France

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has urged the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to take part in a donor conference aimed at providing assistance to Serbia and other flood-hit countries in the region - to be held under the auspices of France - noting that long-term development plans also need to be considered.

Bulgaria's trade in automotive parts has marked considerable success since 2009, with its exported production valued at roughly BGN 400 M (EUR 200 M) a year.

The number of factories producing parts is also on the rise across Bulgaria, with a total of 50 companies from the field operating here, according to the governments' InvestBulgaria agency as cited by the daily 24 Chasa.

Around 200 women boxers representing 31 countries in Europe are expected to participate in the European Women's Boxing Championship in Bucharest, from May 31 to June 7.

By Nikos Roussanoglou

PARIS - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said in Paris on Thursday that French President Francois Hollande has accepted the initiative for his country to feature as the supporter of the international gathering to raise aid for countries recently hit by the catastrophic floods.

PARIS, May 22 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic appealed to his French counterpart Francois Hollande on Thursday for France's backing for the holding of an international donor conference for Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia after the catastrophic floods.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic will talk on Thursday with his French counterpart Francois Hollande in Paris about the difficult situation that his country has found itself in due to catastrophic floods and France's assistance to the flood-hit citizens.

President to appeal for help to French counterpart

BELGRADE -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić is due to meet in Paris on Thursday with his French counterpart Francois Hollande, it has been announced.

They will discuss the consequences of the catastrophic floods that hit Serbia last week, and the French assistance, according to reports.

"Disaster came from God, people can fix it"

SMEDERVSKA PALANKA -- President Tomislav Nikolić has said he will ask UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to organize a fund raising dinner to help those affected by the floods.

BELGRADE - Presidential Advisor Marko Djuric has said on Wednesday, referring to the floods that hit Serbia, that President Tomislav Nikolic will continue talks with representatives of the international community, noting that the real challenges will arise after water retreats.