The Balkan Chronicle

Minister of Education and Science Pance Kralev, who is paying a three-day visit to Israel, held talks Wednesday with his counterpart Gideon Saar and Minister of Technology and Science Daniel Hershkowitz.

The meetings focused on possibilities for bolstering the bilateral cooperation in education, innovations and research, the Ministry of Education and Science said in a press release.

At least six Yemenis were killed in the capital on Tuesday in an intensifying crackdown by security forces on protesters demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down. 
 
At least 34 people have been killed in the last four days and well over 100 have been injured. The UN Security Council is expected to make a decision this week on a resolution to “strongly condemn” the government’s human rights violations. The resolution also urges Saleh to “immediately sign and implement” a peace plan brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which requires him to cede power.

The IMF's senior representative to Turkey has quick reflexes - successfully ducking eggs thrown at him during a student protest.

Mark Lewis was speaking before economics students at Uludag University in Turkey's northwestern city of Bursa on Thursday when the eggs came flying. As he ducked behind a lectern, a protester shouted "IMF get out!" - a slogan often used by leftists.

Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis said on Friday that 'Greece supports unequivocally Palestine's right to statehood,' in his speech at the 66th United Nations General Assembly's session.

Stavros Lambrinidis said, "It is now our responsibility, the responsibility of every member-state of the UN, to respect the Palestinian decision to request membership and more importantly to turn this into an opportunity that will jumpstart anew direct negotiations."

Romanian lawmakers have voted not to allow former King Michael to address Parliament on his 90th birthday, saying he is not the head of state.

Parliament speaker Roberta Anastase said Monday Michael should not address the Parliament on Oct. 25 because he is not a head of state. Critics say the decision is politically motivated.

Bulgaria could block future changes to the Schengen legislation if the country is not allowed to join the border-free area, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov said here on Saturday.

"If the interior ministers of the European Union (EU) at their upcoming meeting on Thursday take a reasonable decision that meets the interests of all in Europe and primarily the interests of the Bulgarian citizens, we will support the reform of the Schengen acquis," Mladenov told a special press conference.

The comment came after Dutch government reiterated its intention on blocking Bulgaria and Romania from joining the Schenge

The stamp's design was agreed during the Belgrade-Priština negotiations on September 2 in Brussels.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina government made the decision at a session on Thursday after it had adopted Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Ministry's information from CEFTA Committee meeting.

Finally, one good news from Greece! Parliament's approval on Wednesday of a law regulating illegal buildings paved the way for the construction of the Greek capital's first modern mosque in the Athenian neighborhood of Votanikos.

The law on illegal constructions, which also includes a clause giving the go-ahead for a mosque, was voted through with 198 votes out of 300 in favor from the center, right and left, against 16 objections from MPs from the nationalist Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS).

The prospect of a mosque in Athens is vehemently opposed by right-wing and nationalist parties and groups, the latter of which have launched numerous attacks against groups of Muslims in recent months, especially in central Athens, where the vast majority lives.

The wife of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is negotiating to buy a tourist resort in Croatia, a media report said.

Croatian daily Makarska Chronicle said Gaddafi's wife Safia - of Bosnian-Croatian origin - was planning to buy a resort in Igrani town, which before the division of the former Yugoslavia belonged to a Serbian utility company.

August 8, 2011: What do the July 29 resignations (or early retirements, to be accurate) of Turkey's most senior generals and admirals mean? That's the question of the moment for Turkey's neighbors, NATO, and, for that matter, Turks themselves. The predominantly secularist Turkish military has been grappling with the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) since before the 2002 elections, which the AKP won. The AKP has been in charge ever since, and it won a significant parliamentary majority in elections held this June. The resignations signal that the AKP is very much in charge. AKP supporters and some analysts around the world say the resignations show that

The United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has transferred a former police officer convicted of murder during the Balkans conflict of the 1990s to Germany to serve out his 12-year prison sentence.

Johan Tarčulovski, a police officer in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), was transferred yesterday from the Tribunal, which is based in The Hague. He is the fourth person convicted by the court to be transferred to Germany.

The 1244 Resolution of the United Nations does not recognize Kosovo and Kosovo is not a member in this organization. But the presence of Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj in the Security Council, the Office of UN for the media presented Hoxhaj, as Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kosovo.

Various events are organized in Kosovo to celebrate April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day.

 The Turkish-French consortium, Limak-Airport de Lyon MAS, officially took over the full responsibilities of Prishtina International Airport in which case a ceremony was held as well.
One official from Limak-Kosovo said, “We are very happy to fulfil all of our obligations to the Republic of Kosovo and to complete the takeover. We will work as one for the success and continuity of the project.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis met on Wednesday with the Deputy Finance of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mr. Fuad Kasumovic, and Republika Srpska Health Minister Ranko Skrbic. The two officials from Bosnia-Herzegovina also met with the Foreign Ministry's Secretary General for International Economic Relations & Development Cooperation, Mr. Papadopoulos.

JEDDAH: Investors from Saudia Arabia have expressed an interest in purchasing two properties in the northern Croatian village of Kumrovec with the intent to build a seven-star luxurious hotel there, Croatian Times daily reported Friday.

Cleaning staff and drivers at the Greek Embassy in Ankara are threatening to sue over unpaid wages as the effects of the Greek financial crisis hit its Foreign Ministry hard, a Greek weekly newspaper has reported.

Spectacular fireworks displays and cultural performances will mark the launch of Istanbul's year as one of three European Capitals of Culture.

The prestigious title gives cities the opportunity and funding to showcase and enrich their cultural life.

Montenegro and Kosovo have established diplomatic relations by the exchange of letters between the foreign ministers, Milan Rocen and Skender Hiseni, the Montenegrin government said Friday.