Sir, Regarding ‘A sceptical view of the Slovenia-Croatia arbitration agreement‘: Slovenia’s mainland is simply too far away from international waters and direct contact of her territorial waters with the high seas would run against the 12 miles rule, which is firmly established in international law. Second, introducing nationalist territorial claims and arguments that the border [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Macedonia under pressure to solve ‘name dispute’‘: As a Macedonian living in the heart of Europe, I am surprised to read all that is happening to my country and my countrymen, and all the pressure coming from Greece (Europe’s favourite country, which is allowed to do what it likes and ask for anything [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Ambassador: ‘Turkey punished over Cyprus’‘: In his interview with EurActiv Germany, Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Acet claimed that the freezing of a number of chapters in his country’s EU negotiations because of the Cyprus problem “is not fair”; that “elements which have nothing to do with the negotiations [i.e. the Cyprus problem] have been [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Jeleva chaired firm set up by communist secret services, says MEP‘: I read the above article with great interest, but have a number of comments regarding your sources. Yes, sure: Mrs. Jeleva is even today one of the two managing directors of ETKO Schneiders Ltd, etc. But Ivaylo Kalfin! Isn’t he the ex-Communist [...]

Sir. Regarding ‘Barroso on collision course over Jeleva‘: I just don’t get it. The CV submitted by Ms. Jeleva to the European Parliament and to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso states that she was a “manager” at Global Consult in the periods 2001-2003 and 2006-2007. The company’s income statement for 2008 (!) which can [...]

Sir, In response to Dr. Orlin Vushkov’s letter ‘Young people: Do not go back to Bulgaria‘: Young people, (Bulgarian or not), do come to Bulgaria and bring your wildest ideas and projects! Don’t forget to bring your stubbornness, your patience, your endless creativity and unwary flexibility, too! Dr. Vushkov: please do not doom your own [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Miliband: Turning Turkey away from EU ‘unconscionable’‘: In response to UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s comments regarding Turkey’s integration into the EU, allow me to state below what U.S. Ambassador James Gerald once wrote: “The Turks should not be accepted into the society of decent nations until they show sincere repentance for their [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Interview: Switzerland ‘totally disconnected’ from EU‘: Instead of Washington or Beijing, the president of the Swiss Federal Assembly (parliament) has chosen Brussels for her 2009 official trip, accompanied by a representative of each of the main Swiss parties. Their visit is one more sign of the fundamental importance Swiss authorities attach to the [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Turkey accession and Cyprus‘: I would like to commend you on EurActiv. I receive its daily communications and consider it one of my main sources of information on daily developments in the EU and its ties to the rest of the world. I am also writing because I think the entry on Cyprus, [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Slovenia lifts veto on Croatia’s EU talks‘: In its protracted border dispute with Croatia, Slovenia has claimed the right of a direct territorial “contact with” or “exit to” the high seas. In fact, however, and regardless of the terminology used, such territorial connection of Slovenia with the high seas would either be a [...]