Greece expects better relations with USA after election of Joe Biden

Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed the hope that after Joe Biden’s election victory Greek-American relations will grow stronger than ever on all levels.

“I am confident that President Biden will help restore the balance of collective security in our sensitive area. Greece therefore has every reason to welcome, together with all its partners in the region, the return of the United States to its central role as the leading NATO player,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in Athens at a joint press conference with the visiting President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, BTA reports.

During their meeting the two discussed the EastMed pipeline which is to connect the energy resources in the waters between Cyprus and Israel, with Greece and Italy.

“Every country in the Eastern Mediterranean – in principle – should be welcome and involved in this innovative energy partnership. Provided of course that it abstains from provocations and it respects international legality,” PM Mitsotakis said.

Turkish Lira appreciates after resignations

The unexpected resignations at the end of last week – first of the Turkish central bank governor, and then of the minister of finance – were followed by a surprising 6% appreciation of the Turkish Lira on Monday. According to Mariyan Karagyozov from Radio Bulgaria’s Turkish language service, by presidential decree on Saturday, the central bank governor Murat Uysal was replaced by experienced bureaucrat Naci Agbal. Finance Minister and son-in-law of President Recep Erdogan Berat Albayrak is being replaced by Lutfi Elvan, President of the Parliamentary Committee on Planning and Budget. The reason cited for the removal of the two from office is the rapid depreciation of the Turkish Lira against the major currencies – by around 30% since the beginning of the year.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the biggest opposition party, the Republican People’s Party, described the shocks within the administration as a “state crisis”.

North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania sign memorandum of understanding in the fight against coronavirus

The Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev, the President and the Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and Ana Brnabić, and the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama signed a memorandum of cooperation for regulating their relations in the conditions of the Covid-19 crisis. At a coordination meeting the health ministers of the three countries agreed to share experience and cooperate with one another in the fight against coronavirus.  The memorandum states that it is important to continue the economic exchange, trade and cooperation among the three countries, BGNES reports. Agreement was also reached that the citizens of North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania shall cross borders between them without PCR tests.

Slovenia tightens quarantine measures

The authorities in Slovenia imposed stricter quarantine measures for containing the spread of coronavirus for the space of two weeks. Minister of Health Tomaž Gantar stated that if the situation does not improves within a short period after the imposition of stricter measures the economic damage is expected to be much more severe. As of today public transport is shutting down, as are all services enterprises with the exception of auto repair shops. Public administration authorities will only perform essential services. All non-essential stores are closing. The school and kindergarten vacation is being extended by two weeks.

A little under 51,000 coronavirus cases have been reported in Slovenia so far, over 20,000 of them over the period from 29 October to 11 November.

Photos: BTA and Tanyug