Zoran Zaev given mandate to form government of North Macedonia

The leader of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia Zoran Zaev received, from President Stevo Pendarovski, a mandate to form the government of North Macedonia. The governance of the country will continue along the correct road – towards the EU, development of the “one society for all” concept, free of nationalism and ethnic prejudice, Zoran Zaev said. The aim is prosperity and long-term stability. The new cabinet’s priorities will be the economy, the fight against crime and corruption, BNT reports.

Zoran Zaev was prime minister of Macedonia from May, 2017 until January, 2020 when a caretaker cabinet was formed.  His party won the early parliamentary elections in July and is now the biggest political force in parliament. As prime minister, Zoran Zaev took Macedonia out of international isolation and restored democracy after 10 years of authoritarian rule by Nikola Gruevski.  He signed the good neighbour agreement with Bulgaria in 2017 and the Prespa agreement on the country’s name with Greece in 2018, paving the way for Macedonia towards NATO and the EU.

France calls for more intense dialogue and for settling Greece-Turkey controversy

President Emmanuel Macron has called for an end to oil and gas exploration by Turkey in the waters which are subject to territorial controversy which is breeding tensions with Greece, and for a more intense dialogue between the two countries for settling the problem, the Anatolian news agency reports, as quoted by BGNES news agency. France stated that in the coming days it would increase its military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean in cooperation with its EU partners. This decision was made after President Emmanuel Macron and Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed the situation in the region.

Serbia chooses links with China to develop its economy and telecoms

While Serbia aspires to join the European Union, it has made a big swing towards China, the top economic and geo-political competitor of the EU and United States, to help develop its infrastructure, energy and tech sectors and to buy weaponry, Reuters reports. China has provided billions of euros in soft loans for infrastructure and energy development in Serbia. It is also pursuing its plan for a “digital silk road” - telecommunications connectivity - in which Serbia would be a key cog in Europe, Reuters adds.

Romania to reopen schools in September

Schools in Romania are set to reopen on 14 September under strict anti-epidemic rules while the country continues to wrestle with the surge in coronavirus cases, said Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, as quoted by BGNES news agency. Students, teachers and other school staff will have to wear masks, disinfectants will be provided, BGNES reports.

Romania closed down its schools in March to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and they remained closed until the end of the school year. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Romania will soon reach 67,000, almost 2,900 people with coronavirus have so far died, and there are over 32,000 active cases, a Radio Bulgaria enquiry shows.

Greece, Turkey and Croatia nominated for top tourist destination

Three Balkan countries – Greece, Turkey and Croatia are among the countries nominated for the prestigious award for best holiday destination in the world for 2020 of The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun. Awarded for the 8th time, the nominees for the prize also include France, USA, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Italy, Spain, Portugal and Thailand.  The readers of the three British newspapers will be able to single out the winner by vote until the end of October. The award ceremony will be in November, bgtourism.bg reports.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova