http://www.transconflict.com TransConflict, an organization undertaking conflict transformation projects and research throughout the Western Balkans en-uk Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News TransConflict ian.bancroft@transconflict.com info@animanx.co.uk http://www.transconflict.com/News/2010/March/Does_Serbia_really_want_Ganic.php Florian Bieber Despite requesting the extradition of Ejup Ganic - which has already damaged relations between Bosnia and Serbia, and will negatively impact this autumn's elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina - it remains far from clear whether Serbia possesses the will to actually try Ganic in court. Tue, 9 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2010/March/Kosovo_what_is_wrong_with_negotiations_anyway.php Gerard Gallucci Further negotiations to seek an accommodation based upon forms of shared or overlapping sovereignty may offer the only way forward for Kosovo – thereby avoiding continued stalemate, renewed conflict or outright partition. Tue, 2 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2010/February/The_EU_should_offer_more_than_just_a_box_of_chocolates.php Maja Šarkanović-Volk Speeding-up the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU will require the creation of new momentum through greater financial investment and the deployment of individuals with significant political and diplomatic clout. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2010/February/No_selective_neutrality.php Mirjana Kosić Calls for a referendum in Serbia on NATO membership are motivated not by a desire for an open and transparent debate on the issue of collective security, but by narrow political interests. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2010/February/Montenegro_in-between_Serbia_and_Kosovo.php M. Bogetic Montenegro must tread carefully in order to resolve its outstanding issues with Serbia and Kosovo, with the latter required to fulfill three key conditions – border demarcation, the sustainable return of displaced persons and recognition of the ethnic Montenegrin community - before full diplomatic relations will be established. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2010/February/Dayton_Bosnia_may_be_over_but_what_next.php Florian Bieber Rather than advocating one solution to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ongoing crisis, the EU should offer a range, or menu, of reform options – all leading to EU membership. Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2010/January/Croatia_Serbia_and_the_crime_of_genocide.php Petar Jordanoski Serbia and Croatia should move to drop their respective claims for genocide and instead work together to solve their remaining problems, for the sake of both good neighbourly relations and the wider region. Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2010/January/Kosovo_Okay_Really_Whats_Next.php Gerrard Gallucci With 2009 having ended much as it began, the international community must continue to pursue a peacekeeping approach to the north in order to keep alive the possibility of a negotiated outcome. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2010/January/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina_time_for_constitutional_reform.php Luca Roberto Foti The European Court of Human Rights’ ruling on the discriminatory nature of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitution should provide fresh impetuses to stalled reform talks. Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2010/January/Three_good_ways_to_end_2009_in_the_Western_Balkans.php Florian Bieber Three key decisions at the end of 2009 – visa liberalization, Serbia’s application for EU membership and the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitution - provide significant momentum for the Western Balkans in 2010. Mon, 4 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/December/NATO_and_Serbia_black_and_white_world.php Mirjana Kosic Should we want to talk about these unpleasant and painful topics, let’s be professional and responsible enough to present all the facts. Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/December/Reflexions_on_working_in_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina.php Reverend Donald Reeves Nine years of working in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Soul of Europe has taught a number of important lessons about the need for a coherent and integrated framework for peace-building, including greater attentiveness towards religious and business issues. Tue, 8 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/December/Macedonia_is_the_name_issue_close_to_an_end.php Luca Roberto Foti A Greek veto at the upcoming EU council meeting threatens to further fuel growing animosity in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Fri, 4 Dec 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/December/Kosovo_partitioning_what_from_what.php Gerard Gallucci Though partition is far from the best way to resolve the Kosovo question, it is a political option for Kosovo as part of a final status resolution and has been used by one side already. Wed, 2 Dec 2009 11:43:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/November/Montenegro_on_its_way_towards_the_EU_and_NATO.php M. Bogetic Whilst Montenegro continues to make visible progress towards achieving its key foreign policy priorities, further steps are required to ensure that its internal reform processes maintain a similar pace Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/November/Republika_Srpska_After_Independence.php Matthew Parish Bosnia's war ended with a partition plan, which the international community subsequently used all its efforts to undermine and create a unified state. Now the west's power in the country has receded, the natural logic of the Dayton Peace Accords has reemerged, and the country is likely to break apart. This article suggests that now the international community's best response to the imminent Bosnian fracture may be to reluctantly accept it. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/November/The_Partnership_for_Peace_Programme_Opportunities_for_Serbia.php Ian Bancroft TransConflict Serbia, in conjunction with the Youth Dialogue Programme, held its second workshop in Fruska Gora on November 14-15th, entitled 'The Partnership for Peace Programme – Opportunities for Serbia?'. The event was again generously supported by Jagello 2000 - Association for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, the foremost Czech actor in the field of communication strategies concerning membership of NATO and security policy in general. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/November/Fixing_the_institutions_will_not_fix_Bosnia_to_Butmir_or_not_to_butt_mir.php Florian Bieber Instead of being hammered out in EUFOR bases in emergency-style meetings, constitutional reform in Bosnia and Herzgovina should be a gradual process which is not understood as a short term initiative. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/November/Building_secure_communities_in_the_Western_Balkans.php Ian Bancroft TransConflict has launched an on-line campaign, in conjunction with Global Giving's Project Challenge, to raise funds for a project designed to improve community security by mobilizing local communities to identify and assess security problems, and to initiate practical activities to address issues of local concern. Mon, 9 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/November/Kosovo_what_is_to_be_done.php Gerard Gallucci With the International Court of Justice's verdict on the legality of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence likely to be tilted in Serbia's favour, possible elements of a future negotiation scenario, centred upon an Ahtisaari-plus approach, can already be discerned. Thu, 5 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/October/Barking_up_the_wrong_tree_in_Bosnia.php Ian Bancroft Bosnia and Herzegovina has made progress along its road map, but the international community is focusing on the wrong issues Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:22:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/October/From_Russia_with_loans.php Ian Bancroft The agreements signed during president Medvedev's visit to Belgrade not only reinforce Russia's economic influence over Serbia, but also demonstrate that relations between the two will not be impeded or diminished by Serbia's accession towards Europe Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/October/The_concept_of_international_security_and_the_evolving_role_of_NATO.php Marko Savkovic NATO has survived the end of the Cold War by adopting new missions, changing conceptually, taking in new members and by invoking article five (mutual defence) after being faced with the challenges September 11 posed to global security. Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/October/Prioritising_rights_over_regions.php Ian Bancroft Instead of renewing calls for the establishment of a “Presevo Valley region”, ethnic Albanian politicians should focus on establishing an Albanian National Council in order to effectively uphold their minority rights Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/October/Serbia_requires_patience_over_Europe.php Ian Bancroft Despite Ireland's affirmation of the Lisbon Treaty, Serbia should refrain from applying for candidacy until the interim trade agreement is unblocked Wed, 7 Oct 2009 20:16:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/October/Bosnia_ethnic_disarmament.php Charles Crawford With Bosnia's leaders unimpressed by the EU's remote carrots, a New Deal is required; one that offers fast-track EU membership in return for a new constitution Thu, 1 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/September/Kosovo_and_the_Ahtisaari_Plan.php Gerard Gallucci In the absence of a status agreement, the Quint must look at the Ahtisaari Plan once more by re-engaging Russia and focusing on trying to fill in the details through a new round of talks between Belgrade and Pristina. Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:35:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/September/Balkan_Competitiveness.php Ian Bancroft Whilst two recently published reports on reform and competitiveness demonstrate progress by several Western Balkan countries, further structural reforms are required to mitigate the impact of the global economic downturn Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/September/NATO_Days_in_Ostrava_2009.php Ian Bancroft and Mirjana Kosic The ninth annual NATO Days in Ostrava attracted a record number of visitors and international participants. Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/September/Beijing_the_fourth_pillar_of_Serbian_foreign_policy.php Ian Bancroft A recently signed strategic partnership agreement between Serbia and China means that Beijing is now firmly established as the fourth pillar of Serbian foreign policy. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/September/Peacekeeping_in_Kosovo.php Gerard Gallucci Peacekeeping in Kosovo requires continuous efforts to help local Albanians and Serbs co-exist next to each other while working to find ways for them to cooperate and work together. Any effort to force the northern Serbs into Kosovo institutions will lead either to violence or ethnic flight Thu, 3 Sep 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/August/Clashes_in_Kosovo.php Ian Bancroft A series of clashes in Kosovo have further exposed EULEXís perceived and actual shortcomings with respect to its proclaimed status neutrality Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/August/Joint_Endeavour.php Mirjana Kosic The controversy generated by Operation "Joint Endeavour" in the Republika Srpska demonstrates the need for NATO to better articulate the purpose, objectives and benefits of such initiatives Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/August/Protocol_for_cooperation.php Ian Bancroft The expected signing of a co-operation protocol between EULEX and Serbia's Interior Ministry represents a constructive step towards strengthening the rule of law in Kosovo Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/August/Premature_Withdrawal.php Mirjana Kosic With NATOís New Secretary General making his first official visit to Kosovo, speculation about possible troop withdrawals ignores the present security challenges Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/August/The_politics_of_regionalisation.php Ian Bancroft Following on the heels of a declaration demanding the "unconditional withdrawal" of the Gendermarie from southern Serbia, ethnic Albanian politicians have called for the establishment of a separate "Presevo Valley region" Tue, 4 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/July/Politicising_future_NATO_membership.php Mirjana Kosic Despite an apparent consensus about Bosnia and Herzegovina's future membership in NATO, the political dynamics of the Republika Srpska augurs both caution and reserve Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/July/Missing_Out_On_Europe.php Ian Bancroft The Croatian prime minister's resignation is a symptom of fading hopes for EU membership in the western Balkans Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/July/Seeking_Unilateral_Withdrawal.php Ian Bancroft A declaration by the Preöevo municipal assembly calling for the "unconditional withdrawal" of the Gendarmerie highlights the extent of mistrust and insecurity felt in southern Serbia Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/July/Precarious_Presevo.php Ian Bancroft The second serious incident in the space of a week in the Preöevo Valley region of southern Serbia has re-enforced the need for ethnic Albanian politicians to strengthen their involvement in the work of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Preöevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/July/Simmering_Tensions_In_The_South.php Ian Bancroft A grenade attack on the Gendarmerie near Bujanovac, in southern Serbia, has exposed the fragility of the region and the need for tangible steps to improve relations between the security infrastructure and the various local communities. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/July/Walking_the_Kosovo_tightrope.php Ian Bancroft With Kosovo's status under debate, the EU's rule-of-law mission must remain neutral if it is to ensure stability in the region Mon, 6 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/July/Indexing_peace.php Ian Bancroft Whilst the Global Peace Index for 2009 shows that the world has become slightly less peaceful in the past year, each respective country of the Western Balkans has enjoyed a marked improvement compared to 2008 Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/June/Evading_the_Rule_of_Law.php Ian Bancroft The failure to extradite Agim Ceku, the former prime minister of Kosovo, represents a further blow to international law and good neighbourly relations in the Western Balkans. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/June/Financial_Folly.php Ian Bancroft The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's failure to implement public spending reductions is jeopardizing the country's stand-by agreement with the IMF. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/June/Economic_(re)integration_Versus_Protectionism.php Ian Bancroft An agreement on economic co-operation between Serbia and Republika Srpska stands in stark contrast to protectionist measures passed by the parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/June/EULEX_and_Minority_Communities_in_Kosovo.php Ian Bancroft TransConflict's Co-Founders, Mr. Ian Bancroft and Ms. Mirjana Kosic, recently took part in a three-day workshop organized by the Youth Dialogue Programme, in conjunction with the EULEX Mission in Kosovo, entitled, "EULEX and Minority Communities in Kosovo". Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/June/The_success_of_subsidiarity.php Ian Bancroft Whilst the issue of devolution and decentralisation continues to cause controversy and conjecture throughout the Western Balkans, a new report concludes that regions with more powers and competencies are economically more successful. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/June/The_flight_of_Kosovos_minorities.php Ian Bancroft The EU insists that Kosovo is a tolerant and multi-ethnic society. So why are its minorities leaving? Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/June/Bide_visit_muddies_Balkan_waters.php Ian Bancroft The appointment of a US special envoy to the Balkans would only serve to undermine the legitimacy and leverage of the EU Mon, 8 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/June/Serbias_ICTY_Obstacle.php Ian Bancroft In spite of largely positive assessments from the ICTY's chief prosecutor, the USA and Amnesty International concerning co-operation with The Hague Tribunal, The Netherlands remains unwilling to soften its stance towards unblocking Serbia's SAA and interim trade agreement with the EU. Wed, 3 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/May/InTheRedInTheBalkans.php Ian Bancroft The global financial crisis has both magnified and exacerbated the shortcomings of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sun, 31 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/May/TihicReElectedBrankovicResigns.php Ian Bancroft Two significant political developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina will have important repercussions for the process of constitutional reform and the country's deal with the IMF. Fri, 29 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/May/KosovosSerbsMustReturn.php Ian Bancroft The international community has failed to ensure the safe return of hundreds of thousands of people expelled from their homes Tue, 12 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/May/AgreementOnReconstructingTheCoordinationBody.php Ian Bancroft After an absence of almost three-years, Albanian leaders from southern Serbia have returned to the Co-ordination Body for Preöevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, after an agreement was reached on restructuring the Body's composition and competencies. Sun, 10 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.transconflict.com/News/2009/March/SerbiasAnniversaryIsATimelyReminder.php Ian Bancroft Nato's intervention over Kosovo in 1999 was an important precursor to the invasion of Iraq four years later Tue, 24 March 2009 09:00:00 GMT