CERES News Digest Vol. 6 Week 4; Feb. 2 - 6

8/9/2019 CERES News Digest Vol. 6 Week 4; Feb. 2 - 6

1/6

2/2/15 – 2/6/15


2/6

On Thursday, the EU announced that it will likely instate a newround of economic sanctions on Russia due to the recentincrease in violence in eastern Ukraine. On the new list are fiveentities, one of which is Russian, and 19 individuals, five ofwhom are Russian. The other individuals are believed to beseparatist leaders in eastern Ukraine and Crimean officials. EUdiplomats have said that none of the figures are particularlyhigh-ranking. EU foreign ministers will make a final decisionon the sanction list on Monday.

Economic Times Reuters

The government of Turkey has taken control of Bank Asya,an Islamic lender with connections to U.S.-based Muslimcleric Fethullah Gülen. Bank Asya had been founded byfollowers of the charismatic cleric Gülen, though the bankhad become embroiled in the ongoing feud last year between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan andGülen himself. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said thatthe bank had failed to meet certain legal criteria and that thetakeover had not been political.

Reuters Financial Times

On Thursday, western leaders began a broad diplomatic effortto end the ongoing violence in east Ukraine between Russian- backed separatists and the central government. ChancellorAngela Merkel of Germany, President Francois Hollande ofFrance, and Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kiev fortalks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. On Friday,Hollande and Merkel also meet with President Putin inMoscow to discuss a new initiative to cease fighting.

New York Times BBC

A NATO training center is planned in Georgia as agreedupon in the Wales Summit of September 2014. NATOSecretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that more than adozen NATO allies are contributing to the implementation ofthe cooperation package with Georgia. Stoltenbergunderlined that the facility is “a training center, not a military base.” The training center is planned to open later this year.

RFE/RL Civil.ge

Russian and Armenian officials released news on Tuesdaythat Russian soldier Valery Permyakov, a Russian soldier based in Armenia accused of killing a local family of seven,will be tried in the Armenian town of Gyumri at RussianGarrison Military Court 102. The trial will proceedaccording to Russian law, as per a bilateral agreement between the two countries. The killings occurred on January12, 2015.

RFE/RL Armenpress

On Wednesday, head of the EU delegation to Moldova PirkkaTapiola said Moldovan authorities should focus on theimplementation of reforms regardless of the politicalsituation. He mentioned that there is a lot to be done inreforming the prosecutor’s office and to fight againstcorruption. According to Taipola, the European Union has notseen much progress made by Kishinev on delivering realresults.

Ava.md Ipn.md

DF WatchMessenger

Azerbaijan sided with Russia at a special session of theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, wheredelegates voted to deprive Russia of the right to vote. TheAzerbaijani delegates said that although they support theterritorial integrity of Ukraine, they prefer dialogue oversanctions – a line Europe has employed in reference to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Apa.az News.az

News was released this week that President Lukashenko is planning a visit to the Republic of Georgia in April, leadingto a number of theories on the purpose of the visit. Some saythat the visit is related to a revival of the Georgia-Belarusintergovernmental commission, while others feel the trip hasa political motivation, either to push Georgia closer to Russiaor to pull Belarus away from Russia. It is believed that thevisit was initiated from the Belarusian side.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/eu-to-add-19-names-to-ukraine-sanctions-list-reports/articleshow/46134199.cmshttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/eu-to-add-19-names-to-ukraine-sanctions-list-reports/articleshow/46134199.cmshttp://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-ukraine-crisis-eu-sanctions-idUSKBN0L912P20150205http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-ukraine-crisis-eu-sanctions-idUSKBN0L912P20150205http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/02/04/bankasya-regulator-idINL6N0VE0GZ20150204http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/02/04/bankasya-regulator-idINL6N0VE0GZ20150204http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bc538ce6-ac58-11e4-af0e-00144feab7de.html#axzz3Quhu2hKehttp://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/06/world/europe/kerry-biden-hollande-merkel-ukraine-conflict.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/06/world/europe/kerry-biden-hollande-merkel-ukraine-conflict.htmlhttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31143983http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31143983http://www.rferl.org/content/nato-training-center-georgia-russia-/26830976.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/nato-training-center-georgia-russia-/26830976.htmlhttp://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28026http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28026http://www.rferl.org/content/permyakov-trial-to-be-held-at-russias-military-base/26828071.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/permyakov-trial-to-be-held-at-russias-military-base/26828071.htmlhttp://armenpress.am/eng/news/792526/russian-soldier-accused-of-killing-armenian-family-to-go-on-trial-at-garrison-court-in-gyumri-interfax.htmlhttp://armenpress.am/eng/news/792526/russian-soldier-accused-of-killing-armenian-family-to-go-on-trial-at-garrison-court-in-gyumri-interfax.htmlhttp://ava.md/politics/028817-pirkka-tapiola-davaite-skoncentriruemsya-na-provedenii-reform.htmlhttp://ava.md/politics/028817-pirkka-tapiola-davaite-skoncentriruemsya-na-provedenii-reform.htmlhttp://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/67372http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/67372http://dfwatch.net/belarus-and-georgia-resume-cooperation-lukashenko-plans-visit-41711http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/3302_february_5_2015/3302_edit.htmlhttp://en.apa.az/xeber_ogtay_asadov_clarifies_why_azerbaijan_vo_222506.htmlhttp://en.apa.az/xeber_ogtay_asadov_clarifies_why_azerbaijan_vo_222506.htmlhttp://news.az/articles/politics/95381http://news.az/articles/politics/95381http://news.az/articles/politics/95381http://en.apa.az/xeber_ogtay_asadov_clarifies_why_azerbaijan_vo_222506.htmlhttp://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/3302_february_5_2015/3302_edit.htmlhttp://dfwatch.net/belarus-and-georgia-resume-cooperation-lukashenko-plans-visit-41711http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/67372http://ava.md/politics/028817-pirkka-tapiola-davaite-skoncentriruemsya-na-provedenii-reform.htmlhttp://armenpress.am/eng/news/792526/russian-soldier-accused-of-killing-armenian-family-to-go-on-trial-at-garrison-court-in-gyumri-interfax.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/permyakov-trial-to-be-held-at-russias-military-base/26828071.htmlhttp://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28026http://www.rferl.org/content/nato-training-center-georgia-russia-/26830976.htmlhttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31143983http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/06/world/europe/kerry-biden-hollande-merkel-ukraine-conflict.htmlhttp://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bc538ce6-ac58-11e4-af0e-00144feab7de.html#axzz3Quhu2hKehttp://in.reuters.com/article/2015/02/04/bankasya-regulator-idINL6N0VE0GZ20150204http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-ukraine-crisis-eu-sanctions-idUSKBN0L912P20150205http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/eu-to-add-19-names-to-ukraine-sanctions-list-reports/articleshow/46134199.cms


3/6

On Tuesday, Iran’s parliament voted to speed up discussionsof a draft bill asking the Iranian government to resume all itsnuclear activities if the U.S. imposes new sanctions. This billcomes after the U.S. Senate Banking Committee approved adraft bill last week to impose fresh sanctions on Iran if anuclear deal is not reached by the end of June. U.S. PresidentBarack Obama has warned that he would veto any billimposing new sanctions on Iran, arguing that fresh sanctionscould damage the ongoing negotiations with Iran.

RFE/RL RT

Firdavs Sohibnazarov, an opposition politician in Tajikistan,was arrested Tuesday on embezzlement and money launderingcharges. Authorities said the arrest was connected with thedisappearance of $43,000 from a bank where Sohibnazarovused to work. Sohibnazarov was nominated by the SocialDemocratic Party (HSDT) to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections but was informed on January 31 that hewas under investigation and barred from running in theelection. Sohibnazarov claims that the charges were fabricatedto prevent him from running in the election.

Asia-Plus RFE/RL

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made a rare visit toTurkmenistan on Tuesday, February 3. Lavrov met with hisTurkmen counterpart, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, fordiscussions of developments in Central Asia andAfghanistan as well as economic cooperation. The twoforeign ministers also discussed the development ofrelationships in the humanitarian and cultural spheres.

Lavrov’s last visit to Ashgabat was in April 2013.

RFE/RL News.Az

The mummified remains of a 200-year-old monk found lastweek are strongly believed to be those of famed MongolBuddhist monk Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov. The mummy wasfound sitting in lotus position, likely in a rare state ofmeditation known as “tukdam.” Scientists are baffled as tohow the remains were so well-preserved, but many believethe extremely cold weather contributed to the preservation process. The remains were intercepted after being stolen andare now at the National Center of Forensic Expertise.

BBC Washington Post

The World Bank has declined to investigate whether loansto Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector perpetuates child andforced labor in the cotton industry. The international lendersays the decision was made because of “considerable progress” made by Tashkent in “addressing the systemicissues necessary for the eradication of child and forcedlabor” in the cotton sector. Umida Niyazova, director of theUzbek-German Forum for Human Rights, protested thedecision, calling it “shocking.”

On February 2nd, the government of Kyrgyzstan announcedthat 22 Kyrgyzstani citizens have died fighting in Syria.Rafik Mambetaliev, head of the investigative department inKyrgyzstan’s Interior Ministry, made the announcement onFebruary 2nd, adding that over 200 Kyrgyz citizens havegone to Syria to fight. Mambetaliev also said that InteriorMinistry officials uncovered 83 cases of people attempting torecruit Kyrgyz citizens to fight in various rebel groups in

Syria.

RFE/RL Central Asia Online

RFE/RL Human Rights Watch

Late last week, the U.S. military command in Afghanistanclassified data on the status of the Afghan army and police,claiming that the information could be used by insurgents. A U.Sgovernment watchdog agency challenged this decision, arguingthat classifying the information deprives the American people ofan important tool for measuring the success of U.S. efforts inAfghanistan. The U.S. has spent over $100 billion on aid,including around $65 billion on the Afghan National SecurityForces. On Monday, the U.S. military command reversed itsdecision, making basic data available to the public.

Reuters New York Times

Gulzhan Erghalieva, editor of former magazine Adam Bol(Be a Human), ended her 18-day hunger strike on Thursdaydue to poor health. Erghalieva was protesting the closure ofthe magazine by the government last December, after aninterview ran with opposition activist Aidos Sadyqov.Ramazan Esergepov, director of the NGO Journalists inTrouble, also joined Erghalieva in the hunger strike forseveral days until he was hospitalized for heart trouble.

Silk Road Reporters RFE/RL

http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-nuclear-united-states-draft-law-sanctions/26828441.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/iran-nuclear-united-states-draft-law-sanctions/26828441.htmlhttp://rt.com/news/229447-iran-nuclear-us-sanctions/http://rt.com/news/229447-iran-nuclear-us-sanctions/http://www.rferl.org/content/tajik-opposition-politician-detained-ahead-of-election/26829497.htmlhttp://asiaplus.tj/en/news/sdp-member-running-parliament-faces-embezzlement-and-money-laundering-chargeshttp://asiaplus.tj/en/news/sdp-member-running-parliament-faces-embezzlement-and-money-laundering-chargeshttp://www.rferl.org/content/tajik-opposition-politician-detained-ahead-of-election/26829497.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/tajik-opposition-politician-detained-ahead-of-election/26829497.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/russia-lavrov-in-turkmenistan/26827573.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/russia-lavrov-in-turkmenistan/26827573.htmlhttp://www.news.az/articles/region/95453http://www.news.az/articles/region/95453http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31125338http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31125338http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/04/the-curious-tale-of-the-200-year-old-mummified-monk-reportedly-frozen-in-a-lotus-position/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/04/the-curious-tale-of-the-200-year-old-mummified-monk-reportedly-frozen-in-a-lotus-position/http://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgyzstan-22-killed-syria/26825435.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgyzstan-22-killed-syria/26825435.htmlhttp://centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2015/02/02/newsbrief-11http://centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2015/02/02/newsbrief-11http://www.rferl.org/content/uzbekistan-labor-abuse-cotton-world-bank/26826645.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/uzbekistan-labor-abuse-cotton-world-bank/26826645.htmlhttp://www.hrw.org/news/2015/02/02/world-bank-no-probe-link-abuses-uzbekistanhttp://www.hrw.org/news/2015/02/02/world-bank-no-probe-link-abuses-uzbekistanhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/02/us-usa-afghanistan-military-idUSKBN0L61YI20150202http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/02/us-usa-afghanistan-military-idUSKBN0L61YI20150202http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/world/asia/in-reversal-us-declassifies-data-on-afghan-army-and-police.html?_r=0http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/world/asia/in-reversal-us-declassifies-data-on-afghan-army-and-police.html?_r=0http://www.silkroadreporters.com/2015/01/26/ngo-head-joins-kazakh-editors-hunger-strike/http://www.silkroadreporters.com/2015/01/26/ngo-head-joins-kazakh-editors-hunger-strike/http://www.rferl.org/content/gulzhan-erghalieva-ends-her-hunger-strike-in-almaty/26831531.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/gulzhan-erghalieva-ends-her-hunger-strike-in-almaty/26831531.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/gulzhan-erghalieva-ends-her-hunger-strike-in-almaty/26831531.htmlhttp://www.silkroadreporters.com/2015/01/26/ngo-head-joins-kazakh-editors-hunger-strike/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/world/asia/in-reversal-us-declassifies-data-on-afghan-army-and-police.html?_r=0http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/02/us-usa-afghanistan-military-idUSKBN0L61YI20150202http://www.hrw.org/news/2015/02/02/world-bank-no-probe-link-abuses-uzbekistanhttp://www.rferl.org/content/uzbekistan-labor-abuse-cotton-world-bank/26826645.htmlhttp://centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2015/02/02/newsbrief-11http://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgyzstan-22-killed-syria/26825435.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/04/the-curious-tale-of-the-200-year-old-mummified-monk-reportedly-frozen-in-a-lotus-position/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31125338http://www.news.az/articles/region/95453http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-lavrov-in-turkmenistan/26827573.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/tajik-opposition-politician-detained-ahead-of-election/26829497.htmlhttp://asiaplus.tj/en/news/sdp-member-running-parliament-faces-embezzlement-and-money-laundering-chargeshttp://rt.com/news/229447-iran-nuclear-us-sanctions/http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-nuclear-united-states-draft-law-sanctions/26828441.html


4/6

of-cease-fire-deal?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=world

Poland’s parliamentary speaker Radoslaw Sikorski announcedon Wednesday that Poland will hold presidential elections onMay 10 of this year. Sikorski dismissed concerns that the May10 date is too close to the planned World War II remembranceceremonies on May 8 that have aggravated a historic dispute between Poland and Russia. The current president, BronislawKomorowski, is leading in opinion polls. Komorowski is beingchallenged by Anna Grodzka, Poland’s first transgender

presidential candidate.

Bloomberg RTTNews

On Monday, Amnesty International stated that Slovakia’referendum on marriage and a ban on adoption by same-sexcouples would be a breach of international human rightsstandards. Slovakia is holding a referendum on the ban onFebruary 7 due to a popular petition, signed by 400,000 citizensor around 10% of country’s population. The group behind thereferendum is Alliance for the Family. To be legally bindingthe turnout in the ballot must be more than 50 percent.

Amnesty Reuters

On Wednesday, Romania’s Central Bank lowered interestrates to a new low, from 2.5% to 2.25%, marking the fifthconsecutive cut since August. Romanian bankers statedthere could be further cuts in the future, as the countrystruggles to manage slowing inflation rates. Headlineinflation was down to 0.83% in December from 1.26% in November. The Central Bank strives to keep inflation between 1.5-3.5%.

Wall Street Journal MarketWatch Spaceref.com Baltic Course

Britain will provide four Typhoon fighter jets for air policingand 1000 British troops to join the rapid-reaction force in theBaltics to reassure the three countries of NATO’scommitment to collective defense. The creation of a VeryHigh Readiness Joint Task Force (VJFT) was agreed upon inWales and aims at bolstering the security at the easternfrontiers of the Alliance.

Independent.co.uk BBC

News Tribune Reuters

Army Technology

Al Jazeera Deutsche Welle

UPI

On Thursday, the Czech central bank’s governor said that the bank is willing to intervene in foreign exchange markets toweaken the koruna against the euro if eurozone deflationary pressures keep building. The Czech central bank alsoextended the duration of keeping the koruna weak from the previous date of early 2016 until at least the second half ofnext year. Governor Miroslav Singer said that the weakeningeuro and falling oil prices are creating “unusually high levelsof uncertainty.”

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense announced a boost in itsarsenal with shipments of the FN SCAR-HPR precisionassault rifles, delivered by Belgian manufacturer FN Herstal.Minister of National Defense Juozas Olekas explained, “Ourfocus in the modernization of the Lithuanian Armed Forces isthe soldier,” and that “precision rifles are a step along thisroad.” The order is part of a $3.15 million contract to better

equip Lithuanian ground forces.

On Wednesday, Estonia became the 21st member of theEuropean Space Agency. The ceremony took place in ESAHeadquarters in Paris. Estonia has contributed to ESA projectsand has been successful in astrophysics research. Estonia will become full member after the parliament ratifies the treaty.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with HungarianPrime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest on Monday todiscuss European economic sanctions on Russia andHungarian domestic policies. During the meeting, Merkelstressed the importance of a united European front againstRussian aggression in Ukraine, and also emphasized the “roleof the opposition, civil society and the media" in ademocracy. The visit is Merkel’s first since Orban’s electionin 2010.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-04/romania-cuts-main-rate-to-record-as-ecb-makes-room-for-easinghttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-04/romania-cuts-main-rate-to-record-as-ecb-makes-room-for-easinghttp://www.rttnews.com/2451388/romania-central-bank-cuts-rates-for-fifth-month-to-new-low.aspxhttp://www.rttnews.com/2451388/romania-central-bank-cuts-rates-for-fifth-month-to-new-low.aspxhttp://www.amnesty.org/en/news/slovakia-referendum-marriage-panders-homophobic-discrimination-2015-02-02http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/slovakia-referendum-marriage-panders-homophobic-discrimination-2015-02-02http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/slovakia-referendum-idUSL6N0UR36C20150205http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/slovakia-referendum-idUSL6N0UR36C20150205http://www.wsj.com/articles/czech-central-bank-says-willing-to-resume-intervention-on-forex-markets-1423149036http://www.wsj.com/articles/czech-central-bank-says-willing-to-resume-intervention-on-forex-markets-1423149036http://www.marketwatch.com/story/czech-central-bank-ready-to-intervene-on-koruna-2015-02-05http://www.marketwatch.com/story/czech-central-bank-ready-to-intervene-on-koruna-2015-02-05http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=44987http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=44987http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/Technology/?doc=102007http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/Technology/?doc=102007http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/britain-to-contribute-1000-troops-to-force-in-the-baltic-to-reassure-russias-fearful-neighbours-10026258.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/britain-to-contribute-1000-troops-to-force-in-the-baltic-to-reassure-russias-fearful-neighbours-10026258.htmlhttp://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31147236http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31147236http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/02/04/3622399_poland-to-hold-presidential-elections.html?rh=1http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/02/04/3622399_poland-to-hold-presidential-elections.html?rh=1http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/04/us-poland-vote-presidential-idUSKBN0L815N20150204http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/04/us-poland-vote-presidential-idUSKBN0L815N20150204http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsfn-herstal-delivers-scar-h-precision-rifles-to-lithuanian-army-4504835http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsfn-herstal-delivers-scar-h-precision-rifles-to-lithuanian-army-4504835http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/2/merkel-seeks-to-wrest-hungary-from-russian-orbit.htmlhttp://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/2/merkel-seeks-to-wrest-hungary-from-russian-orbit.htmlhttp://www.dw.de/merkel-stresses-need-for-open-society-at-meeting-with-hungarys-orban/a-18230051http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2015/02/05/Lithuanian-Army-receives-new-rifles/8161423118169/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/hungary-mulls-shielding-religious-symbols-to-prevent-terrorism.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/hungary-mulls-shielding-religious-symbols-to-prevent-terrorism.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/hungary-mulls-shielding-religious-symbols-to-prevent-terrorism.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/hungary-mulls-shielding-religious-symbols-to-prevent-terrorism.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/hungary-mulls-shielding-religious-symbols-to-prevent-terrorism.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/hungary-mulls-shielding-religious-symbols-to-prevent-terrorism.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/hungary-mulls-shielding-religious-symbols-to-prevent-terrorism.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/hungary-mulls-shielding-religious-symbols-to-prevent-terrorism.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/hungary-mulls-shielding-religious-symbols-to-prevent-terrorism.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/hungary-mulls-shielding-religious-symbols-to-prevent-terrorism.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/hungary-mulls-shielding-religious-symbols-to-prevent-terrorism.htmlhttp://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2015/02/05/Lithuanian-Army-receives-new-rifles/8161423118169/http://www.dw.de/merkel-stresses-need-for-open-society-at-meeting-with-hungarys-orban/a-18230051http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/2/merkel-seeks-to-wrest-hungary-from-russian-orbit.htmlhttp://www.army-technology.com/news/newsfn-herstal-delivers-scar-h-precision-rifles-to-lithuanian-army-4504835http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/04/us-poland-vote-presidential-idUSKBN0L815N20150204http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/02/04/3622399_poland-to-hold-presidential-elections.html?rh=1http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31147236http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/britain-to-contribute-1000-troops-to-force-in-the-baltic-to-reassure-russias-fearful-neighbours-10026258.htmlhttp://www.baltic-course.com/eng/Technology/?doc=102007http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=44987http://www.marketwatch.com/story/czech-central-bank-ready-to-intervene-on-koruna-2015-02-05http://www.wsj.com/articles/czech-central-bank-says-willing-to-resume-intervention-on-forex-markets-1423149036http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/slovakia-referendum-idUSL6N0UR36C20150205http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/slovakia-referendum-marriage-panders-homophobic-discrimination-2015-02-02http://www.rttnews.com/2451388/romania-central-bank-cuts-rates-for-fifth-month-to-new-low.aspxhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-04/romania-cuts-main-rate-to-record-as-ecb-makes-room-for-easing


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On Thursday, Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon appointed theformer Bulgarian official Nickolay Mladenov to be the specialcoordinator for the Middle East peace process. Mladenov,currently the UN special representative to Iraq, served asBulgaria’s foreign minister for three years, and as its defenseminister for two years. Mladenov will replace veteran Dutchdiplomat Robert Serry, who has held the post for more thaneight years. Mladenov begins the job as U.S.-mediated talks

collapsed amid increased tension.

Sofia Globe Reuters

Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa announced on Tuesday thatAleksandar Jablanovic, Minister for Communities, had beendismissed from the cabinet. In January, Jablanovic had referredto a group of Kosovo Albanians protesting against ethnic Serb pilgrims marking Orthodox Christmas as “savages.” His remarkwas one of the triggers for a series of protests last week that ledto violent clashes between police and protesters. Jablanovic saidin an interview that the decision was “unacceptable” and thathis Serb List party would be re-evaluating its position inMustafa’s ruling coalition over the next few days.

Novinite Reuters

On a trip to the United States this week, Serbian ForeignMinister Ivica Dacic said that he held productive meetingswith members of U.S. Congress and the State Department, inwhich U.S. officials stressed their support of Serbia’s path forreforms and their tenure as OSCE chair. Dacic met with U.S.Assistant Secretary of State for European and EurasianAffairs Victoria Nuland, who he said supports Serbia’sefforts at European integration. Dacic also attended thePresident’s National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday.

InSerbia B92

The International Court of Justice has rejected claims ofgenocide by Croatia and Serbia against each other during theCroatian war of secession from Yugoslavia. Peter Tomka, the president of the Court, said that both countries havecommitted crimes but that the intent to commit genocide -- by "destroying a population in whole or in part" -- had not been proven against either country.

Reuters BBC

Torrential rains have caused flash flooding in Albania,forcing the evacuation of hundreds of families. The countryhas not declared a state of emergency but troops weredeployed on Monday to help rescue villagers and work tostrengthen flood barriers. The floods are the worst Albaniahas seen for over thirty years. Albanian Prime Minister EdiRama noted that flood damage was exacerbated bydeforestation and soil erosion.

Torrential rains and heavy snowstorms have affected peoplethroughout the Balkans this week, including in Slovenia.Heavy snowfalls led Slovenian authorities to close several border crossings to trucks in an effort to prevent road pileups.Authorities also closed the Slovenian port Koper on the

Adriatic due to gale-force winds.

Yahoo! News ABC News

The Guardian Al Jazeera Montenegro Government BalkanInsight

Reuters Deutsche Welle

Macedonia’s leading opposition politician has been chargedwith conspiring with a foreign spy agency to overthrow thegovernment. Zoran Zaev, leader of the Social Democrats, isaccused of conspiring with three other individuals to blackmail Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski into dissolving hiscabinet and calling a snap election. Zaev has denied thecharges and claims that the government is attempting to prevent the publication of evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Gruevski's government that could potentially damageethnic relations in the countr .

Austrian authorities have confirmed that the allegedMontenegrin drug boss Safet Kalic has been extradited to facecharges in Germany. Montenegro sought Kalic’s extradition, but Austrian authorities clarified that according the EUregulations they had to comply with Germany’s request. TheMontenegrin government now plans to submit a request toGermany for his extradition.

http://sofiaglobe.com/2015/02/05/bulgarias-mladenov-appointed-as-new-un-envoy-for-middle-east/http://sofiaglobe.com/2015/02/05/bulgarias-mladenov-appointed-as-new-un-envoy-for-middle-east/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-israel-palestinians-un-idUSKBN0L92LM20150205http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-israel-palestinians-un-idUSKBN0L92LM20150205http://www.novinite.com/articles/166338/Kosovo+PM+Dismisses+Controversial+Ethnic+Serb+Ministerhttp://www.novinite.com/articles/166338/Kosovo+PM+Dismisses+Controversial+Ethnic+Serb+Ministerhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/03/us-kosovo-minister-idUSKBN0L726C20150203http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/03/us-kosovo-minister-idUSKBN0L726C20150203http://inserbia.info/today/2015/02/dacic-us-support-serbian-government/http://inserbia.info/today/2015/02/dacic-us-support-serbian-government/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2015&mm=02&dd=05&nav_id=93089http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/03/us-serbia-croatia-ruling-idUSKBN0L70YB20150203http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/03/us-serbia-croatia-ruling-idUSKBN0L70YB20150203http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31104973http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31104973http://news.yahoo.com/slovenia-raises-alert-cope-snowstorm-strong-winds-112433043.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/slovenia-raises-alert-cope-snowstorm-strong-winds-112433043.htmlhttp://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/heavy-snow-winds-close-roads-croatia-slovenia-28769551http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/heavy-snow-winds-close-roads-croatia-slovenia-28769551http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/05/albania-declares-state-of-emergency-over-historic-floodshttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/05/albania-declares-state-of-emergency-over-historic-floodshttp://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/02/flash-floods-hit-greece-albania-150202090736149.htmlhttp://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/02/flash-floods-hit-greece-albania-150202090736149.htmlhttp://www.gov.me/en/News/145848/International-legal-aid-in-criminal-matters-in-case-against-Safet-Kalic.htmlhttp://www.gov.me/en/News/145848/International-legal-aid-in-criminal-matters-in-case-against-Safet-Kalic.htmlhttp://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/montenegro-s-fugitive-drug-baron-extradited-to-germanyhttp://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/montenegro-s-fugitive-drug-baron-extradited-to-germanyhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/31/us-macedonia-opposition-idUSKBN0L40A720150131http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/31/us-macedonia-opposition-idUSKBN0L40A720150131http://www.dw.de/macedonian-opposition-leader-accused-of-plot-to-topple-government/a-18227943http://www.dw.de/macedonian-opposition-leader-accused-of-plot-to-topple-government/a-18227943http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/31/us-macedonia-opposition-idUSKBN0L40A720150131http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/montenegro-s-fugitive-drug-baron-extradited-to-germanyhttp://www.gov.me/en/News/145848/International-legal-aid-in-criminal-matters-in-case-against-Safet-Kalic.htmlhttp://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/02/flash-floods-hit-greece-albania-150202090736149.htmlhttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/05/albania-declares-state-of-emergency-over-historic-floodshttp://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/heavy-snow-winds-close-roads-croatia-slovenia-28769551http://news.yahoo.com/slovenia-raises-alert-cope-snowstorm-strong-winds-112433043.htmlhttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31104973http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/03/us-serbia-croatia-ruling-idUSKBN0L70YB20150203http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2015&mm=02&dd=05&nav_id=93089http://inserbia.info/today/2015/02/dacic-us-support-serbian-government/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/03/us-kosovo-minister-idUSKBN0L726C20150203http://www.novinite.com/articles/166338/Kosovo+PM+Dismisses+Controversial+Ethnic+Serb+Ministerhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-israel-palestinians-un-idUSKBN0L92LM20150205http://sofiaglobe.com/2015/02/05/bulgarias-mladenov-appointed-as-new-un-envoy-for-middle-east/


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On Thursday, Bosnian Serb lawmakers voted to criminalizesocial media posts deemed to be offensive or disruptive, withfines of up to 800 marka ($474) for the insulting content. Thelaw comes on the heels of a wave of unrest in Bosnia lastyear due to protests organized through Facebook. The region,Republika Srpska, faces a barrage of criticism fromembassies and human rights watchdogs, including the OSCE.Critics note that electronic and print media in the region arealready under tight control of the ruling SNSD party.

Reuters The News Tribune
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-bosnia-socialmedia-lawmaking-idUSKBN0L928D20150205http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-bosnia-socialmedia-lawmaking-idUSKBN0L928D20150205http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/02/05/3624611/bosnian-serbs-pass-law-limiting.htmlhttp://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/02/05/3624611/bosnian-serbs-pass-law-limiting.htmlhttp://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/02/05/3624611/bosnian-serbs-pass-law-limiting.htmlhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-bosnia-socialmedia-lawmaking-idUSKBN0L928D20150205

Documents

CERES News Digest Vol. 6 Week 4; Feb. 2 - 6