Balkan Developments

published on 3/8/18 12:24 PM

Turkey warns again Cyprus over gas drillings

Turkey’s Premier Binali Yildirim warned again Cyprus over the oil and gas drilling near the island. Premier Yildirim said that neither Turkey, nor the Turkish Cypriot state in the north would accept any unilateral initiatives regarding the natural resources around the island. Commenting on the reports that Exon Mobil vessels headed towards the Eastern Mediterranean to do oil and gas prospecting Premier Yilldirim warned that Turkey would respond to any provocations. Last month Turkish warships prevented a rig from reaching an area southeast of Cyprus where Italian energy company Eni was planning to do gas drillings.

Federica Mogherini: Council of EU hopes that the two Greek frontier guards arrested in Turkey will be released

The Council of the European Union is hoping that the Greek frontier guards who were detained in Turkey will be released soon, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said. On March 1 this year two Greek frontier guards Angelos Mitredodis and Dimitris Kouklatzis who were patrolling near the Greece- Turkey border involuntarily crossed the state border due to the bad weather and were later arrested by Turkish military men. The frontier guards were arrested on suspicion of military espionage.

Romanian and German policemen smash illegal migrant trafficking ring

Romanian and German policemen raided private homes and hotels in both countries to smash an illegal migrant trafficking ring which is considered one of the biggest of its kind in Europe. The group located and guided migrants and organized their accommodation and transport through Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Austria and Germany. The migrants paid between EUR 4,000 and 5,000 to the criminal network.

Protests in Skopje against change of Macedonia’s name continue

Skopje again was a venue of protests against the change of Macedonia’s constitutional name. Several thousand people usually take part at the protests which are organized by We are Macedonia movement. According to local media, Macedonians protested also in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the Netherlands, Sweden and Great Britain.

Turkey helps Syrian refugees return to their home country

Turkey is to make the first steps to assist some of the 3.5 million Syrian refugees return to their home country. Turkey has been providing shelter for these refugees in the past seven years since the beginning of the civil war in Syria. The Turkish Red Crescent and the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority started to build nine camps for 170, 000 people in the regions cleared of terrorists from DEAS during the Euphrates Shield operation.

Bulgarian divers participate at Spring Storm-2018 military exercise in Romania

Bulgarian divers from this country’s Naval Forces, trained in disposal of ammunition, are participating at the Spring Storm-2018 military exercise. The maneuvers are held between March 5 and 12 in the area near the city of Constanta and Capu Midia training ground in Romania. The Bulgarian divers participate at the military exercise together with the Georgian coast guard and Romania’s and the US Naval Forces. The exercise is based on the concept of joint training of the naval, air and terrestrial forces with accent on allied amphibious operations and fight seafaring sequences against marine mines in an area of onshore landing.

Written by: Miglena Ivanova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov