Turkish opposition leader continues his “Walk for justice”

The leader of the Republican People’s Party Kemal Kılıcdaroglu is continuing his “Walk for justice” from Ankara to Istanbul. Kılıcdaroglu plans to match 450 kilometers as a sign of protest against the sentencing of the MP from his party Enis Berberoglu to 25 year of imprisonment on charges of leaking classified information to the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper. President Erdogan warned Kılıcdaroglu not to be surprised if at some point the judiciary summons him. However, the opposition leader answered that he would not succumb to the provocation, stating that his march was for justice, not against justice.

Turkey supports Macedonia in its bid for membership of NATO

“Macedonia deserves more than any other candidate to join NATO,” said in Skopje Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. After talks with his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Dimitrov, Cavusoglu commented that Ankara will support any decision on the Macedonia naming dispute that would be equally acceptable to Skopje and to Athens. On his part Dimitrov went back to the 2011 ruling of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, according to which there should be no obstacle to his country receiving an invitation to join NATO, stressing that this would also be in the interest of Greece. Greece blocked Macedonia’s NATO membership and the start of the country’s negotiations on accession to the EU over the naming dispute.

Athens to propose to Skopje the name “Vardar Macedonia”?

The Greek Real News weekly writes that Athens plans to propose to the Skopje authorities the name “Vardar Macedonia” as a way of resolving the naming dispute, or alternatively “Republic of Skopje”, even though the Macedonian side has already rejected it during past negotiations. According to Real News the Macedonian government as well as international negotiator Matthew Nimetz are aware of these ideas.

President and PM in Albania trade jabs

Newly elected president of Albania Ilir Meta said in an interview for Greek TV that PM Edi Rama “has difficult and unstable relationships” with all neighbouring countries. Several hours after the president gave the interview, the prime minister commented on Facebook that Meta’s statement was a real shock adding he was astounded how it was possible for an Albanian president to insult the premier as if he is an extremist from some neighbouring country. Parliamentary elections will be held in Albania on 25 June after being postponed by one week over the opposition’s refusal to take part in them.

Sharp reactions in Serbia over nomination of Brnabic for PM

President Aleksander Vucic’s decision to hand a mandate for the formation of a government to Ana Brnabic, Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government elicited a sharp reaction from the opposition and, according to some local media, within the Serbian Progressive Party as well. The conservative part of the opposition is accusing the new head of state of caving in to pressure and influence from Washington, stating that the choice of Brnabic has been imposed by the west. MPs from United Serbia, which is part of the ruling coalition, are not going to vote for Ana Brnabic. The leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic whose name has been mentioned as a candidate for the post of prime minister stated he respected the nomination of the president.

Compiled by Stoimen Pavlov

English version: Milena Daynova