Ankara would not accept status of “privileged partner” of European Union

Ankara is categorically against the status of “privileged partner” of the European Union, Turkey’s Minister for EU Affairs Ömer Çelik said. Minister Çelik pointed out that the disputes regarding the proposal of the privileged partnership have become topical again after the talks between Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan and the French President Emanuel Macron on January 5. Ömer Çelik added that Turkey should not be considered only as refugee camp, or as military headquarters, the cooperation with which is possible only on migration issues or the fight against terrorism.

68% of Greeks against use of term Macedonia in Republic of Macedonia’s new name

68% of the Greeks do not want the future name of the Republic of Macedonia to contain the term Macedonia, the latest survey of Mark agency published in Proto Thema newspaper shows. 23.6% of the surveyed Greek nationals would agree the term Macedonia to be used in the new name of that country. 63.8% of the supporters of the ruling Syriza party are against the use of the term Macedonia in the Republic of Macedonia’s future name and 67% of the people supporting the opposition New Democracy party do not approve the use of the term in the new name of their neighboring country.

Strikes in Greece’s transport continue

Greek nationals employed at the Athens underground are expected to go out on a strike on Monday after the strike organized by Greek bus drivers, tram drivers and trolley drivers on Friday last week. Due to the strike of flight controllers the air carriers Aegean and Olympic cancelled their flight schedules of 28 internationals and 20 domestic flights. The protests on Monday coincide with the voting at the Greek Parliament of a package of austerity measures proposed by the international creditors of the country - the EU and the IMF. The measures also envisage limiting the right to strike and more opportunities for sale of debtors’ housing.

Express newspaper: Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci pays USD 1 million to improve his image

Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci “pays USD 1 million to improve his image”, Pristina-based Express newspaper claims. According to the newspaper, Thaci contracted a US company owned by Brian Ballard on December 22 last year-the day when the Kosovo MPs launched an unexpected initiative to revoke the law on war crimes court. The same company was used to improve the image of Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan and Albania’s Premier Edi Rama, Express newspaper further writes.

Chinese consortium to build contestable bridge in Croatia

A Chinese consortium, led by China Road and Bridge Corporation won the bid for the construction of the first phase of Paljesac Bridge and its access roads, a major infrastructure project in Croatia. According to officials, this is the first major Chinese investment in the EU. The project however provoked disputes with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The bridge crosses the Mali Ston Bay over the Adriatic Sea and connects the southernmost Dubrovnik Neretva County to the rest of the mainland, giving Croatia a continuous land link which bypasses the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thus, drivers will be able to avoid a 10 kilometer section in Bosnia and Herzegovina and avoid waiting at border checkpoints. Sarajevo, however, contends that the bridge will impede the access of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the sea and insists that it should be at least 55 meters high.

Written by: Stoimen Pavlov
English version: Kostadin Atanasov