Latest News from Macedonia

Northern Greece mayor asks Athens for Alexander the Great statue

The mayor of Delta, in the northern region of Macedonia, has asked Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis to grant his municipality a bronze statue of Alexander the Great, which was purchased by the Culture Ministry in 1993 and given to City Hall but it has yet to go on public display, it emerged on Wednesday.

"Greece could provide alternative gas route"

"Greece could provide alternative gas route"

BELGRADE -- Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday an alternative gas supply route for Serbia and Hungary could come from Greece through Macedonia.

This scenario is considered after the recent cancellation of the South Stream gas pipeline project.

Greece could provide alternative route for gas supply

BELGRADE - Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday an alternative gas supply route for Serbia and Hungary could come from Greece through Macedonia after the recent cancellation of the South Stream gas pipeline poject.

World Bank Revises Croatia's GDP Growth Down

New estimates of Croatia's likely GDP growth from the World Bank are not looking good for the country as it battles to exit a six-year economic crisis.

The World Bank in June 2014 estimated Croatia's GDP growth that year would be minus-0.5 per cent, rising to 1.2 per cent growth in 2015.

Hungary wants talks with Serbia about new pipeline

Hungary wants talks with Serbia about new pipeline

BUDAPEST, BELGRADE -- Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto expects "intensifying talks with Turkey, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia about a potential new pipeline."

The pipeline "could follow that route to central Europe," Reuters reported.

US military assistance contributes to Balkan armies' modernisation

US military assistance contributes to Balkan armies' modernisation

Experts say modernised military forces will be more prepared to confront extremists like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Macedonia Defence Minister Zoran Jolevski inspects equipment donated by the US military. [Defence Ministry of Macedonia]

Archbishop to be released after Russian mediation

Archbishop to be released after Russian mediation

SKOPJE -- A court in Skopje has ruled that the head of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric, Jovan Vraniskovski, will be granted conditional release on January 19.

Vraniskovski to be released soon, MPC expects talks with SPC

SKOPJE, MOSCOW - The criminal court in Skopje has ruled that the head of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric, Jovan Vraniskovski, be granted conditional release on January 19, while the canonically unrecognised Macedonian Orthodox Church (MPC) expects a dialogue with the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) on its status to begin afterwards, with mediation from the Russian Orthodox Church (RPC).

Macedonia Set to Free Jailed Priest

Jovan Vraniskovski might be out of prison as early as Monday, December 17, a source from Macedonia's Idrizovo prison told BIRN, after the state prosecution and the Skopje criminal court approved his release.

Bulgaria Trades More with EU, Less with Third Countries - NSI

Bulgaria has expanded its trade with the European Union (EU),while it has contracted its trade with third countries, shows National Statistical Institute (NSI) data, which was published on Monday.

In the period January - October 2014 Bulgarian exports to the EU amounted to BGN 22.4 B, recording an increase of 2.4 % compared to the same period in 2013.

Montenegro Limits Foreign Work Permits

Under the new Labour Ministry restrictions, Montenegro will issue only 23,400 work permits for foreigners in 2015. Montenegro issued more than 25,000 work permits in previous years.

Kosovo and Macedonia co-operate on terrorism, cross-border crime

Kosovo and Macedonia co-operate on terrorism, cross-border crime

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to advance collaboration between their prosecutors' offices.

Macedonia Justice Minister Adnan Jashari (centre) and Kosovo State Prosecutor Sule Hoxha (third from right) meet in Skopje. [AFP]

Protesting Macedonian Students Seeks President's Aid

As a controversial bill on higher education enters its second reading in Macedonia's parliament this week, protesting students and profssors are appealing to President Gjorge Ivanov - a former political studies professor - to end his silence.

Balkan countries strengthen military co-operation through US-Adriatic Charter

Balkan countries strengthen military co-operation through US-Adriatic Charter

Kosovo will continue to participate in the Charter as an observer.

Representatives from the US-Adriatic Charter countries met in Tirana last month. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania]

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