After the first round of meetings in European capitals, Paris, Berlin, The Hague, and after launching major government initiatives, Kyriakos Mitsotakis is stepping up to TIF in order to capitalize on the political benefits of the first 60 days and maintain a positive momentum. As was the case in Berlin, in The Hague, which Kyriakos …
By Federica Mogherini We have a clear interest in bringing the entire Balkans inside the European Union and we all know that this is a long process, a complicated one, always interesting and lively, that will take time. It will take a lot of problem solving, a lot of political commitment on all sides, and …
“We won’t allow deviations from what has been agreed, it’s necessary North Macedonia to be obliged to implement the Prespa Agreement”, Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said in an interview with Greek radio Alpha 989. Speaking on the Athens-based Alpha radio, he said he had clarified the issue to his counterpart Nikola Dimitrov when they …
Dendias: We won’t allow deviations from the Prespa Agreement Read More »
Following New Democracy’s election victory and the assumption of power by Kyriakos Mitsotakis in July, the out-of-door narrative of the new government was delimited. Firstly, we inform Europeans of the government’s plan and then we go on to gain Greece’s lost credibility. From a semantic point of view, Paris and Berlin, as the dominant capitals …
The Prespa Agreement a millstone around Mitsotakis’ neck in Europe Read More »
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin to convey the view that the Greek government will respect the Prespa Agreement, Ekatimerini reports. “As far as the Prespa name Agreement is concerned, Mitsotakis has every reason to stress his position that Greek foreign policy is stable and that …
Mitsotakis to tell Merkel that he will respect the Prespa Agreement Read More »
Cyprus is about to sign a Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of North Macedonia. The Communiqué will be signed by the two countries’ Foreign Ministers, Nicos Christodoulides and Nikola Dimitrov, as part of the Informal Council of Foreign Ministers of the EU (Gymnich) in Helsinki. According to a statement …
The authorities of North Macedonia and Serbia established a border office on the Tabanovce-Preshevo border crossing under the One Stop Shop Project was inaugurated on Monday. Under the project on joint integrated border management, passengers will only have to make one stop when crossing the border. One Stop Shop facilitates and accelerates the movement of …
Zaev and Brnabic launch joint border management at Tabanovce-Preshevo crossing Read More »
The visit of the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Belgrade was postponed, Turkish embassy in Belgrade confirmed to Tanjug news agency. The visit was planned for August 29. Erdogan will not be visiting Serbia in August and September due to a “schedule adjustment”, the embassy explained. It was earlier announced that Erdogan and his …
In 2019, the Bulgarian government has allocated more than a million leva (about 500 000 euro) for 11 development aid projects across the Republic of North Macedonia, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said. Zaharieva was speaking in Strumica at the opening of a multifunctional social centre in the municipality, financed with 270 000 leva from the …
Bulgaria gives North Macedonia a million leva in development aid in 2019 Read More »
Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the arrest of the Kosovar national Tomor Morina, former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army, by police in North Macedonia. Morina has been arrested based on an arrest warrant issued by INTERPOL at the request of Serbian authorities. Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli has declared that he’s soon expecting North …
Serbia will demand the extradition of former KLA member, reactions in Kosovo Read More »
Once the agreement has been signed and ratified in Parliament, it creates a plethora of legal responsibilities which make it difficult for anyone to disengage, Greece’s Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said in an interview with Parapolitika newspaper, in an answer to a question about the Prespa Agreement. The Greek Minister, also a lawyer, says the …
The Parliament of Serbia adopted the law on ratification of the agreement between the Government of Serbia and the Government of North Macedonia on establishment of joint traffic control at Presevo-Tabanovce border crossing. Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic said that it is important for competitiveness and connectivity to build common border …
The US Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker, who is visiting North Macedonia, met early Friday with the Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov. Reeker, who was accompanied by US Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after meeting with Dimitrov, is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, …
U Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn has met in Belgrade with Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic. The meeting focused on the situation in Western Balkans and “Serbia’s future steps in its European path”. While discussing the regional situation, President Vučić and Commissioner Hahn have particularly reviewed the stalemate in the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština as well …
Hahn and Vucic discuss dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia Read More »
The Republic of North Macedonia and Bulgaria on July 23 signed a protocol on intergovernmental co-operation in combating trafficking in human beings, the Bulgarian government information service said. For Bulgaria, the protocol was signed by the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of public order and security, Krassimir Karakachanov, and for North Macedonia, Deputy Prime Minister …
North Macedonia and Bulgaria sign agreement on combating human trafficking Read More »
The newly-elected New Democracy government won a vote of confidence in parliament late on Monday night, with a majority of 158. The remaining 148 MPs of the 300-member House voted against the Kyriakos Mitsotakis administration. “Starting tomorrow we begin working hard. We will honor the trust of the Greek people and will work with a …
North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev wrote in Facebook post that he has spoken on many occasions about the abuse of history for political aims and that the former authorities had conflicted the country with all neighbors through its antiquity attempt, keeping it in isolation for a decade. “I often speak about the abuse of …
Zaev: Gruevski and his propaganda, not Macedonians, appropriated neighbors’ history Read More »
The United States Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt, in an interview with Greek daily Kathimerini, said that the US focus is to support North Macedonia to become powerful and effective NATO member state. Concerning signaling from new Greek government on Prespa Agreement, he said that “he will leave the Greek government alone to speak about …
Pyatt: United States supports North Macedonia to become an effective NATO member Read More »
A three-day parliamentary debate of the newly-elected New Democracy government’s policy program for the next four years got underway in Greek parliament on Saturday. The debate will culminate in a vote of confidence in the Kyriacos Mitsotakis administration on Monday night. Addressing MPs for the first time as premier, Kyriacos Mitsotakis outlined his conservative government’s …
Mitsotakis and Tsipras clash in Parliament ahead of vote of confidence Read More »
Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip T. Reeker will travel to Greece and North Macedonia July 21-27 to engage with government representatives, civil society, and business leaders. In Athens, Ambassador Reeker will meet with Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and other new government leaders to discuss core issues for the bilateral relationship including …
Philip Reeker to visit North Macedonia and Greece Read More »
