First Azeri gas shipment for Ukraine across Bulgaria and Romania

Ukraine’s state-owned energy company Naftogaz signed its first agreement with the Azeri state-owned oil and gas corporation SOCAR for the import of natural gas along the Transbalkan route. For the first time, a test shipment of gas is being delivered through the Transbalkan route along the Bulgaria–Romania–Ukraine corridor, reads an official Naftogaz press release posted to the website of the company. Even though the volume of the shipment is not specified, the Ukrainian side lays emphasis on the fact that though small, it is of strategic importance. “This is a small volume but strategically important step that paves the way for long-term cooperation. It is also another example of diversifying supply sources and strengthening Ukraine’s energy security,” commented Sergii Koretskyi, Chief Executive Officer of Naftogaz.

Greek government invests hundreds of millions to expand Port of Thessaloniki

The Greek government has approved an investment in the Port of Thessaloniki running to hundreds of millions of euro. The project is the biggest investment in Northern Greece. The aim is to increase the port’s capacities of processing freight and turning it into a major marine gateway to Southeastern Europe. Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis commented that the renovation will create 4,000 new jobs. Specialists from Greece as well as from other Balkan countries will be working on the project.

67% of the port is owned by Russian businessman Ivan Savvidis, dubbed “the Russian tsar of Thessaloniki”. Savvidis, who also has Greek citizenship, is former MP from the Russian Duma, and his children have graduated universities in Bulgaria, BNR’s correspondent in Greece Katya Peeva reports.  

Greta Thunberg dances “protest” horo in North Macedonia  

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg joined a horo dance in protest against the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in Kozhuh mountain close to the border with Greece. She supported the local environmentalists in the locality Assan Cheshma who have been blocking the road to Kozhuh ski centre, Vecher newspaper writes. The authorities allowed the construction of a hydroelectric power station on Dosnica river. Environmentalists have been organizing protests against the investment and the functioning of the mines in the region. They say that the projects jeopardize the future of the bioreserve in Kozhuh mountain which is part of Natura 2000. Greta Thunberg refused to talk to the media but told the protesters she supported them because “any battle against the destruction of nature, even if it is local is global”. As the Bulgarian news agency BTA reports, on 31 July, Thunberg took part in blocking Novi Beograd residential area of Belgrade. According to masina.rs, she stated that she was protesting against corruption and natural resource exploitation.

8 August is the deadline after which it will become clear whether there will be snap elections for parliament in Kosovo

In its latest, 54^th attempt, the parliament of Kosovo once again failed to elect a speaker, koha.net reports. The 30-day deadline which the Constitutional Court gave parliament to elect a speaker expired on 27 July. Now, a temporary ban is in place prohibiting the members of parliament from making any decisions whatsoever until 8 August. During this time the court will have to decide the fate of parliament.

After the 9 February election, PM Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination Movement does not have an absolute majority in the latest parliament in Pristina, but is not giving up its nomination of Minister of Justice, now resigned, Albulena Haxhiu, for speaker of parliament. The blocking of the parliament of Kosovo means a regular government cannot be formed, and the Kurti cabinet temporarily remains in power.

Istanbul Convention partially introduced in Bosnia, femicide deemed separate crime  

The Muslim-Croatian part of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted amendments to the Criminal Code, thus applying the requirements of the Istanbul Convention, Bosnian national TV BHRT reports. The key novelty in the amendments is the introduction of femicide (the intentional killing of girls and women because of their gender) as a separate crime and tougher sanctions for violence against women. The law was adopted after the initial phrase “living with another person” had the words “of the opposite sex” added to it. The decision elicited a strong reaction from the international missions in Sarajevo, BHRT reports. The international community warns that an opportunity has been missed of providing protection to all victims, whatever their gender or sexual orientation.

Compiled by Ivo Ivanov
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photos:  rbc.ua, ekathimerini.com, BGNES, koha.net, bhrt.ba