King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands will pay an official three-day visit to Greece on Sunday, following an invitation by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. The royal couple will arrive in Greece on Sunday. Their official schedule will begin on Monday (Oct. 31) with the laying of a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square. They will then be welcomed by Sakellaropoulou at a ceremony at the presidential mansion (09:35), where the decoration of the royal couple and the president will take place. A private meeting between the Greek president and the Dutch royals will take place at 09:45, and will include the president’s partner, Pavlos Kotsonis. At 10:30, the Dutch king and queen will meet with the Ombudsmen of Greece and Holland at the Netherlands Institute at Athens, and at 13:30 they will visit the archaeological site of the Acropolis. At 15:00 the royal visitors will meet with Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis at Technopolis (“Gazi”) and attend a reception by the Dutch community, while at 20:00 President Sakellaropoulou will host a formal dinner at the presidential mansion in their honor. On Tuesday (Nov. 1), the king and queen of Holland and Sakellaropoulou will attend a round-table discussion on violence against women at the National Library of Greece, on the premises of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), after which (at 11:00) they will attend the 14th competition of innovation and startup entrepreneurship “The Squeeze” at the SNFCC’s Faros (Lighthouse) building. Later on the same day (12:25), the royal couple will visit the “Elpida” Oncological Unit, the country’s first pediatric oncology hospital, and at 15:00 they will visit a school and housing facilities for young people. Their Tuesday schedule will end with a dinner in honor of President Sakellaropoulou hosted by them at the Megaron Concert Hall (20:00). On Wednesday (Nov. 2), the king and queen will travel to Thessaloniki to continue and complete their official visit to Greece.
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Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi was due to address a Belgrade conference on Friday via video after his planned visit to Serbia’ capital was banned before it started, on Thursday. Serbia’s Interior Ministry did not reply to BIRN’s request to explain the reasons for the decision by time of publication. Bislimi, Kosovo’s coordinator for the EU-facilitated dialogue with Serbia, had been invited to participate in a panel at Belgrade Security Conference. But he had to return to Kosovo when Serbian authorities stopped his delegation on their way to Belgrade. “Delegation with First Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Besnik Bislimi, who would have been the highest official of Kosovo to take part in Belgrade Security Conference, was returned to Kosovo, one hour before arriving in Belgrade. The reason cited was ‘security concerns’,” the BSC said. “Besnik Bislimi was due to take part in second day of conference Panel titled ‘Kosovo and Serbia – Escaping the Dead-End’.” However, Bislimi on Thursday night told the media that the reason for his ban likely “lies somewhere else”. “We had aimed to provide Belgrade, the diplomatic corp and citizens there with Kosovo’s version of developments… You know that citizens in Serbia are exposed to a terrible propaganda by the Serbian government,” Bislimi said. “We were stopped around 85 kilometres before we reached Belgrade. It is illogical to detect a security threat immediately. This could have happened here at the [Kosovo] border and not all the way [until near Belgrade],” Bislimi went on. “This is a proof on how Serbia sees the wish or readiness for normalisation of relations with Kosovo,” he added. Bislimi explained that a police car had joined the convoy and then asked them to stop on the road to Belgrade while authorities communicated to Serbia’s Kosovo Office in Belgrade that the delegation should return home “due to security concerns”. “We did not have any information at all about security, or any threat. I think all this was fake. The aim was to not allow the participation of a Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister in such a forum in Belgrade because it is the main forum that is held this year there, and I think there was big resistance to presenting the truth for Kosovo in such a forum,” Bislimi said. Although such visits are regulated through an agreement reached in the European Union-facilitated dialogue in 2014, the issue of visits has often been fraught. On Wednesday, the head of the Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, announced that he had to cut short his stay in Kosovo, blaming Pristina authorities for not allowing him to complete his agenda. Speaking in the eastern Kosovo village of Pasjane/Pasjan, Petkovic said that three other visits to Serb-inhabited areas would not now be done. “Yesterday [Tuesday], around 16:00 hours, my visit was approved as I requested it. However, somewhere around midnight I received a new email where almost 80 per cent of the program of my visit was banned,” Petkovic said. The European Union called on both Kosovo and Serbia on Friday to not politicise visits. “Official visits play an important role in promotion of normalisation of relations and understanding between countries and these visits should not be politicised,” Peter Stano, EU Spokesperson, told Radio Free Europe. https://balkaninsight.com/ Greece celebrates October 28th: Pilot’s message “Honor to those who guard Thermopylae” VIDEO28/10/2022
An impressive demonstration of acrobatics and daring maneuvers was presented for one more year by the “ZEUS” team of the Hellenic Air Force, with the “protagonist” being the F-16 Block52+ Fighting Falcon aircraft of the 340th Squadron belonging to the 115th Fighter Wing and piloted by the major, Christodoulos Giakoumis.
As every year, the pilot of the ZEUS team of the Air Force moved the audience with his message, in flight. “We are and will remain ready. Honor to those who guard Thermopylae. Happy birthday” he said in his message. The presentation of the demonstration was carried out by the pilot Nikolaos Papaisidorou. The message of the President of the Republic In her message, the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, said: “Major, today we celebrate the heroes who fought in the ‘Albanian saga’ and sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and with them all of you in the Armed Forces, tireless guards who ensure national sovereignty. Your country is grateful. Best wishes and happy landings.” Who is the Major Christodoulos Giakoumis entered the Ikaron School in 2002. In 2007, he was assigned to the 116PM/336 Squadron on A-7E Corsair II aircraft, while in 2009 he was assigned to the 115PM/SMET on F-16 Block52+ aircraft. Since 2010 he has been serving in the 340 Squadron. He has more than 1700 flight hours, of which 1300 are in F-16 aircraft. He is the same one who flew last year with the F-16 of the Air Demonstration Group over Thessaloniki on October 28, sending a shocking message with lyrics by Kostis Palamas and causing shivers of emotion. The CEO of Greece’s postal service (EL.TA) was the latest political “casualty” on Tuesday26/10/2022 The CEO of Greece’s postal service (EL.TA) was the latest political “casualty” on Tuesday, in the wake of a revelation that a deputy with ruling New Democracy (ND) purchased a tranche of NPLs – at 1/15 of their nominal value – for 4.3 million euros. Hours after the news broke, and was confirmed, the ruling party expelled MP Andreas Patsis, who is elected from the single-deputy constituency of Grevena, a prefecture in northwest Greece. In close order, appointed EL.TA executive Giorgos Konstantopoulos tendered his resignation after media reports in the Greek capital on Tuesday buzzed with allegations that EL.TA’s management had doled out one million euros to Patsis for “legal advice” and representation. Earlier, a spokesman for main opposition SYRIZA party had accused the now independent deputy of benefiting from directly assigned contracts by the post office. The spokesman, Nasos Iliopoulos, also charged that the Patsis’ statement of means declaration – obligatory for office-holders in the country – in no way justifies capital of 4.3 million euros, used to buy the tranche of NPLs. Bulgaria will not compete in the next Eurovision Song Contest, due to take place in Liverpool in the UK in May 2023. It is not listed in the officially confirmed list of participating countries. Bulgarian National Television, which funds local participants and broadcasts the show, has yet to officially comment on the reason for the withdrawal. It did not respond to BIRN’s questions over the matter by time of publication. The confirmed list also does not mention other regional countries such as Slovakia. Earlier in October, North Macedonia and Montenegro pulled out, citing financial issues over rising registration costs triggered by the exclusion of Russia as a sanction for the war in Ukraine. Bulgaria has had a rocky relationship with the popular contest. It did not compete until 2005 and through the years controversies and changing regulations often followed the process of choosing a representative. Bulgaria’s best performance was in 2017, when Kristian Kostov – now an established singer who found popularity in Asia and who before the war in Ukraine was based in Moscow – reached second place. Polly Genova also made an impression in 2016 when she reached fourth place. Funding has also been an issue. In 2019, Bulgaria passed the opportunity to participate when the national television was troubled to fund a representative and secure broadcasting rights. In the last two editions the representatives (Victoria in 2021 and heavy metal band Intelligent Music Project in 2022) competed through a mixture of private sponsorship and state funding. The war also affected the location of the 2023 contest. In the last edition Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the popular vote and brought the show in Kyiv. With war raging, the contest was moved to the UK. https://balkaninsight.com/ ISTANBUL: Turkey’s defense ministry and top government officials on Thursday firmly rejected allegations that the Turkish Armed Forces had used chemical weapons in their operations against Kurdish militants. Media close to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group published videos this week which it said showed chemical weapons being used by the army against the PKK in northern Iraq. Separately, an international medical groups’ federation published a report this month seeking independent investigation of possible violations of the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. “Allegations that ‘the Turkish Armed Forces used chemical weapons’ are completely baseless and untrue,” the defense ministry said in a statement. “All these disinformation efforts are the futile struggles of the terrorist organization and its allies,” it said, adding that ammunition prohibited by international law and agreements was not used by, or in the inventory of, its armed forces. The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and United States. More than 40,000 people have been killed in fallout from the insurgency that it launched against the Turkish state in 1984. International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), which represents thousands of doctors and campaigns to prevent armed violence, said it found indirect evidence of possible violations during a September mission to northern Iraq. “The chemical weapons lie is a futile attempt by those who try to whitewash and airbrush terrorism. Our fight against terrorism will continue with resolve and determination,” presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter. Omer Celik, spokesman of President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, described those who make chemical weapons’ allegations as part of “a vile slander network.” In its report, the IPPNW said Defense Minister Hulusi Akar openly acknowledged in Turkey’s parliament last year the use of tear gas during an operation against the PKK in northern Iraq. “This is an outright violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and should be pursued legally by the international community,” it said. The IPPNW said it found in northern Iraq material near an area abandoned by the Turkish army including containers for hydrochloric acid and bleach, which could be used to produce chlorine, a chemical warfare agent. At the same site containers were found for gas masks protecting against chemical weapons, it said. It said none of its evidence was definitive proof of chemical weapons use but it warranted further independent investigation. BRUSSELS: The European Union is seeking concrete evidence of any Iranian involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine, the bloc’s top diplomat said on Monday. Ukraine has reported a spate of Russian attacks with Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks. Iran denies supplying the drones to Russia, while the Kremlin has not commented. “We will look for concrete evidence about the participation (of Iran in the Ukraine war),” Josep Borrell told reporters as he arrived for a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, adding Ukraine’s Dmytro Kuleba would take part in the gathering. The EU could decide to move toward imposing new sanctions against Iran over the matter, according to two diplomats involved in preparing talks among the ministers, though no detailed decisions were expected on Monday. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said the EU should react strongly to new air attacks on Kyiv where drones struck buildings near a central railway station during rush hours on Monday morning. “What we can see now: Iranian drones are used apparently to attack in the middle of Kyiv, this is an atrocity,” Kofod said, saying the EU had to take “concrete steps” in response to that, as well as Tehran cracking down on protesters at home. President Xi Jinping’s expected reappointment for a third five-year term as head of the Chinese Communist Party and the military is set to be a watershed moment in China’s modern history. As with Deng Xiaoping’s launch of economic reforms in 1979 and his decision a decade later to crush pro-democracy protests with force, it will — for better or worse — radically alter the country’s course. The party’s 20th congress opens in Beijing on Sunday and will bring together more than 2,000 delegates from across the country. It will close a week later with the unveiling of the party’s new leadership, which is set to again be headed by Xi. In doing so, the congress will bring down the curtain on a two-decade period defined by predictable and orderly transitions from one party leader to another. Besides reaffirming Xi as the party’s paramount leader and head of its powerful Central Military Commission, which controls China’s armed forces, the congress will unveil a new central committee comprised of about 200 full members and 170 alternates, a 25-member Politburo and a seven-person Politburo Standing Committee. Will Xi be reappointed president? Not yet. State positions, including president and premier, will not be made official until March, at the annual session of China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress. But the head of the party is typically appointed president. The party’s second-highest ranking member usually, but not always, serves as premier. Xi is widely expected to be reappointed to a third term as the party’s top leader, or general secretary, although it is also possible he could resurrect and assume the title of party chair, which was discontinued in the early 1980s by Deng. How is this year’s congress different from previous ones? In taking a third term as party leader, Xi will formally scrap the system credited for the orderly leadership transitions of 2002 and 2012. In 2002, Hu Jintao succeeded Jiang Zemin as party general secretary. In 2012, Hu made way for Xi. Xi set the stage for this month’s power grab at the 19th party congress in 2017, when he did not appoint a next-generation president to the Politburo Standing Committee. Both Jiang and Hu had done so five years before they relinquished power. In March 2018, the NPC all but announced Xi’s intention to stay on for at least a third term, if not for life, when it scrapped the constitutional two-term limit on the presidency. There is no such term limit on the positions of party general secretary and military chief. How many members of the Politburo Standing Committee will step down? At least two. For everyone but the party leader, an unofficial retirement age applies to the Politburo Standing Committee. Anyone aged 68 or older cannot be reappointed to the body. Four PSC members, including Premier Li Keqiang, will be 67 or younger, and therefore eligible for another five-year term. It is possible, however, that Xi could lower the age limit to 67 to replace Li — or simply orchestrate the removal of anyone he does not want in order to promote more allies to the committee. Does that mean Li could serve a third term as premier? No. Unlike the presidency, the premiership is still subject to a two-term limit. If Li remains on the Politburo Standing Committee, he would probably retain his ranking as the party’s second most senior official, but would have to take on another government role, most likely to be head of the parliament. So who will be China’s next premier? This will not be known with certainty until he (it has never been a she) is formally appointed at the NPC in March. But if Li stays on the standing committee, its third-ranking member would be the most likely to succeed him as premier. If Li steps down, whomever replaces him as its second-highest ranking member will probably become China’s premier-in-waiting. At present, Wang Yang, the party’s fourth highest ranking official, is considered the frontrunner to replace Li. Another contender is vice-premier Hu Chunhua, who currently sits on the politburo but not the standing committee. Who are the others to watch? With the exception of Xi, a Chinese leader’s official party rank is not an indicator of his real clout. Li, for example, has been a remarkably weak premier despite his number-two party rank. During Xi’s first term as party leader from 2012 to 2017, the second most powerful man in China was clearly Wang Qishan, who managed Xi’s anti-corruption campaign but was ranked sixth in the party hierarchy. One critical position to watch is who emerges as the head of the party’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which oversees China’s vast internal security apparatus. Leading candidates for this post include two officials who worked closely with Xi two decades ago when he was climbing up the ranks in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces: Chen Yixin, who is currently the commission’s secretary-general, and Wang Xiaohong, who was appointed head of China’s public security ministry in July. Source: Financial Times TEHRAN: Iran’s government on Friday condemned French President Emmanuel Macron for remarks in which he expressed solidarity with protesters angry over the death of Mahsa Amini. The Islamic republic has been rocked by a month of protests since Amini died after being arrested by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women. Macron on Wednesday said France “stands by” the protesters in Iran and expressed his “admiration” for women and youths demonstrating in the country, while condemning what he called “repression” by the authorities. In a statement, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said the French leader’s remarks were “meddlesome” and served to encourage “violent people and law breakers.” Kanani said it was “surprising” that Paris was condemning Iran’s security forces for dealing with “violent people and rioters” while it was threatening to use force in response to “labor strikes in the oil and gas sector” in France. “This is clear hypocrisy and proves once again that human rights in the dictionary of many pretentious Western governments are nothing more than a toy and a tool to achieve political goals and interfere in the affairs of other countries,” he added. Macron’s government has forced some refinery workers back to work to open fuel depots after three weeks of blockades, a move that infuriated unions but was upheld by a court on Friday. Four of the country’s seven refineries remain shut, and around a third of France’s service stations are either low on petrol or completely dry, according to the energy transition ministry. According to natural gas providers, the pricing in October for household consumers will be approximately 0.11 euro per kilowatt-hour (kWh), but that may change in November. Heating fuel hit the market today with prices lower than original projections. According to OT’s source, HELLENiQ ENERGY refineries (formerly Hellenic Petroleum, or HELPE), has decided to offer an additional discount of 75 euros (including VAT) per 1,000 litres to commercial petroleum companies. HELLENiQ ENERGY discounts That results in final consumer prices of between 1.37 and 1.38 euros per litre. The government subsidy of 0.25 euro per litre has been factored into the above prices. Meanwhile, HELLENiQ ENERGY offered an additional five percent discount to its subsidiary, EKO, which now sells heating fuel at 1.33 euros per litre. Motor Oil price adjustments Motor Oil sources also said that the Group’s commercial companies – AVIN, SHELL, and CYCLON – are adjusting their pricing policies to the levels of the competition. Market sources attribute the move to refineries’ strategic choice to support society in the difficult period households are experiencing due to the energy crisis. Prices under 1.40 euros per litre represent an upset of prices until now, which ranged between 1.44-1.49 euros per litre. 18 percent hike of heating fuel starting price since a year ago It should be noted, however, that the starting price of heating fuel is 18 percent higher than the same period last year on the first day of distribution, when the median price was 1.16 euros per litre. Natural gas With extra discounts on heating fuel, the price difference with natural gas is being reduced. Natural gas will be 15 percent cheaper, instead of 20 percent as initially projected, than heating oil. According to natural gas providers, the pricing in October for household consumers will be approximately 0.11 euro per kilowatt-hour (kWh). That price includes the subsidy from DEPA Commercial, which is 0.09 euro per kWh. As previously noted, heating petrol kicked off with a price between, 1,37 and 1.38 euros per litre. To compare these prices with natural gas, there was a conversion of their values to the kWh unit of measurement. Based on the conversion, the resulting prices are between 0.13 and 0.131 euro per kWh. Hence, natural gas will be approximately 15 percent cheaper than heating oil. Consumers should also know that heating oil prices change on a daily basis, whereas the aforementioned natural gas prices apply throughout the month of October, and providers may have different pricing in November. By Christos Kolonas / in.gr It is a great pleasure to address the opening of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) Energy Transition Conference, organised by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, the Cyprus Hydrocarbons Company and the EMGF Secretariat in the framework of the EMGF Presidency, proudly held by the Republic of Cyprus for 2022. From the outset, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all delegates who visited Cyprus from abroad, and especially the EU Commissioner for Energy, Ms Kadri Simson, and the Energy Ministers of Egypt, Greece and Jordan and representatives of Italy, France, Israel. Your presence validates once more our excellent collaboration, as well as our collective efforts to further strengthen our co-operation in energy related matters, both as a means of achieving lasting stability and peace in our volatile region and in enhancing Europe’s energy security through alternative energy routes. Committed to developing a sustainable regional gas market, whilst minimising the technical, financial and political risks involved, EMGF has proved highly successful not only in bringing countries of our region together, but also a range of different stakeholders, from gas producers and investors, to traders and financing entities. Established on the fundamental principle of full respect to the sovereign rights of independent states to exploit their natural resources in accordance with international law, the Forum has managed to foster cooperation through structured and systematic dialogue on natural gas issues, including on the path to green transition. On the agenda of today’s conference is an overview of EMGF activities and in particular the progress of the work prioritised by Cyprus’ Presidency, including the East Mediterranean Natural Gas Decarbonisation Initiative, as well as the outcomes of a study on the Role of East Med in the EU’s Energy Security, particularly during the challenging times we are all facing. The latter is a specialised study supported by the European Union, examining the East Med’s potential contribution to the EU’s efforts to diversify energy sources and routes. This may be achieved by transferring East Med natural gas, either as LNG or through pipelines, hydrogen that will be produced in the region in the medium and long term, and clean energy from Renewables exported to Europe via electrical interconnections. And it goes without saying that the Eastern Mediterranean can assume a key role to this end. Last June we witnessed in Cairo the signature of the trilateral Memorandum of Understanding between the EU, Egypt and Israel for the export of natural gas to the EU. A development which constitutes another tangible step towards enhancing EU energy cooperation with the countries of Eastern Mediterranean, as well as a new positive development in enhancing energy planning between the countries of the region. And I wish to reiterate that Cyprus, due to its strategic location and its excellent relations and long-standing partnerships in the field of energy with neighbouring countries, at a bilateral, regional and multilateral level, stands ready to make its own contribution and be an active part of the energy solutions that our region has to offer. A role which we have already assumed through the start of the construction phase of the “EuroAsia” interconnector between Cyprus, Greece and Israel – the inauguration ceremony of which will be held later on today-, as well as the preparations underway for also launching the “EuroAfrica” interconnector which will connect Cyprus-Greece- Egypt. According to current status and planning, it is estimated that by the end of 2027, once the first interconnection is in place, Cyprus will have an excess of renewable energy that could be exported or exchanged, in addition to the quantities that could be available from Egypt, Israel, and Greece. Consequently, Cyprus can become a net exporter of electricity at capacities that could range from 120 Gigawatt hours in 2027, up to 1000 in 2030, and exceeding 1800 in 2033. Further to the above-mentioned, we also stand ready to examine possibilities and proposals of connecting various natural gas fields in Cyprus – Israel – Egypt -during the next days Lebanon- with either existing or new infrastructure, through which gas can be exported to Europe. As regards the East Mediterranean Natural Gas Decarbonisation Initiative, the final results of which will be presented during COP27 in Egypt next month, the focus has been to develop an action plan to reduce emissions across the value chain of the EMGF member countries’ gas industry, in order to support transition to low carbon-intensive gas resources. In addition, the EMGF is ready to make recommendations on the policies needed to align efforts to mobilise financing, develop capacities and deploy technologies for decarbonisation of the East Mediterranean gas. Recognizing the vast resource prospects, opportunities and challenges, it is clear that the full energy potential of the Eastern Mediterranean can only be unlocked if suppliers, buyers and transit countries in the region cooperate on developing numerous infrastructure projects for gas, hydrogen and renewable energy trade within the region and with external markets. The fact that almost all of the Members of the Gas Industry Advisory Committee of the EMGF are active in exploration and exploitation of energy resources in the East Med, effectively means that a platform for discussion is already available in order to define the synergies for best exploiting them. At the same time, it should also be once more stressed that the significance of the EMGF goes beyond energy cooperation; as an enabler of regional peace, economic growth and prosperity in our turbulent region and beyond. And I wish to yet again stress that it is open to any country wishing to join us in this collective process, provided it adheres with our shared values and principles in respecting international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Our motto is that energy should act as a catalyst for peace and prosperity and not in creating tensions and conflicts. In closing, I wish to yet again extend my deepest appreciation to the Member countries’ delegations and the representatives of the companies in the Gas Industry Advisory committee, for all the hard work you have been doing over the last years in order to achieve the results that will be presented today. In particular, I wish to thank the Arab Republic of Egypt, represented today by Minister El Molla, for the support they have provided during the establishment of the EMGF and for generously allocating the necessary resources for its operation. Once more, thank you all for your participation in the EMGF Energy Transition Conference, the deliberations of which I am certain will be both interesting and fruitful. PIO Erdogan did not reject the possibility of an attack on Greece, but claimed that Greece is responsible for this, as it provokes and attacks, adding that this applies to any countryRecep Tayyip Erdogan tried to appear provocative, but at the same time diplomatically covered, at the Summit held in Prague. In addition to his provocative statements, to which the Greek Prime Minister responded, a journalist’s question was an important moment. She asked the Turkish president if he was really thinking of attacking Greece, pointing out the use of the now famous line from a Turkish love song “I will come one night suddenly”. In response, Erdoğan did not reject the possibility of an attack, but claimed that Greece is responsible for this, as it provokes and attacks, while adding that this applies to any country. “This does not only apply to Greece. No matter which country bothers us or attacks us, our answer to them is ‘one night we will come suddenly’. That’s what they need to know and understand. From now on, as you understand, so do they” he said characteristically. The first move Retired lt. general, Lambros Tzoumis, on the issue of increasing violations, he emphasized to MEGA channel that “any violation of national and sovereign rights or national sovereignty must be addressed. He must not be left unfettered.” And he continued about the overflights: “If this thing continues, because the crisis is coming, we will find it in front of us” and emphasized that “Erdogan will provoke us into making the first move”. International relation expert Alexandros Despotopoulos, for his part, evaluating the Prague Synod said: “The Turkish side has found itself in the need to respond to the internationalization of Greek-Turkish that the Greek side achieved.” Mr. Despotopoulos, commenting on the case of a “hot” incident estimated that “Turkey does not want a total confrontation with Greece, because it knows that it will have an uncertain end. Erdoğan is trying to create tension with overflights, he is using immigrants as a tool, he may even order a research vessel to conduct surveys, because he wants to lead us to a dialogue on all matters”. Regarding the operational level, Nikolas Chrysochoos, representative of the Dodecanese Reserve Officers on Karpathos, commented on how the national guards of Karpathos see Erdogan’s threats: “We are calm, we are not worried. We remain as national guard men and women and reserve officers on standby. From the moment the signal is given in ten minutes we are ready and we are on the front line”. Regarding the recent fluidity in the situation, the representative of the Dodecanese Reserve Officers commented that they are familiar with the situation and are always ready. in.gr RIYADH: Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, has called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s referendums and accords formally recognizing the annexation of territories in eastern Ukraine a “bloody PR-(stunt) based on human victims.” “I’m not sure what kind of referendums they had. We don’t have any such referendums in Ukraine. We don’t have any law even for that purpose,” Zelensky told Frankly Speaking host Katie Jensen in an exclusive interview via Zoom video link from Kyiv. Referendums across Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson saw an overwhelming majority voting to join the Russian Federation, in a process that many international observers believe was rigged. Zelensky also rebuffed Putin’s recent claims of major victories on the battlefield. Just last week, Ukrainian forces retook the strategic eastern town of Lyman located in one of the four regions annexed by Russia, prompting Moscow to announce the “withdrawal” of its troops to “more favorable lines.” “What they declare is clearly different from what they can do. They said they will occupy our territory, our nation. But in eight months of the war, I can tell you that we won back yet another city, the city of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast, exactly the one that Russia declared as fully occupied a couple of days ago,” said Zelensky. “I can assure Russia and the Russian people that, unlike Russia, we are not interested in Russian territories. We are interested in our territory, in our borders based on the international recognition from 1991.” The war in Ukraine has shaken the region and the global geopolitical and economic order due to shifts in the trade of energy, the rising cost of oil and gas, and the reconfiguration of supply chains. More than six million Ukrainians fled to nearby countries. Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions have mounted as nations are pressed to choose a side. There is also growing concern for global food security. News of Putin’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions has put world leaders on edge once more, as there appears to be no clear end to the war in sight. For Zelensky, there are three components that will contribute to Ukraine’s eventual success. “I think it’s a great victory for any nation worldwide when its people are united and people are able to leave some minor squabbles and historical discrepancies. This is very important,” he said. “Another important step is that we are advancing against the world’s second biggest army, and we are able to show that the true strength is in unity, not in armaments. “The third victory is, we have been able to unite Europe and the whole world. You know, before it was much more like everyone stands for him or herself. Now we see this unification and we see that there will be many more challenges also internationally, and there will be more of them.” Despite Zelensky’s note of optimism, Moscow has vowed to never give up its newly annexed areas and to defend them with all means available. Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the Chechen Republic, has even gone so far as to suggest the use of low-grade nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Zelensky dismissed these threats, branding Kadyrov a “terrorist who was not even elected by his own people.” “This is not serious. Come on. In (the) modern world, how can someone threaten others with nuclear weapons? Yeah, we have lots of terrorists worldwide. We have killers, but I cannot condescend to talk to a terrorist like that,” he said. Since the annexations, Zelensky has signed a request asking for the acceleration of the process of Ukraine joining NATO. However, many skeptics view this as a futile request, especially given the response from Washington did not signal any immediate action. On Saturday, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the US believes Ukraine’s NATO application “should be taken up at a different time.” “Right now, our view is that the best way for us to support Ukraine is through practical, on-the-ground support in Ukraine and that the process in Brussels should be taken up at a different time,” said Sullivan. In spite of this, Zelensky said countries should “pay attention just to the facts, not just to the words.” “We had statements from 10 allies, NATO members, with full support for Ukraine,” he said. The country should join NATO “as soon as possible.” “I would rather say not when, in terms of time, but in terms of geography. I think it might happen when we will be standing at our borders.” Meanwhile, the Ukrainian actor-turned-wartime leader also repeated his rejection of Putin’s offer to negotiate, firmly reiterating that he will only negotiate with a different president. “We did warn them, if you want to launch these fake referendums, there will be no further talks with the president of the Russian Federation, for if the Russian president cannot respect the law, international law, the constitution, and by the way, not just our constitution, but that of his own country, he should not be violating our territorial integrity if this happens,” Zelensky said. “Am I in a position to talk to him? He’s not a president.” However, there does seem to be room for mediation and initiatives that could help to solve different pressing issues such as prisoner swaps and the release of Black Sea grain from Ukraine’s southern ports. Just last month, Saudi Arabia brokered a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, playing an important diplomatic role between the warring nations. “I’d like to thank Saudi Arabia for the effort,” said Zelensky. “Given the ties that the crown prince has with Russia, probably it was, you know, a good chance of success, and I’m very much thankful to him for this brilliant result.” The deal saw almost 300 people, including 10 foreigners, returned to their homelands, the first of very few breakthroughs since the war began. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said at the time that the initiative was based on the support of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and in continuation of his efforts to adopt humanitarian initiatives toward the Russia-Ukraine crisis. “We are open to any proposals when it is about the results to be achieved, the results of such efforts,” said Zelensky. While Saudi Arabia has been trying to mediate, Iran has been accused of lying to top Ukrainian officials and selling drones to Russia. Ukrainian forces shot down Iranian kamikaze drones sold to Russia in an effort to target civilians, which led Zelensky to dismiss Iranian diplomats from the country. “It is sad that we have to recognize that the Iranian government is lying, as the Russian Federation government is, because we had contact with Iran’s leaders at the topmost level. We talked to the embassy, we had the ambassadors called up to the Ministry of External Affairs, and we were assured that nothing was sold to Russia, it wasn’t their drones, and nothing of the kind,” he said. “We have a number of these downed Iranian drones, and these have been sold to Russia to kill our people, and they are — you’re right — they are being used against civilian infrastructure and civilians, peaceful civilians. Because of that, we sent Iranian diplomats away from the country. We have nothing to talk with them about.” While the war rages on, Zelensky has also been looking to the future and insists there are big opportunities for Arab nations to invest in the rebuilding of Ukraine. “We would really love to see Arab businesses, and (for) Arab countries to be present, working in our country. We are ready to offer wonderful terms and conditions for businesses, fiscal, and so on. And there is also one ambitious aim for every country willing to come to Ukraine with an idea of recovery.” “There will be a possibility for private companies, for Arab countries as well, because it is about rebuilding — recovering the whole of the state, of the nation.” However, a recent Arab News/YouGov study conducted in May showed that a majority (66 percent) of Arabs felt indifferent toward the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Furthermore, a majority of respondents from the Arab world expressed a view that the blame for the war lies not with Russia but with US President Joe Biden and with NATO for not allowing Ukraine to join years ago — a finding Zelensky challenged. “Truly, this war was started by Russia, and Russia is the only one to blame. What else could the united West do to avoid it? Maybe they could do more, but to blame the US, that they, the war is because of them, this is not just, this is not true. Only Russia is guilty of that,” he said. Among countries in the GCC, Levant and North Africa, although NATO is perceived more often as the party responsible for the conflict, the apportioning of blame is more balanced. People in the Gulf states, for example, blame NATO (23 percent) only marginally more than they do Russia (19 percent). Despite opting to condemn Russian aggression during a UN vote last March, major Arab countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE, have remained largely neutral, and expressed a desire to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv. RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is working to enhance people’s skills and abilities in the nuclear technology sector and its regulatory aspects, the Kingdom’s minister of energy said. Speaking at the 66th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Austria, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman spoke of the importance of his government developing peaceful uses for nuclear technology with the highest standards of transparency, reliability and the highest levels of safety. “As a result of these programs, national capabilities have grown rapidly to keep pace with the best international standards,” he said, later adding: “We are also working in cooperation and coordination with the agency to develop national plans to enable nuclear energy to contribute to the national energy mix.” Prince Abdulaziz praised the agency’s role in developing countries’ capabilities in facing nuclear threats. He said the Kingdom would continue to back the agency’s efforts and initiatives in harnessing nuclear technology to find solutions to global challenges in terms of a safe environment from nuclear threats. Speaking of Saudi Arabia’s support, he said the Kingdom has contributed an amount of $2.5 million to support the IAEA’s initiative to modernize its laboratories. This is In addition to $1 million handed over to back the agency’s initiative in the work of combating zoonotic diseases to prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases from animals. The 66th Annual Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference is being held from Sept. 26 to 30 at the Vienna International Center. The centre-right GERB party, led by former prime minister Boyko Borissov, are the projected winners of Sunday’s elections, the fourth since April 2021 amid Bulgaria’s long-running political deadlock. As of early Monday morning, with 99.03 per cent of the ballots processed by the Central Electoral Committee, GERB (running alongside the United Democratic Forces) was leading with 25.4 per cent of the vote. Its achievement is being seen as a comeback for the party. Borissov governed for most of the period between 2009 and early 2021 but lost public trust and saw his reputation tarnished after numerous allegations of involvement in corruption, ties with oligarchs and infringements on media freedom, which caused widespread protests. GERB lost the last two general elections in July 2022 (to the There’s Such a People party) and November 2021 (to We Continue the Change). But Borissov shrugged off suggestions that it would be a surprise if his party returned to the top. “I’m not sure what kind of news I can give you or what news are you expecting of me,” he told local media, after voting in Sofia on Sunday. Seven or eight parties will have seats in the future parliament. GERB is followed by rivals and reformist party We Continue the Change, whose cabinet including Democratic Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Socialist Party was ousted in June, with 20.2 per cent. In the capital Sofia, however, We Continue the Change was leading with 26.8 per cent to GERB’s 25.77. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, a party focused on the Turkish diaspora and associated with numerous controversies, is running third with 13.6 per cent. Pro-Moscow far-right party Revival (Vazrazhdane) is making its bet showing yet with 10.2 per cent. The Bulgarian Socialist Party, also aligned to Moscow, took 9.3 per cent of the vote, a rather disappointing result for the party. Democratic Bulgaria, a pro-EU force which is the closest ally of We Continue the Chance, is running fifth with 7.5 per cent. Bulgarian Rise, a pro-Moscow party founded by former interim prime minister and presidential adviser Stefan Yanev, will debut in parliament after passing the four per cent threshold. With the Bulgarian Socialist Party, Bulgarian Rise and Revival in parliament, three parties with a clear alignment with Moscow will be represented in the legislature. There’s Such a People, led by popular television host Slavi Trifonov, is currently running below the threshold to enter parliament. The party experienced a drop in support after winning elections in July 2021, then being part of Petkov’s coalition after the elections in November, and then leaving it after a series of chaotic decisions and claims. “We now have an even more fragmented parliament,” Hristo Ivanov from Democratic Bulgaria told local media. Final standings will be known by the middle of the week. The current tally does not include votes from abroad. According to Alpha Research agency, voter turnout was 37.8 per cent, a possible record low. To form a coalition, Borissov has to turn far right There are 240 seats in Bulgaria’s parliament, which means that any governing oalition would need 121 MPs. The current standing indicates that GERB would get 67 seats. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms, often regarded as a natural partner to GERB, might expect 36. For a possible cabinet, the two parties, which usually present a liberal image, could look to the far-right Revival as a potential partner, despite the anti-EU profile of Kostadin Kostadinov’s nationalist party. If the two get Revival’s projected 36 MPs, their alliance would have 130 seats. For Borissov, siding with the far right wouldn’t be a precedent – his last cabinet (from 2017-21) featured the now-defunct United Patriots alliance. So far, Borissov has abstained from commenting on his options. If the mandate passes to We Continue the Change, its leader Petkov will have to rely on Democratic Bulgaria, make another uneasy partnership with Bulgarian Socialist Party, and find a fourth ally. Assen Vassilev, co-leader of We Continue the Change, said on Sunday evening that “we deeply disagree with the way Bulgaria was governed during the GERB times but voters made their choice”. Petkov again ruled out any coalition talk with GERB: “It’s a matter of basic values [not to get involved with GERB]. We won’t betray that value system,” he said. source:https://balkaninsight.com/ 'Since taking office in 2019, Mitsotakis is credited with engineering an economic miracle in Greece. A decade ago it was one of the PIGS, a derogatory acronym for Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain,' the Sunday Times wrote.Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appeared optimistic regarding the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece and slammed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “grandiose Ottoman vision”, and Russia’s putative effort to “undermine Greek democracy” in a full-length interview published in the UK’s Sunday Times. As for the Parthenon Marbles, he said he believes the two countries may be getting closer to a deal and that he will raise the issue with British PM Liz Truss in talks when he visits London later this year. “At a time when Truss will be looking to build her credibility and when the UK is sort of cornered in terms of its overall image after the [Queen’s] funeral it will be a fantastic gesture, and that’s what I’ll tell her,” Mitsotakis said. “I think the mood is changing in the UK,” he added. He did not clarify why he views the UK as “cornered” after the Queen’s funeral. PM’s ‘Good personal relationship’ with King Charles Mitsotakis said he has a “good personal relationship” with King Charles, whom he visited at the Dumfries House Estate in Scotland, part of the Prince’s Foundation, six months ago to discuss his plans for remodeling the former Greek royal summer palace and vast land holdings in Tatoi. As the monarchy was abolished in Greece by referendum in December, 1974, it was unclear why the PM was discussing the issue of the remodeling of state property with the then Prince of Wales, and indeed reportedly giving him a say in the plans. It was reported at the time that the successful remodeling of Dumfries House would serve as a model for Tatoi. In 1988 as main opposition New Democracy leader, the PM’s late father, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, who later served as prime minister, described the 1974 referendum as “unfair”, and as PM in 1991 he arranged for ex-king Constantine to repossess and export from Greece in containers all of the palace’s royal property and treasures – causing a public uproar at the time, as after the abolition of the monarchy it was viewed by the public and legal scholars as the property of the Greek state and the Greek people. The finest objects were sold at Christie’s auction house in 2007, many fetching much higher prices than the upper end estimates. PM: though supportive, the King must remain neutral on return of Parthenon sculptures Though Mitsotakis said that from private conversation he got the impression that the then Prince of Wales was supportive of the return of the Marbles, he acknowledged that as King, Charles must remain neutral. The PM said, however, that the King has “a Greek heritage which he values and cherishes very much”. While in Athens on 25 March, 2021, for the celebrations of the bicentennial of the start of the Greek Revolution, then Prince Charles said: “Greece has long held the most special place in my heart, after all, Greece is the land of my grandfather and of my father’s birth.” At the time, he had reportedly expressed a keen interest in the future of Tatoi. “A ‘Parthenon Project’, meanwhile, supported by Greek and British activists, has been promoting the idea of a “cultural partnership” envisaging exhibits in London of other Greek archaeological treasures in return for the return of the marbles, the Sunday Times reported in the interview. “A YouGov poll last November indicated that 59 per cent of the British respondents thought the marbles belonged in Greece and only 18 per cent wanted them to stay in Britain (the rest had no opinion),” it noted. The majority of Britons in polls conducted over the years have supported the return of the sculptures.” it added. Effusive praise for Mitsotakis’ ‘economic miracle’ The Sunday Times sang the praises of the PM’s record on the economy: “Since taking office in 2019, Mitsotakis is credited with engineering an economic miracle in Greece. A decade ago it was one of the PIGS, a derogatory acronym for Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain, whose economies were struggling badly. The EU’s overlords in the north subjected Greece to constant criticism as a financial basket case. Today, though, the boot is on the other foot. Mitsotakis has emerged as an idol of the European centre right after seeing off populists [an apparent reference to left-wing main opposition SYRIZA] and the pandemic and making Greece a magnet for foreign investment. Its growth rate — higher than 5 per cent this year — is the envy of former detractors, and proof that a PIG can fly. Tourism, a traditional mainstay, is booming with 2022 expected to be the best summer yet.» PM on spying on PASOK leader: “I have not been able to get to the bottom of this’ In the interview, the PM also answered to the affair regarding the National Intelligence Service, which is under his direct jurisdiction, spying on Nikos Androulakis, the leader of centre-left PASOK-KINAL, the country’s third party, once considered the ideal coalition partner for ND after the next general elections, in which, as all polls indicate, it will be impossible for the ruling party to garner a parliamentary majority. “In August the leader of PASOK, the socialist opposition party, accused the country’s secret services of tapping his telephone. He also denounced a failed attempt to infect his mobile with a spyware programme called Predator. A journalist said he, too, was spied on. Mitsotakis dismissed the head of intelligence and the government’s general secretary, a nephew who worked in his office. He claimed that he had not been notified of the wire-tapping, which was legally approved by a prosecutor, and added: ‘I have not been able to get to the bottom of this. The explanations were not sufficient and that’s why I had to fire two people,” the PM stated in the Sunday Times interview. Mitsotakis suggested that the aim of whoever was responsible for the surveillance was to spoil the prospect of a New Democracy-PASOK coalition which, however, can still not be entirely precluded. “If someone wanted to drive a wedge between me and Pasok, who are our likely coalition partners, they’ve certainly succeeded in doing that,” the PM said, clearly eschewing any government responsibility for the surveillance affair. Mitsotakis slams Erdogan, Russia Describing Greek-Turkish relations as being “at their lowest ebb in decades”, the Sunday Times quoted Mitsotakis’ sharp criticism of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s expansionist geopolitical agenda, which he described as a “grandiose Ottoman vision”. “He wants to be a regional player and expects everybody to accept Turkey’s greatness, which is plainly not going to happen if this results in challenging Greek sovereignty,” the PM said. ‘Russia trying to undermine Greek democracy’ Mitsotakis also accused Russia of trying to undermine Greek democracy by channeling funds to a network of television stations and media that would support Moscow and main opposition SYRIZA. “He also accused Russia, which shares the same Orthodox religion as Greece, of trying to undermine its democracy, citing a report by the US Department of Justice regarding the indictment of an oligarch alleged to have illegally funelled $10 million into the country in 2016 in violation of US sanctions,” the interview stated. Mitsotakis has taken an extremely strong anti-Russian stance regarding the war in Ukraine. sending arms and regularly blasting Russian President Vladimir Putin. The new US base in the port city of Alexandroupolis is also playing a key role in channeling arms to Ukraine. The government sees a close parallel between the neo-imperial expansionism of Putin and Erdogan, noting that Ankara employed a similar rationale and tactic in its 1974 invasion and continuing occupation of 37 percent of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member-state since 2004. Moreover, Erdogan and his ministers have repeatedly unleashed threats of war against Greece. “The idea, said Mitsotakis, was [for Russia through the oligarch] to fund a TV network sympathetic to Moscow and the far-left SYRIZA party he defeated in 2019. The network’s “head of information” was Kostas Vaxevanis, a pro-SYRIZA journalist fiercely critical of Mitsotakis. “He runs a newspaper that was set up with the single purpose of going after me and my wife,” he added. Bulgaria’s latest election drama on Sunday will see two former prime ministers in search of a comeback: “We Continue the Change” party, led by recently ousted pro-Western PM Kiril Petkov, will fight for the top place with Boyko Borissov’s GERB party, the dominant political force in the country from 2009 to early 2021. The centre-left “We Continue the Change” party won the popular vote in November last year and is riding on an image as a party fighting Bulgaria’s long-standing corruption problems; however, all polls predict an upturn in votes for the centre-right GERB, despite its shabby reputation. “Where is Borissov and why is he not be found anywhere? Bulgarians should know who is going to govern them after October 2 and leaders should show some responsibility,” Petkov said on Wednesday evening in a TV debate, challenging Borissov’s seeming reluctance to give interviews or join debates. “The fool should be killed with silence,” Borissov responded on Thursday during a Facebook live session, likely in answer to Petkov. Bulgarians are voting in parliamentary elections for the fourth time since April 2021. The elections are a result of the no-confidence vote in Petkov’s government in June this year, when his uneasy coalition was ousted. Before his short-lived government was established in November, parties held unsuccessful coalition talks in April and July 2021, sending the country into a cycle of elections. As a recent BIRN analysis pointed out, the endless crossfires between politicians, lower voter turnout and the potential failure of coalition talks after Sunday’s vote may well lead to yet another election in 2023. Suspected voting fraud, mainly for the benefit of GERB and the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms party, is likely to plague the elections as well. The political turmoil has increased the power and role of President Rumen Radev. Bulgaria is currently governed by an interim cabinet, handpicked by Radev, his third since Bulgaria’s logjam started. His cabinet became instantly controversial because of now abandoned plans to restart energy deals with Russia’s gas giant Gazprom. This sparked a fresh wave of protests in Sofia over concerns about the government’s geo-political affiliations. https://balkaninsight.com/ Some 7,257 candidates will find their names on the ballots of the 14th election in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1996, when the first independent elections since the end of the 1992-95 war were held. Some 3.3 million voters, slightly more than the official number of population, are eligible to vote, according to the Central Electoral Commission, CEC. The CEC has approved 127 political entities, including 72 parties, 38 coalitions and 17 independent candidates to take part. Some 70,000 people have registered to vote by post or in consulates abroad. Nine known political veterans are competing for seats on the tripartite state presidency; three for the Bosniak post, two for the Croatian post and four for the Serbian post. Experts say Sunday’s elections are taking place during the worst political crisis since the end of the war in 1995, especially considering the separatist intentions of the Bosnian Serb strongman, Milorad Dodik. Dodik’s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Bosniak and Croat support for the West have deepened existing political divisions in the country. Failed consultations on changes to the election law, a thorn in Bosnia’s side for more than a decade, have also sparked divided reactions. The latest planned changes of the law, advocated by Croats and bitterly opposed by Bosniaks, have caused sparks in what many call Bosnia’s dullest election campaign ever, with little to no interaction between opponents. Meanwhile, an energy crisis, high inflation and rising prices add up to the sense of looming crisis. Voters in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the larger of the two entities in the country, will cast votes for Bosniak and Croat members of the presidency. They will also choose members for the state-level House of Representatives, the House of Representatives in their own Federation entity and members of assemblies in ten cantons. Miran Kovacevic, aged 25, from Tuzla, in the north of Bosnia, is going to vote on Sunday despite the sense of apathy. “Not only mine; every vote is important. The problem in Bosnia is that only 50 per cent of the population goes to the polls. It is this second half of the population that directly contributes to the victory of nationalist parties,” Kovacevic told BIRN, referring to the usual election winners. Those living in the Serb-dominated entity, Republika Srpska, will choose one of four candidates for the Serbian member of the Bosnian presidency. They will also vote for the entity president and vice-presidents, the state-level House of Representatives as well as for members of the entity’s assembly. Milos Orlic, aged 29, from Banja Luka, Republika Srpska’s administrative centre, says he will vote on Sunday even though he expects little. “I’m not hoping for anything,” Orlic told BIRN. “These are the elections with the worst campaigns, in which everyone communicates the same things – some kind of defence and protection of the territory, at a time when prices are jumping by 70-80 per cent compared to the same period last year,” he said. He thinks the candidates hide behind easy national topics because “they are the easiest to talk about with enthusiasm”, while they leave aside serious problems that people face every day, and which elected representatives should solve. It’s a pattern that repeats itself each election cycle, he says. “With such an approach of the candidates, I don’t know how a young man can hope for anything, let alone for much needed change that will allow him to live his life normally here, not somewhere abroad,” Orlic said. Voters in Brcko District, an independent administrative district populated by Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs, will vote for their District Assembly. Depending on their so-called “entity citizenship,” they will cast their votes for the presidency. balkaninsight.com The key role that Greece can play in the energy security and supply of the Balkans and Europe due to its position, both with the infrastructures (Revythoussa, Alexandroupoli) and with the joint ventures in which it participates as a bridge with Africa, such as the electrical interconnection of Greece – Egypt, was underlined during a meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Mitsotakis met with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Sofia, before the opening ceremony of the Greece-Bulgaria IGB interconnector pipeline. According to government sources, the two leaders conducted a comprehensive overview of bilateral relations and analyzed the prospects for further development of economic and trade cooperation, with an emphasis on the energy sector. During the meeting, they stressed the importance of the TAP pipeline passing through Greece for the diversification of Europe’s energy supply sources and the role of the “Southern Corridor” in the policy of the European Union to strengthen energy security and promote energy “green” transition, as well as the strategic cooperation of the two countries. Regional and international developments with an emphasis on the Eastern Mediterranean and Ukraine were also discussed. |