Eurasia News

European integration is Macedonia’s priority, said Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanovski at a conference in Brussels. “Macedonia’s priority is the successful completion of the European integration process and gradual reaching of the EU’s average incomes,” said Veljanovski.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will visit Southeastern Europe between 7 and 9 April. He will be accompanies by European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, the EC press service announced.

The leader of Transdnestr, Igor Smirnov, has for the first time invited Moldovan President Vladimir Filat to visit Moldova’s breakaway republic for an official meeting, the Transdnestr Foreign Ministry reported. The ministry said Smirnov’s invitation was handed by Trandnestr Foreign Minister Vladimir Yastrebchak to Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Yevgeny Karpov …

Visiting President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias has today toured the Icharishahar, Inner City, historic core of Azerbaijan`s capital.

Bulgarian MEP Kristian Vigenin is the new European Parliament rapporteur on Macedonia. He replaced the Slovenian Zoran Taller, who was involved in a corruption scandal and resigned from the EP. Vigenin has had a constructive approach to Macedonia and has openly supported the EU enlargement process.

Istanbul will begin the next activation of the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR) on Tuesday. Under the April activation plan of BLACKSEAFOR, the Georgian gunboat “Sukhumi” will take part in this activation for the first time since the Russian-Georgian war of 2008.

The main opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) will again boycott the vote for a new president if there is no general consensus among the parties on the candidate. Party leader Isa Mustafa made the announcement

Mladen Bosic was re-elected on Saturday (April 2nd) as leader of the opposition Serbian Democratic Party (SDS). Bosic’s nomination was backed by 250 delegates at the party’s congress. His rival, former Republika Srpska Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic, received 90 votes.

Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović and her Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Litvin met in Belgrade on Monday. They expressed hope that the two countries could establish a visa-free regime by the end of the year, said reports.

Kosovo’s interim president took office Monday in a ceremony boycotted by his predecessor as the government battled to avoid new elections. Former president Behgjet Pacolli failed to show up for the ceremony handing over power to parliamentary speaker Jakup Krasniqi, with his office saying he did not consider it necessary.