President Gjorge Ivanov refuses to sign agreement on Macedonia’s name

I will neither support nor sign such a harmful text, Macedonia’s President Gjorge Ivanov said in an address to the nation on occasion of the agreement between Macedonia’s Premier Zoran Zaev and Greece’s Premier Alexis Tsipras on Macedonia’s new name. According to Macedonia’s head of state Ivanov the talks between the Premiers of the two countries were held in an irresponsible and non-transparent manner and that the Macedonian cabinet was not able to reach broad national consensus. In return, the Macedonian cabinet pointed out that President Ivanov does not work for Macedonia’s accession into NATO and the EU, which are the country’s top priorities. Instead of trying to isolate Macedonia and obstruct its future President Ivanov should better isolate himself from the political life, this country’s government responded.

Nikos Kotzias: I believe that our region will become more peaceful

The agreement between Greece and FYROM will eliminate the irredentist claims in Skopje, Greece’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias said during his visit to Moscow. The Greek cabinet hopes to resolve outstanding issues with Albania as well and restart talks about reunification of Cyprus. Minister Kotzias pointed out. I believe that our region will become more peaceful. Now that we are coming out of the financial crisis we believe that stability in the Balkans can help all countries reach economic growth, Nikos Kotzias said.

It is important for Serbia to develop its relations with Turkey: Aleksandar Vucic

It is important for Serbia to develop its relations with Turkey, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic said. President Vucic attended the opening ceremony of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP). It is an honor for us to be invited, although I think that there will not be plenty of gas for Serbia from TANAP, but there will be for Italy, Albania and other countries, President Vucic said. This project is important, because it will improve energy connectivity of this part of Europe and bring new investors to the countries of the region, President Vucic went on to say.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: Macedonian Church should be accepted into the Orthodox Unity

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, called on the sister Orthodox Churches to accept the Macedonian Church into the Orthodox Unity. Patriarch Bartholomew quoted the message of Apostle Paul to the Corinthians: “If one part of the body suffers, all suffer with it, if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it”. Macedonia’s Orthodox Church remains unrecognized due to schism.

Turkey to launch passenger rail service to Iran

Turkey will resume passenger rail service with Iran, Turkey’s Minister of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ahmet Arslan announced. Currently, there is freight shipment between Turkey and Iran. Railway transport in Turkey is our priority. As a result, we have renovated 95% of the railway lines, Minister Arslan added. Earlier, Turkey’s Premier Binali Yildirim pointed out that Turkey will start building its part of the high-speed railway of the Trans-European transportation corridor. The new train line connecting Istanbul and Edirne will be 233 kilometers long. It will give a boost to the Silk Road linking Europe, the Balkans, the Anatolian territories, the Middle East and the Far East, Premier Yildirim said.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov