https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/rss Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:58:17 +0300 en hourly 1 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201732-nato-s-joint-force-command-naples-commander-visits-north-macedonia https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201732-nato-s-joint-force-command-naples-commander-visits-north-macedonia Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:30:28 +0300 A delegation from NATO’s Joint Force Command Naples, led by Commander Admiral George Wikoff, is on a two-day visit to North Macedonia and, together with Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia Major General Sashko Lafchiski, met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski, the government press service in Skopje said. The meeting focused on the current security situation in the region, opportunities for conducting training activities in North Macedonia, as well as promoting interoperability and further strengthening cooperation within NATO. Wikoff underscored North Macedonia’s commitment “as an active participant in maintaining stability and security in the region”, highlighting the professionalism and contribution of the North Macedonian Army to NATO-led activities, the statement further said. Balkans Petya Dikova BTA correspondent Marinela Velichkova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201557-48-of-serbian-students-below-reading-literacy-level-pisa-2025-results-show https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201557-48-of-serbian-students-below-reading-literacy-level-pisa-2025-results-show Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:09:28 +0300 According to the latest results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), 43% of Serbian students perform below the level of functional literacy in science, 53% in mathematics, and 48% in reading literacy, the Serbian newspaper Danas reports. PISA is the largest international comparative study of 15-year-old students’ performance. It assesses the extent to which students can apply what they have learned to solve real-life problems. More than 760,000 students from 91 countries took part in the latest assessment cycle, which evaluates their knowledge and skills in science, mathematics, and reading. The test also provides insight into 15-year-olds’ attitudes in areas such as curiosity, perseverance, and independence in the learning process. Serbian students performed worse in the 2025 PISA assessments in mathematics, reading, and science compared with the previous testing cycle in 2022, and they remain below the average level in the rankings, according to local media reports. Balkans Yoana Vodenicharova BTA correspondent Teodora Encheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201437-ankara-mayor-denies-speculation-he-may-join-president-erdogan-s-party https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201437-ankara-mayor-denies-speculation-he-may-join-president-erdogan-s-party Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:07:54 +0300 Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, who was elected with the support of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), issued a statement on his official Facebook profile saying that his meeting on Wednesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was related to his duties as mayor of Ankara. He rejected speculation that the meeting could be linked to a possible move to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), headed by Erdogan. Yavas made clear in his statement that he had requested the meeting with the President in connection with projects requiring approval at government level. The two had discussed major investments expected in Ankara, underground railway projects, loans and the approval timeline, the large exhibition spaces planned to be built, as well as other problems facing Ankara that await solutions, the Mayor specified. Yavas attended rallies in support of Ozgur Ozel, who was removed as chairman of the CHP in May 2026 after a court annulled the party's 38th congress and reinstated former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu. However, the Mayor did not follow Ozel when he launched a new political project, the New Party, in July. In this context, and also to reject speculation that he might move from the opposition to the ruling party, Yavas said that both Kilicdaroglu and Ozel had known that he would meet Erdogan. The Ankara Mayor stressed that it was impossible for him to adopt an approach that would disappoint the people who had stood by him for years. Yavas also commented on the divisions within the CHP, the movement of supporters towards the newly established New Party, and the balance of forces on the Municipal Council, saying that he could still see anger and resentment that had not subsided. The Ankara Mayor said that it was not right to interpret the steps he would take as support for anyone, as his focus was to preserve the basis for consensus and the possibility for people to sit around the same table again. He urged citizens not to believe anything that does not come directly from him. Following the meeting between Yavas and Erdogan, the President's Directorate of Communications issued a statement confirming the meeting and released a photograph of the Turkish President and Ankara Mayor, but provided no details about the topics discussed. Yavas, meanwhile, posted on his official X account that they had discussed infrastructure projects, including underground railway investments, as well as ongoing and planned projects. Later, in an interview with Koza TV, New Party Leader Ozel confirmed that he had known about the meeting. Balkans Kristina Ivanova BTA correspondent Ayshe Sali https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201345-romania-s-presidential-administration-denies-claims-that-country-is-sending-mili https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201345-romania-s-presidential-administration-denies-claims-that-country-is-sending-mili Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:10:00 +0300 Romania’s presidential administration has denied recent online claims that the country is preparing to send military personnel to Ukraine to take part in the war. The institution’s official position describes the claims as a “false narrative.” The president’s administration said that these claims constitute manipulation that deliberately distorts an administrative decision in order to fuel the unfounded claim that Romania is being drawn into the conflict. It also added that Romania is not sending combat units to Ukraine, nor is it sending military personnel to the front line. On September 8, Romanian President Nicusor Dan asked Parliament to approve the participation of up to 20 Romanian soldiers in the operational command of the multinational force for Ukraine. The presidential administration explained that this is a command structure that operates on a rotational basis and carries out its activities in France and the United Kingdom, thousands of kilometres away from the front line. The participation of Romanian military personnel in this structure does not involve sending them to the conflict zone to take part in combat operations. The institution's statement also noted that Romania participates in international mechanisms aimed at strengthening regional security, given that Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine affects the countries of the Black Sea region. The Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine is one such mechanism. Romania’s participation in this structure should be clearly distinguished from any possible direct involvement in combat operations on Ukrainian territory. Balkans BTA intern Ivayla Kirilova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201206-forced-landing-at-thessaloniki-airport-after-britons-aggressive-behaviour https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201206-forced-landing-at-thessaloniki-airport-after-britons-aggressive-behaviour Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:08:29 +0300 The aggressive behaviour of two British passengers on a flight from Manchester to the Greek island of Rhodes forced the pilot to make an emergency landing at Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki on Wednesday night, state broadcaster ERT reported on Thursday. The two men, aged 39 and 42, behaved aggressively towards crew members and other passengers and refused to comply with the captain’s orders, the report stated. According to the public broadcaster, the 39-year-old man was filming, as the cabin crew discovered that the 42-year-old had earlier been smoking in the plane’s lavatory, which is strictly prohibited. Thus, the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at the airport in Thessaloniki. The two British nationals were detained by police officers at the airport and will be brought before the competent judicial authorities, ERT reported. The aircraft subsequently resumed its flight to Rhodes. Balkans Risida Dimitrova BTA correspondent Ivan Lazarov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201121-eu-commissioner-for-equality-preparedness-and-crisis-management-hadja-lahbib-vi https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201121-eu-commissioner-for-equality-preparedness-and-crisis-management-hadja-lahbib-vi Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:45:11 +0300 EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib will visit Romania on Thursday. In the morning she will meet with Romanian President Nicusor Dan, the administration of the head of State announced in a press release, sent to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).  Later on Thursday, Lahbib will confer with caretaker Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, members of the Parliamentary Committees on EU Affairs, and Secretary of State Raed Arafat. Discussions will focus on Romania's strong contribution to European preparedness and civil protection, alongside challenges on equality and non-discrimination. Romania has played an active role in this year's wildfire response, with firefighting teams deployed to France, Greece and Serbia. Its new rescEU helicopter, the first delivered for the permanent European fleet, was deployed to Serbia in August, the European Commission representation in Romania said in a press release. A day later, on Friday in Chisinau, Lahbib will meet Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov, and Interior Minister Daniella Misail-Nichitin. The purpose of Lahbib’s visits is to discuss and promote stronger European solidarity and preparedness, to reiterate the EU's commitment to advancing equality and fundamental rights, as essential building blocks of more resilient, democratic and inclusive societies across Europe, the EC said. Balkans Risida Dimitrova BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200995-tourist-boat-with-nine-bulgarians-aboard-collides-with-fishing-vessel-near-zakyn https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200995-tourist-boat-with-nine-bulgarians-aboard-collides-with-fishing-vessel-near-zakyn Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:52:59 +0300 A tourist boat carrying nine Bulgarian citizens collided with a fishing boat on Wednesday morning near the port of the Greek island of Zakynthos, the Greek Coast Guard reported. There was one Greek citizen on board the fishing boat, while the tourist boat was sailing under the Greek flag. The collision caused material damage to the bow sections of both vessels. They were able to reach the port of Zakynthos safely unaided. No people were injured in the incident, and no marine pollution was detected, according to the Greek authorities. Balkans BTA correspondent Ivan Lazarov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200816-poll-finds-strong-support-among-romanians-for-mandatory-uniforms-drug-testing- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200816-poll-finds-strong-support-among-romanians-for-mandatory-uniforms-drug-testing- Wed, 09 Sep 2026 16:44:28 +0300 A majority of Romanians support the introduction of mandatory school uniforms, according to a new INSCOP survey, conducted between September 1 and 7 and published online. According to 77% of respondents, such a measure would reduce discrimination among students, while 20.6% hold the opposite view and 2.4% do not know or did not answer. The strongest supporters of the idea are voters of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, women, people aged 60 and over, those with primary education, and public-sector employees. There is also strong support for introducing drug testing in schools and audio-visual monitoring of classrooms. Regarding drug testing, 83.4% of respondents approve of the idea, 15.2% oppose it, and 1.4% do not know or did not answer. The groups most supportive of the idea are voters of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, people over the age of 45, those with secondary education, TikTok users, and public-sector employees. As for audio and video surveillance, 74.5% of respondents support the measure, 22.8% reject the idea, and 2.7% did not answer. The strongest supporters are again voters of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, women, people aged 60 and over, those with primary or secondary education, residents of rural areas, and TikTok users. The data show that, in the eyes of the public, children’s safety takes precedence over concerns related to personal autonomy or privacy, INSCOP Director Remus Ștefureac said. This is a sign of significant public anxiety about the school environment and an expectation that institutions should intervene more decisively to prevent risks. School uniforms appear to be perceived less as a disciplinary tool and more as a mechanism for reducing visible social differences among children. The consistent support for them reflects a high degree of public sensitivity to inequalities in the school environment, the polling agency's director added. Balkans BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva Yoana Vodenicharova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200740-greek-state-minister-skertsos-rejects-comparison-between-salaries-in-greece-and- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200740-greek-state-minister-skertsos-rejects-comparison-between-salaries-in-greece-and- Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:38:00 +0300 Greek Minister of State Responsible for the Coordination of Government Policies Akis Skertsos rejected comparisons between Greece and Bulgaria in terms of salaries, arguing that they are based on a misinterpretation of Eurostat statistics. In a Facebook post, republished by Greek media, Skertsos responded to criticism from the Greek opposition based on data for gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, expressed in purchasing power parity. According to the 2025 figures, the indicator stood at 68% of the European Union average in both Greece and Bulgaria. The comparison between the two countries entered the Greek political debate after the data were published in March. At the time, the opposition PASOK party issued a statement under the headline "Greece – Bulgaria: A Tie", using the figures to criticize the government’s economic policies and the standard of living in the country. Skertsos pointed out that GDP per capita does not measure wage levels and should not be used as a direct comparison of the purchasing power of workers. He said that, when assessing the material wellbeing of households, Eurostat uses the indicator "actual individual consumption". In 2025, Greece reached 80% of the EU average on this measure, the Minister said. Skertsos also noted that in July 2026, the purchasing power of the minimum wage was around 24% higher in Greece than in Bulgaria. In nominal terms, the minimum wage stood at approximately EUR 1,073 per month in Greece, when converted to a 12-month basis, compared with around EUR 620 in Bulgaria, he added. According to Skertsos, the claim that "Greece is equal to Bulgaria" simply because the two countries have the same level of GDP per capita in purchasing power standards amounts to a "statistical oversimplification". "GDP per capita is not the salary. The salary is not consumption. And no single indicator can, on its own, describe the standard of living of a society," Skertsos said. Balkans Risida Dimitrova BTA correspondent Ivan Lazarov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200661-turkish-energy-minister-defines-black-sea-gas-extraction-as-most-important-gas-p https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200661-turkish-energy-minister-defines-black-sea-gas-extraction-as-most-important-gas-p Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:32:00 +0300 Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar identified the extraction of gas from the Black Sea as one of the most important gas projects for Turkiye. In an interview on Wednesday for Turkish television CNBC-e, he said that oil drilling should begin in the Western Black Sea as soon as possible. Bayraktar explained that Turkiye currently operates six deep-sea drilling vessels, one of which is working off Somalia while another is engaged in a new Black Sea development programme covering fresh terrain. He noted that drilling is underway in the western, central and eastern parts of the Black Sea in areas already explored, with efforts focused both on boosting gas reserves and, he hoped, on soon launching oil-targeted drilling. He acknowledged this oil drilling would be technically demanding and take more time, but said work in the Western Black Sea aimed at oil extraction would begin soon. The Turkish Energy Minister said he expects the gas production capacity in the Black Sea to double this year, bringing Turkish gas closer to the quantities supplied by Russia. Bayraktar said Turkiye is ramping up natural gas output from its existing reserves, moving from a supply level sufficient for 4 million households to one covering 8 million, with a target of quadrupling that figure by 2028. He added that Turkiye is expected to extract a total of 16-17 billion cubic metres per year, which is almost as much gas as the country receives from Russia, with 80% of this amount coming from the Black Sea. He also commented on the progress of energy connectivity projects with neighbouring countries. Bayraktar noted that Turkiye established a gas link to Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan, running through its territory, and that August marked one year since gas began flowing to Syria, with those exports continuing alongside shipments to Europe. He explained that the country made efforts to diversify its sources and to develop alternatives for its export. Among the important energy projects for Turkiye is the possibility to bring Qatari gas to the country and Europe in general. Bayraktar also reported that Turkiye's capacity related to liquefied gas installations has been increased fivefold, and the goal is for their daily capacity to reach 200 million cubic metres. Balkans BTA correspondent Ayshe Sali Atanas Malakchiev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200561-bulgarian-turkish-representatives-discuss-business-opportunities-in-gotse-delch https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200561-bulgarian-turkish-representatives-discuss-business-opportunities-in-gotse-delch Wed, 09 Sep 2026 13:09:36 +0300 A second Bulgarian-Turkish business meeting took place in Gotse Delchev with the participation of business and local government representatives from both regions on Wednesday. The forum was organized by the Gotse Delchev Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Sungurlu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Turkiye, and with the assistance of the Gotse Delchev Municipality as part of the Development of Trade Networks for a Common Future project under the Turkiye-EU Business Dialogue programme. The meeting was attended by representatives of the municipalities of Gotse Delchev, Satovcha, Garmen and Hadzhidimovo, as well as a Turkish delegation including business representatives and Bogazkale Mayor Adem Ozel. Among the opportunities discussed were the development of trade relations, investments, production cooperation and joint initiatives between companies from both regions. During the discussions, the economic profiles of both regions were presented. Sungurlu has a developed industrial sector, while in the Gotse Delchev region, light industry, textile production and tourism occupy a significant place. Business representatives pointed out opportunities for contacts in the production of plastic products and textiles, as well as in the tourism sector. The field of education was also discussed as an opportunity for future cooperation. The Turkish delegation presented the development of the industrial zone in Sungurlu and the opportunities for expanding production capacities. The Bulgarian side presented the opportunities for developing tourism in the Gotse Delchev region, including balneology and spa tourism in the village of Ognyanovo and the opportunities for combining it with mountain and winter tourism. The Mayor of Bogazkale also presented the cultural and historical opportunities of the region, related to the ancient city of Hattusha, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Balkans Atanas Malakchiev BTA correspondent Elena Ruskova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200337-serbian-president-vucic-calls-snap-election-for-october-25 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200337-serbian-president-vucic-calls-snap-election-for-october-25 Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:43:09 +0300 Serbia will hold snap parliamentary elections on October 25, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) on Tuesday. He said he would sign decrees dissolving the National Assembly and calling the elections at noon local time on Wednesday. Vucic reiterated that he would sign the decrees at exactly noon local time on Wednesday, 1 pm Bulgarian time. Vucic wished everyone success in the democratic contest and said he believed the elections would provide a way out of “this crisis everyone keeps talking about”. “I will gladly accept any democratic result. I think that is important for the country. I will congratulate my opponents if they win and will not be angry. If they do not congratulate me, I am used to it. I wish everyone success and will say more about this at noon on Wednesday,” Vucic said on Tuesday evening. RTS said on September 2 that the elections would be held on October 25, citing its sources. The student movement in Serbia, which emerged spontaneously after an incident at the railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad that killed 16 people on November 1, 2024, first called for new elections in May 2025. Serbian students led mass anti-government protests and blamed the government for the Novi Sad tragedy. They will take part in the vote as observers and support candidates who enjoy broad public trust and have not previously been involved in Serbian politics. Balkans BTA correspondent Teodora Encheva Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200207-over-1-mln-elderly-people-in-turkiye-have-learned-to-read-write-in-past-eight-y https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200207-over-1-mln-elderly-people-in-turkiye-have-learned-to-read-write-in-past-eight-y Tue, 08 Sep 2026 18:04:00 +0300 More than one million elderly people in Turkiye have learned to read and write since 2018 through courses organized as part of an initiative launched by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife, Emine Erdogan. Of them, 471,734 are women, Anadolu Agency reported. The figures were released by Turkiye’s Ministry of National Education on the occasion of International Literacy Day, observed on September 8 under a UNESCO initiative. In addition to teaching illiterate individuals to read and write, the courses offer a second level designed to provide knowledge equivalent to primary education. Participants learn to speak Turkish well, acquire basic mathematics skills, and gain knowledge about their rights and responsibilities as citizens. More than 100,000 people have enrolled in the courses in 2026 alone. Nearly two million people have registered since 2018, but 1,017,631 have completed the programme and received certificates. A total of 744,303 participants completed only the first level, while another 273,328 went on to the second level. According to the data, the number of illiterate people aged over 15 in Turkiye stood at 2,330,640 in 2017, the year before the courses began. In 2018, that figure fell to 2,197,257. As part of the programme, 65 video lessons were produced, along with three curricula and six educational materials, all of which were distributed to participants free of charge. Balkans BTA correspondent Ayshe Sali Yoana Vodenicharova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200132-more-than-half-of-romanians-expect-negative-consequences-if-bolojan-s-caretaker- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200132-more-than-half-of-romanians-expect-negative-consequences-if-bolojan-s-caretaker- Tue, 08 Sep 2026 17:36:20 +0300 More than half of Romanians, or 52%, believe that if the caretaker government led by outgoing Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan remains in office over the coming months, it would have negative consequences for the country, according to INSCOP's latest poll, conducted from September 1 to 7 and published online. Some 14% hold the opposite view, while 5.9% are undecided or declined to answer. Those more likely than average to believe that extending the caretaker government’s mandate would have negative consequences include people over the age of 60, respondents with higher education and residents of Bucharest. For 63.9% of respondents, it is more important for the political parties to quickly reach an agreement on forming a fully empowered government, even if this requires compromises. By contrast, 26.8% believe it is more important for the parties to avoid major compromises, even if forming a regular government takes longer. A further 9.3% said they did not know or declined to answer. An excessive extension of the government’s caretaker status is perceived more as a source of vulnerability than simply as a transitional period, INSCOP Director Remus Stefureac said. In the eyes of the public, the time lost to political uncertainty is beginning to take its toll, significantly affecting electoral support for the parties involved in the negotiations. These parties are either stagnating or losing the ground they gained at the beginning of the crisis. Moreover, the need for clarity in governance cuts across electoral and socio-demographic lines. Despite differences between groups, a common denominator is emerging among voters of the main parties: a preference for a swift resolution to the political deadlock. This suggests that the issue concerns the functioning of the state rather than party affiliation, Stefureac added. Romania has been without a regular government for 126 days. Bolojan’s Cabinet was brought down on May 5 in a vote of no confidence initiated by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians. Balkans BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva Yoana Vodenicharova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200047-romania-to-boost-cross-border-power-capacity-with-bulgaria-hungary https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1200047-romania-to-boost-cross-border-power-capacity-with-bulgaria-hungary Tue, 08 Sep 2026 15:47:00 +0300 Romania's national energy regulatory authority (ANRE) announced that it has approved a strategic plan for the development of the electricity transmission network through 2035. The document sets out the investment priorities of state-owned national transmission operator Transelectrica over the next decade, and these include increasing cross-border capacity with Bulgaria and Hungary. The plan includes 117 investment projects, 25 of which are entirely new facilities. They cover the modernization of existing power lines and substations, completion of the national energy ring, as well as the comprehensive digitalization of the electricity grid. "We have approved a plan that is not simply a list of investments, but a commitment to prepare Romania's electricity transmission network for the energy economy of the next decade. The goals are more renewable energy generation, more storage capacity and fewer bottlenecks in the system," said George Niculescu, chairman of Romania's national energy regulatory authority. He stressed that recent events clearly demonstrate the need for sufficient cross-border capacity, particularly at times when the national system urgently needs to import electricity. According to Niculescu, the goal is no longer simply to meet European quotas, but to ensure the maximum possible exchange capacity. In 2024, the level of interconnection of Romania's electricity system reached 18.5%, exceeding the European target of 15%. However, monitoring reports for the current year indicate that the targets for increasing the minimum available capacity for electricity trading to 70% of the capacity of critical grid elements have still not been met on the borders with Bulgaria and Hungary. Because of this delay, the national regulator has required Transelectrica to draw up a programme to accelerate the projects within 30 days. Its implementation will be strictly monitored on a quarterly basis. The programme will incorporate modern technologies, including dynamic line rating and the use of high-temperature conductors to maximize capacity. Romania's new ten-year plan translates a number of commitments under the European Ten-Year Network Development Plan and the National Energy Strategy into concrete projects. Eight of the planned facilities are projects of common European interest. Key initiatives include the Romania-Hungary interconnection project, as well as the CARMEN smart electricity grid project, which will introduce technologies for automation and management of energy flows. The new framework is expected to prepare the country's infrastructure for significant expansion of renewable energy sources and even deeper integration with the European electricity market. Balkans BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1199930-two-consecutive-earthquakes-registered-in-western-greece https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1199930-two-consecutive-earthquakes-registered-in-western-greece Tue, 08 Sep 2026 14:10:08 +0300 Two consecutive earthquakes with magnitudes of 4.5 and 4.4 on the Richter scale were registered on Tuesday morning in the Aitoliko region, Western Greece, said Greek media, citing the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. The tremors struck one minute apart, the first at 10:45 AM and the second at 10:46 AM local time. The epicenter of the earthquake was in the area between Aitoliko and Agrinio but the tremors were also felt in other parts of the Aetolia-Acarnania region. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre the focal depth of the first earthquake was 11 kilometers, while the second was at five kilometers. The Greek Institute of Geodynamics also measured the second earthquake at a magnitude of 4.4, although different seismological centres report slight variations in the depth data. Seismic activity was also recorded in the same area on Monday, with a 3.7-magnitude earthquake. Prof. Efthymios Lekkas, President of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, said for the Greek public broadcaster ERT that there was currently no cause for concern. He also added that further tremors were possible. Balkans BTA correspondent Ivan Lazarov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1199721-ratko-mladic-s-funeral-sparks-sharp-reactions-across-balkans https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1199721-ratko-mladic-s-funeral-sparks-sharp-reactions-across-balkans Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:52:00 +0300 The funeral of former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic in Belgrade with military and state honours has sparked heated reactions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Kosovo and deepened disputes over the legacy of the wars in the former Yugoslavia, local media reported. Mladic, who died on August 27 in a prison in The Hague while serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, was buried at the Topcider cemetery in Belgrade on Monday. The ceremony was attended by thousands of his supporters, the coffin was sent with military honours, and the funeral was held by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije. Bosnia and Herzegovina's Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic announced that most of the country's diplomatic staff in Belgrade would be withdrawn, the Bosnian newspaper Oslobodjenje wrote. The chair of Bosnia's three-member presidency and a representative of Bosnian Muslims, Denis Becirovic, condemned the ceremony as an institutional glorification of a convicted war criminal and an insult to the victims of the war and genocide in Srebrenica, the portal Klix reported. In the federal entity of Republika Srpska, which is populated mainly by ethnic Serbs, the funeral was met with a mixed reaction. President Sinisa Karan and former president Milorad Dodik attended the ceremonies, and billboards with Mladic's image and messages in his honour were put up in some towns, local television RTRS noted. In Croatia, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic criticized the way Serbia sent Mladic away, as well as the reaction of the European Union, HINA reported. According to him, Brussels should have reacted more categorically, and such a ceremony would have negative consequences for Serbia's European path. In Montenegro, President Jakov Milatovic stressed that Mladic's conviction was a fact established by an international court, not a matter of political opinion. The President of the Montenegrin Parliament, Andrija Mandic, leader of the pro-Serb New Serbian Democracy party, sent his condolences to Mladic's family. Both reactions were widely reported by the Montenegrin public broadcaster RTCG. In Serbia, President Aleksandar Vucic did not attend the funeral, citing an official visit from Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Belgrade, the Serbian newspaper Blic reported. Vucic defended the family's right to organize the ceremony in their own way. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic dismissed criticism from the region and accused Serbia's opponents of double standards, while opposition politician Nenad Canak described the ceremony in front of the Serbian portal Ozonpress as a sign of deepening nationalism and said that Serbia is "sinking deeper and deeper into fascism." In a post on the social media X, Kosovo's acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Glauk Konjufca described the funeral as "an act of profound moral and political disgrace" on the part of Serbia. "This is the choice that Belgrade made today. That choice also speaks of a deeper political continuity," he wrote. According to him, decades later, the Serbian state continues to legitimize figures and narratives related to the policies of ethnic cleansing, territorial expansion and mass atrocities that devastated the region in the 1990s. Konjufca also pointed out that Serbia is today led by Aleksandar Vucic, who was the Minister of Information during the regime of Slobodan Milosevic. Turkiye has described the funeral of Mladic as an attempt to deny the crimes against humanity he committed. "The exploitation of the funeral ceremony of Ratko Mladic, conclusively convicted by international tribunals of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, in a manner that amounts to denial of the grave crimes committed and the human suffering endured, is unacceptable," wrote Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli on his official social media account. "What the Balkans require is the construction of a peaceful, prosperous and shared future, founded upon the necessary lessons drawn from the past. On this occasion, we once again solemly commemorate all innocent people who lost their lives during the Bosnian War, in particular the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, and we share in the grief of their families," he added. Balkans BTA correspondent Ayshe Sali Atanas Malakchiev Tsvetozar Tsakov Kristian Stratev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1199734-eight-patients-hospitalized-in-skopje-with-neuroinvasive-west-nile-virus https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1199734-eight-patients-hospitalized-in-skopje-with-neuroinvasive-west-nile-virus Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:27:50 +0300 Eight patients with confirmed neuroinvasive West Nile virus are hospitalized at the Infectious Diseases Clinic in Skopje. At the same time, the eighth death from the virus was reported over the weekend, the clinic director told media in the Republic of North Macedonia. The deceased was a 70-year-old man from the village of Dracevo who was admitted on August 25 in very serious condition. Of the eight hospitalized patients, two are in more serious condition and are in intensive care, intubated and on mechanical ventilation. No new patients have been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Clinic in recent days. None of the patients had travelled outside the country. One patient is from the municipality of Sveti Nikole, while the others are from Skopje. All are over 60 years of age. Amid a significant increase in West Nile fever cases in North Macedonia, with 58 infections and eight deaths reported as of September 2026, health and veterinary authorities have introduced intensified emergency measures locally. An epidemic has been declared in several key municipalities and settlements. Aerial and ground-based mosquito spraying is underway. After the virus was detected in several dead crows in Skopje and Resen, the Health Ministry issued updated medical guidelines urging increased caution among people over 60 and patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Balkans BTA correspondent Marinela Velichkova Teodora Lyubenova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1199637-north-macedonia-marks-35th-anniversary-of-the-declaration-of-its-independence https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1199637-north-macedonia-marks-35th-anniversary-of-the-declaration-of-its-independence Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:46:26 +0300 North Macedonia is marking on Tuesday the 35th anniversary of the declaration of its independence. The anniversary celebrations will be continuing throughout the month with various entertainment events, including a concert by Jose Carreras and the multimedia performance A Brightly Shining Day, featuring 120 artists. On Monday, North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova received students from primary and secondary schools who participated in international science olympiads and competitions during the 2025/2026 academic year, as well as their mentors and hosts, the country’s Presidenct's administration office said. They took part in a panel discussion entitled “September 8 Through the Eyes of Its Direct Participants and Witnesses”, at which former politicians, MPs, journalists and public figures discussed the political, institutional and social processes that led to the creation of an independent state. On Tuesday, Siljanovska, along with delegations from Parliament, the Government, the General Staff of the Army of North Macedonia and religious communities, as well as representatives of institutions and political parties, will lay flowers at the grave of the country’s first president, Kiro Gligorov, as well as at the graves of President Boris Trajkovski and the country’s first prime minister, Nikola Kljusev. Siljanovska will also confer the September 8 Order on poet and playwright Jordan Plevnes, writer, essayist, critic and translator Rade Siljan, and posthumously on Albanian linguist, university professor, textbook author and prominent figure in Albanian education and culture in North Macedonia Dzevat Gega, actor Meto Jovanovski, and artist and sculptor Gligor Cemerski. In the afternoon, an anniversary event will be held under the motto “A Brightly Shining Day!”, at which Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski will speak. In the evening, French DJ David Guetta will perform at the Tose Proeski Stadium in Skopje, the Government of North Macedonia said. On September 8, 1991, a referendum was held in the country, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, with the question: “Are you in favour of a sovereign and independent state of Macedonia with the right to enter into a future union of sovereign states of Yugoslavia?” With voter turnout at 75.7%, more than 96% of those who voted in the referendum answered in the affirmative. The referendum was the first step towards the declaration of the country's independence. On January 25, 1991, the first multi-party parliament in Skopje adopted a Declaration of Independence, beginning the process of declaring the former Yugoslav republic's independence, which included the referendum held on September 8 of the same year. By a decision of the country's Parliament on November 17, 1991, independence was declared and the process of separation from the SFRY began. Bulgaria was the first country to recognise the new state on January 15, 1992, under its constitutional name at the time - Republic of Macedonia. Balkans Momchil Rusev BTA correspondent Marinela Velichkova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1199515-tens-of-thousands-attend-ratko-mladic-s-funeral-in-belgrade https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1199515-tens-of-thousands-attend-ratko-mladic-s-funeral-in-belgrade Mon, 07 Sep 2026 16:54:00 +0300 Tens of thousands of people, many of them citizens of Bosnia's Republika Srpska, came to Belgrade on Monday for the funeral of Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic, who died in a hospital at The Hague prison on August 27 while serving a life sentence for genocide. They waited in queues for hours to enter the Church of St Luke in the remote Belgrade district of Vidikovac, where Mladic's body was on display. The ceremony, which included state and military honours, was condemned by the European Union, while three US senators called on Belgrade and Banja Luka (the capital of Bosnia's Republika Srpska, where Bosnian Serbs make up the majority of the population) to distance themselves from the glorification of Mladic. Mladic faced 11 charges for crimes committed during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), and 10 of them were proven before the International Tribunal in The Hague. Among those who came to pay their respects to Mladic on Monday were Serbian Labour, Veterans and Social Affairs Minister Milica Djurdjevic-Stamenkovski and Minister without Portfolio Nenad Popovic, as well as Milorad Dodik, leader of the ruling coalition in Republika Srpska, Danilo Vucic, son of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko. Serbian Patriarch Porfirije led the funeral service, while Mladic's military cap, sabre and medals were displayed beside his coffin in the church. The funeral was taking place under heightened security, with metal detectors installed at the entrance to the church. From the Church of St Luke, a procession carrying Mladic's coffin set off for Topcider Cemetery, accompanied by military veterans wearing distinctive red berets. Topcider Cemetery is six kilometres from the church, and the people who came to accompany Mladic on his final journey will cover the distance on foot. Former commander of the Bosnian Serb forces Ratko Mladic was sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995. The court found him guilty of genocide over the killing of around 8,000 Bosniaks in Srebrenica in July 1995, as well as the persecution and forcible displacement of Bosniaks and Croats, the terrorization of civilians during the siege of Sarajevo, and the taking of UN personnel hostage. Balkans Valentin Evstatiev BTA Correspondent Teodora Encheva