This week Macedonia expects recommendation for EU accession negotiations

The government of the Republic of Macedonia expects a clear recommendation for opening negotiations for accession to the European Union, Deputy Prime Minister Bujar Osmani said in connection with the forthcoming European Commission report for that country planned to be released on 17 April. The Republic of Macedonia thinks it has met the conditions for opening negotiations, but their start was delayed because of Greece’s claims on its name. In the coming months the naming dispute is likely to be solved. Skopje hopes that after the recommendation it will also receive an official invitation for accession talks by the end of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of EU which completes at the end of June.

70 percent of Greeks oppose Republic of Macedonia name containing term “Macedonia”

In the latest survey of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), 71.5 percent of the Greeks do not want to see the term “Macedonia” used in the new name of the Republic of Macedonia. Two years ago this stance was supported by 57 percent of the polled. A name containing the term “Macedonia” is acceptable today for only 22.5 percent of the polled, with 6 percent undecided or unwilling to answer this question.

Belgrade quite disenchanted with international reactions to Kosovo

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic has told the state TV channel RTS following a long conversation with President Aleksandar Vucic that she has never seen him more disenchanted with the reaction of foreign partners regarding developments in Kosovo. Brnabic herself has termed the situation in Kosovo very serious and has added that she is also worried and disenchanted. Brnabic has heard none of Serbia’s partners condemning the developments in Kosovska Mitrovica. In connection with the case Belgrade has sent messages to USA and EU but they have supported Pristina. Last Monday special forces invaded a hall hosting a meeting of the local Serbs with Marko Djuric, head of the office for Kosovo and Metohija at the Serbian government. After the clashes that followed the Serbian politician was expelled from Kosovo.

Kosovo with strong reaction to Turkish president critical statement

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has ordered an investigation into the deportation to Turkey of six adherents of Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen and has dismissed the interior minister and the head of the intelligence services for their involvement in the operation held without his knowledge together with the Turkish National Intelligence Organization. The position of Haradinaj has prompted an angry statement of Turkish President Recep Erdogan who has predic ted a forthcoming end of the political career of the Kosovo prime minister. Reacting to the statement Deputy Prime Minister Fatmir Limaj has been explicit that Kosovo is an independent and sovereign state which respects its friends which however does not mean it should be their vassal. 

Attacks in Podgorica trigger resignations in Montenegrin police

The director of the police force in the capital of Montenegro Podgorica Slavko Stojanovic and the head of the police department in the center of the city Jovica Racevic have resigned. The Interior Ministry has explained the move with the worsening of security in the capital city. Two persons were killed last week in Podgorica during an attack qualified by local media as “paying off old scores between criminal groups”. Last week a man died in an underground parking killed by a car bomb.

Compiled by Stoimen Pavlov

English Daniela Konstantinova