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FINANCIAL INTEGRATION IN THE FOUR BASINS: A QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON

FINANCIAL INTEGRATION IN THE FOUR BASINS: A QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON

Author(s): Elisa Valeriani,Sergio Alessandrini / Language(s): English / Issue: 02/2010

Keywords: international financial integration; convergence; asymmetries; current account openness; FDI; financial development; portfolio investment

The intention of the following paper is to present some stylized features of the financial integration of the four basin regions composed by the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Mediterranean Sea regions. It discusses the developments, trends and features of the International Investment Position (IIP) in the regions. Using volume based indicators we compare and identify the gaps in them, whilst distinguishing between the EU e non-EU members and providing an overview of the asymmetries and the convergence as a result of the integration in the different financial markets. After reviewing the trends, the final chapter points to those areas that need further efforts to achieve greater regional integration.

The Balkans and Syria’s Civil War: Realities and Challenges

The Balkans and Syria’s Civil War: Realities and Challenges

Author(s): Perparim Gutaj / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2014

Keywords: Balkan Militants; Balkan Muslims; Foreign Islamic Radical Groups; Sectarianism and Syria’s Civil War

The prime objective of this research paper is to look at the realities and challenges confronting the Balkan states and societies in light of Syria’s civil war. By examining the mobilization process of Balkan militants who are joining Syria’s rebel cause, especially the Islamic radical groups linked to al-Qaeda, this paper proposes a model that explains why and how Balkan militants are joining the fight in Syria. Drawing upon reliable media reports, personal observations, academic accounts, and other consistent sources, this paper argues that Balkan militants are joining Syria’s rebel cause because foreign Islamic radical groups (that have been operating in the Balkans since the early 1990s) have successfully indoctrinated them. This paper challenges the argument that Islam in the Balkans is a threat to the region, and the claim that Balkan Islam and Muslims in the region are becoming an increasing threat to the West. The central findings of this paper exemplify that the future of Balkan militants is bleak and that they will be confronted with a massive modern and democratic resistance that offers them nothing but reintegration into Balkan Islam, their natural “religious nest.”

Exclusive: Secret Documents Confirm a Spiritual Cold War between the Vatican and the OSCE

Exclusive: Secret Documents Confirm a Spiritual Cold War between the Vatican and the OSCE

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 08/2015

Keywords: Vatican; OSCE; CSCE; Cold War; Pope Benedict XVI; Vienna; Janusz Bolonek; Bulgaria; Macedonia

This world-exclusive analysis, with leaked internal Vatican dovuments, lays out the strategy used by the Church to influence the OSCE's religious freedom reports- and the uncomfortable mutual relations between the two institutions.

The Mobility of Nationals from Western Balkans Within the European Union: new Challenges and Opportunities

The Mobility of Nationals from Western Balkans Within the European Union: new Challenges and Opportunities

Author(s): Simona Sobotovicova,Juan Ignacio Ugartemendia / Language(s): English / Issue: 13/2015

Keywords: entry and residence rights in eu; mobility; migration flow; Western Balkan citizens

Europe is part of a globalized and interconnected world where international mobility is expected to increase. the current european union (eu) legislation, after entry into force of Lisbon treaty, is facing new challenges in the field of the area of Freedom, Security and justice. there is a significant Europeanization of migration policy. the Western Balkan (WB) region is considered as one of the most interesting and challenging regions in europe regarding the current migration flows. the last eu enlargement shifted the migration from classical working class immigration, to the so-called brain drain immigration, since now younger and highly educated people tend to migrate more in other countries to pursue their professional career. the eu eastern enlargement and WB migration may go in the same direction. the present article aims to identify the eu legal migration policy for the WB nationals when they decide to enter and/or work in the eu territory legally, pointing out that decision as a challenge or as an opportunity for WB citizens.

Not-recognizing policy within the minority EU members - Challenge for Kosovo’s Integration and Regional Peace-building

Not-recognizing policy within the minority EU members - Challenge for Kosovo’s Integration and Regional Peace-building

Author(s): Samet Dalipi,Nehat Demiri,Arta Pllana-Shipoli / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2016

Keywords: Kosovo independence; Recognition; Sovereignty; EU integration; Peace-building;

Act of Recognition is the matter regulated by international law. After declaration of independence, Kosovo’s path toward EU integration is going to be problematic for Kosovo institutions and challenging for EU foreign policy. Even though Kosovo was recognized by major international actors as sui generis case, some of them see this case as precedent and harmful for supposed developments within their jurisdictions, especially by 5 EU not recognizing countries. The article aims to justify the proclamation of independence by Kosovo institutions and to analyze the possible negative effects deriving from non-recognition policy for Kosovo and its new fragile democracy, hampering the democratic peace. The policy of minor EU member states, contesting Kosovo’s statehood based on the assumption that the act of recognition will open a dangerous path for secession-minded national minorities in their own countries, taking into account that through (non)recognition, states attempt to continue or change the existing order at international relations. Postponing Kosovo’s recognition by the rest of EU members will accumulate negative potentials within the new state, with possible consequences for the region.

The succession of states after the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Sukcesja państw po rozpadzie Socjalistycznej Federacyjnej Republiki Jugosławii

Author(s): Irena Alicja Szymanowska / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 5/2015

Keywords: Agreement on Succession Issues; Arbitration Commission of the Peace Conference on the former Yugoslavia; break up of Yugoslavia; international agreements;SFRY; succession of states; Vienna Convention;

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ceased to exist in 1991, though some topics concerned with the succession of its constituent states were not regulated for a long time afterwards. This issue and the efforts to solve it were examined by the Arbitration Commission of the Peace Conference on the former Yugoslavia. When answering all the related questions, the Arbitration Commission used as a basis the 1978 Vienna Convention on the Succession of States in respect of Treaties and the 1983 Vienna Convention on the Succession of States in respect of State Property, Archives and Debts. The final solution to the problem of SFRY succession was found in 2001 when the Agreement on Succession Issues was signed, although it came into force three years later. There were no problems with the succession of citizenship. Under the 1974 Constitutional Act of SFRY, there were two citizenship in the federation – federal and republican. Therefore, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, republican citizenship became the citizenship of a new state.

FEATURES OF THE CULTURE OF THE UPPER STRUMA DURING THE EARLY IRON AGE

FEATURES OF THE CULTURE OF THE UPPER STRUMA DURING THE EARLY IRON AGE

Author(s): Philip Mihaylov / Language(s): English / Issue: 21/2016

The present work is based on materials from archaeological surveys, rescue and drilling excavations, as well as on accidental finds kept in the depository of the Regional Historical Museum of Pernik. To date, there is no comprehensively and methodologically investigated archaeological site dated to the Early Iron Age. The finds can be used for mapping the places inhabited during that period, and for identifying their topography. According to the duration of the habitation, the sites can be divided into three groups: – multi-layer sites inhabited prior to and after that time; – sites that emerged during the Early Iron Age, whose habitation (usually intermittent) continued during subsequent periods as well; – places inhabited only during the Early Iron Age. The latter type of sites is rare and life in them did not continue due to deterioration of the environment. There are no known sites whose habitation started earlier and ended during the Early Iron Age. Most of the finds originate from regions with prolonged topographic continuity, but none of the studies has revealed a culture layer or ruins of massive buildings. Most of the ceramic material is of poor quality, fired at low temperature – of the type maintained in a hearth. The number of sites known so far is 91. Most of them spread over a large area, but without evidence of a culture layer. One possible explanation could be sought in the absence of sedentary life due to economic reasons.

Attracting foreign direct investment: the public policy scope for South East European countries

Attracting foreign direct investment: the public policy scope for South East European countries

Author(s): Christian Bellak,Markus Leibrecht,Mario Liebensteiner / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2010

Keywords: foreign direct investment; taxes; infrastructure; institutions; South Eastern European countries;

Based on earlier empirical literature for Central and Eastern European Countries this paper attempts to analyze the likely impact of changes in corporate income taxes, in the endowment with production-related material infrastructure and in the institutional environment on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) – and thus on one channel of regional development in South Eastern European Countries (SEECs). Specifically, we explore the scope for public policy to attract FDI separated by these three policy areas and across the SEECs. Our findings suggest that the potential for SEECs to attract FDI upon changes in these policy areas varies not only substantially between the three policy areas but also within the group of SEECs. Yet, as a general picture, most SEECs have substantial scope to attract FDI by improving their institutional environment as well as their infrastructure endowment. The tax instrument, in contrast, is largely exhausted as a means to attract FDI. Based on these findings some medium- and long-term policy issues are outlined.

IN LINE WITH BRUSSELS. ROMANIAN AND BULGARIAN POSITION ON THE UKRAINIAN CRISIS

IN LINE WITH BRUSSELS. ROMANIAN AND BULGARIAN POSITION ON THE UKRAINIAN CRISIS

Author(s): Aneta Mihaylova,Plamen Dimitrov / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

Keywords: Bulgaria; EU foreign policy; Romania; Russian propaganda; sanctions against Russia, Ukrainian crisis

The Ukrainian crisis has been a test for the alignment of Romania and Bulgaria with the EU on the background of the Union’s new foreign policy instruments as redesigned by the Lisbon Treaty. This paper aims to present the positions of Bulgaria and Romania towards the events of 2013-2015 in Ukraine. Our research target is to identify the driving forces that shaped these positions, to analyse and describe the main foreign policy goals and actions of Bucharest and Sofia regarding the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, and to compare the attitude of these two countries toward the Ukrainian crisis.The paper analyses first the Romanian and the Bulgarian perspectives on the dramatic events in Ukraine in the first half of 2014. The positions of the two countries are further placed in the wider international context of the Ukrainian crisis – the UN resolutions, the EU sanctions against Russia, NATO activities, and the security in the Black Sea region. In the third part Romania and Bulgaria are viewed as a “playground” for the competing narratives and propaganda in regards to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. We also examine the economic impact of the crisis on the two Balkan countries, as well as the efforts of both Bucharest and Sofia to protect their respective minorities in Ukraine. In conclusion, we summarize the results of our research and explain how the Ukrainian crisis has reshaped the foreign policy debates in Romania and Bulgaria.

Determining factors of foreign direct investments in Albania

Determining factors of foreign direct investments in Albania

Author(s): Mamica Nene,Eleina Qirici / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2010

Keywords: Foreign Direct Investments; Albania; politic stability; promotion of investment;

FDI are very important especially for the developing countries like Albania. The worldwide competition in attracting FDI is intensified the efforts concerning the reforms in improving the business climate. The efforts done toward the increase of the political stability, improvement of infrastructure, stimulating policies and the establishment of institutions which promote Albania in investors’ community show how much Albania has been trying to attract the foreign investors. The goal of this survey is to study the relation between such indicators as: political stability, GDP per capita, working power, promotion of investments and FDI. The survey contributes modestly in discussing scientifically what is needed for improving the climate of foreign direct investments in Albania.

Five years of Iceland’s European ambitions – from membership application to the suspension of the accession process

Pięć lat europejskich aspiracji Islandii – od wniosku o członkostwo do zawieszenia procesu akcesyjnego

Author(s): Monika Szynol / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 10/2016

Keywords: Iceland; economic crisis; accession process; EU enlargement policy; candidate states;

In view of the consequences of the crisis that erupted in Iceland in early October 2008, the most effective solution – according to the new social democratic government elected in 2009– leading to economic recovery, had become the membership in the European Union. The article analyzes the causes of Reykjavik’s interest in accession, the strengths and weaknesses of the Iceland’s candidacy (including comparison with the other candidate countries and potential candidates) as well as the reasons for which the accession process was firstly suspended and then – terminated. An attempt to summarize the Iceland’s integration with the EU was made primarily on the basis of the legal and institutional framework, which sets out the accession procedure, the level of the existing cooperation between Iceland and the EU and the actions taken by them since 2009.

From Struma to Srem: The Macedonian People's Liberation Brigade "Gotse Delchev" in the final phase of World War II (1944-1945)

От Струма до Срем: Македонската народоосвободителна бригада „Гоце Делчев" в заключителната фаза на Втората световна война (1944 - 1945 г.)

Author(s): Svetlozar Eldarov / Language(s): Bulgarian / Issue: 3/2012

Keywords: Macedonia; History; Bulgaria;

The military unit, which name of patron symbolizes the relationship with the Bulgarian national liberation movement in Macedonia against Ottoman rule in the late nineteenth - early twentieth century, was established by Ministerial Decree № 30 of 14 September 1944 of the Fatherland Front government of Bulgaria. The brigade was made up of conscripts soldiers recruited in the period 1941-1944 in the Vardar Macedonia and enrolled in the parts of the Bulgarian army.

ELECTORAL SYSTEM (IN YUGOSLAVIA)

ELECTORAL SYSTEM (IN YUGOSLAVIA)

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bosnian / Issue: 15/1963

Keywords: Yugoslavia's electoral system; Socio-political system; Constitution; Federal Assembly; councilors; Law;

The new laws regulating the election of councilors of communal and district assemblies, and of deputies to republican assemblies and the Federal Assembly are based on principles specified explicitly in the Constitution or stemming from its fundamental provisions regarding the structure of assemblies of socio-political communities, the position of Man and of the Citizen, and the role of the commune in the socio-political system.

The Capital City in the Local Self-Government System in Central and Eastern European and Caucasus Countries

The Capital City in the Local Self-Government System in Central and Eastern European and Caucasus Countries

Author(s): Sulev Mäeltsemees / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2016

Keywords: Capital city; local self-government; region; habitation system; metropolitan area; urban sprawl; legal status of capital city; relationship with central government; regional co-operation;

Capital cities have a special role to play in their national local self-government system. On the one hand, each capital city has a certain symbolic meaning to their state; the whole state is assessed based on its capital city. On the other hand, the capital city generally differs from the rest of the local governments of the state: • It is usually the largest local government of the state in terms of population; • The GDP of the capital city and the metropolitan area is considerably higher than the state’s average and, therefore, the capital city is one of the principal innovation and economic centres of the country. Capital cities must be enabled legally and financially to fulfil long-term global requirements that should be taken into account in the national urban policy and in the distribution of national tax revenue. It is necessary to study the position of the capital city in other countries, especially in the transformation countries. An analysis of the role of the capital city in the local self-government organisation of a country must consider the following four aspects: 1. The capital city in the human habitation system 2. The capital city and the national legal environment 3. Management models of the capital city 4. The economic environment in the capital city; the capital city and the economic environment of the hinterland and the country. The author is of the opinion that there are practically no interdisciplinary analyses addressing legal, economic, and demographic and management problems of capital cities. The current article is confessedly one of the first attempts to analyse and compare the problems of capital cities in the Central and Eastern European and Caucasus Countries Region. The Central and Eastern European and Caucasus Countries Region for the purpose of the present article is the area covering 23 countries (without Kosovo)1 . The threat in the case of Russia, only the European part of the country has been taken into consideration.

Monumentality and Identity: Macedonian Cultural Politics (2006-2016)

Монументалност и идентитет: македонските културни политики (2006 – 2016)

Author(s): Loreta Georgievska-Jakovleva / Language(s): Macedonian / Issue: 15/2017

Keywords: cultural politics in the Republic of Macedonia; national identity; monumentality; top-down politics; resistance; the Colorful revolution

For the Republic of Macedonia, the period of transition, which foresees a move from a socijalist political system to a capitalist one, accompanied by an appropriation of Western democratic values and principles, ushered in a process of international recognition for the new country. As part of the efforts placed in said realm, cultural politics stands out as the key factor in the country’s attempts to create its self-image as well as the image it wishes to showcase globally. By negating elements that constitute the Macedonian identity, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, through so-called capital projects in the realm of culture, enforces a welldefined cultural politics that redefines the Macedonian identity. The implemented cultural politics aims at creating a dominant discourse that positions the “true” story about Macedonia, oppositional to the already present stereotypical representations, with the goal of “cultivating” the collective’s memory, now rooted in a mythic past. The stated aim of this strategy is to instigate a personal identification with the state, thus strengthening its international position. However, the effect of said strategy has resulted in the following: internally speaking, a divided society, internationally speaking, an uncertain outcome of the processes accompanying Macedonia’s international integration.

Non-performing loans in Baltic States: determinants and macroeconomic effects

Non-performing loans in Baltic States: determinants and macroeconomic effects

Author(s): Jordan Kjosevski,Mihail Petkovski / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

Keywords: Non-performing loans; macroeconomic determinants; bank-specific determinants; Baltic States; GMM difference; panel vector autoregressive model;

This study analyses the linkages between macroeconomic and bank-specific determinants of non-performing loans (NPLs) and their impact on macroeconomic performance in the Baltic States using two complementary approaches. First, we examine the macroeconomic and bank-specific determinants of NPLs for a panel of 27 banks from the Baltics using annual data for the period 2005–2014. The most important macroeconomic factors are GDP growth, inflation and domestic credit to the private sector. As for the bank-specific determinants, we found that the equity to total assets ratio, return on assets, the return on equity and the growth of gross loans were of importance. Second, we investigate the feedback between NPLs and its macroeconomic determinants. The results suggest that the real economy responds to NPLs and that there are strong feedback effects from macroeconomic conditions such as domestic credit to private sector, GDP growth, unemployment and inflation to NPLs.

THE DEPENDENCE ON GLOBAL MEDIA OF FOREIGN POLICY REPORTING OF THE YUGOSLAV DAILY NEWSPAPERS (SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 1989)

THE DEPENDENCE ON GLOBAL MEDIA OF FOREIGN POLICY REPORTING OF THE YUGOSLAV DAILY NEWSPAPERS (SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 1989)

Author(s): Bojan Blazhevski / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2017

Keywords: Global media;International;Newspapers;Yugoslavia

This paper is based on the assumption that the reporting on international events by the Yugoslav daily newspapers Nova Makedonija, Delo and Politika, in their 1989 printed editions, was insignificantly influenced by the global media. We begin this study by using the method of quantitative content analysis. The data analysed were gathered over a four month period i.e. from September to December 1989. The Yugoslav national agency Tanjug and the correspondent staff of these news paperswere still the main sources of information for covering international events. However,heavy, but indirect influence of the global media was present in the Yugoslav newspapers Nova Makedonija and Politika. Their media representation on how the world was oriented toward actual events that happened on the northern hemisphere.Military and political conflicts were the main topics of interest for covering the southern parts of the world. Empirical results also revealed surprising contrasts in journalistic professionalism and international reporting itself among the leading Yugoslav newspapers in 1989.

The Crisis of the Missionaries: Acts 16,6-10

La Crisi dei Missionari: At 16,6-10

Author(s): Matteo Crimella / Language(s): English,Italian / Issue: 1/2012

Keywords: Acts 16,6-10;missionaries;crisis;

The passage of Acts 16:6-10 is analyzed according to the method of Narrative Criticism. The insistence on the Spirit shows that Paul and his companions are guided by God; but the narrator does not make explicit how. The vision of the Macedonian points the way to go. But when the will of God is clarified, there is a shift from the narrator’s voice to the characters’ voice and the account gives access to the perception of God filtered by their conscience. It follows that the believing conscience of the implied reader is urged.

Reviews

Recensiones

Author(s): A. Bugán,János Végh,Katalin Jankovits / Language(s): English,German / Issue: 1-3/2005

Review of: J. Makkay - E. S. Elster–C. Renfrew (eds): Prehistoric Sitagroi: excavations in Northeast Greece, 1968–1970. Volume 2: The Final Report. (Monumenta Archaeologica 20.) The Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles 2003, 519 + 10 p., numerous figures and plates K. Jankovits - M. Lochner: Studien zur Urnenfelderkultur im Waldviertel- Niederösterreich. (Mitteilungen der prähistorischen Komission 25.) Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien 1991, 340 S. zahlreichen Abb. und 107 Taf. J. Végh - M.-L. Haack: Les haruspices dans le monde romain. (Editions Ausonius, Scripta Antiqua 6.) Bordeaux 2003, 273 p. A. BugánR. Iljovski: Who ruled Macedonia and how long [Koj i koga vladeel so Makedonija]. Ina Komerc, Skopje 2003, 303 p., numerous photos

Principles of Bulgarian Medieval Diplomacy

Principles of Bulgarian Medieval Diplomacy

Author(s): Peter Angelov / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/1985

Keywords: Bulgarian Medieval Diplomacy