On September 22 Turkey is to announce an action plan with relation to the referendum for independence in Iraq’s Kurdish region, Turkeys’ President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. Turkey insists on the preservation of the territorial integrity of Iraq. Turkey and Iraq share a 350 kilometer-long border. The authorities in the autonomous regions Iraqi Kurdistan scheduled an independence referendum for September 25, 2017, without paying attention to the position of the central authorities. Baghdad already announced that Iraq would not recognize the results of that referendum and Iran and Turkey later backed Iraq’s statement.
On occasion of the recent efforts of migrants to enter Romania illegally a spokesperson of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) commented that migrant smugglers have been trying to find a new migrant route to Europe through the Black Sea. Hundreds of refugees in the city of Timisoara situated near the Romania-Hungary border are waiting for an opportunity to cross the state border. A direct crossing between Serbia and Hungary has become impossible, because of the barbed wire fencing that was built between the two countries, while the Romania-Hungary border remains open. According to data of Romania’s Border Police, over 1,200 people have been detained since the beginning of 2017 in their attempt to cross that country’s western border, whereas in 2016 their number amounted to 900 only.
The motorway section connecting the town of Pirot and the Bulgaria-Serbia border was officially unveiled in Serbia. The motorway is part of the Pan-European Transport Corridor 10. Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić announced that by the end of 2017 almost the whole east-bound motorway will be completed, except for the section connecting Bancarevo and Crvena Reka. In May next year Serbia will complete its motorway and when Bulgaria constructs the motorway on its territory we will travel on a motorway all the way to Istanbul, President Vučić commented.
Two British, a French and a Greek warships, part of the NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group Two (SNMCMG2), arrived at Montenegro’s port Bar. Montenegro’s Ministry of Defense announced that the visit of NATO warships aimed at enhancing cooperation with Montenegro’s naval forces. The warships will stay at Bar port until September 20.
Kosovo will have its own army by the end of 2017, that country’s President Hashim Thaçi told RTK TV channel. That is why, some amendments to the state Constitution may be made in relation to that move. Pristina intends to have a modern, multinational and professional army, in order to give good perspectives for Kosovo’s NATO membership. The whole process will go in partnership with the USA, NATO and the EU.
Serbia’s Premier Ana Brnabic (R) took part at the gay parade in Belgrade. Belgrade’s Mayor Siniša Mali and two Ministers of the Serbian cabinet also participated at the Belgrade Pride. Brnabic who is Serbia’s first openly gay person of such position also attended last year’s gay pride parade. In 2016 Brnabic served as Minister for Public Administration and Local Self-Government. The previous gay parades in Serbia’s capital Belgrade were marked with street violence. That is why enhanced security measures were taken for this year’s edition of Belgrade Pride.
This weekend, in the park in front of the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in central Sofia, a farmers' festival will be held under the theme "Culinary treasures from near and far". The organisers have prepared a feast for food lovers, inviting chefs..
Abdullah Öcalan proposes peace talks with the PKK from prison The leader of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, who is serving a life sentence, was visited by a relative for the first time in 4.5 years and..
The participants of the 33rd National Antarctic Expedition led by Prof. Hristo Pimpirev have gathered for a training camp from October 25 to 27 in the town of Aheloy, Pomorie municipality, on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. This year,..
The nature protection organization WWF - Bulgaria is launching a campaign entitled "Subscribe to Nature". The disappearance of wild animals..
There is no exact statistic on the number of Bulgarians living abroad, but a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from last year indicates that..
The program of the Orthodox Book Week offers meetings with authors, publishers and translators of Orthodox books from the last few years. The event is..
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