Greece proposes broad debate on future of EU

“The EU is in the midst of a crisis and it is our task to pull it out, to make it better, to develop its assets and leave the negative phenomena born of the crisis behind,” said Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias at the annual meeting of the ambassadors’ council in Macedonia. Minister Kotzias who is paying a working visit to Skopje added that Greece had proposed a broad debate on the future of the EU many times in the past two years. Talking of the existing risks, Nikos Kotzias stated that the multifaceted crisis may spread and result in a two-speed Europe. Kotzias gave four crisis elements: identity crisis, crisis of the economic model, multifaceted political crisis and refugee crisis.

Turkish PM: Interests of regime in Damascus are not to be ignored

“The Turkish military operation in Northern Syria will continue until the Kurdish YPG militia fighters return east of the Euphrates river,” said Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. In an interview for Haberturk TV, Yildirim stressed that the interests of the regime in Damascus were not to be ignored. “Syria's president Bashar al-Assad has no role in Syria's future, but talks with him will be necessary during a transitional period as he is one of the actors today no matter whether we like it or not", Yildirim said, as quoted by the Bulgarian National Radio correspondent in Istanbul Nahide Deniz. Turkish tanks and military hardware have crossed the border with Syria as part of the cross-border “Euphrates Shield” operation against the so-called Islamic State and the Kurdish militias. The operation is backed by fighter jets of the US-led international coalition.

Leaders from Southern Europe to discuss migration policy

The leaders of six South European countries have agreed to take part in a meeting in Athens on 9 September. The presidents of France and Cyprus, the prime ministers of Italy, Portugal and Malta, the acting prime minister of Spain have been invited to attend the forum. The idea by Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is for the Mediterranean countries to influence the European agenda on issues like social development and migration policy.

Igor Luksic pulls out of race for UN Secretary General

Igor Luksic, foreign minister of Montenegro has pulled out of the race for UN Secretary General, leaving 10 contenders for the post after the end of Ban Ki-moon’s term of office. The next vote will be on 29 August. Bulgaria’s Irina Bokova, currently UNESCO Director-General is among the candidates. Ban Ki-moon’s term of office expires on 31 December.

Serbian hunter shoots Afghan migrant dead near border with Bulgaria

The police in Serbia have arrested a hunter who shot and killed an Afghan migrant in the Southeastern part of the country, close to the border with Bulgaria. Upon their arrival, emergency doctors declared the 20-year old dead. Serbia is part of what is known as the Balkan route used by hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa to reach Western Europe. Although the route was closed in March, small groups are still traversing the region helped by human traffickers.

Bosnian pine is oldest living organism in Europe

Scientists say that a Pinus heldreichii or Bosnian pine found in the Pindos mountains in Northern Greece is the oldest living organism in Europe. With the help of dendrochronology, specialists have been able to determine that the tree growing in the Greek mountains is around 1,075 years old. It was discovered amidst other coniferous trees during a Greek-Swedish expedition. Experts are hoping that the study of the tree will help trace climate changes in the region.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova

English version: Milena Daynova