Nationwide Strike Grips Greece: 24 Hours of Transport Paralysis
A nationwide strike in Greece has brought the country's transport networks to a standstill, affecting railways, ferries, buses, taxis, and more
After a strong start, talks between government officials of both countries over the name dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) have slowed down significantly as Athens awaits significant concessions from Skopje on Greece’s key demand for changes to FYROM’s constitution, Ekathimerini writes.
There had been hopes that Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias would visit Skopje last week but the drop in momentum has postponed that trip indefinitely.
This week he is due to speak at Tufts University in Boston and so would not have been able to travel to Skopje anyway. But the differences that continue to separate Greek and FYROM officials could mean that a trip will not happen until the end of March.
Kotzias’s trip, when it comes, will be the first direct flight from Athens to Skopje in 12 years.
Meanwhile, diplomats will be closely monitoring a scheduled visit to Skopje on Tuesday by US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell, who is due to arrive in Athens on Thursday.
In a statement released before his trip, the State Department said Mitchell will reaffirm US support for FYROM’s “Euro-Atlantic aspirations” and for its “ongoing negotiations with Greece.”
Although FYROM has followed through on pledges to make symbolic changes – such as changing the names of Skopje’s international airport and a key highway which had both included the name of Alexander the Great – Greek officials are concerned at the absence of any shift on matters of substance.
The consistent refusal by FYROM’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev to consider a revision of his country’s constitution – due to Greek concerns about irredentist references – is a case in point.
Zaev has insisted instead on the drafting of an international treaty, noting that, in any case, his government does not have the required parliamentary majority to push through any constitutional changes.
Greek officials have argued that Zaev can persuade the additional MPs to legislate constitutional reform.
As for the core issue, regarding the change to FYROM’s name, the two sides appear to be edging toward a compromise in United Nations-mediated negotiations. Still the prospects of concessions have fueled large public protests in both countries.
On Monday Kotzias was in Bucharest for talks with his Romanian and Bulgarian peers, Teodor Melescanu and Ekaterina Zaharieva. Kotzias reiterated Greece’s support for bids by Romania and Bulgaria for accession to the passport-free Schengen area.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
The Romanian parliament has voted to impose stringent restrictions on the gambling sector, marking a significant shift in the country's regulatory landscape
In a recent gathering organized by the European Liberal Forum, ALDE, and the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, outgoing Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mariya Gabriel, underscored Sofia's commitment to the European Union membership of Western Bal
The brutal murder of a two-year-old child, Danka Ilic, has sent shockwaves across Serbia, prompting President Aleksandar Vucic to advocate for the reintroduction of the death penalty for the most heinous crimes
In a startling revelation, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced today that authorities have apprehended two individuals suspected of the heinous murder of two-year-old Danka Ilic from the town of Bor in Eastern Serbia
In a devastating incident in southern Albania, eight people lost their lives, including seven suspected migrants, in a car crash early this morning while attempting to evade police pursuit
As Easter approaches, Greeks are facing the highest lamb prices in recent years, prompting many to seek alternatives across the border in Bulgaria
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022