Alexander Vucic names Ana Brnabic to become Premier of Serbia

Serbia’s President Alexander Vucic gave the incumbent Prime Minister Ana Brnabic the mandate to form a government for the second time. Brnabic has served as Premier of Serbia since June 29, 2017 and is the first female Prime Minister of this country. Two new ministries will be created within the new cabinet and the number of female ministers will be almost equal to the number of male ministers, President Vucic added. “Brnabic worked for the interest of Serbia during her first term in office. She pursued a policy that did not flatter either the foreign centers of power or those in the country”, Alexander Vucic said. A Ministry of human rights, social dialogue and gender equality is expected to be introduced. A ministry of family care, children and demography will also be created within the new cabinet.

Greek court declares far-right Golden Dawn party a criminal organization

A Greek court in Athens ruled that the far-right Golden Dawn party was functioning as a criminal organization. The court rules that seven former party MPs were guilty of leading a criminal organization. 15 activists of the party were found guilty of murdering rapper Pavlos Fyssas and of perpetrating two more crimes related to attacks against foreign nationals and trade union representatives. The trial against all 68 defendants has been continuing since 2015. Golden Dawn denies any direct link with the attacks and describes the trial and the indictments as “an unprecedented conspiracy” which aims to limit their growing popularity.

President Erdogan provokes new crisis in Cyprus

The beach near Varosha resort in Cyprus’s Turkish controlled north has become Turkey’s latest front as it pushes for a two-state solution on the divided island. By decision of Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan, the self-styled Turkish Cypriot state opened the long strip of beach to the public, ignoring warnings that the move could impede reunification attempts, Bloomberg comments.

The action led to the collapse of the coalition government of the Cypriot Turks. It was condemned by Nicosia, the EU and Russia. These countries called it illegal and said it contradicted to the special resolution of the United Nations on the occupied city of Famagusta.

European Commission criticizes democracy in Turkey

Turkey’s EU accession negotiations have come to a standstill. Turkey’s government was eroding democracy, undermining its economy and destroying its independent courts, the European Commission notes in is annual report on Turkey, Reuters informs. Brussels is against the excessive concentration of power in Erdogan which has led to deteriorating conditions in freedom of speech, prisons and the Central Bank and made Turkey’s economy more vulnerable. Ankara described the report as biased and unconstructive and called the criticism unfounded. However, the country remains committed to the EU membership process, this country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs underlined.

Romania invests in motorway and high-speed railway line

Romania which is the EU member state with worst infrastructure is building railway lines and roads at a fastest pace since communism collapsed to counter economic chaos caused by Covid-19, Bloomberg notes. In 2019, the country with a population of 20 million people built only 42 kilometers of motorways. Romania’s cabinet approved the construction of a high-speed railway line from Bucharest to Otopeni Airport. This country will also complete the construction of the Trans-Carpathian motorway to Hungary to the tune of EUR 900 million. The motorway is expected to be built within 6 years.

Bigger progress in Kosovo-Serbia relations is needed: Prime Minister

If Kosovo and Serbia do not reach an agreement to solve the mutual disputes, they will continue functioning as two neighboring countries which do not know each other, Kosovo Premier Avdullah Hoti said. The statement was made at a joint press conference with Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, BTA informs. A progress in bilateral dialogue has been registered, Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti said and added that the two countries must find a way to solve the difficult topics and reach a comprehensive agreement.

Compiled by Ivo Ivanov

English version: Kostadin Atanasov