cafebabel.com

Gaddafi, Tito, UN: Libyan crisis impact on Balkans

('Elaine Jordan',) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:15:00 -0000

Over the past few days many comparisons have been made between the Libyan war and the Balkan crisis of the nineties as western powers come up with the same humanitarian arguments they used then to justify their intervention in Libya now. But what is the connection? A closer look at the double standards and political games played during bombing campaigns

Port du Rhin: Strasbourg’s problem suburb (which is also on the border)

('Molmash',) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:30:00 -0000

The suburb of Strasbourg which is part of the Franco-German border is famous for having staged anti-Nato protests in 2009. It's all the more reason for its politicians and town planners to realise the urban planning policy set in place to improve living conditions for its population. Mission accomplished?

Albania-Kosovo mafia, ‘cablegate’ and other cases of blindness

('Laura Simpson',) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:30:00 -0000

After two years of investigation, the council of Europe has accused the Kosovan prime minister of leading an international network trafficking organs, weapons and heroin with the silent acquiescence of European countries. Will these Wiki-Like revelations destroy public confidence in politics? Here's a little theory on scepticism

Get your summit hats on: Lisbon gets translantic

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:30:00 -0000

The Nato summit in Lisbon between 19 and 20 November marks ‘one of the most important summits in history', according to the BBC. cafebabel.com Brussels snagged an interview with US ambassador to the EU William E. Kennard

Eastern European desire for rearmament

('Darren Thompson',) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:55:29 -0000

Both central and eastern European governments vocally supported US plans to install military defence systems in the region, even if it meant they were to all intents and purposes digging their own graves. Out of authentic and hypothesised shadows of the past and uncertainties on the future, militarisation secrets and desires are emerging

Vjollca Dibra on being a young poetess in pre-war Kosovo

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:38:08 -0000

The thirtysomething works at OSCE logistics in Pristina when I meet her in late 2007, four months before Kosovo declares independence from Serbia. Who you might brand your average blonde, bespectacled working mother-of-two is also one of Kosovo's youngest recognised female poets

Albania: polit-tourism between coves and concrete beach bunkers

('Andrew Christie',) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0000

At the confluence of the Adriatic and Ionean Seas lies Albania, Europe’s last undiscovered paradise is now looking to tourism to stimulate its economy and is hoping for a better image in the west after having joined Nato and put in an EU bid. 20 years after the fall of the dictatorship, Albania is developing into a hidden gem for independent travellers

Sali Berisha: 'We are going to win the elections because Albanians are smart people'

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:59:09 -0000

The Albanian prime minister, 64, announced his country's official EU membership bid to the Czech presidency of the council on 28 April 2009. In Warsaw, the lively PM talk elections, internet and the EU at the two-day congress of the European people's party (EPP). Albania is one of its six non-EU members*

Martin Schain as Barack Obama sets foot on European soil

('Adriano Farano',) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:30:37 -0000

Why do Americans need Europe in Afghanistan? Why is the new president-elect is like Roosevelt. Interview with Martin Schain, politics professor at New York University

Baby soldiers and peacekeeping in Kosovo: why choose the army?

('Alexandra Baxter',) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:31:53 -0000

Tomi, a lively and remarkably blond 24-year-old Finn, speaks candidly about the six months he spent in Kosovo as a volunteer in the NATO-UN peacekeeping campaign. Along with 105 other young compatriots, among them four girls, he was deployed to the Balkans to serve for the UN

Minute by minute: we stalk Hillary Clinton in Brussels

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:00:00 -0000

What relationship will Barack Obama's new America have with Europe? At a debate at the European parliament in Brussels on 5 March, the new secretary of state will chat to 150 young Europeans - including us. Follow it live from 10 to 11am on cafebabel.com - hit the refresh button as you go!

Press review: EU-Russia summit in Nice, friends again?

('euro topics',) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:55:23 -0000

In a 14 November meeting in the southern French city, the EU wants to resume negotiations for a partnership agreement with Russia. Talks had been temporarily broken off after the August conflict in Georgia

Vesna Goldsworthy: 'Radovan Karadzic is related to me'

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0000

The Belgrade-born journalist and author of ‘Chernobyl’s Strawberries’, 47, on fighting cancer, the traumas of war, her eccentric grandmother and her war criminal cousin

Fiesta: French graduates on the road in Belgrade

('Sarah Gray',) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:15:00 -0000

After finishing their studies and work placements, three French friends head to Serbia to meet their Balkan counterparts. What is it like to embark on your adult life at the other end of Europe? Partying - the first in a series of three of our Serbian travel diary

Manu Chao, Sex Pistols at Serbia's EXIT (Miloševic) festival

('Francesca Reinhardt',) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0000

As various legends take to the stage from 10-13 July, a local fan on how the ancient city of Novi Sad plays host to the most remarkable musical event in Europe

Radar station for US anti-missile defence on Czech soil?

('Susannah Readett-Bayley',) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0000

But it hadn’t banked on such a large opposition from two thirds of the population and such an angry reaction from its future neighbours. A return to the cold war?

Romania: welcoming NATO

('Luciana Grosu',) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

One international summit, 26 countries, thousands of different voices - one of the youngest EU members welcomed NATO officials and the international media to Bucharest from 2-4 April 2008

More EU troops in Afghanistan

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

At the NATO summit from 2-4 April, France pledged 1000 troops, alongside promises from Italy and Poland. From Britain, 450 soldiers will join the 7, 700 UK troops in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand Province

Macedonia in images: names, Tito and David Morales

('Nikos Chrisikakis',) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

After a Greek veto on its joining NATO during the annual summit in Bucharest on 2 - 4 April, the country could still be on track to start EU membership talks by the end of 2008 if it meets the relevant criteria. View from the lens

Mujahideen Khan: 'we do not know who the Taliban is right now'

('Kadri Kukk',) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Afghanistan remains a huge challenge for NATO. Whilst officials met in the Bucharest's Parliament Palace from 2-4 April, a group of Estonian journalists cast an eye back with a mujahideen in the Afghan mountains

Albania: 'Nato yes, PM Berisha no!'

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0000

Whilst Tirana celebrated an invitation to join the Nato alliance alongside Croatia on 2 April, the opposition mobilised itself to denounce the government

NATO summit in Bucharest: Albania and Croatia to join

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

On 2 April NATO invited the two candidates to join the defence alliance, but leave Macedonia waiting

Young Europeans on love, brothels and Beach Boys in Kosovo

('Pim de Kuijer',) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Despite the lack of vegetables and electricity, or precisely because of it, young Swedes, Dutch and French Europeans enjoy working in this remote, recently independent, spot of Europe

The future is death metal-inspired art in Kosovo

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Contemporary art is just one bright face of the Kosovo prism, from which the works of the likes of 29-year-old visual artist Artan Balaj refract

Republican return to the White House in 2009?

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

After seven years of waiting for an end to the Bush presidency, Europeans should not wait indefinitely in hope of redefining US interests

California Dreamin’: more cinema from Romania

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0000

Joining the current wave of Romanian films in European cinema, Cristian Nemescu, who lost his life in a tragic road accident in 2006 aged 26, offers us a vision of a country which he wanted to and will change

Branco Stoysin: 'You can learn anything on your own'

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The self-taught guitarist is coy about his age and anti-internet-overload. The Yugoslav 'ghost' has lived his dream in London since the early nineties, his folk and jazz music celebrating the sun and the Balkans

Kosovo elections: waiting for a prime minister

('Flora Loshi',) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0000

'With our victory today begins the new century.' Pro-independence opposition leader Hashim Thaçi won 17 November elections, but you won't find details in Kosovar newspapers yet - the people await a final result on 3 December

The ABC of EU peacekeeping abroad

('Hanna Sankowska',) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Europe is the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. But does strengthening the EU’s own channels threaten its commitment to international peacekeeping?

Missiles in East Europe – for or against the EU?

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Plans to build US missile sites force Europeans to reconsider their position

Italy: 'country of madmen'

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0000

Afghanistan - delicate name for European governments. Italy is bridging the gulf between its international obligations and the Senate

Erri de Luca, Neapolitan, generation '68

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Winner of the 2002 Prix Fémina for Foreign Writers for his splendid Montedidio – written in 'very Neapolitan Italian' – Erri de Luca reflects on Europe, the Mediterranean and the passing of generations

Estonia goes west

('Francesca Reinhardt',) — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 12:00:00 -0000

On November 27 - 28, George W. Bush made a flying visit to Estonia – a further step in the tightening of US-Baltic relations

Could Kosovo join the EU?

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:00:00 -0000

While the Balkan province is mourning the death of president Ibrahim Rugova, the issue of its independence from Belgrade is still on the UN negotiating table

Milosevic at The Hague

('Francesca Reinhardt',) — Mon, 17 Nov 2003 04:59:00 -0000

A victory for human rights or for western hypocrisy?