Skopje

A group of more than 50 prominent politicians, clerics, doctors, athletes and artists has urged the centre-right VMRO DPMNE to again endorse the candidacy of Gjorge Ivanov in the April elections.

The petition increases the likelihood that the incumbent President will run for a second five-year term.

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski announced over the weekend the start of work on the two new motorway segments financed by a loan of 574 million euro from the Chinese Export-Import Bank.

Balkan countries foster their military industries

Regional governments recognise the economic potential of increasingly export-oriented domestic firms.

A worker performs quality control of ammunition produced at the UNIS GINEX company in Gorazde. [UNIS GINEX]

While the city of Skopje planned to set aside 51 million euro for the important bypass, the lowest bidder, a Bulgarian-Macedonian consortium composed of Pons Troy Engineering, Gp Group and Urban Plan, has sought 66.9 million euro.

Another group of Bulgarian firms has offered to do the work for 69.8 million euro while a Bulgarian-Portuguese consortium sought 67.3 million euro.

Serbia, Macedonia "to cooperate more closely"

BELGRADE -- Foreign Ministers of Serbia and Macedonia Ivan Mrkić and Nikola Poposki agreed on Friday in Belgrade that the two countries "share the same EU prospects."

They announced closer cooperation in the future.

Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos - whose country holds the EU presidency - said he felt more optimistic on the “name” dispute after meeting Macedonian leaders on Thursday.

BELGRADE - Evangelos Venizelos, Greece's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, will visit Serbia on Tuesday, in his capacity as President of the Council of the European Union.

Peter Sorensen to head EU delegation in BiH