Supplies of Russian gas via Ukraine to Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia were reduced or halted on Tuesday because of a dispute between Moscow and Kiev, raising concerns about Russia’s credibility as a supplier and its readiness to use its energy muscle to push political aims. Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom …

Macedonia’s government has renamed a main highway after the ancient conqueror Alexander the Great, whose ethnic origin is one part of the thorny 17-year dispute between Macedonia and its southern neighbour Greece over Macedonia’s name. Government spokesman Shefik Duraku told local Alfa TV that “Alexander of Macedon” will be the …

The West ended the war in the region, now it’s time to secure the peace. Bosnia and Kosovo have largely disappeared from public view. Washington and Brussels are hoping the promise of European Union accession will ultimately triumph over remaining ethnic tensions in the region. Would that this were so. …

A 45-year old woman died in an accidental blast in an army depot in the southern Albanian town of Polican. According to Albania’s Ministry of Defense, another worker was wounded and was recovering in a local hospital. “The explosion happened as result of human error outside the demolition wing of …

A contingent of 150 Macedonian troops headed to Afghanistan on Monday to join the ISAF peacekeeping mission. The country had so far sent 90 peacekeepers. The troops will serve as part of the UK contingent in the capital Kabul where they will be tasked with securing the main command of …

The timeframe for the end of Croatia’s European Union accession negotiations should be taken lightly, said Slovene President Danilo Tuerk, pointing to the outstanding issue of Slovenia’s border dispute with its southern neighbour. The President of Slovenia said on Sunday Croatia should use the first months of this year to …

Montenegro wants Kosovo to recognise the Montenegrin minority in Kosovo as one of the preconditions for taking their diplomatic relations to a higher level by appointing an ambassador to Pristina. Montenegro recognized Kosovo Albanians’ declaration of independence late last year over the protests of its Serbian minority. Montenegrin President Filip …

he European Union’s silence over Greece’ veto to Macedonia’s NATO membership bid echoes the complacency of Europe to the agressive policies of Nazi Germany before World War Two, Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told local media. Speaking to local media on Sunday, Gruevki referred to Athens blocking Skopje’s NATO invitation …

GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli troops backed by air strikes fought to seize ground from Hamas militants deep inside the Gaza Strip on Monday despite international calls for a ceasefire in a conflict that has killed more than 540 Palestinians in 10 days. More than 30 civilians, including children, were killed …

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – French President Nicolas Sarkozy began a peace-brokering tour of the Middle East by calling on Monday for a ceasefire between Israel’s army and Hamas Islamists, locked in combat in the Gaza Strip. In the first half of his two-day visit to the region, Sarkozy said Israel had …