Latest News from Macedonia

Macedonia, Greece Mull Steps to Rebuild Trust

Greek Foreign Ministry officials are expected in Macedonia on Thursday to determine a list of steps towards greater bilateral cooperation, a source from the Macedonian Foreign Ministry told BIRN.

Serbian PM Condemns Hungarian Border Fence

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic told the Serbian public broadcaster RTS on June 17 that he was "surprised and shocked" by the Hungarian decision to fence off the border to stop migrants from entering the country.

In Macedonia, EU-bound migrants cycle to better lives

Fleeing their trouble-torn countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, streams of EU-bound migrants are driving an unexpected trade in a quiet town in Macedonia -- bicycles.
 
Thousands have arrived in Demir Kapija, a few kilometres (miles) from the Greek border, after journeys by foot, train and boat. But in this picturesque town it is bicycles they seek for the next leg.

Photo: Macedonia Square Gets Classical Look - Again

A large fountain which is part of the freshly revamped central square in the Macedonian capital, was unveiled this week. For 2.4 million euro, the revamp also saw the laying of white and grey cobblestones that form floral patterns on the ground.

Macedonia To Turn Blind Eye to Illegal Migrants

Macedonia is to allow migrants legal passage through the country, after encountring criticism for putting them at risk of being robbed, kidnapped or killed while hiding from the authorities.

The bill adopted by the government on Tuesday is expected to pass in parliament on Thursday.

Tsipras to discuss gas, BRICS bank in Russia

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Saint Petersburg where the pair are expected to affirm plans to see the construction of ?Greek Stream,? an extension to the pipeline that would supply natural gas to Europe.

Kosovo Commission to Shed Light on Kumanovo

Kosovo's parliament is to ccompile a report on all previous knowledge possessed by relevant security institutions relating to the "suspicious movements" of Kosovo citizens in Macedonia.

Media reports have claimed that some of the young men arrested or killed in Kumanovo on May 9th were already being investigated by the Kosovo police.

ForMin in Ohrid: CEI must support European bid of states in Western Balkans

Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu participated on Monday in Ohrid, Macedonia, in the ministerial meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI), organised by the CEI Macedonian presidency, the main topics discussed being related to regional developments in South-Eastern Europe, the role and activity of the CEI and the broad regional inter-connectivity.

EU Should Help Macedonia, President Ivanov Tells Bulgaria FM

The European Union should be committed to the process of stabilization in Macedonia, the country's President Gorge Ivanov said on Monday.

Meeting Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov, who is in Skopje on June 14-15, Ivanov stressed the importance of dialogue between the ruling parties and the opposition in the country after months of political tensions.

Star of Ancient Sozopol 'Possibly Served as Model for Macedonia's Coat of Arms'

Archaeological excavations in the Bulgarian seaside town of Sozopol on Sunday revealed an interesting find - a leaden bucranium with an eight-ray star, which possibly served as model for the coat of arms of Macedonia.

This was announced by the Director of the National Historical Museum (NIM) Bozhidar Dimitrov in a press release on Monday.

Bulgaria's Mitov to Discuss Ways for Resolving Macedonian Crisis During Skopje Visit

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov will discuss bilateral relations with Macedonia and ways for resolving the political crisis there during a working visit to the neighbouring country on 14 and 15 June, the foreign ministry in Sofia has announced.

Mitov will meet with Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki.

Ethnic Albanians Demand Macedonia PM's Resignation, 'Redefinition of State'

About 2,000 ethnic Albanians marched in Macedonia's capital, Skopje, on Saturday, demanding redefinition of their status and the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, newswires reported.

The marchers also called for the resignation of Gruevsi's junior government coalition partner, the ethnic Albanian DUI led by Ali Ahmeti, to open the way for early elections.

NATO Warsaw Summit Should Invite Macedonia, Montenegro to Join - Polish DefMin

NATO should invite Macedonia and Montenegro to join when it holds its next summit in Poland in July of next year, Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has said.

"It would be excellent news if the invitations could be sent from (the NATO summit in) Warsaw to Macedonia and Montenegro," Reuters quoted Siemoniak as saying at a conference in Wroclaw, Poland on Friday.

Waste management contract signed in Western Macedonia

Athens-listed Ellaktor SA announced on Thursday that special purpose vehicle EPADYM had signed a partnership contract and the relevant financing agreement regarding a waste management project in Western Macedonia, northern Greece.

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