War in Ukraine creates insecurity in Western Balkans: opinion of analyst Anton Panchev

The war in Ukraine creates uncertainty in the Western Balkans and fears that economic problems could lead to political instability and clashes in countries such as Kosovo and Bosnia. If Russia imposes its will, it will encourage extremist groups in the Western Balkans to destabilize some countries. This was said to BNR by Anton Panchev, political scientist, Albanian politics expert and member of the Macedonian Scientific Institute.

Asked about Bulgaria's veto of North Macedonia's EU membership talks, Panchev was adamant that it should not be lifted before our neighbour's attitude towards the Bulgarian minority there had changed. He said Albania should secede from North Macedonia on the path to EU membership talks, as Prime Minister Edi Rama recently demanded.

According to Panchev, if there is no movement on the Sofia-Skopje dispute by the end of June, Albania will demand secession, as there is no formal requirement for the two countries to go together in the process.

Turkey is ready to continue mediating the dialogue between Russia and Ukraine

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ankara was ready to take the initiative to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has been going on since February 24, and to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv to establish as soon as possible a lasting peace in the region, taking advantage of the momentum gained from the talks in Istanbul, Turkish Radio and Television reported.

Erdogan also said that coordination and close dialogue between the intelligence organizations of Russia and Turkey would help prevent humanitarian tragedies in the region, BTA reported.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: At the end of May, Greece will pay off Gazprom

Greek energy experts are of the opinion that diversification of the country towards full independence from Russian gas is impossible at this stage, BNR correspondent Katya Peeva reported from Greece.

"Greece will pay off Gazprom at the end of May," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said after an extraordinary cabinet meeting. The media speculated that this was an agreement to pay in rubles under the Moscow scheme, but the government did not explain the payment scheme. At the same time, all opposition parties have criticized the Mitsotakis government for failing to take action against expensive electricity, high food and fuel prices. The aid is a "drop in the ocean of galloping prices", according to Syriza.

A newly formed party wins parliamentary elections in Slovenia

With 70% turnout in Slovenia's April 24 parliamentary elections, Robert Golob and the newly formed centre-left party Movement for Freedom defeated three-time Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša of the Slovenian Democratic Party, BTA journalist Sofia Angelova told BNR.

The opposition accused Janša of undermining democratic standards - appointing people loyal to his party to key positions, dubious deals with state-owned companies, attacks on media criticizing him as well as the extremely strict measures for coping with the coronavirus that sparked protests.

The expectations of Golob are to bring a return to normalcy and democracy and sustainable development of Slovenia. The new party “Gibanje Svoboda” will not be able to form an independent government, so negotiations are pending. Golob announced that he would insist on forming a government of experts, regardless of their party affiliation, only not being from Janša's party and the party Nova Slovenija.

Romania expects its first gas production in the Black Sea in the middle of the year

Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ionel Ciucă has announced that the first Black Sea gas will be extracted in the middle of this year by Black Sea Oil and Gas. According to him, about one billion cubic metres per year will be exploited, which is 10% of Romania's annual consumption, BTA reported.

In a broadcast on TVR1, Nicolae Ionel Ciucă commented that Romania was lucky to have this particularly important resource at the moment. He noted that today, April 29, he will hold talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov on the completion of the interconnector between Greece and Bulgaria in order to obtain liquefied gas that can be brought to the Mediterranean.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova
English version Rositsa Petkova