MOLDOVA Speaker Mihai Ghimpu, who is also the caretaker head of state, said that they can use certain alternatives in case the Communists Party refuses to vote for the candidate for the presidency proposed by the Alliance for European Integration (AEI). “The president will be elected constitutionally. We count on …

MOLDOVA The fact that Vladimir Voronin discharged four ministers just before tendering his resignation gives the impression that the Greceanyi Government II hides something, considers political analyst Igor Munteanu, the director of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative (IDIS) “Viitorul”. “The dismissal of the ministers by presidential decree is …

SERBIA Serbia is a democratic country, but democracy is not sufficiently developed, reads a message from parliament to mark the International Day of Democracy. The message states that Serbia celebrates the International Day of Democracy as a free, democratic and secular state. The Serbian parliament’s website states that democracy in …

KOSOVO The deadline for expires today for countries wishing to take part in the case on Kosovo’s independence at the International Court of Justice. The public debate, which begins on December 1, will be open to all UN member-states, regardless of whether or not they have previously submitted written testimony. …

CROATIA Dragan Vasiljković says that he does not hate Croats, and that Croatia is not a fascist state, though there are fascist elements in its government. “20 years ago I adopted two Croat girls. Today they are happily married, but they still call me ‘dad’. In Belgrade I would take …

TURKEY After Turkey’s 1980 military coup, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, gained strength in the Southeast, and four years later, the group began its armed attacks. Now, more than 20 years later, the residents of villages in the region still live in fear and wonder what their lives were …

RUSSIA Turkey could replace Ukraine as the main energy transport corridor for Russian natural gas to Europe, according to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. During a gathering late last week with academics, experts and reporters at the Valdai International Discussion Club, a group which meets annually to discuss Russia’s position …

BULGARIA The Bulgarian Government will vote on September 16 on a long-term set of measures to lift the economy out of the doldrums, said prime minister Boyko Borissov. The proposal will be debated by employers’ groups and trade unions within the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation on September 15. The …

BULGARIA Mayor of Sofia is much more than a Prime Minister and I am a proof for this, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said after inauguration ceremony of the new school year at the 78th Hristo Smirmenski secondary school in Banka living district in the capital. Borisov was asked weather he …

BELGIUM The General Affairs Council, where Bulgarian Foreign Minister Rumyana Zheleva also took part, discussed the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism for Bulgaria, the Council’s press service informs. “Reaffirming its earlier conclusions the Council welcomes the Commission’s reports on progress in Romania and Bulgaria under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. The …