BUCHAREST – Romania is expected to approve conditionalities of a 20-billion euros IMF-led financial package for the new European Union member on Saturday, Prime Minister Emil Boc said on Thursday. On Thursday, Boc met leaders of the centre-left ruling coalition to discuss the loan and an upcoming budget revision that …

The European Union has urged Moldova to resume normal relations with Romania, which the former Soviet republic has accused of stoking post-election violence. Moldova expelled Romania’s ambassador on Wednesday and blamed its neighbour for violent street protests that Vladimir Voronin, its president, described as an attempted coup.

Russia asked the European Union and Romania yesterday to guarantee the sovereignty of its ally Moldova, where riots have swept the capital and prompted a crackdown on the pro-Western opposition. Moldova’s veteran Communist President, Vladimir Voronin, accused neighbouring Romania of stoking a coup attempt after demonstrators ransacked parliament during post-election …

Bulgarian European Parliament Members Evgeni Kirilov (PES) and Nikolay Mladenov (EPP) are on an official visit to Skopje, Macedonia, over the issue with Bulgarian military graveyards in the former Yugoslav republic on Friday. The frontline where the Bulgarian Army fought during the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) and WWI is within the …

The European Union is “scared” by the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and concerned the country is lagging behind the rest of the region, the Czech Foreign Minister said. The message came at the end of the two-day visit of Czech, French and Swedish foreign ministers – Karel Schwarzenberg, Bernard …

The Parliament of the Maldives has suspended an investigation into allegations of a $2 million bribe, allegedly accepted by the government of this small chain of Indian Ocean islands to recognise Kosovo’s independence. A parliamentary committee that was investigating the allegation, after concerns raised by Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed, said …

Greece hopes the new Macedonian President will cooperate in finding a compromise to the long-standing name row between the two countries, the Greek Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. Athens hopes that Georgi Ivanov, the President elect from Sunday’s poll, “will work on settling the name row in line with NATO …

A deal guaranteeing immunity for Bosnian war-time leader Radovan Karadzic was agreed by US special envoy Richard Holbrooke, it has been claimed. Gojko Klickovic, who is indicted for war crimes, said he was present when an agreement was made and signed by Radovan Karadzic and Richard Holbrooke in 1996, he …

Macedonia’s budget needs to be urgently revised as the country spends more than it receives, the International Monetary Fund’s representative to the country, Bert Van Selm, said in the local media. He said this year’s first trimester shows a forecasted 13 per cent growth in revenue, on which the budget …

CHISINAU, April 9  – Damage to the parliament building in Moldova following Tuesday’s riots in Chisinau has been estimated at $40 million, the parliamentary speaker said on Thursday. Marian Lupu said repairs to the building would cost $30 million and replacing damaged furniture and looted equipment would require a further …