GREECE Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has kicked off his campaign to win against the odds in a October 4 snap election by promising painful spending cuts, in the teeth of union opposition. In an annual economic keynote speech, the outgoing conservative leader vowed that if he won his third …

RUSSIA The Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, who arrived with an official visit to Russia last week, is heading on Monday to Russia’s North Caucasus republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia. Thomas Hammarberg will visit Chechnya and Ingushetia to meet with the presidents of both republics and heads of …

ALBANIA The head of the Republican Party, former defence minister Fatmir Mediu, indicted on abuse of power charges over a deadly munitions depot blast on March 15, 2008, is to head the Environment Ministry. In a coalition deal announced by Prime Minister Sali Berisha today, the Republican Party, which returned …