Commonwealth of Independent States

The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) officially starts functioning on January 1.

The EEU unites Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.

The new economic union envisages free flow of capital, goods services, and workforce on a common market including over 170 million people, according to reports of the Bulgarian National Radio.

The Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday ratified a landmark EU pact that decisively steers the former Soviet state towards the West and away from Russian influence.

US-led military exercises involving 1,300 troops from 15 countries started on Monday in northwestern Ukraine.

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EU leaders gave Russia until Monday to change policy on Ukraine or face the prospect of tougher sanctions.
      
In a statement Friday, the 28 European Union leaders said Moscow had to take four steps, among them clear backing for the Ukraine government's peace plan, by Monday June 30.
      

Geneva meeting produces statement on de-escalation

GENEVA -- A key part of the agreement on de-escalation of the crisis in Ukraine means that all parties must refrain from any violence, intimidation or provocation.

Land troops of 12 countries will take part in the international military exercise at the Novo Selo range in Bulgaria. 

Saber Guardian, the largest exercise for this year, starts on Friday and will include 700 troops from Bulgaria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, USA, Belgium, Turkey and Ukraine, according to Bulgaria's Defence Ministry.

Intl. observers: Genuinely democratic elections

BELGRADE -- International observers have said that early parliamentary elections in Serbia were carried out in keeping with the law and with respect for basic freedoms.

But they also expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the media ownership structure and insufficient independence of journalists.

556 local and 179 foreign observers monitor elections

BELGRADE -- The Center for Free Election and Democracy (CeSID) and the Novi Sad-based NGO COR are the only local organizations which will monitor parliamentary elections.

Russia's Defense Ministry has given permission for a surveillance flight by Ukraine over Russian territory near the border between the countries.

Russia has permitted the flight in order to demonstrate that any threat of military operations on the part of the Russian Armed Forces is absent, after Kiev had claimed Moscow was building up its military presence there.

BELGRADE - The Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) is the only domestic organization that requested and got accreditation from the national electoral commission (RIK) for monitoring early parliamentary elections, while foreign observers showed greater interest in that.