Russia on Tuesday defended its proposal for a new security structure in Europe and said it was not aimed at undermining the U.S.-led NATO alliance, but rather at banishing division on the continent. The United States and NATO reacted sharply last year to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s call for a …

BRUSSELS, Belgium Sweden, which takes over the rotating EU presidency on July 1st, does not plan to intervene in the border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said in Brussels on Monday (June 22nd).

GENEVA, Switzerland The latest UN-mediated round of talks between Macedonia and Greece on their name dispute ended Monday (June 22nd) in Geneva without progress, media reported.

TIRANA, Albania Sweden, which assumes the rotating EU presidency on July 1st, urged the European Commission on Monday (June 22nd) to offer an opinion on Albania’s application for EU candidate status during the second half of the year.

ANKARA, Turkey Chief of General Staff General Ilker Basbug said on Monday (June 22nd) the only solution in the fight against the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is to dissolve it and make it lay down its weapons.

ATHENS, Greece Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis expressed concern Monday (June 22nd) about the growing number of violations in Greek air space over the Aegean Sea by Turkish military aircrafts. These incidents threaten to significantly raise tensions in bilateral relations, she warned.

ANKARA, Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday (June 22nd) criticised unspecified EU member states for using Turkey’s membership bid for domestic politics, media reported. Speaking at a luncheon for the EU ambassadors to Ankara, Erdogan said it is “absolutely wrong” to exploit Turkey’s accession process.

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Former Bosnian Serb leader Momcilo Krajisnik arrived in Pale on Monday (June 22nd) to see his family. The Hague war crimes tribunal granted him three days to visit his ill mother. In March, Krajisnik was sentenced to 20 years in prison for war crimes committed …

GENEVA Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Switzerland on Wednesday for talks with his Swiss counterpart that will include the situation in Georgia, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said.

BEIJING Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met Mircea Geoana, the president of Romania’s senate here Wednesday. Xi pledged to step up cooperation and boost ties. Xi hailed the traditional relationship and the development of bilateral ties since the two states established diplomatic relations 60 years ago.