NEWS WATCH: Austria, Germany, Visegrad Group Condemn Belarus Crackdown

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By BosNewsLife News Center BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- The Austrian and German chancellors and prime ministers of Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland have condemned the arrests of dissidents in Belarus and say they support a travel ban and freeze of assets of Belarus officials.

NEWS WATCH: Support for Balkans’ EU Membership Growing

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest hungminister1BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- The Visegrad Group of European Union Foreign Ministers have agreed to support Serbia and other western Balkan countries to become full fledged members of the EU and North Atlantic Treaty Organization, despite remaining nationalistic tensions in the region, even among officials. They made the decision at a special ministerial meeting in Budapest, Tuesday, October 6.

NEWS WATCH: Europe Remembers 9/11 Attacks Amid Heightened Security

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Europe is commemorating the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States amid heightened security after police in Sweden detained four people suspected of plotting a terrorist attack there. Four former Communist nations that joined the EU in the last decade are among the Union's member states commemorating the 9/11 attacks.

NEWS WATCH: Czechs, Slovaks Mark 20 Years of Bloodless Divorce

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Listen to BosNewsLife News report via Voice of America CzechoslovakiaBosNewsLifeRadio By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife CZECHOSLOVAKIAPRAGUE/BRATISLAVA/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Czechs and Slovaks have begun observing the 20th anniversary of the break up of Czechoslovakia into two independent states, amid concerns over economic differences.

EU Legislators Urge Pakistan To Halt Execution Of Christian Woman

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- European legislators have visited Pakistan amid concerns that Christian Asia Bibi, a married mother of five, may become the first woman to be executed by the State on controversial charges of 'blasphemy against Islam.'

NEWS WATCH: Slovakia’s Government Fighting For Survival (Special Feature)

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Slovakia's three-party leftist governing coalition is fighting for survival in a parliamentary election Saturday as it is challenged in a tight race by the center-right opposition. The election campaign has been overshadowed by scandals, nationalism and tensions with neighboring Hungary.

NEWS WATCH: Czech Republic Marks ‘Velvet Revolution’ Anniversary Amid Political Turmoil

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife ap_czechvelvetrevolutionhavel_17nov092PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (BosNewsLife)-- Thousands of people took to the streets of the Czech capital Prague on Tuesday to mark the 20th anniversary of the mass demonstrations that led to the collapse of communist rule in what was Czechoslovakia. But, the anniversary of the "Velvet Revolution" has been overshadowed by concerns over political tensions in the Czech Republic.

NEWS WATCH: Slovakia Heading Towards Center Right Government

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Slovakia's president has requested Prime Minister Robert Fico to form a government, despite a center-right opposition coalition winning more seats in Saturday's parliamentary vote. President Ivan Gasparovic said Sunday, June 13, he would will give Fico the first chance to form a Cabinet, because his left-leaning party won the most votes.

Iraq Christians In Czech Republic Amid EU Tensions Over Refugees

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife
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PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Officials say the first of a total of more 153 Iraqi Christians who have been offered asylum in the Czech Republic have arrived in the capital Prague, after neighboring Slovakia also agreed to host Christians. It comes amid European Union concerns however that it is being overwhelmed by migrants fleeing war and poverty, most of them Muslims.

NEWS WATCH: Slovakia, Hungary Agree to Tackle Extremism

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife hungary_210_1BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- The Prime Ministers of Hungary and Slovakia have agreed to tackle extremism as part of efforts to overcome their countries' worst diplomatic crisis in years. They made the announcement following a meeting at the Hungarian-Slovak border Thursday, September 10. Both nations are at loggerheads over a controversial language law and the treatment of ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia, many of whom are Reformed Christians.