Minsk

Putin to meet with CU, EU officials, Poroshenko

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a meeting of heads of the Customs Union members with Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko in Minsk on August 26.

This was announced on Tuesday by Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, ITAR-TASS reported.

Sofia is the most affordable EU city for expat living, shows the 2014 Mercer Cost of Living Rankings annual survey. 

The capital of Bulgaria takes the 172-nd position out of 211 surveyed cities. 

Compared to the 2013 survey, the cost of expat living increased, shows the survey. Last year Bulgaria was at the 181-st place. 

Kazakhstan and Belarus have rejected Russia's proposal that the the three countries jointly adopt a special system to receive Ukrainian goods.

Travel agencies, hotels and private accommodation have already recorded a decline in the number of tourists compared to the same period last year, the Montenegrin National Tourist Organization announced on Monday.

The Belarusian security service has prevented an attempt to hijack a plane flying in to the capital Minsk from Georgia, Tuesday.

The Belarusian State Security Committee has arrested a Georgian national after he has attempted to hijack a passenger plane that was flying from Kutaisi, Georgia, to the Belarusian capital, Minsk, on June 10, Interfax informs.

MINSK - Serbia practically already lives in the EU, as it is surrounded by it, but it can build good relations with Russia and Belarus as well, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, who will visit Serbia on Wednesday, has said.

Serbia should find a path that will not dissapoint the east or the west, he told the daily Politika.

Moldova and Belarus have become the latest countries where Turkish citizens can enjoy visa-free travel.

EULEX sends one, Belarus two helicopters

Belgrade, Moscow -- A helicopter of the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, sent to assist in rescue efforts in flood-hit Serbia landed in Belgrade on Sunday.

The helicopter will assist the police in central Serbia.

Bulgaria's capital Sofia is among the 19 bidders to host the EURO 2020 football championship, placed on the official UEFA list. 

The tournament will take place in 13 cities, of which one will host the semifinals and the final and the reaming 12 will host the group phase of the tournament.