BRUSSELS, Belgium The EU reiterated on Monday (May 18th) that Albania must ensure free and fair parliamentary elections in June in line with international standards, to boost its chances to receive EU candidate status.

ZAGREB, Croatia The government’s anti-crisis measures are not sufficient to address the challenges of the global economic crisis, President Stipe Mesic told Zagreb-based business daily Poslovni Dnevnik on Monday (May 18th). He noted that most of the moves seem to be prolonged, delaying implementation until after the local elections. Mesic …

GENEVA Georgia and Russia resumed security talks yesterday after mediators and a UN report helped nudge Moscow’s negotiators back to the table, officials said. All sides agreed to meet again on July 1 for talks intended to head off any further conflict in an area seen by the West as …

Thirty-two companies represented Turkey in an international construction fair in Georgia. Turkish companies manufacturing construction materials, window-door systems, bath-kitchen equipment, roof systems, paint and construction chemicals, joined the 14th International Fair for the Building and Interiors (Caucasus Build 2009) in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.

France is ready to help Romania build a new nuclear power station, President Nicolas Sarkozy told his Romanian counterpart on Monday. Several European companies including France’s GDF Suez, Enel from Italy and E.ON from Germany have expressed an interest in the contract to build Romania’s second nuclear plant.

BUCHAREST Prince Akishino, the second son of Japanese Emperor Akihito, and his wife Princess Kiko arrived in Bucharest Tuesday for a visit to Romania, the last stop of a European tour, the Japanese Embassy said. The couple is to visit the Japanese School in Bucharest on Tuesday, before meeting Romanian …

SOFIA A few days ago Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev explained that the Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Plugchieva was not included in the Bulgarian Socialist Party’s election ticket, since it would represent too great a loss for the Council of Ministers, if she were to become a Member of the European …

US Vice President Joseph Biden, on his second part of his three-day trip to the Balkans, said he had come to Belgrade to convey a message that Washington wants to improve relations with Serbia. After meeting with Serbian President Boris Tadic, Biden said that “the U.S. wants to improve cooperation …

Sharp but tender, blunt but caring, US Vice President Joseph Biden’s speech Bosnia’s Parliament – which was broadcasted live on television across the country – won Bosnians over, local media agreed on Wednesday. “His entire speech was filled with love for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sarajevo,” said Sead Numanovic, editor-in-chief …

US Vice-President Joseph Biden arrived in Belgrade at 10am local time, on the second leg of his three-day Balkan tour. Biden arrived in Air Force 2, escorted by a squadron of Serbian Army MIG fighters, the BETA news agency reported.