Eurasia

Serbian President, Cypriot President: Excellent relations

Serbian President Boris Tadić and Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias met in Nicosia on Thursday, on the first day of Tadić’s two-day visit. At a joint press conference after meeting Tadić, Christofias said that Cyprus supports Serbia and all Western Balkan countries on their path towards integration in the European Union.

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No Agreement in Albania Talks

After meeting with EU representatives in Strasbourg, Albania’s main political parties have failed to reach an agreement to overcome the political stalemate that has plagued the country for almost a year. Prime Minister Sali Berisha from the ruling Democratic Party and opposition leader Edi Rama of the Socialists met with

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Top Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) leader to make official visit to Serbia

Top Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) leader Haris Silajdzic is set to travel to Belgrade next week for his first official visit to Serbia since the end of Bosnia’s 1992-95 war, his advisor said Thursday. Silajdzic, who serves as the Bosniak member of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency, is scheduled to make a one-day …

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Kosovo and Turkey Sign Four Agreements

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed bilateral agreements today in the areas of transport, agriculture, education and the environment. “Prime Minister Thaci and Prime Minister Erdogan appraised highly the bilateral cooperation between the countries and stressed the readiness

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Romania to Adopt IMF Agreement Despite Protest

Romania’s government is to adopt the letter of intent to the loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund next week after finishing scheduled negotiations with unions and employers. Despite public pressure, the government will not give up the planned reductions of salaries and pensions, though it noted that reductions of …

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Russia queries Bulgaria’s talks on Nato missile system

After a barrage of messages in the past week from Bulgarian Government leaders underlining the country’s willingness to be involved in the Nato missile defence system, Moscow has called on Nato for clarification on its talks with Sofia, the Russian foreign ministry said. The planned missile shield featured prominently in …

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UN Secretary-General hopeful Cypriot reunification talks will continue

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday (May 19th) expressed hope that talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus will continue, yet acknowledged they can’t last forever.  Ban said that February statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan — in support of the negotiations — added momentum to the process. Ban said …

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Serbia invited to EU-Western Balkans conference

Serbia has received an invitation to next month’s EU-Western Balkans conference in Sarajevo, local media reported on Wednesday (May 19th). Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, has said that an agreement had been reached to hold it under the so-called Gymnich format. Kosovo …

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Fuele says Brammertz report crucial to Serbia, Croatia’s EU bids

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele reiterated on Wednesday (May 19th) that Hague war crimes tribunal chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz’s report on co-operation shown by Serbia and Croatia will be crucial to their respective EU integration bids. Speaking at the European Parliament, he said that the European Commission is ready to …

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