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Citizens sick of elections
In spite of fierce campaign ahead of yesterday’s elections, the voter’s turnout was less than expected and until 18.00 it was 52.7 pct at the republican level what is even by 8 pct less than in recent presidential elections. The smaller voter’s turnout in Vojvodina (42.1 pct) is explained by a very complicated voting procedure that made many citizens simply give up and leave after waiting for an hour or two to vote.
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EU supports Georgia’s territorial integrity»The EU voiced support for Georgia on Monday amid tensions between Tbilisi and Moscow over Russian-backed breakaway regions, AFP says. Separately, U.S. President George W. Bush expressed “concern at tensions over the separatist Georgian region of Abkhazia” in a phone conversation with Russia’s new President Dmitry Medvedev, the White House said.
Quake toll in Sichuan rises to 8,533»The most devastating earthquake to hit China in more than three decades killed 8,533 people in the southwestern province of Sichuan alone on Monday. Reuters quoted the official Xinhua news agency said, which citing the local government.
Putin appoints new government»Russian PM Vladimir Putin announced his new government Monday, keeping the main ministers in their posts and bringing in several former Kremlin aides. Putin proposed the new lineup at a meeting with his hand-picked successor Dmitry Medvedev, who approved the appointments. The finance, defense, interior, and foreign ministers, along with several other prominent Cabinet figures, remain unchanged.
Clashes resume in north Lebanon»Heavy fighting has broken out again in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli between opposition gunmen and government supporters, officials say. Overnight, at least 13 people were killed as Hezbollah attacked forces of the pro-government Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, in the mountains near Beirut.
DS coalition claims 45 pct of Belgrade votes»The Democratic Party (DS) says that its “For a European Belgrade” list has so far won 45 percent of the vote in the local elections. The Serb Radical Party (SRS) won 30 percent of the vote, while the DSS-NS coalition claimed 12.8 percent.
CeSID: DS coalition has solid lead»The first results show that the coalition gathered around the Democrats (DS) has won 39 percent, or 103 seats in the new parliament. The Serb Radical Party (SRS) follows with 28.6 percent and 76 seats, while the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) has won 11.6 percent, or 30 seats.
Kosovo vote without major incidents»Polling stations have closed in northern Kosovo and other Serb-inhabited areas of the province. Only minor incidents have been reported so far.
Parliamentary elections: What happens next?»The post-election deadlines defining the timeframe for setting up the new parliament and forming the new government are defined by law. The new parliament will have to convene 30 days after the Electoral Commission (RIK) releases its final results of the vote today.
Burma’s survivors “facing crisis”»Burmese cyclone survivors face a massive crisis unless they are urgently delivered aid, leading aid agencies have warned. A likely death toll of 100,000 could rise to 1.5m without provision of clean water and sanitation, Oxfam said.
U.S. official in Abkhazia “to help talks with Georgia”»A senior U.S. diplomat is in Abkhazia to discuss the current situation between the self-proclaimed republic and Georgia, RIA Novosti says. Matthew Bryza, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, arrived on Saturday in Abkhazia as tensions in the region arouse since Russia’s former president Vladimir Putin called for closer ties between Moscow and two Georgia’s breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in mid-April.
Blic News
Karadzic’s relative taken to police»Niksic – Twenty members of Montenegro special police forces raided yesterday evening the family house of Radovan Karadzic in Niksic. They took Karadzic’s relative (31) to a police station in Podgorica for questioning as well as the young men that happened to be in the house.
Miskovic and Beko left without exclusive land»The Second municipal court decided in favor the City of Belgrade on registration of 100 hectares of land earlier used by the Belgrade Port. If a court confirms this decision in a second degree, the new owners of the Belgrade Port, Miroslav Miskovic and Milan Beko shall not be allowed to build business-residential complex on that land.
Canada and Serbia together in natural food production»At recent organic food fair in Germany, one of the world biggest of that kind, Canada and Serbia have made the first contacts towards partnership relations in that field. Both countries showed interest and readiness to cooperation so visit by Canadian economic delegation to Serbia can be expected in the near future.
‘Comtrade’ took over ‘Hermes’»’Hermes SoftLab’ shareholders accepted offer for that company’s acquisition sold by ‘Comtrade Group’ on March 18, 2008. The newly established company shall be the biggest IT group in the Southeast Europe capable of offering the widest specter of IT solutions and services as well as distribution of IT products at local and regional level.
Deripaska instead of ‘A-TEK’»The Supervisory board for restructuring and privatization of Bor-based Copper Mining and Smelting Complex ‘RTB’ decided unanimously at yesterday’s session about cancellation of the contract on the purchase of ‘RTB’ by the Austrian ‘A-TEK’.
Legal stop to Miskovic’s and Beko’s plans»Dragan Djilas, the Minister without portfolio and the DS candidate for the Belgrade City Mayor is requesting that the character of the ‘Belgrade Port’ land purchased by Miroslav Miskovic and Milan Beko is determined. This is an exclusive land covering 100 hectares.
Deripaska entering game for ‘RTB’»Serbia Government yesterday decided unanimously that the purchase-sale agreement for ‘RTB’ is cancelled with the Austrian ‘A-TEK’. That made it possible for the Privatization agency to send today the official invitation for negotiations to the second-ranked company in the tender ‘SMR’ which is carrying out its business within ‘Basic Element’ of Russian magnate Oleg Deripaska. These negotiations could start beginning next week.
Government’s board without decision on ‘RTB’»Serbia Government’s Board for economy and finances yesterday made no statement over proposal by the Privatization agency regarding the sale of ‘RTB’.
Tender for ‘JAT Airaways’ in May»The tender for privatization of ‘JAT Airways’ is to be announced at the end of May this year, Sasa Vasiljevic, that company’s general director says.
Russian company wants to build energy plants»The ‘EPS’ of Serbia and the Russian state company ‘Inter Rai EES’ yesterday signed a protocol on cooperation about construction of new energy capacities in Serbia. The protocol was signed by the ‘Inter Rao’ general director Eugenie Dod and ‘EPS’ deputy general director Dragan Tomic.
