Turkey increases investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country wanted to boost economic and political ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Turkey invested some EUR 50 million there and is planning to invest another EUR 25 million, President Erdogan said during his visit to Sarajevo. Erdogan was accompanied with many Turkish businessmen and ministers who signed several agreements aimed at increasing economic cooperation between the two Balkan countries. President Erdogan underlined that he expected the countries to cooperate in the tourism and infrastructure field, too.

Greece to sign agreement with creditors in beginning of June

The agreement between Athens and its international creditors will be reached in the beginning of June. It will include all reforms necessary to give the start of the Greek new development program, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis announced. Greece and its international creditors must agree on the new plan for reforms in this country, which would unfreeze the remaining EUR 7.2 billion to Greece under the bailout programme.

Albania raises border issues with Greece

Albania has sent its strong indignation regarding energy prospecting, thus making demands towards the land border between both countries, Greek newspaper Kathimerini informs, based on diplomatic sources. In its official complaint Tirana asked Athens to revise its plans for hydrocarbon exploration in the Ionian Sea on the ground that it violates Albanian territory. Meanwhile, Albania asked Greece to allow it to do explorations near the Albanian-Greek border.

Museum of communist consumer opens in Romania

A Museum of the communist consumer opened in Timișoara, Western Romania. Twenty five years after the fall of Ceaușescu regimethe museum will acquaint visitors with the daily round of the Romanians during the communist period. Consumers had very limited choice back then and there was a shortage of consumer goods made in Western European countries. Visitors can see and touch exponents from the communist period such as furniture, clothes, books written during the communist dictatorship, etc. Timișoara was the city which hosted the first riot against the regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu. 

Media war in Macedonia

A real media war kicked off in neighboring Macedonia on the issue whether the street meeting of the opposition held on May 17 was bigger than the one organized by the ruling party on May 18. One of the oldest Internet sites in Macedonia Kirilica.com.mk uses the arithmetic of Google maps area calculator. A detailed analysis shows that the civil protest on Sunday against Nikola Gruevski and his regime covered a total area of 20,886 square meters, i.e. 62,658 people attended the protest. The meeting in support of Premier Gruevski covered 8,895 square meters, i.e. some 27, 000 joined this meeting. Pro-government media in Skopje claim that only 20,000 Macedonians attended the anti-government protest, whereas 90,000 people joined the meeting in support of Nikola Gruevski.

Montenegro celebrates Independence Day

Montenegro marked its Independence Day. On May 21, 2006, this country restored its independence through a national referendum. A total of 419,240 people, or 86.5% of all voters cast their votes at the referendum. 55.5% voted in favor of Montenegro’s independence and 44.5% wanted the country to establish a common state with Serbia. Earlier, the National Assembly of Montenegro adopted a law on referendums to the recommendation of the EU.

New telecom starts functioning in Cyprus

The cabinet of the Republic of Cyprus is planning to launch a new state telecommunication company, Cypriot Finance Minister Harris Georgiades said. The new company will function in parallel with the current state telecom ATIK. Cyprus intends to attract strategic investors for the new state telecom, Minister Georgiades specifies.

Serbian President Nikolić receives Jose Marti Order

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić was awarded the highest Cuban state order- the Order of Jose Marti, which is granted for contribution to world peace, education, culture and science. IN 2014 Presidents of Russia and China received the same order. President Nikolić is on official visit to Cuba at the invitation of Cuban President Raul Castro. Earlier, Castro met with Nikolić in Moscow during the celebrations on occasion of the Victory Day, May 9.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov