Balkans

Albania has never held an election deemed free and fair by international observers. Albania’s opposition urged the government on Wednesday to give identity cards to voters for free to avoid charges of fraud at the June 28 elections. Albania has never held an election deemed free and fair by international …

BUCHAREST – Romania’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Commission is only meant as a preventive measure, Prime Minister Emil Boc said on Wednesday. “The agreement we are going to conclude with the European Commission and the IMF is meant only as a preventive measure, which …

Bulgaria’s former tsar and prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg did not rule out joining forces with the ethnic Turks ahead of the general and European Parliament elections in the summer. The NMSP centrist party leader confirmed talks on forming a pre-election coalition with the Turkish DPS are underway just days after …

Bulgaria exported a total of 57 million liters of wine in 2008, and nearly all of those – 56 million liters – went to Russia, Belarus, and Moldova. This was announced by Bulgaria’s Minister of Agriculture and Foods, Valeri Tzvetanov, as he opened Wednesday morning “Vinaria 2009”, the international exhibition …

Sofia. Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov received speaker of Estonian Parliament Ene Ergma, presidents’ office press office informs. Bulgarian President greeted Ene Ergma with active political dialogue between Bulgaria and Estonia as well as for the parliamantary co-operation between two friend countries. Georgi Parvanov pointed Bulgaria and Estonia has a general …

The Bulgarian head of state, President Georgi Purvanov, will travel to Turkey, on April 7 where he will participate in the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations – a forum designed to promote intercultural understanding – reports the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, the BTA. “Since the United States president Barack Obama announced …

The Bulgarian government is to allocate an additional 190 million euro on training and job creation to offset the risk of a more negative impact on the labour market, Social Minister Emilia Maslarova said. The new funds, under the Human Resources Operational Programme will be available to make people more …

The US State Department cleared on Wednesday the US ambassador in Tirana, John L Withers and his staff of allegations that they helped cover up a murky arms deal between a pentagon contractor and the Albanian Ministry of Defence to supply the Afghan army. “The Inspector General has reviewed all …

The Albanian Supreme Court Judge, Ardian Nuni, who was shot and wounded a month ago in Tirana has sought asylum in the United States with his family due to fears for his safety, local media reported. Nuni was operated in Tirana’s Military Hospital, and left the hospital a few says …

One of the leading figures and symbols of the unrecognized Macedonian minority movement in northern Greece, the orthodox priest Nikodim Carknjas claims he is a victim of classic state sponsored repression. He was recently sentenced to six months in prison for beating of a 12 year old seven years ago. …