GREECE Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Wednesday evening announced the holding of a snap general election in a television speech to the nation. In prefacing announcement, Karamanlis underlined the need for immediate and significant reforms and measures to deal with the repercussions of the international economic crisis and what …

BOSNIA The US is concerned about the current situation in Bosnia and its leaders’ commitment to securing EU and NATO membership, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Stuart E. Jones said. “The American government is concerned because we haven’t seen practical actions which reflect [Bosnian officials’] commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration,” …

MACEDONIA Macedonia has a serious chance of receiving a recommended start date for EU accession talks this autumn if the positive progress of recent months continues, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn says. Rehn’s comments come only a month before the European Commission, EC, prepares its annual report on the country’s …

ALBANIA Albania’s conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha and former Socialist premier Ilir Meta signed a coalition agreement on Wednesday, shaping the core of the cabinet that will govern the country for the next four years. The deal has been two months in the making and was announced after Berisha’s right-wing …

SERBIA The EU Council of Ministers could soon unblock the Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn says. “The authorities in Serbia continue to work hard on achieving the necessary reforms. At the same time, Serbia is unilaterally applying the interim trade agreement too, despite the economic …

GREECE Recent news updates from leading Greek media citing commentary and exclusive information from high-level police and security circles indicate that arrests are underway regarding domestic terrorist groups that have managed over the past 5 years to launch impressive attacks against a variety of state, diplomatic and police targets. According …

BiH Darko Elez, trojica policijskih službenika u BiH, kao i još 17 osoba uhapšeni su u Srbiji i BiH zbog sumnje da su kao pripadnici zločinačke organizacije odgovorni za više ubistava, trgovinu drogom i oružjem, iznude, razbojništva i druga djela. Elez je označen kao vođa ove kriminalne grupe, koja je …

MOLDOVA Vitalie Nagacevschi, a prominent Moldovan lawyer elected to parliament on the Liberal Democratic Party’s ticket, presumes new parliament chairman Mihai Ghimpu should assume the performing of presidential duties until a new head of state is elected. Nagacevschi stated to the press today, “Vladimir Voronin is trying to find a …

MOLDOVA Moldova’s new authorities shall continue the current policy of ensuring and protecting the rights of national minorities in Moldova, reads the Parliament’s special address to minorities adopted by parliament on Wednesday. The document text was read out by MP Alexander Stoyanoglo of the Democratic Party. The document said that …

MOLDOVA The Communists Party (PCRM) does not rule out the possibility of new early legislative elections. This topic was discussed at Wednesday΄s plenary meeting of the PCRM. The Communist MP Vladimir Turcan said that there is a 50% probability that early elections will take place. “At today΄s meeting, we will …