Recent Posts

Greek Cypriots postpone second round of peace talks

CYPRUS Greek Cypriot representatives had postponed the second round of peace talks following a dispute over a pilgrimage to an orthodox church in the Turkish Cypriot north, an official said on Wednesday. The leaders of the two rival communities were scheduled to start the new round of negotiations on Thursday …

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Greek PM calls snap election, date yet to be announced

GREECE Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Wednesday evening announced the holding of a snap general election in a television speech to the nation. In prefacing announcement, Karamanlis underlined the need for immediate and significant reforms and measures to deal with the repercussions of the international economic crisis and what …

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US Worried about Bosnian Political Rifts

BOSNIA The US is concerned about the current situation in Bosnia and its leaders’ commitment to securing EU and NATO membership, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Stuart E. Jones said. “The American government is concerned because we haven’t seen practical actions which reflect [Bosnian officials’] commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration,” …

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Rehn Praises Macedonia’s Reform Progress

MACEDONIA Macedonia has a serious chance of receiving a recommended start date for EU accession talks this autumn if the positive progress of recent months continues, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn says. Rehn’s comments come only a month before the European Commission, EC, prepares its annual report on the country’s …

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Albania’s New Coalition Takes Shape

ALBANIA Albania’s conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha and former Socialist premier Ilir Meta signed a coalition agreement on Wednesday, shaping the core of the cabinet that will govern the country for the next four years. The deal has been two months in the making and was announced after Berisha’s right-wing …

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Commissioner Says EU Must Reward Serbia

SERBIA The EU Council of Ministers could soon unblock the Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn says. “The authorities in Serbia continue to work hard on achieving the necessary reforms. At the same time, Serbia is unilaterally applying the interim trade agreement too, despite the economic …

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Terrorism in Greece

GREECE Recent news updates from leading Greek media citing commentary and exclusive information from high-level police and security circles indicate that arrests are underway regarding domestic terrorist groups that have managed over the past 5 years to launch impressive attacks against a variety of state, diplomatic and police targets. According …

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Speaker Mihai Ghimpu should act as President – Nagacevschi

MOLDOVA Vitalie Nagacevschi, a prominent Moldovan lawyer elected to parliament on the Liberal Democratic Party’s ticket, presumes new parliament chairman Mihai Ghimpu should assume the performing of presidential duties until a new head of state is elected. Nagacevschi stated to the press today, “Vladimir Voronin is trying to find a …

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