Presidential elections in Croatia to be held on December 22

The Presidential elections in Croatia will be held on December 22, this country’s Premier Andrej Plenkovic announced. The current head of state of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and candidate of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union will compete at the forthcoming elections with the candidate of the Social Democratic Party and former Premier Zoran Milanovic. According to preliminary sociological surveys, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic would earn 28.6% of the votes and Zoran Milanovic can rely on 24.2% of the votes. The two independent candidates Miroslav Škoro and Mislav Kolakušić would earn 16.7% and respectively 14% of the votes.

Thousands of Greeks mark anniversary since 1973 student uprising with rally downtown Athens

Thousands of people protested downtown Athens on occasion of the 46th anniversary of the student uprising in 1973. Drones, a helicopter, water cannons and nearly 5,000 police officers were deployed to guard the demonstration. The people who took part at the rally carried red flags and slogans for democracy and anti-fascist slogans and reached the US Embassy building in Greece’s capital. The protesters voiced their discontent with Washington’s support for the military junta that ruled Greece between 1967 and 1976. The protesters sang the Greek national anthem and went home.

The Athens Polytechnic rose against the dictatorship of the Greek colonels. It was crushed by tanks in November 1973. 23 people died and over 1,500 were injured in the riots. The uprising of the Athens Polytechnic is considered the beginning of a series of events that led to the fall of the military junta and the restoration of democracy in Greece.

Premier of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev: "Macedonia the great" trademark can be another bridge between North Macedonia and Greece

The permanent solution to the issue related to the trade marks of goods from the region of Macedonia will become another bridge between North Macedonia and Greece in the part of building friendship and strategic partnership. This is what the Premier of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev said on occasion of the “Macedonia the great” trademark logo presented last week in Greece on products from the region of Macedonia in Northern Greece. Today we have “Made in Macedonia” trademark and we have to find a solution in the spirit of the Prespa Agreement. We have a wonderful historical region Macedonia, Zoran Zaev said. Earlier, North Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry announced that it was not informed about Greece’s intention to create a trademark"Macedonia the great" and said that this was undermining the confidence between the two countries.

Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resource Fatih Dönmez: construction of Turk Stream gas pipeline will be complete by end of 2019

Turkey will complete the construction of the Turk Stream gas pipeline by the end of 2019, this country’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resource Fatih Dönmez said in the town of Vize, Kirklareli province, where the construction of the pipeline is taking place. In his words, all necessary environmental permits were already issued. Turk Stream will transfer Russian gas through Turkey to Europe, Minister Dönmez pointed out. He specified that the gas pipeline will consist of two pipes. One of the pipes will supply gas to Turkey and will be connected to this country’s gas transferring network and the second pipe will cross Bulgaria and Serbia on its way to Europe.

Bulgarian and North Macedonian branch organizations promote Balkan textile on European market

Textile companies from Bulgaria and North Macedonia announced in Štip that their cooperation continues with the fulfillment of a fourth project financed by the European funds. Their purpose is to increase the standards in textile manufacture, establish and promote the Balkan textile and boost its presence on the European markets. Additional incentive measures to attract the young people to this sector are being considered. The low salaries in this sector impede the employment of qualified workforce.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov