GREECE The signing of president’s decree officially kicked off the early elections campaign in Greece. The two biggest political parties started their elections battle. Leaders of the New Democracy and PASOK – Kostas Karamanlis and George Papandreou, respectively, agreed to organize TV debates in parallel to the elections campaigns, inviting …

MACEDONIA On Tuesday, September 8, Macedonia marks its Independence Day, local media report. It is a holiday in the country and all workers have an off-day. The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy announced that September 8 is declared off-day in line with country’s holiday act.

TURKEY A recent report by former senior leaders in Europe that urged European Union (EU) to accelerate Turkey’s accession talks has reaffirmed the Turkish government’s determination to carry out reforms, a Turkish state minister told the semi-official Anatolia news agency Monday, Xinhua informed. State Minister Egemen Bagis, who is also …