Price of PCR tests becomes a political issue in Greece

The opposition parties in Greece have called for early Parliamentary elections and have accused this country’s government for lacking a strategy to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. The state capped the price of PCR tests in private laboratories to EUR 47. The maximum price of required reagents and consumables will amount to EUR 35 and the maximum price of sampling in private diagnostic laboratories will be EUR 12. The leader of the opposition Syriza party Alexis Tsipras called the reduction a mockery. The left-wing opposition party claims that the Greek authorities have let the private laboratories rob the citizens uncontrollably for two years. In the wake of the price “tsunami” that hit the basic foods in this country, al opposition parties are calling for free-of-charge Covid-19 tests. The medical associations are also calling for free-of-charge PCR tests, noting that only mass testing would reveal the size of the pandemic BNR’s correspondent in Greece Katya Peeva announced.

Pristina aims to reach an agreement with Belgrade

Kosovo aims to reach an agreement and normalize its relations with Serbia in 2022, this country’s Premier Albin Kurti said, ALSAT-M TV informs. Serbia wants to continue on the path towards EU membership, which is impossible without the recognition of Kosovo. For its part, Pristina wants European and Euro-Atlantic integration, which requires full normalization of relations with Belgrade.

Due to the current electricity shortage and power blackouts, Kosovo banned the mining of cryptocurrencies to curb electricity use. One miner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters he was paying around EUR 170 a month and is getting around EUR 2,400 per month in profit for mining.In 2021, electricity prices reached EUR 70 per megawatt, but now it costs EUR 515 per MWh.

Household consumers in Turkey to pay higher gas and electricity prices

Turkey’s Energy Market Regulator Authority sharply raised prices of electricity and natural gas for households. The price increase fluctuates between 52% and 130%, Haberturk newspaper informs. According to the new tariffs, the households will pay 1.36 liras (0.09USD) per kilowatt-hour for as much as 150 kilowatt-hours per month, and 2.36 liras above that limit. Turkey’s state gas company Botas raised natural gas prices by 25% for households. 15% for power plants and 50% for factories. These measures are expected to boost consumer inflation, which stood at 36% in December 2021, as compared to December 2020.

Belgrade does not accept US sanctions against Milorad Dodik

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic announced that he would speak with the Serb member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency, Milorad Dodik, and the President of Republika Srpska Zeljka Cvijanovic about the US sanctions against the Serbian leader in Banja Luka, BGNES reported.

“Serbia will not agree with the sanctions against Dodik and the Dodik-affiliated Alternativa TV and will not implement sanctions against its people and representatives of the Serb people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the RS”, President Vucic said.

“We must maintain rational, decent and fair relations with the Americans, as they are a great power. On the other hand, we will not go back to the times when blockades and barricades against political representatives of our nation were set up on the Drina”, President Vucuc said.

Albania to seek decoupling from North Macedonia on its path towards EU membership

Albania is in an absurd situation due to Bulgaria’s veto on North Macedonia, this country’s Premier Edi Rama said commenting on this country’s European integration. “We asked the citizens whether they would support a new approach to our foreign policy”, Albania’s Premier said, cited by Ora News. If Bulgaria continues to veto the start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia, we should seek openly decoupling from North Macedonia on our path towards EU membership, Edi Rama said.

It is important for Tirana to achieve the necessary progress in the work of the judicial system and the Special Prosecutor’s Office against corruption and organized crime. “The Special Prosecution must prove that its only task is to combat crime in Albania”, Premier Rama went on to say.

Compiled by: Ivo Ivanov

English version: Kostadin Atanasov