Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has wished his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko a Happy New Year, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. “Constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries in the spirit of a centuries-old tradition of friendship responds to interests of both Russians and Ukrainians,” Medvedev said in his message.

Kosovo’s parliament approved the national budget for 2010 amid heightened tension and bickering. Opposition parties strongly objected the budget, saying the partisanship affects government spending decisions. They left the session in a protest of overdue presentation of budget-related papers.

A row has erupted between Bosnian Serb politicians and the top international official in Bosnia-Hercegovina over the role of foreign judges and prosecutors. The international High Representative, Valentin Inzko, says the Bosnian Serb republic, Republika Srpska (RS), has violated the 1995 Dayton peace accords.