The Balkan Chronicle

Wednesday, Sep 08th

Last update03:08:37 AM GMT

Headlines

'Get ready for the break up,' warns top Belgian minister

EU austerity policies risk civil war in Greece, warns top German economist Dr Sinn

Bulgarian Minister Praises French Press for Bulgarian-Macedonian Tie, Macedonians probably not.

Persecution of Roma worsens in Europe

In Bulgaria, teachers to decide on ethnicity of their students

Madonna booed in Romania for mentioning Gypsies, while in Bulgaria she is blamed for boat disaster

Thursday, 27 August 2009 22:23 AP

BUCHAREST, Roze_i_djevojcica Romania - At first, fans politely applauded the Roma performers sharing a stage with Madonna. Then the pop star condemned widespread discrimination against Roma, or Gypsies and the cheers gave way to jeers.

The sharp mood change that swept the crowd of 60,000, who had packed a park for Wednesday night's concert, underscores how prejudice against Gypsies remains deeply entrenched across Eastern Europe.

Turkish songs more powerful than diplomacy in Turkic countries

Monday, 29 June 2009 23:00 administrator

Turkish songs, movies and TV series, responding to demands of the globalizing world, have long been Turkey's soft power in Turkic countries.

Their appeal in Azerbaijan, whose language is close to Turkish, is very strong. Languages in the Central Asian republics are less similar, but the appeal of Turkish pop is no less strong.