Clashes and tear gas in Athens during protests against Prespa Agreement

Thousands of Greek citizens said No again to the name Northern Macedonia at a protest in Athens. According to the Greek Police, nearly 100,000 people took part at the street protests. According to the media in Greece, over 600,000 people protested against the new name of their neighbor. The Greek Police used tear gas against the protesters who tried to break the cordon in front of the Greek National Assembly. Dozens of Police officers and protesters were injured in the clashes. Over 10 people were detained. The purpose of the protests was to influence the MPs who were inclined to vote in favor of the Prespa Agreement. According to latest public opinion surveys, 70% of the Greeks do not accept the agreement and demand a referendum on this issue. The Greek cabinet refuses to initiate a referendum, because it would block the ratification of the Prespa Agreement.

Macedonia fulfills all conditions of Prespa Agreement

Macedonia has sent a note to Athens informing the Greek side about the amendments made to the constitution in compliance with the Prespa Agreement. The document, quoted by Kathimerini newspaper, reads that Macedonia has fulfilled all conditions set by the Prespa Agreement. It envisages that the name of the country changes into Republic of North Macedonia and paves the road of Skopje to NATO and EU membership. The verbal note allows the Greek parliament to debate and vote the agreement signed between Skopje and Athens after decades of tense disputes on the name of the former Yugoslavian republic.

Albania’s President Ilir Meta pays two-day visit to Montenegro

Albania’s President Ilir Meta arrived on a two-day official visit to Montenegro at the invitation of Montenegro’s President Milo Djukanovic. Ilir Meta will meet with representatives of Albanian parties in Montenegro. This is the second visit of the Albanian President to Podgorica in the past six months. When you see Podgorica flooded with Albanian flags you have the feeling that the plan of the Albanian Premier Edi Rama about the abolition of the border with Montenegro has been fulfilled, Montenegro’s IN4C information portal writes. In his New Year’s address Albania’s Premier Edi Rama said that the opening of border with Kosovo is just the beginning and that the same procedure is planned when it comes to Montenegro, Macedonia and Greece.

Plans to swap territory with Serbia are best opportunity to progress towards NATO and EU membership: Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci

Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci announced that the plans to swap territory with Serbia are the best opportunity to progress towards NATO and EU membership. The agreement will create more stability and peace in the region and it will allow Kosovo and Serbia to join the EU and NATO, Hashim Thaci said adding that this does not mean drawing borders along ethnic lines. There won’t be a mono-ethnic border and the two countries will be multi-ethnic, Thaci said. In his view, an adequate agreement would mean no more war between the two countries. The chances for reaching an agreement are greater than ever, because the EU and the USA support this plan. Kosovo’s President refuted statements that he was working towards a “Great Albania”. We are trying to integrate the region within the European space, Thaci explained.

Russia and Serbia want to see the Balkans stable and safe

Russia wants to see the Balkans stable and safe, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said in Belgrade. President Putin underlined that Russia is in favor of an acceptable solution of the Kosovo issue in accordance with the resolution 1244 of the UU Security Council. Moscow shares the concern of the Serbian leadership about Kosovo, because the latest moves of Pristina may bring instability to the Balkans, President Putin said at a joint press-conference with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic. Serbia and Russia signed a series of bilateral agreements and memorandums. Aleksandar Vucic accentuated on the importance of the Serbia-Russia cooperation in the field of power engineering and the joint infrastructure projects.

Brussels warns Montenegro that freedom of press is key value of EU

The EU warned Montenegro that freedom of press is a key element of the EU accession talks after an investigative journalist was detained for drug trafficking. Jovo Martinovic was sentenced to 18 months in prison over alleged links to a smuggling ring. Martinovic refuted the accusations and claims that his contacts were part of his work as journalist. His layer said he would appeal. The EC spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said that Brussels expected him to be given a fair trial warning that restricting the press could impede this country’s accession to the European Union.

Compiled by: Manuel Savov

English version: Kostadin Atanasov