The request for the neighboring country to amend its constitution is a firm negotiating stance of Greece’s government, spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos says in an interview with the radio ‘Real FM’. Tzanakopoulos once again notifies his country’s stances related to settling the Athens-Skopje name dispute, MIA reports from the Greek capital. Greece stands for a complex …
Athens prefers that the new name is in Macedonian language, without translation and as one word, reads Greek daily “Ta Nea” in Monday’s analysis of the draft-treaty that Greece will present to Macedonia, MIA reports from Athens. The paper claims that Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias handed over the 20-page document to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras …
“Ta Nea”: Names in draft-treaty in Macedonian, without translation, as one word Read More »
Снежните врнежи низ цела држава го отежнаа и забавија патниот сообраќај, кој се одвива по влажни коловози, со остатоци од кашест снег, и со забрани и ограничувања за тешки товарни возила на планинските превои и дел од патиштата. Поради појава на магла видливоста е намалена од 15 до 20 метри на Попова Шапка. Снегот засега …
There is no pressure on Greece over the name issue, says government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, MIA reports from Athens. “We need to understand there is an opportunity for Greece and the neighboring country to reach a mutually acceptable compromise solution that will be beneficial for both sides, but also for the Balkans in general, because …
No pressure on Greece over name issue, says gov’t spokesman Read More »
Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos during Thursday’s meeting with President of Ireland Michael Higgins said that if Macedonia wants to integrate into NATO and EU it needs to change the constitution highlighting that whatever name is chosen should not contain a single trace of irredentism in terms of borders, nationality or language. At the beginning of …
The EU’s top court on Thursday found Poland guilty of violating air quality laws, in the latest clash between the bloc’s authorities and the right wing government in Warsaw, AFP reports. The European Court of Justice urged Poland to comply “without delay” or face fines after finding it had exceeded limits for toxic fine particles …
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov referred late Wednesday to the situation in Macedonia in the context of “Great Albania ideas.” At a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Lavrov said there are concerns over EU’s passivity regarding the initiative that had emerged from Tirana, the so-called Tirana Platform, which “is an …
Lavrov: EU is passive on Great Albania ideas, Ohrid Framework Agreement violated Read More »
Students galvanized by the deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school confronted lawmakers on Wednesday with demands to restrict sales of assault rifles, while President Donald Trump suggested arming teachers as a way to stop more U.S. rampages, Reuters reports. The unprecedented lobbying effort by groups of teenagers and parents at the White House and at …
Trump considers arming teachers as students hold protest Read More »
An unknown person threw an explosive device, probably a hand grenade, at the United States embassy building in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, before blowing himself up, the government said on Thursday, Reuters reports. Messaging in English on its official Twitter account, the government said that half an hour after midnight (1130 GMT), “An unknown person committed suicide …
Explosive device thrown at U.S. embassy building in Montenegro Read More »
The whole international community, including the countries that have been using the name ‘Macedonia’ bilaterally, should accept the solution, said former Foreign Minister of Greece Dora Bakoyannis in a TV interview, MIA’s Athens correspondent reports. “We want a solution the whole international community will accept. That’s the goal because currently they are being called ‘Macedonia’ by …
Bakoyannis: We want a package deal the whole international community will accept Read More »
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had a phone conversation with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss several issues, including the name dispute, Tsipras’ office said Tuesday. “The two leaders discussed developments relating to the negotiations on the FYROM name issue, provocative Turkish activity in the Aegean, and Turkey’s relations with the European Union,” read a …
PM Tsipras, Chancellor Merkel discuss name dispute in phone call Read More »
Moderate optimism for finding a solution to the name issue has been expressed by the former Greek ambassador to Macedonia, George Kaklikis. Speaking to CNN.gr, he referred to his tenure as ambassador to Macedonia, especially the year 2001 when Macedonia and Greece had been very close to reaching a solution after the Greek government had initiated …
Ex-Greek ambassador Kaklikis – moderate optimist for name solution Read More »
The United States doesn’t support exchange of territories, says the US embassy to Kosovo. Its statement reads that the US doesn’t back swapping of territories or the establishment of a precedent that could cause more problems than solutions. “All parties need to be creative in finding solution.” As part of the Brussels dialogue, it adds, …
There is a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ made between Russia and the US and its Western allies in the 1990s that NATO will not expand eastward towards the borders of Russia. It has been breached with the three enlargements of NATO. Now, they want to embroil the Balkan region into this game, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov …
FM Lavrov: NATO expansion eastward ‘a mistake’, breaches ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ Read More »
Kosovo Parliament has abandoned plans for organising an extraordinary session of Parliament on Sunday evening when MPs were expected to vote ratification of the border agreement with Montenegro. Parliament of Kosovo issued a press release on Sunday announcing officially that the extraordinary session has been postponed indefinitely. Earlier on Sunday the Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said that the session might be …
Kosovo parliament postpones vote on border demarcation Read More »
Early plans for a European army failed in the wake of World War II. EU states have since taken numerous small steps to integrate their armed forces, bringing the idea of a Europe-wide military ever closer to reality. Military treaties for a joint European army were signed just a few years after the end of …
Changing Europe revives interest in an EU military Read More »
Macedonian Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi attended Sunday the celebration marking the 10th anniversary of Kosovo independence. On the occasion, Xhaferi attended a formal session of Kosovo Parliament and a military parade. He was also a guest at Kosovo President Hashim Thaci’s reception of in honor of the jubilee, the Speaker’s Office said in a press …
Speaker Xhaferi attends Kosovo independence celebration Read More »
The Athens-Skopje name negotiations have reached a prefect momentum, contrary to the claims of opposition New Democracy leader that there are no favorable circumstances at the moment for a solution, Greek Minister of Administrative Reform Olga Gerovasili says in an interview with the new agency ANA-MPA. ‘At the moment the negotiations are underway under the …
Greek Minister Gerovasili: Perfect momentum for name negotiations Read More »
Serbia is only wasting time to obstruct Kosovo, as the country’s independence is an irreversible process, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci says in an interview for the TVN1. ‘I am aware of the challenges we have with the consolidation of Kosovo’s international status. However I am certain that Kosovo will be part of the UN, UNESCO, …
President Thaci: Kosovo independence – irreversible process Read More »
Points of convergence and positive climate after meeting in Vienna – the key to final agreement remains the combination of the gradual implementation of the erga omnes and amending of the constitution, reads an analysis of the Greek daily ‘To Vima’ about the marathon meeting of Greek, Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and Nikola Dimitrov …
Greek daily “To Vima”: Kotzias and Dimitrov are stepping up for an agreement Read More »
