Saturday, August 2, 2014

Russia joined WW1 because it had to protect Serbia - Putin

MOSCOW -- The tragedy of the Great War is a reminder of the consequences of aggression, egotism, and excessive ambition taking precedence over common sense.
(Beta)
(Beta)
This is what Vladimir Putin said in Moscow on Friday during a ceremony to honor the First World War Heroes.
"Instead of guarding the safest continent in the world, Europe, they put it in danger,," the Russian leader said, Itar-Tass reported.

"We should not forget that today. We should learn to see at least one step ahead," he said, adding that "violence begets violence," while "a path to peace and prosperity rests on goodwill and dialogue, and memory and lessons of past wars. And about who and why started them."

"On the even of the First World War Russia did everything to resolve the conflict between Serbia and Austria-Hungary peacefully, without bloodshed. But Russia was not listened to. As a result Russia had to answer the challenge to defend the brotherly Slavic people," Putin said.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Antonis Remos Sang With Julio Iglesias in Mykonos
Julio-Iglesias_Antonis-Remos  

by Ioanna Zikakou - Jul 31, 2014


Julio-Iglesias_Antonis-RemosA glamorous evening filled with music took place Wednesday night in Mykonos. Greek singer Antonis Remos sang with world-famous Julio Iglesias in a special event attended by many Greek celebrities in the most cosmopolitan island in Greece.

The beach of Psarou – that was transformed to a concert venue — was filled with people, with big names from the world of Greek show business attending. Among them were singers Pantelis Pantelidis and Irini Papadopoulou, businessman Kostas Piladakis, Marilena Panagiotopoulou, Gogo Farmaki and Annita Nathanail.

The 71-year-old Spanish singer appeared on stage first and he was warmly welcomed by the enthusiastic audience. He then sang a duet with Antonis Remos, who continued the concert and took the crowd with him on a fun musical journey.

Antonis Remos welcomed all the concert attendees in Nammos beach club and told Julio Iglesias that “this is how we have fun in Mykonos.”

Furthermore, when champagne was brought to the stage, Remos jokingly said “Not this again. I’ve been giving interviews about this for two weeks now. Take them away and treat everyone who is back there serving.”

At the end of the night, the sky of Mykonos, Greece was illuminated by scores of fireworks.
 

- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/07/31/antonis-remos-sang-with-julio-inglesias-in-mykonos/#sthash.5W7VJ3DY.dpuf

Trip Tips: Porto Palermo, unveiled from a communist Albania


August 1, 2014

The castle of Ali Pasha Tepelena, some 235km south of the Albanian capital Tirana, which together with the Bay of Porto Palermo and its deep blue waters makes up one of Albania’s top tourist attractions. — Reuters/Arben Celi pic
The castle of Ali Pasha Tepelena, some 235km south of the Albanian capital Tirana, which together with the Bay of Porto Palermo and its deep blue waters makes up one of Albania’s top tourist attractions. — Reuters/Arben Celi picThe castle of Ali Pasha Tepelena, some 235km south of the Albanian capital Tirana, which together with the Bay of Porto Palermo and its deep blue waters makes up one of Albania’s top tourist attractions. — Reuters/Arben Celi picBAY OF PORTO PALERMO, Albania, Aug 1 — In 1984, when Albania was an isolated communist state in the same mould as today’s North Korea, a Mercedes in a convoy carrying a visiting German official overheated on Mt Llogara, overlooking a bay on Albania’s rugged Ionian coastline.

Emerging from his car, Franz Josef Strauss, then minister-president of Bavaria and one of the rare Western officials to set foot inside Enver Hoxha’s Albania, was struck by what he saw.

“Virgin California,” he remarked.

Three decades later, Albania’s Bay of Porto Palermo, its castle and its deep blue waters are one of the country’s top tourist attractions, featured on European newspaper and Internet lists of places to visit for those with a taste for adventure.

Once host to military vessels and submarines, Porto Palermo was closed to the public under Hoxha. It opened a couple of years after communism ended in 1991 and Albania began its white-knuckle ride to capitalism.

Nowadays, the bay takes its appeal from its seclusion, situated just below a two-lane coastal road and as inviting to foreigners as it was once forbidden. German, Czech and Hungarian tourists lose no time in stripping off and bathing naked.

“No one bothers them; no one’s around,” said the bay’s caretaker, Klearko Koci. The area is rich in history, myth and legend, part of a coastline blighted in parts by high-rises but still unspoilt in others.

Just down the road, a tiny isthmus reaches out to a round rocky island, between two capes embracing the blue waters on both sides. On the island sits a castle believed by some to have been built by the Ottoman Albanian ruler Ali Pasha in the early 19th century, surrounded by trees and bushes of vibrant colours, contrasting with the deep blue.

The best view is from the balcony where Ali’s young bride used to comb her hair, Koci says.

Legend

“Seamen! Sail your ships inside the bay where there is no wind. I was built by the Himara women to be kind to friends and fierce to enemies. I belong to the Lord of sea and land, Ali Pasha,” declared a plaque that once stood on its gate.

Informed by local legend and song, Koci says Pasha built the castle on the ruins of the Monastery of St Nicholas. Foreign scholars, however, say the structure was originally a Venetian fort used to protect trade routes.

Whether the Lion of Saint Mark really featured on the lost plaque will never be known unless it shows up one day. It was stolen in 1997, when Albania plunged into anarchy with the collapse of pyramid investment schemes and the country became known as a Balkan Wild West. It’s now a member of NATO and a candidate to join the European Union.

Ceramic amphorae, used to carry oil and wine and found at the bottom of the bay, show ships plying the route from Corfu to Italy would stop at Porto Palermo, local diver Xhemal Mato said.

The bay that takes its appeal from its seclusion, where German, Czech and Hungarian tourists lose no time in stripping off and bathing naked. — Reuters/Arben Celi pic
The bay that takes its appeal from its seclusion, where German, Czech and Hungarian tourists lose no time in stripping off and bathing naked. — Reuters/Arben Celi picThe bay that takes its appeal from its seclusion, where German, Czech and Hungarian tourists lose no time in stripping off and bathing naked. — Reuters/Arben Celi picOn the shallower side of the island, the seabed bears the marks of fishing with explosives and mining of rock for mussels.

Built of stone, the castle lets in light through small windows. Once past the main gate, visitors find their way to the top or the balcony through arcades from a main hall. Directions in Italian are a sign of its occupation during World War Two.

The well is still unexplored, the caretaker laments.

English tourist Danny Foster, visiting with his family, wondered who fought whom and why, in such a tranquil spot. “It’s travel back in time,” he said. “I never expected such beautiful views. Too much to take in.”

In 1803, Ali Pasha offered the castle and port to the British Royal Navy. A British scholar wrote that it had up to five cannons at the time, which meant that Pasha “did not see the fort as important for him”.

On a narrow strip of land connecting the castle to the mainland, old, squat army barracks still bear the red-paint slogans of the communist era — “Long live the Albanian-Chinese friendship” and “Long Live the Communist Party of China and Comrade Mao Zedong”.

Grand plans

Oak trees dot the top of a mountain rising steeply behind the bay. Agave trees were imported from China and presumably planted to discourage a landing from the air with their thick pointed ends. Hoxha was notoriously nervous about the possibility of a foreign invasion.

Unfortunately, Porto Palermo has yet to get the care it deserves to highlight its treasures beyond the passionate tales of a caretaker enchanted by his stones, trees and flowers.

Zamir Dedej, head of an Albanian NGO, works with the World Wildlife Fund to protect the area, so it offers a sustainable future in tourism. They see a second fish-growing operation in the bay as an abomination since their secretions pollute it.

Auron Tare, the head of a newly created coastline agency, said the castle and a kilometre-long underground tunnel built in communist times would provide the main attractions.

“The Albanian government has plans to open up the bay of Porto Palermo to tourism, specifically boat, yachts, pleasure yachts, cruise liners who come around here but do not stop here,” Tare told Reuters.

The government has mobilised the army and volunteers to clean up rubbish from roads and the beaches. At one southern beach this week, a group of British tourists cleaned the beach as locals sat in beach recliners.

At Porto Palermo, Dutch vacationer Agnes Kuijl said her family had come travelling on their mobile home via Greece and had found both countries a great experience.

Other foreigners with vehicle-drawn homes had camped out on the isthmus at Porto Palermo. Kuijl’s family were bathing.

Such vacationers fit well with the new motto Albania is using to promote itself to the world: Go your own way. “And in Albania it’s cheap,” Kuijl said. — Reuters
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/travel/article/trip-tips-porto-palermo-unveiled-from-a-communist-albania#sthash.XUrUlo3Y.dpuf
Albania: Edi Rama Acknowledges Greeks of Himara

by Ioanna Zikakou - Aug 1, 2014

Himara 
Himara. Edi Rama became the first prime minister in the history of Albania to recognize and acknowledge the Greek community of Himara. Until recently, Albanian prime minister believed that the city’s population was considered bilingual.
 

During his speech at the latest meeting of the Albanian Parliament, he mentioned that a Greek minority lives in Himara.

After the confrontation between the prime minister and the president of political party Unity for Human Rights Party (KEAD), Vangjel Dule, the parliament approved a reform that divides the country in 61 administrative regions.

Vangjel Dule, who is also deputy president of the Albanian Parliament, voted against the new territorial reform, while Greek-Albanian Vangjel Tavo abstained and another Greek-Albanian MP Andrea Martos of the Socialist party voted in favor of the new territorial division.


 The Greek community has rejected the new reform, because Himara will be incorporated in a Muslim region with different economic interests, and diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

- See more at: http://eu.greekreporter.com/2014/08/01/albania-edi-rama-acknowledges-greeks-of-himara/#sthash.GGncyzUc.dpuf
The Albanian demographic crime against Greece

by Konstantinos Cholevas

ewspaper "Democracy"
(29-7-2014)

 

"It is time to understand that the "Greek-Albanian friendship" is a joke as the "Greek-Turkish friendship." But in this case we must act instantaneously. On July 31-barring unforeseen-will be discussed and voted on in the Albanian Parliament Act and the administrative restructuring of the country and the creation of new municipalities-monstrosities. If you do not give strict and clear message in Albania, we will be responsible for the continued shrinking the greeks of Northern Epirus. 

We must exert every pressure, especially now that Tirana has gotten a promise from as Candidate Country that will open accession negotiations with undetermined however horizon.

The Albanian government must understand that any financial assistance or other relationship with the European institutions will be evaluated based on its behavior towards Greece and the Greek ethnic community living in Northern Epirus and elsewhere in Albania.


more in greek see:  http://ellogosar.blogspot.gr/2014/08/blog-post.html

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Rama: "Himara is Albanian territory"

Rama: The fact that there is a Greek minority living there, is an indicator for its integration


31/07/2014


Rama: HImara is Albanian territory
Before the voting of the territorial reform, the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, addressed to the head of the UHRP, Vangjel Dule, and said that Himara is an Albanian territory and will be treated as any other area of our country.

“Himara is like Tropoja, Kavaja and any other area. The fact that there is a Greek minority living there, is an indicator for its integration. Himara has always been an Albanian region. The residents of Himara, Dhermi and Palasa speak Albanian”, Rama declared.

Dule reacted and said that the passing of this territorial reform damages the rights of the Greek minority in Himara.

“Those who make others be part of the institutional life of a country should be proud, not those who simply pass laws”, he said, addressing to the Prime Minister.

Rama denied that the rights of the Himara Greek minority are being violated:

“I have always valued your intelligence, but don’t offend mine. There is no effort to limit the rights and freedoms of the Greek minority in Himara. We have recognized the presence of that minority and we will always respect it”, Rama declared.

“The topic of Himara is sensible because it is related to a 23-year-old effort of some people who wanted to see Himara for what it is not. We will treat residents without distinctions for their ethnicity”, Rama declared.

After a debate with Mr.Dule, Rama spoke about the advantages of the territorial reform: “This reform involves even more the communities that have been excluded from the education system, and allows us to offer transportation services, by making it possible for every child to attend school. The same thing goes for health, social support and security”, Rama declared.

He referred to the results of a poll published yesterday by the Minister of the Local Government, which proved the support of most of Albanians in this effort.

“The Albanian people supports this reform. We saw from the independent poll that 70% support the territorial reform”, Rama declared.
Parliament approved territorial reform
Top Channel TV
31/07/2014


Parliament approved territorial reform
The Albanian Parliament has approved the draft-law for the territorial reform with 88 votes in favor, 1 against from Vangjel Dule, one abstaining from Vangjel Tavo.

"I insist in the respecting of the human rights and of minorities. Albania is an EU candidate, and the government must know that the respecting of the minorities are part of the negotiations. If the draft-law passes, it will be a burden for our country in the negotiations. I propose that the administrative unit of Himara should be together with Himara and Lukova. Vranisht and some other communes should join with Selenica. Trusting in your dedication to the law I hope in a positive vote for these amends", Dule declared.

The MPs have approved two variants offered by Dule, and rejected three others.

Rama-Dule Debate

Before the voting of the territorial reform, the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, addressed to the head of the UHRP, Vangjel Dule, and said that Himara is an Albanian territory and will be treated as any other area of our country.

“Himara is like Tropoja, Kavaja and any other area. The fact that there is a Greek minority living there, is an indicator for its integration. Himara has always been an Albanian region. The residents of Himara, Dhermi and Palasa speak Albanian”, Rama declared.

Dule reacted and said that the passing of this territorial reform damages the rights of the Greek minority in Himara.

“Those who make others be part of the institutional life of a country should be proud, not those who simply pass laws”, he said, addressing to the Prime Minister.

Rama denied that the rights of the Himara Greek minority are being violated:

“I have always valued your intelligence, but don’t offend mine. There is no effort to limit the rights and freedoms of the Greek minority in Himara. We have recognized the presence of that minority and we will always respect it”, Rama declared.

“The topic of Himara is sensible because it is related to a 23-year-old effort of some people who wanted to see Himara for what it is not. We will treat residents without distinctions for their ethnicity”, Rama declared.

After a debate with Mr.Dule, Rama spoke about the advantages of the territorial reform: “This reform involves even more the communities that have been excluded from the education system, and allows us to offer transportation services, by making it possible for every child to attend school. The same thing goes for health, social support and security”, Rama declared.

He referred to the results of a poll published yesterday by the Minister of the Local Government, which proved the support of most of Albanians in this effort.

“The Albanian people supports this reform. We saw from the independent poll that 70% support the territorial reform”, Rama declared.

Debate for Himara in numbers

Himara is one of the three local units that is being part of the new territorial reform, creating a municipality with the same name, part of which will be Lukova and the Hor Vranisht commune.

The unification of the Vlore River villages with Himara and Lukova has been opposed by the leader of the United for Human Rights Party, Vangjel Dule, claiming that Vranisht will be used as an electoral body with the purpose to withhold the local government of Himara.

This claim falls even if it is taken in consideration, based on the recent census. Himara has 2822 residents, while the Lukova commune, with which UHRP has no problem unifying, has 2916 residents, which it will change the electoral relations that the UHRP claims.

The Hor Vranisht commune is the smallest, with 2080 residents. The territorial reform commission has rejected the request of the UHRP that Himara is a Greek minority and as such it should be in a separate municipality.

Government sources declared for Top Channel that the territorial reform has simply returned the 400-year-old local borders of the Himara region.

Population of the new Himara municipality

Hor Vranisht   2.080
Lukove           2.916
Himare           2.822

Dodik wants Serbia to give passports to Serbs abroad

BELGRADE -- RS President Milorad Dodik believes it would be good to allow Serbs from abroad to be elected as deputies in the Serbian parliament in Belgrade.
(Tanjug, file)
(Tanjug, file)
Dodik, who heads the Serb Republic (RS) entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina, recently received a Serbian passport, and in an interview for the Belgrade-based daily Danas noted that he asked for a permanent "liberalization" of the process of granting Serbian passport - "because Serbs in the RS want Serbian citizenship."
He expressed gratitude to Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić for making sure he became a citizen "under accelerated procedure" - but noted he though the procedure "should be even faster."

"I think every Serb should obtain Serbian citizenship, so we can show our commitment to the mother country that we consider our homeland," Dodik said, adding that he always felt bad when traveling with his Bosnian passport.

"When I go somewhere with the passport of Bosnia-Herzegovina, people always looking at me strangely. Once I went to the United States via the Netherlands where I was searched at the airport. When I told them I was traveling to a meeting at the State Department, I became even more suspicious. The flight was delayed 45 minutes," he said.

Noting that his Serbian citizenship gives him the opportunity to participate in Serbian elections, to vote and be elected, Dodik pointed out that he was "primarily a citizen of the RS" - but saw no reason why Serbia would not act like other countries, such as Croatia, that has a quota in its parliament for deputies from Croat communities living abroad.

"When there are elections in Croatia you can see billboards showing candidates in Banja Luka (RS). I know a Croat woman from Banja Luka who lives there, and was elected to the Croatian parliament. Not to mention the Hungarians. I do not see why Serbia would not launch changes of the electoral law, to enable quotas. Regardless of how many of us come out to vote, that quota could be four or five deputies for the RS, two or three for Montenegro, one of Macedonia and Western Europe each... that would be a good message from the Serbian leadership. Since there has been talk about amending the Constitution, this could also be considered," said Dodik.

The RS president does not believe that an investigation into the war crimes committed by ethnic Albanians against Serbs in Kosovo, led by Clint Williamson, will result in an indictment against Hashim Thaci - because, in his opinion, "there has not been enough engagement until now, and because of the passage of time."

Dodik pointed out that the only novelty in the Williamson statemennt presented on Monday was "recognition from such a high place that there is reasonable doubt that organ trafficking took place."

"Obviously, there is evidence that it did. Dick Marty also had the evidence, but he was prevented from conducting an investigation, Carla del Ponte also had it. Many Serbs are judged on the basis of collective responsibility. (Former RS President) Biljana Plavšić, who had nothing to do with crimes but held office, was sentenced. Now (in the case of the KLA) a huge amount of evidence is needed," he remarked.

Dodik believes that western countries will increasingly seek to soften the Serbian side, and then "at the most difficult moment demand recognition of Kosovo in exchange for full membership in the EU."

"They will not grant Serbia membership regardless of the reforms that it carries out. I think the actors in Serbia are clear on this being a requirement regardless of the fact that Kosovo is not recognized by the whole EU, and that the EU is violating its own principles. How would one explain the fact the EU is working on the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Kosovo, while five EU countries have not recognized Kosovo? The games of the big (countries) are clear. Sometimes I do not understand what their great interest is... Today I felt sick to my stomach when I read that (former German Chancellor) Schroeder said he regretted supporting the 1999 (NATO) bombing (of Serbia)," he said.

Dodik also believes that the EU is "heterogeneous" when it comes to Russia and possible pressures on Serbia with regard to the country's relations with Moscow.

"Russia has a right to defend its national interests. If the French were able to defend their interests in some far-off destinations, in Libya for example, why would Russia not defend its people, several tens of millions out there? In any event, they wish to set up a challenge for Serbia. I think its leadership is not having an easy time. The hypocrisy of some important ambassadors who seek recognition of Ukraine along with Crimea, while Kosovo is a striking example of a different policy, speaks about the hypocrisy of the great powers. I am convinced that Serbia will not introduce any sanctions against Russia and side with the west. The crisis in Ukraine will pass, while sanctions against of Serbia against Russia would not be forgotten. It would be a luxury for Serbia to impose sanctions against a friendly country like Russia," said Dodik.

When it comes to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, it is known that the RS has developed relations with Israel, and Dodik "does not hide that he was the first to say that Israel has a right to defend itself and resist terrorist attacks."

"I was the first to say that, later we could hear Obama, Merkel and other leaders use the same phrase... Of course, I sympathize and I am distressed by the scenes of suffering on both sides. I said that peace should be achieved as soon as possible. Israel is developing very friendly relations with us. The RS and Israel find themselves in similar environments. With the environment from Sarajevo, we have an almost identical problem, of course, no rockets and conflicts, that is in the past. A homogenization of the Muslim population is taking place. (Bakir) Izetbegović's statement that Muslims have to be strong to be appreciated is a message is for us, too. Israel is our ally and a friend who respects us," said Dodik.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Large anti traffic operation of the Greek army on the Greek - Albanian Border



Anti guerrilla operation Delta Force in Thesprotia with support of AH-64 Apache helicopters


Albanian movements involved in unrest in Skopje and from Kosovo who have been identified near the Greek - Albanian border, caused the sudden exercise of Delta Force "Pirpolitis 5/14" at Thesprotia regiment.

Specific considered "adjacent nationalist extremist groups" (usually so designated groups who had founded the "Liberation Army of Camouria" - UCC) and combined with the fact the recent arrest Albanians revealed the crypt significant number of aggressive AK-47 rifles and ammunition in Greek Albanian border.

The exercise aimed at rapid development and transfer members of the special Delta Force, who are involved in a battle with rebel groups, to support attack helicopters AH-64 Apache.

The group of special forces transferred by helicopter UH-1H, and Defence sources reported that "Were all the planned to development time."

Note that this is the first time in a proportional counter guerrilla operation Delta Force used attack helicopters.


Source: http://www.defencenet.gr
Washington calls Edi Rama: "Accepts Greek variant for Issue of Himara"

Screen Shot 2014-07-29 at 9.06.05 PM

United States of America calling by phone, have asked the U.S. Ambassador in Tirana Alexander Arvizu, to suggest for compromise and cooperation of all stakeholders for the implementation of administrative-territorial reform including claims of Himariton Lobby and HRUP. 


 The Greek lobby in Washington DC has enabled new map of Himara Region separate claims and convince PBDNJ American diplomats to negotiate with Tirana to accept the official version requested by the Greek minority, first signals were given by several articles in a newspaper prime shed near where the idea of accepting a variant of Himara by HRUP variant. It remains to be seen Thursday's vote on the project and the Greek - Albanian debate whether or not the government is broken. 

Sources within the U.S. Embassy in Tirana confirms that the U.S. has a concern about a debate and division on ethnic Greek communities about the new administrative map.

US factor but also monitoring local government has required that new, functional and representative, requires compromise and cooperation of all stakeholders. Until the next local elections in June 2015 remained less than a year, while the political forces ahead of the majority appear to be particularly taken some important reforms, which must first and foremost ensure consistency, efficiency and implementation best international electoral standards.

Protest rally in Athens for the new administrative division in Northern Epirus, Southern Albania


The National Association of Northern Epirus 1914 calls Wednesday, July 30, 2014, 6:30 pm, all Greeks, the show organized protest outside the offices of the European Commission delegation in Athens, Vas Sofias 2 for the planned administrative division in Northern Epirus by the Albanian government, which seeks full ownership Ethnic and alteration of Northern Epirus Greeks.

The National Association of Northern Epirus in 1914, as it had known a week ago, tried and came into contact with various bodies associated with the Northern Epirus Greeks, but unfortunately did not find the response she expected and appropriate to a militant mobilization on such an important issue which will determine to a large extent and our future.

The Greeks of Epirus are not entitled to remain apathetic, nor maudlin. Since not say no presence in Athens, where he lives permanently largest
mass population of the Northern Epirus, and our absence to show the absence of we prefer to give this to this historic challenge even a few dozen, to unite our voice to those that are these days in their homeland and are planning similar protests the day before the crucial vote in the Albanian parliament.

So prefer this protest, in order to have greater value, so meaningful and symbolic, to express the European Commission, which will decide over time on whether to join Albania in the European Union.

Moreover, the administrative division as planned from Tirana, is a flagrant violation of human rights for national minorities adopted by international organizations. Will follow a path to the Foreign Ministry.

In this event no excess. We call those Greek national consciousness to give this concentration Wednesday, July 30, 2014. Everyone present in the offices of the European Commission delegation in Athens, Vas Sofias 2.

How Berisha’s Inner Circle Profited from Multi-Million Euro Land Deals

Former Albanian premier Sali Berisha’s decision to transform worthless marshland into prime real estate helped his family and controversial friend Damir Fazlic earn millions of euros, classified documents obtained by BIRN reveal.
Lindita Cela and Lawrence Marzouk
BIRN
Tirana, London
Landscape of Porto Romano. | Photo by Dave Wyatt
Porto Romano, an impoverished hinterland of Albania’s second city, Durres, is home to the rusting hulk of a communist-era chemical factory, a sprawling rubbish dump and a smattering of industrial units.
Still recovering from decades of unfettered pollution, the marshland encircling the harbour is an unlikely setting for a real estate boom fuelled by the country’s political and business elite.
Yet back in November 2006, that’s exactly what happened when Berisha’s daughter, lawyer Argita Malltezi, and her colleague Flutura Kola, began to snap up land at 10 euro per square metre – more than double the market rate.
Some 14 hectares edging a small ‘energy park’ connected to the port were secured for their client, controversial  Bosnian businessman and Berisha election adviser Damir Fazlic, who paid his lawyers, directly or indirectly, more than four-times the market  price – 18 euro per square metre.
Soon after the transactions were completed, Berisha made a prime-ministerial decision to move the energy park boundary to include Fazlic’s new holdings, instantly transforming worthless marshland into prime real estate, and pushing up its value at least eight-fold.
Berisha’s daughter, her partner in the law firm and their hired middleman may have made almost 1.2m euro from selling land to Fazlic at four-times the market rate. Previously unpublished files obtained by BIRN document 430,000 euro of profit. A further 740,000 euro was earned in cash and, as such, cannot be traced.
Berisha's decision to extend energy park brought huge profit to his daughter, Argita Malltezi, and his friend, Damir Fazlic. | Photos by European People's Party and Club de Madrid
Bosnian businessman Fazlic saw the value of his land, held in two Albanian firms, soar by 1.7m euro to 4.2m euro after Berisha’s decision.  If his plans to develop the site into a 70m euro petrol terminal go ahead, he will earn tens of millions.
In 2008, the transactions attracted the attention of Albanian anti-money laundering investigators, alarmed at Fazlic’s use of “shell companies” in Albania, the number of cash-only sales at inflated prices and involvement of offshore firms based in Cypriot and Caribbean tax havens.
The case against Fazlic was dropped in 2009 after officials were unable to secure key documents from Bosnia and Cyprus or trace the origin of the funds. Fazlic was never formally charged with any offences and he strongly denied any wrongdoing.
But a cache of official documents obtained by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, now raises fresh questions about the central role Malltezi and her firm Malltezi & Kola played in buying and selling land, the value of which increased dramatically as a result of her father’s official decision to include it in the energy park.
And BIRN’s tracking of official company documents from St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean to Moscow, has also revealed that Serb energy mogul Vojin Lazarevic was at the heart of the deal, funnelling 2.5m euro into Fazlic’s private bank account in Albania via a network of offshore companies. The controversial businessmen hope to develop the site into major energy facilities.
Neither BIRN nor the prosecution uncovered any evidence to suggest Lazarevic funded Fazlic improperly, but the energy mogul has never spoken about his use of offshore havens or why the transactions took place largely outside the banking sector. He declined our request to be interviewed on the matter and did not respond to specific questions. 
Fazlic, a close friend and adviser to Sali Berisha with powerful friends in Washington, London and across the Balkans, has always denied any wrongdoing.
Sali Berisha, Argita and Jamarber Malltezi and Flutura and Florenc Kola refused to be interviewed by BIRN or respond to our detailed questions.

Real estate boom
Locals were eager to sell the land at the price of €9.8. | Photo by Dave Wyatt
From a quayside shack at Porto Romano, Abdyl Mukaj ekes out a living selling fresh fish to tourists in the summer months.
His has been a life on the breadline, so when a local man, Kujtim Shahini, asked him to sell a hectare of marshland in 2007 at double the market rate, he seized the chance.
The land had been given to Mukaj by the state when he, along with many of his neighbours, had received plots in Porto Romano as compensation after it  had forced them from their ancestral lands in northern Albania to make way for a new hydropower plant.
Offered large sums of cash for land with little financial or emotional value, the villagers didn’t ask who was buying or why.
Malltezi, her law firm partner Flutura Kola and their husbands – Jamarber Malltezi and Florenc Kola – sought land close to the existing energy park in Porto Romano for their client Fazlic and his firms, Crown Acquisitions and Alpha Shpk.
The husbands searched for suitable plots and employed a local middleman – Shahini - to conduct cash-only purchases in person from November 2006 through to September 2007.
Shahini and Florenc Kola first helped to secure nine hectares of land from villagers for Crown Acquisitions, almost all of which was bought, according to the contract, for 18 euro per square metre. The document is among more than a 1,000 pages of official material secured by BIRN.
Fazlic's properties in Porto Romano are marked in red.
But villagers have told BIRN that they were paid just 1,200 lek [9.8 euro]. It is not clear who benefited from the 700,000 euro difference between the contract and real price. Shahini has admitted to taking a cut while Fazlic, in an exclusive interview with BIRN, said his negotiators were entitled to their share.
Two out of the nine plots sold to Crown Acquisitions, had, in fact, already been purchased by Shahini and Kola to be sold to Fazlic at a profit.
“I received just 1200 lek per m2 – That was the deal,” villager Mukaj said. “Kujtim [Shahini] brought the money to my house in a black off-road car.
“1200 lek per square metre is the price that all the villagers sold the land for - you can ask all of them.”

Government Plan Huge Infrastructure Investment in Porto Romano

Click here for detailed information on the Porto Romano energy park.
In the second phase, the Malltezis and Kolas acquired five hectares of land from villagers at the same price – just under 10 euro per square metre –  which they immediately resold to Fazlic’s Alpha Shpk at 18 euro, netting profits of 430,000 euro. A further 150,000 euro was paid to Florenc Kola related to land purchases, although it is not clear from documents what deal this is connected to.
Bizarrely, during the transactions, Flutura Kola was sometimes simultaneously acting as the seller of the property, as she owned the land with her husband, and buyer, as Damir Fazlic’s legal representative. Having withdrawn funds from Fazlic’s personal account she was, in effect, paying herself and her business partner, Argita Malltezi, for the land.
Crown Acquisitions was eventually sold in June 2007 for 1.7m euro to Altaria Research Limited, a company registered in Cyprus and controlled by Lazarevic.
Alpha Shpk was sold to Cyprus-based Irongold Ltd, also controlled by Lazarevic, for 1.25m euro. Fazlic was left with a 300,000 euro profit.
Fazlic initially claimed Altaria Research Limited was his “holding company in Cyprus” in his only television interview since the affair erupted in October 2008. As a result, he said, he had made no profit as he was selling Crown Acquisitions – and its land holding – to himself. When questioned the following year by prosecutors, he refused to name the owner as, he said, it could harm his business.
But when pressed by BIRN in his first interview in seven years in June, he said he had a joint 50-50 stake in Crown Acquisitions and Alpha Shpk with Lazarevic via Altaria Research Limited.
This is not reflected in the official paperwork in Cyprus and Fazlic was unable to explain whether he had made any profit from selling part of his stake to Lazarevic.
Berisha shielded Fazlic
Berisha's daughter and son-in-law sell land to Damir Fazlic.
When the money laundering investigation was announced in October 2008, Berisha went to extraordinary lengths to shield Fazlic from possible prosecution, including spiriting him out of the country by private jet.
According to a leaked US Embassy memo, justice ministry inspectors were sent to seize case material for the prosecution, and prosecutors were subjected to public smear campaigns by Berisha and even threatened with legal action by the interior ministry.
In July 2009, just one month after Albanian prosecutors dropped the money laundering investigation, Berisha approved plans that incorporated Fazlic’s plots of land into the nearby energy park in Porto Romano.
While the land wasn’t particularly valuable when purchased back in 2007, Fazlic successfully applied to construct a huge petrol terminal, increasing its value eight-fold from the original market value.
Called to account for his role in the scandal, Berisha held a press conference in support of Fazlic, claiming the investigation was orchestrated by “the mafia”, and insisting neither Fazlic nor his family had benefited from his political office.
He argued, accurately, he had not declared Porto Romano an energy park, as a small zone had been designated as such in 2001. He failed, however, to add he had extended it to include his friend’s land.
Argita Malltezi was never interviewed and her role in the buying and selling land had remained secret until today. Speaking on condition of anonymity, sources close to the prosecution team told BIRN they were simply too scared at the time to summon the premier’s daughter for questioning.
Argita Malltezi, Berisha's daughter. | Print screen TV Klan YouTube
Argita, her husband Jamarber and brother Shkelzen, were linked to a number of corruption scandals during Berisha’s tenure, but were never formally included in any probe.  They have always denied any wrongdoing.
In interviews with prosecutors seen by BIRN, lawyer Flutura Kola and Jamarber Malltezi reveal they were well aware of Porto Romano’s potential at the time they began buying up the land.
Jarmarber Malltezi said: “I had information regarding the development of that area so I thought it was a good business [opportunity].”
After berating the prosecutors for their “politically motivated investigation”, he explained Fazlic just happened to be the first person to offer to buy his land.
Kola, on the other hand, explained how she, her husband and the Malltezis had worked together to snap up land for Fazlic in order to make a profit. She admitted having “information that this area was approved…by the government as an area for building petrol deposits and hydrocarbons”.
Fazlic told BIRN he had no advance information from Berisha but was “100 per cent sure” the area would be included in the new energy park.
“Was I 100 per cent certain? Yes, because it was very, very logical,” he said. “But Sali Berisha calling me and saying; ‘oh, you should do this and that’ is just a movie scenario.”
He also admitted the land had increased in value as a result of the premier’s decision, but insists that the extension of the energy park was inevitable.
Villagers, on the other hand, told BIRN they “knew nothing of the plan”.
With a change of government in 2013, and the departure of Berisha, some believed Fazlic’s plan would be scuppered at the hands of his detractors in the now ruling Socialist Party.
But the Bosnian says its business as usual and has even met the new PM, Edi Rama, and some of his ministers.
“Berisha was my personal friend, still is my personal friend, but I never got anything from his government and I never made any deals, public or private, with his government.”

He told BIRN he “had no qualms cooperating with” Rama and his team, despite the barbs he has faced from them.

“I hope your article is not going to jog their memory,” he joked.

Will the ghost of Porto Romano come back to haunt him and the Berisha family? For the moment, neither the ruling party nor prosecutors appear interested in looking again at investigation into the deals.

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/how-berisha-s-inner-circle-profited-from-multi-million-euro-land-deals

Monday, July 28, 2014

Tom Hanks Swims from Paros to Antiparos
tom-hanks-paros-660
by Ioanna Zikakou

tom-hanks-paros-660Popular Hollywood actor and lover of Greece Tom Hanks stole the limelight and earned the applause of residents and tourists in Paros and Antiparos when he joined the swimmers who were going to cross the distance between the two islands on Sunday, July 27.

Tom Hanks’ love for Greece is well-known since the actor has been married to Greek-American actress Rita Wilson for 11 years and the couple owns a 450 square meters villa in Antiparos.

In fact, before investing in Greece, the couple visited the country several times. The stone villa of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson is located between Glypha and Chora in Antiparos. It is built on a 1.5 acre property they bought 14 years ago.
- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/07/28/tom-hanks-swims-from-paros-to-antiparos/#sthash.DOdQmoFh.dpuf

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Kosov army would be threat to Serbia and region

NOVI SAD - Serbian Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic stated that Serbia sees the creation of the future army of Kosovo as a threat to its stability and the stability in the region, and added that Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) remains the biggest security threat for the country.

This is why we maintain that international forces in KiM should guard peace in the province and protect security of the minority population in keeping with their mandate, Gasic said in an interview for the latest edition of the Novi Sad-based weekly Dnevnik.

KFOR has a special role and responsibilities concerning this security risk, Gasic said and underscored that the Defence Ministry maintains good cooperation with the international forces, all with a view to preserving stability and protecting the Serb community in the province.

We are actively working on the prevention of all potential dangers, we are cautious and always willing to respond in an adequate manner, Gasic said.

Asked about potential pressures on Serbia to additionally shift its focus to NATO, especially in the context of the crisis in Ukraine, the defence minister said that he does not see any reason for such pressures.

In keeping with the foreign policy goals defined by the government, the cooperation with NATO within the Partnership for Peace Programme provides ample room and Serbia is intensively utilising the opportunities with a view to strengthening its defence capacities and contributing to peace in the world, Gasic said.

He stated that the participation of Serbia's representatives in the competition of tank drivers at the Russian Tank Biathlon from August 4 to 7 and the potential modernisation of the army with the help of Russian equipment will not impact the country's relations with NATO.

Photo Tanjug, Z. Zestic (archiv photo)
New dialogue between Italy and Albania
25/07/2014


New dialogue between Italy and Albania
Italy will serve as an intermediate for improving the relations between Albania and Serbia. This was declared by the Foreign Minister, Federika Mogherini, during her visit in Tirana. As for Minister Ditmir Bushati, the relations between Albania and Italy should be a role model even for the relations with Greece.

"I wanted to mention the key and decisive role of Albania, as regards the stability and safety in the region. I will have the opportunity to discuss this with the Serbian Foreign MInister this Monday, in Belgrade, and I hope we will be able to reach a meeting between Italy, Albania and Serbia, in order to give a bigger significance to the stability in the region", the Italian Foreign Minister declared.

When asked by Top Channel about the interventions of Athens in Albania's internal affairs, as regards the territorial reform, Bushati expressed the government's determination to pass the law.

He also expressed the will to address to all issues of the past with the spirit of good neighboring. "The relations between Albania and Italy could be a role model for the relations with Greece, despite the differences and historic aspects", the Minister declared.

The Italian Foreign Minister, Federica Mogherini, whose country holds the EU presidency, met with the Albanian President, Bujar Nishani.

"This decision is only the start of a path that will require deeper and more complete reforms, so that we can accelerate the accession", the President declared.

Minister Mogherini declared that Albania's and Western Balkan's integration in the EU is a priority of the Italian presidency, and it should be a priority for all presidencies of the EU that will follow.

Minister Mogherini also met with the Parliament Speaker, Ilir Meta, with whom she valued the strategic partnership between the two countries. Meta expressed his trust that during the six months of EU Presidency, Italy will give its best efforts to support a stronger connection of Albania with the region and the EU.

The Italian Foreign Minister also met with the Deputy MInister NIko Peleshi. Peleshi updated Minister Mogherini with the government's work in these 300 days for important reforms that have been undertaken especially in the rule of law and in improving the business climate for foreign investors.

"Nobody has right to lecture Serbia on Ukraine"

BELGRADE -- Nobody has the right lecture Serbia, especially not those who "brought our own territorial integrity into question," said Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić.
(Tanjug, file)
(Tanjug, file)
When it comes to the position of Serbia "between East and West" after the crash of a Malaysian aircraft in eastern Ukraine and the deepening of the crisis, "there have been no new request to impose sanctions against Russia and to harmonize the foreign policy of Serbia with the European Union," he told the RTS.
His comments came after some media reported earlier in the week that the country had been given "an ultimatum" to this effect.

"Serbia will direct its foreign policy towards reconciliation, taking into account its national and state interests, as do other countries, it's only that their positions are different compared to Serbia. They harmonize their differences in the decision-making process, and Serbia is not part of the decision making process and that's why there have recently been rumors about whether we have or do not have to - we do not have great disputes with the EU over that, because we are a sovereign country that looks after its national and state interests, and our position is quite clear," he was quoted as saying.

Dačić then added that Serbia joined EU's decisions "in ten cases," while when it comes to four decisions relating to Ukraine, namely sanctions against Russia, it did not.

The minister also noted that "Serbia defends the territorial integrity of Ukraine, but cannot defend it more than it defended its own territorial integrity," and that in that instance Western countries "did not come out gloriously."

Dačić further noted that those who violated Serbia's territorial integrity cannot now lecture the country on this subject, and that "we also expected that all UN member countries would react regarding our territorial integrity." His remarks concern the province of Kosovo, where ethnic Albanians in 2008 unilaterally declared independence which Serbia rejected, but many Western countries recognized.

Dačić then added that it was in the Serbia's national interest to develop good relations with Russia, China and other countries. He said that Serbia strongly condemns the shooting down of the passenger plane over Ukraine and advocates for an independent investigation that will find the culprits for the death of 298 people, but added:

"We on the other hand as a friend of Russia also cannot support any move that is reprehensible. Regardless of whether somebody now suspects Russia with evidence, or without it, since mostly pro-Russian forces are suspected, Serbia is requesting an independent investigation and must not be dragged into the conflict, but will be a factor in conflict resolution next year as the chair of the OSCE," Dačić concluded.