Michael's Morning 7 - 12 May

I. Western Balkans pin hopes on lifting EU visa restrictions

As their prospects of early European Union membership appear to have faded, Western Balkan countries are pinning their hopes on joining the EU's Schengen visa-free travel area. Except for Croatia, all Western Balkan countries - and Turkey - are included on the so-called Schengen 'black' visa list, which requires citizens to obtain visas before travelling to the EU's border-free area. Last year, the European Commission put in place a 'roadmap' and 'benchmarks' for visa liberalisation for Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and lastly Bosnia and Herzegovina (EurActiv 26/05/08). Kosovo appears to be a 'sui generis' case, as it is not recognised by all EU countries. n addition, the unresolved conflict in Kosovo makes it difficult for the EU to decide on lifting the visa regime for Belgrade. If visas were abolished, ethnic Albanians from Kosovo would be able to claim Serbian passports.

II. Putin urges Japanese investment in energy

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin urged Japanese business leaders in Tokyo Tuesday to invest more in Russia's energy resource development. Putin, noting Moscow was ready for a dialogue with Japanese companies, said the first phase of a huge oil pipeline project in Serbia to is finished and Russia is seeking Japanese investment for the project's second phase.

III. Turkey blasts French, German 'shortage of vision' on EU

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Tuesday that "a shortage of vision" was behind German and French objections to his country's struggling bid to join the European Union. Turkey began membership talks in 2005, but it has so far opened negotiations on only 10 of the 35 policy areas that candidates must complete, amid a trade row with Cyprus and strong opposition in some EU countries to its accession. Turkish officials have accused particularly France of hampering progress in the talks.

IV. Cyprus launches one billion euro bond May 18

Cyprus will make a rare appearance on international bond markets on May 18 with a four year bond, seeking one billion euros to turn over maturing public debt. The issue, the first major foray of the island to international markets since 2004 and the largest it has ever undertaken, represents part of about 1.9 billion euros in net debt the Mediterranean island has maturing until the end of this year.

V. OSCE Chairperson urges renewed commitment to peaceful resolution on 15th anniversary of Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, expressed hope today that the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would make further progress towards a peaceful settlement, and urged them to implement fully the provisions of the ceasefire, including pulling back snipers from the front lines. "We must also keep in mind that despite the important ceasefire that was signed 15 years ago, the situation on the ground remains extremely volatile, and tragically, lives continue to be lost. Further confidence-building measures are necessary, and I urge the parties to respect all provisions of the ceasefire, as well as the proposals of the Co-Chairs at the 2008 Helsinki OSCE Ministerial Conference to withdraw snipers from the front lines."

VI. Egypt's pig cull fans sectarian tension

Egypt's decision to ignore U.N. advice and cull its pigs over flu fears has unintentionally fanned sectarian tensions in the mainly Muslim country. "The Christians are Egypt's garbage men, and we are not liked." Christians account for about 10 percent of Egypt's population, spanning all social classes. Relations with Muslims are usually harmonious although disputes over land, religious buildings or women occasionally erupt into violence. A government minister has described Egypt's pigs as a time bomb, an Islamist parliamentarian appeared at a session in a protective mask, and the Coptic pope has stepped in to assure Muslims that most of his people don't eat pork. The meat is mainly consumed, he says, by foreign tourists and expatriates.

VII. Christians Urge Turkey to Protect Ancient Monastery

A leading Syriac Christian group urged Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday to protect a fifth-century Christian monastery in eastern Turkey from local officials claiming land the monastery has owned for centuries. The dispute over the boundaries of Mor Gabriel, one of the world's oldest functioning Christian monasteries, has raised concerns over freedom of religion and human rights for non-Muslim minorities in Turkey. Syriacs are one of the oldest communities in Turkey and still speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ. But they are not officially designated a minority in Turkey like the Greeks or Armenians, so have no special protection under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne's provisions for non-Muslim minorities.