BUCHAREST, Romania: Prosecutors say they have dropped criminal charges against former President Ion Iliescu for allegedly inciting miners to riot in clashes that left six people dead. The general prosecutor’s office made the announcement Wednesday. The charges related to violence in June 1990, when Iliescu was president.

Podgorica. Montenegro might apply for an International Monetary Fund /IMF/ loan provided that the country’s economic growth is between 2.5% and 0% in 2009, which is below the previous forecast of 5%, said Minister of Finance Igor Luksic. “We are nearing a very low economic growth of between 0% and …

Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, expressed his support for EU enlargement by the Western Balkans countries during a March 10 2009 visit to Macedonia. “You have a graduation ahead of you in the form of elections,” Topolanek said in …