Eurasia

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov has opened a UNESCO International conference on Monday in Sofia. The ‘International Conference on the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage and the Promotion of Cultural Diversity – a Response to Globalization’ is part of the visit to Bulgaria of UNESCO’s executive council members. The executive council members …

After nearly two years of silence, Skopje’s central municipality finally revealed details of the controversial ten million euros project for erecting several grandiose bronze monuments, including a giant statue of Alexander the Great. The statue of Alexander the Great, that will be erected in the city’s main square and show …

Croatia’s president Sepjan Mesic, on an unofficial visit to Sarajevo, urged the three members of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s presidency for a little bit more willingness to resolve open questions between the two countries. He said that with a little bit more dialogue and effort from both sides, outstanding issues can …

The US has asked Bangladesh to recognise Kosovo’s independence through its Ambassador to Dhaka. The US Ambassador to Dhaka, James Moriarty met Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Dipu Moni, and during that meeting asked his country to recognise Kosovo’s independence. “I call on the Bangladeshi government to review this issue, and if …

ANKARA, Turkey/ATHENS, Greece Dozens of people were injured, including at least 21 police officers, and more than 100 were detained in clashes between demonstrators and police during Labour Day rallies across Turkey on Friday (May 1st), authorities said.

WASHINGTON, United States Central and Eastern European countries show the biggest drop in press freedom worldwide, the US-based watchdog Freedom House said in a report published on Friday (May 1st). Its 2009 Freedom of the Press Index, released ahead of World Press Freedom Day on Monday (May 3rd), singled out …

NICOSIA, Cyprus The National Unity Party (UBP) leader Dervis Eroglu received a mandate on Friday (May 1st) to form a new government in Northern Cyprus. Eroglu has a 15 day window to form the new cabinet and has said will submit a list of ministers to President Mehmet Ali Talat …

PRISTINA, Kosovo EULEX has started exhuming bodies in 12 locations in a bid to identify about 2,000 people missing since the 1999 conflict, EULEX spokeswoman Kristiina Herodes said on Saturday (May 2nd). Ten bodies will undergo analysis at the Office of Missing Persons and Forensics. EULEX said it cannot reveal …

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic asked The Hague war crimes tribunal (ICTY) on Friday (May 1st) to recall French Judge Michele Picard in his case for war crimes and genocide.

VIENNA Croatia could join the EU in 2011 or 2012, Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said on Saturday (May 2nd) in an interview with Austrian newspaper Tiroler Tageszeitung.