Latvia

German Chancellor Angela Merkel refused Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to partake in the Russian military parade in Moscow on May 9th, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Allied victory against Nazi Germany.

However, the chancellor will visit Moscow the day after in order to pay her respects with a wreath over the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Latvia's Ambassador to Romania Ilgvars Klava on Tuesday said that his country endorses Romania's accession to the Schengen Area and supports the Schengen enlargement if the evaluation process is completed, adding that "all member states should be equally, fairly treated, without the adding of supplementary criteria."

Photo credit: (c) Simion MECHNO / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

Around 750 US Army tanks and other vehicles and military equipment are already in Latvia for the so-called "Operation Atlantic Resolve" exercises with NATO partners.

The drills will continue for three months, though a US military source quoted by various media outlets argues the equipment will remain in the region even after this period.

Bulgaria's tennis team defeated Latvia with 4:1 and proceeded to the second round of Group II Europe/Africa of the Davis Cup.

The Bulgarians started with a defeat on Friday after Aleksandar Lazov lost to Martins Podzus with 3:6, 5:7, 5:7.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias warned Europe that it would encounter huge migration problems and be flooded with islamic militants in Europe if Greece were to become insolvent during the EU Foreign Ministers meeting focused on the war in eastern Ukraine. On the sidelines of the meeting he issued a message to Germany on the sidelines of the meeting in Riga, Latvia.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias told his FYROM counterpart Nikola Poposki that Greece stands by its position on the long-standing name dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The two men met in Riga, Latvia, on Saturday on the sidelines of a two-day EU Foreign Ministers meeting that focuses on the war in eastern Ukraine.

Bulgaria lost its first match against Latvia in Group II Europe/Africa Zone of the Davis Cup on Friday.

Aleksandar Lazov lost to Martins Podzus with 3:6, 5:7, 5:7 in a match that lasted slightly over two hours and a half, daily Dnevnik reports.

The match did not start well for Lazov, who conceded a break and came 1:4 behind.

NATO and Russia trade "hybrid warfare" accusations

BRUSSELS -- NATO has an extensive history of "hybrid operations," Russian Permanent Representative to NATO Aleksandr Grushko has said.

The Russian official cited the former Yugoslavia as an example.

"Each country or organization can learn from the experience of the Alliance," said Grushko.

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic will visit Riga on March 6 and 7 where he will attend an informal meeting in the Gymnich format that will gather ministers of foreign affairs of EU members and candidate countries.

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic will visit Riga on March 6 and 7 where he will attend an informal meeting in the Gymnich format that will gather ministers of foreign affairs of EU members and candidate countries.