Sela waiting for Kasami and Gashi to reconcile, Thaci out of the picture


Alliance for Albanians leader Zijadin Sela is waiting for the fighting friends of BESA – Bilal Kasami and Afrim Gashi – to overcome their misunderstandings and then join the battle to oust DUI from power. In the possible coalition against the ruling DUI, there would be room for everyone except Menduh Thaci’s DPA, whom Sela …

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No one controlled Igor Spasov while getting medical treatment


None of the institutions controlled convicted special police agent Igor Spasov while he was released to get medical treatment, that is, while serving his prison sentence because he had to undergo meniscus surgery. Spasov was only obliged to submit medical documentation every month to the judge for the execution of sanctions in the Shtip court …

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Palmer: I’m coming to reaffirm America’s strong support for North Macedonia


I’m coming here to reaffirm and reinforce America’s strong support for North Macedonia and its European path and perspective, United States Special Representative for the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer said Tuesday. Speaking to reporters after his meeting in Skopje with Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, Palmer said he was pleased he was back again to see …

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Russia invites Albania, North Macedonia to join the Eurasian Union


The invitation to join the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) has been addressed to Albania and North Macedonia by Russia’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, during the Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona, Italy on Friday. Albania and North Macedonia will find understanding sooner within the EEU than in the EU, the Russian diplomat noted. …

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VMRO-DPMNE leaves session while Dimitrov and Osmani discuss EU’s decision in Parliament Committee


Deputy PM for European Affairs Bujar Osmani told MPs Tuesday the European Council decision not to give North Macedonia a date for the start of accession negotiations is an injustice and historic mistake. VMRO-DPMNE MPs abandoned the session prior to Osmani and Dimitrov’s remarks, labeling it as a government party. The Parliament’s Committee on European …

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Pendarovski for Al Jazeera: The Western Balkans region is not neighboring to the EU


For us, there’s no better alternative than EU integration, and therefore, all other options for strategic or special forms of partnership are impossible and unacceptable, President Stevo Pendarovski said in an interview with Al Jazeera Balkans. “There are as many alternatives as you want, as many options as you want, but nothing is more sustainable …

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Both advisor and court employee – attends his boss’s hearing


Goran Stamenkovski, advisor to Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who is also an employee of the Criminal Court, sat on the back bench meant for public audience on Thursday and watched Zaev’s testimony about the mass wiretapping. Stamenkovski is head of the Human Resources department at the Criminal Court and reporters can often spot him at …

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Zaev to meet with Conte in Rome and Mogherini in Brussels


North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev is set to meet with Italian PM Giuseppe Conte on Tuesday in Rome. Zaev will also attend EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini’s farewell working dinner with Western Balkan leaders in Brussels. PM Zaev confirmed in a TV interview last week that Conte invited …

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Nikos Kotzias undertakes international initiative for the Balkans


Former Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias is undertaking an international initiative on the situation in the Western Balkans, following a decision by the last European Council meeting to postpone setting a date for the start of EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. The former Foreign Minister had meetings with the Slovak Foreign Minister …

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Zbogar: Postponement of the census is a logical decision in order to eliminate any political influence


EU Ambassador Samuel Zbogar has said that postponement of the Census due to the early parliamentary elections is a logical decision in order to eliminate any political influence, in hope the statistical operation will take place by 2021 at the latest. “The census had to be postponed due to the decision on the early elections, …

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Financial Times: Emmanuel Macron’s EU accession veto is a historic mistake


You consider that French president Emmanuel Macron has made a “historic mistake” in vetoing the opening of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, but the French opposition to the opening of negotiations is in no way linked to the particular assessment of the candidate countries, but to a much more fundamental political problem …

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EASC warns on risks of not opening EU membership talks with North Macedonia


The refusal by the European Union to open membership talks with the Republic of North Macedonia has led to an impression of euroskepticism returning in the region, the Sofia-based Euro-Atlantic Security Centre (EASC) said. “Macedonian society has felt betrayed by old Europe,” said the think-tank, founded by Bulgaria’s former Interior Minister and former GERB strongman …

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Pendarovski suggests holding regional summit to confirm EU path


North Macedonia, Albania and other countries in the region should continue on the EU path as there is no other alternative, President Stevo Pendarovski said Saturday at a joint news conference with his Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta in Tirana. Stevo Pendarovski suggests the Western Balkans countries to hold an extraordinary summit to discuss EU enlargement …

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Kotzias: Greece should take initiative to organize meetings for stability in the Balkans


Greece should take initiative to organize meetings and coordinate with countries sharing the same position on stability in the Balkans regarding North Macedonia’s European perspective, former Greek foreign minister Nikos Kotzias told a conference on progressive foreign policy organized by ENA Institute for Alternative Policies. Participants in the conference discussed aspects of Greek foreign policy, …

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Thimonier: The Prespa Agreement isn’t the sole precondition for starting accession talks


French Ambassador Christian Thimonier said that he has informed French top officials of North Macedonia’s disappointment following the EU Council meeting in Brussels. Thimonier added that geopolitics surpassed realistic expectations, giving the public “the impression that the Prespa Agreement is the sole precondition for starting accession talks.” The French ambassador said the Bundestag wasn’t ready …

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Hahn: The consequences for both countries and the region could be catastrophic


EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn again sharply criticized France’s negative position and the refusal of the EU leaders to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, saying the consequences for both countries and the region could be catastrophic. Hahn in the interview with APA news agency said that negative decision of EU leaders …

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