board backs Lajcak's proposed measures for strengthening BiH institutions
Wed 31 Oct 2007
| Urging politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina to abide by their obligations, a key body of international officials warned on Wednesday that attempts to undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement will not be tolerated. The PIC Steering Board announced that it "supports the High Representative’s decisions and proposed actions, which are fully in line with his mandate and the Constitution of BiH". (Office of the High Representative, Reuters, AP, DPA, Fena - 31/10/07) [more] |
Kyrgyzstan: president Bakiev dissolves parliament after referendum on new constitution
Mon 29 Oct 2007
On 22 October, one day after the Kyrgyz in a referendum voted in favour of a new constitution that is hoped to ease the political tension that has persisted in Kyrgyzstan since the March 2005 Tulip Revolution, Bakiev has dissolved the parliament. The parliament was chosen during the rigged 2005 elections that led to the ouster of former president Akayev. [more] |
Slovenia: Social Democrats satisfied with outcomes first round presidential elections
Mon 29 Oct 2007
The Social Democrats have declared to be satisfied with the result of the first round of the Slovenian presidential elections of 21 October. The Social Democrats supported the independent candidate Danilo Türk. Türk ended in second place, which allows him to run in the second round on 11 November. (reactions: 1)[more] |
BiH: Lajcak's announces latest measures
Tue 23 Oct 2007
High Representative Miroslav Lajcak's proposed on 15 October measures which include changes to the Law on the Council of Ministers of BiH and to the Rules of Procedure on the work of both houses of the state parliament, as well as measures to improve the co-ordination within the ruling coalition. On Friday 19 October, Lajcak said that if Bosnian politicians fail to implement the proposed amendments by 1 December 2007, he would have no other choice but to impose them and would probably sanction those who have rejected them. (reactions: 1)[more] |
Gorbachev sets up Russian Social-Democratic movement
Mon 22 Oct 2007
 | The leader of the former Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, has founded a new political movement in Russia. Mr Gorbachev told the founding congress of the Union of Social-Democrats that its mission was to fight against "negative tendencies" and corruption. He said it supported President Vladimir Putin's efforts to reform Russia. (reactions: 1)[more] |
Social-Democrats re-elected in Polish parliament
Mon 22 Oct 2007
The social democratic “Left and Democratic Alliance” of former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski has won around 13% of the votes in the Polish parliamentary elections of 21 October 2007, according to preliminary results. [more] |
Turks vote in referendum on presidential reform
Mon 22 Oct 2007
Turkish voters have endorsed government plans to elect the country's president directly rather than allow parliament to choose, preliminary results suggest. The High Electoral Board said 69% of the voters had approved the constitutional amendments, although turnout for the referendum was low by Turkish standards at 65%. [more] |
Morocco's King Mohammed VI names new government
Tue 16 Oct 2007
Morocco got a new government Monday 15 October after nearly a month of tough negotiations, with seven women among the 34 ministers and none from the Islamic party that placed second in parliamentary elections last month. The new government in Rabat is headed by the conservative Istiqlal party Abbas El Fassi. (reactions: 1)[more] |
Orange allies sign Ukraine accord
Tue 16 Oct 2007
Yulia Tymoshenko is set to return as the prime minister of Ukraine after two pro-Western parties signed a coalition agreement. The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and Mr Yushchenko's party, Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defence, are both linked to the country's Orange Revolution. [more] |
EU, Montenegro sign Stabilisation and Association Agreement
Mon 15 Oct 2007
Montenegro and the European Union signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) on Monday 15 October, which brings the Balkan country a step closer to the EU. [more] |
Alfred Mozer Stichting organises expert meeting on Central-Asia
Wed 10 Oct 2007
On Friday 28 September, the Alfred Mozer Stichting organised an expert meeting in Den Haag on the political situation in the Central Asian Countries. Among the participants were representatives of different (inter)national NGO’s (Oxfam Novib, ICCO, Pro Foundation), experts from the Alfred Mozer Stichting and the Dutch Minister for European Affairs, Frans Timmermans. [more] |
Bosnian Police Deal 'Not Enough'
Wed 03 Oct 2007
A breakthrough agreement on reform of Bosnia-Herzegovina's police forces is "unfortunately...not enough to continue [Bosnia's] Stabilization and Association Process with the European Union," Miroslav Lajcak, the international community's high representative in the country, said on October 1. [more] |
Preliminary election results Ukraine
Mon 01 Oct 2007
Early results in Ukraine's September 30 parliamentary elections show a neck and neck race between Yulia Tymoshenko's block and the Party of Regions of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. President Viktor Yushchenko’s party gathered a disappointing 15 percent. It is still unclear whether the Socialist Party of Ukraine (SPU) has cleared the 3 percent threshold. Final results are expected by Wednesday. Read here the first reaction from the SPU and a message of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Kyiv. [more] |
Dodik and Silajdzic strike last-minute deal on police reform
Mon 01 Oct 2007
BiH's top Serb and Muslim politicians reached a last-minute agreement Friday (September 28) to carry out a reform of the country's divided police forces. The EU had set the end of September as a deadline for completing the talks, and refused to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with BiH until the deal was finalised. [more] |
Party of European Socialists committed to EU-accession Macedonia
Wed 26 Sep 2007
Ioan Pascu, member of the parliamentary group of the Party of European Socialists (PES) and Vice Chairman Committee on Foreign Affairs (European Parliament), stated on 22 September that the PES supports “the current government in continuing the process and the soonest possible opening of the negotiations for EU membership.” Pascu was one of the speakers at the conference “Macedonia – EU”, organised by the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity. [more] |
Koštunica says DSS is against NATO membership
Mon 17 Sep 2007
Prime Minister and DSS leader Vojislav Koštunica said Saturday 15 September his party opposes Serbia’s NATO membership. [more] |
Del Ponte's mandate extended by three months
Mon 17 Sep 2007
As expected, the UN Security Council decided on Friday 14 September to extend the mandate of war crimes chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte through the end of the year. [more] |
Putin dissolves government
Wed 12 Sep 2007
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted the resignation of PM Mikhail Fradkov and nominated Victor Zubkov, head of the federal financial monitoring service, to replace him. [more] |
Morocco nationalists in poll win
Mon 10 Sep 2007
Morocco's conservative Istiqlal party, a member of the governing coalition, has won the most seats in parliamentary elections, provisional results say. [more] |
Date fixed for Russia elections
Tue 04 Sep 2007
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has set 2 December as the date for parliamentary elections, seen by many as a rehearsal for the presidential vote in 2008. [more] |
Romania to hold EP elections on 25 November
Fri 24 Aug 2007
The government decided on 22 August to hold European Parliament (EP) elections on 25 November. (reactions: 4)[more] |
Turkey holds presidential vote
Mon 20 Aug 2007
Turkey's new parliament is to begin voting in a presidential election, which Abdullah Gul, the foreign minister, is set to win months after his earlier attempt was blocked. Gul's Justice and Development (AK) party has been strengthened after winning an increased majority in July's election, called early to defuse crisis over the presidency. [more] |
Official immunity turns into campaign issue in Ukraine
Fri 17 Aug 2007
In an apparent attempt to upstage his political rivals ahead of elections, Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has proposed that all of the country's officials be stripped of their immunity from prosecution [more] |
Ukraine: New Elections For Old Contenders
Fri 10 Aug 2007
Ukraine on August 2 officially entered its campaign for early parliamentary elections to be held on September 30. The country's major political parties have already held conventions to approve their manifestos and candidates for the polls. However, those hoping for a new political opening in Ukraine in the fall may be deeply disappointed. There are hardly any new ideas in election programs and hardly any new names on election lists compared with those during the 2006 elections. And public opinion surveys in Ukraine suggest that the alignment of forces in a future legislature may be very similar to that in the current one. [more] |
UN wants more facts on Georgia-Russia dispute
Fri 10 Aug 2007
The president of the UN Security Council says the council wants more information before it holds an emergency meeting on Georgian allegations that Russia launched a missile attack on Georgian territory. [more] |
Turkey names new parliament speaker
Fri 10 Aug 2007
Turkey's parliament has elected Koksal Toptan, a candidate from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), as its new speaker in a first round of voting after he secured backing from the main opposition party. [more] |
Georgia condemns Russian 'raid'
Wed 08 Aug 2007
Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili has accused Russia of carrying out an air raid on Georgian territory, saying Moscow was trying to provoke panic. Mr Saakashvili was speaking in a village where a missile from a Russian aircraft is said to have hit the ground close to a house on 6 August. [more] |
Romania: Foreign Minister Says Moldova Not 'Younger Brother'
Fri 03 Aug 2007
Since Romania joined the European Union on January 1 and imposed visa requirments on Moldovans, huge queues have formed outside Romania's consulate in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau. The consulate says it can deal with a maximum of 300 visa applications each day, but the number of applicants is much higher. Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu spoke to RFE/RL's Romanian and Moldovan Service about relations between Bucharest and Chisinau. [more] |
Turkey constitution vote scheduled
Thu 02 Aug 2007
A referendum on changes to Turkey's constitution, which include the election of the president by a popular vote, has been schduled for October 21, the country's electoral council has said. [more] |
Rama expels Nano from leadership of Albania's Socialist Party
Fri 27 Jul 2007
Socialist Party (SP) leader Edi Rama on Wednesday (July 25th) expelled former leader Fatos Nano from the top ranks, blaming him for Prime Minister Sali Berisha's prolonged stay in power. [more] |
New Albanian president sworn in
Thu 26 Jul 2007
A political impasse that threatened to push Albania into early elections has ended, and the country has a new head of state. [more] |
Open letter to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili
Thu 26 Jul 2007
A group of ten Georgian NGO's has send President Saakashvili an open letter concerning amendments to the "Law on Courts of Georgia". [more] |
EU fears split over Kosovo
Tue 24 Jul 2007
As Belgrade and Pristina are heading for last resort negotiations on the future of Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo, the European Union is set to maintain its fragile unity over the issue, amid clear signs it could become as divisive as Iraq did in 2003. (reactions: 1)[more] |
Bulgarian medics released
Tue 24 Jul 2007
Five nurses and a doctor convicted of infecting childern with HIV in Libya have arrived in Sofia following their release. [more] |
AKP wins Turkish elections with big majority
Mon 23 Jul 2007
The ruling AK party of moderate Islamists received around 47 percent of the votes in a poll held on 22 July, up by 12 points compared to the 2002 elections. [more] |
Kosovo PM proposes date for independence
Fri 20 Jul 2007
Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku has proposed that the province's parliament unilaterally proclaim independence on November 28. [more] |
Former security chief wins contested Nagorno-Karabakh vote
Fri 20 Jul 2007
Election officials in the unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh say the former head of the region's security service has been elected president. [more] |
MEPs condemn lack of human rights in Transnistria
Thu 19 Jul 2007
In a joint resolution during the plenary session in Strasbourg all political groups condemned the lack of respect for human rights and human dignity in Transnistria, the denial of the liberties of the population living in that area. [more] |
EU to push for six medics' speedy transfer from Libya
Wed 18 Jul 2007
The European Union, along with the US, has called on Libya to transfer five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor to its territory, after the Libyan High Judicial Council converted their death penalty into life imprisonment on 17 July. [more] |
Socialist Group MEPs in EU-Russia talks with Lithuanian Social Democrats
Tue 17 Jul 2007
Leading Socialist Group MEPs travelled to Vilnius, Lithuania on 5 July 2007 for talks on European-Russian relations with the Lithuanian Social Democratic party and a range of politicians and experts from Russia, Estonia, Latvia, the Ukraine and Belarus. [more] |
Turkish poll candidate shot dead
Tue 17 Jul 2007
An independent candidate has been shot dead in Istanbul ahead of Turkey's general election on 22 July. Tuncay Seyranlioglu's car was hit by gunfire on a highway as it was taking him away from a TV studio. [more] |
US and EU revise Kosovo UN draft
Thu 12 Jul 2007
Europe and the US have revised a draft UN resolution on the status of Kosovo, dropping a promise of independence for the province if talks with Serbia fail. An earlier draft called for four months of talks between the two sides, but also included a plan for independence. [more] |
BiH's top international officer targets Srebrenica suspects
Thu 12 Jul 2007
In his first major step as High Representative in BiH, Miroslav Lajcak ordered the dismissal 10 July of a senior Bosnian Serb police commander and the suspension of 36 officers suspected of involvement in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. [more] |
Aliaksandr Milinkevich comments on Democratic Forces and the strategy of the Movement for Freedom
Fri 06 Jul 2007
Aliaksandr Milinkevich, former presidential candidate for the Belarusian Democratic Forces, said in a statement sent out on 5 July, he does not believe in the strategy adopted by the Congress of Democratic Forces. With his Movement for Freedom he takes an approach that involves civil forces. (reactions: 2)[more] |
Ukrainian pro-presidential parties unite for elections
Fri 06 Jul 2007
Ten parties backing Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on 5 July agreed to join forces for the September parliamentary elections. [more] |
Meeting of the Socialist International Council, Geneva, 29-30 June 2007
Fri 06 Jul 2007
Global peace and stability and climate change were at the centre of discussions of the Council of the Socialist International at its meeting in Geneva on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 June. [more] |
Court backs Turkey poll referendum
Fri 06 Jul 2007
Turkey's Constitutional court has unexpectedly backed the government's plans to hold a referendum on reforms that would allow voters instead of parliament to elect future presidents. [more] |
Armenia: Restrictive foreign-media legislation falls in parliament
Thu 05 Jul 2007
The Armenian parliament has failed to pass a bill that would have placed severe restrictions on foreign broadcast media, particularly RFE/RL. [more] |
CEE Network for Gender Issues and Karl Renner Institute held seminar with Macedonian SDSM and DUI
Fri 29 Jun 2007
From 22 to 24 June, the European Forum's CEE Network for Gender Issues and the Karl Renner Institute organised the seminar "How can Social Democrats improve gender equality, even when in opposition?" [more] |
Caucasus mountain men look to EU membership
Fri 29 Jun 2007
A group of some 70,000 stateless highlanders living on the Russia-Georgia border could by 2012 be heading for EU citizenship, if the self-admittedly "bold" vision of local leader Dmitri Sanakoev and the Georgian government comes to pass. [more] |
Armenia: Government moves against foreign broadcast media
Thu 28 Jun 2007
Armenia's National Assembly is due today to debate government draft amendments that could end Armenian-language broadcasts of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. [more] |
Moldova: Local elections show national trends
Thu 28 Jun 2007
Nationwide local elections in Moldova involved a little of everything: meter-long ballots, dirty politics, and surprise results. [more] |
Azeris criticised on human rights
Thu 28 Jun 2007
Human rights body Amnesty International has criticised Azerbaijan for its treatment of thousands of people from the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. [more] |
UN squabbles over Kosovo status
Thu 21 Jun 2007
Britain, France and the US have circulated a Security Council draft resolution urging a 120-day delay in implementing a UN plan for Kosovo's independence to allow for further talks. [more] |
Miroslav Lajcak as new EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tue 19 Jun 2007
| Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the CFSP, welcomed on 18th of June appointment of Miroslav Lajcak as EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. "I am delighted that the Council has appointed Miroslav Lajcak as EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina on the basis of my recommendation. Ambassador Lajcak is a senior diplomat with broad experience in European and Balkan issues, including as my personal representative for the facilitation of the Montenegrin dialogue. (reactions: 1)[more] |
EC to resume SAA talks with Serbia
Mon 04 Jun 2007
The European Commission (EC) will resume Stabilisation and Association Agreement negotiations with Serbia, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told Serbian President Boris Tadic in Helsinki on Saturday 2 June. He said the talks would probably resume in about ten days, although the exact date will not be determined until UN Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte completes her trip to Belgrade Monday and releases her report on the level of co-operation. [more] |
European Forum and PES Working Group Eastern European Neighbours visit Armenia.
Mon 04 Jun 2007
| The Party of European Socialists co-organised with the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity a study visit to Yerevan, Armenia, on 30-31 May 2007. During the two days, the delegation had intensive talks and meetings with several Armenian political parties, NGOs, ministers, media and think tanks. [more] |
Milinkevich: There is No United Democratic Opposition in Belarus
Mon 04 Jun 2007
Aleksandr Milinkevich, former candidate for presidency, who has been united democratic forces leader not such a long time ago, said that there is no united democratic opposition in Belarus. “We did not have it before, it was our dream. We managed to unify the majority before the elections. Unfortunately, we can not do it now,” he said, commenting the results of the Democratic Forces Congress, which took place last weekend. [more] |
Zoran Milanovic elected new leader of Croatia's SDP
Mon 04 Jun 2007
At its extraordinary party congress on Saturday 2 June, Croatia's main opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) elected Zoran Milanovic as its new president. He won in the second round of voting, garnering support from 828 SDP members. Rival candidate Zeljka Antunovic got 675 votes. Milanovic succeeds the late SDP leader Ivica Racan, who died from cancer on 29 April. [more] |
DUI returns to Macedonian Parliament, DPA remains in government
Thu 31 May 2007
A crisis in the Macedonian government appears to have been contained, while the country's largest ethnic Albanian party has agreed to end its boycott of Parliament. [more] |
Belarusian united opposition adopts new strategy at congress
Thu 31 May 2007
On 26-27 May the Congress of Democratic Forces was held in Minsk. The Congress delegates adopted by the majority vote the strategy of actions of the united democratic forces (UDF) suggested by the Political Council of UDF. The strategy assumes a “constructive dialogue with the authorities”. Former presidential candidate and chairman Alyaksandr Milinkevich was replaced by four new co-chairmen. [more] |
Towards an EU Black Sea Dimension
Thu 31 May 2007
The expert meeting organised by the Group of the PES on the Black Sea 10th May opened up the way for setting up some guidelines regarding an active involvement of the EU in this area. [more] |
Ukraine leader takes over troops
Fri 25 May 2007
President Viktor Yushchenko has ordered Ukraine's 40,000 interior ministry troops to come under his command, amid a deepening political crisis. A statement on the presidential website said the move was necessary to prevent a threat to national security. [more] |
Mikola Statkevich and Paval Sevyarynets released
Fri 25 May 2007
Belarusian political prisoners Mikola Statkevich and Paval Sevyarynets have been granted early release on 22 May. The term of imprisonment of the politicians who had been sentenced to corrective labour, was to expire this summer. The first to meet Mikola Statkevich were the Charter’97 coordinator Zmitser Bandarenka and the leader of the youth center “Volat” Zmitser Barodka. [more] |
Serbia convicts 12 in Djindjic assassination
Thu 24 May 2007
Belgrade's Special Court for Organised Crime on Wednesday (May 23rd) found 12 men guilty of the March 2003 assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. All the defendants, who include members of the secret police and of the Zemun criminal clan, denied the charges. [more] |
SI Mediterranean Committee meets in Naples
Mon 21 May 2007
The Socialist International Mediterranean Committee met in Naples on 4-5 May 2007, with the participation of representatives and delegates from close to thirty parties and organisations from throughout the Mediterranean region and beyond, with a special focus on the issues of ‘Politics and Religion’ and ‘Economic Cooperation within the region’. [more] |
Rama re-elected as leader of Albania's main opposition party
Tue 15 May 2007
Edi Rama was re-elected as leader of the main opposition Socialist Party (SP) in an internal referendum on Saturday (May 12th). [more] |
Pro-Government Parties Win Armenian Vote
Mon 14 May 2007
According to partial results, Armenia's pro-government parties won a large majority in the May 12 parliamentary elections. (reactions: 1)[more] |
Serbian parties in coalition deal
Fri 11 May 2007
The main pro-reform parties in Serbia have agreed to form a government, more than three months after the general election, local media reports say. The deal was reached between the caretaker Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, and President Boris Tadic, according to TV reports. [more] |
Socialists deplore election of Serb Radical as Speaker of the Serbian Parliament
Thu 10 May 2007
Almost four months after January elections and unproductive negotiations among pro-democratic parties to create a new Government, the Democratic Party of Serbia, chaired by the outgoing Prime Minister Kostunica endorsed the election of the deputy leader of the Serb Radical Party, Tomislav Nikolic as Speaker of the Parliament. This seems to follow an apparent collapse of the talks to build up a pro-Western and democrat Cabinet. [more] |
Turkey heading for legislative elections
Thu 10 May 2007
On Thursday, 3 May, Turkey's Parliament approved July 22 as the date for new general elections, called to resolve a government crisis. The crisis was provoked by the impossibility for the Turkish Parliament to elect a President of the country. [more] |
Ukraine: Progress toward early elections remains unsure
Thu 10 May 2007
Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has announced that he has agreed with President Victor Yushchenko to hold early elections in order to overcome the current political standoff in Ukraine. [more] |
PES condemns symbolic torture of Romanian MPs
Wed 09 May 2007
 | PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen today joined the Socialist Group in the European Parliament in condemning the erection in Bucharest of spikes – torture instruments used in Romania in medieval times – in an apparent protest against MPs who voted for the impeachment of President Basescu. [more] |
EU calls for quick formation of pro-European government in Serbia
Wed 09 May 2007
Voicing concern over the election of an ultranationalist leader as Serbian parliament speaker, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn called on Tuesday (8 May) for the quick formation of a new, pro-European government. [more] |
Ukraine rivals agree early poll
Fri 04 May 2007
 | Ukraine's president and prime minister have agreed to hold early parliamentary elections in a bid to end weeks of political deadlock, reports say. The pair reached an agreement "in principle" on holding early elections, but there was no word of a date. [more] |
European Social Democrats support Estonia
Thu 03 May 2007
The Party of European Socialists, in a meeting of its Presidency on 3 May, expressed its grave concerns about the alleged collusion of Russia in the siege of the Estonia Embassy in Moscow and riots in Estonia. (reactions: 1)[more] |
European Socialists call for EU statement of concern on democracy in Poland and Romania
Thu 03 May 2007
The Party of European Socialists on 3 May expressed its concern about worrying developments for democracy in Romania and Poland. [more] |
Georgia and EU play endgame on frozen conflicts
Thu 03 May 2007
Georgia says the EU would send border monitors to its rebel territories if Russia agrees, with Tbilisi also leveraging its relations with international clubs like the WTO and NATO to reunify the country, Georgian foreign minister Gela Bezhuashvili told EUobserver. [more] |
Turkey to call general election
Wed 02 May 2007
Turkey's parliamentary constitutional committee has recommended that general elections be brought forward from November to July. [more] |
Ivica Racan - Man of integrity
Wed 02 May 2007
 | The Party of European Socialists mourns the loss of Ivica Racan on 30 April, the Leader of the Croatian Social Democrats. [more] |
Belarusian opposition marches to mark Chernobyl anniversary
Fri 27 Apr 2007
 | Several thousand people took part in the Chernobyl Way march organised by the opposition in Minsk on 26 April to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the explosion at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. [more] |
Putin attacks 'foreign meddlers'
Thu 26 Apr 2007
Foreign money is being used to meddle in Russia's internal politics, President Vladimir Putin has said. He blamed the "influx" on those who he said were using democracy as a pretext to interfere in politics. [more] |
Ukrainian president delays poll
Thu 26 Apr 2007
Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko has postponed the date of parliamentary elections after street protests and concerted opposition from his critics. In a television address Mr Yushchenko said he was issuing a decree to schedule the elections for 24 June. [more] |
Turkey parties urge snap election
Thu 26 Apr 2007
Turkey's presidential hopeful unsuccessfully lobbied smaller parties on Wednesday to try to block the nationalist-minded main opposition from challenging the legality of his expected election. [more] |
Ukrainian President sets conditions to end standoff
Fri 20 Apr 2007
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko says he is willing to suspend his decree dissolving parliament if lawmakers implement a series of political reforms. [more] |
Russian police question Kasparov
Fri 20 Apr 2007
Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov has been questioned by Russia's security service on suspicion of making extremist comments. [more] |
Concern for Romania's stability and position in the EU.
Thu 19 Apr 2007
Leading European politicians today, 19 April 2007, voiced concern over the stability of Romania and its position in the EU following the suspension of President Traian Basescu. [more] |
Russia: NGOs Uneasy As Deadline Passes
Thu 19 Apr 2007
Russian nongovernmental organizations say they are anxious about their future following an April 15 deadline to file documentation that gives details about foreign funding. [more] |
Romania's parliament suspends president
Thu 19 Apr 2007
 | The Romanian parliament has voted to suspend President Traian Basescu amid a deepening political crisis. Members of parliament have accused him of violating Romania's constitution, even though the constitutional court found no evidence of that. [more] |
Estonian Social Democratic Party back in government
Wed 18 Apr 2007
After 5 years, the Estonian Social Democratic Party is back in government again with its "old" coalition partners from 1992-1995 and 1999-2002 - the liberal Reform Party, and the conservative Pro Patria and Res Publica Union. Mr Andrus Ansip from the Reform Party will continuing as the Prime Minister, for the first time in the modern history of the Republic. [more] |
Belarusian opposition to hold second congress in may
Tue 17 Apr 2007
Leaders of the Belarusian opposition agreed at an April 12 meeting in Vilnius to hold the Second Congress of Pro-democratic Forces in May, Belapan reported quoting the United Civic Party leader Antol Lyabedzka. [more] |
'I am plotting a new Russian revolution'
Fri 13 Apr 2007
 | The Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky has told the Guardian he is plotting the violent overthrow of President Putin from his base in Britain after forging close contacts with members of Russia's ruling elite. In comments which appear calculated to enrage the Kremlin, and which will further inflame relations between London and Moscow, the multimillionaire claimed he was already bankrolling people close to the president who are conspiring to mount a palace coup. [more] |
Putin's third term to feature in Duma campaign
Thu 12 Apr 2007
For many months, Russia's domestic politics have revolved around one basic but tantalizing question: Will Vladimir Putin leave office after presidential elections in March 2008? Now, Putin's rumored third term looks set to become the central issue of another key vote -- the ballot for the State Duma in December 2007. (reactions: 3)[more] |
Signs of breakthrough in Ukrainian political crisis
Thu 12 Apr 2007
 | Signs of a breakthrough appeared today in Ukraine's political crisis as the feuding president and prime minister softened their positions. [more] |
European Socialists support Kosovo report regardless of the status issue
Thu 05 Apr 2007
Socialist MEPs voted last week in favour of the report on Kosovo, although opposing an amendment to include UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari's call for it to have the status of "internationally supervised independence". [more] |
Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the Swoboda Report on Croatia's accession
Thu 05 Apr 2007
By adopting the report of Socialist Vice-president Hannes Swoboda with 71 votes in favour and 4 abstentions, the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs has accepted the improvement made by Croatia on its way to EU accession. [more] |
Crisis in Ukraine intensifies
Tue 03 Apr 2007
Ukraine's political crisis has intensified following President Viktor Yushchenko's order to dissolve parliament and hold new elections. In reaction to this announcement, the members of parliament (239 members out of 450 seats) loyal to Yushchenko's rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, gathered together for a meeting to discuss the current situation. [more] |
SI leaders in Belgrade and Pristina for discussions on Kosovo status
Mon 02 Apr 2007
The President of the Socialist International, George Papandreou, Leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, Greece; Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev, Leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and Co-Chair of the SI Committee for South Eastern Europe; Mircea Geoana, President of the Social Democratic Party of Romania and Co-Chair of the SI Committee for South Eastern Europe; and the Secretary General of the Socialist International, Luis Ayala, visited Belgrade and Pristina on 20-21 March to hold discussions with political leaders and authorities on the future status of Kosovo and the process undertaken by the international community on this issue. [more] |
MEPs demand supervised sovereignty for Kosovo
Fri 30 Mar 2007
Members of the European Parliament have adopted a report demanding that the disputed province of Kosovo be granted "supervised sovereignty."It is the strongest expression of EU pro-independence feeling yet, with the European Commission and member states remaining shy of such a strong term. [more] |
Ukraine: Yushchenko suggests he may dissolve parliament
Fri 30 Mar 2007
 | Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, cast into the opposition by a parliamentary coalition led by his chief political rival, today suggested he may dissolve the Verkhovna Rada, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reported. [more] |
Kyrgyz parliament confirms new prime minister
Fri 30 Mar 2007
By a vote of 48-3, the Kyrgyz parliament today approve moderate opposition politician Almazbek Atambaev as Kyrgyzstan's prime minister, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. [more] |
Putin 'against having third term'
Fri 30 Mar 2007
 | A senior Russian lawmaker has proposed changing the constitution, in a move that might allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power longer. But a Kremlin spokesman responded by saying Mr Putin was opposed to any such change to the constitution. [more] |
EU launches new Central Asia policy in Kazakhstan
Thu 29 Mar 2007
The EU has said "the time is right" for new engagement in Central Asia after a high-level meeting in Kazakhstan saw joint agreement to hold more such talks in future, with the German EU presidency hoping the dialogue will lead to political reform but with human rights groups on alert over Europe's real agenda in the energy-rich region. (reactions: 2)[more] |
EU to re-start talks with Turkey
Thu 29 Mar 2007
 | The European Union will partially re-start accession talks with Turkey on Thursday, the first such talks since negotiations were largely frozen last year. [more] |
Milinkevich’s letter to Chancellor Merkel
Tue 27 Mar 2007
| On 25 March, the 50th anniversary of the European integration, Belarusian opposition leader Aliaksandr Milinkevich has written a letter to Chancellor Merkel to send her, and to all European heads of states and all European citizens, warm greetings and wishes of peace and prosperity. On the same day, Belarus celebrated its Freedom Day, This symbolic coincidence shows, according to mister Milinkevich, Belarus’ historic belonging to Europe and that the country one day will be re-integrated into the European family of democratic nations. Click more for the full text of the letter to Chancellor Merkel. [more] |
Freedom Day demonstrations in Minsk
Mon 26 Mar 2007
A mass rally in Minsk marked the 89th anniversary of the Belarusian People’s Republic, Freedom Day. Despite of all efforts of the authorities which blocked the center of the Belarusian capital, the democratic forces have managed to hold mass rallies and a meeting in the center of the city. According to journalists, human rights activists and independent observers, at least 10,000 demonstrators have taken part in the rallies under white-red-white and European flags. [more] |
Russian Supreme Court bans Liberal Party
Fri 23 Mar 2007
The Russian Supreme Court today ordered the a liberal opposition party be closed down citing low membership, RFE/RL's Russian Service reported. [more] |
Russian opposition protests results elections; Social Democratic Youth Union activists detained
Tue 20 Mar 2007
 | The Other Russia opposition movement held a demonstration in St. Petersburg on March 18 to protest the official results of the city's legislative assembly elections as well as Gazprom City, the controversial planned business center that will include the headquarters of Gazpromneft, the gas monopoly's oil subsidiary, and a 77-story skyscraper. [more] |
Belarus duplicity made clear by fresh arrests
Thu 15 Mar 2007
With Belarus regularly throwing opposition people behind bars at the same time as calling for dialogue in Brussels, evolving EU policy on president Lukashenko risks giving political capital to Europe's "last dictator" even as it tries to counter the threat of the country's absorption by Russia. [more] |
Summit: EU action must follow words on climate & energy
Tue 13 Mar 2007
“There is an unprecedented political will in Europe to tackle climate change and secure a sustainable energy supply” said Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the Party of European Socialists, ahead of the EU Spring Summit. “Europe will be the global front-runner in fighting climate change and that is why we have a double responsibility to ensure that fine words are followed by real action.” [more] |
Ukraine changes tone on EU enlargement
Fri 09 Mar 2007
Ukraine president Viktor Yushchenko said in Brussels on Thursday (8 March) it is more important to focus on economic integration than EU enlargement in a change of tone from previous statements, with Brussels and Kiev also keen to work together on political change in an increasingly unstable Belarus. [more] |
Greek Cypriots dismantle barrier
Fri 09 Mar 2007
 | Greek Cypriots have demolished a key section of the barrier dividing the island's capital city, Nicosia. The Green Line has separated Cyprus's Greeks from the Turkish population since 1974, when Turkish troops occupied the north. [more] |
Belarusian united democratic forces postpone congress
Fri 09 Mar 2007
United Civic Party leader Anatol Lyabedzka told Reuters on 7 March that the nationwide congress of democratic forces planned for 17 and 18 March will be put off for at least one month. The delay of the congress follows former opposition presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich's announcement he will not attend the congress. [more] |
Police Clash With Anti-Kremlin Protesters
Mon 05 Mar 2007
 | Violence broke out between police and protesters in Russia's second largest city of St. Petersburg today, where an estimated 3,000 people demonstrated against the leadership of President Vladimir Putin. [more] |
Estonian Social Democratic Party (SDE) gains 10.6% of the votes in 4 March parliamentary elections
Mon 05 Mar 2007
On the 4th of March elections to the Parliament (Riigikogu) of Estonia took place. The Estonian Social Democratic Party (SDE) improved its position and got the 4th result. Elections gave us 10.6% of the votes and 10 seats (out of 101) in the Parliament (previously 6 seats). [more] |
Mission to Minsk worried about Belarusian human right violators taking part in HR Conference
Mon 05 Mar 2007
Mission To Minsk is concerned that a regime that is responsible for disappearances and does not allow investigations is organising the United Nations conference about preventing women trafficking on Monday March 5th, 2007 in New York. Belarus, a country that doesn't respect human rights, should not be spokesperson for human right issues. [more] |
Chechen Parliament approves Kadyrov as President
Fri 02 Mar 2007
 | Chechnya's parliament has approved Ramzan Kadyrov as president of the republic on 2 March. [more] |
Republika Srpska apologises to Bosnian war victims
Thu 01 Mar 2007
The government of the Bosnian Serb autonomous region, the Republika Srpska, on 28 February issued an apology for crimes committed during the 1992-95 war. On 26 February, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) cleared Serbia of genocide charges connected to its support for Bosnian Serbs during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. (reactions: 1)[more] |
EU to cut troop numbers in Bosnia, Office of High Representative remains another year
Thu 01 Mar 2007
The European Union has announced dramatic cuts to its peacekeeping force in Bosnia-Hercegovina (Eufor). The Eufor force will see numbers drop from 6,500 currently to about 2,500 over the next few months, the EU said. The cuts come a day after the anouncement the mandate of the Office of the High Representative (OHR)will be prolongued by one year, until the end of June 2008. [more] |
Srebrenica a genocide but Serbia not responsible
Mon 26 Feb 2007
The UN's highest court ruled on February 26th that while Serbia failed to use its clear influence with Bosnian Serbs to prevent the genocide of Bosnian Muslims at Srebrenica, Serbia was not directly responsible for genocide or complicity in genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1992-1995 conflict. (reactions: 1)[more] |
Albania's elections still short of international standards
Thu 22 Feb 2007
 | Albania is counting the votes after the local elections held on February 18th. The opposition Socialist Party (SP) has the lead in the main cities, including Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Vlora, Korca and Berat. SP leader Edi Rama, running for the third term as Tirana's mayor, is ahead of rival Sokol Olldashi. Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democratic Party (DP) claims victories in the smaller communes and municipalities. [more] |
Kadyrov named acting Chechen president
Fri 16 Feb 2007
Alu Alkhanov's tenure as Chechnya's president ended today, after he was removed from his post by Russian President Vladimir Putin. [more] |
Putin ally promoted in reshuffle
Thu 15 Feb 2007
Russian President Vladimir Putin has promoted a close ally - defence minister Sergei Ivanov - to the post of first deputy prime minister. The reshuffle comes just over a year before presidential elections are due. [more] |
Milinkevich will not attent opposition congress
Thu 15 Feb 2007
Belarus's leading opposition figure says he will not participate in a congress of the country's pro-democratic forces scheduled for next month.He is frustrated with the absence of consolidation in the Belarusian opposition. [more] |
Serbia rejects UN plan for Kosovo
Wed 14 Feb 2007
Serbia's parliament has overwhelmingly rejected a United Nations proposal on the future status of Kosovo. Lawmakers also backed a resolution stating the UN plan would illegally lay the foundations for creating a new state within Serbian territory. [more] |
Strong Support European Parliament for Women's Rights in Turkey
Tue 13 Feb 2007
The European Parliament today voted overwhelmingly in favour of the second report by Dutch Social-Democrat Emine Bozkurt on women's rights in Turkey. The report, which was adopted by 522 votes in favour with 15 against, points the way forward for women to reduce their dependency on men and to increase their participation in education, politics and the labour market. [more] |
PES: Serbia must be involved in finding a solution for the status of Kosovo
Mon 12 Feb 2007
"Serbia must be involved in finding a solution for the status of Kosovo on the basis of the proposals made by the United Nations Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari" declared Jan Marinus Wiersma and Hannes Swoboda, both Vice-Presidents of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, on their return from a one-day visit to Serbia. [more] |
An open letter of Alyaksandr Milinkevich to Alyaksandr Lukashenka
Thu 08 Feb 2007
Alyaksandr Milinkevich has written an open letter to President Lukashenka. In his letter Milinkevich expressed his hope that Lukashenka’s wish to develop further relations with Europe, stated in an interview on 6 February is genuine. Milinkevich further asked the President to recognise that reconciliation of the positions of the authorities and the opposition is necessary, in order to find a way out of the economic strangulations of other states that cause worries about the economic situation and the independence of the country. Milinkevich asked Lukashenka to let 25 March, the day of Belarusian independence in 1918, be a starting point of unity for Belarusians. Milinkevich ended the letter by stating “we find a common solution to overcome the confrontation in the society for prosperity and development of our beloved Belarus.” [more] |
Yabloko calls for support after being barred from local elections
Mon 05 Feb 2007
Yabloko St. Petersburg calls for support after the City Electoral Commission barred the political party from competing in local elections on 11 March in the city of St. Petersburg. The party calls upon European parties to send official support letters, hoping this will strenghten their effort to fight the decision. [more] |
Mass Arrests of Young Front Activists in Minsk
Mon 05 Feb 2007
Riot policemen detained about 30 members of the youth organization the Young Front yesterday. It occurred when a session of the central committee of the organization was taking place in a private apartment in Tsnyanskaya Street. On the same day searches were held in apartments of the Young Front activists. (reactions: 1)[more] |
PES withdraws from Tunis conference in protest at Tunisian government
Mon 05 Feb 2007
The Party of European Socialists has withdrawn from an international conference on the « Role of civil society in building a united Maghreb » due to be held in Tunis on 2-3 februari in protest at attempts by the Tunisian authorities to restrict participation. [more] |
UN envoy Ahtisaari presents 'compromise' proposal on Kosovo
Fri 02 Feb 2007
United Nation's special envoy for Kosovo presented what he called his "compromise" proposal for the province’s future status today. Stopping first in Belgrade and then flying to Pristina, Martti Ahtisaari recommended a form of limited statehood that falls short of the demands of both Belgrade and Kosovo's majority ethnic Albanians. [more] |
Kostunica's party edges closer to Radicals on issue of Kosovo
Thu 01 Feb 2007
With talks on a new government coalition under way in Serbia, the ruling Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) unveiled on 31 January a set of Kosovo-related conditions under which it would agree to join the country's next cabinet. [more] |
Putin hits back at energy critics at annual news conference
Thu 01 Feb 2007
Russian President Vladimir Putin has strongly denied claims that Russia is using its energy resources as a lever to put pressure on other countries. He was addressing the world's media at his annual news conference in Moscow. [more] |
European Socialists appoint new Secretary General
Thu 01 Feb 2007
The 218-strong European Parliament Socialist Group has appointed 44-year-old Italian Anna Colombo as its next secretary-general. [more] |
EP support for the medical personnel in Libya
Tue 23 Jan 2007
At its plenary session last week, the European Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning the imposition of the death penalty on five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor charged with deliberately infecting several hundred children with the HIV virus in Libya. The resolution firmly expresses the EP's condemnation of the death sentence of the Criminal Court in Libya on 19 December 2006 and reiterates in general its radical opposition to the death penalty. [more] |
Serbia's elections in line with international standards, says international observation mission
Mon 22 Jan 2007
 | The 21 January parliamentary elections in Serbia provided a genuine opportunity for the citizens of Serbia to choose from a range of political platforms and were in line with OSCE commitments and Council of Europe's standards for democratic elections. [more] |
Radicals are single strongest party in Serbian vote
Mon 22 Jan 2007
Although Seselj's Serbian Radical Party (SRS) won the elections in Serbia, the Democratic Party (DS) saw its seat number rise from 37 to 65 seats. [more] |
Socialist outraged at murder of journalist
Sat 20 Jan 2007
Leading members of the European Parliament voiced outrage at the murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, 52, outside his Agos newspaper office in Istanbul. Socialist Group vice-president Jan Marinus Wiersma said: "The assassination of this journalist is an attack on the free media in Turkey. We are outraged by the cold-blooded way in which Mr Dink was gunned down. [more] |
No chance for opposition in local "elections" Belarus
Wed 17 Jan 2007
The 14th January local elections in Belarus can be added to the growing list of elections in Belarus that have failed to meet democratic standards. EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said there was "a blatant lack of democratic pluralism", and that they had failed to give Belarusian voters a genuine choice. Belarus's main opposition leader, Alyaksandr Milinkevich, said they were being held "under colossal pressure from the authorities" and would be falsified. (See also European Forum electionblog). [more] |
SOCIALISTS URGE EURO MPs TO BLOCK JOBS FOR FAR RIGHT
Mon 15 Jan 2007
Socialist Group leader Martin Schulz today called for MEPs to prevent a new far-Right group from securing senior positions in the European Parliament. [more] |
Bulgaria, Romania celebrate new beginning as EU members
Mon 08 Jan 2007
 | Fireworks lit up the night skies in Bulgaria and Romania as the two Black Sea countries celebrated the New Year and their entry into the EU, 17 years after the fall of communism. The accession of the two nations, which began their journey to EU integration in 1995, makes a total of 27 Union members, and a population to 490 million people, with borders extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea. (reactions: 3)[more] |
New Prime Minister and ruling coalition for Bosnia Herzegovina
Fri 05 Jan 2007
Representatives of the seven political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina agreed on 3 January 2007 on the lineup of the new ruling coalition of the country. After a few-hour session held under the auspices of the members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the leaders of the seven parties agreed that the new Prime Minister would be a Serbian representative, that is, Nikola Spiric from the Serb Union of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD). (reactions: 1)[more] |
Outrage at Libyan death sentences for Bulgarian, Palestinian medics
Wed 20 Dec 2006
Socialist MEPs have reacted with shock and anger at the death sentences passed today in Libya on five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor. The Tripoli court found them guilty of deliberately infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV. [more] |
Azerbaijan: Fragmented Opposition Ponders Options
Wed 20 Dec 2006
Partly as a result of individual opposition party leaders' reluctance to subordinate their personal ambitions to the greater opposition cause, but also partly due to ballot stuffing and other blatant procedural violations, the opposition suffered three successive crushing defeats in the parliamentary elections of 1995, 2000, and 2005. [more] |
EU hardens tone on enlargement
Mon 18 Dec 2006
European Union leaders have said that countries wanting to join will have to meet strict conditions from now on, but that the EU's doors are still open. Correspondents say the result of the end-of-year summit in Brussels is a subtle hardening of tone towards countries in the membership queue. [more] |
OSCE Chairman concerned over constitutional referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh
Mon 11 Dec 2006
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, said on 11 December that the OSCE will not recognize the referendum on a draft constitution held in Nagorno-Karabakh on 10 December. [more] |
PES adopts decisions on new membership
Mon 11 Dec 2006
The Party of European Socialists (PES) on 8 December, during the 7th party congress in Porto, adopted several decisions on new PES membership. Find the full text of the decisions here. [more] |
PES adopts draft resolution on the Middle East
Mon 11 Dec 2006
The Party of European Socialists (PES) on 8 December, during the 7th party congress in Porto, adopted a draft resolution on the Middle East. Find the full text of the resolution here. [more] |
PES adopts resolution on Belarus
Mon 11 Dec 2006
The Party of European Socialists (PES) on 8 December, during the 7th party congress in Porto, adopted a resolution on Belarus. Find the full text of the resolution here. [more] |
High turnout in Nagorno-Karabakh referendum on constitution
Sun 10 Dec 2006
There has been a high turnout in a referendum on a proposed constitution for the disputed former Soviet territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh hope the vote will take the region a step closer to becoming an independent state. [more] |
Trans-Dniester votes for leader
Sun 10 Dec 2006
Voting has ended in a presidential poll in Moldova's breakaway Trans-Dniester region, with incumbent Igor Smirnov tipped to win five more years in power. Turnout was high and an exit poll gave Mr Smirnov more than 60%. [more] |
PSE: Turkey's port move "a significant turning point'
Thu 07 Dec 2006
European social democrats today welcomed reports of a Turkish decision to open a port and an airport to Cyprus traffic as "a significant turning point" in relations between Brussels and Ankara. [more] |
Nagorno-Karabakh: OSCE says solution in sight
Tue 05 Dec 2006
Armenia and Azerbaijan may be nearing a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) says. [more] |
SNSD evaluates BiH elections
Mon 04 Dec 2006
Analysts of the Union of Independent Socialdemocrats (SNSD) recently presented their evaluation of the 1 October general elections in Bosnia & Herzegovina. [more] |
Azerbaijan rejects US criticism
Mon 04 Dec 2006
The foreign minister of Azerbaijan has rejected US concerns for democracy in his country after its main independent TV and radio stations were shut down. Elmar Mammadyarov says there were no problems with free speech in Azerbaijan. [more] |
Serbs march in support of Seselj
Sun 03 Dec 2006
Thousands of people have marched in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, in support of nationalist leader Vojislav Seselj, currently on trial in The Hague. His trial for war crimes during the break-up of Yugoslavia has been suspended since Friday because of his poor health due to a hunger strike. [more] |
Key ministers sacked in Ukraine
Fri 01 Dec 2006
Ukraine's parliament has dismissed the foreign and interior ministers - key allies of President Viktor Yushchenko. Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk has been one of the country's most pro-Western officials. Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko was also a key figure during the liberal "Orange Revolution" in 2004 that swept Mr Yushchenko to power. [more] |