News archive of April 2014

BERLIN - The German government adopted on Wednesday an asylum bill that declares Serbia a safe country of origin, making asylum requests by Serbian citizens groundless in principle and shortening the procedure of repatriating asylum-seekers.

PRISTINA- KFOR Commander General Salvatore Farina said on Wednesday the security situation in Kosovo had improved.

He met at the KFOR headquarters in Pristina with the mayors of four northern Kosovo municipalities where Serbs are the majority to discuss the general situation in Kosovo, particularly focusing on the situation in the north of the territory.

BELGRADE - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has congratulated Aleksandar Vucic on taking over as Serbian prime minister, announcing that her government will continue to provide strong support to Serbia on its path of reforms and European integrations.

BELGRADE - The new Serbian government is resolved to speed up the process of continuing the country's EU integrations, Serbia's Minister without portfolio for European Integrations Jadranka Joksimovic said on Wednesday at a meeting with the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport.

BELGRADE - Serbia's former defence minister Nebojsa Rodic said on Wednesday he expected to be appointed as the new ambassador to the US.

Commenting on his plans for the future after turning over his duties to the new Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, he stated he had acquired the title of ambassador 15 years ago nad that he would be returning to the Foreign Ministry.

It’s Saturday night going on Sunday morning at a club near the gated homes of the Greek elite in northern Athens as two men and a woman in business suits push through the crowd and demand to see the cash register.

The manager sighs. It’s the tax man.

Public Power Corp SA, Greece’s largest electricity company, is returning to the bond market for the first time since 2000 as recovery takes hold in the nation that set off the euro region’s debt crisis.

Greece said on Wednesday it expected to beat a 2014 budget target set by its international lenders and may tap bond markets again with an issue of between 3 and 6 billion euros to plug any potential funding gap over the next 12 months.

Employees at the Piraeus-Kifissia electric railway (ISAP) were expected to mark Labor Day on Thursday with an early morning stoppage starting at about 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Tram services across the the capital were expected to operate on schedule throughout the day, while buses and trolley buses were set to operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Federation of Private Employees (OIYE) said on Wednesday that its members will go on a 24-hour-strike on Sunday in protest to the opening of retail stores seven Sundays a year.

Employees were expected to participate in a rally at The Mall Athens in Maroussi, northern Athens, at 11 a.m. on Sunday.