Romney Angers Greek-Americans with “…down the path toward Greece” comment

By Anastasios Papapostolou on October 23, 2012 in Politics

 6  1

 

 0  9 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made Americans of Greek descent furious with his “…down the path toward Greece” comment during the third and last presidential debate. Romney kept mentioning Greece as an example for mismanagement and bad economy. Posting negative statements on social media, Greek Americans showed a great amount of anger towards the Republican candidate after his comment.
While Greece is in fact in trouble and would have defaulted on its debt if the IMF and EU had not given loans, there are many countries in the world that are in an economic crisis. Romney decided to keep using Greece as the bad example and not mention Spain, Portugal or even Iceland that had defaulted on its debt.
Romney’s campaign advisers must have underestimated the number of Greek-American voters which the candidate has greatly disappointed.
According to the 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, there were 1,380,088 people of Greek ancestry in the U.S. while the State Department reports that around 3,000,000 Americans claim to be of Greek descent. The 2000 census revealed that Greek was spoken at home by 365,436 people older than five.
nalysis

Fear and Violence Rise in Greece

By A. Papapostolou on October 22, 2012 in Crime, Economy, News, Politics

 6  4

 

 0  18 Reeling from a crushing economic crisis that has put nearly two million people out of work, and with extremism on the increase, Greece is seeing a spike in the number of violent crimes and verbal abuse, police records show, with the likelihood of more tension as the government sets to pass a $17.45 billion spending cut and tax hike plan and start firing public workers.
Statistics show a sharp increase in the number of calls to the police from January to September. “We have seen a rise in violent behavior, both physical and verbal,” 100 emergency hotline operator Sofia Papingioti told Kathimerini. “It is clear that citizens are losing their patience, they are becoming more abrupt and are more ready for a fight.”
In the first nine months of 2012, the 100 hotline had already received 894,000 calls from Attica alone, with the majority coming from Athens and Piraeus. The average for each of the previous three years was at around one million totally each year.
Papingioti also noted that the service receives a lot more calls over “suspicious figures” or ringing car and homes alarms, indicating a high level of fear among citizens. The most calls are made on Fridays and are mainly in regard to alcohol-related altercations.
In the last week of September, police said they stopped and searched some 37,000 suspects across the country last week in a campaign to clamp down on crime. A total of 4,793 were briefly detained and 708 arrested for alleged robberies, thefts and drug-related offenses.
Ironically, the increase in crime has benefited the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, which has 18 seats in Parliament and seeing its popularity rise as it puts out vigilante patrols in neighborhood and offers its services to people who said they need protection.
nalysis

sman

Cost of October 28 Military Parade Trimmed

By A. Papapostolou on October 22, 2012 in News

 4  2

 

 0  6 The annual military parade held on October 28 in Thessaloniki to mark Greece’s entry into the Second World War will be organized at a substantially reduced cost, daily Kathimerini reports.
The National Defense General Staff (GEETHA) has brought the cost of the parade down to 230,000 euros from more than 300,000. The reduction will be achieved through limiting the number of troops that join the parade and ensuring that no soldiers or equipment are transported by air.
Last year, the October 28 and March 25 (beginning of Independence War, 1821) annual parades cost 435,000 euros but the government plans to limit the cost to 320,000 euros this year.
Last year, the parade in Thessaloniki was abandoned amid anti-austerity protestalysis

 

A group of supproters of the Albanian center-right Red-And-Black Alliance political party protest against the visit of Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic, at Mother Teresa International Airport, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Albanian+nationalists+protest+Serbian+foreign+ministers+visit/7428288/story.html#ixzz2A6YuCGdh

Turkey’s Risky Syrian Game

October 20, 2012 | Filed under: Geopolitics

By Tassos Symeonides (RIEAS Academic Advisor)

Turkey’s muscle flexing vis-a-vis Syria provides the newest fuse for the perennially unstable Middle East. While the Syrians rushed to offer a rare apology to Ankara over an errant mortar round that killed five Turkish civilians near the common border, the Turks quickly retaliated with an artillery barrage against Syrian military targets deep into its neighbor’s territory.
Now the Turkish parliament has authorized the administration of PM Erdogan to launch cross-border military action if need arises. Erdogan is treating this license as both a threat against the beleaguered Syrian leader Bashar Assad and further tangible proof that he, and not the generals, is calling the domestic and foreign shots.

The Syrian case carries all the usual convoluted and explosive elements of a Middle East sectarian conflict. Assad, an Alawite, is confronted by Sunni rebels who maintain friendly contacts with the simmering Sunni rebellion in Iraq. At the same time, the powerful Hizb’allah terror organization that dominates Lebanon’s domestic socio-political balance has chosen the Assad side and is reported sending fighters and supplies to help Damascus.

Aside from above locus, Israel and Jordan are having their own security concerns because of the Syrian conflagration and would loath to see a foreign intervention in Syria that does not agree with their strategic interests.

Meantime, Erdogan (a Sunni) sees the Syrian conflict as a unique opportunity to increase Turkey’s influence in the region and raise Turkey to a command position capable of realizing strategic goals that were simply unattainable in the past.

The Turkish PM feels particularly emboldened these days as his continuing conflict with the army establishment has tilted in his favor and more generals have landed in jail. But, at the same time, he needs to tread carefully as the Assad government has withdrawn its forces from most of the Turkish-Syrian border, thus allowing the Syrian-based Kurds, who continue their perennial bloody confrontation with Turkey, a literal free hand in meeting a possible Turkish incursion with considerable force.

Furthermore, the Turks need to take into serious account Iran’s full support for the tottering Assad. Iranian “advisers” are reported directing many of the Syrian regime’s military actions and supplying the Syrian military forces with arms and other material.

The Iranian presence is a potential bombshell that would almost certainly go off in case of a Turkish military action — something that would immediately mobilize Israel, already tense about the Syrian situation and Iran’s role in it, not to mention Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Responding to sporadic errant Syrian shelling in the Golan Heights, Israel staged a surprise mobilization exercise last month that brought thousands of troops to the Golan Heights to maneuver and use live fire during the drill.

Turkey’s war dance is also raising concerns in NATO capitals. Theoretically, Turkey, in case of another border incident, may invoke Article 5 of the NATO treaty that stipulates that any NATO member coming under attack has the liberty to call upon all other members for help. (This is the same infamous Article 5 that NATO has refused to recognize as having application in the case of Turkey threatening war in the Aegean against Greece).

Erdogan and his deceivingly amiable foreign minister Davutoglou have pursued a proactive policy of expanding Turkey’s influence in regional affairs, something that is now jeopardized both by the so-called Arab Spring and the Syrian civil war. Assad hasn’t collapsed as quickly as the other Arab dictators and that has thrown a spanner into the innards of Turkish plans. For all the disappointment this development has brought to the Erdogan-Davoutoglou duo both these Turkish leaders realize that choosing the intervention card can trigger a wider war with incalculable impact on Syria and Turkey, not to mention the rest of the region.

Where is Greece standing in all of this? Unfortunately, Athens, caught in the maelstrom of its own socio-economic catastrophe, has simply no diplomatic or any other reach and has been reduced to a mere spectator of Turkey’s Syrian sabre rattling and bold maneuvering. If experience is any yardstick, the Greek leaders will resort to the usual grandiloquent press releases calling for peace, observance of international law, etc, and will keep their fingers crossed in the hope that Turkey fumbles in this latest strategic play — because any Turkish “victory” in Syria could almost automatically increase Turkish pressure on Greek sovereignty in the Aegean.

Source: rieas.gr

A third gas corridor: prospects for the East Med

October 20, 2012 | Filed under: Featured News,Geopolitics

Harris Samaras, Chairman & Group CEO of Pytheas, talks to Leigh Elston, Editor & Senior Reporter of Interfax, about the possibility, and importance, of the Eastern Mediterranean hydrocarbons to Europe and more (14 September 2012).

Extracts from the interview of Mr. Samaras withInterfax:

Dimitris Manolis, the Interconnector Turkey-Greece-Italy’s (ITGI’s) director of international activities, this week raised the possibility of bringing East Mediterranean gas to the European market via the ITGI pipeline as early as 2018. Harris Samaras, the chairman and group chief executive of Pytheas, an international investment banking organisation, spoke to Interfax about the benefits of, and technical and commercial challenges to, building ‘the East Med’ pipeline.

Interfax: Would a pipeline running from the East Mediterranean, as suggested by Dimitris Manolis, be feasible?

Harris Samaras: The construction of this ‘East Med Pipeline’, which would connect Israel, Cyprus and Greece to Italy and the rest of Europe, is feasible but it will be costly, and can only be justly assessed when further exploration is concluded and additional gas deposits are confirmed. If, however, the scientifically estimated deposits are proven to exist, it is undoubtedly the best long-term option and solution, not only for the countries involved, but for the EU as well. It is a solution which will liberate the EU from its energy dependence on volatile or [sometimes] ‘hostile’ countries – as both the source and the transportation means will be owned and controlled by EU-member countries alone. Needless to mention, it would strengthen Europe’s negotiating tools in the markets.

 

more see:  http://www.defencegreece.com/index.php/2012/10/a-third-gas-corridor-prospects-for-the-east-med/

Platform for Kosovo “will not be sensational”

Source: Politika, Tanjug

BELGRADE -- The Serbian government wants to determine its position with a platform for Kosovo, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić has stated.

Ivan Mrkić (file)

He also said that the government wanted the platform and position on Kosovo to be widely accepted.
However, the minister added that “some sensational new variant” should not be expected.

“This is not someone’s personal issue. It (the platform) needs to be seriously supported and we are counting that it will have a significant support in parliament as well,” he told daily Politika.

Mrkić pointed out that the platform for Kosovo was a priority issue but that other important issues required the government’s attention too.

“I we had only worked on the platform for Kosovo, we would have finished it quickly but we cannot afford that luxury,” he was quoted as saying.

When asked whether the work on the platform would result in a new solution, the foreign minister said that the government could not offer anything “spectacularly new”.

“You cannot expect any sensationally new variant. We will be as pragmatic as possible in order to protect our people in Kosovo,” Mrkić stressed.

“Once the platform is finished we will have a framework, a desired and determined goal, just like anybody who is preparing for negotiations. But we will not have any hidden goals that would only take care of us. The goals will be harmonized with the circumstances,” he was quoted as saying.

The minister said that a meeting between EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, Serbian PM Ivica Dačić and Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci in Brussels on Friday was “very important”.

“We went to Brussels in order to see if we could start the political dialogue that the new government and president said we wanted to have. Now we should concretize it a bit more and see what the content and framework of the dialogue should be,” Mrkić concluded.

 

PREMIUM

 

The "Kissinger Plan": Confederations Macedonia, Epirus, Thrache, 

 
For nearly 20 years (decades 70 and 80) that culminated in the international political scene was none other than the Secretary of State, ChaintsAlfrent Kissinger (Heinz Alfred Kissinger). Born in Germany in 1923 by parents of Jewish origin, who in 1938 fled to America under the threat of the Nazi regime, initially followed an academic career at Harvard, but also participated in various government agencies and committees involved external policy and security of the United States . So, in 1969 he was appointed National Security Advisor to President Nixon and later, during President Ford, he served as foreign minister and, after Carter's election to the presidency, he founded a consultancy company and continued his career as an expert foreign policy and was awarded the Nobel Peace 1993.Mono which for Greece was one of the most basic makers 'appetite' for our neighbors scheming Greek territories as "plan" included the dismemberment of Greece. One state starts from Arta and over, called Greater Albania. The second state has to do with Skopje, which created the state of Macedonia, which goes to Larissa. The third state is Thrace. And all this will gradually become the "fall" of the cultural elements of the Greeks, as Kissinger stated that: "The people of the Greco is anarchic and difficult to harnessed. Therefore you must strike deep roots in culture. Then you might be forced to comply. I mean to attack his language, his religion, spiritual and historical reserves, so as to neutralize its ability to develop, to distinguish, to prevail, so as not to disturb us in the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, Throughout this crucial area of strategic importance for us. "

Since then, whether the statement is true or not, what he described seeing them since then to gradually become reality Macedonians, Albanians and Turks, and fueled the "plan" for adjusting the territories of the Balkan countries. In summary, called "Kissinger Plan" provides the solution of problems of the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans, with the creation of a confederation of states, with ponomazomenon "United States Eastern Mediterranean" (LAEC). At the same time, part of the EU already enrolled in this or future enlargement Field Theory (North America) will be cut off, or will be part of a "loosely affiliated" with this wing that extends eastward.

According to some information, the "plan" was launched in 1989. Then consisted initially resolve the problem Palaispnion Israel, the "break" of Israel, a goal that almost made recently. The second phase provided break up of Yugoslavia, the goal has been achieved. The third phase is considered that promotes federalism in Cyprus (after it has been cleaved in two "states"), Phase made this stigmi.Edo but things are starting to become more interesting. According to some estimates, the "Plan" in the original version provided further:

■ autonomy Crete. Dodecanese islands of the eastern Aegean and western Asia Minor.

■ autonomy of eastern, western Thrace kaitisnotiou Bulgaria.

■ Increase the territories of the State of Skopje with annexation of Macedonia and Thessaly.

■ Increase the Albanian territories to the south until andthe Preveza.

Already in 1989, he had discovered that the loss of Greek-Turkish disputes will long term objectives:

• The demilitarization of the islands of the Aegean.

• The demilitarization of Turkish coasts of Asia Minor, to where, as they say. does not go beyond.

• The establishment of Greek-Turkish business (tourism, petroleum, commercial, industrial) and establishing a free trade zone in the Aegean and Asia Minor coast between the two countries as part of a "mixed zone," which would evolve into an autonomous "state-pad" local conflicts, international influence and controlled by the UN.......

 

ORIGINAL IN GREEK LANGUAGE:  http://www.greeknation.blogspot.com/2012/10/blog-post_7411.html

PM: It is time for historic agreement

Source: B92

BELGRADE -- Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dačić told B92 that it was time to reach a historic agreement with Priština and complete the negotiations.

Ivica Dačić (Tanjug, file)

He pointed out that “it does not mean that we recognized Kosovo by accepting to talk with Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci”.
“Both Thaci and I have our own formulations. My starting point is different than his. The acceptance of Kosovo’s independence is out of the question. Still, I believe that a visible progress in our relations should be made,” the prime minister explained.

He repeated that Serbia’s goal was to reach a permanent, sustainable solution and improve relations with Priština. Dačić added that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton had also confirmed that the talks were status neutral.

When asked whether he had shaken hands with Thaci in Brussels, the Serbian prime minister said that they had agreed not to have any public protocols in order to avoid media speculations.

“There were no cameras because the importance of what happened yesterday would have been put on a backburner otherwise. I waged a war against Thaci, I do not know why I would shake his hand now,” Dačić stressed.

He announced earlier on Saturday that the government would start working on a platform for Kosovo on Sunday and explained that the parliament, representatives of the opposition and everybody else who could help would take part in drafting the platform aside from the president and himself.

When asked whether Belgrade would agree to Priština’s insistence to abolish Serbian structures in northern Kosovo, the PM said:

“It is important to know that is one of the rare meetings, maybe the first, where the EU acted as a mediator. Ashton said that she would not make us do anything we did not want to. There is a topic we do not want to discuss. The issue is deeper than we thought. Serbs in the north do not accept Priština.”

He announced that top Serbian officials would hold a meeting on Wednesday and discuss numerous issues.

“Thaci is only interested in northern Kosovo and we are interested in the protection of our religious and cultural heritage, Serbian property, the church, citizens in Kosovo. I told Thaci ‘Slow down. Who were you? A commander of parallel structures, paramilitary formations’. The problem runs deeper, Serbs from the north do not accept Kosovo. We are thinking about the final solution. It is time for a historic agreement. It is in Serbia’s interest to negotiate without outside pressure, because if we had talked earlier, maybe we already would have solved some problems,” Dačić concluded.

Draft-resolution for Albania

Those few European MPs who showed interest for the debate of the Foreign Committee of Albania got acquainted with the draft-resolution prepared by the rapporteur of the European Parliament for the country that demanded support for the candidate status, with the hope to fulfil the remaining conditions.

“We are chosen representatives of the European Parliament and I think that the comments in my report are to offer clear indicators of what measures should be approved, what steps should be taken and what must be done, so that we can see the human rights, the living standards and so that the life quality of the Albanians can improve”, declared Nikolaos Chountis, rapporteur for Albania at the European Parliament.

The right and left political groups reiterated the significance of the next elections and the continuity of the political dialogue. The liberals focused on impunity and the human rights.

 Eduard Kukan, head of the delegation for Balkan at the European Parliament underlined: “The Candidate Status for Albania is reachable. But this depends more on the political will and a stable dialogue between all political parties. It might be too much saying that I want to be optimistic, but I would want to be optimist and see some progress and a full normalization of the interior political life in Albania. I also hope that the next elections will not make this progress more difficult”.

The vice rapporteur for Albania, Libor Rouceku, who is also a representative of the Social-Democrats, added: “The Parliamentary elections of the next spring will be essential for Albania in the next year. I think that this not only should be mentioned, but it should be underlined, because it is essential not only for Albania’s democratic development, but it is also a test for the European progress of Albania, the guarantee of the candidate status”.

A similar position was held by Marijete Schaake, vice rapporteur for Albania: “This is an important start, the beginning of what I think that could be a long process, or at least an intensive process of reforms that should be deep and significant, not superficial. This Parliament was a witness of a very painful political polarization, and a stalemate that is deeply rooted in the current Albanian political system. I think that it is important that we as a Parliament can keep discussing and be in direct contact with the Albanian people. This is for the future and for its own good, not for the political class or a political generation”.

Present in the debate for the draft resolution were also representatives of the European Commission.

Vasilis Maragos, head of the unit for Albania at the European Commission declared for Top Channel: “I want to reiterate the significance that the Albanian institutions are showing for the commitment in the war against corruption and the organized crime, including the proactive investigations and the judicial cases, so that they can guarantee not only the European institutions, but also the Albanians, that there will be no more impunity for the illegal actions”.

The second debate for the resolution, with the increase of the amends from different political groups, will be held on November 15th and will be voted at the Foreign Commission on November 22nd. The final stance of the European Parliament for Albania will be voted in the plenary session of December.

"Meeting about dialogue, without handshake"

Source: B92, Tanjug

BELGRADE, BRUSSELS -- PM Ivica Dačić said after meeting with Hashim Thaci that a new meeting will be held in November, and that Serbia's dialogue platform will be ready by then.

Ivica Dačić (Beta, file)

He told B92 late on Friday that the Brussels meeting - organized and attended by EU's Catherine Ashton - focused on reaching "an agreement on the dialogue", and noted that there was "no historic handshake".
"Today's meeting had the goal of enabling Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the EU whose mediator she is, based on UN (SC) Resolution 1244, to establish whether Belgrade and Priština wish to continue their dialogue and have it raised to a higher level," the premier stated, and added:

"At the time we formed the authorities - and this was also said by the Serbian president - we stated on several occasions that we wanted the dialogue to resume, that we were ready for it, and that we had the most interest in insisting on all the problems being solved peacefully, considering that Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija live in very difficult circumstances. In that sense I'd say that what I said at the start of the meeting today was also very important - that Serbia, by agreeing to resume the dialogue, does not change its stance on Kosovo and Metohija."

Serbia absolutely cannot, nor does it wish to, see this dialogue result in a recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, Dačić stressed, and added that it "considered the dialogue to be status-neutral", advising at the same time "each side" to show restrain in view of making unilateral moves.

"All participants in the meeting agreed to that," he revealed.

The prime minister further noted that there were subjects that Serbia did not wish to discuss - "which does not mean there opinions about this are unison", and that the dialogue could have any topic that would not influence "the status-neutral position of Serbia toward Kosovo and Metohija".

"What has been agreed upon is for the dialogue to continue, for a new meeting to be held next month, a new round of talks, and in the meantime our state officials will discuss our united state platform and approach. Perhaps the most important result of this meeting is that desire has been expressed to continue the political dialogue, which is one of the conditions the European Council demanded from Serbia, and that is to show visible progress in relations between Belgrade and Priština."

Dačić also told B92 that today was "the first time that he met with representatives of the interim institutions in Kosovo", i.e., Kosovo Albanian officials, but that this was "not true of Thaci".

He said that "Thaci told us he (was) also in Rambouillet", and that he took part in "the dialogue in Vienna" that was attended by Boris Tadić and Vojislav Koštunica:

"Clearly he has more experience in negotiations. At the same time, it could hardly be said that this today was a historic meeting."

Dačić then described the meeting he held with Thaci and Ashton:

"It was a meeting without any protocol at all. There were no plans to shake hands, (there were) not even state symbols. You know that I'm always wearing the Serbian flag pin on my lapel. Thaci had something similar, with markings of Kosovo, but I did notice out loud that mine was bigger... In any case, the atmosphere was very constructive."

“Issues should be solved through dialogue”

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Serbian and Romanian Prime Ministers Ivica Dačić and Victor Ponta agreed on Thursday the two countries' relations were friendly and supportive.

Victor Ponta and Ivica Dačić (Beta)

They also added that any issues should be settled through dialogue, not pressure.
Ponta told a news conference after the meeting with Dačić that his country remained in strong friendship with Serbia.

“Romania will in the future continue to act as Serbia's friend that can be counted on, he noted, adding he wished Romania and Serbia were not just neighbors and friends, but EU members as well,” he noted.

Dačić asked his Romanian counterpart for a positive and constructive stand regarding requests for suspension of the visa liberalization with Serbia, and Ponta responded that Bucharest was against the request.

“Ponta is the first prime minister to visit the new Serbian government, which is another confirmation of friendly and traditionally good relations between the two countries,” the Serbian PM stated.

“Romania is Serbia's great friend and Serbia is Romania's great friend,” he pointed out, adding that Romania was still the only country to threaten Serbia's candidate status.

“That must not happen again and problems should not be swept under the carpet anymore,” Dačić said.

“Serbia wants to solve the Vlach and Romanian minority issue as an integral part of its national equality policy,” he underscored.

“The relations between Serbia and Romania were not damaged by sanctions, bombing and Kosovo's independence, so we will not allow the Vlach issue to do it either,” the Serbian official noted.

Ponta stated he had led the opposition when Bucharest opposed giving Serbia the candidate status and criticized that view.

Ponta believes to this day that the issue of the Romanian national minority and Serbia's EU integration should not be connected, and that Romania should support Serbia in that process, and not pose an obstacle.

“It is important for Romania that all the rights enjoyed by the Serb national minority in Romania are also guaranteed for the Romanian minority in Serbia,” Ponta stressed.

“Serbia is aware of the pressure on Romania in terms of Kosovo and deeply thankful for Bucharest's choice not to recognize Kosovo's independence,” Dačić underscored.

Greek-Americans Organized Fundraiser for Obama

 

The organization Greek-Americans for Obama organized a benefit event supporting President Barack Obama in  his re-election campaign.

Many attended an event which was held at the restaurant Loi in Manhattan. Among them were Aravella Simotas, a member of the New York Assembly; Communications Workers of American N.Y. President Arthur Heliotis; N.Y. City Council candidate Peter Maroudas, and Greek-Americans for Obama officials Ted Anstasiou and George Papaioannou.

The speakers highlighted the main differences between the two candidates, Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney,, the former governor of Massachusetts. They said that Obama and his Vice-President, Joe Biden, are strong supporters of the middle class.
“President Obama supported Greece in this financial crisis, as he is well aware of Greek issues,”Maroudas said, without explaining how.

Gaitanos Sings Hymns to Golden Dawn

Petros Gaitanos, well-known in Greece for his performances of church music and hymns, caused great surprise when he spoke positively of the extremist political party Golden Dawn.

In an interview with the local Greek channel Makedonia TV, he declared that he was in favor of the action of its members and that many times they did things that he himself wanted to do. He  expressed his sorrow for the quality of the Greek people by saying: ” I don’t like them at all.”

Golden Dawn, a neo-Nazi party with an anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic anti-gay platform, has been linked to beatings, assaults and threats against people it considers as not purely Greek.

Gaitanos also expressed his anger for the sellers of pirated CD’s, many of whom are African immigrants in Greece. ”Do you know how many times I want to hit the black people with the CD they are selling?” he answered to a question on the subject. ”I prefer Golden Down outreach some limits instead of being brainwashed by the fake courtesy of the politicians and the media,’ he concluded.

Catalonia plans secession "a la Kosovo"

Source: Beta

BRUSSELS -- Catalonia is planning to secede from Spain following the example of Kosovo, European media are reporting this week.

(file)

This comes after the province's authorities said they would call a referendum on self-determination.
Catalan politicians want a new state of the European Union to be "Greater Catalonia" which would include the Balearic Islands, the Valencia region - and perhaps also some border regions toward France.

This policy will be put to the test in a referendum planned for 2014.

Italian newspaper La Stampa writes under the headline "Catalonia like Kosovo" that this Spanish province wants to unilaterally declare independence.

The authorities in Barcelona, ​​especially after a demonstration held by half a million Catalans in favor of independence, and the football derby Barcelona-Real Madrid, during which Catalan fans waved flags and carried a large banner reading, "Independence," also seeks five billion euros in aid from Madrid to cope with a huge debt of 42 billion euros and a growing budget deficit.

Barcelona is also demanding that in the future, Catalonia, Spain's wealthiest region, should collect its own taxes, after they calculated that eight percent of Catalonia's GDP is now being distributed to help other Spanish provinces.

Some commentators are now wondering whether many European and western countries would move to recognize Catalonia's unilateral declaration of independence - something impermissible under Spain's Constitution - just as they recognized "the right of Kosovo" to unilaterally declare independence from Serbia.

The conclusion was unanimous - that they will not - because those countries that have recognized Kosovo insist that it is "a unique case" - although some commentators have noted that this is in fact a policy of double standards and "boomerangs that come back".

The Iberosphere internet portal, which carries political analysis of events in Spain and Portugal, writes that "It is again time to stop the radicals on both sides. In Kosovo it took a war, or two, to come to this conclusion. This time it would be better to learn from history and act early."

A unilateral declaration of independence of Catalonia is contrary to the provisions of the European Union and the European Commission has made it clear that the secession of Catalonia wouldl mean that the new state would have to apply to be admitted to the EU, which requires a unanimous approval of all member states - and therefore the government in Madrid.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has recently requested that in that case, the European Commission must enforce a fundamental article of the founding act of the EU, the Lisbon Treaty, which prohibits unilateral secessions of regions of full-fledged EU member-states.

The political leader and president of the Catalan government, Arthur Mas, however, said that the referendum question would be, "Do you wish for Catalonia to become a new state of the European Union?". According to him, this means that Catalonia would not be leaving the EU, but only separating from Spain to became a new state in the organization.

Some commentators suggest that the examples of Catalonia, Scotland, and Flanders could further encourage the always powerful, party violent Basque separatism in Spain, but also similar tendencies in other regions in the EU, such as South Tyrol-Alto Adige in Italy, Corsica in France, and a part of Romania where ethnic Hungarians are a majority.

Greater Albania envisions Sali Berisha: "To unite wherever we are"

Greek strategist of  Deference Net, are seeing the Albanian Prime Minister as leader of the Albanian nationalism

Statements which can be characterized as irredentist in weight and Greek territories did the Prime Minister of Albania Sali Berisha told a cabinet meeting. Albanian Prime Minister spoke of "national need reunification" of Albanians everywhere even stressing that this is an irreversible process saying that it should be done in honor of Albanian heroes who sacrificed for this purpose.
"To unite with each other, to unite with Europe," Berisha said, expressing his gratitude for the hospitality given to him during his visit to Kosovo, adding that they should do "everything in order and Albania Kosovo to be together in Europe. "

 "Their dream waiting to come true and we must do everything so that the Albanians feel good and not feel anywhere orphans and cut off from the rest of the country, and then represent the ethnic, geographical and an ethnic majority.
It is extremely important that the reunification of the nation's energy needs to focus on large values, so the motto is to unite with each other, to unite with Europe and I hope that with this slogan Albanians wherever they can build splendid future they deserve, "said Berisha.

 He added that "it is true that they are scattered in the states, but it can not prevent them from doing their best to experience the sense of national reunification." "You should not feel alone and abandoned anywhere they live," said the Prime Minister of Albania.
At full development, the project of a Greater Albania
These statements by the mouth of the Albanian Prime Minister anything but innocent can be characterized as the recently observed high mobility of Albanian side as the theme of "Cham" and "property" in Greece clearly put on the table by Albanian Foreign Minister in the heart of Athens.
In Skopje, the atmosphere smells gunpowder with alvanoskopianous want to gain the upper hand recall that Albanians in Skopje constitute 50% of the population of the country at the same time threatening withdrawal from the coalition government is not even many people who think the solution as dismemberment of Skopje and the accession of a considerable part in Albania.
At the same time there is strong pressure from the international community for partition of Kosovo, which will bring many reactions from the Albanian side, not only because such a development would open the "bag of Aeolus" in the Balkans.
Equally important is the strengthening of the Albanian community in Montenegro and it became clear in recent elections where two Albanian MPs were elected while only five remained "on the outside" and one third. All these cause intense debate and concern since it seems the project of a Greater Albania is in full swing.

Omonia leader in Koritsa Naum Dishon, is free

Former head of Omonia, Naum Dishon, benefit from amnesty

Naum Dishon, former head of Omonia of Korca, will rigjy-time charges against him on the issue of violation of Albanian graves in Boboshticë. The Supreme Court decided yesterday to return to Korca Appeal folder loading Dishos and other defendants file, citizens Alqi Koroveshi and Luan Zaçe.

In January of this year, the three pleaded not guilty to a final decision on charges of "illegal construction" in cooperation and "violation of the tombs." Dishon was sentenced to a year in jail, while Koroveshi and Zaçe by 6 months in jail, but the last two sets probation for 18 months.

According to the Court, their guilt was related to the violation of some tombstones in Boboshticës area in October 2010, while working for the establishment of a pedestal in honor of Greek soldiers. Referring to the decision, Dishon had hired two workers to build the memorial.

The decision of guilt to Naum Dishos still not been executed because he is on the run and the results announced as the international wanted.

Albania, Polican like Gerdec

Top Channel’s program Fiks Fare has discovered the repacking process of the bullets that are sent for being dismantled at the Mechanic Plant of Polican.

The investigation of Fiks Fare came after the report made by the Mayor of Polican, Adriatik Zoto.

Fiks Fare brought exclusive images of how the bullets are repacked, passing them from the metal to the wooden cases. On the wooden cases is stamped the production date of 2012.

This is the same process that was used in Gerdec, where old bullets were packed as new production in order to sell them.

“Prosecution has new facts in organ trafficking case”

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukčević said on Wednesday night that new facts had been found in relation to the human organ trafficking in Kosovo.

Vladmir Vukčević (FoNet, file)

He added that Clint Williamson, head of the EULEX Special Investigative Task Force in charge of the probe into the human organ trafficking in Kosovo and northern Albania, would be informed about the facts.
Williamson and Vukčević will meet in Belgrade on Thursday.

”I expect that we will discuss further steps. Since that was made known, we have arrived at new facts that we will present to Williamson and I expect he will be satisfied with that,“ Vukčević told Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).

Williamson, who arrived in Belgrade on Wednesday, talked with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić who said that the government would give full support so that light could be shed on the crimes in the province.

On that occasion, Williamson said that his team would also operate in central Serbia, the government announced.

The release notes that Williamson informed Dačić about the investigation so far and problems related to it, adding that his team would begin working in central Serbia in the coming months.

”The Serbian government deems that finding the full truth about the crimes is a debt owed to the victims and an important requirement for lasting stability," Dačić stressed, the release adds.

“The Serbian government will encourage all potential witnesses to assist in the investigation into the crimes committed in Kosovo, and the Interior Ministry will ensure their maximum protection,” Dačić underscored.

On Thursday, Williamson will also meet with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić.

In his recent address to the UN General Assembly, Nikolić underlined the need for shedding light on crimes related to the human organ trafficking in Kosovo.

Greek unions stage general strike

Source: B92, Tanjug

ATHENS -- Members of Greek unions went on a general strike against austerity measures on Thursday while Athens authorities fear unrests.

(Beta/AP, file)

Today’s strike is the 20th general strike since the crisis started in the country and it is the second this month.
Lawyers, public notaries, pharmacists, doctors, teachers, flight controllers, taxi drivers, ferry operators and journalists went on strike on Thursday.

The protesters have announced walks and rallies in Athens and towns across the country.

The strike will paralyze public services, road, train, air and ferry traffic. Athens stores will be closed for the day.

The general strike represents a culmination of warning strikes after public service workers Adedy Union and the private sector staff GSEE Union called their members to hold the general strike.

Greece is struggling to stay afloat and it depends on two international loans worth EUR 240bn. In order to receive new loans Greece needs to cut the spending, increase taxes and implement reforms.

Even though the Greek authorities managed to significantly reduce the budget deficit, the austerity measures have sped up recession and the country is on the verge of depression. It is expected that the economic growth will be reduced to one fourth of the 2008 level by the end of the next year. Bearing in mind that every fourth citizen is unemployed, Greece has the biggest unemployment rate in the EU.

“People who receive monthly salaries and pensioners are the only ones that are carrying the burden of the economic crisis while those who do not pay taxes are free of the burden,” the GSEE representatives have stated.

Russia to target Turkey with anti-aircraft missiles

ISTANBUL

Hürriyet photo

Russia has begun installing a new state-of-the-art anti-aircraft weapon system in its southern military region with an eye toward targeting Turkey in response to a NATO missile defense shield outpost that was recently established in East Anatolia, daily Hürriyet reported.

The installation will be completed by the end of this year, said Russian Col. Igor Gorbul, adding that the S-400 anti-aircraft missiles were capable of destroying all types of airplanes, as well as ultra-stratospheric and ballistic missiles.

Turkish-Russian tensions rose last week after Ankara forced down a Syrian passenger plane en route from Moscow to Damascus on suspicions that it was carrying weapons, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov moved to defuse tensions by saying the country’s bilateral relationship would not be damaged by the incident.

October/17/2012

RBA protests in Brussels with map of Greater Albania

The Red and Black Alliance held a symbolical protest at the European Commission Headquarters. They demanded the resignation of the Albanian Prime Minister as a condition for the EU candidate status, and appealed for a guarantee for the citizens’ will in the next elections.

“The delicate level of democracy and militantism in the public administration, the corruption level, the mafia affairs with the privatization of the concessions in Albania must not go without being reviewed at the European Parliament. The EU must be the witness of the force of change that all Albanians are looking for in the 2013 elections”, declared Bajram Koboci, RBA coordinator in Belgium.

The Commission’s recommendation conditions the EU candidate status of Albania with the approval of the laws for the Supreme Court, the Civil Service and the Parliamentary Regulation reform before the meeting of the Council in December. 

 

Albania to bring home from France remains of

exiled King Zogu

By Associated Press, Updated: Wednesday, October 17, 10:47 AM AP

TIRANA, Albania — Albania has decided to bring back the remains of its only post-independence monarch, King Ahmet Zogu, from France where he died in 1961.
The government announced Wednesday it will organize the return ceremony Nov. 17, ahead of celebrations for Albania’s 100th independence anniversary on Nov. 28.

Zogu reigned from 1928 until 1939, when he fled after Albania was occupied by fascist Italy.
Albania’s post-World War II communist regime abolished the monarchy in 1946, and the country remained a parliamentary republic after the fall of communism in 1990.
The royal family returned home in 2002. A small royalist party is allied to the governing Democratic Party’s coalition of Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
Zogu was survived by his son, Leka, who died in 2011, and his nephew Crown Prince Leka II.

''Παράνομες βίζες σε Τούρκους''

The "Golden Down", accuses the Foreign Greek Ministry for visa corruption in the Greek Embassy, Tirana

50 turkish citizens take greek visa by the Greek Embassy in Tirana.

Kacin says Croatia's EU accession could be postponed

Zagreb, 16 October 2012 (MIA) -  The European Parliament's rapporteur on Serbia, Slovenian politician Jelko Kacin, told the Turkish news agency Anadolu on Tuesday that Croatia's accession to the European Union, scheduled for 1 July 2013, could be postponed until the end of the year or even longer.

He added, however, that a different trade regime would go into force on 1 January 2013, bringing big changes in the sale of agricultural products on the Bosnian market. He said this was a warning message that required an immediate response, Hina news agency reported.

The Speaker of the Bundestag, Norbert Lammert, on Sunday called for a halt to the EU enlargement process, including the planned accession of Croatia, saying it was not ready for entry, but German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said shortly thereafter he was confident that Croatia would join the EU as planned.

Earlier today, Kacin's superior, European Parliament Speaker Martin Schulz, told Reuters the date set for Croatia's EU entry, 1 July 2013, should not be touched.

The latest report by the European Commission on Croatia's progress has partly been critical concerning the country's reforms, Schulz told Reuters, adding that "there are a few points which must be improved".

Clear agreements have been concluded with Croatia. I hold: 'Pacta sunt servanda'. Therefore Croatia must get its date of admission, Schulz was quoted as saying.

German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler told the RuhrNachrichten newspaper today he was positive that Croatia would carry out its tasks in time for its entry into the EU on 1 July 2013. ba

Drug network destroyed in France

The French Police destroyed an Albanian drug traffic network by arresting 42 people in France and Germany.

The news was reported this Tuesday by the international news netowrks, BBC and AFP.

More than 200 police agents were involved in the operation based on the French town of Mulhous and they seized 50 kg of heroine.

“The investigators discovered a major Albanian and Kosovo Albanain network that passed drug from Mulhaus to Switzerland and Germany”, Remi Coutin declared for the Prosecution.

According to the BBC, the investigations started since 2010, based on the suspicions that ethnic Albanians were involved in the human traffic.

The French le Figaro reported that the police elite forces were engaged in this arrest and some of the suspects are extremely dangerous.

"If they ask for Kosovo — we'll say no to EU"

Source: B92, Večernje novosti

BELGRADE -- If Serbia were to officially face the condition of "either EU or Kosovo", the country would give up on its intention to join the EU, says Tomislav Nikolić.

Tomislav Nikolić (Tanjug, file)

"This is what I was also saying during the (election) campaign," the Serbian president noted in his interview for Belgrade's Večernje Novosti daily.
"It's been 11 years that we've been watching every wish of the (ethnic) Albanians getting fulfilled. This will no longer be so," he added.

However, said Nikolić - "so far nobody has officially asked for a recognition of Kosovo and Metohija", and the country was "being arranged according to European standards":

"If we are stable and meeting the conditions, Europe cannot be unstable and constantly make new ones. We are asking only to be given conditions like other countries had been given, no more, no less."

Asked why Kosovo's Albanians should negotiate with Serbia if they and key western countries consider Kosovo to be independent, Nikolić replied:

"For this reason a direct question should be taken to the negotiations: can we count on talks and EU membership, if we disagree with independence of Kosovo and Metohija."

He added that he "took seriously" the position of Germany, a country he described as "the pillar of Europe".

Meanwhile, a meeting will be held on Friday in Belgrade where top state officials will discuss a platform for Kosovo.

"We will soon have to come up with a joint position. We will suggest several varieties. We will find the right formulation to take before the world. The goal is to find a solution that is not independence, and by and large reflects the essential autonomy guaranteed (to Kosovo) with (UNSC) Resolution 1244. The platform's accompanying documents will be our Constitution, the results of all high representatives in Kosovo and Metohija, an overview of what has been implemented of Resolution 1244, and what has not been implemented. That text will be presented to the political and intellectual elites, the Church..."

Asked whether the ruling SNS party leader and First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vučić was "going after" top SPS party officials, Nikolić said his close associate "took on the most difficult of jobs, because he is going after crime":

"How should he know who he'll go after when he receives a case? The Socialists (SPS) could not have made this much damage, while any of them who was involved in crime will have to answer for that. I'm sure he does not wish to persecute anyone."

The president also said that the fight against crime and corruption was "sincere", and that "everyone could see this", including the police and the prosecution, "who used to trade accusations".

Nikolić said he asked officials of both these institutions to come to him personally if they thought some case was going to be ignored because it targeted "the big fish".

"We must show the poor who is to blame for their poverty," he explained.

In the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of Independence of Albania, Wikipedia believes that the original document is false

Many historians believe that the original document of the autonomy of Albania, is in Turkish language

In glorious jubilee history of Albania, the announcement of the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Albania, the issue of the controversial original document of the declaration of independence, is opening big debate,

In its deicionin world encyclopedia Wikipedia, casts doubt that the original document stated by Ismail Bey Kamal in 28 November in Vlora, was written and signed Turkish.

This for the simple reason, as the alphabet and the education system at that time, did not exist in the albanian language, but also the fact that the Ottoman Empire had not capitulated. Foreign historians testify that the facts, about 100 meters away from the celebration of the declaration of independence of Albania, standing Turkish garrison soldiers, to protect Ismail Bey Qemali and other delegates.

See origjinal story by wikipedia.

http://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deklarata_e_Pavar%C3%ABsis%C3%AB_s%C3%AB_Shqip%C3%ABris%C3%AB

Three heads of communes under arrest
15/10/2012

The Prosecution has discovered a fraudulent network stealing public fund, organized by the heads of three Diber communes and their financial directors.

Two heads of communes and four financial directors have been arrested, while the third one is still on the run.

The Prosecution discovered a company created in 2006, owned by Yllka Selita, wife of the head of the Lis commune, who was name was used for the scheme and she was unaware of the situation.

The company was used by the head of the Lis commune, Dritan Farrici, to realize fictive tenders with funds coming from the state, which then went to his personal account. The abuses were realized with tenders in the communes: Derian, Rukaj, Xiber, Gurre, Sue, Baz and the Public Health Directory in Mat, the Burrel hospital vice-director, and the health centres in Rukaj, Derjan , Macukull, Ulez, Sue. The total amount is 53.6 million ALL.

After withdrawing the money, Farrici distributed them to the finance directors and kept 10% for any case.

Farrici acted as accountant of Yllka Selita and filled all the necessary forms. When questioned by the Prosecution, he declared that Yllka Selita, the wife of the Lis commune, was unaware of the scheme.

Prosecution says that the defendant has confessed giving money to Hamit Xhakrosa, head of the Rukaj Commune; Mustafa Celami, head of the Gurre commune, and Lutfi Ceka, head of the Xiber commune. Investigations discovered that the same scheme was used at the Burrel Hospital, where the vice director has received money. All persons involved are charged of theft, power abuse and forgery.