Macedonia

Macedonia, US boost military ties

A military training partnership with the US aims to help Macedonia meet NATO standards.

Macedonian troops conduct an exercise at the Krivolak training centre northeast of Skopje. [AFP]

In an effort to hasten its accession to NATO, Macedonia plans to conduct joint military exercises with the United States.

Bus drivers in the Greek capital called a work stoppage at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, causing problems with public transportation all over Attica as they meet for a general assembly, the state-run Athens-Macedonian News Agency reported.

It was not clear why the work stoppage was called, though the AMNA reported that service would resume starting at 5 p.m.

EU-aspiring Macedonia and Montenegro have agreed to set up a joint diplomatic and consular office in Paris, Skopje-based MIA news agency reported on Monday.

A Bulgarian-Macedonian business forum will take place in Sofia in the spring of 2015.

The two countries discussed Macedonia's European future.

The announcement was made during a meeting between representatives of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Macedonian-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Chamber of Macedonia in Skopje on Tuesday.

Flood response shows citizens want co-operation, not violence

Efforts to assist victims of recent flooding demonstrated the region's commitment to peaceful co-existence.

The recent flooding in Macedonia drew assistance from around the region. [Miki Trajkovski/SETimes]

Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer David O'Brien announced on Tuesday the airline's plans to double passenger traffic through Macedonia airport by 2018.

At a press conference held on Tuesday, O'Brien said that the company's aim is to increase the number of passengers travelling through Thessaloniki airport by 500,000 per year for the next 3 years.

SKOPJE - The governments of Macedonia and Serbia held a joint meeting in Skopje on Monday, discussing ways to improve cooperation between the two countries, focusing primarily on the economy, after which they signed seven bilateral agreements on cooperation.

Serbia wants "closest possible" cooperation with Macedonia

SKOPJE -- Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov received on Monday in Skopje Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.

According to Vucic, quoted by Tanjug, "it is important for Serbia and Macedonia to discuss joint projects."

Alaattin Bayraktar, General Vice President of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Confederation of Business Women, has vowed substantial investments in Balkan states in 2015.

SKOPJE - Macedonian President Djordje Ivanov and Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic agreed on Friday that the two countries' relations are good and that there is substantial potential for development of cooperation, especially in economy, and they underscored the importance of European integration.