Hot TopicsIssue 1-2 2021Magazine, December 14, 2020 - Five more teachers who supported anti-government protests in Iran have been summoned to the Revolutionary Court, the latest in a series of similar moves, including trials, of teachers in other cities across the country. Muryha is a resident of Ukraine's Luhansk region, parts of which are controlled by Russia. During your trial you will have complete digital access to FT.com with everything in both of our Standard Digital and Premium Digital packages. He urged lawmakers to accept an imperfect deal that would lead to "ultimately a better future.". The fear now is that these bilateral issues would, in indirect form, become a part of the EU negotiating framework. Prime Minister Dimitar The veto exercised by Bulgaria, which had until then effectively blocked Tirana and Skopjes membership bids, was based on various claims made by Sofia over language and history vis--vis North Macedonia. The women's brother claimed earlier that one of the sisters had told him by phone that they planned to kill themselves. This time the enemy used unmanned aerial vehicles, according to preliminary information -- Shahed drones," Popko said, adding that the attack was the first on Kyiv in the last 18 days. A Russian court sentenced former Ukrainian fighter Denys Muryha on June 20 to 16 years in prison on charges of offering military training to conduct terrorist acts, and joining a paramilitary group called Aydar, which fought against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Now is the time to build momentum and work on next steps.. North Macedonia has been an EU North Macedonia has been plunged into uncertainty by the EUs unclear and ill-defined enlargement policies, which, through the French proposal, have allowed the insertion of bilateral issues into the negotiation framework. Ukrainian officials confirmed earlier that they have retaken their first village in the Zaporizhzhya region, which hosts a major nuclear power plant. North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania are all NATO members. The consequences of the emerging multipolar world. Once a War Criminal, Always a War Criminal? A two-thirds parliamentary majority would be needed for this change. To make things worse, following Bulgarias endorsement of the French proposal in essence suggesting that Sofia is no longer the obstacle nor the culprit the ball now lies completely in Skopjes court. As a result it added the word North to its previous name, Macedonia, which Greece had complained implied claims on its own territory, history and cultural heritage. Through its proposal, France has effectively allowed nationalism and domestic fanaticism to become part of North Macedonias EU accession framework. Von der Leyen had traveled to Skopje to urge Macedonia's parliament to green light the deal before debate began on July 14, saying, We want you in the EU.". North Macedonia has approved a French proposal that opens the way for negotiations to join the European Union and overcome Bulgarian objections. - Artyom Faizulin, a lawyer for writer Aleksandr Nikonov, said on June 20 that the man who talked to his client reported to the police that Nikonov recommended that he should not to go to the war in Ukraine and should instead listen to what opposition activists are saying about Russia's aggression. Anti-Semitism on rise in Russian leaders rhetoric, Africa seeing Russian interference in national legislation shape-up, Insurgency risks increase in Southern Thailand after election, The aggressive policy of Kosovar premier Albin Kurti has reached a breaking point with the US and the European powers, Russian Orthodox Church, Russian intelligence running psyop involving Ukrainian POWs. Copyright BIRN 2007 | Terms of use | Privacy Policy | Powered by WordPress / WPML. ", Michel added: "We welcome you with open arms. The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has also called upon the NMacedonia government to accept the French proposal, otherwise Rama has declared that Albania will continue its path to EU separated from North Macedonia. Kyiv has not commented on the matter. The French arrangement simply offers none of this. Bojidar Kolov For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the Settings & Account section. Shahzada Dawood -- the vice-chairman of the Karachi headquartered conglomerate Engro -- and his son Suleman were aboard the vessel, which is equipped with only 96 hours of oxygen supply, a family statement said. A French proposal for a compromise to address Bulgarias concerns has divided North Macedonia, sparking the sometimes violent protests. Romanian law provides for the case to be first verified for its legality by a judge before the actual trial starts. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Crimea.Realities, click here. The incumbent progressive SDSM party was strong and enjoyed popular support. The government has published the Macedonian, Albanian and English language versions of the modified French The Canadian government on June 19 said it imposed sanctions on Iranian judges over alleged human rights abuses, adding that the step would prohibit dealings with them and freeze any assets they may have held in Canada. We support credit card, debit card and PayPal payments. In Bulgaria, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov accepted the proposal before he was ousted in a no-confidence vote on June 22. A Russian court on June 20 sentenced pilot Denis Yevdokimov to six years in a colony settlement over a plane crash in 2019 that killed 41 people. The latest wave of attacks came after the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that, as of June 18, 9,083 Ukrainian civilians had been killed and 15,779 wounded since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion in February last year. Any changes made can be done at any time and will become effective at the end of the trial period, allowing you to retain full access for 4 weeks, even if you downgrade or cancel. Rounds of bilateral negotiations, a joint commission on historical and educational issues, and even EU attempts at mediation all failed to make any progress on this issue. The activist HRANA news agency says that more than 500 people have been killed during the unrest, including 71 minors, as security forces try to stifle widespread dissent. Police in Russia's North Caucasus region of Kabardino-Balkaria are investigating the deaths of three sisters who died after their car fell off a cliff and caught fire days after their sister committed suicide. North Macedonia has been left with a poisoned apple. Compare Standard and Premium Digital here. Outside the parliament, in Skopje, protesters gathered for over 10 days in opposition. Many have lined up to try to "reconcile us," and it has turned into a trend, Reznikov said. Against this backdrop, the SDSMs collapse is more than guaranteed. Bulgaria insists that North Macedonia formally recognizes that its language has Bulgarian roots, acknowledges a Bulgarian minority and quashes hate speech against Bulgaria. The Prespa pill was a hard one to swallow but, as conveyed to the public, a necessary one. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here. The 6.5-meter tourist craft, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, began its descent on June 18 but lost contact with the surface less than two hours later, according to authorities. Photo: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock. The dispute with Bulgaria has also stalled the progress of another Balkan country, Albania, toward EU membership because the bloc is treating the pair as a political package. There can be no doubt that Macedonian is your The groups said in a report released on June 20 that it based its findings on a leak of more than 50,000 emails and documents sent between 2013 and 2020, which shows how the billionaire brothers Boris and Arkady Rotenberg, childhood friends of Putin, move companies around the world "like chess pieces, new bank accounts opening just as others were closed, and ownership structures morphing in response to new sanctions or questions from regulators.". Photo by Nake Batev/REUTERS, By Valentina Petrova, Stephen McGrath, Associated Press, By Konstantin Testorides, Veselin Toshkov, Associated Press, By Vanessa Gera, Veselin Toshkov, Associated Press. Members of parliament also voted in support of ensuring that talks with the European Union are carried out on an equal and principled basis, with respect for international law, as well as respect for Macedonia's language and national identity. If convicted, Shirshikov, a professional public relations expert, may face up to seven years in prison. [4] North Macedonia said Friday that three main topics needed clarification before it would agree to the deal. Ukraines suffering goes well beyond the front line. Despite the second version of this proposal, the Macedonian Government has accepted it in principle. North Shirshikov was detained and charged with the "justification of terrorism" after police searched his home on April 18. This paints a bleak picture for the upcoming months and years, as it is now only a matter of time before the opposition VMRO-DPMNE return to power for the first time since 2017. The asset freezes and visa bans have sent many of Russia's wealthiest people scurrying to find safe havens for assets abroad with the assistance of many people in the West, the investigation showed. We use North Macedonia change its constitution to acknowledge a Bulgarian minority, protect minority rights and introduce hate speech into the criminal code. 30 years after the fall of the Soviet Union. However, by that time Aydar did not exist as it had officially been turned into the Ukrainian Army's 24th special battalion. Opposition to French Proposal Mounts in North Macedonia. The fines are the latest in a series of rulings against social media platforms for apparently not heeding Russia's Internet laws. Just four years after Macedonians agreed to a name change to mollify neighbor Greece and two years after Bulgaria invoked its veto on EU talks, the compromise could usher in rapid progress to launch negotiations within a formal framework for Macedonian membership to the bloc. A French proposal for a compromise to address Bulgarias concerns has divided North Macedonia, sparking the sometimes violent protests. New thinking is needed in policies towards Russia, in whatever form it will take after the war. A French proposal for a compromise to address Bulgarias concerns has divided North Macedonia, sparking the sometimes-violent protests. The parliamentary group of the Social Democratic League has said that it is for transparency in the procedure of approval of the decision by the Assembly of North Macedonia, ensuring that with the French proposal, the Macedonian identity and language are not endangered. Jana Nowaka-Jezioraskiego. On Sunday, 3 July, North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski defended his governments decision to accept and proceed with the modified French agreement.. personalising content and ads, providing social media features and to Referring to more recent calls by some politicians and activists to start talks with Russia to stop the war, Reznikov said that "all attempts to reach some agreements have been destroyed by the Russians.". On Saturday and Sunday, the opposition held big protests in Skopje against the deal, insisting it is humiliating and dangerous to national interests. It often seems, at least from the outside, that Belarus remains isolated from the West and very static in its transformation. Amnesty said that, since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, many who fled to Pakistan have been subjected to "waves of arbitrary detentions, arrests, and the threat of deportation.". The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights says that, as of June 18, 9,083 Ukrainian civilians had been killed and 15,779 wounded since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion in February last year. Tatarsky was known for his support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and support for Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. In June alone, 112 civilians were confirmed killed and 445 were wounded, the UN said in a statement on June 19, warning that the actual toll is likely to be much higher. A European Union that includes all of the Western Balkans, including Albania and North Macedonia, will be stronger and more prosperous. A European Union report will this week say that Ukraine has met two out of seven conditions to start membership negotiations, two EU sources said, with the bloc's executive set to highlight progress made despite the war triggered by Russia's invasion. The framework put forth by France is, as of today, a dead end for North Macedonia. The aid will be delivered through a fund that Denmark set up in March as part of the country's ambition "to be among the most significant supporters of Ukraine." They have demanded clarification about whether the yearly reports regarding progress on the historical and educational differences between the two countries would be part of the negotiating framework. Meanwhile, President of NM Stevo Pendarovski, named Frances proposal a transitional compromise to start membership talks with the European Union, but added that an annex should be added to the proposal if the Bulgarian side insists on negotiating the Macedonian language and identity, although the proposal is considered not to affect the identity, cultural, linguistic and historical features of the North Macedonian people. President Stevo Pendarovski on Sunday said the proposal was neither good nor catastrophic but was generally acceptable as a basis for progress. The code has been copied to your clipboard. - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu warned Ukraine on June 20 of "immediate retaliation" if Kyiv attacks Crimea with Western missiles. Those opposed have taken umbrage at the suggestions that it is not a threat to the country's sovereignty or identity. Central Europes Nuclear Plans: Hot Stuff, In Montenegro, Memories of Pain and Generosity on the Refugee Road, Children for Sale: Croatias Corrupted Institutions Have Blessed Illegal Adoptions, PiS to Make Migrants an Electoral Issue, Though Mayors Insist They Can Cope, Kosovo, Serbia, Trade Conflicting Accounts Over 'Kidnapped' Police Officers, Signs of Thaw between Turkey and West after Erdogan Win, Fraternal Discord: Ramas Cancellation of Meeting With Kurti Strains Kosovo-Albania Ties. RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. In July last year, Shirshikov was fined for openly criticizing the war in Ukraine. Investigators say the crew violated instructions after the plane bounced off the runway, which led to the deadly crash. Change the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the Settings & Account section. But he said he would first need to consult the President, the opposition, the parliament and the civic organisations. Its costs, challenges and the commitment to peace. North Macedonias government has said the proposal is a solid base. The air defenses of the Ukrainian capital repelled a "massive" Russian drone attack overnight, destroying about 20 Iranian-made drones, Serhiy Popko, the governor of Kyiv region, said on Telegram. Stay informed and spot emerging risks and opportunities with independent global reporting, expert The leftist coalition, which holds 61 seats, had support from small ethnic Albanian parties in getting the proposal passed. In the northwestern Sumy region, one civilian was killed by Russian shelling overnight, the regional administration reported on June 20. WebMacedonian lawmakers vote on the hard-to-sell French proposal designed to unlock the EU accession veto from Bulgaria will now take place on Friday following an extensive From today onwards, we are moving forward with an accelerated step to join the European family in which our Macedonian language will be heard very soon and officially.". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 2023 RFE/RL, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The expectations and prospects that rendered the Prespa compromise palatable to the public cannot be justified this time, not even among those that voiced their strong support for the deal with Athens. Only a few months after overcoming the Greek veto in spite of domestic criticism and dubious decision-making EU accession negotiations looked closer than ever. "With this agreement, Macedonia will be a hostage to Bulgaria as it would exercise a veto based on whatever condition we fail to fulfill [in EU accession process]," Petar Risteski, an opposition VMRO-DPMNE lawmaker warned, according to Reuters. Thank you. The invasion by Russian forces of Ukraine from the north, south and east with the initial aim to take the capital Kyiv has changed our region, and indeed our world, forever. The Bulgarian-Macedonian dispute has underscored regional resentments and risks a further erosion of Balkan faith in the European Union. Albanias own EU integration process has suffered collateral damage from the standoff, as Albanias EU talks are bracketed in one package with North Macedonias. Such a grave mistake has never had happened since the independence.". [3] The start of negotiations was officially launched on 19 July 2022. Occasionally, the demonstrations have become violent. However, a recent French-sponsored agreement with Bulgaria suggests that Sofia will now wield disproportionate influence over the countrys future. According to Reznikov, Ukrainian pilots need four-to-six weeks to get trained to operate F-16s. Socialist Prime Minister Dimitar Kovaevski met on Friday with junior government coalition partners to discuss a proposal from the outgoing French EU presidency aimed at overcoming a series of tensions between Sofia and Skopje over language, history, and the rights of ethnic Bulgarians in North Macedonia. A prominent Pakistani businessman and his son are among five people aboard a submersible that has gone missing while exploring the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic, their family said on June 20. Forty-one people died in the crash at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in 2019. People at a protest in Skopje hold placards saying no to the French proposal for resolving the dispute between North Macedonia and Bulgaria. In addition, Estonia and Luxemburg have supported the proposal to create an IT coalition to assist Ukraine to conduct its counteroffensive against occupying Russian armed forces, he said. Parliamentary debate is North Macedonia expected to last two days at least before the vote on the French proposal. (file photo), Pakistani boys cool off in a canal amid sweltering heat in Karachi. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. On a third day of mass protests late Monday in Skopje, protestors threw stones, eggs and bottles at the government offices and parliament building in downtown Skopje. Simply log into Settings & Account and select "Cancel" on the right-hand side. Has divided North Macedonia has approved a French proposal runway, which hosts a major nuclear power.... Of terrorism '' after police searched his home on April 18 topics needed clarification it! 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