ZAGREB, Croatia A regional summit on energy, investments and economic development began on Thursday (July 9th) in the coastal resort of Dubrovnik. Heads of government, foreign ministers and diplomats from the region, as well as officials from the United States and the EU, are participating in the two-day forum.

PODGORICA, Montenegro Parliament passed a declaration Thursday (July 9th) condemning the crimes Serbian forces committed against Bosniak civilians in Srebrenica, as well as “all other crimes committed during the conflicts from 1991 to 2001 on the territory of the former Yugoslavia”.

SOFIA, Bulgaria The lame duck government went ahead and named political appointees to various diplomatic posts Thursday (July 9th), despite a warning from the Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), which won Sunday’s parliamentary elections.

BUCHAREST, Romania The final report by a parliamentary committee looking into the activities of Sports Minister Monica Iacob Ridzi recommended on Thursday (July 9th) she be investigated for abuse of office, and said she should resign. Only members of her Liberal Democratic Party refused to vote in favour of the …

BRUSSELS, Belgium The European Commission (EC) will ask the EU Council next week to offer visa-free travel to citizens of Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia, EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot said on Thursday (July 9th). Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn will officially present the proposal in Strasbourg on Tuesday. It will require …

ATHENS, Greece An estimated 2,000 people marched in Athens on Thursday (July 9th) to protest racism and government plans to deport illegal immigrants. They rallied outside parliament chanting “No to expulsion!” The demonstration was organised by trade unions, the Committee for Protection of Immigrants and leftist groups. Several far-left groups, …

ANKARA, Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday (July 8th) he will ask the UN Security Council to discuss ways to stop clashes in China. Beijing reacted to Erdogan’s statement on Thursday saying it is a domestic issue. “This is purely China’s internal affair and doesn’t demand a …

PRISTINA, Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu called on UNMIK to shut down its mission, in his annual address to parliament Thursday (July 9th). “It can be called a successful story of the international commitment in Kosovo,” Sejdiu said.

„Din discuţiile mele cu Gorbaciov am reţinut că principala sa preocupare era să menţină integritatea teritorială a Uniunii Sovietice… N-am putut decât să exclam: „Dar Ţările Baltice şi Moldova nu aparţin Uniunii Sovietice!..” Margaret Thatcher, „Le Figaro”, 29 august 1990 Prima vizită a preşedintelui american la Moscova s-a încheiat. Dezamăgirile …

L’AQUILA, Italy President Barack Obama and his aides were on the defensive at the G-8 summit here Thursday after developing countries attending a 17-nation climate change forum refused to commit to specific goals to reduce their output of greenhouse gases. Taken together with a G-8 statement Wednesday that sidestepped any …