Zaev: No evidence of Russian interference in referendum

People waving Macedonian and EU flags take part in a march named

US defense chief warns of Russian influence-peddling in Macedonia vote

Jeannette Daniel | 20 September, 2018, 13:46

Mattis condemned Russia's alleged attempts to use its money in order to reinforce the opposition to the referendum, which could pave the way for Macedonia's North Atlantic Treaty Organisation membership.

"No doubt that they have transferred money and they are also conducting broader influence campaigns", Mattis said. "We ought to leave the Macedonian people to make up their own minds".

Macedonians will vote September 30 on whether to approve the new name of North Macedonia is an effort to placate Greece, which has for years blocked Macedonia's path to NATO and the European Union.

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, who was on an official visit to Macedonia, met on Monday with Macedonian leaders and officials, including President Gjorge Ivanov.

Mattis is the latest in a string of Western leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to visit Macedonia and urge its citizens to back the name deal.

"We don't want to see Russian Federation doing there what they have tried to do in so many other countries", he said.

But he had harsh words for what he called "Russian influence operations" and efforts to pay off certain political groups.

Moscow denounced the expulsions as unjustified and responded in kind with expulsions of Greeks. Greece argues that the name implies a territorial claim against the northern Greek region of Macedonia and its ancient heritage. The name change is a result of negotiations with neighboring Greece that both prime ministers signed in June in Prespa, Macedonia.

More news: People ‘fall into four personality types’

But there is widespread concern about Russian impact on the vote.

Washington believes that pro-Russian groups are actively working to undermine the referendum, with Moscow trying to buy off individuals and spreading disinformation.

The U.S. defense secretary later announced a plan for the United States and Macedonia to "expand our cybersecurity cooperation to thwart malicious cyberactivity that threatens both our democracies".

"I think Mattis could make or break this thing by delivering a strong message to the opposition, which has been grudgingly quiet, that they need to come out in full-throated support, because they're not going to get another chance later", Farkas said. "That's our guide for a better life", Zaev told them.

The United States spends almost $5 million a year in security assistance for Macedonia and since 1991 has provided about $750 million in total assistance.

On arrival, Mattis - the first U.S. defence chief to visit Skopje since 2004 - met his Macedonian counterpart Radmila Sekerinska and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who struck the name-change deal with Greece.

Thousands of Macedonians went to Skopje on Sunday to join the march organized by the "Together for European Macedonia" Coalition to support the idea of EU membership, Actualno reported.

According to recent opinion polls, more than 50 percent of people are likely to vote, with the majority supporting the membership bids and the name deal.

Air Force: Space Force would cost $13 billion over 5 years

Danske Bank boss quits over €200bn money-laundering scandal

20 September 2018

Danske Bank boss quits over €200bn money-laundering scandal
And while it took measures to get its Estonian business under control in 2014, these were insufficient. ING Group NV paid a $900 million settlement in a money laundering case this month.

20 September 2018

Air Force: Space Force would cost $13 billion over 5 years
The last time the US created a new military service was in 1947 when the Air Force was established as an independent service. The US Air Force had 401 squadrons in 1987, at the peak of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.

20 September 2018

President Trump visits Carolinas
The president then promised to find out the name of the insurance company, without further detailing what he would do afterward. There, he handed out packages of hot dogs and apple sauce and told the crowd, "Our hearts break for you". "We are with you".
20 September 2018

Netflix’s New Horror Series ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ Looks Disturbing AF
The first adaptation was the 1963 film The Haunting , which starred Russ Tamblyn and Julie Harris. The Haunting of Hill House will debut on Netflix in time for Halloween on October 12.

20 September 2018

Jimmy Butler Doesn't Want to Play With LeBron
The Athletic refuted that notion , reporting that Butler's issues with the Timberwolves are based more on "contractual matters". Shooting guard Jimmy Butler has requested a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves , The Athletic reported Wednesday afternoon.

20 September 2018

Donald Trump sees 'tremendous progress' in North Korea
It was widely reported previous year that the Trump administration was considering a pre-emptive strike against North Korea. So we'll see what happens", he said.
President Trump surveys storm damage in NC
Among the dead were two detainees who died in a Horry County Sheriff's Office transportation van in SC floodwaters. He added later, "Unfortunately, the money will be a lot but it's going to come". "We are anxious about Friday".

20 September 2018

Britain appeals for Brexit compromise from European Union over Irish border
Earlier on Tuesday, the Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who is hosting the event, said that both sides needed to compromise. May has told lawmakers that they will vote either for a Chequers-based deal or to leave without an agreement.

20 September 2018

Firecrackers & bangers set off outside Juventus players' hotel in Valencia
Juventus has won Europe's premier club competition twice but the last time was in 1996. After leaving the pitch the five-times Champions League victor looked close to tears.
20 September 2018

Jet Airways Passengers Left Bleeding As Crew Forgets To Maintain Cabin Pressure
As the plane climbed, the cabin rapidly started losing pressure, forcing the plane to turn back, and some passengers were injured. A video shared by passenger Darshak Hathi shows oxygen masks drop into the interior of the cabin as air pressure dropped.

20 September 2018

Iowa State University women's golf team withdraws from competition
As news of the tragedy was disseminated, many people and organizations began to send their tributes to the slain golfer. In another, he threatened to return to a convenience store to shoot clerks after they caught him shoplifting.

20 September 2018

Nintendo Switch Online is Live Now
Yesterday, Nintendo Switch Online launched, bringing with it classic NES games and paid online multiplayer. Nintendo breaks down this interaction in the gallery of images you see above.

Ticketmaster recruits scalpers to promote resale business, undercover investigation reports For Ticketmaster, this market is "particularly lucrative", CBC reported. Ticketmaster has yet to issue a public statement on these allegations.

Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic Leaked, Looks Fun To Drive Further to that, a three-mode Adaptive Damping system will be available as an option. The vehicle rides on 18-inch light alloy wheels and has special AMG body tidbits.

Donald Trump urges Spain to 'build the wall' across the Sahara According to Josep Borrell, the president wants the European Union member country to emulating his infamous Mexico border policy. Spain has overtaken Italy and Greece as a popular entry point for migrants, with most coming from Morocco, Guinea and Mali.

Fortnite Battle Royale Is Getting A New Cube Event Players have only a handful of days left to complete the season 5 challenges and unlock the rewards before they're gone forever. Initially it seemed that nothing would happen, but seconds later an eruption exploded into the air.

'Calm before storm,' Trump warns SC after Florence deluge He said the town has no water, no sewage, no gasoline and they have been told that they won't have power for eight days. Trump said 1.6 million meals have been provided in North Carolina and another 400,000 are ready for victims in SC .

Russian-born woman claims she was target in Salisbury scare Salisbury district hospital refused to provide details of his condition, citing patient confidentiality. Senior security sources believe Anna and Alex may have been attacked with strychnine, The Sun reports.

Amazon considering opening up to 3,000 cashierless stores by 2021- Bbg The U.S. now has 155,000 convenience stores, with 122,500 of them combined with gas stations, according to industry group NACS. Shares of US supermarket chains Kroger Co (KR.N) and Target Corp (TGT.N) fell between 1 and 2 percent following the news.

Kavanaugh's accuser NOT ready to testify against Trump's supreme court nominee Judge Kavanaugh, 53, says the assault allegation, which dates back to his teenage years, is "completely false". Only if the White House "demands it" will the FBI investigate the claim, Carlson said.

Jack Ma walks back promise to create 1M United States jobs He added USA tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese products could prompt the country to export elsewhere. They still have many opportunities despite the trade frictions between China and the U.S.", Ma said.

Machines to handle over half of workplace tasks by 2025 The report forecasts that, by 2020, machines will perform 42% of all current tasks in the workplace. Technology is disrupting everything, including the way we work.

Arsenal’s Bernd Leno gets chance to prove his worth against Vorskla But the German goalkeeper will now make his debut for Arsenal as the Gunners prepare to kick off their European campaign. We are going to motivate our players to play well and give a good account of themselves".

One in 11 US teens use cannabis in e-cigarettes Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly warned that e-cigarette use among young Americans has reached "epidemic" proportions. But past year Gottlieb delayed the deadline until 2022, saying both the agency and industry needed more time to prepare.

Zimbabwe: Cholera death toll climbs to 28... as govt announces new antibiotics The current crisis is the deadliest since Zimbabwe's worst cholera outbreak from 2008 to 2009, when over 4,000 people died and 90,000 people were infected.

Cryptocurrency markets are wide open to insider trading, USA regulators say While nine exchanges responded to the inquiries, four abstained, including Kraken , who overtly dismissed the 34-point questionnaire in the following tweet .

OnePlus is planning to enter the TV market The smart TV need to offer a sleek design to stand out and sell itself as a lifestyle item as much as it does as a television. OnePlus has not yet decided which AI will power the OnePlus TV , but it will likely be between Google Home and Amazon Echo.

Zaev: No evidence of Russian interference in referendum

Recommended