SOFIA Outgoing U.S. ambassador Nancy McEldowney has committed to the continuation of the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the U.S. At a ceremony in Bulgarian Defense Ministry she was awarded an honorary plaque Saint Georgi, first class.

SOFIA Bulgaria’s President Georgi Parvanov has conferred high state honors – Stara Planina order, first class – on Serbian and Dutch ambassadors in Bulgaria Danilo Vucetic and Willem van Ee for their contribution to the development of bilateral relations.

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia Relations between Slovenia and Croatia are in a very sensitive phase and should be paid special attention, Slovenian President Danilo Turk said on Saturday (July 18th) in an interview with the daily Dnevnik. He stressed the two countries should continue talks on the latest proposal by the European …

PRISTINA, Kosovo/BELGRADE, Serbia Kosovo submitted a second written statement on the legality of its independence declaration to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday (July 17th), Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni said. He told reporters the documentation includes facts and arguments to counter claims that the move was in breach …

BELGRADE, Serbia The Hague war crimes tribunal (ICTY) is ready to co-operate with Serbian courts in handling war crimes trials, ICTY President Patrick Robinson said on Friday (July 17th) at the end of a two-day visit to Belgrade. He said the ICTY will seriously consider a proposal envisioning Serbian citizens …

NICOSIA, Cyprus/ANKARA, Turkey Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias failed to reach an agreement on the issue of security guarantees at their 37th round of direct reunification talks on Friday (July 17th). The Turkish Cypriot side favours maintaining the current guarantee system under the …

SOFIA, Bulgaria The centre-right Blue Coalition and the conservative Order, Law, Justice Party (RZS) refused on Friday (July 17th) to sign a memorandum to support the minority government formed by the Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB). Blue Coalition leaders said the party won’t join the proposed political …

ANKARA, Turkey Turkish security forces have killed three members of the outlawed separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in clashes in the southern province of Hatay, the army said on Saturday (July 18th), in a statement posted on its web site. The fighting broke out Friday in a mountainous area near …

BUCHAREST, Romania The Supreme Court decided on Friday (July 17th) to suspend the trial of former Transport Minister Miron Mitrea on corruption charges, local media reported. Mitrea is accused of having taken bribes when he was in the minister position worth almost 200,000 euros between 2000 and 2004, to appoint …

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Prime Minister Nikola Spiric decided on Friday (July 17th) to dismiss Security Minister Tarik Sadovic, the government announced. Earlier this week, Bosniak Party of Democratic Action (SDA) asked for Sadovic’s replacement after he refused to step down. The party sought the minister’s removal due to …