https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/rss Thu, 21 May 2026 02:19:58 +0300 en hourly 1 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130433-bulgarian-embassy-in-athens-hosts-reception-honouring-bulgarian-culture-and-army https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130433-bulgarian-embassy-in-athens-hosts-reception-honouring-bulgarian-culture-and-army Wed, 20 May 2026 23:49:57 +0300 Ambassador of Bulgaria to Greece Valentin Poryazov hosted a reception at the Bulgarian Embassy in Greece in Athens on Wednesday. The event marked May 24 and May 6, honouring Sts Cyril and Methodius, Bulgarian culture and the Bulgarian Army. Addressing guests, Poryazov highlighted Bulgaria’s historic role in preserving and spreading the legacy of Cyril and Methodius and their disciples, who created the Cyrillic script in medieval Bulgaria. “This alphabet has preserved the Bulgarian people through the centuries. It is our contribution to the culture and free spirit of Europe,” Poryazov said. He recalled that in 1980 Cyril and Methodius were proclaimed patrons of Europe by the late Pope John Paul II and that, with Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union on January 1, 2007, Cyrillic became the EU’s third official alphabet after Latin and Greek. Poryazov also noted the strategic partnership and steady development of Bulgaria-Greece relations in energy, defence, transport, regional connectivity and the economy. He recalled that Bulgaria was guest of honour at the Thessaloniki International Book Fair in early May. He also pointed to the success of Bulgarian pop singer Dara, who won the Eurovision Song Contest. “Warmest congratulations to Dara, a very talented young singer who became world famous in just a few days. She even gave Europe’s highest-circulation newspaper, Germany’s Bild, a reason to publish an article with impressive facts about Bulgaria. Excellent work, Dara. No Bulgarian diplomat could have made Germany’s biggest newspaper speak so well about Bulgaria,” Poryazov said. Speaking on behalf of the Greek Government, Defence Minister Nikos Dendias also opened his remarks by congratulating Bulgaria on its Eurovision Song Contest success, saying it had made everyone in the Balkans proud. “Greece and Bulgaria are neighbouring countries, NATO allies and European Union partners, sharing common strategic interests and a common vision of a region of peace, stability and prosperity,” Dendias said. The reception was attended by representatives of Greece’s public administration, military and political figures, ambassadors and military attaches accredited to Greece. Guests also included academics, Bulgarian cultural and educational figures, and members of Bulgarian associations and Sunday schools in Athens. Balkans BTA correspondent Ivan Lazarov Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130356-students-of-bulgarian-language-and-literature-at-ankara-university-visit-bta-s-p https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130356-students-of-bulgarian-language-and-literature-at-ankara-university-visit-bta-s-p Wed, 20 May 2026 19:59:59 +0300 Students of Bulgarian Language and Literature at Ankara University visited the Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) and learned more about its work on Wednesday. The visitors are completing the first year of their Bulgarian language studies, taught by Myuzeyan Uzunova. During the visit, BTA's correspondent in Ankara Ayshe Sali said the Press Club regularly hosts cultural events and initiatives promoting Bulgaria. The students explained why they had chosen Bulgarian as part of their professional path, shared what they liked about Bulgaria, and those who had already visited the country spoke about their impressions. Diplomacy, international trade, academia and literary translation are among the fields in which the students said they hoped to use Bulgarian after graduation. The student who demonstrated the strongest command of Bulgarian, 23-year-old Firat Cevik, received a commemorative plaque featuring the Cyrillic alphabet in the LIK typeface created by BTA. The other students received copies of the LIK magazine and brochures promoting Bulgaria as a tourist destination. Balkans Diana Dukovska BTA correspondent Ayshe Sali https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130258-serbian-president-to-attend-eu-western-balkans-summit-after-talking-to-ec-presid https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130258-serbian-president-to-attend-eu-western-balkans-summit-after-talking-to-ec-presid Wed, 20 May 2026 17:59:23 +0300 Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that he has decided to attend the EU-Western Balkans Summit to be hosted by Tivat, Montenegro, on June 5, the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday. Vucic came to this decision after speaking with European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen. In late April, the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatovic, and the European Council President, Antonio Costa, issued a joint invitation to the leaders of the EU and the Western Balkan countries to attend the summit. The invitation emphasized that the summit represents a historic moment, as it is being held in Montenegro for the first time, thereby marking the country's debut as host of one of the most important political and strategic meetings between the European Union and the Western Balkans. In doing so, Montenegro reaffirms its position as a trusted partner and active participant in the European process, as well as a bridge between the region and the European Union. In 2025, marked by mass anti-government protests in Serbia, Vucic declined to attend the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels at the last minute, after it became clear that there was no consensus among Member States on opening Chapter 3 of Serbia's EU accession process. Balkans Nikolay Zabov BTA Correspondent Teodora Encheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130153-suspicions-of-espionage-over-alleged-leaks-from-north-macedonia-president-s-offi https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130153-suspicions-of-espionage-over-alleged-leaks-from-north-macedonia-president-s-offi Wed, 20 May 2026 17:53:00 +0300 An alleged espionage scandal involving the office of the President of North Macedonia has been drawing significant media and public attention in the country since Tuesday. The allegation was first reported on Tuesday by Sloboden Pecat, which claims that the editorial office received an anonymous report submitted to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Fight Against Organized Crime and Corruption, signed by a "group of Interior Ministry employees", according to which data was copied and decrypted from the computers in the President's Office, which is believed to have been intended for foreign intelligence services. An IT administrator in the office of President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova is reportedly suspected of allegedly copying, decrypting and storing confidential data, and of alleged links to a foreign intelligence service. According to Sloboden Pecat, other employees of the President’s Office and the Intelligence Agency are also suspected of involvement in concealing evidence, while senior government officials allegedly pressured the President and the Prosecutor’s Office to halt the investigation. The Prosecutor's Office began a preliminary investigation late last year, but has not yet received the findings of expert reports from the Ministry of Interior, the country's media reported on Wednesday. The investigation began on December 18, 2025, when the Cybercrime Unit of the Ministry of Interior received a message indicating illegal activities in the President's Office from November 24, 2025.  "As part of the procedure, a request has been filed with the Basic Criminal Court for a search warrant for the computer system to determine the content that may have been illegally copied from the information system in the President's administration. At the same time, orders have also been issued to extract data from personal and portable computers provided to the Ministry of Interior by that administration," the Prosecutor's Office said. At the end of 2025, a request was submitted to the Ministry of Interior for the Cybersecurity Unit to analyze the evidence extracted, and a request was also sent to the Office of the President of North Macedonia for copies of security camera footage related to the incident and the period during which it allegedly took place. Earlier this year, the President’s Office replied that it did not have copies of the surveillance footage, as the Interior Ministry was responsible for processing and storing the recordings. "To date, the Ministry of Interior has not yet provided information about any action taken regarding the release of copies of the surveillance footage," the media said, quoting the Prosecutor's Office.  "An analysis of all electronic evidence extracted from the seized equipment is underway. This is a large amount of electronic evidence, which requires a longer period of time. The analysis is in its final phase, and all evidence will be submitted in due course to the Prosecutor’s Office for an investigation of corruption and bribery," the Ministry of Interior said in a statement, quoted by the media. Asked about the scandal, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski refused to comment, saying that the case is the work of "the spying scum of society" - structures from the offices of former politicians, while the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption, led by Islam Abazi, has, in his words, created panic in society. Balkans BTA correspondent Marinela Velichkova Atanas Malakchiev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130232-north-macedonia-s-pm-on-rally-supporting-serbian-president-government-does-not- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130232-north-macedonia-s-pm-on-rally-supporting-serbian-president-government-does-not- Wed, 20 May 2026 17:37:00 +0300 North Macedonia's Government has absolutely no intention to either support or interfere in the internal and independent policy of any country, Prime Minister of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski told journalists on Wednesday. He was asked whether he supports a pro-Serbian President rally in Kumanovo on May 23, organized by the Peace, Freedom, Stability civil association for progress in ethnic minority rights and interests. The organization has called for sending "a strong message of unity and support" by gathering "all supporters and citizens who respect policy of Serbian President' Aleksandar Vucic." On the same date in Belgrade, students will hold yet another demonstration as part of the large-scale protests organized by them for a year and a half now, demanding new parliamentary elections and accusing the power holders, including the Serbian President, of corruption.  The announced rally  in Kumanovo has triggered a reaction by the opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM). SDSM Execute Council member Andrej Zernovski commented in a Facebook post on Tuesday that if that were a rally in support of Bulgarian Prime Minister and former president Rumen Radev, then right-wing VMRO-DPMNE leader and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski "and their entire media network would shout about an interference in internal affairs, sovereignty in danger, and treason and would hold a news conference every two hours." However, the publicly organized political rally in Kumanovo in support of "brother Vucic" was met with silence, no patriotic speeches, no dramatic posts, no condemnation, no patriotic news conference, Zernovski argued. "This is the best evidence of their hypocritical policy. The interference in the policy of another country is not a problem; their problem is only who does it," he added. For quite some time, SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE have been finding reasons to trade accusations daily, getting Bulgaria's name involved.  Balkans Dimitrina Solakova BTA correspondent Marinela Velichkova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130056-romanian-cabinet-discusses-investment-projects-in-education-healthcare-energy https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1130056-romanian-cabinet-discusses-investment-projects-in-education-healthcare-energy Wed, 20 May 2026 15:47:39 +0300 The status of projects and investments implemented in Romania through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) was analysed on Wednesday at a meeting coordinated by the caretaker Prime Minister of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, as reported by the government press service. Investment projects in the fields of education, healthcare, public works, energy, economy and digitization were discussed, as well as reforms related to decarbonization, reducing delays in rail transport, and the payment of salaries from the budget. The Ministry of Health was singled out as urgently needing to implement several outstanding government decisions that will ensure payments, so that the process of building hospitals financed under the NRRP can be completed by the end of August. Bolojan asked all investment and reform coordinators to analyse their financial needs from the state budget, complementary to the financing from the NRRP, and to submit this data to the Ministry of Finance. Organizational adjustments will also be made at the ministerial level to ensure human resources for checking payment requests. If necessary, ministries experiencing delays will be supported by the Ministry of Investments and European Projects. At Wednesday's working meeting, the ministries coordinated their information and prepared the negotiations that will take place with representatives of the European Commission in Brussels on May 22. The Romanian government's goal is to fully use the available funds for investment projects. With the fourth payment request worth EUR 2.62 billion approved last week by the European Commission, the implementation rate of the NRRP has exceeded 60%. Balkans BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva Atanas Malakchiev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1129884-customs-officers-seize-ancient-coins-rings-artefacts-at-kapitan-andreevo https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1129884-customs-officers-seize-ancient-coins-rings-artefacts-at-kapitan-andreevo Wed, 20 May 2026 12:53:00 +0300 Customs officers at the Kapitan Andreevo Border Checkpoint seized more than 4,600 ancient coins, rings, and other artefacts classified as movable cultural and historical valuables, the Customs Agency’s regional press office in Svilengrad reported on Wednesday. The objects were found during an inspection of a truck with Turkish registration plates. The driver, a Turkish citizen, had declared that he was transporting metal molds from Turkiye to Germany.  According to an initial expert appraisal, the objects have a total gross weight of 17.690 kg and stem from different periods of antiquity and the Middle Ages. The smuggled archaeological artifacts have been seized and will be handed over for a thorough expert examination for precise dating and identification. A report has been drawn up against the driver of the truck, and work on the case continues. On February 17, a total of 3270 undeclared ancient coins and 850 ancient objects were seized at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint in a cargo van with Polish registration. Balkans Filip Pavlov BTA correspondent Nikolay Grudev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1129731-bulgaria-s-foreign-minister-discusses-strategic-relations-with-greek-ambassador https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1129731-bulgaria-s-foreign-minister-discusses-strategic-relations-with-greek-ambassador Wed, 20 May 2026 10:50:19 +0300 At a meeting at the Foreign Ministry, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova and Greek Ambassador to Bulgaria Alexios Marios Liberopoulos discussed the strategic relations between the two countries and their shared strive to additionally upgrade those relations, the ministry announced on its website on Wednesday. Minister Petrova highlighted Greece as an ally with whom we share common values and similar regional challenges. She emphasized that cooperation between the two countries is a factor for stability and development on a broader regional scale. Special emphasis was placed on the role both countries play in strengthening regional security and improving energy and transport connectivity, specifically along the North-South axis. Petrova noted that strengthening ties between the Black Sea, Aegean, and Central European regions will contribute to strengthening the strategic autonomy and resilience of the European Union and the region as a whole, the Foreign Ministry statement added. Last week, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova and Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, discussed the current agenda, bilateral relations, and identified some next steps for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in areas of joint interest. Balkans Risida Dimitrova Yoana Hristova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1129472-european-project-provides-forest-fire-protection-equipment-to-bulgaria-turkiye-b https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1129472-european-project-provides-forest-fire-protection-equipment-to-bulgaria-turkiye-b Tue, 19 May 2026 19:16:11 +0300 Desislava Georgieva, Director of the Management of Territorial Cooperation Directorate at the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW), on Tuesday presented a contract for the implementation of the FLAMESHIELD Project to Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov, Director of the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection (GDFSCP) at the Ministry of Interior, Georgieva's Ministry said in a press release. The FLAMESHIELD project seeks to strengthen cross-border preparedness and disaster response capacity by improving coordination between Bulgaria and Turkiye. It focuses on developing joint operational frameworks, enhancing institutional and community capacity, and ensuring a more effective and timely response to forest fires. The aim is to enhance operational readiness, mobility, safety of staff and volunteers, and the ability for faster, safer and more effective disaster response in the cross-border region. The project will be implemented by the GDFSCP in partnership with national, regional and local authorities of Turkiye and the Bulgarian municipalities of Svilengrad, Topolovgrad and Bolyarovo, whose mayors, Atanas Karchev, Bozhin Bozhinov and Hristo Hristov, were present at Tuesday's event. Georgieva noted that this is the last contract under the current cross-border cooperation programme with Turkiye. It brings the total amount of funds contracted under the program to EUR 29 million or 98% of its budget. The funds are invested in various initiatives, such as building competitiveness, the green transition, addressing illegal migration, developing tourism, etc. "The Directorate General for Fire Safety and Civil Protection is the most active beneficiary under our cross-border programmes. We are currently implementing four key contracts under four programmes worth a total of EUR 18 million. All of them are part of our joint efforts with our neighbours for purposeful response to forest fires and natural disasters that are among the most serious challenges in the Balkans, as they affect ever more areas and inflict increasing damage," said Georgieva. Under the FLAMESHIELD project, state-of-the-art equipment will be procured and fire and natural disaster protection training will be delivered in the area along the border between the two countries on EUR 5.2 million from the Bulgaria-Turkiye Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021-2027, which is managed by the MRDPW. As a result, 588,200 ha of land in Bulgaria and Turkiye will be protected from forest fires, and approximately 290,000 people in the cross-border region will have their safety increased. Joint standard operating procedures and cross-border response plans, fire risk analyses and maps of vulnerable areas will be developed, covering 30 border villages, and 120 volunteers and first aid teams will be trained and local firefighting teams of around 200 people will be formed. The volunteer tracking system will also be modernized for better coordination. Thanks to the project, the services and municipalities will purchase new specialized firefighting equipment. The fire service will be equipped with three heavy tracked vehicles for firefighting clearings and open roads in hard-to-reach forest areas. A total of 325 sets of forest fire protective equipment for volunteers, 30 water tankers (4 tonnes) for 30 villages, two tracked tractors with two trailers for transporting heavy equipment, as well as radio communication systems, will be procured. The three municipalities will each purchase one off-road specialized vehicle with one firefighting module and sets of protective equipment. The Turkish project partners will also purchase forest fire protective equipment for volunteers, water tankers, tracked tractors and radio communication systems, an aerial surveillance drone, specialized equipment for search and rescue intervention, an off-road 4x4 vehicle, a logistics van and IT equipment to support data analysis and disaster management, a GPS and leveling kit for terrain mapping, etc. Human activity is mainly to blame for forest fires in Bulgaria, according to an analysis that the environmental organization WWF published in July 2025. Over 90% of the fires broke out after deliberate human intervention or due to negligence. Only in two to four of the cases a fire was due to natural causes, most often a lightning. Over 7,000 forest fires have been recorded in Bulgaria over the past 15 years, affecting over 1.1 million hectares, the WWF reported. Bulgaria Ekaterina Toteva Atanas Malakchiev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1129317-north-macedonia-s-sdsm-vmro-dpmne-trade-yet-another-portion-of-accusations-invo https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1129317-north-macedonia-s-sdsm-vmro-dpmne-trade-yet-another-portion-of-accusations-invo Tue, 19 May 2026 17:27:04 +0300 A rally in North Macedonia's Kumanovo in support of the policy of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic triggered a strong reaction by the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM). Yet again, the opposition formation hurled accusations at the ruling VMRO-DPMNE, getting Bulgaria's name involved. The organizers of the rally - the Peace, Freedom, Stability civil association for progress in ethnic minority rights and interests - called for sending "a strong message of unity and support" by gathering "all supporters and citizens who respect the Serbian President's policy." SDSM Execute Council member Andrej Zernovski commented in a Facebook post that if that were a rally in support of Bulgarian Prime Minister and former president Rumen Radev, then right-wing VMRO-DPMNE leader and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski "and their entire media network would shout about an interference in internal affairs, sovereignty in danger, and treason and would hold a news conference every two hours." However, the publicly organized political rally in Kumanovo in support of "brother Vucic" was met with silence, no patriotic speeches, no dramatic posts, no condemnation, no patriotic news conference, Zernovski argued. "This is the best evidence of their hypocritical policy. The interference in the policy of another country is not a problem; their problem is only who does it," he added. According to him, if 3,504 Bulgarians living in North Macedonia are presented as a huge risks for the State and the people, then how is it possible that 35,939 Serbs in the country are not a threat to Macedonian identity, language, and culture. Zernovski believes that the Government is looking for an excuse to continue the country's self-isolation. "This is not a matter of some fight for their identity, but cheap political manipulation of citizens' emotions and fears. When it suits them, the foreign political rally is 'brotherly support'. When it does not suit them, the same is 'a national catastrophe,'" the post reads. For quite some time, SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE have been finding reasons to trade accusations daily, getting Bulgaria involved.  After Bulgaria's Dara won the Eurovision song contest in Vienna on May 16, SDSM leader Venko Filipce called on VMRO-DPMNE to organize her welcoming back from Austria because she was "their representative" at the contest, all of them have Bulgarian passports, and they "have experience with protocol, cameras, and media." VMRO-DPMNE spokesperson Valentin Manasievski on Monday replied that "Filipce, top anti-Macedonian, has reached the top in politics and in order to save his career and prove he is ready to do anything to come to power, celebrated the Eurovision win of a neighbouring country." On Tuesday, Manasievski noted that Filipce was yet to condemn the words of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister. "For nearly two weeks now, Venko Filipce has been making excuses and has failed to condemn the disgraceful remarks made by Bulgarian Minister Petrova-Chamova, who called us 'North Macedonians'. Filipce even takes pride in the very successes that have subjugated our country. With such soft policies, Filipce is giving the Bulgarian authorities room to blackmail us and claim that there is a small group of politicians in [North] Macedonia who will comply with their demands. Filipce remains loyal to Bulgaria for reasons known only to him. But it is worth noting that these reasons are blackmail by a group of Bulgarian politicians due to his criminal past with [former prime minister] Zoran Zaev,” Manasievski stated. Balkans Dimitrina Solakova BTA correspondent Marinela Velichkova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1129269-serbian-translator-jasmina-jovanovic-hopes-rene-karabash-s-novel-wins-booker-pri https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1129269-serbian-translator-jasmina-jovanovic-hopes-rene-karabash-s-novel-wins-booker-pri Tue, 19 May 2026 16:39:57 +0300 Serbian translator Jasmina Jovanovic said in an interview for BTA that she is hopeful that Bulgarian writer Rene Karabash's novel She Who Remains will win the International Booker Prize on Tuesday night. Jovanovic, who has already translated other Bulgarian authors, including Booker Prize winner Georgi Gospodinov, also translated Karabash's book into Serbian. Jovanovic shared that Ostajnica, the title of She Who Remains translated into Serbian, has been her favourite book recently. She added: "What is interesting is that Ostajnica also includes poetry, which is much more demanding to translate because of the need to preserve the rhyme. And thanks to the closeness of the two languages, the closest among the Slavic languages, I think that I managed." A part of the process required from Jovanovic to research old Serbian songs, in order to better translate the phrases blue sky and blue sea. Jovanovic also talked about Georgi Gospodinov's novel The Gardener and Death. She shared that while translating it was a challenge, considering that a week earlier she lost her father, the process did act like therapy, since the text tells the story of the relationship between Gospodinov and his own father. The translator graduated with a degree in Bulgarian Language and Literature from the University of Belgrade, where she wrote her dissertation on the works of the great literary figures of Serbia and Bulgaria – Desanka Maksimovic and Elisaveta Bagryana. Balkans Nikolay Zabov BTA Correspondent Teodora Encheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1129200-customs-officers-at-lesovo-checkpoint-on-border-with-turkiye-seize-198-smuggled- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1129200-customs-officers-at-lesovo-checkpoint-on-border-with-turkiye-seize-198-smuggled- Tue, 19 May 2026 15:28:30 +0300 Customs officers at the Lesovo checkpoint on the border with Turkiye seized 198 smuggled guns and 120 magazines for ammunition hidden in a truck, the Customs Agency said on Tuesday. On May 18, a truck with foreign registration plates, driven by a Turkish citizen arrived at the checkpoint. At customs control, the driver presented documents stating that he was transporting packages containing auto parts and dyes from Turkiye to Norway via Bulgaria. Customs officers conducted a thorough inspection of the vehicle and found seven undeclared boxes hidden among the packages with the declared goods. The boxes contained 198 sets of guns with empty magazines and an additional 120 empty gun magazines. The contraband guns and magazines were seized. A pre-trial investigation has been initiated by the Burgas Customs Territorial Directorate, conducted by an investigating customs inspector under the supervision of the Yambol District Prosecutor’s Office. The driver has been detained for up to 72 hours. The District Prosecutor’s Office in Yambol is expected to submit to the court a request for the imposition of a remand measure of detention in custody. Balkans Risida Dimitrova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128954-helicopter-rescues-bulgarian-tourist-in-romania-after-40-m-fall-into-ravine https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128954-helicopter-rescues-bulgarian-tourist-in-romania-after-40-m-fall-into-ravine Tue, 19 May 2026 12:24:31 +0300 A Bulgarian tourist was rescued by helicopter from the Caraiman Valley in the Bucegi Mountains after falling 40 meters into a ravine, according to the Romanian mountain rescue service Salvamont. The rescue operation was carried out with the help of a helicopter from the emergency response system SMURD, which lowered a mountain rescuer directly to the site of the accident. The team responded after receiving a call to emergency number 112 at around 12.45 pm local time on Monday. According to the report, the Bulgarian tourist slipped on snow and fell into a gorge. The young man was seriously injured and was urgently transported to a hospital. He suffered multiple injuries, including head, abdominal, and lower limb trauma, as well as abrasions caused by the fall. The injured man was in a group with four other people. All of them were evacuated from the mountain safely. Rescuers noted that the steep trails in the Bucegi Mountains are still closed, and that the group had been inadequately equipped for the conditions in the area. Balkans Petya Petrova BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128633-german-turkish-foreign-ministers-discuss-middle-east-conflict-eu-membership-u https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128633-german-turkish-foreign-ministers-discuss-middle-east-conflict-eu-membership-u Mon, 18 May 2026 21:11:00 +0300 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul discussed tensions in the Persian Gulf, Turkiye’s European Union aspirations, the war in Ukraine and NATO cooperation during talks in Berlin on Monday. A major focus of the meeting was the situation around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Wadephul said diplomatic contacts with Tehran were continuing and expressed optimism that negotiations could still produce progress. He stressed that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons or pose a threat to regional stability, adding that diplomacy remained the preferred path forward. Fidan called for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open and warned against further escalation in the Gulf. He said Turkiye was working closely with international partners, including the United States, Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to support ongoing mediation efforts and encourage dialogue between the parties involved. The ministers also reviewed bilateral trade and economic relations, including efforts to modernize the EU-Turkiye Customs Union and Ankara’s long-standing bid for full EU membership. Fidan argued that relations between Turkiye and the EU should be shaped by strategic cooperation rather than political disputes, pointing to shared interests in migration, regional security, energy corridors and counterterrorism. Ukraine was another key topic during the talks. Wadephul described Russia’s war against Ukraine as the greatest security threat facing Europe and thanked Turkiye for helping facilitate negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. Fidan said the war continuing into a fifth year would be unacceptable and reiterated Ankara’s support for diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement. Balkans BTA correspondent Ayshe Sali Atanas Malakchiev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128557-serbian-president-vucic-and-kenyan-president-ruto-discuss-economic-cooperation-a https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128557-serbian-president-vucic-and-kenyan-president-ruto-discuss-economic-cooperation-a Mon, 18 May 2026 19:01:49 +0300 Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met Kenyan President William Ruto in Baku on Monday during the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, Serbian media reported. Vucic said the two countries aimed to transform their long-standing friendship and historical ties into modern economic cooperation. “This important global summit is an exceptional opportunity to exchange views on the shared challenges of urbanization, infrastructure and economic progress, which are key issues for both Serbia and Kenya,” Vucic wrote on Instagram. He said Serbia and Kenya were connected by a long tradition of friendship dating back to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), adding that Serbia had much to offer through infrastructure projects, urban modernization and the upcoming Expo 2027 in Belgrade. Vucic said that Kenyan president Ruto had accepted his invitation to visit Serbia. More than a year ago, Kenya recognized the independence of Kosovo, formerly a Serbian province. Vucic said the issue had also been discussed during the meeting with Ruto. “It was not an easy conversation, especially after they recognized Kosovo and Metohija’s independence,” Vucic told Serbian daily Vecernje Novosti. He said he had previously urged Ruto not to recognize Kosovo during talks at the United Nations. In March last year, Ruto held talks with then Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani on the sidelines of a European forum, after which Kenya recognized Kosovo’s independence. Belgrade strongly condemned the decision, describing it as a violation of international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which established a UN presence in Kosovo in 1999. Serbia also lodged an official protest with Nairobi. Despite the diplomatic dispute, Vucic said he believed Kenya would open an embassy in Belgrade after many decades and expressed hope that the two countries could gradually build “new, better and more successful relations.” Balkans Teodora Lyubenova BTA Correspondent Teodora Encheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128442-two-turkish-citizens-detained-for-people-smuggling https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128442-two-turkish-citizens-detained-for-people-smuggling Mon, 18 May 2026 17:29:45 +0300 A Turkish citizen has been detained by Bulgarian authorities after allegedly smuggling 15 citizens of Afghanistan, Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia across Bulgaria’s maritime border, the Burgas district prosecutor’s office said Monday. The man has been detained for 72 hours and charged under Bulgaria’s Criminal Code. His boat with the migrants was intercepted on May 15 about 10 nautical miles east of the village of Sinemorets and around five nautical miles north of the maritime border with Turkey. The Burgas district prosecutor’s office is expected to request that the court place the suspect in pre-trial detention. Bulgaria’s Border Police made public another case involving a Turkish national, a driver, who was detained at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing on May 14 when two Iranians, aged 20 and 18, were found hidden inside the vehicle. Balkans BTA correspondent in Burgas Stanimir Dimitrov Teodora Lyubenova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128460-north-macedonia-expects-slovenia-to-support-its-eu-integration-president-siljan https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128460-north-macedonia-expects-slovenia-to-support-its-eu-integration-president-siljan Mon, 18 May 2026 17:19:00 +0300 North Macedonia expects Slovenia to support its EU integration, North Macedonia's President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova told a joint news conference with her Slovenian counterpart Natasa Pirc Musar in Ljubljana. “What I want to emphasize is the danger of bilateralizing the EU enlargement process, especially when it is linked to issues of identity that are not subject to discussion. We do not want privileges, but rather the consistent application of EU law and respect for the historical and cultural identity of nations and the dignity and inviolability of the individual,” North Macedonia's President said, as quoted by her press office.   According to Siljanovska-Davkova, who studied in Slovenia, the country is an inspiring example of a small European nation that, with stable democratic institutions, the rule of law, and a political culture, is successfully building a functional and integrated society. In her words, the integration of the Western Balkans is not only a political issue, but also a matter of security. In Ljubljana, the President of North Macedonia met with Parliament Speaker Zoran Stevanovic, and her schedule includes a meeting with members of the Macedonian-Slovenian Business Club. Balkans Dimitrina Solakova BTA correspondent Marinela Velichkova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128211-university-of-athens-to-host-11th-edition-of-bulgarian-studies-competition https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1128211-university-of-athens-to-host-11th-edition-of-bulgarian-studies-competition Mon, 18 May 2026 14:05:00 +0300 The University of Athens will be hosting the 11th edition of its annual Bulgarian Studies Competition, aimed at promoting Bulgarian language, culture, and academic cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece. According to Bulgarian language and culture lecturer Gencho Banev, the competition is open to all students, from first-year undergraduates to doctoral students. Participants may compete in three categories: research, translation, and creative writing. Applications must be submitted online by May 22. Eligible entries include academic works produced during the 2025–2026 academic year and related to Bulgarian history, literature, culture, or Bulgarian-Greek relations. This year’s edition has a special anniversary focus, marking the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising of 1876, a key moment in Bulgarian history. The award ceremony will take place on May 28 at the Faculty of Philosophy Library Auditorium of the Athens university. The program will also feature presentations connected to the GraecoBulgarica project and information about ongoing academic and cultural initiatives. Following the ceremony, attendees will see the first screening in Greece of the 2021 Bulgarian film “The Path of Light,” directed by Ivan Radev and dedicated to the legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius. The annual competition is traditionally organized around the celebration of Saints Cyril and Methodius, honored in Bulgaria as creators of the Slavic alphabet and symbols of education and culture. Balkans BTA correspondent Ivan Lazarov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1127975-romanian-social-democrats-reject-potential-government-led-by-ilie-bolojan https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1127975-romanian-social-democrats-reject-potential-government-led-by-ilie-bolojan Mon, 18 May 2026 11:56:53 +0300 Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Sorin Grindeanu said on Monday that his party rejects the option of a government led by National Liberal Party leader Ilie Bolojan. Grindeanu was speaking after political consultations with President Nicusor Dan on the formation of a new Romanian government at the Cotroceni Palace. The consultations began after Bolojan's Cabinet was brought down in a vote of no confidence earlier in May. The PSD, the largest force in Parliament, was the first participant in the consultations convened by Dan. Grindeanu, quoted by Agerpres news agency, said: "We cannot have a government with Ilie Bolojan as prime minister, and this was stated not only by PSD members, but also by the Romanian Parliament through a vote of no confidence backed by 281 MPs." He added that the PSD excludes an alliance for a new government outside the pro-Western parties. The Social Democrats also reject the option of a technocratic government. "These are the principles we conveyed to the President so that, after the consultations, an attempt can be made to reach a solution," Grindeanu said. Balkans Tatiana Marinova BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1127789-bulgaria-s-eurovision-victory-draws-wide-balkan-media-coverage https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1127789-bulgaria-s-eurovision-victory-draws-wide-balkan-media-coverage Sun, 17 May 2026 17:34:00 +0300 Media in Bulgaria's neighbouring countries widely cover Dara's victory at the Eurovision Song Contest, often finding something of their own in both her success and personality. BTA's correspondents in Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkiye and Greece reported on local media coverage of Bulgaria's Eurovision victory on Sunday. Martina Gancheva, Bucharest: Bulgaria's and Dara's triumph at Eurovision is among the leading stories in the Romanian media. The reaction has been so strong that Bangaranga was heard playing in one of Bucharest's major shopping centres, which is frequented by Bulgarians. One of the reasons for the enthusiastic reception of Bulgaria's victory is the fact that one of the song's composers is Romanian. The singer-songwriter Cristian Tarcea, better known as Monoir, began studying music at the age of five and is now a well-established name in the music industry across Southeastern Europe. Marinela Velichkova, Skopje: The local media cover Bulgaria's triumph extensively. "Eurovision has long been more than just a music competition. It is a stage for identities, national sensitivities, spectacle, politics, memory and mass emotions. Sometimes, amid all that noise, one song manages to do something simple and rare - to lift spirits, win over the public and keep the jury captivated. That is exactly what happened with Bulgaria in Vienna. In this context, Dara's triumph is not merely a victory for a singer, but also the first major Eurovision imprint from a neighbouring Balkan scene that has long been recognizable, yet never crowned," panoptikum.mk wrote. Teodora Encheva, Belgrade: Bulgaria's Eurovision victory and Dara are among the leading topics in the Serbian media, which highlight her message that "Love always wins". "This is the first winner to unite the opinions of both the public and the jury since the unforgettable victory of [Portugal's] Salvador Sobral in Kyiv in 2017, and only the second time since the current voting system was introduced in 2016. In addition, Bulgaria is the first Balkan country to win the contest since Serbia and Marija Serifovic triumphed in Helsinki in 2007," Serbia's public broadcaster RTS said. Ayshe Sali, Ankara: Given Turkiye's position on the war in Gaza, reports on the topic mention that Israel finished second and that the contest took place against the backdrop of calls to boycott Tel Aviv. The main focus, however, is on the fact that Dara's husband, Ervin, is of Turkish origin. Dara surprised her Turkish fans on the Eurovision red carpet by saying in Turkish: "Thank you, Turkiye." She also said: "I would love to come again soon. My husband is Turkish, so of course I have to come. Whenever I have time, I study a little Turkish almost every week. Next time I give an interview, I may surprise you with even more words." CNN Turk cited Bulgarian media reports that Dara married Ervin Ivanov, who is of Turkish origin, in 2025. Ivan Lazarov, Athens: Greek media call Dara's victory at the Eurovision Song Contest "historic" for Bulgaria. Proto Thema had several articles dedicated to Bulgaria's victory. Bangaranga was described as a song inspired by themes related to overcoming "fear and inner demons", which, according to the outlet, helped Bulgaria stand out from the other contestants. Proto Thema also stressed that Greek composer Dimitris Kontopoulos was on the song's writing team. Balkans Diana Dukovska