Balkan developments

published on 2/10/23 11:13 AM

A wave of international solidarity and aid for Turkey after the ‎earthquakes

Nearly 6,500 foreign rescuers from 56 countries are working on the ground in ‎Southern Turkey, which on February 6 was rocked by a series of earthquakes, ‎the strongest of which measured 7.7 and 7.6 on the Richter scale. They caused ‎huge human casualties and material damage, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt ‎Çavuşoğlu said, quoted by CNN Turk. ‎

Turkey has received aid offers from a total of 95 countries and 16 international ‎organizations. Teams from another 19 countries are expected to arrive, ‎Çavuşoğlu said. ‎

He added that many ministers from European countries have expressed their ‎wish to visit Turkey and the visits are planned for the week after February 13.‎

The EU wants Belgrade and Pristina to accept the Franco-German peace ‎plan

In front of the parliament in Pristina, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti ‎announced that the Franco-German proposal for negotiations with Belgrade, ‎known as the EU plan, is not a final agreement, but a basis for negotiation. He ‎pointed out that there are paragraphs in the document with which Serbia de ‎facto recognizes Kosovo.‎

‎Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told the ambassadors of the USA, Great ‎Britain, France, Germany and Italy in Belgrade that the formation of the Union ‎of Serbian Municipalities in Northern Kosovo has already been agreed in ‎Brussels and without its creation "participation in the dialogue loses its ‎meaning”, TANYUG reports.‎

Hungarians, Bosniaks, Albanians and Bulgarians could form monoethnic ‎unions in Serbia, but Serbia does not give them the opportunity, but demands ‎that the same be established in Kosovo, commented Kurti, quoted by ‎KosovaPress. ‎

Skopje claims to "protect the identity and dignity of citizens"‎

At a meeting with EU ambassadors in Skopje, Macedonian Prime Minister ‎Dimitar Kovacevski rejected the possibility of holding early parliamentary ‎elections in North Macedonia. ‎

‎"We are a civil state, a successful example of a functional multi-ethnic ‎democracy, a state of citizens with equal rights and obligations, and this is our ‎value. We will continue on the way forward, categorically protecting the ‎identity and dignity of citizens," Kovacevski said. ‎

As a threat to Skopje, he pointed out "the growing nationalism for personal ‎and foreign interests in the countries of the Western Balkans". As an alternative ‎to this threat, Kovacevski indicated the need to continue the enlargement of the ‎EU, the government press service in Skopje reported.‎

In Greece, a barrier is being erected against the participation of far-right ‎parties in elections

At the request of the government, the Greek parliament voted on a legal ‎amendment to prevent parties from participating in elections if their "true ‎leaders" have been sentenced to life in prison, for treason, espionage and ‎participation in a criminal organization. ‎

Ahead of spring elections, the amendment affects the far-right Golden Dawn ‎party. In 2020, the court designated it a criminal group linked to hate crimes. ‎

It will also affect the small right-wing party Ellines, co-founded by former MP ‎and spokesman for Zlatna Zora, Ilias Kasidiaris. Sociologists point out that ‎Elines is close to crossing the electoral threshold of 3% to enter the parliament. ‎

Kasidiaris accused the government of a ``conspiracy against democracy'' and ‎demanded the repeal of the amendment, Reuters reports.‎

Romania adopts life imprisonment for drivers who cause death on the ‎road

Drugged drivers, drunk drivers and drivers without a license who cause a fatal road ‎accident should be punished with life imprisonment, an amendment to the ‎Penal Code provides for, unanimously adopted by the Senate of Romania. ‎

It's a response to "the public outcry of people in pain when they see the culprits ‎get back on the loose, behind the wheel, to cause more accidents," said the ‎measure's sponsor, Senate Vice President Robert Cazanciuc.‎

The proposal was returned for consideration in November 2022 after it was ‎rejected by the Chamber of Deputies in 2019, reports AGERPRES. ‎

‎20,000 per year are convicted of driving without a license, under the influence ‎of drugs or alcohol in Romania. ‎

In 2021, the country was in first place in Europe in terms of the number of ‎deaths in accidents.‎

Compiled by Ivo Ivanov

Edited by Miglena Ivanova

Share

Balkan developments

Share

More from category

What was Sofia Airport renamed? - A radio club in India hosts a quiz on Bulgaria and the BNR

Tragedy in North Macedonian town of Kočani causes wave of despair, anger and irreconcilability

Bulgarian and Irish people are both strongly attached to their culture

A promo video introduces Bulgaria to the Middle East and China

70% of all bird species in Europe can be observed in Bulgaria

Burgas bridge lights up blue for Autism Awareness Day