All News from Balkans

Shipowner Restis gets suspended 10-year prison term

An Athens court yesterday passed down a 10-year prison sentence to shipowner Victor Restis after finding him guilty of making a false statement, but he was released as the term was suspended.  

The court found him guilty of using false statements to appropriate 30 hectares of public forestland, an offense that had come to light in the context of a trial-fixing investigation. 

Zaev pivots after Athens storm

Seeking to douse the fire that began after the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev implied there is a "Macedonian" minority in Greece, Skopje insisted on Tuesday that it remains firmly committed to the name deal it signed with Greece in June. 

Athens, Moscow herald end to frosty hiatus in relations

Both Greek and Russian officials on Tuesday hailed a scheduled visit later this week by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to Moscow as the beginning of a thaw following a frosty hiatus in relations between the two countries owing to a diplomatic spat this summer.

EBRD extends mandate in Greece until 2025

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development got shareholder approval to extend its mandate in Greece until 2025 to support the country's recovery from a debt crisis and deep recession, the EBRD said on Tuesday.

Case against gold trading racket collapsing

A criminal case against a racket trading in large quantities of gold appeared set to collapse on Tuesday after an investigating magistrate tasked with grilling the suspects determined that there are no grounds for smuggling charges.

Can we assist in bringing Odysseus home?

Odysseus is stuck in the 180-percent-of-GDP debt land. He dreams of his beloved Ithaca, which is below-60-percent-of-GDP debt land. Life is much sweeter where he came from, and he wants to go home. Fortunately, Odysseus is cunning and courageous and is willing to travel long, with discipline and flexibility.

Minister of state's home attacked, again

The home of Minister of State Alekos Flambouraris came under attack on Tuesday evening, as unknown assailants hurled rocks and makeshift firebombs at a security detail posted in front of the politician's apartment block.

The property is located in the downtown district of Exarchia and has been attacked in a similar manner on at least two occasions since the start of the year.

Report underscores overcrowding at Greek prisons

Greek prisons are overcrowded and have a relatively lower budget compared to other European Union countries, according to the "Prisons in Europe 2005-2015" report published on Tuesday by the Council of Europe.

Serbian Ruling Party-Linked Company Buys Two TV Stations

The Kopernikus Corporation, owned by the brother of a Serbian Progressive Party official, purchased TV stations Prva and O2 after selling its cable operator subsidiary to the state-owned telecommunications company Serbian Telekom for almost 200 million euros, BIRN has learned.

The Nutcracker | Athens | December 19-30

Tchaikovsky's Christmas classic, "The Nutcracker," has an obligatory place on the holiday program of the Christmas Theater initiative at the Olympic Hall in the Athens suburb of Galatsi, in a production by the St Petersburg Ballet Theater. Shows take place December 19-30, starting at 8 p.m. on weekdays, at 4 and 8 p.m. on Saturdays and December 26, and at 12.30 and 5.30 p.m. on Sundays.

George H.W. Bush and his approach to Greece

US president George H.W. Bush, who passed away last Saturday, left a rather positive mark on America's relations with Greece, thanks to the way he approached the major issues that concern this country.

We need assurances

The Prespes name deal between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia contains a number of gray areas that were certain to cause problems between the two countries.

Police to be out in force for anniversary of 2008 teenager's killing

More than 5,000 police officers have been assigned to monitor rallies planned for downtown Athens on Thursday to mark the 10th anniversary since the fatal police shooting of teenager Alexis Grigoropoulos.

Police will also be out in force in several other cities where similar rallies are planned.

Court to mull appeal by convicted anarchist

A Supreme Court prosecutor on Tuesday proposed that an appeal by jailed Greek anarchist and robber Nikos Romanos for leniency due to good behavior be granted while rejecting another for him to be cleared of a terrorism conviction.

PM Dancila: Romania will support EU consolidation buttressed by fundamental principles

AGERPRES special correspondent to Brussels, Belgium, Daniel Florea reports:

Romania, as the next holder of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, will continue to support the objective of consolidating the Union on the basis of its fundamental values and principles - unity, cohesion, equal treatment and convergence, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said.

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