Macedonia’s Finance Ministry on Wednesday denied media reports that it was holding secret talks with the IMF over a new loan to deal with a growing current account deficit. Makfax news agency reported that a Finance Ministry official has responded to today’s edition of the newspaper Utrinski Vesnik, in which …

A 2.5-per-cent increase in the price of electric energy came into force in Kosovo on Wednesday. The increase is line with proposals of the Regulatory Energy Office. The decision was backed by the government but condemned by various consumer and rights organisations. 

Zbogar has announced that Slovenia would respond to Rehn`s proposal in time, but there are still no details. Slovenia has responded to the latest proposal of European Union expansion commissioner Olli Rehn on Monday, Slovene STA agency reports Tuesday, stating that the Slovene Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the …

Khodorkovsky appeared in court on Tuesday for the first day of a new trial that could keep him in prison for a further 22 years. Lawyers for jailed Russian oil oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky said on Tuesday they would call Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as a witness to fight embezzlement charges …

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also said Croatia could still wrap up entry talks with the EU this year. The European Union may decide this year on offering visa-free travel to citizens of some Western Balkan countries and on opening membership talks with Macedonia, the EU’s enlargement chief said on Tuesday. …

Medvedev said neither Russia nor the United States can tolerate `drift and indifference` in their relationship. Russia and the United States should rebuild their relations and work together on key global issues, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an article on Tuesday in the Washington Post. Medvedev said neither Russia …

PODGORICA, Montenegro – Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic’s coalition won an absolute majority in Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections, the Central Electoral Commission announced on Monday (March 30th). For a European Montenegro won 51.09% of the vote, translating to 48 of the 81 seats in parliament. The opposition Socialist People’s Party was …

WASHINGTON, United States – As required, all NATO member states sent the US State Department their ratified documents regarding Croatia and Albania’s entry into the Alliance, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer confirmed on Monday (March 30th). Portugal and Slovenia were the last two countries to comply. De Hoop Scheffer …

ATHENS, Greece – Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis has rejected an initiative by Macedonian counterpart Antonio Milososki aimed at improving strained relations between the two neighbours, media reported on Monday (March 30th). In a letter to Bakoyannis on March 13th, Milososki suggested that the two countries should overcome their differences by …

VIENNA, Austria – Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said on Monday (March 30th) he does not expect his country’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU to be implemented any time soon. It hinges on arresting war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic. At a meeting with Austrian counterpart Michael Spindelegger …