Skopje

War of Rumours

An old-Soviet tank keeps alive the memory of the Soviet Union in the breakaway region of Transnistria. Photo: courtesy of Cornelia Cozonac

Greek flag carrier Aegean Airlines is seeking its further expansion abroad through a number of targeted moves.

Greece's leading airline is seeking to land state-subsidized services out of Skopje and Ochrid airports in North Macedonia to European destinations.

Bulgaria's parliament on Thursday adopted a declaration condemning the recent attack on a Bulgarian activist in neighbouring North Macedonia, an alleged "anti-Bulgarian campaign" in the country and warning that this could derail Skopje's EU integration.

"Recently, we have witnessed the escalation of tensions between North Macedonia and Bulgaria with regrettable incidents and provocations," he emphasized on the occasion of the meeting in Brussels with Bujar Osmani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia."

The interior ministers of North Macedonia and neighboring Bulgaria met Monday to discuss security arrangements ahead of weekend celebrations to honor a 19th-century revolutionary viewed as a hero in both countries.

Oliver Spasovski held talks with Bulgaria's Ivan Demerdzhiev amid fears of potential clashes by opposing nationalist groups.

The United States is calling on Bulgaria and North Macedonia to "de-escalate" their rhetoric and quickly resolve "bilateral disputes".

This is stated in a position of the US State Department, expressed to the Macedonian section of "Voice of America".

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia will take all necessary measures to ensure that the celebration of the anniversary of the birth of Gotse Delchev passes without incident. This was assured by the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia Oliver Spasovski after a meeting with his Bulgarian colleague Ivan Demerdzhiev.

SKOPJE- Serbia is committed to develop friendly relations with North Macedonia and countries in the region in line with mutual interests at regional and global level, Serbian Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said during a conversation with North Macedonian counterpart Slavjanka Petrovska in Skopje on Friday.

The Macedonian site "24 info" published an appeal not to allow Bulgarians to the grave of Gotse Delchev during the celebrations of the 151st anniversary of his birth on February 4 in Skopje.

North Macedonia's government has ordered heightened security on February 4, when the country celebrates 151 years since the birth of its biggest hero, the Ottoman-era revolutionary Goce Delcev.