Ambassador Noah Gal Gendler was approached by Novinite.com over the recent visit of Israeli President Shimon Peres to Bulgaria, during which Peres declared that direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations could be expected shortly, and described Bulgaria as “the most suitable” place to hold such talks.

• August 20, 2010

Finland's government on Thursday concluded its budget talks after only one day of discussing the finance ministry's budget proposal.

• August 20, 2010

Around three thousand anti-government protestors rallied in the southern Kyrgyzstan city of Osh on Friday, attacking a government minister and demanding the resignation of the country's president.

• August 20, 2010

Russia extended its lease on Friday on a military base in the former Soviet republic of Armenia until 2044, strengthening its presence in the South Caucasus energy transit region.

• August 20, 2010

Pakistan should engage in a 'detailed dialogue' with Iran on nuclear power and not only the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline to counter its 'arch-enemy' India, an editorial in a Pakistani newspaper said Friday.

• August 20, 2010

Downplaying recent adverse remarks by Japanese officials about civil nuclear cooperation with India, India Friday said it would shortly hold another round of negotiations with Japan here and underlined that it was hopeful of 'a win-win' atomic accord soon.

• August 20, 2010

Turkey's president met with the leader of a Kyrgyz political party in Istanbul on Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reported.

• August 19, 2010

Twenty years after the last Russian soldier walked out of Afghanistan, Moscow is gingerly pushing its way back into the country with business deals and diplomacy, and promises of closer ties to come.

• August 19, 2010