By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them: Speculations on the Future of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange

By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them: Speculations on the Future of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/2010

The future of Bulgaria’s capital markets is not a clear-cut case: its fate is linked to that of the global markets, the strength of the indigenous Bulgarian entrepreneurial spirit and – though this may come as a surprise to some – the immediate actions of the Bulgarian government. Here emerge two outstanding issues: one, whether the government will lend a helping hand to the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) by deciding to privatize state-owned companies via stock offerings on the exchange; and two, whether the government will sell its quite substantial shareholding in the BSE to a reputable foreign exchange operator.

Croatian Defense Reforms and Issues of National Security: Interview with Military Analyst Igor Tabak

Croatian Defense Reforms and Issues of National Security: Interview with Military Analyst Igor Tabak

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/2010

Igor Tabak is a Croatian independent military analyst in Zagreb. Since the early 1990’s, he has written for the official magazines of the Croatian Ministry of Defense. In addition, since 2003 he has often commented on military and security issues for various national and regional media. Ante Raic, a journalist with Croatian National Television and Balkanalysis.com editor in Zagreb, recently surveyed Mr Tabak to gain his insights on issues related to Croatia’s programme of defense reforms before joining NATO, public and media perceptions regarding the defense sector, politically-sensitive cases involving military procurement issues, and the overall main security threats facing the country today.

An Insider’s View of Recent Affairs in Kosovo: Interview with Gerard Gallucci

An Insider’s View of Recent Affairs in Kosovo: Interview with Gerard Gallucci

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/2010

In the following interview, Balkanalysis.com Director Chris Deliso obtains an invaluable insider’s view on Kosovo’s recent history, from a former American diplomat who found himself at the epicenter of diplomatic turbulence while serving as UNMIK Regional Representative in the ethnically-divided city of Mitrovica (2005-2008). In this all-new interview, Mr. Gallucci discusses the unique working conditions he faced while in Kosovo and the international community’s successes and failures, both in general terms and in regard to specific incidents such as the now-infamous Mitrovica courthouse raid of March 17, 2008. The interview ranges from the chronic effects of Balkan “tribalism” on international peacekeepers and the EU’s attempt to replace the UNMIK practically via sleight-of-hand, to organized crime- the only “real inter-ethnic activity” in Kosovo. Prior to his UN position in Kosovo, Mr. Gallucci served for over 25 years with the US State Department in various high-level postings, primarily in Africa and Latin America. These positions included serving as Charge’d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Khartoum (2003-2004), Charge’d’Affaires in Brasilia (1999-2000) and Deputy Chief of Mission in Belize (1994-1996). Mr. Gallucci also has served within the State Department in numerous roles such as National Security Council Director for Inter-American Affairs (1998-99), Coordinator for Intelligence Resources and Planning (2001) and Director for Inter-American Affairs in the Intelligence and Research Bureau (2000-2001). Today, Mr. Gallucci retains an interest in Kosovo’s future course and his commentaries, some of which expand on the issues discussed in the present interview, are to be found on his independent blog, Outside the Walls.

Energy Conferences and Trade Shows: Enhancing Regional Investment Potential

Energy Conferences and Trade Shows: Enhancing Regional Investment Potential

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/2010

As with any other industry, countless events around the world – conferences, forums, seminars, symposia and tradeshows – are dedicated each year to the energy sector. Some of them are general in scope and audience; others are extremely specialized and attract a targeted audience. During the fall season, this event activity seems to reach its annual peak, followed closely by the spring event season. By assessing the main themes and conclusions of the major energy events, such as the ones discussed below, we can get a picture of the current challenges and ongoing trends in an increasingly globalized sector, and their implications for the Southeast European energy sector. Selecting the most important or consequential energy conference or tradeshow of the year is a very subjective and probably impossible task. However, among the many energy events of the peak fall season, three major events are representative of the current status of the energy sector. These events have a significant following and are relevant for the energy sector in Southeast Europe. To avoid any controversial ranking, we are going to discuss them chronologically.

Perceptions of Normality in Sarajevo: the Phenomenon of "Papak"

Perceptions of Normality in Sarajevo: the Phenomenon of "Papak"

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/2010

“Oh, look at that papak!” is a phrase quite often heard in Sarajevo. It appears to be very well integrated into the Sarajevo vocabulary. But who is ‘papak’? Considering that in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian the word papak means a hoof (as in a pig’s hoof), the phrase would definitely not seem to be an expression of extreme politeness.

Terminating the Terminator

Terminating the Terminator

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/2010

It is hard to find a foreign company that has not encountered problems dealing with bureaucracy in Croatia. Slow and inefficient administration, resistance from local communities and various misunderstandings are sending investors to other countries. The most prominent problems faced by foreign companies include huge paperwork, insolvency and poorly structured institutions precisely the institutions that should be encouraging investment, not driving it away.

Greek Security Challenges and Opportunities: Interview with Dr. Athanassios Drougos

Greek Security Challenges and Opportunities: Interview with Dr. Athanassios Drougos

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/2010

In this new interview for Balkanalysis.com. Greek security correspondent Ioannis Michaletos gets the insight of Dr.Athanassios Drougos, a senior lecturer for the Hellenic Defense Colleges (Army, Navy, Air Force and Joint Command) and NATO, providing analysis on issues related to defense and counterterrorism. Dr Drougos has published numerous articles and been cited frequently in Greek media on subjects including defense and security, international relations and geopolitics in the Eastern Mediterranean, Balkans, North Africa and Russia, as well as NATO issues, asymmetric warfare, weapons of mass destruction and more.

Greek Natural Gas Developments: LNG, Prospective Expansion,and the New Joint Venture of Two Energy Giants

Greek Natural Gas Developments: LNG, Prospective Expansion,and the New Joint Venture of Two Energy Giants

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/2010

The Greek natural gas network company, DESFA, announced in its recent board meeting that it has concluded its mid-term planning regarding upgrading of the Revythousa LNG terminal, and that it will construct a third LNG storage facility that will mainly be used in order to secure export supplies to neighboring countries (Bulgaria and Turkey) interested in using the Greekbased facility as one of the main LNG import points in the wider Southeastern European region.

Macedonian Security Issues, Intelligence Reform and Contemporary Politics: Interview with Stevo Pendarovski

Macedonian Security Issues, Intelligence Reform and Contemporary Politics: Interview with Stevo Pendarovski

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/2010

Stevo Pendarovski is a former national security advisor to two presidents, and before that a career interior ministry analyst. He is now a professor at American College, Skopje, a newspaper columnist for Dnevnik, and is often cited in the Macedonian media for his outspoken opinions on subjects ranging from daily politics to issues of national security. Balkanalysis.com Director Chris Deliso recently caught up with Mr Pendarovski to get his views on the security and political situation in Macedonia, and the issues affecting it. The following text provides an intriguing view not only on the contemporary situation, but also on how it was conditioned by the recent history of ‘transition,’ as witnessed by one man particularly involved in shaping it.

Early Elections in Kosovo Possible for February, Coalitions to Be Decided

Early Elections in Kosovo Possible for February, Coalitions to Be Decided

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/2010

The currently fractious political situation in Pristina may be resolved with new parliamentary elections as early as this coming February (but not during 2010) the country’s acting president, Jakup Krasniqi has stated. The acting president made the announcement after meeting with leaders of Kosovo political parties officially represented in parliament. Kosovo has been affected by the September 27th resignation of its president, Fatmir Sejdiu. He quit after Kosovo’s Constitutional Court ruled that he could not simultaneously be both the national president and the head of a political party- in his case, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). The Economist recently noted that Sejdiu quit at the present moment because he may have aspirations to run against Thaci to be the next premier, since the position is more powerful than that of the presidency.

Long live the United States of Europe

Für die Vereinigten Staaten von Europa

Author(s): Joachim Fritz-Vannahme / Language(s): German / Issue: 03/2012

The global financial crisis is forcing Europe to become an ever closer union. Governments are still balking at the idea and many EU citizens continue to be rather sceptical. Yet the situation calls for a new approach to how we think about and do things. We believe that we need the United States of Europe. We also think that we need to fight for our future. “Solidarity, security, strength should become the stated goals of the United States of Europe,” our author Joachim Fritz-Vannahme demands. “Europe needs democratic effectiveness, economic stability and solid, as well as social, union. This is already stipulated in the treaties. It must now become reality.”

"Uncle Sam" about Romanians: analysis of an ethnic hetero-image

"Unchiul Sam" despre români: Analiza unei heteroimagini etnice

Author(s): Ovidiu Lungu,Luminiţa Mihaela Iacob / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 01/1998

Experimental approach in social psychology

Experimentul în psihologia sociala

Author(s): Stefan Boncu / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 01/1998

Interview with Serge Moscovici by Adrian Neculau

Interviu cu Serge Moscovici, realizat de Adrian Neculau

Author(s): Adrian Neculau / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 01/1998

Nature and function of the central core of a social representation: the respresentation of enterprise

Natura si functionarea nucleului central al unei reprezentari sociale: reprezentarea întreprinderii

Author(s): Eric Tafani,Jean Claude Abric / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 01/1998

Book review: Claude Tapia. Les jeunes face à l'Europe. PUF, Paris, 1997

Claude Tapia. Les jeunes face à l'Europe. PUF, Paris, 1997

Author(s): Ewa Drozda-Senkowska / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 01/1998

What is the use of structured exercises in group dynamics?

Exercitii structurate în dinamica grupurilor: pentru ce?

Author(s): Pierre de Visscher / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 01/1998

Book review: Michel Forsé. Analyses du changement social. Seuil, Paris, 1998

Michel Forsé. Analyses du changement social. Seuil, Paris, 1998

Author(s): Mihai Curelaru / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 01/1998

Book review: Gilles Ferréol. Vocabulaire de la sociologie. PUF, Paris, 1995

Gilles Ferréol. Vocabulaire de la sociologie. PUF, Paris, 1995

Author(s): Robert Deliège / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 01/1998

What is "wrong" with stereotypes? A critical review

Ce este în "neregula" cu stereotipurile? O trecere critica în revista

Author(s): Francoise Askevis-Leherpeux / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 01/1998