Headlines: Refugees, humanitarian disaster on the borders of Greece

Text by: Philippe Bertinchamps | Mail from the Balkans

A press review in partnership with Le Courrier des Balkans.

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Refugees : humanitarian disaster on the borders of Greece
Since Friday, thousands of refugees have been trying to cross the land border between Turkey and Greece, with the support of Ankara who is playing this card to put pressure on the European Union. Refugees also land on the Aegean islands, where tension continues to mount with the local population.
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Refugees: "Turkey uses Syrians to pressure the EU"
Turkey announced on Friday that it is no longer in control of its European borders, adding that it does not wish to receive more refugees on its territory. Turkish televisions filmed thousands of Syrians on their way to Greece. Faced with the blackmail of Ankara, the EU fears a new migration crisis, as before 2016.

On the border between Turkey and Greece : surviving in expectation and hope
Since President Erdoğan's announcement on February 28 to open Turkey's European borders, thousands of refugees have gathered in the Edirne region in hopes of rallying to Greece. Last night, Athens claimed to have prevented more than 24,000 people from entering its territory. Photo documentary.

Refugees : Greece still refuses to open borders
It is now almost impossible to enter Greece from the Turkish border. The army and the police, supported by residents of the region, forbid all access. A tense face-to-face was established with the soldiers of Ankara. The report by our correspondent Marina Rafenberg in the Evros region.

Refugees : " Everything is calm on the Bulgarian border ", Borissov and Erdogan dine in Ankara
Tension has risen several notches between Ankara and Athens over the issue of migrants. As the latter flock to Greece, not a single one dared to set foot in Bulgaria, a very convenient stage on the "Balkan route". How to explain this paradox ?

Refugees : failure of the Bulgarian mediation mission in Ankara
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boïko Borissov traveled to Ankara to try to convince the Turkish President to participate in an EU summit in Sofia on the migrant crisis. But Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said "no", refusing to meet Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis and expressing his anger against the Europeans.

Refugees : North Macedonia on the alert
The Macedonian authorities are on the alert in the face of a possible massive arrival of migrants from Greece. They also call on the population not to fall into the trap of false information. In 2015-2016, almost 1.3 million people had crossed North Macedonia.

Kosovo-Serbia : dialogue, the dividing line between Brussels and Washington
As the American "bulldozer" drummed up negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, dissension with the European partner seemed to be increasing. For its part, Brussels no longer seems able to make its voice heard in the Balkans. Meanwhile, the government of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, is under pressure to cancel the 100% tax on raw materials imported from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Janez Jansa, the return : Slovenia on the right, right !
For the opposition, appointing Janez Janša as head of government is like locking the wolf in the fold. If man wants to be conciliatory lately, his program leaves no doubt: the immediate future of Slovenia is on the right. Right all.

Economy : Croatian industry soon to be wiped off the map
With the closure of the Uljanik shipyard in Pula, a symbol disappears. If Croatia once enjoyed a strong productive base, today, in Istria as elsewhere, privatizations have followed one another, and the only model that remains is that of tourism, strongly dependent on the world economic situation.

Moldova : a new gas pipeline that redistributes the cards with Bucharest and Moscow
Like other countries in the region, Moldova is dependent on Russian gas. The position of the separatist region of Transnistria and the control of Gazprom over the country's sole distributor make Chișinău vulnerable. But a new gas pipeline connecting Moldova to the Romanian network is to be inaugurated soon. What will it change? Analysis.

Minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina : " Discrimination is still the rule "
It was in a gloomy atmosphere that the Bosnians celebrated, on March 1, the 28 years of their independence referendum. The Constitution resulting from the Dayton Agreements always introduces de facto discrimination between the members of three constituent peoples and those of other minorities. The gaze of Jakob Finci, president of the Jewish community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and of Dervo Sejdić, representative of the Roma community.

Kosovo: "A Serb has the right to be elected to parliament, but not to play football"
For young Serbian athletes, playing for a Kosovar club or for the Kosovo team is a risk that can be very costly. A young footballer recently paid the price, suffering the wrath of Belgrade. A case that is not isolated.

Serbia : " Fagots won't work in Leskovac "
A demonstration of high school students, some very young, took place this Monday afternoon in Leskovac following a false announcement that a Pride March would be organized in the city. Homophobic slogans have been launched. Two journalists were attacked. During the night of Saturday to Sunday, the premises of the Pride Info Center in Belgrade were vandalized.

Serbia : Otac, Srdan Golubovic's double award-winning road movie in Berlin
New success for Serbian cinema: Otac ("The Father"), by filmmaker Srdan Golubović, received on March 1 the Audience Award for Best Fiction Film and the Ecumenical Award, both in the Panorama selection at the Berlinale.

Comic strip : Komikaze, a radical Croatian collective full of self-mockery
Created in 2002 and bringing together more than 300 authors from around the world, the Croatian collective Komikaze obtained consecration at the Angoulême Festival by receiving the Prize for alternative comics. Already in 2015, Charlie Hebdo saluted their fanzine for its graphic richness and a radical approach to the 9th art. Interview with Ivan Marušić.

Latest News • Coronavirus in the Balkans : first positive case in Serbia, the epidemic is spreading in Greece
After the explosion of coronavirus cases in Italy at the end of February, the Balkan countries see COVID-19 arriving on their territory. After Croatia, North Macedonia and Greece, Romania is infected. Are the health authorities of the affected countries ready to deal with the epidemic? Our news feed.

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