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Balkan Developments

Aleksandar Vucic wins presidential elections in Serbia

BGNESThe leader of the Serbian Progressive Party and prime minister of the country Aleksandar Vucic won the presidential election in the first round, with over 55 percent of the votes, among 11 candidates. Departing president Tomislav Nikolic opted not to run for a second term of office after failing to obtain the support of the party that nominated him five years ago – the Serbian Progressive Party. After his victory was announced, Vucic stated a new government would be formed within the space of two months. Most observers in Belgrade say that the new prime minister will be a figurehead, entirely under the control of the president.

Turkish economy registers 3.5 percent growth

BGNESThe Turkish economy registered a growth of 3.5 percent – higher than expected – in the fourth quarter of 2016 which is due most of all to a high consumption rate, Turkish Statistical Institute data indicate. The country’s economy is undergoing recovery after the attempted coup in July last year, which explains the economic contraction, registered for the first time in seven years during the first quarter of 2016 (1.3 percent). The growth rate throughout 2016 is calculated at 2.9 percent, i.e. more than the forecast which envisaged a growth rate of 2.2 percent.

China’s COSCO invests in Port of Piraeus

censoo.comThe Chinese giant COSCO is planning to expand its European network, and to this end it intends to use Greece’s Port of Piraeus. COSCO which is owner of the world’s fourth biggest container merchant fleet, paid 280.5 million euro to acquire 51 percent of the company running the biggest Greek port – Piraeus – in September last year. This is the biggest and most strategic privatization deal in Greece since the start of the debt crisis in 2009.

Thaci gives up idea of forming regular army, for now

BGNESKosovo President Hashim Thaci has gone back on the controversial promise to pass a law transforming the Kosovo security forces into a regular army. He stated that he would consult the ethnic minorities and carry the transformation through by amending the constitution. Thaci incurred sharp criticism from the US and NATO after submitting a draft law in parliament for transforming the security forces into a regular army without any amendments to the constitution. This step aimed to bypass the MPs from the Kosovo Serbian minority whose support is needed for amending the constitution, though not for a regular law.

More and more Greeks go for medical treatment to Turkey

BGNESThe number of Greeks going to Turkey expressly for medical treatment has increased considerably of late, according to the Turkish health authorities, the greatest share being that of cancer patients. The economic crisis in Greece hit the medical sector hardest of all. Finding it impossible to obtain medical treatment in their own country, many Greeks are forced to seek treatment abroad, first and foremost in Turkey, health authority sources say. Moreover, doctors from Greece have been finding employment at hospitals in Turkey. Some time ago the Turkish government gave permission for doctors and specialists from abroad to be employed by hospitals in the country, which was hitherto prohibited.

Tirana meddles in domestic affairs of Macedonia

BGNESAlbanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again openly interfered in the domestic affairs of Macedonia. In an interview for the Swiss Tagesanzeiger Rama appealed for declaring Albanian a second official language on the entire territory of Macedonia. “We are demanding only that the government in Skopje respect the rights of the Albanian minority. It is inconceivable for us that Macedonians reject Albanian as an official language nationally,” Rama said.

Compiled by Atanas Tsenov

English version: Milena Daynova


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