Skopje

North Macedonia President Stevo Pendarovski has warned against delaying EU membership talks with Skopje, expressing fears that the political context in the Balkan region could change in the coming months and endanger the process.

"It is a good opportunity to see how both smaller and bigger European cities are doing, and how we are actually on the same page for how we want to introduce citizens to decision-making," Radomir Lazovic, one of the founders of Ne Davimo Beograd, said.

We must speed up the construction of pan-European corridor № 8, said Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva after the first meeting of the inter-governmental commission for the implementation review of the Treaty of Friendship, Good neighbourhood and Cooperation with North Macedonia.

Turkey's cultural institute director in North Macedonia's capital Skopje said that approximately 4,000 people have attended Turkish language courses over the past 10 years.

Macedonians gathered at Skopje airport on Monday to serenade the victorious male handball team following its sensational victory on Sunday in Germany.

Thousands of others took to the streets to cheer their heroes as the team mounted an open-topped double-decker bus that journeyed from the airport to the city's main Macedonia Square for the main celebration.

Founded in 1982, the Skopje Jazz Festival is one of the biggest cultural events in North Macedonia.

With performing legends like Al Di Meola, Chick Corea, Ray Charles, Maria Joao, Herbie Hancock, Youssou N'Dour and Tito Puente, to name just a few, its significance far surpasses the confines of the small Balkan country.

Greece and North Macedonia on Friday exchanged notes verbales that upgrade the role of their respective liaison offices in Athens and Skopje to that of embassies.

The Greek Foreign Embassy confirmed the initiative with an announcement on Friday.

"This is a great day for diplomacy, and even greater for our citizens," North Macedonia's Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.

Greece on Tuesday conducted its first fighter jet flight over North Macedonia, in a mission that was carried out by an F-16 from the Hellenic Tactical Air Force's 110 Combat Wing, based in Larissa.

The purpose of the mission was to locate any radar blank sectors and to test the compatibility of reconnaissance systems.

The new Pristina-Skopje highway has been touted as a major boost to trade with Kosovo's neighbours - but experts say the economic benefits are unclear, and the project also lacks transparency.

The Prespes name deal signed between Athens and Skopje should serve as a blueprint for resolving many bilateral differences in the Western Balkans, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Palmer was quoted on Friday by the Athens-Macedonia News Agency as telling Radio Free Europe.