Geopolitical News from the modern world

Tag archive

NATO - page 2

Kathemerini: positive meeting with Nimetz

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

The meeting between representatives of Macedonia and Greece with the UN mediator in the name dispute, Matthew Nimetz, scheduled for Dec. 11-12 in Brussels, is a sign of continuity of the positive climate that has been created in the relations between the two countries after change of government in Macedonia, Greek daily Kathimerini reads.The next NATO Summit, to be held on July 11 and 12 in Brussels, is in function of a time frame, which moves to dispute resolution and achieving a mutually acceptable solution. Macedonia hopes that it will finally open the way to becoming a member of the Alliance.Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has repeatedly stated that the issue will be resolved in the first half of 2018, warning that if this does not happen, there will be major difficulties.The positions expressed by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov are moderate and linked with the spirit of readiness to compromise. However, there is a big difference from the public statements to the essential acceptance of a different position. And certainly it is not just a matter of name that caused big reactions in FYROM. Even if a mutually acceptable solution is reached, it is necessary to have the readiness to use it, Kathimerini writes.Two countries implement confidence building measures, through small and easy steps, but symbolic and very useful.In this context, the Greek media commented on noticeable curbing of passions regarding the agenda of former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski over Skopje 2014 project.

You might be interested in

OSCE SG Greminger: Macedonia to focus on implementing ambitious reform agenda

in PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

New window of opportunities are opening which will help Macedonia to focus on implementing the ambitious reform agenda, OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger said Thursday after meeting Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.’I wish to support the future efforts of PM Zaev to realize all reforms in favor of the country’s progress,’ Greminger said.Macedonia, he said, should focus on key spheres, such as the rule of law, media freedom, democratic governance and security sector, he said.Zaev commended OSCE assistance to Macedonia’s progress, saying that all recommendations, including the ones of the European Commission, have been incorporated in the government’s reform plan.Under this plan, Macedonia will work on establishing democratic institutions, independent judiciary, free media. Special attention is being paid to establishing fair, efficient judicial system and advancing the country’s relations with its neighbors, Zaev said.Reaffirming the country’s strategic goals – the EU, NATO membership and economic prosperity – Zaev said the government had been working eagerly to that effect.

You might be interested in

Ukraine’s army intensified training drills by 30 percent in 2017

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

Ukraine’s armed forces have carried out around 5,000 training drills in 2017, some 30 percent more than last year’s figure, according to the chief of the army’s Operational Training Department, Colonel Ihor Podolyan.  “Every combat unit trained for missions in the (Donbas war zone) undergoes two brigade-level exercises at two different firing ranges” states the colonel. Constant drills are being conducted also by the air force. The General Staff is continuing to work on adapting Ukraine’s army training to NATO standards, Podolyan said. Ukraine will soon approve a military terminology manual for training and deployment of forces, which will help Ukraine’s forces become interoperable with NATO forces, he said. Apart from that, Ukraine’s best combat units are continuing to receive NATO-style training. In particular, eight infantry battalions and one company have finished Joint Multinational Training Group advanced courses conducted by the U.S. Army.

 

You might be interested in

Macedonian,Montenigrin PMs support Skopje- Podgorica- Sarajevo flight

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, accompanied by Vice Premier for Economic Affairs Koco Angjusev, Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi and Education Minister Renata Trenevska-Deskoska, met late Thursday in Podgorica with Montenegro Prime the Minister Dusko Markovic. Zaev and Markovic said after the meeting that Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina have made another step forward in regional cooperation by accepting PM Zaev’s initiative over introduction of flight Skopje-Podgorica-Sarajevo, the Government said in a press release. According to him, this flight would enable fresh economic perspectives, cooperation in the fields of tourism, culture, sport, education, as well as citizens’ daily lives.PM Markovic also confirmed Montenegro’s interest in solving this issue, adding that countries have no open issues, which enables the relations’ development.He stressed that Montenegro supports Macedonia’s NATO accession, which it highly deserves.The PMs agreed that intensive cooperation in the region opens the countries’ Euro-Atlantic perspective.

 

You might be interested in

NATO chief Stoltenberg calls North Korea “global threat ” during the Japan visit

in ASIA/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

Stoltenberg is in Tokyo to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other senior officials including defence minister Itsunori Onodera later in the day. “We are as concerned as you are about the provocative, reckless behaviour from North Korea,” he said in a speech to a group of security experts and defence officials. “It is really dangerous, it poses a direct threat to countries in this region [including] Japan, but it is also a global threat”, he added. Pyongyang has sparked global alarm in recent months by conducting its sixth nuclear test and test-launching missiles capable of reaching the US mainland, while US President Donald Trump and the North’s young ruler Kim Jong-Un have traded threats of war and personal insults. “NATO strongly support political, diplomatic, economic pressure on North Korea and we welcome the strengthening of the sanctions” adopted by the UN Security Council in September, Stoltenberg said. “But even more important, we need to be sure that the sanctions are fully and transparently implemented”, he added. Stoltenberg’s visit comes after Abe met with him in Brussels in July to agree on boosting security co-operation. “We know and you know that North Korea’s missile ranges reach the west coast of the United State and the ranges reach most of Europe”, he said Monday. But the NATO chief warned this month that military action against Pyongyang would have “devastating consequences”, after Trump said diplomatic efforts had failed.

 

You might be interested in

Kosovo PM Haradinaj cancelled a meeting after Spain’s Ambassador in NATO asked ‘status neutral’ representation

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has refused on Friday attending a meeting and a pre-arranged joint press conference with NATO senior officials, at the KFOR Headquarters in Pristina. Kosovo PM protested conditions set by the Spain’s Ambassador in NATO, who asked Haradinaj not to be presented as Chief of Kosovo Government. The Spanish diplomat also asked the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) officers not to be presented with the official uniforms in the meeting. Spain is one of the five EU member countries which has not recognised Kosovo’s independence.The NATO Deputy Secretary Gottemoeller during all her meetings in Pristina referred to Kosovo officials only on their names, avoiding mentioning their positions implying Kosovo’s statehood, in order not to prejudge Kosovo’s status. NATO has a status-neutral stance towards Kosovo after four out of 29 of its members have not recognised Kosovo’s statehood.

You might be interested in

FM Dimitrov attends meeting of OSCE permanent council

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said in an address Thursday before the Permanent Representatives of OSCE members as part of a session Thursday of the OSCE Permanent Council that Macedonia is strongly determined to use the new chance it is given to finally affirm the country in the family of developed democratic societies Dimitrov presented the optimism prevailing in Macedonia’s society after the prolonged crisis saying the citizens had great expectations both from the new government and the international community as well involving a long-awaited fulfillment of the aspirations to join NATO and the EU, the Foreign Ministry (MoFA) said.The Macedonian Minister presented the reform agenda included in the government’s Plan 3-6-9 all the while referring to the areas covered by the reforms in separate fields, namely rule of law, electoral system, strong, professional institutions, development of sound control mechanisms, especially independent judiciary and freedom of the press.

You might be interested in

Mattis says US will work to ‘stay aligned’ with Turkey

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

The U.S. will work to ensure that military relations with Turkey will be unaffected by an ongoing diplomatic row, Defense Secretary James Mattis said Wednesday. “It’s a NATO ally that we will work hard to stay aligned with against our common enemy. And we are doing good work together, military to military”, Mattis told reporters en route to Central Command in Tampa, Florida. Ongoing military operations have so far been “unaffected” by the row, Mattis said. When asked if he thought future operations could be affected if tensions continue to run high, he said he did not want to speculate but said past diplomatic spats with various countries have not deteriorated military ties. The U.S. Embassy in Turkey announced Sunday it was suspending the issuance of non-immigrant visas to Turkish nationals following the arrest of Metin Topuz, a Turkish employee of the U.S. consulate in Istanbul. In a retaliatory move, Turkey’s Washington Embassy also suspended non-immigrant visa services. Topuz is suspected to be linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year’s defeated coup attempt in Turkey, according to a judicial source. Erdogan warned that Turkish-U.S. ties could be further damaged if U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration played a role in the visa decision.

You might be interested in

Turkey won’t ask US for permission to detain suspects, PM Yıldırım says

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

Turkey will not ask for permission from the U.S. to detain or prosecute suspects, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said Tuesday, as he criticized the NATO ally for suspending visa applications over the detention of a terrorist suspect. peaking at his party’s weekly parliamentary group meeting, Yıldırım said that the U.S.’s attitude regarding the detention of a consulate staff for alleged links to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), contradicts the spirit of alliance. “There is rule of law in Turkey and if someone from the U.S. diplomatic mission commits a crime he/she will not have any privileges [to avoid prosecution]” Yıldırım said, adding that U.S. authorities never asked for Turkey’s permission when they detained a state-owned bank’s deputy general manager. Yıldırım was referring to the arrest of Deputy General Manager of International Banking at Halkbank Mehmet Hakan Atilla by the U.S.. “The issue needs to be immediately resolved” the prime minister said, adding that Turkey is open to all channels of communication with all countries.

You might be interested in

DM Sekerinska meets NATO Brig. Gen. Jeleniewski

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska welcomed Thursday a NATO delegation, led by Brigadier General Marian Jeleniewski, Deputy Director of NATO Security Cooperation Sector.The purpose of the visit of NATO military delegation is to initiate closer cooperation between the Alliance and Macedonia Army (ARM), the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a press release.The intensified political activity of the Republic of Macedonia towards NATO should be supported by a closer military cooperation, Brig. Gen. Jeleniewski said and offered three proposals for increasing military cooperation between the Alliance’s military structure and ARM, such as expert level interviews once a year; NATO and ARM experts to discuss issues of common interest; regular annual NATO Military Committee – ARM meeting; better representation of the ARM within the NATO structures by referring a national military representative of the Republic of Macedonia to the NATO Federal Command (SHAPE) and filling positions of partner staff officers in NATO military commands.

You might be interested in

1 2 3 4 5
pressrelease
0 £0.00
Go to Top
× How can I help you?