Eurasia

The EU Visa Center, operating under the auspices of the Embassy of Hungary in Chisinau, has commenced issuing entry visas to Greece and the Netherlands. Ambassador Gyorgy Varga said that last year the number of visa seekers diminished. The Center provided services to 8.013 applicants, of which 13% applications were …

The former Chief Negotiator for the Czech Republic’s accession to the European Union, the first Czech European Commissar in the Romano Prodi Cabinet, Pavel Telicka, has arrived for a three-day visit to Moldova on Wednesday. Association for External Policy (APE), which is realizing in Moldova a project of using other …

Ivica Dačić says his party is not against a resolution about the Srebrenica crime but that it should also condemn all crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia. Dačić, who is first deputy PM and interior minister in the current cabinet, is the leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS).

Serbia will be informed about the EU member states attitude toward its candidacy bid and the next steps that are to be taken, the Spanish ambassador says. “We have started consultations with EU member states on Serbia’s demand and on January 26, EU is to meet with Serbia at the …

Serbian Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović says he will not stop visiting Serbs in the province regardless of yesterday’s incident near Štrpce. Bogdanović intended to welcome in the Orthodox (Julian calendar) New Year on Mt. Brezovica with the local Serbs “and learn about the problems they face, and how to …

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek called on Albania’s opposition to return to parliament. He made the remarks after the talks with Albanian Parliament President Josephina Topalli. He noted that this is an internal matter of a sovereign country.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a front runner in a presidential election on Sunday, said on Thursday she wanted to take the former Soviet republic into the European Union within five years. President Viktor Yushchenko had made membership of the EU and the NATO military alliance the cornerstone of his …

The bridge on the Kur River opened along the Georgian-Armenian border. As Georgia’s Economic Development Ministry said, the bridge has been completely rebuilt, with asphalt concrete laid and road signs installed. The length of the bridge is 138 meters. “The restoration of the roads and bridge will allow tourists to …

Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey to pay visit to Georgia and Russia on January 15-17, it was announced at the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the Council of Europe on Wednesday. January 16-17, Calmy-Rey will meet with Georgian …

Romania said Thursday that 100,000 jobs in the public sector will be slashed as the government makes budget cuts to meet foreign loan targets and keep the economy afloat. Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu made the announcement as lawmakers debate this year’s budget, which is crucial for unlocking an International Monetary …