EXPLOSION AGAINST BYZANTINE CHURCH IN HIMARA REGION

Photo: BYZANTINE MONASTER OF PANAGIAS - DRYMADON This monastery is a pure white building; located on the peak over the village of Drymades has distinctive architecture.

The explosion blast against Byzantine church "Agia Pandelimonis" was happened in Drimades (Dhermi) one of more important tourist center of Southern Albania (Northern Epirus in Himara Region) where lives a large old presence of Hellenic Community.

According to Albanian Daily Newspaper “Shekulli” the Police authority which made the investigation process, after declared that “is not a blast explosive but has been made from thunder – struck destroying the Byzantine church”.

But the community has been against version of police declaration. According them: “the blast is explosive against the Orthodox Church and it is a terrorist act”. Some of other churches has been stolen many days before the blast in the village Drimades.

Drimades with it beautiful paradises beaches in Ionian Coast is one important culture center particularly for foreign tourists for the rich values of Byzantine churches. There are about 35 churches (10 of them are Byzantine period) and three orthodox Monasteries are visiting by thousand foreign tourists on the last year.

Anyway in Southern Albania decides of Orthodox Churches has been violated or stolen by vandals particularly in Korca, Argjirokaster, Fieri and the Himara Region.

see more:

"Shekulli" http://www.shekulli.com.al/news/45/ARTICLE/19127/2007-12-15.html

Himara Tourist Guide: http://www.himara.eu/sights/index-en.html

Albania destroys munitions surplus

December 13, 2007

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- In what U.S. State Department officials say eliminates a potential terrorist threat, Albania has destroyed its largest stockpile of surplus munitions.

The U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Albania announced the destruction of nearly 40,000 surplus munitions including anti-ship naval mines and aircraft bombs among others, the State Department reported.

"The destruction of these weapons eliminated a potential source of materiel that could have been used by terrorists or illegally sold to state sponsors of terror and other states of concern. As the majority of these weapons were stored in a dozen sites throughout Albania, most of which were in close proximity to homes and schools, they also posed a serious threat to public safety," the release said.

Implemented by the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund, the Albanian Armed Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams eliminated the munitions after the training of Albanian EOD teams.
Using approved Albania Ministry of Defense procedures, teams destroyed the munitions on designated military installations in what officials call an ecologically responsible way.

BERISHA CALLS TO CHANGE NATIONAL FLAG IN INTEREST OF "THE GRATER ALBANIA” ......

........PRISTINA TAKES ENERGY FROM TIRANA

Photo: PM Berisha and FM Basha

Tirana, December 10, 2007

“If we need to have one symbol national flag for all Albanians, our officially flag could change”, declares, Berisha during the emission “Opinion” of National TV Station “KLAN”.

During politic debate of “Opinion” the must important program in the country of TV “KLAN”, where was invited together with Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, The Albanian Prime Minister declares about the future symbols of Kosovo after the independence and the Albanians role for unification saying: “If we need to have the national flag for all Albanians, sure our national flag could change".

We must have for all Albanians in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia one united symbol flag, even Tirana has officially and Kosovo des not have too”. During the politic debate which was concerning for the Independence of Kosovo and after, Berisha and Thaci have been united for any developments between Kosovo and Albania, even an economic blockade from Serbia would isolate the Kosovo.

Berisha also said that: “to see as immediately moment any possibility occasion to help with our Port Harbowrs and Roads which links Kosovo and Albania and my government will be ready to collaborate as national obligation for future economy of Kosovo particularly after the Independence”.

ALBANIA GIVES 1.2 MILLION kvh ENERGY TO KOSOVO

The Albanian Governament has decided to help Kosovo economy giving about 1.2 million kvh in the day, sorces said from albanian press. Not only aero ports offers of Tirana for Kosovo for any escalation of Serbian economic blockade but also under a "patriotic decision to help kosovo albanians with electric energy in a critique moment when Albania is including a total "black out" of it teritor and the economy is raising to 8% of inflation in January, said sources of Albanian Central Bank.

KESH the albanian Corporate Energy said that "the Albania economy needs for about 12 million kvh energy for the day but only 8 kvh is producting from interior hidro energitic sistem. The rest energy by import is unsufficent to help the economy of the country. Only Tirana has interroction with about 6 hours in the day, while in other territores it goes to 10 hours in the day.

Waiting Kosovo Indipendence, Tirana and Pristina have intesifed their bilateral relations from politically to full economic aid to integrate Kosovo economy inside "albanian national strategy". Thousand albanian of kosovo have albanian passport particularly for students, bussinesmen linked with economic interests as "Real Estate" to buy albanian propreties, while the moviments between Kosovo and Albanian borders are "inexistent" out of the taxes. Last year, thousand albanians of Kosovo have been principal tourists of albania, contributing to raise the finances of Albanian Government.