Zoran Zaev announces members of new cabinet of North Macedonia

After the leaders of the Social Democratic Union of North Macedonia and the Democratic Union for Integration Zoran Zaev and Ali Ahmeti reached agreement on the formation of a parliamentary majority, a new government and new ministries, who the members of the new cabinet will be is now clear, MIA reports, as quoted by BGNES.

The cabinet ministers announced by future PM Zoran Zaev include – from the Social Democratic Union of North Macedonia – Oliver Spasovski, minister of the interior and Radmila Sekerinska – minister of defence. Current Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov will be deputy prime minister in charge of European affairs. The cabinet members chosen by the Democratic Union for Integration include Bujar Osmani – minister of foreign affairs, Fatmir Besimi – minister of finance and Kreshnik Bektesi – minister of economy.

The new cabinet will have 19 ministries instead of the now existing 26. The priorities in the work of the government are: economy, judicial reforms, capital infrastructure projects and investments in healthcare.

Turkey finds energy in Black Sea

Turkey has found significant gas resources in the Black Sea. A discovery which could help the country cut its dependence on energy imports if the gas can be commercially extracted, Reuters reports.

Turkey’s drilling ship Fatih has been operating since late July about 100 nautical miles north of the Turkish coast in the western Black Sea. This is the first time that Ankara has used its own drilling ship for prospecting. Experts say that it could take 7 to 10 years to start production, and estimated investment costs at between USD 2 billion and 3 billion.

National security advisor to Greece’s PM resigns over comments

Alexandros Diakopoulos, national security adviser to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has resigned over comments he made suggesting that Greece had conceded ground to Turkey against the backdrop of Ankara’s ongoing attempts to drill for gas in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Alexandros Diakopoulos, stated that his comments, which he later retracted, have caused confusion and problems for PM Mitsotakis and his centre-right government, without that being his wish.

Food and drink establishments in Romania close for an hour in protest over coronavirus measures

On Wednesday, 19 August, outdoor food and drink establishments in Bucharest and a number of other towns in Romania stopped work from 5 PM until 6 PM in protest at the government’s decision not to allow the opening of restaurant indoor spaces, Romania Libera reports, as quoted by BTA.

According to representatives of the hotel and restaurant business, around 200,000 people took part in the protest, or half of all people employed in these spheres. The protesters passed through the streets of Bucharest carrying placards “Menu of the day – unemployment” and “We are 10% of the private workforce. Does that matter?”

Because of Covid-19 hotels, restaurants and cafes report a 60% drop in revenues compared to last year, and say they fear this percentage may reach 80 unless the restrictive measures put in place are changed.

Montenegro postpones start of new school year to 1 October

Montenegro is postponing the start of the school year to 1 October. This decision was made on a proposal by the National Coordination Body for Communicable Diseases due to the epidemic situation in the country, Tanjug reports, as quoted by the Bulgarian news agency BTA.

The ministry of education announced that until the start of the school year, the rule will be applicable regarding paid leave for one of the parents, adoptive or single parents, or guardians of children aged under 11. 

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova