Balkans

During visit to Belgrade, Papoulias stresses Athens backing for Serbia's EU ambitions

Meeting Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Deputy Premier and Minister for European Affairs Fatmir Besimi in Athens on Wednesday, Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos stressed Greece's support for its northern neighbor's European perspective, provided it meets criteria set by the European Union.

Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos on Wednesday stressed the political importance of the Belgrade-Pristina agreement for the region's future, while welcoming to Athens his Bosnia-Herzegovina counterpart, Zlatko Lagumdzija.

The United States has brought its influence to bear in Albania to try to end a stalemate over reconstituting the country's electoral commission to assure free and fair voting in June.

Vlado Jankovic feels more at home on the Panionios basketball court than other players.

The European Commission has recommended opening EU membership talks with Serbia, following Friday's landmark deal to normalise Serbia-Kosovo ties.

Serbia and its former province of Kosovo have reached an EU-brokered accord aimed at normalising relations between the Balkan neighbours.

The European Union's foreign policy chief warned Albanian leaders Tuesday that the conduct of forthcoming parliamentary elections would be a major test for the country, which hopes one day to join the 27-nation bloc.

The walls of Kreshnik Spahiu's office in the Albanian capital bear the names of towns far beyond the borders of this Adriatic state, in modern-day Greece, FYROM, Montenegro and Serbia.

The Greek government appeared dissatisfied on Wednesday following the presentation of a new proposal regarding the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in New York on Tuesday.