RUSSIA Russia will never reverse its decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as states independent of Georgia, President Dmitry Medvedev has said, the anniversary of the decision. The Kremlin recognized the Moscow-backed regions as independent on August 26 of last year, weeks after Russian forces crushed a Georgian attempt …

MACEDONIA Troopers of the Macedonian and US army will start a training, which will be realized in Ilinden barrack and Krivolak boot camp. Troopers from the regiment for special operations (RSO), the battalion of ARM’s police and representatives from Vermont National guard will participate in the training. The training’s purpose, …

GREECE Greece is ready to cooperate with Turkey in the framework of NATO, the Spokesperson for the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grigoris Delavekuras said. Greek authorities will state their position to the Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen , who arrived yesterday in Athens and will visit Turkey as …

GEORGIA Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, leader of a political “We ourselves” party, Paata Davitaia, calls for ethnic Abkhazians and Ossetians to come to themselves and begin a dialogue with Georgia. Davitaia spoke about it at a press conference dedicated to the anniversary of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s independence recognized …

RUSSIA Russia’s prime minister has vowed to protect the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, a year after it recognised their independence. Speaking at the opening of a direct gas pipeline to South Ossetia, Vladimir Putin said his country would not allow any “military escapades” by Georgia. The …

KOSOVO Hoxha is Kosovo’s new ambassador to Bulgaria. Kosovo’s President Fatmir Sejdiu appointed Hoxha as Kosovo’s ambassador to Bulgaria on Wednesday. She was singled out among 20 candidates and after passing a test of Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry. She is a lawyer and has been working with UNMIK in Kosovo for …

BULGARIA Working groups with all the ministries will leave for Brussels under the guidance of OLAF. They will work out measures and plans for returning the money of the EU funds to Bulgaria, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announced at the news conference organized after Council of Minister’s sitting, which was …

BULGARIA The Council of Ministers passed the Short-term Fiscal Framework 2010-2013 and the basic allowances for 2010-2013. For the first time the strategic document covers the entire term of office of the government and secures the policies and priorities in the different sectors, the government’s press office announced. The document …

SERBIA A previously unknown anarchist group, Crni Ilija, has claimed responsibility for Monday’s firebombing of the Greek embassy in Belgrade, Beta news agency reported Wednesday. In a statement released to the press, the group said it is demanding the release of fellow anarchist Thodoros Iliopoulos, who was arrested during a …

MACEDONIA UN-brokered talks to settle the Athens-Skopje naming dispute are entering a crucial stage, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said Tuesday. She said that Greece faces an important six-months as it seeks to settle key foreign policy issues, including the name row, the online edition of Greek daily Naftemporiki reports. …