European Union

 Size of the country’s arrears and a possible haircut are not a priority in the government’s planning

By Sotiris Nikas

European Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom on Tuesday expressed satisfaction at the “clear progress” made by Greece in the areas of migration and asylum while Development Minister Nikos Dendias indicated that he would seek to channel EU structural funding toward tackling the challenges created by increased migration flows.

Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos (photo) made it clear on Tuesday that Greece backs a United Nations Security Council resolution passed on Monday which demands that armed groups in eastern Ukraine allow “safe, secure, full and unrestricted access” to the site where Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed, killing all 296 people on board.

BRUSSELS - Director of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) Marko Djuric stated that the Peace Park built by the Kosovska Mitrovica Serbs will remain until further notice on the bridge over the Ibar River which connects the northern (Serb-populated) part and the southern (ethnic Albanian) part of the city in northern KiM.

BELGRADE - The traffic police intensified controls for freight vehicles and buses in local and international transport with a view to ensuring better safety for all traffic participants, the Serbian Ministry of Interior released on Tuesday.

AGERPRES special correspondent Catalina Matei reports: Romania has continued to make progress in achieving the objectives of the European Digital Agenda (DAE) in 2012/2013, a report released on Tuesday by the European Commission referring to the telecommunications market in the EU and the current regulations shows.

EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn, has announced that the Partnership Agreement between Bulgaria and the European Commission is to be signed very soon.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia has confirmed that he will visit Serbia on October 19 for the 70th anniversary celebration of the Soviet Red Army's liberation of Belgrade at the end of the Second World War.

Beaten, burned and threatened by her husband, Hayat has repeatedly turned to the Turkish authorities for help. But she still lives with the man who tells her she belongs either to him, or in her grave.

She says she has reason to be afraid. Last year, 13 women in Turkey were murdered by their partners whilst nominally under state protection, according to official figures.

Ukraine's general consul in Suceava (northeastern Romania) Vasily Boeciko has sent on Tuesday condolences to the families of victims in the airliner crash of July 18 and condemned the actions of the "terrorists" in Donetsk, branding that day "Ukraine's blackest day ever".