10.10.2008 by Lupo.

Hodak murder sparks debate about organised crime

10/10/2008

The shooting of a prominent lawyer’s daughter in broad daylight in Zagreb earlier this week has bloggers calling the Croatian security system and political reactions into question.

By Davor Konjikusic for Southeast European Times — 10/10/08

Mourners leave candles outside Ivana Hodak’s apartment in Zagreb. [Davor Konjikusic]

The murder of 26-year-old Ivana Hodak in Zagreb earlier this week has Croatians up in arms about security in their country and organised crime.

A gunman shot Hodak in the hallway of her apartment building at about 11am. Passersby said a man aged between 30 and 35 years, wearing a grey jacket, ran out of the building afterwards.

The victim’s father, Zvonimir Hodak, is a prominent lawyer. He is currently representing former Croatian General Vladimir Zagorec, whom Austria extradited to Croatia last week to face charges of stealing 3.5m euros’ worth of diamonds used as collateral in wartime arms deals. Her mother, Ljerka Mintas Hodak, is a former deputy prime minister.
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Setimes

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10.10.2008 by HoisseBig.

UN General Assembly backs Serbia’s initiative on Kosovo

09/10/2008

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday (October 8th) adopted a Serbian resolution requesting the International Court of Justice to assess the legality of Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade – 09/10/08

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic called the UN vote “a big success” for Belgrade. [Getty Images]

On Wednesday (October 8th) the UN General Assembly, at Serbia’s initiative, called for the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s February 17th declaration of independence.

Belgrade officials described passage of the initiative as a triumph for Serbian diplomacy, while Pristina politicians voiced disappointment but insisted Kosovo’s independence is irreversible.

Serbia wants the ICJ to determine whether Kosovo’s independence, declared unilaterally by Pristina, “is in line with international law”. Representatives of 77 countries voted in favour. Six opposed it, and 74 abstained.

However, the court may take years to rule and its decisions are not binding for states. According to Belgrade officials, Serbia does not wish to sue the countries that have recognised Kosovo, because that would be contrary to its desire to quickly join the EU.

The UN General Assembly hosted a heated debate prior to passing the resolution. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Rosemary DiCarlo said that Kosovo’s independence complied with international law. British Ambassador to the UN Sir John Sawers said Serbia made its request “primarily for political rather than legal reasons”.

However, the five EU countries that have not recognised Kosovo supported Serbia’s initiative. Spanish representative Juan Antonio Yáñez-Barnuevo said the UN’s stature in the international community made it “a matter of general interest” for the ICJ to assess something as important as Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic called the UN vote “a big success” for Belgrade. He expected tensions now to ease and “matters to be resolved in a far more peaceful atmosphere in the future”.

Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic said the outcome “confirms the validity of Serbia’s struggle”. According to him, Serbia’s end goal is to resume status negotiations.

However, Kosovo officials dismissed such a possibility. Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said “Kosovo’s independence is irreversible.”……………………..

Setimes

How they voted

IN FAVOR of the Serbian resolution requesting ICJ to rule on [il]legality of unilateral secession of its southern Kosovo and Metohija province (77 UN member states):

Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Timor-Leste, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

AGAINST Serbian initiative (6 countries):

Albania, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and United States of America.

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