International Business News - MKD http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif The government on Thursday announced plans for a euro330 million ($425.7 million) support package to alleviate the impact of the financial crisis on the local economy. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081127/macedonia-unveils-euro330-million-economic-aid-plan.htm Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:45:19 EST Croatia's president urged Balkan leaders on Friday to boost economic cooperation as a means of limiting regional fallout from the global economic crisis. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081121/balkan-leaders-hold-regional-economic-summit.htm Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:28:18 EST Nearly all top-seeded teams won their matches in the opening round of the Chess Olympiad in Germany on Thursday, although not all by the 4-0 margins that one saw in years past. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081113/us-defeats-iceland-in-1st-chess-olympiad-round.htm Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:59:26 EST Investigators say a fire that destroyed a church being constructed for a predominantly black congregation was intentionally set. But they say there's no evidence the arson was a hate crime, except for the timing of the fire hours after the nation elected its first black president. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081108/church-fire-set-but-no-proof-of-hate-crime.htm Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:38:14 EST The seat of Clinton County sits along a river at the foot of a spectacular mountain range in rural central Pennsylvania. On Election Day, what happened here was a microcosm of American duality: Just 327 votes separated John McCain, who won the county, and Barack Obama, who didn't. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/170960-measure-of-a-nation-drawing-together.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081108/bloody-then-buddies-its-still-the-american-way.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081108/bloody-then-buddies-its-still-the-american-way.htm Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:42:05 EST Two brothers from Kosovo were convicted Thursday of running a massive drug smuggling ring that prosecutors said supplied Western Europe with up to half of its heroin. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081030/swiss-court-2-kosovo-men-guilty-of-drug-smuggling.htm Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:39:02 EDT The Bush administration plans to remove visa requirements for the citizens of seven allied countries, congressional aides said Thursday. President Bush will announce Friday that Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and South Korea will be added to the U.S. visa waiver program as early as next month, the aides told The Associated Press. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081016/sources-us-to-waive-visa-rules-for-7-countries.htm Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:54:17 EDT Police fired tear gas at thousands of angry pro-Serb Montenegrins who pelted state buildings and fired flares Monday to protest their government's recognition of Kosovo's independence. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/151452-montenegro-kosovo-serbia.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081013/police-clash-with-protesters-in-montenegro.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081013/police-clash-with-protesters-in-montenegro.htm Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:35:26 EDT Serbia expelled the Macedonian ambassador Friday, reflecting its fury over the recognition of Kosovo's independence by its closest neighbors. Montenegro's envoy had already been ordered out Thursday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081010/serbia-furious-after-neighbors-recognize-kosovo.htm Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:28:59 EDT Macedonia has recognized Kosovo's independence hours after a similar move by Montenegro. Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki says his government approved recognition after Macedonia's parliament adopted a resolution in its favor by an overwhelming majority. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081009/macedonian-recognizes-kosovo-independence.htm Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:01:27 EDT U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Macedonia on Wednesday to resolve a dispute over its name with neighboring Greece if it wants to join NATO. Macedonia has been at odds with Greece over the former Yugoslav republic's name since it gained independence 17 years ago. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081008/gates-urges-macedonia-to-resolve-name-dispute.htm Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:50:58 EDT NATO allies must send either more forces or more money for the fight in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates will argue this week as he meets with NATO defense ministers. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/147316-macedonia-gates.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081008/gates-backs-ukraines-nato-hopes-yet-unrest-grows.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081008/gates-backs-ukraines-nato-hopes-yet-unrest-grows.htm Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:08:20 EDT Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday said the U.S. is committed to keeping troops in Kosovo through late next year despite strong Russian opposition to creation of the world's newest country this year. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081007/us-defense-chief-us-forces-in-kosovo-thru-2009.htm Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:21:20 EDT The United States will continue its troop presence in Kosovo until at least late next year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said just before he arrived here Tuesday, reaffirming U.S. support for the newly declared nation in the face of stern opposition from Russia. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/146653-gates.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081007/gates-us-to-remain-in-kosovo-through-late-2009.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081007/gates-us-to-remain-in-kosovo-through-late-2009.htm Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:27:14 EDT Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday endorsed efforts to reach out to members of the Taliban or other militants in Afghanistan who may be considered reconcilable, much like what has happened in Iraq. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081006/gates-afghan-militants-key-to-countrys-future.htm Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:34:02 EDT U.S. and NATO allies will embrace fledgling Eastern European nations during international meetings this week, in a what will be seen as a sharp message to Russia that further aggression in the region will not be tolerated. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/146207-gates.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081006/us-defense-chief-meets-nato-amid-russia-tension.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081006/us-defense-chief-meets-nato-amid-russia-tension.htm Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:02:05 EDT Balkan countries' central bank chiefs agreed Friday that the global financial crisis would have a limited effect on the region. "Currently banks that have strong presence in the region have no direct exposure to markets which are under severe pressure," central bankers from nine Balkan countries said in a joint statement. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081003/bankers-little-balkan-impact-from-global-crisis.htm Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:39:10 EDT The Macedonian parliament on Saturday stripped two ethnic Albanian deputies of immunity from prosecution for crimes allegedly committed during the country's 2001 ethnic conflict. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080927/macedonian-parliament-strips-deputies-of-immunity.htm Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:58:20 EDT Authorities have seized dozens of stolen ancient artifacts after raiding the homes of two suspected antiquities smugglers in southern Macedonia. Police confiscated about 70 archaeological items, including coins, terracotta figurines, pieces of silver and bronze jewelry and amphora dating from the Hellenistic and Roman periods in the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C., police spokesman Ivo Kotevski said Wednesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080924/macedonian-police-seize-stolen-antiquities.htm Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:28:34 EDT The new president of the U.N. General Assembly opened its 63rd annual session Tuesday by accusing some of the world body's most powerful members of relying on warfare. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080916/new-un-president-chides-security-council-powers.htm Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:17:40 EDT