15.10.2009 by ctstmaser.

Balkan Economies: Fragile Recovery in 2010

Tirana | 15 October 2009 | Besar Likmeta

Stock exchange

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EBRD, projects that Balkan economies will contract by, on average, 3.2 per cent in 2009.This, following steep output declines in the first half of the year, an EBRD report, released on Thursday says.

A fragile economic recovery will be registered in the Balkans in 2010. However, any upturn is likely to be fragile and patchy. The region is expected to rebound with only 0.6 per cent GDP growth next year.

“It is clear that the social costs of the global economic crisis are only likely to be felt in earnest next year, when corporate bankruptcies and unemployment will continue to rise,”EBRD Chief Economist Erik Berglof said in a statement. “Growth over the medium term in the EBRD region is also likely to be below the trend experienced over the last decade,” he added.

Albania remains the only country in the Balkans which is expected to experience economic growth this year, at 3 per cent of GDP. However, the Albanian economy will slow further in 2010, registering 1.6 per cent growth. Croatia’s economy is expected to contract by 5.4 per cent; Bosnia’s by 3.1 per cent; Serbia’s by 4 per cent; Macedonia’s by 1.6 per cent; Montenegro’s by 4.1 per cent; Bulgaria’s by 6 per cent and Romania’s economy by 8 per cent.

According to EBRD, Albania’s edge lies in its international market competitiveness and a relatively sound pre-crisis banking system.

Factors restraining growth in 2010 include the subdued pace of export market recovery - particularly in the euro zone - and continuing tight credit conditions, as banks continue to gradually shrink their assets in the region, and as lending to households and small firms remains constrained by rising non-performing loans.

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15.10.2009 by ctstmaser.

 Bleibt die Frage, wer diese Verbrecher Organisation mit dem Zentrum in der Drogen Verteil Stelle  Gjnilane finanziert. Absolut primitive Vandalen, welche mit Vorsatz EULEX Fahrzeuge zerstoeren und mit dem Sprachrohr Max Brym.

Nationalists Allege Plan to Split Kosovo

Pristina | 15 October 2009 | Petrit Collaku

Visar Ymeri

Nationalist movement Vetevendosje has called for a demonstration in Gjilan/Gjnilane, Kosovo on Saturday against decentralisation plans.

Decentralisation moves are envisaged in Martti Ahtisaari’s plan for Kosovo, which proposes the creation of five new local authorities with Serb majorities, supervised by the International Civilian Office.

One of the conditions for the creation and functioning of these new authorities is the participation of Kosovo Serbs in the November local elections.

Vetevendosje activist Visar Ymeri told Balkan Insight that the protest aims to support residents of the villages of Pasjak, Stanishor and Mogille, in the Gjilan municipality, who oppose decentralisation.“Decentralisation splits Kosovo inside, creating municipalities with Serb majorities that will have horizontal links between them, but also vertical links with Belgrade,” Ymeri alleged.

Ymeri holds that the decentralisation process is aimed at creating “Serb republics”, and, therefore, should be opposed.

“We will demonstrate on October 17 in Gjilan, to object to the process which lets Serbia enter Kosovo territory, splitting Kosovo inside and making it controllable by Serbia,” said Ymeri.

Setimes

Geschrieben in Balkan (Englisch), Balkan | Keine Kommentare »

15.10.2009 by ctstmaser.

Vojvodina statute “harmonised”, reports say

14/10/2009

With reports that the ruling parties have agreed to back the document, the Vojvodina statute could be debated in parliament this month.

By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade — 14/10/09

A year after its conception, an amended statute for the Serbian province of Vojvodina could finally gain parliament’s approval by the end of the year, ruling coalition members said this week.

According to local media reports, ruling coalition partner Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) has said it will vote in favour of the document after receiving assurances from the Democratic Party (DS) that all elements that gave Vojvodina the possibility to create “a state within a state” will be removed from the draft…………………….

Setimes.com

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