Balkan Newspaper interview with Journalist Stavri Marko

"SP leader is trying to win the lost support of immigrants"

"Rama's last promise has been that immigrants will vote in future elections, but his actions are unacceptable, while Rama, has a "great game" to make concessions for immigrants to Papandreou, already as Greek dual citizenship"

Q. Mr. Marko, Catherine Ashton said yesterday that the visa liberalization requires realization of reforms. While kryesocialisti Rama asked in Strasbourg support for this process. These statements are synchronized with each other?

If the start by Berisha, who in comparison with Rama, is far ahead in terms of diplomacy and international relations.Berisha knew how to play party interests for membership of Albania in NATO, by propagating the eve of the elections a success last year of his sovereign power. Approximately, the same did Rama, stating that the Socialist Party had its special contribution to NATO membership. But Rama could not manage failures of Berisha, in a time that NATO membership occurred exactly at the time that Albania made elections more "modernized" and simultaneously the most contested by NATO itself.

Given that NATO, represents a series of democratic values, it is futile to talk now about boxes voting to be opened.It seems that NATO "de facto" does not exist in Albania and nothing has changed since Albania's membership in the Alliance, while simultaneously disappointed ideals for which the country joined, while democracy starting from votes, has taken steps back. Rama's statement in Brussels does not constitute support for any issue particularly visa. But I want to add that Berisha as Djukanovic in Montenegro or Gruevski in FYROM, use all the concessions that were made for the visas in Europe of these countries, while those used for domestic electoral purposes. This error appears on Rama continues to make.

Q. For the first time SP's, but with so much force requires transparency of elections, calls and support for visas. Is this a new strategy to win more international trust or the SP leader thus accepts reforms made by the PM Berisha?

I would be more practical to addressed Rama, who with his movements in the foreign policy of the Socialist party, is self isolated. There is a distancing from philosophy of SP electorate in the south of the country by Rama. This means many changes in the cupola of the SP, orchestrated by Rama himself, bringing guests, friends, businessmen or exponents of the former nomenclature from the center.

Rama has left a part of his electorate, but also has disillusioned many communities, particularly in the Southern Albania, but also in emigration in Greece. But the special is the philosophy, he is building a party, which is not much known to distinguish nationalist influences. Just opening the voting boxes, Rama changed political direction of his voting cause, to the movement against Greece, which brought together a distancing of PASOK (!) and support of George Papandreou.

Clearly known that the introduction of Albania in Europe is neither merit nor Berisha both Edi Rama, also known that Athens for Albania, has decided to join the EU, particularly Papandreou plan for the Balkans in 2014. But without the support of PASOK and immigrants, it has not any hope that will help the electorate of SP to win next anticipate elections? One thing is known. This makes it necessary co-operation with the force of socialist immigrants in Greece, who yesterday became European citizens by the Greek Parliament.

Rama's promise has been that immigrants will vote in future elections, but his actions are unacceptable categorically, while Rama already have a "great game" to make concessions to immigrants to Papandreou, already as Greek dual citizenship.

Q. Rama said that two important issues are the transparency of elections by opening the boxes and the visa liberalization. Are of the same importance on these two issues for Albanians?

Edi Rama, as part of European Socialists "at the center", has more information than Berisha about integration of Albania. But still Berisha is in power, I'm sure that the suspension of visas with Albania would mean a victory for Berisha as happened with NATO.

Original interview in Albanian Newspaper:
http://www.ballkan.com/index.php?page=shownews&newsID=4613

Upgraded Greek-Albanian police pact

TIRANA (ANA-MPA) - Greece and Albania signed an upgraded law enforcement cooperation protocol on Friday, during the visit here by Citizen's Protection Minister Mihalis Chryssohoidis.

The agreement anticipates the creation of a database for joint use by the two sides, as well as increased exchange of information, organising of joint police operations, cross-border cooperation in combatting organised crime and the implementation of educational programmes.

Albanian Interior Minister Lulzim Basha, speaking during joint press conference, also thanked the Greek minister for Athens' support for Tirana's request to allow Albanian citizens visa-free travel to Schengen Pact countries.

On his part, Chryssohoidis expressed satisfaction over the level of cooperation between the two neighbours in the security sector.

Chryssohoidis was also received by Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, followed by talks with Archbishop of Albania Anastasios and representatives of the ethnic Greek community in the country.

Meeting with Doules-Bolanos Chrisochoïdis

Photo: Vasilis Bolanos and Vangelis Doules with Mr. Chrisochoïdis during a visit by representatives of the Greek minority in Athens

With Vasilis Bolanos and Vangelis Doules yesterday met the Greek Minister of Citizen Protection Michael Chrisochoïdis in Tirana.

The Minister was briefed by the mayor and chairman of Himara OMONIA Vasilis Bolanos and President of K.E.A.D. Vangelis Doules on recent political developments in Albania and discussed issues concerning the Greek minority.

The main Chrisochoïdis also met with Archbishop Anastasios. The Greek minister expressed his appreciation to the person of the archbishop and underlined the central role of the Archbishop in the reconstruction of the Orthodox Church in Albania.

The Greek Minister was in Tirana invited by Interior Minister of Albania, Lulezim Basha.

US Slams Albania Secret Service Bill

Tirana | 12 March 2010 |

U.S. Ambassador to Albania John L. Withers

The US Ambassador in Tirana panned on Friday a series of proposed amendments to the law on the State Security Service, SHISH.

The amendments, if passed, would likely lead to the dismissal of the current state security director, Bahri Shaqiri, while giving the service the power to spy on public officials.

“It is vitally important for Albania to keep the secret service professional, independent and free of all political influence and we are worried that this bill undermines such principles, said Withers.

“In addition, this draft assigns troubling new domestic responsibilities to the intelligence service,” Withers addd.

The proposed bill, which makes a series of clarifications on the mission of SHISH, imposes a term limit of five years for the director's post and gives the service the possibility to spy on public officials, in what the government calls an “effort to thwart corruption. “

“Albania has worked hard to improve its international image and we fear that this draft law in its current form is damaging to that image,” Withers noted.............

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/26559/

THE GREEK SUBMARINES PROJECT

THE GREEK SUBMARINES PROJECT

Type 214 Subs – Revised Solution?

In an exclusive DefenceNet reports that the Greek Ministry of Defence and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems have come to an agreement on the Type 214 submarine issue. According to the solution the Hellenic Navy will accept all four submarines, including the S-120 Papanikolis which has been a major stumbling block for years. The submarine issue was also one of the obstacles that needed to be solved in order for Abu Dhabi Mar to take over the Hellenic Shipyards.

According to the article a further 2 Type 214 submarines are expected to be built. The submarines will be built as a replacement to the Neptune II programme which was meant to upgrade two older Type 209 submarines of the Navy. The Neptune II upgrade is being seen as a filure economically and technically. The first submarine that has undergone the upgrade, S-118 Okeanos, will at some stage enter service with the Navy again.

The cost of this decision is expected to reach 1.35 billion Euros. This is in addition to the amounts already paid so far for the Type 214 acquisition and the Neptune II upgrade.

We sincerely hope that the Papanikolis has indeed had all its issues solved and that there will be no problems in its operational life.

"Serbian-Albanian relations key for stability"

12 March 2010 | 09:29 | Source: FoNet, Beta

BELGRADE -- President Boris Tadić met in Belgrade on Thursday with Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta Beta news agency reports. Tadić, Meta meet in Belgrade (Beta) During the meeting, Tadić stressed the importance of the agreement on cooperation in the fight against organized crime, international illegal drug trafficking and international terrorism, which was to be signed by Serbia and Albania, the office of the Serbian president stated. Despite the different opinions regarding the issue of Kosovo, the talks focused on the improvement of bilateral cooperation which, it was said in the statement of the presidency, is at a low level, especially in the field of economy. Jeremić: Differences have not been overcome Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić said that relations between Serbia and Albanian are burdened by political disagreements regarding Kosovo’s status. He said after meeting with his Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta in Belgrade that the differences in the opinions of Belgrade and Tirana regarding Kosovo have not decreased. Jeremić said, however, that there is readiness on both sides to isolate the differences so that they would not interfere with cooperation in other sectors. Jeremić said that a united stance on the future of the Western Balkans was agreed on between him and Meta. “The future of the entire Western Balkans is in the European Union. Peace and stability depends a great deal on relations between Serbs and Albanians,” Jeremić said. He said that relations with Albania could be better, adding that both countries are interested in improving relations between Serbs and Albanians. Jeremić said that Meta’s visit was historic, because it was the first visit by an Albanian foreign minister to Serbia. He said that there is great potential for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of culture, science and education, adding that everything will be done in the coming period in order to improve relations. Meta confirmed that the stances of the two countries differ greatly in relation to Kosovo, but stressed that Belgrade and Tirana agree on the future of the region. He said that his meeting with Jeremić ushers in a new era in relations between the two countries, adding that Albania and Serbia both have key roles in the reconciliation between Serbs and Albanians in the Balkans. Both foreign ministers said that they will work on improving the status of Serb minorities in Albania and Albanian minorities in Serbia. Meta will be in the Preševo Valley region on Saturday, where he will be meeting with Southern Serbia Coordination Center Chief Milan Marković.

New tension Skopje- Sofie for Bulgarian ethnic Minority

Trial against Spaska Mitrova was not transparent in first instance: Bulgarian Foreign Ministry

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established with deep concern that the trial for the parental rights against Bulgarian Spaska Mitrova in Macedonia was not transparent in the first instance, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Vesela Cherneva says in a statement.

The ministry says in the statement that the trial took place in a very negative public atmosphere, including acts of physical violence, detention for a long period and deprivation of the opportunity for Mitrova to see her child.
We do not accept the persistent failure to admit an official of the Bulgarian embassy in Skopje to the court sittings in view of the extremely large public interest in both countries.

We expect that the court in the next instance will rule in accordance with the European principles of transparency and impartiality. That’s why we take heed of the recommendations and requirements in the European Commission’s annual report on Macedonia’s progress.

Bulgaria will continue following the process very carefully and will consider it a benchmark for the headway of the judicial reform in Republic of Macedonia – an important element of the Copenhagen criteria, the implementation of which determines our neighbor’s European perspective, the statement reads.

European Socialists voice support for Albanian opposition

11/03/2010

STRASBOURG, France -- Members of the Party of European Socialists (PES) voiced their support Wednesday (March 10th) for efforts by Albania's opposition Socialist Party (SP) to investigate the 2009 general elections. SP leader Edi Rama was in Strasbourg to meet with PES officials and senior European Parliament (EP) members, explaining "I want to stress the importance of free elections and their transparency."

He added that Albania must stop manipulating elections once and for all. He also called for the free movement of Albanians in Europe.

The PES welcomed the SP's decision to end a six-month boycott and return to parliament last month. It also urged the Albanian government to do its part and allow a commission to look into the contested elections. Since its return, the SP has focused only on issues that concern it.

State Department 2009 Annual Report on Human Rights Albania

National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities

Bollanos Issue

There were reports of societal discrimination. As visible minorities, members of the Romani and Balkan Egyptian communities suffered significant societal abuse and discrimination.

The law permits official minority status for national groups and separately for ethnolinguistic groups. The government defined Greeks, Macedonians, and Montenegrins as national groups; Greeks constituted the largest of these. The law defined Aromanians (Vlachs) and Roma as ethnolinguistic minority groups.

In October the Council of Ministers approved the National Action Plan for the Roma and Egyptian Involvement Decade for the 2010-15 period. The total budget for implementing the five-year plan was expected to be nearly 2.5 billion lek ($25 million).

The ethnic Greek minority pursued grievances with the government regarding electoral zones, Greek-language education, property rights, and government documents. Minority leaders cited the government's unwillingness to recognize ethnic Greek towns outside Communist-era "minority zones"; to utilize Greek in official documents and on public signs in ethnic Greek areas; to ascertain the size of the ethnic Greek population; or to include a higher number of ethnic Greeks in public administration.

In April, Vasil Bollano, the ethnic Greek mayor of Himara was found guilty of abuse of office. He was sentenced to six months in prison, fined an estimated $5,000, and prohibited from holding public office for three years. The case was under appeal at year's end. The case originated in 2008, when Bollano was charged with destruction of government property after he ordered the removal of several new road signs in the Himara district because they were written in Albanian and English but not Greek.

KSF to use "demilitarized firearms"

11 March 2010 | 09:41 | Source: Beta

PRIŠTINA -- The NATO-led force in Kosovo, KFOR, and the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) have agreed to resume cooperation. This was announced in Priština by Kosovo Albanian President Fatmir Sejdiu's office. A statement said that Sejdiu, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, and KFOR commander Gen. Markus Bentler reached agreement on the issue. "KFOR's support to the force, whose missions include rapid reaction, clearing explosives, ancivil protection, at the moment is limited to counseling and training," said the statement. In a statement of its won, also issued on Wednesday in Priština, KFOR said after it suspended cooperation with the force on March 5, Sejdiu and Thaci took steps in settling the matter with the KFOR commander. Beta news agency reports that KFOR added that the effort has produced a new agreement concerning the force's honor guard, which will in the future use "demilitarized firearms" in a manner agreed with the KFOR commander and subject to current needs. "The agreement also confirmed that the Kosovo Security Force has no military or defense role, considering that this is the role of KFOR," according to the statement. With an agreement in place, KFOR confirms it will resume its counseling role and training duties. KFOR suspended certain activities after KSF members appeared carrying weapons during an event glorifying the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). KFOR explained that this violated agreements on the force's participation in the event and also complained about the raising of NATO's flag, noting that KFOR is "status neutral".

French minister's remark in Kosovo criticized

AP

BELGRADE, Serbia — A media watchdog on Wednesday condemned French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's recent remark that a Serb reporter was "insane" for asking him a question about alleged organ trafficking in Kosovo.

The South East Europe Media Organization, based in Austria, said in a statement that Kouchner's behavior was unprofessional and surprising from a French government representative.

Kouchner, who was Kosovo's U.N. administrator in 1999-2001, was asked by a Voice of America reporter in Kosovo this month if he knew about allegations that minority Kosovo Serbs were kidnapped by ethnic Albanians and had their organs removed for trafficking during the 1998-99 Kosovo conflict.

"But you are sick, aren't you? Do I look like someone who would traffic organs? You are insane to believe all kinds of nonsense like that," Kouchner responded. "Sir, you should consult (a doctor) ... people who talk about things like that are bastards and murderers."

Europe's top right body, the Council of Europe, is currently conducting an investigation into the alleged organ trafficking — a probe let by Swiss Senator Dick Marty.

Serbian officials say up to 400 Kosovo Serbs vanished without a trace during the war, and some fear a few dozen may have fallen victim to an organ trafficking operation performed in the so-called "yellow house" inside neighboring Albania.

Kosovo and Albania have strongly denied the allegations of organ trafficking, which first surfaced in a book by former U.N. war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte. She portrayed the "yellow house" as a building in Albania where organs might have been surgically removed from the victims.

But Kouchner said, "There was no yellow house. There was no organ trade."

The media watchdog said it was unacceptable that a top official should be so aggressive at a news conference.

"As a politician and a member of the French government, he should communicate professionally and responsibly with journalists," said the South East Europe Media Organization. "We would have expected Mr. Kouchner to react in a more courteous and dignified way."

Asked about the organization's criticism, French Foreign Ministry officials in Paris declined to comment immediately.

Greece in US Visa Waiver Program

WASHINGTON (ANA-MPA/T.Ellis) - U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano on Tuesday announced the designation of Greece as a member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)-strengthening passenger information sharing and ensuring strict security standards while streamlining travel for Greek citizens visiting the United States.

"Our efforts to guard against terrorism while enhancing legal travel and trade depend upon close collaboration with our international partners," said Secretary Napolitano.

Macedonia: Forged Diplomas Scandal Unfolds

Skopje | 10 March 2010 | Sinisa-Jakov Marusic

Tetovo University

A controversial businesswoman from Macedonia’s northwestern town of Tetovo is suspected of forging diplomas and other documents from the public University of Tetovo and selling them to students from neighboring Albania.

Guler Sulejmani, 46, now faces criminal charges for fraud and forgery after the police found forged signatures and stamps of the university dean and several other professors on the forged diplomas, Macedonian police said.

According to the investigation, the “instant students” paid different amounts for their certificates depending on the grade average they wanted. The fee varied from €2,000 to €7,000.

The police say Sulejmani counterfeited at least 21 diplomas between 2003 and 2008. She is also suspected of forging passed exams in original student record books.

“She had access to the premises of the Tetovo University where she unlawfully obtained the diploma certificate forms as well as the forms for passed exams,” the interior ministry reported.

Sulejmani became known to the Macedonian public several years ago when she forcefully entered the university premises by claiming that she was the owner of a university building that was previously used by “Tetovo Tabak”, a tobacco company.

The police then detained her in relation to several thefts of “Tetovo Tabak” property. She claimed that she was the majority owner of the formerly state-owned company.

“By a court order, the police searched the premises of “Tetovo Tabak” and found large quantity of record books, diplomas and other documents. The investigation has shown that these documents were forgeries,” the police said.

Balkan Insight's 2008 investigation found the Albanian authorities were turning a blind eye to a black market in forged university degrees, many purporting to come from the University of Tetovo.

So far there are no data on how many of the phony students obtained a job as a result of their fake diplomas.

Albanian deputy PM expected in Belgrade

10 March 2010 | 15:27 | Source: Beta

BELGRADE -- The Albanian government stated that it believes that the visit by its Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ilir Meta to Serbia will be "historic". News agencies report that Kosovo will be discussed in meetings between Meta and Serbian officials and that this is the first visit by a senior Albanian official to Serbia since 2005. During his two-day stay in Belgrade, Meta will talk about “relations between the two countries, stability in the region, and the integration of Balkans countries in the European Union,” his cabinet member Sokol Dervishi said. Meta arrive here on Thursday, where he will meet with President Boris Tadić, Deputy PM Božidar Đelić and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić. Beta news agency learned that Meta will attend the commemoration of the anniversary of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić’s assassination at the Albanian embassy in Belgrade.

Papandreou says talks with Obama successful

Greeks, without visa traveling in USA, President Obama decided

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou expressed his absolute satisfaction over the results of his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday afternoon, since not only did he find understanding regarding proposals on the joint handling of profiteers, but secured the visa waiver for Greek citizens visiting the United States as well which, as the prime minister said, President Obama decided on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters, Papandreou termed the visa waiver "a vote of confidence" to Greece and noted that the Greek government is determined to respond to its obligations and cooperate closely at international level on the tackling of terrorism.

"I briefed President Obama on the state of the economy in our country and on the determination that we showed in taking difficult measures," Papandreou said, underlining that with the institutional changes being promoted by his government not only in the economy but in other sectors also such as education, health and public administration the country is entering a course of sustainable growth and is becoming competitive and attractive.

The Greek prime minister stressed that he briefed the US president on his and other European leaders's initiative such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarcozy and eurozone president Jean Claude Juncker that aims at confronting profiteers and restoring Greece's image in international markets.

Papandreou called on the US to contribute to a common direction with the European countries at the next G20 summit. The Greek prime minister said that the US president reassured him that he considers this initiative useful and positive and that the US will move in the same direction so that "order is put in the international markets."

The prime minister made it clear that Greece did not request economic aid from the US and termed "every voice of support positive," particularly when it comes from the biggest economy and the strongest country in the world politically, while speaking of "recognition of the difficult measures that we are taking."

Papandreou also said that apart from the economy, he discussed with President Obama Greece's initiative for the accession of all the countries of the western Balkans to the European Union by 2014, a development that he characterised as being stabilising for peace in the wider region and the solving of specific bilateral problems. As regards relations with Turkey, Papandreou briefed the US president on the visit to Athens by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in the coming months, as well as on the will of the Greek side to revive the procedure on the normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations and the solving of differences, such as the case of the continental shelf.

Papandreou says talks with Obama successful

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou expressed his absolute satisfaction over the results of his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday afternoon, since not only did he find understanding regarding proposals on the joint handling of profiteers, but secured the visa waiver for Greek citizens visiting the United States as well which, as the prime minister said, President Obama decided on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters, Papandreou termed the visa waiver "a vote of confidence" to Greece and noted that the Greek government is determined to respond to its obligations and cooperate closely at international level on the tackling of terrorism.

"I briefed President Obama on the state of the economy in our country and on the determination that we showed in taking difficult measures," Papandreou said, underlining that with the institutional changes being promoted by his government not only in the economy but in other sectors also such as education, health and public administration the country is entering a course of sustainable growth and is becoming competitive and attractive.

The Greek prime minister stressed that he briefed the US president on his and other European leaders's initiative such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarcozy and eurozone president Jean Claude Juncker that aims at confronting profiteers and restoring Greece's image in international markets.

Papandreou called on the US to contribute to a common direction with the European countries at the next G20 summit. The Greek prime minister said that the US president reassured him that he considers this initiative useful and positive and that the US will move in the same direction so that "order is put in the international markets."

The prime minister made it clear that Greece did not request economic aid from the US and termed "every voice of support positive," particularly when it comes from the biggest economy and the strongest country in the world politically, while speaking of "recognition of the difficult measures that we are taking."

Papandreou also said that apart from the economy, he discussed with President Obama Greece's initiative for the accession of all the countries of the western Balkans to the European Union by 2014, a development that he characterised as being stabilising for peace in the wider region and the solving of specific bilateral problems. As regards relations with Turkey, Papandreou briefed the US president on the visit to Athens by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in the coming months, as well as on the will of the Greek side to revive the procedure on the normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations and the solving of differences, such as the case of the continental shelf.

PM Papandreou holds talks with H. Clinton

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed on Monday the efforts being made by the Greek government to handle the economic crisis and accepted the suggestion by the Greek Prime Minister and Foreign Minister George Papandreou for the US and the other major economies of the planet to discuss the need to improve auditing apparatuses in markets during the next G20 summit.

During their 45-minute meeting at the State Department, the Greek prime minister and the head of American diplomacy also discussed developments on the issue of Cyprus, the Balkans and NATO operations in Afghanistan.

In a joint press conference, Clinton stressed "Greece's leading and strategic role in the Balkans" and praised the initiatives of Papandreou in the diplomatic field and on the issue of Greek-Turkish relations in particular.

The Greek prime minister pointed out that Greece was not calling for economic aid, neither from the US nor from any other, but was highlighting the need for better and coordinated checks by governments so that profiteering games against countries and peoples can be avoided.

"The economic crisis made us understand very well that we may suffer pressures, but the markets' functioning needs regulating mechanisms and this is the message I bring after talks with the other European leaders," Papandreou said, adding: "We have taken very difficult decisions regarding the handling of the (Greece's) deficit and the economy's growth. Always within the framework of green development. We have witnessed some speculation practices which can be handled through cooperation between the European nations and the USA."

He also underlined the goal of incorporating all the countries of the western Balkans in the European Union by 2014, while revealing that he intends to meet soon with his Turkish counterpart Tayip Erdogan in the framework of the effort to normalise Greek-Turkish relations.

"Yes, Western Balkan countries must belong to the European family, Greek-Turkish relations are very important for us and we support Turkey's efforts for EU accession, but there are problems that have to be solved such as the Cyprus issue and human rights," Papandreou noted.

"We want normal borrowing interests, we want political and not economic support. If any problems arise, the necessary tools, which will help us deal with speculators, will also be found," the Greek premier also added, while responding to press questions.

On her part, Clinton noted that "neither the prime minister nor Greece have asked for something, and we congratulate them for the steps they are taking."

"We want to avoid the negative consequences from a deregulation of the markets," she added.

In her opening statement at the start of the joint press conference, Clinton thanked the Greek prime minister "for his contribution to our cooperation for our presence in Afghanistan, but also for the cooperation of the two countries in the fight against terrorism. We discussed the problems in the Balkans and we know that Greece will help towards stability in the region."

Albania promises to cooperate on organ probe

March 09, 2010

Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta said on Monday that his country would cooperate with international institutions in probing into the organ trafficking allegations during the Kosovo war.

It was alleged that near the end of the 1999 Kosovo war, hundreds of Serb civilians were kidnapped by Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas and transported to neighboring Albania. They were killed there and their organs were harvested to be sold abroad.

"Albania is committed to fully and unreservedly cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal of former Yugoslavia ( ICTY) and the Council of Europe in order to come up with a definitive answer to these claims that in our opinion are unfounded," Meta told Albania's official news agency ATA.

He said Albania had already had close and unreserved cooperation with the ICTY, and that an inquiry by a special investigation team in 2003 proved that the allegations "could not be substantiated by any proof and were groundless."

However, Philip Alston, a UN expert, said last month that the efforts to investigate the alleged killings and organ trafficking have received no meaningful cooperation on the side of the government of Albania.

Albanians have vehemently denied the organ trafficking charges. The country's officials have denounced the allegations as " fabrications and absurdities."

"It is our firm intention and interest to bring this process to an end, hence definitely closing the chapter related to these allegations," Meta said.

NATO suspends training of Kosovo security force

Members of Kosovo Security Force bear arms at a parade, in this picture taken on March 5, 2009, as they commemorate the 12-year anniversary since the killing of the leader of the ethnic Albanian force that fought Serbia in 1998-99 war. NATO on Sunday suspended training the force saying the display of weapons breaches its mandate as civil emergency force.

(AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

By Nebi Qena Associated Press Writer / March 7, 2010

PRISTINA, Kosovo—NATO is suspending the training of Kosovo's security troops after a military-style parade that broke the force's agreement to focus only on civil emergencies, it said Sunday.

The alliance called off its support for the 2,500-strong Kosovo Security Force following the appearance of an armed honor guard at a parade on Friday marking the 12th anniversary of the killing of the leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, the ethnic Albanian rebel force that fought Serbia in 1998-99.

The parade appearance was "inconsistent with (its) non-military status," NATO said in a statement. Kosovo's force was set up last year with a role limited to civil emergencies as part of a plan that allowed Kosovo to secede from Serbia. It replaced a similar force made up mostly of former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

The alliance, which has pledged to provide training and supply weapons for the force, said the suspension would continue until it received an explanation of the incident, remedial action and guarantees that such incidents would be avoided in the future.

The move is likely to raise tensions at a crucial time: ethnic Albanians are striving to prove that Kosovo is a viable state as they seek more recognition of its contested statehood. Since its declaration of independence in 2008, Kosovo has been recognized as a nation by 65 countries, including the United States and most of the European Union, but Serbia vehemently opposes its independence, and its stance is backed by Russia, as well as Greece and Romania, which are also NATO members.

The formation of the KSF sparked anger among Kosovo's Serb minority, who claim the force threatens them. They have vowed not to allow it to deploy in Serb areas.

The move also casts doubt on the aims of the tiny force to become a full-fledged army in the future, and comes as NATO prepares for the largest single downsizing of its peacekeeping presence since the end of the war.

The KSF is allowed light weaponry such as hand guns and rifles, but cannot use heavy weapons such as tanks or artillery. Its members were to be trained over time to take up a security role.

A spokesman for Kosovo's prime minister encouraged both sides to discuss the matter.

NATO also protested the display of its flag at the parade. NATO says it is neutral to Kosovo's independence.

NATO diplomats have said they plan to reduce their current troop presence from 10,000 to less than 4,000 in 2011.

Serbia has taken the issue of Kosovo's statehood to the International Court, which is expected to rule on its legality in late spring.

© Copyright 2010 Associated Press.

Sarkozy pledges to stand by Greece

A meeting between Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris on Sunday ended with the French president's pledge for solidarity toward Greece and Sarkozy's call to Greece's European partners to show their support, stressing that this solidarity was precisely the reason why the Eurozone and the euro had been established in the first place.

The French president stressed that France's support for Greece would not be political only and he agreed with the need to combat financial speculators, noting that they were now targeting Greece but could potentially target any other country in the future.

Papandreou said he had found active support from France, which recognised and supported the efforts of the Greek people. Noting that resort to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was not Greece's preferred choice, Papandreou again stressed that Greece was not asking for financial assistance, only the opportunity to borrow at a similar rate as that available to other Eurozone countries.

On his part, the French president made it clear that the Euro area countries would rise to the occasion. "There must be no doubt on this point," Sarkozy underlined after his one-hour meeting with the Greek premier, also attended on the French side by Economy Minister Christine Lagarde and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

"The Greek government has taken the measures expected of it. The countries of the Eurozone must now be ready to take their own [measures]. France will therefore do what is necessary," Sarkozy added, while repeating that Greece did not currently need financing.

Prior to his meeting with Papandreou, the French president held a 45-minute conversation over the phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had met Papandreou on Friday. He said the countries of the Eurozone were currently working on "a number of precise measures" designed to support Greece but declined to specify what these were.

"Christine Lagarde, working in tandem with her colleagues in the Eurozone and in Europe, is working on a number of precise measures if Greece needs them," he stated.

Among other things, the French president agreed that speculators were artificially raising the cost of borrowing for Greece and he underlined that they had to be tackled. He stressed that this was a problem that could potentially affect many countries, unless there was a "collective" reply to it.

He cited "specific, precise means" for achieving this and clarified that "these will not be announced tonight" but that, when they were unveiled, would show that Greece was not supported only just politically but in all aspects of any future requirements it might have.

Still no agreement on Slovenia conference

7 March 2010 | 10:37 | Source: B92

LJUBLJANA -- No agreement has been reached over a formula that would allow both Belgrade and Priština to take part in an informal conference in Slovenia on March 20. Tadić recently met with Slovenian and Croatian PMs (Beta) Slovenia's Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar said on Saturday that the Kosovo Albanian representatives would be taking part under a formula already used in the EU format, namely, that "participating states take part without their names written", and that "UNMIK too would be invited to the gathering". The cabinet of Serbian President Boris Tadić reacted to this by stating that such an agreement was not reached, and that Serbia still insists that Kosovo must be represented in line with UNSC Resolution 1244, as Kosovo-UNMIK. At the same time, the Kosovo Albanian president and prime minister, Fatmir Sejdiu and Hashim Thaci, said that they would travel to Slovenia "only as representatives of the state of Kosovo". According to media reports in Ljubljana, Žbogar would not make any further comments on this, saying only that "things change and that many details won't be harmonized until the last day". But he did state once again that "both Tadić and Thaci confirmed their presence" at the forthcoming regional conference, "as did all other leaders of the Western Balkans countries that have been invited".

'Jewish lobby behind U.S. Armenia genocide vote'. Pro-Israel activists manipulated Congress to damage Turkey, says London daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi.

'Jewish lobby behind U.S. Armenia genocide vote'. Pro-Israel activists manipulated Congress to damage Turkey, says London daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi.

Jewish lobbyists contrived a U.S. congressional vote that labeled the World War One-era massacre of Armenians by Turkish forces as genocide, a London-based Arabic-language newspaper claimed on Saturday. Pro-Israel lobbyists had previously backed Turkey on the issue ? but changed tack in retaliation for Turkish condemnation of Israel's policies in the Gaza Strip, the Al-Quds Al-Arabi daily said in an editorial, according to Israel Radio reports.
Israel and Turkey are traditional allies but ties took a downturn in 2009 when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel's offensive in Gaza, in which some 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed. A crisis in diplomatic relations came to a head in January when when Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon publicly humiliated Turkey's ambassador in front of press cameras. In his leading article, Al-Quds Al-Arabi editor Abd al-Bari Atwan curged Erdogan not to give in to the Jewish lobby's "extortion" tactics.

Erdogan on Thursday recalled Turkey's ambassador to Washington after the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee voted 23-22 to approve the non-binding resolution, clearing it for consideration by the full House.

"The decision of the Foreign Affairs Committee will not hurt Turkey, but it will greatly harm bilateral relations, interests and vision. Turkey will not be the one who loses," said Erdogan, speaking at a summit of Turkish businessmen.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said the vote was a boost for human rights.
The vote calls on President Barack Obama to ensure U.S. policy formally refers to the massacre as genocide, putting him in a tight spot.
In a telephone call with Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday, Obama emphasized his administration had urged lawmakers to consider the potential damage to efforts to normalize Armenian-Turkish ties, a senior administration official said.
At a news conference in Costa Rica on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she and Obama, who both supported proposed Armenia genocide resolutions as presidential candidates, had changed their minds because they believed the drive to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia was bearing fruit.
Turkey, a Muslim secular democracy that plays a vital role for U.S. interests from Iraq to Iran and in Afghanistan and the Middle East, accepts that many Armenians were killed by Ottoman forces but denies that up to 1.5 million died and that it amounted to genocide - a term employed by many Western historians and some foreign parliaments.
Turkey regards such accusations as an affront to its national honor.
haaretz