Macedonia

By Barnaby Phillips in Europe on August 18th, 2010
Photo by AP

I'm off today to the country that I dare not name, lest I offend the Greeks.

Yes, I'm talking about that neighbouring state just to the north.

By Barnaby Phillips in Europe on November 13th, 2009

The European Parliament has endorsed a plan to give citizens from Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia the right to visa-free travel in most of the countries of the European Union.

It's expected that EU governments will give final approval to the plan by the end of the year. For citizens of those three countries, this is great news. Anyone who has travelled through the Western Balkans knows that people there feel cut-off and frustrated by the difficulty of obtaining a visa to go to the EU.

The sense of injustice is exasperated by the fact that, in the old days, citizens of Yugoslavia could travel freely around Europe.

But ... that still leaves Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Except it's not quite that simple, as the Economist explains.

By Barnaby Phillips in Europe on October 29th, 2009

Countries spend alot of money on branding these days; you've probably seen those lavish advertisements on television, for "Incredible India" or "Magical Kenya".

Less celebrated countries, like Kazakhstan, Armenia and Montenegro have got in on the act, trying to throw off negative stereotypes, and project images of beautiful, sun-kissed lands, rich in heritage, with friendly people who are eager to greet visiting tourists and businessmen.  

Now, Kosovo has done the same, with a well-produced 60 second film, coming soon to a television screen near you.

If you can't wait, here it is:

Al Jazeera Live

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