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121. Greece and the many changes in the Trump administration

122. Plan B for FYROM and more US bases in Greece

123. Ticking bombs

124. This is the Balkans

125. New ‘patriotic’ political party named Force of Hellenism in Greece

The name of the new political party formed by Dimitris Kammenos, an ultranationalist lawmaker who parted ways with coalition partner Independent Greeks in the summer over the Macedonia name deal, and Takis Baltakos, an ultra-conservative senior official in the New Democracy government of Antonis Samaras, is Force of Hellenism....

126. Zaev: Coming days to show if deal with opposition is possible

Developments in the coming days will show whether it is possible to reach an agreement with the conservative opposition on the constitutional changes the parliament of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is required to approve as part of a deal signed with Greece, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Monday, a day after the referendum held in the country....

127. ‘No’ vote and abstention in FYROM referendum

128. US warns Moscow is trying to buy off individuals and spread disinformation

129. EBRD investment to rise in FYROM, Greece

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects its investment in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece to rise significantly after the two countries manage to solve the dispute regarding FYROM’s name, an EBRD official said....

130. US expresses strong support for Prespes agreement

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell described the Prespes agreement as “historic” after a meeting with Nikola Dimitrov, the foreign minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), on Tuesday....

131. Should we listen to President Trump or the diplomats?

As Greece finds itself faced with a wide range of challenges – from Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean to its relationship with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and developments on the Balkan peninsula – it would be useful to have a clear idea of Washington’s strategic objectives regarding these issues. This is regrettably not an easy task considering that what President Donald Trump says does not necessarily reflect official US policy....

132. European corruption watchdog calls FYROM ‘disappointing’

The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption group says the performance of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on preventing corruption is “clearly disappointing,” and is calling on authorities to take action....

133. ‘Yes’ camp ahead in FYROM before deal referendum

According to an opinion poll carried out by the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 41.5 percent of FYROM’s population plans to vote “yes” in the September 30 referendum on the agreement with Greece which sees the country’s name changing to North Macedonia....

134. Russian expulsion of Greek envoys ‘asymmetric’

Greece's Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian Ambassador to the country, Andrey Maslov, to protest Moscow's decision on Monday to expel Greek diplomats in retaliation to a similar move by Athens....

135. Russia expels Greek diplomats in retaliatory move

Russia said on Monday it had summoned Greece’s ambassador to Moscow and told him it was responding in kind to what it called an unfriendly decision by Athens to expel two Russian diplomats....

136. After Toskas departure, PM looks to government reshuffle

Following the departure of Citizens’ Protection Minister Nikos Toskas from the government – a delayed response to the fatal wildfires that ravaged Attica last month – Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is said to be mulling a more sweeping overhaul of his cabinet in a bid to appease public discontent and signal that his administration is robust ahead of anticipated snap polls next spring....

137. Holding referendums in FYROM and Greece

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is moving ahead with preparations for its referendum on the name deal reached with Athens, which will pave the way for its induction to NATO and remove a major obstacle to the process for it to join the European Union....

138. The positions of SYRIZA, New Democracy and our allies

Diplomats, analysts and officials from international institutions visiting Greece have a hard time understanding and assessing what in their eyes appears to be a bizarre political reality....

139. Lavrov 'welcome in Athens,' Greek diplomatic sources say

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is welcome in Athens, Greek diplomatic sources said on Thursday after Russia's TASS news agency reported that he had canceled a planned visit to Athens in the fall. ...

140. Russia pushes back Lavrov's Greece visit after diplomatic row

The timing of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s planned visit to Greece this autumn is no longer suitable, Russia’s ambassador to Athens said on Thursday, the TASS news agency reported....

141. EU enlargement commissioner arrives in FYROM

The European Union's enlargement commissioner has arrived in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to formally announce the start of preparations for the Balkan country to open accession talks with the bloc next year....

142. Ties with Moscow under strain after Athens expels diplomats

The outlook for bilateral ties between Greece and Russia was unclear on Wednesday amid tensions prompted by Greece’s decision to expel two Russian diplomats who are alleged to have sought to intervene in domestic affairs and national security....

143. PM to seek NATO’s support over detention of Greek soldiers in Turkey

The continued detention of two Greek soldiers by Turkey is one of the key issues that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will be discussing with Greece’s allies at the NATO Summit in Brussels, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on Tuesday....

144. FYROM’s NATO accession hinging on name deal

The final declaration of the NATO summit in Brussels this week is expected to state that the accession of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to the North Atlantic Alliance hinges on its ratification of the name deal signed with Athens last month, according to a draft seen by Kathimerini. ...

145. FYROM president says ‘no amount of pressure’ will change his mind on name deal

The president of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on Friday issued a statement saying that “no amount of pressure or blackmail” will make him change his mind and support the name deal signed with Greece last month....

146. FYROM parliament approves name deal for second time

The Parliament of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) approved for the second time the deal signed with Greece on the country’s name, which had been returned to the House after the country’s President Gjorge Ivanov refused to rubber-stamp the first decree....

147. Leaders of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia meeting in Thessaloniki

The leaders of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia gather in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Wednesday for the fourth Quadrilateral Summit....

148. EU membership talks for Albania, FYROM set for June 2019

European Union member-states have agreed to opening membership talks with Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in a year if reform efforts in the two nations continue to progress....

149. Nicosia agrees with EU that Turkey should be a better neighbour

Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides is expressing his appreciation for his EU counterparts, following a report by the General Affairs Council that calls on Turkey to be a better neighbour...

150. FYROM president vetoes name deal with Greece

The president of the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYROM), Gjorge Ivanov, said on Tuesday that he will not sign an accord settling a decades-old name dispute Greece and paving the way for the Balkan nation’s accession to the European Union and NATO....