Global politics

Spain's Economy Minister Luis de Guindos criticized Greeces left-wing government for its «not very coherent» approach to negotiations over its finances and economy.

"We have wasted very precious time over the last three or four weeks,» de Guindos said in an interview Friday with The Associated Press. «They have not made a lot of friends."

By John Geddie

Greek bond yields were set for their biggest weekly rise since the end of January on Friday and investors shed other low-rated debt as a stalemate between Athens and its international lenders threatened to bankrupt the country in the coming days.

The IMF expects Montenegro's economy to grow by a real 4.7 perc ent in 2015, slightly up from its previous forecast issued in February of 4.6 per cent growth.

The IMF expects the country's economy to expand by 3.5 per cent in 2016.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias is due to begin a five-day visit to the US on Monday, April 20.

He will begin his trip by meeting Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington, where he will also hold talks with National Security Adviser Susan Rice.

By Rebecca Christie & Andrew Mayeda

Euro-area officials need to look beyond Greece?s repeat warnings that it may miss a payment and find a long-term solution that shores up the economy to prevent any financial fallout, according to the European commissioner in charge of euro matters.

Chinese investors bought 100 million euros worth of short-term Greek Treasury bills in an auction on Wednesday, Greece's deputy finance minister said, in a boost for the cash-strapped country.

The deputy minister, Dimitris Mardas, did not give any further details.

NATO commander wants Russia "to stop fueling conflict"

NATO commander in Europe, U.S. General Philip Breedlove, "has expressed his concern over the renewed fighting in Ukraine," reported Tanjug.

A message posted on his Twitter account reads:

"Concerned by renewed fighting in Ukraine. Vital all sides pull back verifiably, Russia stops fuelling conflict."

IMF: Recession to continue throughout 2015

WASHINGTON -- According to latest IMF projections, 2015 will be another recession year for Serbia, with negative growth of -0.5 percent.

2016 should see "recovery" and 1.5 percent growth, according to this.

Russia's return to the group of leading industrialised nations hinges on its assistance to efforts to put an an end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said.

WASHINGTON - According to latest projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), 2015 will be another recession year for Serbia, with a real GDP growth of a negative -0.5 percent, and recovery, with a positive, 1.5 percent growth, should come in 2016.