Eurasia

SKOPJE, Macedonia Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak on Thursday (June 25th) urged both Macedonia and Greece to resolve their long-standing name dispute. At a meeting in Skopje, he assured his Macedonian counterpart, Antonio Milososki, of Slovakia’s support for the country’s EU and NATO bids.

ZAGREB, Croatia The country celebrated the 18th anniversary of its independence from Yugoslavia on Thursday (June 25th). President Stipe Mesic, Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic, and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader laid flowers and lit candles at the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb to honour the memory of all Croats who died in …

NICOSIA, Cyprus There is a historic chance to resolve the Cypriot issue, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told a press conference Thursday (June 25th), as he wrapped up a daylong visit to Nicosia. “We [the EU] will not find a solution, but we can help and support efforts to …

TIRANA, Albania Albania opened a new border crossing with Kosovo on Thursday (June 25th) in the municipality of Dragash. The Glloboqice-Borje crossing is only for pedestrian traffic during limited periods each day. The facility is important for the Gorani and Bosnian minority communities, who are concentrated on both sides of …

PRISTINA, Kosovo The government has decided to conduct a population census in the spring of 2011, local media reported Thursday (June 25th). Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said respecting international standards will be key to its success. Kosovo has not conducted a census since the 1980s.

CORFU, Greece – NATO and Russian diplomats are set to break a months-long standoff when they meet Saturday on the Greek island of Korfu. Russia broke off relations with the Western mutual defence organization last August when NATO expressed dismay about a short war between Russia and Georgia over Georgia’s …

“One of Georgia’s principal goals is to change demographic situation in Javakhk,” Head of Hay Dat office Kiro Manoyan told a news conference. According to him, Georgian church is also trying to assist in the process. but its attempts meet the population’s mounting protests. 

On July 2 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis will arrive in Armenia. As press service of the Yerevan office of OSCE told to a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office will arrive in Yerevan immediately after paying visit to Baku. “ OSCE Chairperson-in-Office will not go to Georgia, since activities …

CHISINAU Moldova’s outgoing president said the very future of the ex-Soviet state was at stake in next month’s parliamentary election and accused opposition parties yesterday of seeking its destruction. 

BELGRADE President Boris Tadic says he expects to receive explanation from Bulgarian authorities regarding the Ceku case, B92 informed. Tadic told reporters in parliament in Belgrade on Friday that the decision to release Agim Ceku from custody does not contribute to “good neighborly relations”. He added that Serbia will continue …