BULGARIA “The Council of Ministers passed a decree for cutting the expenses at the institutions and increasing the revenues collectability. It is expected for the measures to secure balanced budget by the end of 2009. The measures envisaging restriction of the expenses met the positive evaluation of the participants at …

HOLLAND Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic said on Friday he needs precisely 14,171 extra hours to prepare his defense against charges of war crimes committed during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, because of the sheer scope of documents and testimony that must be reviewed. Karadzic’s request comes days after prosecutors …

TURKEY The European Commission’s progress report on Turkey, which is expected to be released on Oct. 14, is likely to include praise for the government’s democratic initiative involving the country’s Kurds and the recent protocols announced between Turkey and Armenia.