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Balkan developments

Slovenia to hold referendum on whether to build nuclear unit
Unit 1 of Krško NPP
Photo: gen-energija.si

Slovenia will hold a referendum in 2024 on whether to build a second nuclear power unit to replace the existing first unit at its only Krško nuclear power plant at the end of its extended lifetime in 2043. The decision was taken at a meeting hosted by Prime Minister Robert Golob and attended by the leaders of the five parliamentary parties, the country's president and parliament speaker, as well as the two MPs representing the Italian and Hungarian ethnic minorities, The Slovenia Times reported. "Krško-2, with an estimated cost of €10 billion, is a key project not only because of the size of the investment, but also because of its importance for Slovenia's future," Prime Minister Golob said. The meeting decided that renewables and nuclear energy are the right course for the country towards a carbon-free future. I am confident that all five parties will support the referendum question and actively promote nuclear energy in the upcoming campaign," said Golob.

Students' protest against Greek education reform leads to clashes


Students in Greece have taken to the streets to protest against a draft law prepared by the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis that would allow higher education institutions to operate in the country as branches of foreign universities. The demonstrators marched peacefully through the centre of the Greek capital, Athens, but some of them attacked police outside the parliament building, prompting law enforcement to respond with tear gas and stun grenades, public broadcaster BNT reported. Those unhappy with the draft education reform bill argue that the reform will devalue degrees from Greek state universities and further cut state funding for public education. A public debate on the controversial text is due to take place, with a vote in parliament expected later this month.

Poll: More than half of Romanians would prefer an independent candidate for president

Mircea Geoană
The year 2024 is an important election year for Romania, as it faces four types of elections - European, local, parliamentary and presidential. A survey by the INSCOP polling agency, cited by the BTA news agency, shows that 55% of Romanians would prefer an independent presidential candidate, while 36.1% would rather have a member of a political party. 50.4% of respondents said they would rather have a right-wing president, while 20.7% would prefer a left-wing head of state. 53.8% of Romanians would choose a male president, while 31% would prefer a woman. The current frontrunner for the presidency is NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană, although he has not yet announced whether he will run. Romanians' second choice is the current prime minister, Marcel Ciolacu, with 18.9%, followed by the leader of the nationalist SOS Romania party, Diana Şoşoacă, with 14%.

Talat Xhaferi makes history as North Macedonia's first ethnic Albanian interim prime minister


The parliament of North Macedonia has elected a caretaker government headed by the current speaker of parliament, ethnic Albanian Talat Xhaferi. The decision was taken with 65 votes in favour, 3 against and no abstentions, BTA reported. The largest opposition party, the conservative VMRO-DPMNE (Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity), did not take part in the vote.
Xhaferi thus made history as the first ethnic Albanian prime minister in the RSM. In addition to organising and holding free and fair elections, which is the main commitment of the interim government elected 100 days before the elections, Xhaferi promised that the cabinet would continue to work on roadmaps for reforms in public administration, the rule of law and the functioning of democratic institutions in the country. 
The VMRO-DPMNE party also entered the government with two ministers, one for the interior and one for social affairs.

The ancient city of Ani attracts visitors to Turkey's snowy Kars province


The ruins of the ancient city of Ani in Turkey's eastern province of Kars, which attract tourists from near and far, are enchantingly beautiful even in winter when the snow piles up, Turkey's Anadolu Agency reports. The ancient city, which was inhabited until the 16th century and covers some 85 hectares on the border with Armenia, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over the centuries, dozens of other civilisations have lived here alongside the Turks, Christians and Muslims have coexisted, and from 970 to 1320 alone, at least six languages were spoken here - Armenian, Greek, Turkish, Arabic, Georgian and Persian. Ani was often referred to as the 'city of 1,001 churches', although the number was much lower. Architectural landmarks include the Ebul Menucher Mosque - the first built in Anatolia, the Amenaprgic Church, the Cathedral of Ani, the Dikran Honentz Church, the Abugamir Pahlavuni Church and the Seljuk Caravanserai.

Photos: EPA/BGNES, AP/BTA, gen-energija.si, bg.wikipedia.org

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