Eurasia

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy arrives in Cyprus for a visit within his tour in EU countries. The schedule of Rompuy’s five-hour visit envisages a meeting with Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias. The two will discuss the economic crisis, enforcement of the Lisbon Treaty and negotiations in the Cyprus issue.

Croatia has sent a third contingent of 20 troops to the NATO mission in Kosovo. The troops will remain within KFOR four months. For the first time two women have been included. The contingent consists of three helicopters and an air and technical team. The Croats will be deployed in …

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday threw US support behind Montenegro’s bid to join NATO as the Balkan country pursues political reforms. The chief US diplomat “pledged the United States’ support for Montenegro becoming an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic community” as she stood next to visiting Montenegrin …

Romania has an “extremely good” chance of unblocking a 20 billion euro International Monetary Fund, IMF, and European Commission led aid package, following Parliament’s adoption of an austerity package last week, central bank Vice Governor Cristian Popa said. “The situation of political stability has been sorted out… The budget has …

Spain hopes for a swift solution to the Greek-Macedonian “name” spat that would put Macedonia on the right track towards EU membership, Spanish Prime Minister and EU chairman Jose Luis Zapatero said on Wednesday. “I have great confidence in the [Greek] Government of George Papandreou, and of course we cooperate …

Serbian President Boris Tadic slammed the most recent statement by Croatia’s outgoing president Stjepan Mesic, accusing his Croatian counterpart of warmongering and threatening the stability of the region. During an informal meeting with journalists on Tuesday, Mesic said he would intervene militarily if Milorad Dodik, Republika Srpska’s prime minister, made …

Bosnia’s State Investigation and Protection Agency, SIPA, arrested on Thursday morning two war crimes suspects, suspected of having committed crimes in the Drvar area of Western Bosnia. Ratko Dronjak, born in 1962, and Dragan Rodic, nicknameed Saula and born in 1963 were arrested according to a warrant issued by Bosnia’s …

The former President of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin was cited to go to the Prosecutor General’s Office for questioning over the April 6-7 events, 2009. He will be questioned on Friday, January 22, starting at 14:00. The Prosecutor General’s Office said in the near future Vlad Filat, Alexandru Tanase, Valeriu Cosarciuc, …

Blockages of Greek farmers are not directed against the interests of the Bulgarian branch sector. It is said to see such opinions in some media, said Greek Ambassador to Bulgaria Danae-Madeleine Koumanakou at the meeting with Bulgarian economic minister Traycho Traykov.

Commenting on Stjepan Mesić’s statements, Croatia’s new president, Ivo Josipović, said that sending Croatia’s army to a neighboring country is not an option. After the outgoing Croatian president’s statement, reported yesterday, that he would “send in the troops” if RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik held a “referendum on secession” from …