Eurasia

Only one thing is (almost) certain about Romanian politics: There will be no victor in Sunday’s presidential vote. That, of course, just kicks the can down the road until a second round on Dec. 6. Incumbent President Traian Basescu, closely tied to the conservative Democratic Liberal Party, has retained, barely, …

Low-key Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has been named the new full time President of the European Council, and Briton Catherine Ashton has been designated the EU’s first consolidated High Representative of Foreign and Security Policy. 

Macedonia needs protectorate and preliminary elections to tackle the political crisis, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Albanians /DPA/ Menduh Thaci said. “I am sure that situation in Macedonia is dramatic. Political conjunctures that rule the state are frivolous and the rest political players that try to make other …

Russia has agreed to ease the terms under which it supplies gas to Ukraine, in a deal which Moscow says should prevent disruption in coming months.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenkoon Thursday met here with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili, pledging to further enhance bilateral relations and cooperation. At a joint press conference held after their meeting, Yushchenko said there is no any problems in the relationship between Ukraine and Georgia. Both sides are willing to strengthen …

The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Pavle, was laid to rest Thursday afternoon at the monastery in the Belgrade suburb of Rakovica. The funeral service at the monastery’s cemetery was served by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and Concierge of the Throne of the Serbian Patriarch, Metropolitan Amfilohije.

Kosovo’s government coalition has collapsed, it emerged on Thursday night. It is understood that the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, led by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, has broken its two year partnership with the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, headed by president Fatmir Sejdiu.

Croatia’s new Economy Minister Djuro Popijac has warned that his government will have to take painful steps to tackle the country’s economic problems. 

Bulgaria may be taken to the European Court of Justice over its inadequate waste management Sofia, two years after the European Commission launched an infringement procedure on the issue. 

Albania’s opposition Socialist Party is expected to stage a major rally in Tirana on Friday through to Sunday, calling for a recount of the ballots from the 28 June parliamentary elections, which it considered to have been marred by fraud. The protest, which is expected to begin on Friday afternoon …