STAVROS TZIMAS

Ethnic Greek Petro Gjikuria announces candidacy for Himare mayor

The Omonoia organization representing the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania, and the parties of the Albanian opposition chose as their joint candidate in the repeat municipal elections of August 4 in Himare Petro Gjikuria, an ethinic Greek Albanian who lives and works in the United States.

The challenges of doing business in the borderlands

We had just begun our conversation with Loukia Saranti when a Thessaloniki MP known for his outgoing manner dropped by, prompting me to introduce my guest. “You think I don’t know the iron lady of industry?” he responded.

22.06.2024 / 08:45

Will North Macedonia become Orban’s Balkan gateway?

All diplomatic eyes in Athens will be on North Macedonia this weekend, as Parliament votes on approving the government announced by the leader of the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party.

06.06.2024 / 20:52

My name is Sulejman, but here I am Thanasis

When Sulejman secretly crossed the Greek-Albanian border in 1991 and reached Katerini, he didn’t speak a word of Greek. However, he was determined not to return home, at least not without having saved some money to help his family and to later build his life in the new Albanian reality.

20.05.2024 / 07:46

Mickoski doing his sponsors’ bidding

Incendiary statements by Hristijan Mickoski, the winner of North Macedonia’s May 8 parliamentary election, have dispelled the illusion that his VMRO-DPMNE party is a modern European center-right party and not the nationalist populist formation led by his predecessor.

14.05.2024 / 09:02

Things don’t look good in Skopje

The signs bode ill right from the get-go in North Macedonia, after the Balkan country’s newly elected president kicked off her tenure with an unnecessary swipe at Greece, causing ripples on what were otherwise calm waters in bilateral relations.

11.05.2024 / 14:48

Buying out historical memory

For 25 years, the bombed-out remnants of the former Yugoslav army headquarters in the center of Belgrade, targeted by NATO airstrikes in 1999, stood as a stark reminder of the brutality endured by the Serbian nation during the Kosovo war.

20.04.2024 / 20:40

Studying Islam outside of stereotypes

In December 2016, the first graduates of the newly established program Introduction to Muslim Studies, at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, sat down to study Islam, an emerging world which, in one way or another (positive or negative), we find before us and must learn to “read,” away from stereotypes and prejudices.

06.04.2024 / 22:31

The Serbian pendulum and the roles of Vucic

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is an unpredictable leader in a region crucial for Balkan peace and stability. Striving to maintain a balanced stance between the West and Russia, he has for years benefited from European and American investments, alongside diplomatic support from Russia (particularly concerning Kosovo) and energy assistance. He likes to brag about these […]

23.02.2024 / 21:29

‘I could not deny a human right to fellow citizens,’ says Greek Muslim MP

In Islam, homosexuality is a grave sin that is believed to incur the wrath of Allah. In some strict Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, punishments such as flogging, stoning, and burning at the stake are prescribed.

21.02.2024 / 11:41

Prespes: Nature’s symphony of lakes, wildlife, and rich heritage

As the sun rises behind the mountains, its light bathes the waters of the twin lakes in the Prespes National Park, on Greece’s border with North Macedonia and Albania, creating a breathtaking sight.

02.02.2024 / 22:50

A ‘safety net’ for Mount Athos

With the storm over the planned legislation for same-sex marriage having subsided – at least on the surface – the tranquil monastic community of Mount Athos welcomed its new civil administrator at the start of this week.

31.01.2024 / 16:10

Thessaloniki bracing for tough day as farmers head to city center

Thursday is expected to be a difficult day for Thessaloniki as some 300 farmers are expected to drive their tractors into the city center at the same time as students and educators are planning a rally against private universities.

29.01.2024 / 21:58

Greece and Turkey bridged by tourism

As the new year begins, the tourism industry is gearing up, and the messages for the upcoming summer season are exceptionally encouraging.

14.01.2024 / 09:38

Elpidophoros’ complicated visit at Mt Athos

After the “salvo” of the Holy (Monastic) Community against the visit of Archbishop of America Elpidophoros to Mt. Athos, delivered on the occasion of the baptism of children of a Greek-American same-sex couple, the monastic community is going through days of solemnity due to the Christmas holidays, which are celebrated according to the old Julian calendar.