Greece supports global alliance against ISAthens, 13 September 2014 (MIA) - Greece is prepared and will provide non-military support to the global alliance of states against the Islamic State, MIA reports from Athens.
"We welcome and express our political support for the creation of a global alliance of states that will coordinate the international efforts against the Islamic State, a terrorist organization whose activities have induced the outrage and unanimous condemnation of the whole of the civilized world", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.
Following last week's NATO summit in Wales, a number of countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Turkey, Australia and Canada agreed to join forces with the United States in the struggle against the extremists.
"We express our solidarity with the Iraqi government, with the Christians and all of the distressed ethnic and religious communities in the region that have suffered from the base and barbaric actions of the Islamic Caliphate, an extremist jihadist organization that must be obliterated", reads the Greek MoFA press release. ik/11:36
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A Russian linguist will research the Macedonian language in Albania
Tirana, 12 September 2014 (MIA) - A Slavic linguist from the Russian Academy of Sciences announced will begin a project to examine the use of Macedonian language in Albania.
Maxim Makarcev, from the Russian Academy's Institute for Slavic Languages, says that he is meeting ethnic Macedonians living in the Albanian capital Tirana, but come from different parts of the country. Makarcev adds that he met the president of the Macedonian "Ilinden" society in Albania, Nikola Gjurgja, the vice-president Nezir Mecha and its members.
- The goal of my meetings with Macedonians in Tirana is to get acquainted with the dialect, customs, traditions, folklore, celebrations, wedding and baptism rituals, the life in general, of the Macedonians living in the Albanian capital. To their great delight, I could promise them that they are not forgotten, and I will come again soon to visit the Macedonians in Albania, Makarcev said.
The Russian linguist was informed in detail about the Macedonian dialect spoken in Prespa, Golo Brdo and Gora areas, where there is the largest concentration of ethnic Macedonians. Makarcev announced he will organize other visits to research the language and customs in these areas.cc/19:28
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Albania has 55 billionaires with wealth totalling US$7 billion
Tirana, 12 September 2014 (MIA) - Albania has 55 billionaires, reads the last edition of the Wealth-X World Ultra Wealth, which cooperates with private banks, educational institutions, NGOs and luxurious companies.
According to the number of multimillionaires Albania is ranked 37th in Europe. Albania has wealth of these 55 individuals in Albania totalling US$7 billion.
This classification is understood as a paradox by different media due to the fact that Albania is small country among the poorest and lowest GDP per capita in Europe. Albania has more billionaires than Slovakia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Macedonia and Montenegro.
Media said that many of 55 individuals in Albania are in the politics mainly from the left wing i.e. even 40 are socialists or members of former communist families. sk/18:22
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Russia warns against NATO bases in Romania
Bucharest, 12 September 2014 (MIA) - Russian permanent representative to NATO Alexandar Grushko warned that plans to build a new NATO military base in Romania is a serious challenge for Russian security.
According to Grushko, increased NATO presence in Romania, or Bulgaria and Poland, goes against NATO - Russian treaties.
- Our basic agreement includes a clear clause that NATO member countries should avoid permanent deployment of additional troops. The military base now under construction in Romania will doubtless be a provocation for Russian security and we believe it is a definite violation of our treaties, Grushko said.
Russian Ambassador added that Moscow is deeply concerned following the NATO activities in the Baltic and Black Seas.
Romania has asked for a permanent NATO base on its territory. It is working on the Deveselu military base, in southern Romania, where US missile interceptors are supposed to be deployed. Russia is openly anxious about this base, which might contribute to the US anti-missile shield that could weaken Russian nuclear deterrent.cc/18:05
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Croatian policemen turn rotating lights on in protests
Zagreb, 12 September 2014 (MIA) - Policemen throughout Croatia paused their work today and turned on their rotation lights, in protest against attacks on policemen, and lenient punishment for attackers.
Croatian police union says that attacks are becoming more numerous. They blame this on the light sanctions regime for assault on policemen. The union also complains about the lack of respect shown to the police, n their dangerous jobs. The union says over 70 percent of policemen joined the protest.cc/17:22
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Gazprom slightly reduced its gas supply to Romania
Russian gas giant Gazprom has reduced its gas deliveries to Romania, by a small amount, Romanian Energy Minister Razvan Nicolescu announced.
- Natural gas flows from Russia to Romania have dropped by 5 percent today. We are talking about a small decrease. We have not been informed about the reasons for this, Nicolescu said.
Romania uses 12,5 billion cubic meters of natural gas. It produces 11 billion on its own, and the difference is made up by Russian imports, from intermediate companies that charge a higher price than the domestic production.
Gas pipelines going through Romania are also important for the supply of other Balkan countries with Russian gas. European countries are anxious that the escalating rounds of sanctions between the European Union and Russia might affect natural gas supply for Europe in the coming winter.cc/17:01
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Cyclone "Thalia" flooding parts of the Balkans
Skopje, 12 September 2014 (MIA) - Much of the Balkans region is suffering under the cyclone "Thalia", which has already caused new flooding in already hard hit Bosnia and Croatia, power-cuts in Montenegro and strong winds and rain elsewhere.
Bosnian media report that several towns are flooded, mostly in the north-western parts of the country. Dozens of houses and several regional roads are flooded in the region of Bihac and Cazin. River Una has overflown around Novi Grad promting the authorities to suspend school.
The strong winds brought by "Thalia" cut major powerlines on the Montenegrin coast, leaving towns around Bar and Ulcin without power. The outages also caused a fire in a regional substation in Bar.
Several towns and cities in Croatia, like Sibenik and Zadar, are under cyclone's effect since Thursday. Croatian weather services predict that a new storm is coming toward Rijeka, the Istra Peninsula, Kvarner and the seaside towns below Velebit. Regions like Dalmacija, Gorski Kotar and Lika are warned to expect rains and winds ith speeds of up to 100 kilometers an hour.
The large city of Split has been under a strong storm for two days, with many streets and basements flooded. Split's fire department received over 300 reports of flooded rooms in just two hours at the height of the storm.
The mayor of the city of Vodice, near Sibenik, reported that 300 boats were sunk by the storm. Mayor Branka Jurcev - Martincev asked regional authorities to declare a state of emergency.
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