Drug arrests in Kosovo and USA

Ten people suspected of organized crime and drug trafficking have been arrested in Kosovo and New York in a joint operation by the Kosovo police and the US Drug Enforcement Agency, the DEA. According to the Kosovo newspaper Zeri, four were arrested in Kosovo and six in USA. They are also suspected of money laundering and extortion. Large quantities of weapons, including automatic rifles, hand grenade launchers and munition was seized during the arrests.

Macedonians expect their life to improve

The majority of Macedonian citizens have confidence in the new government and expect it to take steps to improve their lives, indicate the results of a survey conducted by Brim agency. The results indicate that 59 percent of Macedonians expect the new government to provide them with a better life, 27 percent are skeptical. Expectations are highest among the ethnic Albanians and representatives of other minorities, whereas Macedonians have the lowest expectations. The majority of respondents (57 percent) have confidence in the government, 34 percent say they do not.

Greece seeks to regain access to bond markets

Representatives of Greece’s creditors have stated that the country is seeking to regain access to bond markets by the end of the year and to leave the bailout programme next summer. Representatives of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the European Stability Mechanism stated that the string of tough measures approved by Greek parliament a few weeks ago are affording the country a real opportunity to recover its public finances. Interest rates on Greek bonds have dropped drastically since the latest cuts which is a sign that the confidence of investors in the country is growing.

Hashim Thaci congratulates Aleksandar Vucic on his election as president

The President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci wrote on Facebook that he had talked with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic over the phone and had congratulated him on his election as president. In Thaci’s words, during their conversation on Tuesday, the two agreed to continue the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, conducted with the mediation of the EU and to work together for resolving all issues of mutual interest.

Kosovo will not have a regular army without the consent of the Kosovo Serbs

Without the consent of the ethnic minorities, including the Serbian minority, the transformation of the Kosovo security forces into a regular army is impossible, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

“I expressed my concern related to recent initiatives on the establishment of a Kosovo army without fulfilment of the necessary conditions, namely without consent of ethnic monitories in Kosovo. Establishment of the army should be done through parliamentary procedures and should be in compliance with the Constitution,” Jens Stoltenberg says.

Compiled by Atanas Tsenov

English version: Milena Daynova