Romanian president cancels Ukraine visit

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has said he has annulled his visit to Ukraine planned for October, as well as a meeting in Bucharest with the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, as a token of protest against the cancellation of mother language training for the monitories in Ukraine. The reform passed at the beginning of September by the parliament in Kiev has caused big concern of the authorities not only in Romania, but also in Greece, Hungary and Bulgaria. In a joint letter last week Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Greece urged the Ukrainian authorities to cancel the reform.

Turkey sees Northern Iraq referendum as dangerous adventure

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has defined the planned referendum in Northern Iraq as a terrible mistake that is likely to trigger many regional crises. From the very start Turkey has warned with a very friendly tone that this referendum is unacceptable but its warnings have been ignored despite that the whole world and the neighbor countries oppose the referendum, Yidirim has told the press. He has specified that in its actions Turkey will account for the positions of Tehran and Baghdad and has added that the government of Turkey is considering all scenarious for the development of the situation. A day before the statement Turkey’s National Security Council declared illegal and unacceptable the referendum in Northern Iraq.

Vucic defines EU accession as Serbia’s third priority

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has named Belgrade’s accession to EU as third priority of that country. In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly he stated that the first national priority for Serbia was the solution of the Kosovo problem. As a second priority he outlined the economic development of the country and the creation of a single Balkan economic space. As a third priority no less significant than the other two Vucic defined Serbia’s accession to the European Union. So far European integration has been declared as that country’s main foreign-policy priority.

Skopje, Athens have good will to solve name issue: mediator Nimitz

In an interview for the Independent Balkan News Agency, IBNA, the UN Special Representative of the United Nations for the FYROM name dispute Matthew Nimitz has said that relations between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece have improved over the last few months and that there is good will on both sides to find a solution to the name issue. In this context the mediator voiced hopes for speeding up talks later this year. The two countries have already said they will benefit from the process, Nimitz has explained but has specified both still have red lines that should not be crossed.

Defendants in Montenegro coup d'état trial accuse judges in prejudice

The leader of the Montenegrin opposition Milan Knezevic has stated at the court hearing in the trial for the coup d'état that he cannot acknowledge a court which works with instructions from above. The lawyer of Knezevic has urged the court’s chairperson Suzana Mugos to resign as well as the President of the Supreme Court Boris Savic. According to the defense, the judges are involved in conflict of interest, because they are relatives of the representatives of the security services who have been ordered to collect evidence for the trial. The next hearing is on September 27, unless by then the defense files a request for a change of the judges' panel. In the trial for the coup d'état in Montenegro fourteen defendants are facing charges, including leaders of the opposition Democratic Front and two Russian citizens. The Russian citizens are accused of funding the attempted coup and planning the assassination of Milo Djukanovic "through incitement."

Compiled by Stoimen Pavlov

English Daniela Konstantinova