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have improved exponentially, he has left countless disastrous deals with foreign investors and concessionaires
in his slipstream. These clearly jeopardise many stakeholders in the country greatly – a fact which NRI
itself has acknowledged, and will continue to fight.
Yet analysts also warn that in Nathaniel Rothschild, who controls NRI Invest, Dodon – like other presidents before him – has a dilemma. At the time of writing, Rothschild and his affiliates hold significantly more in liquid capital than the country that Dodon governs. NRI have not so much entered emerging markets in years past, as transformed them via investment, for which Montenegro is the case-in-point. NRI said little to begin with. On September 16, they made thinly veiled threats to litigate. As they are giving Moldova’s only access route by air an additional runway which will push down the
cost of flights, it’s difficult to question their pathos. They expect to make a profit, and that is business. Moldova’s enormous diaspora need to get home. That’s in the national interest.
Whether NRI simply retain their 95% holding in Chisinau International Airport, or even cede their stake voluntarily, Moldova’s business reputation and currency will take
a pounding. Dodon will face international condemnation, while despite her good record in government as minister for education, Prime Minister Sandu must be judged complicit for her silence. While plans to build that second runway are now on hold, Chisinau International Airport’s existing runway remains clogged – presumably due to vast capital flight.
Will Nicoll is a British editor and journalist, twice-shortlisted for the Shiva Naipaul Memorial Prize. Will has consulted on economic and political matters in the states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. He contributes to Forbes.com.
Bosnia holds peaceful first pride parade amid heavy police presence
bne IntelliNews
Bosnia & Herzegovina held the country's first LGBT pride parade peacefully on September 8 as police were out in large number to prevent any incidents. A day earlier, opponents of the pride march held a separate demonstration.
LGBT people in Bosnia have not been allowed until now to hold a pride parade and have complained for years that crimes based on their sexual orientation have not been investigated and in most cases were left without consequences. The first parade was attended by thousands, going beyond the organisers’ expectations that only around 500 people would participate.
It was backed by the international community with many members of the EU delegation to Bosnia, as well as many western ambassadors joining to show support.
“Instead of the expected 500 we are more than 2000 demonstrating for equality, freedom and diversity in Sarajevo today,” said MEP Terry Reintke who attended the parade. LGBT and alternative lifestyles in general remain a very difficult subject for the people of the whole former socialist bloc, where a large majority of citizens retain conservative values rooted in the Orthodox Church or Islam. Homophobia and even random violent attacks on gays are widespread and common. Discrimination is institutional and few countries have adopted anti-hate speech laws or legislation to support same-sex partnerships.
bne IntelliNews argued in the op-ed “The 50-year fight for gay rights” that
it will take at least two generations for most of the countries in Emerging Europe and Eurasia to take on board the liberal values of the west, however, a start has been made and the gay pride marches in the region are a useful barometer of how much progress has already been made.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: 8 September 2019: BiH hosts first LGBTQI pride parade. Ajdin Kamber / Shutterstock.com
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