Slavic

The EU is likely to lessen sanctions imposed on Russia in response to the limiting of hostilities in Ukraine, former Bulgarian government official Simeon Djankov argued Thursday.

"If we reach a position of frozen conflict, then we can discuss how we and the Russians can work together," Russian news agency RIA quoted him as saying.

General Branimir Glavas, currently serving a war crimes sentence in Bosnia, has been sent to Croatia to pursue his libel case against the mayor of Osijek, who called him a war profiteer.

VIENNA - Serbian Minister without portfolio in charge of European integration Jadranka Joksimovic expressed the expectation in Vienna on Thursday that Serbia could open the negotiations with the EU on Chapter 32 which covers public finance control in December.

BELGRADE - A budget revision proposal, which should be in the Serbian parliament by the end of this month, will contain part of the planned reform measures, Secretary of State at the Serbian Ministry of Finance Nenad Mijailovic said on Thursday, adding that intensive talks were being led with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about it.

BELGRADE - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and German Foreign Office Special Envoy for South-Eastern Europe, Turkey and the EFTA States Ernst Reichel stated on Thursday that Serbia has made visible progress on its EU path.

Vucic informed Reichel about the adoption of reform laws and announced that Serbia will soon become economically successful and prosperous country.

Ukraine's largest rebel-controlled city of Donetsk was shaken by violence Wednesday as 10 people, including parents and teachers, were killed, the highest toll since a tenuous ceasefire was agreed.

Opportunities for developing commercial and economic relations despite the tensions in Ukraine were discussed Wednesday at the headquarters of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

Viktor Yanovski, Deputy Chair of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, described Bulgaria as one of the major trade partners of Ukraine.

BELGRADE - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic expressed expectation on Wednesday at a meeting with Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs Elmar Brok that Serbia will open Chapters 32 and 35 in the negotiations with the EU by the end of the year.

At least 11 people were killed and 40 others were injured during artillery shelling of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a local hospital spokesman told RIA Novosti, Wednesday.

LONDON - Serbian Minister without portfolio in charge of European integration Jadranka Joksimovic conferred with British Minister for Europe David Lidington in Birmingham on Wednesday and informed him about the latest difficult and demanding measures the Serbian government is implementing within the reform process.