Moldova: the Russia-EU tug-of-war
03 Jul 2015
Chisinau, Moldova - Vlad Petrescu used to be a Soviet patriot. He served in the Pacific fleet for three years and for more than two decades drove trucks carrying Moldovan fruit and wine (still a backbone of Moldova's economy) to Moscow, Kiev and oil boom-towns in Siberia. ‘I was raised thinking I lived in the world's most advanced and just society and everybody in the Soviet Union loved Moldova because it made one think of wine and cheerful music. Europe does not make my heart sing, but we need them so that one day our politicians can become honest and corruption-free. After the Soviet collapse he struggled for years to make ends meet as Moldova underwent a painful economic and political transformation that is far from over. Wedged between Ukraine and Romania, Moldova must, yet again, choose between its pro-Europe and pro-Moscow sympathies. The nation of three million is one of Europe's poorest. Its economy is largely agriculture-based - and dangerously dependent on ‘the missing generation’- thousands working in Russia and the European Union, often illegally.
The Police Association has sued the Commissioner of Police and the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs after they banned public officers from taking part in an auction of police weapons and vehicles. The association said the ban is unlawful and results in a situation where a criminal may buy the weapon he used in a crime, but a policeman cannot. The writ was filed by the association and public officers against the police commissioner and permanent secretary at the ministry. The association referred to the ban issued last February and its subsequent judicial protest.
Macedonia: Drawing attention to the environment
03 Jul 2015
The French Embassy, in cooperation with the Macedonian Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, organised a workshop on ‘How to draw the public interest on climate change.’ The workshop was on 1 July and was presented by a French journalist, Yves Ler, who, for more than 10 years, has been working on this topic and was director of communications for ADEME – French National Agency for the Environment and Energy. For the past four years, he has been working as a journalist and consultant on environmental topics.
Luxembourg: 1 July - Let the Presidency begin
03 Jul 2015
Luxembourg on Wednesday took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with 237 EU meetings and summits scheduled to take place until December. While the Presidency started on 1 July , it will be celebrated with a big European picnic on Friday, 3 July , from 4pm until midnight. Delicacies from around the EU will be served in Place d'Armes, at the Maison de l'Europe in Rue du Curé, in Rue des Capucins and in Place du Théâtre. Over the coming six months, more than 26,000 visitors and 6,875 delegations are expected for 237 meetings and summits. There are 89 cars at the ready to transport guests, with an estimated 221,700 litres of diesel and 91,695 litres of petrol budgeted. Around 12,000 rooms at 25 hotels have been booked for more than 24,000 nights. Additionally, 170 dinners have been planned with 35 restaurants signed up for the job. For the 12th Luxembourg Presidency not only delegates from fellow EU member states will visit the Grand Duchy. For example, on 5 and 6 November , Luxembourg will host the Asia Europe Meeting. Luxembourg takes over from Latvia, with the Netherlands taking on the next Presidency at the start of 2016.
Lithuania: US supports Lithuania against Russia
03 Jul 2015
On Wednesday, America’s House Speaker John A. Boehner ended a three-day trip to Lithuania, where aides said he reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to resisting Russian aggression in the region.
Visiting the capital, Vilnius, to mark the country’s 25th anniversary of independence, Mr. Boehner and seven other House members discussed security issues with the nation’s leaders, including legislation that gave the Obama administration the ability to provide arms to Ukraine. Mr. Boehner frequently says that American allies in world trouble spots are uncertain about the Obama administration’s foreign policy intentions and he has used overseas trips such as the one to Lithuania to offer reassurances to friendly nations. ‘Whether it’s arming Ukraine or declaring energy independence, Lithuania sets an example for the region and ‘the world,’ Mr. Boehner said.
Liechtenstein: An end to ‘justice of the peace’
03 Jul 2015
Liechtenstein: An end to ‘justice of the peace’
The ‘justice of the peace’ has had its day. From 1 July there will be no more brokers elected in communities. This ends 100 years of the system and is a concession to developments of modern times. The importance of intermediaries as ‘magistrate’ has fallen sharply in recent years.
Latvia: Two Christian movements to pray for
03 Jul 2015
The Agape Students Movement is an active student network, formed by student initiatives. It wants every student’s university experience to be successful, not only academically, but also in relations with others and life in the spiritual field. Its aims are to help Christian students to look at their university as a place where they can serve God as well as to train and encourage them to take steps in faith to give every student the opportunity to invoke the gospel truths and encourage other Christians to do the same. Also in Latvia is a Christian Music Movement called Crescendo which unites professional Christian musicians and music students. Their main goal is to introduce and encourage musicians who have similar interests with each other; in many ways a sign of faith, making Christian accents in their society through the arts; and serve the churches and other Christian ministries.
Kosovo: Iranians and IS
03 Jul 2015
Last Wednesday, as reported by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), a foreign-funded news agency, the government of Kosovo sent police to raid the offices of five Iranian-controlled non-governmental organisations in the Balkan country. Kosovo authorities said the five entities are suspected of money-laundering and financing terrorism and that action against them conforms to a state anti-extremist strategy. ‘The raids are tied to a case that is being investigated, with the goal of preventing and fighting terrorism in the Republic of Kosovo,’ an official representative said. Two targets of the police sweep were identified – Bregu i Diellit (Sunny Hill) in Pristina, the Kosovan capital, and the Koran Foundation in Prizren, the country’s main southern city and a centre of Muslim and Christian religious life. Express, which takes a strong line against all forms of radical Islam, was the main media source in the latest incidents. Duriqi, following threats to him and allegations that he is an apostate from Islam, now lives in Germany.