MOSCOW – A year after fighting a war with Georgia, Russia strengthened the combat readiness of its troops in the rebel region of South Ossetia on Tuesday and warned the United States against rearming Georgia. “Provocations from the Georgian side … are not stopping,” Andrei Nesterenko, a Russian Foreign Ministry …

Russian businessman Vadim Brovtsev has been appointed as the new prime minister for South Ossetia, caught in the middle of a war between Russia and Georgia a year ago.South Ossetia is one of two regions that broke away from Georgia. Brovtsev heads a construction materials firm in Chelyabinsk, located in …

Sofia. The Bulgarian government must continue diplomatic pressure on Macedonian authorities over Spaska Mirtova’s case so to stop chasing people with Bulgarian consciousness and Macedonian citizens with Bulgarian citizenship. This is what minister without portfolio responsible for Bulgarians abroad Bozhidar Dimitov said for FOCUS News Agency. This case is just …

Romania’s Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said on Wednesday he was “convinced” that the International Monetary Fund will allow the country to run a bigger budget deficit this year under the terms of an aid deal, as the economy could contract by up to 8.5 percent. Representatives of the IMF are …

SKOPJE, Macedonia EU representative to Skopje, Erwan Fouere, said on Tuesday (August 4th) that it is too early to assess Macedonia’s chances of getting a date for starting EU accession talks. Fouere declined to comment on the upcoming European Commission progress report expected this fall, saying Macedonia must implement the …

BELGRADE, Serbia In both Serbia and Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbs marked the 14th anniversary of Operation Storm, the Croatian army offensive that killed hundreds of Serb civilians. President Boris Tadic attended a memorial service Tuesday (August 4th) at St. Marko church in Belgrade. Serb opposition parties condemned the …

ANKARA, Turkey The army announced on Tuesday (August 4th) that it has appointed new commanders of its air and naval forces. In a statement, the General Staff said the Air Force will be commanded by General Hasan Aksay, who will replace retiring General Aydogan Babaoglu. Admiral Esref Ugur Yigit will …

BELGRADE, Serbia Deputy Prime Minsiter Ivica Dacic rejected on Wednesday (August 5th) media speculation that the ruling coalition is in crisis over the controversial bill on public information, which would regulate the media. A vote was postponed until August 31st to allow time for more consultation. Dacic, leader of the …

BELGRADE, Serbia Deputy Prime Minsiter Ivica Dacic rejected on Wednesday (August 5th) media speculation that the ruling coalition is in crisis over the controversial bill on public information, which would regulate the media. A vote was postponed until August 31st to allow time for more consultation. Dacic, leader of the …

HE HAGUE, Netherlands The UN war crimes tribunal is allowing former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to have limited contacts with the media, Karadzic’s legal adviser, Peter Robinson, announced on Tuesday (August 4th). He added that after a “severe battle”, Karadzic’s team has managed to secure a document spelling out …