New Serbian government seeks to boost international contacts

At the end of last week, Serbia’s Defense Minister Zoran Dordevic discussed in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu the prospects of bilateral military-technological cooperation. Yesterday Belgrade welcomed Swedish PM Stefan Loven who met with Serbian Premier Aleksandar Vucic. Today, a visit to Belgrade is expected of US Vice President Joseph Biden. Serbia has been trying to reach a balance between its European integration and its ties with Russia. After the new Serbian government was lined up and with a view to the forthcoming visit of Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev to Serbia, Biden’s visit will highlight the special attention USA gives to Serbia, the local Danas newspaper writes referring to an American analyst. Biden is scheduled to meet with PM Aleksandar Vucic and with President Tomislav Nikolic and will then leave to Pristina in a bid to boost Serbia-Kosovo dialogue. The Serbian radicals led by Vojislav Seselj are bracing to meet the Americans with a protest rally and T-shirts reading Serbia Votes Donald Trump who has apologized to the Serbs for the American bombings in 1999.

Turkish PM Yildirim: We shall rid Turkey of all Gulenists 

Turkish PM Binali Yildirim has said while speaking at a rally in Ankara that the Turkish government intends to fully rid the country from the terrorist threat, from the “terrorist organization” of opposition leader Fethullah Gulen and from the PKK (Kurdistan’s Workers’ Party). Following the coup attempt in Turkey on 15 and 16 July, 81,494 have been fired and 16,000 have been detained for possible links with the organization of Fethullah Gulen.

Greece tightens control over companies registered in Bulgaria, Cyprus

Tax authorities in Greece will be more active checking companies registered in Bulgaria and Cyprus and owned by Greek nationals. Checks aim to find out whether they operate in Greece and whether foreign registrations are a way for them to avoid high corporate taxes, Kathimerini newspaper writes. Most such companies have declared zero turnover and zero employees in Bulgaria. Greece plans to sign agreements with Bulgaria and Cyprus so that the two countries let it investigate into the operations of such companies, the publication remarks.

Director of National Intelligence of the United States visits Bucharest

Romanian PM Dacian Ciolos has met in Bucharest with the Director of National Intelligence of the United States James Clapper. The two officials have discussed topics regarding the strategic partnership between Romania and the USA, the geostrategic situation in the Black Sea and in Syria. James Clapper has also met with Romanian Defense Minister Mihnea Motoc and with the Director of the Romanian Intelligence Service Eduard Hellvig.

Warships dance waltz at Romanian Navy Day 

More than 20,000 gathered at the seaside alley of the Black Sea city of Constanta in Romania for the celebrations on the occasion of the Day of Romanian Navy marked on 15 August. Official attendance included President Klaus Iohannis, Defense Minister Mihnea Motoc and other senior officials. More than 20 vessels and about 3000 military took part in the event. For the first time a choreography performance with warships was presented – in it three tugboats carried out synchronized maneuvers under the sounds of Waltz № 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich performed by the Orchestra of the Navy.

Robert De Niro among stars at Sarajevo Film Festival

US celebrity actor Robert De Niro arrived to the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina for the 22nd edition of the film festival in Sarajevo. De Niro who turns 73 on 17 August has received The Heart of Sarajevo Award. During the festival that is on from 12 to 20 August, more than 200 films are being screened. The event aims to encourage young talent from Southeast Europe. Annually, the festival attracts 100,000 cinema lovers, specialists and world celebrities.

English Daniela Konstantinova