Moscow

Plovdiv airport saw an 20% increase in number of passengers in the winter charter period, said director Ivan Karnabitov.

 Local industry braces for trade problems should Moscow proceed with countermeasures against the EU

By Dimitra Manifava

Cyprus is making a comeback from near bankruptcy although its banks are still struggling with bad loans and political support may be waning for tough measures, an International Monetary Fund report said on Tuesday.

BELGRADE - Air Serbia national airline has reintroduced direct daily flights from Belgrade to Sofia after 15 years.

The summer flight schedule includes daily flights by ATR 72 airliner which can carry 66 passengers, with flights from Belgrade departing at 1.30 p.m. and flights from Sofia departing at 4.10 p.m.

Montenegro's parliamentary speaker Ranko Krivokapic will visit Moscow and Kiev this week as part of the OSCE's efforts to help mediate in the Ukrainian crisis.

Serb entity "has right to self-determination" - PM

BANJA LUKA -- RS Prime Minister Željka Cvijanović has said that the Serb entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina "has a right to self-determination."

According to her, "the talk about a referendum, when it comes to the Serb Republic (RS), is not taboo nor is it artificially imposed from time to time."

Kosovo dialogue "not right place to discuss Ukraine"

BELGRADE -- Milovan Drecun says he "does not believe that the EU will take advantage of today's round of the Kosovo dialogue to influence Serbia about Ukraine."

No decision on Ukraine's future could be taken without Kiev's involvement, US State Secretary John Kerry told Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Lavrov has however ruled out Russia's recognition of the leadership in Kiev, which he once again described as "fascists", despite describing describing the conversation as "very constructive".

Ten years after joining North Alliance Treaty Organisation, Romanian officials say the country has benefited from  membership overall, although they concede that the cost has been high in terms of the number of casualties during NATO missions and the money spent on military operations.

MOSCOW - The authorities in Moscow are astonished by U.S. President Barack Obama’s claim that the decision to declare Kosovo independence was taken in a referendum held with the approval of the United Nations and neighboring countries.