Talks on reunitifaciton of Cyprus renewed

The talks on the reunification of Cyprus are being renewed at the UN office in Geneva today with a meeting between Mustafa Akinci, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Nicos Anastasiades, President of the Republic of Cyprus. On Tuesday they are expected to be joined by the new UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who described the talks as a “historic opportunity” for a breakthrough on the Cyprus issue. After the talks are over, a conference is planned with the participation of the guarantor powers – Great Britain, Greece and Turkey.

Identity of Reina nightclub terrorist revealed

The Turkish anti-terrorist and intelligence forces have revealed the identity of the man who opened fire at Reina nightclub in Istanbul on New Year’s Eve, killing 39. The mass murderer is a member of the Uzbek cell of DAESH and his name is Abdulkadir Masharipov. He was born in East Turkistan (or Uyghuristan, a historical region in Western China, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region). The Turkish security forces launched large-scale operations across the country for apprehending the terrorist, roadblocks have been set up along all roadways to Bulgaria and at border checkpoints. However, the manhunt has not yielded any result, as yet.

Gruevski will not form government at all costs

Nikola Gruevski, leader of the biggest party in Macedonia, the VMRO-DPMNE has stated he will endeavor to form a government, though not at all costs. Commenting on the declaration by the Albanian parties in the country, demanding changes to the constitution, the introduction of Albanian as a second official language and a change of the state symbols, Gruevski was adamant that introducing a second official language nationwide and the country’s cantonization is out of the question. Gruevski’s party will have 20 days to form a cabinet, which means it will either have to propose the government lineup or return the cabinet-forming mandate no later than 29 January. In the event of the latter, the second party offered a mandate to form a new government will be the Social Democratic Union.

Albania openly supports changes to constitution of Macedonia

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has openly supported the declaration by the three Albanian parties in Macedonia, calling for changes to the constitution and the state symbols of the country, the introduction of Albanian as an official language and full equality between Albanians and Macedonians. According to Rama this is a “historical common platform” for negotiations for the formation of the new Macedonian government. The three parties cite the 2001 Ohrid Agreement to justify their demands for changes to the constitution. However, that agreement does not envisage such changes.

President of Republika Srpska says Bosnia and Herzegovina should split

Bosnia and Herzegovina will not survive and the only solution to the problem is our peaceful separation, said Milorad Dodik, President of the Bosnia and Herzegovina entity Republika Srpska. Dodik made this statement on Serbian public TV on the eve of Republika Srpska’s “statehood day”, 9 January.

Compiled by Stoimen Pavlov

English version: Milena Daynova