PACE reopens monitoring against Turkey

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided to reopen the monitoring procedure in respect of Turkey until “serious concerns about respect for human rights, democracy and rule of law are addressed in a satisfactory manner”. The monitoring on Turkey was lifted in 2014. 113 representatives of PACE voted in favor of the proposal, 45 were against and 12 abstained. Later, Ankara announced that it was forced to reconsider its relation with PACE, Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

Erdogan: Ankara will reconsider its position on EU membership

Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan said that Ankara will reconsider its position on EU membership, if the country will have to wait much longer for a decision on that topic and if the current hostile mentality of some EU member states persists. One or two countries cannot keep the EU alive. You need a country like Turkey symbolizing a different faith. This would make them very strong, President Erdogan went on to say. However, the EU states don’t seem to realize that. They find it difficult to accept a Muslim country like Turkey, Recep Erdogan said.

67% of Thessaloniki port sold to German-led consortium

67% of the shares of Thessaloniki port in Greece were sold to a consortium of German, French, Chinese and Greek companies. The new company paid EUR 1.1 billion for that deal, the Greek Privatization Agency announced. The privatization agency of that country specified that the deal is part of the agreement between the Greek cabinet and the international creditors.

Greece and Turkey fall out over island of Agathonisi

Relations between Greece and Turkey have reached their critical point, media in Athens announce. Turkish ministers announced that the island of Agathonisi was Turkish territory. Earlier Turkey’s Minister of National Defense Fikri Isik and European Affairs Minister Omer Celic claimed that the Greek island of Agathonisi was Turkish territory. We condemn unconditionally Turkey’s current policy. That country makes provocative statements which question the internationally-recognized borders, the Greek Foreign Ministry announced in response.

Gjorge Ivanov: Foreign foundations divided Macedonia

The foreign foundations divided Macedonia on an ethnical principle, Macedonia’s President George Ivanov said in an interview for the Hungarian TV station MTVA. President Ivanov added that he would not hand in a mandate for a formation of a new cabinet, if the parties do not abandon the so-called Tirana Platform. Macedonia’s biggest problem is that the foreign foundations boosted ethnical sentiments in that country and divided the population on an ethnic principle, President Ivanov pointed out. According to President Gjorge Ivanov, the foundation of George Soros resorted to violent actions in Macedonia, including the setting of the Presidency reception room ablaze.

Serbia’s Premier Aleksandar Vucic: Statements of Great Albania are coordinated activity

Statements of Albanian and Kosovo politicians about the establishment of Great Albania are coordinated activity, Serbia’s Premier Aleksandar Vucic said. The question is whether the Albanians do that alone, or in coordination with another country, possibly from another continent. Why they do it now and what are their real intentions, Premier Vucic asked. In his view, “it was coordinated with at least one intelligence agency and the purpose is to legitimize the Albanian question and provoke Serbia”. Great Albania is a pan-Albanian idea for unification of all territories populated with ethnic Albanians. In that respect the Albanians claim that part of Greece, half of Macedonia and Kosovo, part of South Serbia and half of Montenegro are populated with ethnic Albanians.

Minimum pension in Slovenia reaches EUR 500

Slovenia’s Parliament adopted amendments to the Pension and Disability Insurance Act, according to which pensioners who meet all requirements would have a guaranteed pension of EUR 500. The act aims at making the minimum pension in that country EUR 500 per month, so that poor pensioners do not have to ask the state for additional assistance. Nearly 45,200 Slovenian pensioners will receive the minimum pension of EUR 500.

Compiled by: Atanas Tsenov

English version: Kostadin Atanasov