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Balkan developments

PM Mitsotakis asks protesting Greek farmers for "open dialogue with open roads"


Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has warned protesting farmers in the country that the government is open to dialogue, but on the condition that the road blockades are lifted, ERT television reported. "I'll say it again: open dialogue with open roads. No one can blackmail the whole society, no matter how fair their demands are", said Mitsotakis, adding: "No one should have the feeling that any social group can be treated preferentially because they can shout louder when they protest". 

The prime minister emphasized that his government has reduced the taxation of farmers, fought against the illegal presentation of imported products as Greek and in 4 years has paid over 1 billion euros in compensation to the sector. But the protesting farmers decided to intensify their actions, summarizes ERT.


Since the beginning of February, the official currency in Kosovo is the euro


The Serbian dinar is "not officially banned" in Kosovo, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti told AFP, stressing that the euro is the only legal currency for commercial transactions in the country. Kurti commented on the issue a week after the decision, which was not supported by the Western partners, ignited yet another source of tension between Belgrade and Pristina. The Serbian minority, especially in Northern Kosovo, continues to rely on dinars sent from Belgrade as subsidies, BTA reports. 

Removing the dinar "is, in a word, a crime against humanity," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said before the UN Security Council, where Belgrade referred the case, reports BGNES. Kurti explained to the Council that a one-month transition period is in effect, which will allow for additional communication and time to resolve issues.


Hungarian policemen will guard the Serbian-Macedonian border


Hungary is sending 31 police officers to the border between Serbia and North Macedonia to help fight illegal migration, the state secretary of the interior ministry in Budapest, Bence Retvari, announced. "The Hungarian police do not only protect the border of one country, but of the whole of Europe. The police have taken on a difficult task, because in the coming period they will guard the 113-kilometer border between Serbia and North Macedonia, which is the main direction of illegal migration," writes the website of the Hungarian police, quoted by the Serbian daily "Danas". 

The cooperation is long-lasting, Retvari points out, and "this is the second contingent of Hungarian police officers who will serve in Serbia." The Hungarian police officers will carry out their mission under the control and supervision of the authorities in the host country, explained Retvari.


Istanbul's population is declining, but the metropolis is the most densely populated in Europe

The population of Istanbul in 2023 is larger than the population of 131 countries in the world, according to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), AnadoluAjansı reported. 

In 2023, the population of Istanbul decreased by approximately 252,000 people compared to the previous year, and its number fell to 15,655,924 people. 7.8 million men and 7.84 million women or about 18.38% of the country's population live in the largest Turkish city. 

Despite the decline in population, Istanbul, which is also the most densely populated city in Europe, is ahead of 131 countries in the world in terms of the number of its citizens. Among the countries that have a smaller population than those living in the cosmopolitan city, according to the United Nations Population Fund, are Bulgaria, Portugal, Hungary, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Cuba, Azerbaijan and many other countries.

Governmental officials in Romania will drive only the national brand of cars


Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced that the government, including himself, will now only use the national Dacia car brand, DiGi24 TV reported. "Just as in France the car of the government and the authorities is Renault, so in Romania the car of the authorities and the prime minister should be a Dacia," said Ciolacu, who visited the company's factories in Mioveni, Arges county. 

"The brand of the Romanian government should be the main car manufacturer. My car as prime minister will be Dacia Duster from now on. I think this is right in any democratic country and in any economy," added Ciolacu. He did a test drive with the new model of the machine, which he described as a "beast" and emphasized that 12,500 people already work for Dacia.


Compiled by Ivo Ivanov

Photos: REUTERS, danas.rs, aa.com.tr, digi24.ro

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