http://blogs.tol.org/balkans Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:42:30 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en From DPC's website: http://www.democratizationpolicy.org/ SARAJEVO, February 21, 2008 – The Democratization Policy Council (DPC) today released a briefing titled “Understanding and Breaking Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Constitutional Deadlock: A New Approach for the European Union and United States.” It calls on the EU and its member states, backed by the US, to ... http://blogs.tol.org/balkans/2008/02/26/dpc-eu-and-us-must-adopt-strategy-to-break-bosnia-and-herzegovina%e2%80%99s-constitutional-deadlock/ An Argument Against the Division of Bosnia-Herzegovina I am often approached by both Westerns as well as Bosnians with the idea that the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina along ethnic lines is a logical, imminent and perhaps desirable outcome. Benign, yet naïve Westerners seem to believe in the theory of “ancient ... http://blogs.tol.org/balkans/2008/01/29/gaza-strip-in-the-middle-of-europe/ It appears that the tension in the Bosnian political mainstream has subsided after Dodik decided to accept measures that High Representative Lajcak imposed in order to make the work of the Council of Ministers and the state parliament more effective and streamlined. As an apparent reward for their "good behavior," ... http://blogs.tol.org/balkans/2007/12/19/no-room-for-celebration/ I pose this question because Bosnian government had such a devisive question posed before - in 1991 and 1992. Back then, the questions in the Bosnian parliament had to do with Muslims serving in JNA Army (by then openly fighting in Slovenia and Croatia); organizing the referendum on Bosnian independence; ... http://blogs.tol.org/balkans/2007/11/30/is-bosnia-going-to-recognize-kosovo-independence/ "Back to the Brink In the Balkans" is the title of Richard Holbrooke's editorial in Sunday's (25 NOV 07) Washington Post. Back to the Brink In the Balkans By Richard Holbrooke Sunday, November 25, 2007; B07 At a most inopportune time, the Balkans are back. On Dec. 10, the U.S.-E.U.-Russian negotiating team tasked ... http://blogs.tol.org/balkans/2007/11/26/back-to-the-brink-in-the-balkans/ Stopping the Run-away Train Last Friday’s (15 Nov 07) issue of the Bosnian weekly magazine “Slobodna Bosna” features a story speculating that OHR will remove Milorad Dodik as the head of the RS government within next two months. This story, based on the account of an “unnamed high-ranking foreign diplomat,” basically ... http://blogs.tol.org/balkans/2007/11/21/stopping-the-run-away-train/ European media are finally catching on the seriousness of the situation in Bosnia. Financial Times reports that Bosnians are fearing renewed war; they are stockpiling on basic food supplies, which has resulted in dramatic price increases (cooking oil, flour and sugar). Last week, New York Times editorial also warned about ... http://blogs.tol.org/balkans/2007/11/16/war-fears/ As a follow-up to the previous post (Bosnia: How did it get to here?), I am posting the statement by the PIC in regards to the political situation in Bosnia. Although the statement is encouraging, it is by no means a guarantee to quite down the turmoil caused by the ... http://blogs.tol.org/balkans/2007/10/31/declaration-by-the-steering-board-of-the-peace-implementation-council/ Bosnia: How Did It Get to This? Today, we commonly hear both domestic politicians and international diplomats in Bosnia and Herzegovina that the country has entered a period of political crisis and instability that is the worst since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement in late 1995. EUFOR Commander’s statement ... http://blogs.tol.org/balkans/2007/10/31/bosnia-how-did-it-get-to-this/ Come back soon for some Balkan goodness. http://blogs.tol.org/balkans/2007/10/19/dont-panic/