ceres news digest vol.5 week 4-; sept.22-26

8/11/2019 CERES News Digest Vol.5 Week 4-; Sept.22-26

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09/22/14 9/26/14


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On Saturday, Turkey secured the release of 49 Turkishhostages held by ISIS for three months in Iraq after themilitant group overran the Turkish consulate in Mosul.Turkey announced that its intelligence agency led a covertoperation to bring back the hostages without payingransoms. Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations onMonday, President Erdogan hinted at a possible prisonerexchange but refused to detail the operation.

The GuardianNew York Times

The Russian ruble has fallen to historic lows this week inthe wake of the most recent round of Western-imposedsanctions and the house arrest of Russian billionaireVladimir Evtushenkov. On Monday, the ruble was tradingat 38.96 to the dollar and 49.62 to the euro. By Fridaymorning, those rates had risen slightly, to 38.86 and 49.52,respectively. Additionally, the price of Russian oil, one of

Russias chief exports, has fallen below $100 per barrel.

RFE/RLMoscow Times

At the EU-brokered conference in Berlin on Friday, Russiaand Ukraine attempted to negotiate a deal to restore gasexports from Russia to Ukraine in advance of the comingwinter months. Gas supplies to Ukraine have been cut offsince July, when the two countries failed to negotiate therepayment of Ukrainian gas debts. More recently, reversegas supplies from neighboring countries like Poland andHungary to Ukraine have been reduced or cut entirely.

ReutersABC News

Georgian officials this week have denied offering to host abase for U.S. military to train Syrian rebels fighting theAssad regime and the Islamic State. The offer wasreportedly made during U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagelsvisit to Tbilisi in recent weeks, according to Foreign PolicyMagazine. The offer was later confirmed by Reuters. TheGeorgian Ministry of Defense refuted claims that theywould supply troops to the war zone.

Foreign PolicyDFWatch

On September 21, the 23rd anniversary of Armenianindependence, Islamic State terrorists blew up the ArmenianHoly Martyrs Church in Deir ez-Zor, Syria. The church wasbuilt in 1989-1990 as a memorial to victims of theArmenian genocide who died in the surrounding area andalso housed a museum containing the remains of victims.

The 100th anniversary of the genocide is next year.

PanArmenianAsbarez

Despite the opening of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline in lateAugust, gas exports to Moldova from Romania have not yetcommenced due to contractual issues with MoldovaGaz, thecountrys gas monopoly. TheRomanian government hasstruggled to come to terms with MoldovaGaz, which is 50%owned by Russian-owned Gazprom, 35.33% owned by theMoldovan state, and 13.44% owned by the government ofthe Transnistria region. Gas accounts for 65% of total

energy consumption in Moldova.

ITAR-TASSEurasiaNet

Azerbaijani authorities on Tuesday detained 26 citizensalleged of joining militants in Syria and Pakistan. Theyare accused of participating in combat units of the IslamicState and other illegal armed groups. The Department ofHomeland Security of Azerbaijan declared that thosearrested are suspected of involvement in the illegaltransfer of weapons, military equipment and explosives aswell as of recruiting underage individuals.

RFE/RL Trend.az

On a trip to Moldova on Wednesday, President Lukashenkosigned a trade agreement with Moldovan officials worthapproximately 50 million dollars. Among the trading terms,Belarus has agreed to increase imports of Moldovan applesin light of a Russian embargo on the fruit. Lukashenko alsonoted during the visit that Belarus does not opposeMoldovas desire to increase ties with the European Union.

Moscow TimesBelarus in Focus
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/20/turkey-hostages-syria-kurds-isishttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/20/turkey-hostages-syria-kurds-isishttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/23/world/europe/erdogan-hints-that-prisoner-exchange-won-release-of-hostages-held-by-isis.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/23/world/europe/erdogan-hints-that-prisoner-exchange-won-release-of-hostages-held-by-isis.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/ruble-historic-low-dollar-sanctions-ukraine-markets-moscow/26607432.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/ruble-historic-low-dollar-sanctions-ukraine-markets-moscow/26607432.htmlhttp://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russia-s-ruble-hits-record-low-against-u-s-dollar/507895.htmlhttp://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russia-s-ruble-hits-record-low-against-u-s-dollar/507895.htmlhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/25/us-un-assembly-ukraine-idUSKCN0HK2LC20140925http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/25/us-un-assembly-ukraine-idUSKCN0HK2LC20140925http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-ukraine-eu-brokered-talks-gas-25772607http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-ukraine-eu-brokered-talks-gas-25772607http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/09/23/exclusive_georgia_offers_to_host_training_camp_for_syrian_rebelshttp://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/09/23/exclusive_georgia_offers_to_host_training_camp_for_syrian_rebelshttp://dfwatch.net/tbilisi-denies-that-it-offered-us-to-host-training-camp-for-syrian-rebels-98984http://dfwatch.net/tbilisi-denies-that-it-offered-us-to-host-training-camp-for-syrian-rebels-98984http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/182662/http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/182662/http://asbarez.com/127192/members-of-congress-express-outrage-over-der-zor-destruction/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20Asbarez%20(Asbarez%20News)http://asbarez.com/127192/members-of-congress-express-outrage-over-der-zor-destruction/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20Asbarez%20(Asbarez%20News)http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/750707http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/750707http://www.eurasianet.org/node/70161http://www.eurasianet.org/node/70161http://www.rferl.org/content/azerbaijan-detains-26-alleged-militants/26602498.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/azerbaijan-detains-26-alleged-militants/26602498.htmlhttp://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/2314789.htmlhttp://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/2314789.htmlhttp://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/after-russia-s-ban-belarus-ramps-up-apple-imports-from-moldova/507841.htmlhttp://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/after-russia-s-ban-belarus-ramps-up-apple-imports-from-moldova/507841.htmlhttp://belarusinfocus.info/p/6429http://belarusinfocus.info/p/6429http://belarusinfocus.info/p/6429http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/after-russia-s-ban-belarus-ramps-up-apple-imports-from-moldova/507841.htmlhttp://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/2314789.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/azerbaijan-detains-26-alleged-militants/26602498.htmlhttp://www.eurasianet.org/node/70161http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/750707http://asbarez.com/127192/members-of-congress-express-outrage-over-der-zor-destruction/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20Asbarez%20(Asbarez%20News)http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/182662/http://dfwatch.net/tbilisi-denies-that-it-offered-us-to-host-training-camp-for-syrian-rebels-98984http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/09/23/exclusive_georgia_offers_to_host_training_camp_for_syrian_rebelshttp://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-ukraine-eu-brokered-talks-gas-25772607http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/25/us-un-assembly-ukraine-idUSKCN0HK2LC20140925http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russia-s-ruble-hits-record-low-against-u-s-dollar/507895.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/ruble-historic-low-dollar-sanctions-ukraine-markets-moscow/26607432.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/23/world/europe/erdogan-hints-that-prisoner-exchange-won-release-of-hostages-held-by-isis.htmlhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/20/turkey-hostages-syria-kurds-isis


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British Prime Minister David Cameron and IranianPresident Hasan Rouhani met in New York on Wednesday,marking the first time that leaders of the two countries havemet since the Islamic Revolution in Iran 35 years ago. Themeeting signals a thaw in relations between the twocountries, after several years of increased tensions resultingfrom a mob attack on the British embassy in Tehran in2011.

BloombergCNN

Russia has allocated $5 million to Tajikistan through theUnited Nations World Food Program (WFP), the WFPoffice in Tajikistan announced on Monday. The money willgo to support agricultural production, provide meals forschoolchildren, and combat tuberculosis. In total, Russia hasallocated $60 million to support WFP activities in Tajikistan

over the last decade.

AKI Press Azernews

In his address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday,Turkmenistans Foreign Minister, Rashid Meredov, calledon the UN to become more involved in supportingdevelopment projects, preserving stability, andstrengthening faith in institutions in Afghanistan andCentral Asia. Meredov also presented Turkmenistans offer

to facilitate an inter-Afghan national dialogue under theauspices of the UN.

UN News Centre Trend

Singapore and Mongolia agreed to begin providing twice-weekly air service between the two countries, starting thisweek. The carrier MIAT Mongolian Airlines will servicethe new route to Changi Airport. Mongolias Minister ofRoad and Transportation and the President of MongolianAirlines boarded the inaugural flight this week to be

welcomed in Singapore.

NewsAsia AsiaOne

The Russian mobile phone operator MTS announced that itwill return to Uzbekistan beginning on December 1, 2014.MTS intends to create a joint venture with the Uzbek state-controlled Center for Radio Communication, Broadcastingand Television, where MTS will have 50.01% of shares.MTS previously provided service to Uzbekistan through itssubsidiary, Uzdunrobita, from 2004 to 2012 until authoritiesaccused MTS managers of theft and tax evasion.

The Turkish and Kyrgyz Defense Ministers signed a rangeof bilateral agreements on military cooperation onWednesday. Turkey further announced that it will providethe Kyrgyz armed forces with an annual $1 million aidpackage, meanwhile considering the construction of a newmilitary institute in Bishkek. The Kyrgyz Defense MinisterAbibilla Kudaiberdiev thanked Turkey and said that theassistance will be provided firstly for the border guard

service.Vestnik Kavkaza AzerNews

RBK ITAR-TASS

Ashraf Ghani was named as a President on Sunday, agreeingto share power with his political opponent AbdullahAbdullah, who will become the Chief Executive. Theagreement comes after months of dispute over electionresults, which Abdullah initially called fraudulent. Ghani andAbdullah will now need to define the roles and duties of thetwo executive positions, as well as sign a bilateral agreementwith the U.S. to determine the extent of continued U.S.militar resence in Af hanistan.

New York TimesWashington Post

A Kazakh advertisement company was fined after creatingan online banner for a gay club in Almaty. The posterdepicted Kazakh composer and folk singer QurmanghazySaghyrbaiuly and Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin kissing,based on the clubslocation at the intersection ofQurmanghazy and Pushkin Streets. The director of thecompany has been ordered to pay $700 and the company,itself, has been fined $1,000.

GuardianRFE/RL
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-24/cameron-meets-rouhani-as-u-k-iran-ties-thaw-after-embassy-raid.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-24/cameron-meets-rouhani-as-u-k-iran-ties-thaw-after-embassy-raid.htmlhttp://www.cnn.com/2014/09/24/world/meast/iran-rouhani/http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/24/world/meast/iran-rouhani/http://www.akipress.com/news:548151/http://www.akipress.com/news:548151/http://www.azernews.az/region/71088.htmlhttp://www.azernews.az/region/71088.htmlhttp://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48838#.VCQ7TGddUXdhttp://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48838#.VCQ7TGddUXdhttp://en.trend.az/business/finance/2315756.htmlhttp://en.trend.az/business/finance/2315756.htmlhttp://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-direct-flight/1379258.htmlhttp://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-direct-flight/1379258.htmlhttp://news.asiaone.com/news/relax/new-direct-flights-between-singapore-and-mongolia-launchedhttp://news.asiaone.com/news/relax/new-direct-flights-between-singapore-and-mongolia-launchedhttp://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/60325.htmlhttp://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/60325.htmlhttp://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/60325.htmlhttp://www.azernews.az/region/71185.htmlhttp://www.azernews.az/region/71185.htmlhttp://top.rbc.ru/economics/24/09/2014/951120.shtmlhttp://top.rbc.ru/economics/24/09/2014/951120.shtmlhttp://en.itar-tass.com/economy/751107http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/751107http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/22/world/asia/afghan-presidential-election.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/22/world/asia/afghan-presidential-election.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ghani-abdullah-agree-to-share-power-in-afghanistan-as-election-stalemate-ends/2014/09/21/df58749a-416e-11e4-9a15-137aa0153527_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ghani-abdullah-agree-to-share-power-in-afghanistan-as-election-stalemate-ends/2014/09/21/df58749a-416e-11e4-9a15-137aa0153527_story.htmlhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/27/gay-club-advert-controversy-kazakhstanhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/27/gay-club-advert-controversy-kazakhstanhttp://www.rferl.org/content/almaty-gay-club-pushkin-qurmanghazy-kissing-advertisment-fine-trial/26605461.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/almaty-gay-club-pushkin-qurmanghazy-kissing-advertisment-fine-trial/26605461.htmlhttp://www.rferl.org/content/almaty-gay-club-pushkin-qurmanghazy-kissing-advertisment-fine-trial/26605461.htmlhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/27/gay-club-advert-controversy-kazakhstanhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ghani-abdullah-agree-to-share-power-in-afghanistan-as-election-stalemate-ends/2014/09/21/df58749a-416e-11e4-9a15-137aa0153527_story.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/22/world/asia/afghan-presidential-election.htmlhttp://en.itar-tass.com/economy/751107http://top.rbc.ru/economics/24/09/2014/951120.shtmlhttp://www.azernews.az/region/71185.htmlhttp://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/60325.htmlhttp://news.asiaone.com/news/relax/new-direct-flights-between-singapore-and-mongolia-launchedhttp://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-direct-flight/1379258.htmlhttp://en.trend.az/business/finance/2315756.htmlhttp://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48838#.VCQ7TGddUXdhttp://www.azernews.az/region/71088.htmlhttp://www.akipress.com/news:548151/http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/24/world/meast/iran-rouhani/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-24/cameron-meets-rouhani-as-u-k-iran-ties-thaw-after-embassy-raid.html


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

On Monday, the US State Department announced a $500million arms deal with Poland, to include the sale of 40medium-range missiles. The AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs) have a 250-mile rangeand would give Poland the capacity to launch air strikes onRussia from within its own borders. The arms deal alsoincludes upgrades to Polands fleet of jet fighters.

Congressional approval is still required before the deal can befinalized.

Romania Insider Business Review

A Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation visited Slovakia thisweek in an effort to boost bilateral relations. Officials fromthe two countries discussed increasing cooperation,particularly in the areas of investment, trade, and health.The Slovak Foreign Ministry also announced support forKuwaits bid for a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations

Security Council.

Alkuwaityah Kuwait News Agency

Romanias head of intelligence, Teodor Melescanu,

announced his resignation on Monday and filed forcandidacy in the countrys upcoming presidential elections.

A total of fourteen candidates officially entered the racebefore the filing deadline on Tuesday, including the currentprime minister and frontrunner Victor Ponta. The electionwill determine who will replace the incumbent president,

Traian Basescu, who is finishing his second term.

Ceske Noviny Wall Street JournalFIFAABC.au

On Wednesday, the Latvian Security Police expressed theirconcern at the high numbers of Russians applying forLatvian residency permits. While the police stated that theindividuals, themselves, do not pose a threat to Latviansecurity, the Russian rhetoric to defend [its] citizens

abroad means that the presence of a large Russian

population could pose a security issue. More than 90% ofapplicants seeking residency permits in Latvia come fromcountries of the former Soviet Union.

Baltic Course Global Post

Telegraph Washington Times

Lithuania has filed an international claim against Russian gasgiant Gazprom, stating that the company overchargedLithuania for gas supplies from 20042012. Vilnius isseeking $1.66 billion in compensation from the company.The case is being heard at Stockholms InternationalArbitration Court. At the moment, Gazprom is the onlynatural gas supplier to Lithuania.

Delfi

Due to allegations of match manipulation, FIFA has bannedthirteen Estonian players. Russian player Yaroslav Dmitrievis subject to a worldwide life ban, while the other twelveplayers have been banned for up to six months. Accordingto FIFA, "The Estonian FA has been cooperating withnational judicial authorities after the state prosecutor officeopened fraud investigations in 2011 and has subsequentlyopened its own proceedings against several players.

A letter addressed to President Zeman and delivered toPrague Castle that was found to contain white powder, hasbeen determined not poisonous. The letter was written onbehalf of the Islamic State (IS) and protested Czech militarysupport to Iraqi Kurds who have been fighting the IScoalition. Czech authorities are currently investigating thecase further.

In his address at the Clinton Global Initiative in New Yorkon Tuesday, President Obama criticized the Hungariangovernment for its current crackdown on civil society. FromHungary to Egypt, endless regulations and overt intimidationincreasingly target civil society,- Obama declared. TheHungarian Foreign Minister replied to the statement bysaying that Obamas remarkslacked any factual basis.

Politics.hu Standart

Moscow Times
http://www.romania-insider.com/whos-in-the-race-for-romanias-presidential-seat/132002/http://www.romania-insider.com/whos-in-the-race-for-romanias-presidential-seat/132002/http://business-review.eu/featured/14-candidates-for-romanias-presidential-elections-70744http://business-review.eu/featured/14-candidates-for-romanias-presidential-elections-70744http://en.alkuwaityah.com/Article.aspx?id=15782http://en.alkuwaityah.com/Article.aspx?id=15782http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2399048&language=enhttp://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2399048&language=enhttp://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/powder-addressed-to-zeman-harmless-also-appears-at-govt-office/1127189http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/powder-addressed-to-zeman-harmless-also-appears-at-govt-office/1127189http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2014/09/24/letter-to-czech-president-analyzed-for-possible-poison/http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2014/09/24/letter-to-czech-president-analyzed-for-possible-poison/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=2443661/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=2443661/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-25/estonia-slovakia-players-banned-worldwide-over-match-fixing/5770334http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-25/estonia-slovakia-players-banned-worldwide-over-match-fixing/5770334http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/legislation/?doc=96783http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/legislation/?doc=96783http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140924/roundup-latvian-economy-benefits-non-resident-investmenthttp://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140924/roundup-latvian-economy-benefits-non-resident-investmenthttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/11113741/US-to-sell-missiles-to-Poland-amid-Russia-tensions.htmlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/11113741/US-to-sell-missiles-to-Poland-amid-Russia-tensions.htmlhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/23/us-sell-cruise-missiles-poland-deterrent-russia/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/23/us-sell-cruise-missiles-poland-deterrent-russia/http://en.delfi.lt/lithuania/energy/stockholm-arbitration-to-hear-lithuanias-claim-against-gazprom-next-year.d?id=65947694http://en.delfi.lt/lithuania/energy/stockholm-arbitration-to-hear-lithuanias-claim-against-gazprom-next-year.d?id=65947694http://www.politics.hu/20140925/us-government-informed-about-hungary-situation-through-embassy-says-diplomat/http://www.politics.hu/20140925/us-government-informed-about-hungary-situation-through-embassy-says-diplomat/http://www.standartnews.com/english/read/hungarys_orban_harshly_criticized_by_barack_obama_for_messing_with_peoples_freedom-5470.htmlhttp://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/lithuania-presses-ahead-with-1-8-billion-claim-against-russia-s-gazprom-/507819.htmlhttp://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/lithuania-presses-ahead-with-1-8-billion-claim-against-russia-s-gazprom-/507819.htmlhttp://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/lithuania-presses-ahead-with-1-8-billion-claim-against-russia-s-gazprom-/507819.htmlhttp://www.standartnews.com/english/read/hungarys_orban_harshly_criticized_by_barack_obama_for_messing_with_peoples_freedom-5470.htmlhttp://www.politics.hu/20140925/us-government-informed-about-hungary-situation-through-embassy-says-diplomat/http://en.delfi.lt/lithuania/energy/stockholm-arbitration-to-hear-lithuanias-claim-against-gazprom-next-year.d?id=65947694http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/23/us-sell-cruise-missiles-poland-deterrent-russia/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/11113741/US-to-sell-missiles-to-Poland-amid-Russia-tensions.htmlhttp://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140924/roundup-latvian-economy-benefits-non-resident-investmenthttp://www.baltic-course.com/eng/legislation/?doc=96783http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-25/estonia-slovakia-players-banned-worldwide-over-match-fixing/5770334http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=2443661/http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2014/09/24/letter-to-czech-president-analyzed-for-possible-poison/http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/powder-addressed-to-zeman-harmless-also-appears-at-govt-office/1127189http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2399048&language=enhttp://en.alkuwaityah.com/Article.aspx?id=15782http://business-review.eu/featured/14-candidates-for-romanias-presidential-elections-70744http://www.romania-insider.com/whos-in-the-race-for-romanias-presidential-seat/132002/


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On Thursday, the European Commission announced that itis opening infringement procedures against Bulgaria overthe countrys response to its banking crisis. The proceedingsare in response to the freezing operations of Corpbank(KTB) in June, which has left the banks clients unable toaccess their money for three months; this comes as aviolation of the ECs Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS)Directive.

Reuters Novinite

Kosovo continues to struggle to stem the tide of ISISrecruits from the country. Current estimates place thenumber of Kosovars fighting for ISIS at 100 to 200.President Atifete Jahjaga of Kosovo announced that as partof the effort to combat the threat of ISIS and reduce thenumber of recruits from Kosovo, her government will bepushing for increasing punishment for association withterrorist organizations like ISIS to up to 15 yearsimprisonment.

FOX News Al Jazeera

Monday marked the beginning of Pride week in Belgrade,ending with a planned Pride Parade on the 28th. The paradehas received harsh criticism from Serbian Orthodox Churchleaders, with Patriarch Irinej commenting that shamelessevent casts a moral shadow over Serbia. In 2010, right-winggroups attacked a pride march in Belgrade, ending in clasheswith police and over 100 people injured. Authorities bannedPride marches ever ear since then, citin the violence.

News & Observer Huffington Post

The chief of the Croatian State Asset Management Bureau,Mladen Pejnovic, announced that in 2015 the country willrelaunch the sale of its last major state-owened bankHrvatska Postanska Banka (HPB. Last year, Croatia rejecteda bid from Austrias Erste Bank for being too low. Sinc ejoining the European Union in 2013, Croatia has onlyprivatized one major company, the top insurer Croatia

Osiguranje.

Dalje Reuters

Pope Francis made his first trip as pope to a Europeancountry outside Italy by a visit to Albania over the weekend.During the trip, the Pope condemned Islamist militants,saying that no religious group which uses violence andoppression can claim to be the armor of God. Pope Francis

later addressed a crowd in Rome with reference to his trip,hailing Albania as a model of inter-faith harmony with itsmajority Muslim and minority Christian population.

On Tuesday, the Bank of Slovenia forecasted the countrysgrowth to be 1.6 percent for 2014. The Bank of Sloveniasaid in a separate statement that local banks made a netprofit of 113.8 million euros in the first half of this yearcompared to a net loss of 263.6 million euros for the sameperiod in 2013. Slovenia is eager to reemerge from a years-long recession into which it fell a year after adopting theEuro.

Reuters Global Post

ReutersCatholic News Service Gov. of MontenegroIBNA

BalkanInsightRIA Novosti

The government of Macedonia will send a protest note tothe U.S. after newly-appointed U.S. Ambassador toMacedonia, Jess Bailey, referred to the Macedonianpopulation as Slavs in front of the Senate Foreign

Relations Committee. Although, in the speech Bailey alsoreferred to the same ethnic population as Macedonian, hisuse of the term Slav was perceived as derogatory in light

of the longstanding dispute with Greece over the nations

formal name.

ChinasExim Bank has approved a 687 million euro loan toMontenegro for construction of the priority section of theBar-Boljare highway. Construction is planned to start at theend of 2014 and is expected to last four years. The projecthas been in the works since 2008. Since then, Podgorica hasstruggled to find financial backers and reliable contractors.Montenegro is the only country in the region lacking any sort

of highway infrastructure.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/25/bulgaria-banking-europeancommission-idUSR5N0P600B20140925http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/25/bulgaria-banking-europeancommission-idUSR5N0P600B20140925http://www.novinite.com/articles/163604/EC+Opens+Infringement+Proceedings+Against+Bulgaria+over+KTBhttp://www.novinite.com/articles/163604/EC+Opens+Infringement+Proceedings+Against+Bulgaria+over+KTBhttp://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/09/23/kosovo-president-europe-cant-be-corridor-for-islamic-jihad/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/09/23/kosovo-president-europe-cant-be-corridor-for-islamic-jihad/http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/9/23/kosovo-tries-to-stemflowofisilrecruits.htmlhttp://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/9/23/kosovo-tries-to-stemflowofisilrecruits.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2014/09/23/4175065/head-of-serb-church-denounces.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2014/09/23/4175065/head-of-serb-church-denounces.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/26/serbia-gay-pride-march-_n_5887270.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/26/serbia-gay-pride-march-_n_5887270.htmlhttp://dalje.com/en-croatia/croatian-postal-bank-to-be-offered-for-sale-again-in-2015/523189http://dalje.com/en-croatia/croatian-postal-bank-to-be-offered-for-sale-again-in-2015/523189http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/25/croatia-privatisation-idUSL6N0RP33020140925http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/25/croatia-privatisation-idUSL6N0RP33020140925http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/23/slovenia-cbank-idUSL6N0RO3R420140923http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/23/slovenia-cbank-idUSL6N0RO3R420140923http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140923/slovenias-economy-forecast-grow-16-pct-2014http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140923/slovenias-economy-forecast-grow-16-pct-2014http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2014/09/22/pope-francis-on-trip-to-mainly-muslim-albania-condemns-islamist-militants/http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2014/09/22/pope-francis-on-trip-to-mainly-muslim-albania-condemns-islamist-militants/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1403952.htmhttp://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1403952.htmhttp://www.gov.me/en/News/141785/Exim-Bank.htmlhttp://www.gov.me/en/News/141785/Exim-Bank.htmlhttp://www.balkaneu.com/montenegro-chinese-exim-bank-approves-loan-bar-boljare-highways-priority-section/http://www.balkaneu.com/montenegro-chinese-exim-bank-approves-loan-bar-boljare-highways-priority-section/http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-at-odds-with-new-us-ambassadorhttp://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-at-odds-with-new-us-ambassadorhttp://en.ria.ru/world/20140922/193180986/Newly-Appointed-US-Ambassador-to-Macedonia-Negates-Macedonians.htmlhttp://en.ria.ru/world/20140922/193180986/Newly-Appointed-US-Ambassador-to-Macedonia-Negates-Macedonians.htmlhttp://en.ria.ru/world/20140922/193180986/Newly-Appointed-US-Ambassador-to-Macedonia-Negates-Macedonians.htmlhttp://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-at-odds-with-new-us-ambassadorhttp://www.balkaneu.com/montenegro-chinese-exim-bank-approves-loan-bar-boljare-highways-priority-section/http://www.gov.me/en/News/141785/Exim-Bank.htmlhttp://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1403952.htmhttp://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2014/09/22/pope-francis-on-trip-to-mainly-muslim-albania-condemns-islamist-militants/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140923/slovenias-economy-forecast-grow-16-pct-2014http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/23/slovenia-cbank-idUSL6N0RO3R420140923http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/25/croatia-privatisation-idUSL6N0RP33020140925http://dalje.com/en-croatia/croatian-postal-bank-to-be-offered-for-sale-again-in-2015/523189http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/26/serbia-gay-pride-march-_n_5887270.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2014/09/23/4175065/head-of-serb-church-denounces.htmlhttp://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/9/23/kosovo-tries-to-stemflowofisilrecruits.htmlhttp://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/09/23/kosovo-president-europe-cant-be-corridor-for-islamic-jihad/http://www.novinite.com/articles/163604/EC+Opens+Infringement+Proceedings+Against+Bulgaria+over+KTBhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/25/bulgaria-banking-europeancommission-idUSR5N0P600B20140925


6/6

The head of USAID in Bosnia, David Barth, as well asDefense Attache Scott Miller, accused the Bosniangovernment of failing to aid its citizens after the devastatingfloods in May this year. They claimed that local leaders haveinstead used the flood tragedy for cronyism, partyadvantage, backroom deals and blame shifting. In Barthwords flood recovery would not have been possible withoutaid from the EU, USAID, and Norwa .

ABC News Transitions
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-officials-condemn-bosnia-leaders-flood-aid-25618192http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-officials-condemn-bosnia-leaders-flood-aid-25618192http://www.tol.org/client/article/24481-ukraine-economic-news-is-all-bad-imf-holds-bosnias-fiscal-feet-to-the-fire.htmlhttp://www.tol.org/client/article/24481-ukraine-economic-news-is-all-bad-imf-holds-bosnias-fiscal-feet-to-the-fire.htmlhttp://www.tol.org/client/article/24481-ukraine-economic-news-is-all-bad-imf-holds-bosnias-fiscal-feet-to-the-fire.htmlhttp://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-officials-condemn-bosnia-leaders-flood-aid-25618192

ceres news digest vol.5 week 4-; sept.22-26

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