Sat, Feb 11 2012
It is expected that an agreement on eased border control will be signed in the autumn in Belgrade by Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania, enabling people living in the 20km border zone to move freely without visas, Bulgaria's Interior Minister Mihail Mikov said on July 19 2008.
According to a report by Bulgarian news agency BTA, Mikov made the announcement at an international border convention meeting near the Kadi Bogaz pass. The deal on visa-free movement in the 20km border zone would promote co-operation among people, Mikov said.
Serbian news agency Tanjug added that Mikov said that the agreement on the border zone would be a step forward towards Serbia joining Bulgaria and Romania in the European Union.
A statement on the website of the Interior Minister on July 17 said Mikov had had talks in Vienna with his Serbia and Macedonian counterparts.
According to the statement, Mikov emphasised to Serbian interior minister Ivica Dacic that it was very important that a trilateral protocol on enhanced co-operation in combating serious and organised crime be signed by Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.
Mikov handed his Macedonian counterpart Gordana Jankulovska a draft agreement on setting up a contact centre to enable liaison among the countries' border police, police, customs and the services in charge of the administrative control of foreigners.
Reports say that EU ministers could decide on June 15 to ease visa system for Macedonia, but Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania will have to wait.
Iranian silver-plated pigeons, African leopard skins and a Chinese bronze yak were among the 70 items sold in an auction of gifts presented to Romania’s former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena.
Airports were also showing signs of better co-ordination and providing passengers with accurate real-time information, compared to previous period of travel disruption, transport commissioner Siim Kallas said.
Viktor Orban defends government's record, new constitution in state-of-the-nation address as he slams European Commission.
PM Donald Tusk invited authors, NGOs, experts and bloggers to a debate on the ACTA copyright agreement, but several key organisations, including the Helsinki Foundation, rejected the invitation claiming that the talks will likely offer no opportunity to discuss concrete issues.
'Dirty Jews' and 'Dirty Nazis' were the most popular chants when two groups clashed in front of Új Színház (New Theatre)