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Balkan Developments

Zoran Zaev becomes Macedonia prime minister

BGNESThe parliament of Macedonia has appointed a new government of that country led by the leader of the Social-Democratic Union Zoran Zaev. The new government of Macedonia is expected to spell the end of the serious political crisis that began in early 2015. The Zaev government has 25 ministries and 8 ministers without portfolios. The new Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov has said that his first visits abroad will be to neighboring countries with whom Macedonia has recently had strained relations, and he is set to show the new face of Macedonia.

Greece will invite immediately new Macedonia foreign minister to Athens

a1on.mkGreek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has announced that he will immediately invite to Athens the new Foreign Minister of Macedonia Nikola Dimitrov so that the sides could find ways to improve cooperation and resolve pending problems in the spirit of democracy and based on consensus. Kotzias however has also repeated his old position about the dispute between the authorities in Skopje and Athens over the name of the Republic of Macedonia.

Vucic sworn in as Serbia President

BGNESThe President of Serbia elected on 2 April Aleksandar Vucic was sworn in by that country’s parliament and was officially inaugurated as a head of state with a five-year term. Attendance at the ceremony included erstwhile president Tomislav Nikolic, the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, leaders of political parties, representatives of Slovenia, Hungary, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece and Austria, as well as foreign ambassadors. Outside parliament a crowd of about 1000 gathered to applaud the new president. In Belgrade a protest was held against the “dictatorship of Vucic” organized by the opposition.

Kosovo has never been part of Serbia: Foreign Minister Hoxhaj

BGNESKosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj has said that “Kosovo has never been part of Serbia”. His statement has been prompted by the vow of the new President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic who has said that “Serbia will never give up Kosovo” and that he as president will always defend the territorial integrity of Serbia, including Kosovo. Kosovo’s Ambassador to USA Vlora Citaku has reacted to the words of the Serbian president by saying that "Vucic still lives in the times of Slobodan Milosevic.”

Montenegro leaders become part of Kremlin black list

BGNESThe Prime Minister of Montenegro Dusko Markovic, Parliamentary Speaker Ivan Brajovic and the Chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists Milo Dukanovic have been put on the so-called Kremlin Black List made up of persons who are banned from entering Russia, the Montenegrin Pobeda newspaper reports. Referring to diplomatic sources the publication specifies that cabinet ministers and MPs have also been put on the list who have subscribed to Montenegro’s accession to NATO. The Foreign Ministry in Podgorica has asked Moscow to send the list with names included in the ban, but according to Pobeda, the Russian side has no intention to do so.

ISIS leader detained in Istanbul

hurriyet.com.trThe Turkish police have detained in Istanbul one of the leaders of the terrorist group ISIS Halis Bayandzhuk, Hurriyet newspaper writes. Bayandzhuk also known as Abu Hansal has been arrested four times since 2011 in police operations against the terrorist groups Al-Qaeda and ISIS but has always been released a few months later. The jihadist is an author of articles for publications of ISIS and is involved in recruiting new members. This time he has been detained for the threats he addressed to the Turkish authorities during a speech in Istanbul.

Compiled by Stoimen Pavlov

English Daniela Konstantinova


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