Eurasia

Strong explosion shakes Athens

ATHENS, Greece — A strong explosion shook the offices of a real estate state agency in Athens late on Thursday (March 19th). Preliminary investigations suggest that a gas leak may have caused the blast in the Ambelokipi district.

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Spain expected to increase Afghanistan troops after leaving Kosovo

Madrid – Spain’s decision to withdraw its peacekeepers from Kosovo was Friday expected to be followed by an increase of Spanish troops in Afghanistan, press reports said. Spain could increase its contingent of nearly 800 soldiers in Afghanistan with up to 500 more, senior military sources were quoted by the …

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Croatian cabinet sends NATO treaty to parliament

ZAGREB, Croatia — The government decided at a session on Wednesday (March 18th) to submit the NATO treaty to parliament for ratification. Prime Minister Ivo Sanader noted that the majority of NATO members had ratified the document and the rest were expected to follow suit soon, clearing the way for …

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EU leaders approve Belarus joining Eastern Partnership program

BRUSSELS – The leaders of the 27 EU member countries have approved the inclusion of Belarus in the bloc’s Eastern Partnership program, the Czech prime minister’s spokesman said on Friday. “Belarus is on the list,” he said. The Czech Republic currently holds the European Union’s rotating presidency. 

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Medvedev, Obama may set nuclear agenda

Russian and US presidents should make progress on long-range nuclear weapons cuts when they meet next month, but Moscow will be linking this to US anti-missile plans which it opposes, an official said. A follow-up pact to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1), which expires in December, is on …

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Russia stands firm on sovereignty of Abkhazia, South Ossetia

MOSCOW- Russia will not back away from its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in order to begin a dialogue on relations with Georgia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. Davaid Bakradze, a spokesman for the Georgian parliament, said on Thursday that Tbilisi was ready to begin a dialogue …

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Stanishev wants EU watchdog in Sofia to oversee progress

An article in the Economist magazine reports that Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev has proposed a kind of committee of European Union officials to visit Bulgaria in order to monitor and enforce progress in the country’s drive against corruption and organised crime. Stanishev’s idea follows the European Commission’s decision to …

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Bulgaria to receive about EUR 105 million on different projects: PM

Brussels. Bulgaria will receive about EUR 105 million on different projects, expect for Nabucco. This is what Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev said at a video conference with Brussels, FOCUS News Agency reporter informs. Energy projects on infrastructure are among the projects, which will be financed. 

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EC denies Bulgarian Cabinet claims of support over Kozloduy compensations

The European Commission denied on March 20 the claims of the Bulgarian Cabinet that it won the backing of EC president Jose Manuel Barroso for the Bulgarian demands for additional compensation for the shutdown of two units at Kozloduy nuclear station. Earlier in the day, the Government press service said …

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