Slovenian capital Ljubljana Prešern Square and nearby streets were crowded on Friday afternoon with several thousand citizens who pretested against PM Janez Janša government and demanded snap elections. Organizers unofficially estimated that about 40 000 protesters gathered in the protest. Many of them were carrying banners with the inscription "Predčasne volitve zdaj" or "Snap elections now". Some of them were carried the big Janez Janša doll with the text "Slovenian Patient". All the speakers on the Prešern Square called the resignation of the government because "it is not people's government". After gathering on Prešern Square, mass went to Republic Square where the main part of...
Serious structural problems in the state budget have been revealed by the caretaker Minister of Finance Asen Vassilev, BNR reported. "Money must be withdrawn from a variety of places in order to finance the continuing needs of health care, the business of rehabilitation, as well as to support retirees," Vassilev said at a briefing. He announced that at the moment over BGN 1.164 million (EUR 595 million) have been spent from the state budget, EUR 810 million (EUR 414 million) of which for unforeseen expenses, including unforeseen expenses for churches. Business support measures will be presented next week, he said. Meeting of Economy Minister with...
The Committee of Inquiry has approved the final report on the impeachment of President Ilir Meta and will submit it to the Albanian Parliament, to introduce it in the plenary session. The report of the parliamentary inquiry committee for the impeachment of President Ilir Meta was approved by 11 votes in favor from both the socialist and opposition members of the Committee. According to the voluminous report of more than 50 pages, which was read by Alket Hyseni, President Ilir Meta has committed serious violations of the Constitution. "It clearly turns out that the President has been involved in party activities, anti-majority, which runs contrary...
The Croatian Government adopted at the session on Friday a Decision on the Procurement of the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA). Unofficially, the price for the entire package is about EUR 999 million. The Government assessed that France’s offer was the best and decided to procure 12 multi-role Rafale fighter aircraft (10 single-seat and 2 two-seat aircraft). Prime Minister Andrej Plenković pointed out that the purchase of a multi-role fighter aircraft Rafale F3-R will significantly increase the capabilities of the Croatian Air Force. “By procuring fighter jets, Croatia is gaining a powerful strategic deterrent for the next 30 to 40 years, which significantly strengthens its international...
Montenegro PM Zdravko Krivokapić made on Thursday afternoon an urgent trip to Belgrade in order to meet Serb Orthodox Church (SOC) Patriarch Porfirije and other members of the SOC Holy Synod. Everybody was convinced that the Basic Agreement between Montenegro, as a state, and SOC will be finally signed - that has not happened. Patriarch Porfirije said that Krivokapić came with new conditions, which are unacceptable for SOC. The Basic Agreement is the document that determines the position of the Church in the state, relations of the state and Church and all other issues regarding believers, priests and the position of monasteries with monks. In...
US Special Representative for the Western Balkans and Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Palmer is expected to visit Kosovo next week. The US Embassy in Pristina in a statement to Reporteri.net confirmed that Palmer will pay an ofifical visit to Kosovo next week. According to the US Embassy Palmer during his visit to Kosovo will meet state officials and discuss mutual relations between the two countries. “Next week, Deputy Assistant Secretary Palmer will stay in Pristina, to meet with government officials and discuss our mutual relations,” the US Embassy in Pristina told Reporteri.net. Kosovo media are reporting that also EU Special Representative on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav...
Turkey`s EU positive agenda requires a positive behaviour, Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades, has said. In statements to the media after visiting Makario Hospital in Nicosia, Anastasiades noted that the ongoing preparations on the part of Turkey to settle Famagusta and the proposal on the Cyprus problem that was put on the table, which flagrantly violates the UN resolutions and overturns the basis for a settlement, seeking to achieve a two state solution, do not constitute a positive behaviour. Therefore, he added, “I consider it inconceivable on my part to consent to a positive agenda that would include modernization of the Customs Union and the no...
After long 12 years of service as a Head of the Office of High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austrian politician Valentin Inzko resigned, opening the roo for appointment of his successor, German politician Christian Schmidt. The development, in this case, was expected but still sudden because the appointment was still not supposed to happen for at least several weeks. In the last few months, media speculated that Inzko will finish his mission in BiH and that Schmidt will take office, but not before Summer. However, Peace Implementation Council Steering Board held the meeting on Thursday to officially make this change. "The Ambassadors of...
The Central Bank of Montenegro published today the Statement of the IMF Resident Representative in the Regional Office for the Western Balkans Stephanie Eble regarding the Law on Deferred Payment of Credit Obligations of Borrowers (lex specialis). Statement: Montenegro’s banking sector has played an important role in helping the economy weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, the Central Bank of Montenegro has taken several measures to provide support to borrowers, including targeted moratoria for citizens who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and firms operating in adversely impacted sectors. The duration and coverage of eligible borrowers and economic activities...
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman addressed the media ahead of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich), outlining the topics on the agenda. “We will discuss the strengthening of political and economic partnership with Africa. It is in our strategic interest. We want to work with our African partners and help them deal with challenges and utilize opportunities. For Croatia, the issue of migration is important. Here we expect a stronger engagement from our African partners in order to prevent their citizens from leaving on a dangerous journey towards Europe. We will help build capacities for migration management,” the minister...
