April, 2009

• 7 April

  US president visits Ankara, backs Turkey’s EU bid

  ANKARA, Turkey – US President Barack Obama arrived in Ankara late on Sunday (April 5th) on his first official visit to Turkey since taking office in January. During his two-day stay, Obama is meeting with counterpart Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other government officials. They will focus …

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• 7 April

  NATO reiterates readiness to improve relations with Serbia

  BELGRADE, Serbia – NATO is ready to improve its relations with Serbia, but Serbia’s accession into NATO is entirely a domestic decision, outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said on Saturday (April 4th).

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• 7 April

  Italy says it will not withdraw troops from KFOR

  PRISTINA, Kosovo – Italy will neither withdraw its troops from KFOR nor reduce its staff in the mission, local media quoted Italian government officials as saying on Monday (April 6th). Italy will not make any move in that direction without a decision by NATO, Italian Deputy Defence Minister Giuseppe Cossiga …

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• 7 April

  HNS may support SDP in Zagreb local council

  ZAGREB, Croatia – Radimir Cacic, chairman of the Croatian People’s Party (HNS), a smaller opposition party, said on Saturday (April 4th) that he is conducting talks with officials from the main opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) over a potential coalition in the Zagreb municipal council, following the May 17th local …

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• 7 April

  EC delays its decision on unblocking ISPA funds for Bulgaria

  SOFIA, Bulgaria – The European Commission (EC) has decided to delay its decision over releasing 143m euros in funds under the ISPA pre-accession programme until the end of May, local media reports said Sunday (April 5th).

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• 7 April

  Christofias rejects possible UN arbitration on Cyprus issue

  NICOSIA, Cyprus – President Demetris Christofias said on Saturday (April 4th) that Greek Cypriots will not accept any change to the ongoing negotiation process aimed at reunifying the divided island. This includes setting deadlines for completing talks or possible UN arbitration. “These principles have been accepted by the international community, …

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• 7 April

  Albanian opposition hails NATO membership, urges responsibility

  TIRANA, Albania – Opposition party leaders said on Sunday (April 5th) the country’s accession into NATO is an achievement for all Albanians, who did what it took to merit membership.

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• 7 April

  Ethnic Albanian leader criticises Macedonia’s stance in name dispute with Greece

  SKOPJE, Macedonia – Xhevat Ademi, deputy leader of the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), criticised on Saturday (April 4th) Macedonia’s “lack of willingness” to reach an agreement with Greece in the long-standing name dispute.

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• 7 April

  Romanian government ready to render help to Italy

  Bucharest. Romanian government “expressed its readiness” to render help to Italian authorities ,if it is necessary, after the earthquake in Italy. This was said in a letter sent by Romanian Prime Minster Emil Boc to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

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• 7 April

  Bulgaria Requests New Russia Pipeline for South Stream Transit

  The Bulgarian government has asked Russia to avoid using Bulgaria’s gas pipeline network for transit purposes in its South Stream project. Thus, Russia will have to build a separate gas pipeline in Bulgaria, Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy, Yavor Kuyumdzhiev, stated in an interview on Bulgarian National Radio late …

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