Member states of the Council of Europe

Serbia mounts diplomacy drive

Boosting bilateral relations with Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia is a priority for Serbia.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic (left) meets with his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Gruevski (right) on February 16th ahead of a joint summit in Skopje. [AFP]

By Stathis Kousounis

Tourism bookings from Russia this season have so far shown a massive yearly decline of 50 to 60 percent at Greece?s popular destinations, according to the president of the Association of Hellenic Tourism Enterprises (SETE), Andreas Andreadis.

Citizens asked "not to dispose of explosives in dumpsters"

BELGRADE -- The Serbian Interior Ministry (MUP) on Tuesday appealed on citizens "in possession of bombs and other mine-explosive devices" not to throw them into dumpsters.

Instead, citizens have been informed, they should call the police who will quickly respond and take over the explosives.

BELGRADE - A Serbia-Macedonia business forum was held at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) on Tuesday, and PKS President Marko Cadez said that construction firms of the two countries will in the coming period consider submitting joint bids in big international tenders.

The Albanian government is proposing to pass a special law to allow it to award a concessionary contract to the "China State Construction Company" to help build a highway to Macedonia.

Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev arrives in Austria Tuesday on a two-day working visit.

During his visit Plevneliev will receive the European Regional Integration award of the Federal Province of Lower Austria and the Danube University Krems.

According to the latest survey of Alpha Research, the majority of Bulgarians - 61 % oppose the imposition of new sanctions against Russia, while 39 % support their extension.

The survey, which was released on Monday, examines the social attitudes of Bulgarians on the country's foreign policy, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the national security.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov and his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic discussed Friday in Belgrade issues of mutual interest related to the implementation of joint energy and transport projects and opportunities for expanding economic cooperation.

Mitov and Dacic agreed that a joint sitting of the governments of Bulgaria and Serbia had to be held by end-2015.

Speaking during an official visit to Serbia, Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev stated that regional neighborhood was the most precious value in the Balkan countries.

Plevneliev took part in a forum attended by over 50 business representatives from the two countries.

BELGRADE - President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) Marko Cadez said on Friday that Bulgaria is a partner of Serbia in economic and political terms, but that there is still room for improvement in cooperation.