Athens, Rioting after teenager shot by police

Rioting broke out in Athens and other Greek cities in the early hours of Sunday, after news began to spread of a teenager's death at the hands of police in the Athens district of Exarhia the previous night. The 15-year-old boy was shot in the chest and died of his injuries shortly after being taken to hospital. The incident occurred shortly after 9:00 on Saturday night when a police patrol car responding to a call in the Exarhia district was surrounded by a gang of 30 youths belonging to leftist, anti-establishment groups that started throwing stones and bits of wood.

The two special guards in the patrol decided to pursue the youths and, in the ensuing fracas, one of them fired his service revolver to disperse them, injuring the 15-year-old highschool student. The officer who fired claims he shot twice in the air and once at the ground and that the bullet that injured the boy must have ricocheted.

The two officers have been placed under arrest, while Deputy Interior Minister for public order issues, Panagiotis Hinofotis, immediately initiated action to place the pair on suspension, as well as their supervisor at the Exarhia police station. Police headquarters said that an investigation was underway to determine whether the events had occurred in the way described by the two officers, while an autopsy has been order to confirm their claim that they did not shoot directly at the victim.

Kosovo efforts to unify "Albanian lands"

December 5, 2008 – 2:05 pm
The assembly speaker in the Albanian parliament, Jakup Krasniqi, declared that a war may be started so that Albanians can unite all of the lands they conquered from their neighbors in the Balkans. “We don’t want war,” claimed Krasniqi “but if it is imposed on us we will think about it,” he said. Krasniqi said that the war will be “imposed” on Albanians if the Contact Group principles get changed in the northern Kosovo where Serbs live.

Those principles are a no return to pre 1999 status, no partition and no unification with Albania.
“If the Contact Group principles for Kosovo are changed only for one part of Kosovo, or for one part of the people, then Albanians have the right to unite their lands,” Krasniqi said.

Krasniqi said that Albanians have been damaged in the Balkans.
“Albanians were the most damaged from the ethnic aspect,” Krasniqi said.

NATO asks Macedonia to keep up accession efforts

December 05, 2008 11:12 AM
TIRANA, Dec 05, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) -- A senior NATO official said on Friday that Macedonia shouldn't lose its trust in the alliance but keep up its accession efforts instead. NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, who is on a visit to Macedonia, said Macedonia shouldn't feel discouraged by the delay of its admission to the alliance.

Macedonia's efforts to join the club was thwarted by Greece over a 17-year-long name dispute between the two neighbors at NATO Bucharest summit in April. Athens has been opposed to its northern neighbor being called the "Republic of Macedonia", arguing it implies a territorial claim over a Greek northern province also called Macedonia.

"Macedonia is a major player in the Balkans in terms of the reforms and transformation, and NATO hopes for full inclusion of the Balkans into its structure," Di Paola said after talks with Macedonian Defense Minister Zoran Konjanovski.

STATE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS IN BALKAN. ABOUT NAZI COLLABORATORS, THE RIGHT PROPERTIES OF GREEKS IN ALBANIA AND FYROM

STATE DEPARTMENT REGULAR BRIEFING BRIEFER:

ROBERT WOOD, DEPUTY DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN

STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING ROOM,

WASHINGTON, D.C.10:40 A.M. EST, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2008

Mr. Lambros PAPANTONIOU?

QUESTION. On Albania. Mr. Wood, I raised a question yesterday concerning the possible role of DOS, if any, related to Sali Berisha's recent comments about his, quote-unquote, willingness to resolve issues involving property claims via a, quote-unquote, "legal approach."

I am puzzled to learn that my question was referred to the Holocaust Office. That's irrelevant to what I asked, and I'm wondering why.

MR. WOOD: We did our best to answer your question, Mr. Lambros. I don't have anything further on it.

QUESTION. To clarify the whole issue, may I repeat again, once again, the question? According to Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha Albania and Greece are involved in negotiation at the legal level concerning World War Second issues on properties of Albanian NAZI collaborators who escaped Greece. And it was said the Department of State plays a role. And I would like to know what exactly you are doing in this process. This question has nothing to do anything
with American citizen claims.

MR. WOOD: Mr. Lambros, I think we addressed the question. I'll take a look to see if there's any further thing that we can say about it.

QUESTION: Albania/FYROM. Mr. Wood, according to an interview, Assistant Secretary Matt Bryza made some absolute statements about minorities in the Balkans. When asked about the status and rights of the Greeks in Albania and FYROM, he dismissed the question as irrelevant: quote, he had "nothing to say" about them, unquote; or, quote, "even to hear the term 'minority,'" unquote. Since that reflects your policy, Mr. Wood, I'm wondering, is there any particular reason why the Department of State seems allergic to hearing about the rights of the Greek minority in the Balkans, but often goes to extra length to defend even imaginary minorities in Greece?

MR. WOOD: Well, I disagree with the premise of your statement, Mr. Lambros. Again, I have not seen what Matt has said, so it wouldn't be fair for me to comment on it. Our policy with regard to Macedonia is well known, very clear. We have said that -- (chuckles) -- many times from the podium.

QUESTION: No, I'm talking about the property and human rights of the Greeks in Albania and FYROM. They have been violated brutally by both governments. And what do you do as the Department of State from the human rights point of view?

MR. WOOD: Look, our position on human rights for minorities around the world is very clear, sir. I don't think I need to say more on that.

Thank you.

THE MAYOR OF LUKOVO VLADIMIR KUMI THANKS KARATZAFERI`S PARTY

According to albanian newspaper "SHQIP" which refered the protest a front of Albanian Embassy of Himara Community last monday in Athens, "the protest was organized by the greek extremist".

The Kakomea issue is became an nationalist instrument to justified the robbery of properties of Himara Community from Albanian mafia, which supported by Albanian authorities including the juridical system. Untill now the albanian press has not informed the Albanian opinion about what is happening in reality in Kakomea.

"SHQIP" refereed to the Mayor of Lukovo Municipality Vladimir Kumi, who accuses the albanian state for suporting the "Mafias investments" robbering their properties. Kumi thanks the LAOS leader Giorgos Karatsaferis and other Greek parliament member who take part during the protest to help Kakomea issue.

"They support us because we are Epirotes" said the Mayor of Lukovo, Kumi. He stressed in a letter to Albanian institutions and the OSCE continue the fight until the final victory. "We have lost a batlle with albanian authorities but not the War, noted Kumi..

PAPATHEMELIS CALLS FM BAKOGIANIS TO INVITE THE ALBANIAN AMBASSADOR IN GREECE

Another intervention of the Greek politics, the issue of restitution of himariotes properties by the Albanian Government, especially with regard to the large volume and pulse of northern epiriotes demonstration outside the Albanian Embassy, held on Monday December 1, 2008.

The Democratic Renaissance Party leader Stelios Papathemelis, calls the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to immediately invite the Albanian ambassador in Athens in which to make clear that Greece, it will not tolerate the brutal violations of international law, against property of northern epiriotes.

The Democratic Renaissance Party spokesperson Mr Stavros Vitali, attended the mobilization of northern epiriotes a front of the Albanian Embassy in Athens, and delivered to the Central Committee's intervention in the Democratic Renaissance International Organizations and the Greek government.

During the protest a front of Albanian Embassy in Athens, the member of the Greek parliament LAOS, Makis Voridis, called the Albanian government to release four villagers of Nivitsa which held in prison since last week.

ABOUT THE DECLARATION OF ALBANIAN PM SALI BERISHA FOR PROPERTIES OF ALBANIANS IN GREECE. REACTION OF STATE DEPARTAMENT

Daily Press Briefing Index
Thursday, December 4, 2008
10:36 a.m. EST

Briefer: Robert A. Wood, Deputy Spokesman......

Lambros Papantoniou:

QUESTION: On Albania. Mr. Wood, Prime Minister Sali Berisha stated that Albania and Greece are involved in negotiation “at the legal level” concerning World War II issues on properties of Albanian Nazi collaborators. It was reported, however, that the Department of State plays a role in that process. Could you please comment on your role and elaborate specifically on your involvement?

MR. WOOD: I’m not aware of any involvement in the Department of State.

QUESTION: So you take this question --

MR. WOOD: We can see if we can find anything on that.

QUESTION: Thank you.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release December 4, 2008
2008/1004

QUESTION TAKEN AT THE December 4, 2008 Daily Press Briefing

Albania: Resolution of Property Thefts by the Nazis

Question: Does the U.S. have a role in the resolution of thefts of property in Albania by the Nazis near the end, or after, World War II?

Answer: The Office of Holocaust Issues is responsible for assisting U.S. citizens with any claim resulting from Nazi activities during the 1933-45 period. No claimants have requested assistance with claims against Albania. Any U.S. citizen who

STATE DEPARTAMENT: US expect no changes of Macedonia's border

Washington, December 3 (MIA) - The United States doesn't expect any change of the Balkan borders in the future, State Department's Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood told journalists in Washington. He was responding to a Greek journalist, who asked him to comment the statement of former CIA analyst Steven Meyer, who considers that Macedonia's borders are not settled and may be redrawn. The US State Department doesn't support such statements and expects no changes of the Balkan borders, Wood, said.

Our policy in regard to Macedonia is well known and has not changed, Wood said Daily Press

BriefingRobert Wood, Deputy SpokesmanWashington, DCDecember 2, 2008

Mr. Lambros PAPANTONIOU.
QUESTION: On the Balkans. Mr. Wood, Steven Meyer, former CIA analyst, DOS advisor and professor at the National Defense University here in Washington, D.C., stated in an interview (inaudible), quote, “Macedonian Albanians should decide where they want to live. They are (inaudible). The borders of Macedonia are not settled and they can be redrawn.” I am wondering if that is your policy behind the scenes.

MR. WOOD: No, you know what our policy is with regard to Macedonia, Mr. Lambros. I don’t have any – it has not changed.

QUESTION: Now, Professor Meyer also said, quote, “If the Albanians in Macedonia’s western part believe that (inaudible) with Albania proper is still strong, and if they want to act on this, they should do so. Why not vote for independence or some kind of union with Albania or Kosovo?” Do you have any comment?

MR. WOOD: I don’t have anything to say on that, Mr. Lambros.

QUESTION: And the last one to this effect?

MR. WOOD: Yes.

QUESTION: But almost similar to this, on November 25th, Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried, talking to us on upcoming NATO ministerial meeting, stated, quote, “But nobody in the Balkans is going to be changing their geography anytime soon.” Do you expect, as Department of State, change in the Balkans borders sometime in the future?

MR. WOOD: No, Mr. Lambros, I don’t.
Right here.

Italy and Albania sign power deal

3 December 2008 15:24 Source: EuroNews
TIRANA -- Italy and Albania have signed agreements worth an estimated EUR 2bn, boosting power supplies to both and marking a revival of cooperation between the countries.The two countries have also signed a 160 million euro agreement for an Italian cement plant and a joint plan for development cooperation.

Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his Albanian counterpart, Sali Berisha, watched as the deals were signed in Tirana. The gas and wind power deals will produce electricity for domestic use and also for export to Italy, to ease Albania’s own chronic shortages and help Italy cope with its power deficit. It could also boost Tirana’s hopes for closer ties with the EU

REGIONAL SECURITY ANALYSE

Kosovo’s dirty secret: the background to Germany’s Secret Service affair
by Peter Schwarz

The arrest of three German secret service agents in Kosovo exposes the sort of society that has been developed with German and American support in this former part of Yugoslavia—one mired in corruption, organised crime and secret service plots.

The affair began on November 14, when a bomb exploded outside the office of the European Union special representative, Pieter Feith, in Kosovo’s capital, Pristina. The building was damaged but no one was hurt. Immediately afterward in a neighbouring building, a German man, Andreas J., was observed and questioned by the Kosovan security forces, and unmasked as an agent of Germany’s Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND, Secret Service). This is according to the public prosecutor’s office. German sources, however, claim that Andreas J. only came to the scene four hours after the explosion to take photographs.

Normally, such secret service affairs between friendly governments are settled quietly and discreetly, usually by the departure of the unmasked agents. Not so in this case. Last week, the police arrested Andreas J. and two additional BND agents, accusing them of having planted the bomb at the EU’s International Civilian Office (ICO) building.

more see: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11239

FOREVER UNITED TO PROTEST FOR OUR PROPERTIES

Another protest will hold on December 8, 2008 in Athens. The Himara Union calls again the northern epiriotes to demonstrate against new dictator regime of Albanian State.

Photo: the last protest of Kifisia Avenue from Himara Community.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1463312990/bctid3659022001

BERISHA AND NANO: STOP ROBBERY PROPERTIES IN NORTHERN EPIRUS

Successfully completed the gathering protest organized by the Himara Union on Monday, Dec. 1 outside the Albanian embassy. The more than 5000 demonstrators joined their voices against the effort of removal of property, against terrorism of the Albanian state and retain, to respect fundamental human rights.

We found both near hellenic people who responded to the call of the Himara Union. Amid applause, the greek parliament member LAOS Makis Voridis, showed the sympathy once again and expressed the hope that there was as spoksman of the Greek parliament. Having not been allowed by authorities multi-police protest to be fairly close to the building of the Albanian embassy, the demonstrators symbolically took a lane on Kifissias Avenue.

The entire protest developed into a peaceful climate and ended with the greek National himn. It is recalled that the inhabitants of Nivitsas remain from Saturday, 22 November in the streets protecting their property.

Italy and Albania to sign energy deals

By Guy Dinmore in Rome and Kerin Hope in Athens
Published: December 1 2008 02:00

Grandiose energy projects, including what is billed as Europe's largest wind farm, will be on the table for signing when Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's premier, meets Sali Berisha, his Albanian counterpart, in Tirana tomorrow.

Albania's chronic energy crisis and Mr Berisha's ambitions to create a regional energy hub in Europe's second poorest country have opened a new market for many Italian companies.
There is also a sense of urgency for Mr Berisha, who faces elections in June and needs to convince Albanians tired of constant blackouts that relief is on its way. Mr Berisha is offering attractive terms to investors, including long leases on state-owned land for a nominal amount under his "Albania one euro" policy.

more see: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4a20cc9a-bf49-11dd-ae63-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1

Note: Albania is confronting an important geopolitical contradict between tow European power states Italy and Germany for the energy issue and foreign investments in Albania. Particularly when in Kosovo the German agents "captured" from the Kosovo Security Forces under falls accuse with interferences of Albanian secret services, Berlin is very preoccupied for the future of geopolitical relations in favor of the Albanian interests in the region. Signing "more fast as possible" the energy agreements between Italy and Albania particularly in Southern Albania, zone inhabited by Greeks tells more implications of Albanian state against geostrategic interests of Greece to defense the lands and properties of Greeks in Albania.

MUHEDINI: WE WANT TO RESOLVE OUR ISSUE WITHOUT BORDER CHANGES

One week ago the Greek FM declared that "for the Greece does not existe any cham issue"

During an interview to the "Voice of America", the head of Justice and Integration Party Tahir Muhedini (no member of Albanian Parliament) known as the Cham Community Party, said for the sensibilisation of the "Cham issue" but also for the indifference of Greece and Albania to resolve politically this problem.

Muhedini was welcomed in USA by the Albanian association "Vatra" an old organisation of Albanian community in Boston.

One week ago, after a declaration of albanian PM Sali Berisha during a treep in FYROM about the rights of Cham properties in Greece as tecnical issue, the spoksman of Greek Foreign Ministry said to the press that : "For the Greece does not existe any cham issue"

Interview in Albanian language: http://www.voanews.com/albanian/2008-11-29-voa10.cfm