Eurasia

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has instructed Mikhail Zurabov to start his mission as Russian Ambassador to Ukraine on Tuesday. Zurabov was also appointed as the president’s special envoy on trade and economic ties with Kiev. In last August, Medvedev sent a letter to his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko saying that …

Leader of the opposition Movement for A Fair Georgia and Georgian ex-premier Zurab Nogaideli will visit Ukraine on Jan. 20. Nogaideli yesterday condemned alleged attempts by Georgian authorities to interfere in Ukrainian internal affairs. “We must not interfere in Ukrainian internal affairs. The next leader of that country is not …

The Border Police Chief Directorate has received information that the protesting Greek farmers are lifting the blockage at the Ilinden border checkpoint between 5.00pm on Tuesday until 11.00 am on Wednesday. Cars will be allowed crossing the border, except for those carrying timber and agriculture production, including meat and dairy …

Council of Europe special rapporteur Dick Marty is visiting Kosovo regarding the alleged crimes of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army in north Albania. Marty arrived in Kosovo on Monday afternoon, that he will stay until Wednesday, and that two investigators have come along with him.

Municipal elections in two Serb-dominated areas in northern Kosovo risk another postponement, Local Government and Administration Minister Sadri Ferati said. He explained that a change of dates may result from challenges posed by Serb parallel structures. Ferati said the plan is to hold elections in the two municipalities – Partesh/Partes …

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has refused to accept the resignation of Rumiana Jeleva as foreign minister. “I wrote “yes” to her request to resign as European Commission designate and “no” to her request to leave the office of foreign minister,” Boyko Borisov said. Borisov hopes that Rumiana Jeleva will …

The commission for studying and assessing the consequences of the totalitarian Communist regime in Moldova has to analyze hundreds of thousands of cases stored in different state archives, the commission’s secretary Mihai Tasca said in a news conference on January 18.

The EU and Serbia will continue regular meetings through the so-called political dialogue on January 26. One of the main topics will be the question of Belgrade’s candidacy for EU membership. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić will be leading the Serbian delegation while the EU team will be headed by Spanish …

Russia’s foreign minister on Tuesday called on Ukraine’s presidential candidates to improve ties with Russia. Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will face each other in a run-off presidential election on Feb. 7 after no candidate secured a majority in Sunday’s vote. “I am sure that …

Today, President Barroso took note of Mrs Jeleva’s withdrawal as commissioner-designate. He fully respects this personal decision, European Commission’s press office announced.