Saturday, June 9, 2007


Does Kakomea Beach issue next crash between Albania and Greece?

The State Department Daily Briefing, June 8, 2007, ..about albania,...

ALBANIA
President Bush’s Trip to Albania
Relations between U.S. and Albania

...............................MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros.
QUESTION: On Albania, Mr. Casey, the citizens of the Greek town (inaudible) in the recent days are subjected to unrelenting question by the Albanian authorities to abandon their properties and their homes. Has the Department of State briefed the President on the precarious situation of the Greek minority in Albania since he's going to speak this coming Sunday in Tirana?
MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, I'm sure that the President will raise a variety of bilateral and regional issues when he goes to Albania. I'm not aware of the specific instance that you're referring to. Again, Albania has a democratically elected government. It is a government that can speak for itself in terms of how it might be handling any internal disputes or internal issues within the country.
QUESTION: One more on Albania?
MR. CASEY: One more on Albania, okay, and then we've got to go back to this woman who's been waiting very patiently.
QUESTION: What role did Tom Ridge, who's stationed (inaudible) in Albania play in arranging the visit by President Bush to Albania? Did he consult with the Department of State or did (inaudible) --
MR. CASEY: I'm sorry, did --
QUESTION: -- with the Department of Justice for his representation of Albanian interest in this time?
MR. CASEY: I'm sorry, Mr. Lambros, did who arrange the visit? The visit was arranged by --
QUESTION: Tom Ridge, Tom Ridge. He's stationed in Albania and was going to be (inaudible) Department of State.
MR. CASEY: He's stationed in Albania as what? He's stationed in Albania as what?
QUESTION: Excuse me?
MR. CASEY: He's stationed in --
QUESTION: In Albania, yes, correct.
MR. CASEY: As what?
QUESTION: As PR man, as -- I think.
MR. CASEY: I have no idea what Mr. Ridge is doing. I have no idea whether he's in Albania or not. I do know that we have strong relations with our good friend and ally, Albania, and that the visit of the President of the United States represents that; and you can talk to the White House in terms of the greater specifics of it. But last time I looked, you know, PR companies aren't the representatives of sovereign governments either in the United States or Albania or any other place.
QUESTION: Thank you.

Friday, June 8, 2007

“OMONIA” CALLS GEORGE BUSH FOR THE RIGHTS OF GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA.

“Maybe a declaration by Bush about the rights of Greek Minority in Northern Epirus, would be a really surprise for the meeting in Tirana”

By Stavros Markos

An officially declaration of “OMONIA”, the Greek Ethnic Minority in Albania, calls the President of USA George Bush to have itself in consideration during his visit in Tirana next June 10, 2007. “OMONIA”`s declaration, makes in a moment very decisive for the future of Balkan Region particularly in Kosovo and three other states under “Adriatic Charter” agreement, Albania, FYROM and Croatia, when The President of USA comes in Tirana.

What is waiting Albanian opinion, for historically visit that is considered as “proud to be partners” on Albanian USA relations? NATO welcomes the “Balkan Adriatic Charter States” but with out to respect the rights of Greeks in Albania that live in Northern Epirus, the rights of Serbs in Croatia, the rights of Albanians in FYROM, the rights of Bosnians Croats and Serbs who live in Bosnia Republic, has not anny perspective to the future of Balkan Region - will say the President Bush during the next meeting with Balkan states leaders in Tirana.

Sure Bush will encourage Albania, Croatia and FYROM to make the necessary changes on their Constitutional System as the principal impact for the civil human rights of minorities groups. So, in Albania particularly the Greeks are waiting the changes of Albanian constitution for the Greek official languages to be respected in majority regions in southern Albania, (called Northern Epirus) to create their institutions in Greek language, and particularly to make the General Counting Population in Albania.

Another problem between Albania and Greece is for the Greek Omogens and Albanian emigrants who have the Rights to be Greek citizenship from the decision of Greek Government last Year for about 700 thousand Albanian (Greek) emigrants. Athens is waiting from Tirana to implement this decision, to have political and civil rights the Greeks of Albania, but until now the Government of Tirana “has been indifferent” for Greek requeste.

Anyway, tow Greek important Banks in Albania, “Alpha Bank” and “NGB” donated about 250 million euro as “Credit” to Albanian Government to help in construction of new High Way Tirana - Pristina considered as “Patriotic Greater Albanian, Road” which links Albanian State with Kosovo. The decision of Greek Banks to help Albania is seeing also as diplomatic agreement, a signification role of Greece to help Albanian Economic situation a lot of Inflation and Crises particularly this year.
A numerous Byzantine churches in Southern Albania (Northern Epirus) have been violated from vandals, a part investigated from Albanian authorities. While a national debate against Greek schools in Koritsa is raising the anti Hellenism opinion in Albania often served from the press.

But what is surprise of the President Bush visit; maybe let’s see when during the meeting in Tirana he should call other alls, for the rights of Greeks in Northern Epirus.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Albania ends transmission of Greek channels in southern (Northern Epirus ...)

Argirokaster.

The transmitting antennas for 5 TV stations that broadcast in Greek in southern Albania have been shut down.However, Omonia, the organization of the Greek minority in Albania, voiced criticism against the Albanian Government. Omonia raised accusations that the Greek-language TV programs watched by the Greek minority have been shut down on purpose.The Albanian Government's move was condemned also by the Mayor of Gjirokaster and the other local authorities in the region. According to them, the Government suspends the right of Greeks to watch TV programmes on their mother tongue.The Albanian Broadcasting Council set out a country-wide action for shutting down the TV stations that lack a proper broadcasting license. The Council announced that except for those in south Albania, a number of other TV stations in central part of the country have been closed.

Monday, June 4, 2007










George and Barbara Bush sailing holiday to
Greek islands on "Alexander" Latsis`s Cruiser


Spiros Latsis with Former President George Bush vacancies in Greece.
Not Exclude issue about Northern Epirus.

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush arrived in Greece on Monday for a sailing holiday around the Greek islands as a guest of a shipping tycoon.

The former president landed early Monday in Athens and changed planes for Kavala, a port city in northeastern Greece, where he arrived shortly after 11 a.m. (0800GMT). He is expected to visit the northern islands Thassos, Limnos and Samos during a tour expected to last at least a week.

Bush is a guest of Greek shipping tycoon Spiros Latsis, on whose yacht he has also vacationed in the past. Latsis, who ranks 55th on the most recent Forbes list of the world's richest people, has frequently offered his luxurious vessel to other prominent visitors — including Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, during their honeymoon two years ago and to Camilla again last month.

Bush is accompanied by a party of 19, including his son Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida.

The 41st U.S. President, who served from 1989-93, is the father of current U.S. President George W. Bush — who arrives separately in Europe today for an eight-day, six-country trip that will include the annual summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations in Germany.



Interview of the President George Bush by Andi Bejtja, Vision Plus TV, Albania
The Map Room

May 31, 2007

3:37 P.M. EDT

Q Mr. President, first of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity you give to me and to Albanian public for this interview. And I have just a simple question in the beginning. What is the reason of including Albania in this European tour this time?

THE PRESIDENT: That's a fascinating question. First of all, I want to make sure the Albanian people understand that America knows that you exist and that you're making difficult choices to cement your free society. I'm coming as a lover of liberty to a land where people are realizing the benefits of liberty.

Secondly, I've been impressed by your leadership. I have met your leaders at different times --

Q Impressed in what sense?

THE PRESIDENT: In the sense that they're committed to common values with the United States, that they believe in certain freedoms, and that people ought to be given a chance to live in a free society. And so my message is that we welcome our friendship, that I'm proud of the hard work that you're doing, and I'm particularly grateful to be the first sitting President ever to come to Albania.

Q Yes, this is a historical visit. And Albanians hoping to get a -- to receive an invitation at summit to join NATO in 2008. How realistic this Albanian expectation is, according to you?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, my message to the Albanian government and the Albanian people is, first of all, thank you for your interest in joining NATO. But like I said to other countries that are at this stage in the process, if there's -- there's a certain map that has to be followed, a certain way forward; there are certain obligations that have to be met. And my only -- my only advice is, work as hard as you possibly can to achieve the different benchmarks that would cause the NATO members to accept Albania.

Q And let's get to the hardest point: Kosovo. I mean, in the beginning of the week, you just had a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin, and you agreed with him to rediscuss Kovoso's future once again. And people are worried about that. Do you expect any compromise with Russians that may affect our desired plan as it stands now?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me make it clear what I did say.

Q Because everybody is worried about that.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, they ought to be worried about it. It's a difficult issue. But they ought not to be worried about my position. My position is that we support the Ahtisaari plan, and that's the instructions that I have given to Secretary of State Rice, who totally agrees with me. And those will be the instructions we give to the United Nations.

And so I don't know who characterized my phone call with Vladimir Putin, but as I told him on the phone, look, we don't want to -- we would hope to avoid a major conflict in the area, but we feel strongly that the Ahtisaari plan is the right way to go, it's the right way to move forward. And that's the U.S. position.

Q So in case of a Russian veto next month at Security Council, does U.S. have a plan B for Kosovo?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, plan A is to try to make plan A work.

Q Yes, but is the plan A --

THE PRESIDENT: I know, but you're asking me to think hypothetically. It happens, by the way, with the United States press, too. They say, if something doesn't happen -- my job is make it happen in the first place. So we're working to try to convince all members of the U.N. Security Council to support the Ahtisaari plan, and we're out making our case as to why it makes sense and why this will make -- yield peace. We would also hope that the EU would continue and NATO would continue to work with Serbia, to give them a way forward, as well, that there be an opportunity for them to become participants in some of the European structures, and in this case, in NATO's case, an opportunity, perhaps, to join NATO and have U.S. as a partner.

Q Let me put another question. I mean, to be honest, it's very easy in the region to find pro-American governments, but it's not as easy to find so-called pro-American nations, or better saying, pro-American public or people. Does U.S. have any strategy to reverse this trend, to make U.S. policy more effective in long-term?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, it's like -- people ask me the question about popularity, whether it be overseas or at home. You can't make decisions and try to be -- and want to be popular. You make decisions because you want to be right. I make decisions for what's best for the United States of America. Sometimes that makes me popular, sometimes it doesn't.

But popularity comes and goes, but certain principles should never leave. And I believe firmly the United States must confront tyranny and disease and hunger. And I believe the United States must secure our homeland from further attack. And I will take the actions necessary to do so. I hope others understand why. I would like for people to understand the decision-making I've done. I want people to respect my country and to like the American people. And most people do like the American people. Sometimes they like the American President and sometimes they don't. But popularity is -- I would ask the question, are you still going to make decisions based upon solid principles? And the answer is, absolutely.

Q Yes. And let me ask one childish question, because it is your first time in Albania, and everyone is wondering, what does come to your mind when you heard the word, Albania?

THE PRESIDENT: Beautiful coastline, interesting history, Muslim people who can live at peace. That's what comes to mind. I'm excited to go. I'm -- I must confess that I also thought about the dark days of communism, when the society was a closed society. I'm looking forward -- I met many Albanians who are excited to be living in an open society. And I can't wait to come to your country. I've heard great things about it, and it's going to be an exciting trip for me and Laura.

Q Thank you very much, Mr. President, and welcome.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir, thanks.

END 3:43 P.M. EDT