Blasts at Albania Base Kill at Least 5

By REUTERS
Published: March 16, 2008

TIRANA, Albania (Reuters) — An Albanian Army base stocking obsolete munitions for destruction blew up in a chain of blasts on Saturday, killing at least five people and injuring more than 240. Hospitals took in scores of injured suffering burns, concussion, broken limbs, or cuts from flying glass and shrapnel.

Many were hurt as shockwaves from the blast hit nearby villages and cars passing by on the adjacent highway. More than half of the wounded were being treated in hospitals.
The blasts began as workers moved stocks of bombs, bullets and shells stored at the base, a collection point for the arsenal amassed by Albania’s Stalinist-era dictatorship.

Dismantling its obsolete arsenal and reforming the army has been a condition for Albania to join NATO. Albanian officials hope the country will be invited to join next month.
Prime Minister Sali Berisha said, “The stock of 100,000 tons of 40- to 50-year-old ammunition is one of our most serious problems.”

FIFA SUSPENDS ALBANIA

The FIFA Executive Committee, chaired by President Joseph S. Blatter, upheld the decision taken in Tokyo in December 2007 regarding football at high altitude. It also applauded the improvement in relations with the major clubs following meetings earlier this year and welcomed FIFA's positive financial results for 2007. Taking stock after seven hours of discussions, the FIFA President said: "Today's meeting was a reflection of the wide range of issues which need to be dealt with carefully and at regular intervals to protect and to promote football.

I am pleased to see that the decisions taken today will allow us to address these matters adequately." At the recommendation of the FIFA Associations Committee, it was decided to suspend the Football Association of Albania due to heavy political interference, while the situation regarding the Spanish football association (RFEF) will be closely monitored following a ministerial decree that aims to regulate the election for the association's leadership, effectively shortening the mandate of the current leadership by eight months.

The executive supported the RFEF in its decision to adhere to its own statutes and regulations as well as those of FIFA. The situation in Turkey will continue to be supervised, as will the cases of Kuwait and Dominica, while in the case of Madagascar, it was decided that the association would be suspended automatically if the government decree to dissolve the association was not cancelled within three days. The Ethiopian government will also be asked to allow the Ethiopian Football Federation to access its headquarters again. Moreover, the FIFA administration was requested to monitor very closely developments with respect to the diplomatic situation of Kosovo.

Δελτίο τύπου Νεολαίας Βορειοηπειρωτών (Νε.Β.)

7η τακτική συνδιάσκεψη Δημοκρατικής Ένωσης Εθνικής Ελληνικής Μειονότητας, «ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ»

Πορεία για μια… νέα ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ

Η Νεολαία Βορειοηπειρωτών (Νε.Β.) παραβρέθηκε στις εργασίες της 7ης τακτικής συνδιάσκεψης της ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ, η οποία διεξήχθη στους Αγίους Σαράντα το Σάββατο 8 Μαρτίου 2008, αντιπροσωπευόμενη από την Πρόεδρο Ευθυμία Σέλλιου, την Ειδικό Γραμματέα Μελίνα Σιώνη καθώς και τον Σύμβουλο Πολιτικού Σχεδιασμού, Στέλιο Μπολλάνο. Η αντιπροσωπεία της Νε.Β παρακολούθησε με προσοχή το σύνολο των εργασιών, των τοποθετήσεων και των τελικών εξελίξεων που οδήγησαν στην εκλογή 45μελούς διοικητικού συμβουλίου, στην απόδοση ψήφου εμπιστοσύνης στο μοναδικό υποψήφιο για την προεδρία, τον αγωνιστή δήμαρχο Χιμάρας, Βασίλη Μπολλάνο και σηματοδότησαν παράλληλα την αρχή μιας μεταβατικής περιόδου για την ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ, η οποία θα ολοκληρωθεί περί τα τέλη του έτους με την έγκριση του καινούριου καταστατικού της οργάνωσης και την διεξαγωγή νέων εκλογών, σύμφωνων με αυτό.

Η Νε.Β συμμετείχε στην εν λόγο συνδιάσκεψη στο πλαίσιο προσπάθειας για κατ’ ιδίαν ενημέρωσή της ως προς τα τεκταινόμενα της ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ, κάνοντας παράλληλα εμφανής για ακόμη μία φορά τη σαφή πρόθεση της βορειοηπειρωτικής νέας γενιάς να ασχοληθεί ενεργά με τα πολιτικά δρώμενα που αφορούν την ιδιαίτερη πατρίδα της.
Αποτελεί πραγματικότητα το γεγονός πώς η μέχρι τώρα δραστηριοποίηση της βορειοηπειρωτικής νεολαίας στους κόλπους της ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ ήταν η ελάχιστη δυνατή για λόγους που άπτονται τόσο της συμπαγούς και κλειστής διάρθρωσης της οργάνωσης όσο και της ανετοιμότητας της ίδιας της νέας γενιάς να προσφέρει ουσιαστική προστιθέμενη αξία. Οι καιροί όμως είναι πλέον ώριμοι για να κεφαλαιοποιήσει η προηγούμενη γενιά και ο βορειοηπειρωτισμός εν γένει, την επένδυση που έκανε στα πρόσωπα των παιδιών της, τις δυο τελευταίες δεκαετίες, αξιοποιώντας την πρόσβασή τους στη ελεύθερη μόρφωση, τη δημοκρατική παιδεία και τη σύγχρονη πολιτική νοοτροπία που προάγει την ευρωπαϊκή ολοκλήρωση.

Οι νέοι βορειοηπειρώτες που δραστηριοποιούνται σήμερα στην Ελλάδα, αναγνωρίζουν στο ακέραιο το μέγεθος της επένδυσης-θυσίας αυτής των γονέων τους, έχουν απόλυτη συναίσθηση της ευθύνης τους απέναντι στην πατρίδα και την ιστορία του βορειοηπειρωτικού ελληνισμού, έστω κι αν μεγάλωσαν μακριά από τα πάτρια κι είναι παράλληλα αποφασισμένοι να συνεισφέρουν, μέσω και της Νε.Β, αποκλειστικά ανιδιοτελώς και με ήθος, ό, τι οι περιστάσεις της σύγχρονης εποχής επιτάσσουν, προκειμένου να διασφαλιστεί από όλους μαζί, μεγαλύτερους και νεότερους βορειοηπειρώτες, ότι ο ελληνισμός θα συνεχίσει όχι απλά να υπάρχει αλλά να μεγαλουργεί στα πατρογονικά του εδάφη.

Η συνέχεια όμως του ελληνισμού στα βορειοηπειρωτικά εδάφη είναι στενά συνυφασμένη με μια δυνατή και πρωτοπόρο ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ. Μια ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ αποκλειστική αντιπρόσωπο του Βορειοηπειρωτικού ελληνισμού στην Αλβανία, αλλά και μια ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ θωρακισμένη δημοκρατικά, ανοιχτή σε όποιον βορειοηπειρώτη θέλει και μπορεί να προσφέρει. Μια ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ η οποία θα στηριχτεί στη 17χρονη πείρα της προηγούμενης γενιάς, αλλά και μια ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ η οποία θα λάβει σοβαρά υπ’ όψη της τη νέα γενιά και θα εκμεταλλευτεί στο έπακρο τις ιδιαίτερες ικανότητές της. Η δημοκρατική παιδεία και η τεχνοκρατική εκπαίδευση της νέας γενιάς οφείλουν να συνυπάρξουν και να συνεργαστούν αρμονικά με τη συσσωρευμένη εμπειρία από την καθημερινή πρακτική της προηγούμενης γενιάς.

Η νέα ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ πρέπει να καταστεί δυνατή να αρθρώνει σύγχρονο πολιτικό λόγο ο οποίος θα εκφράζει σαφείς στόχους κάτω από ένα ευρύτερο όραμα για τον ελληνισμό της Βορείου Ηπείρου. Η νέα ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ οφείλει να δράσει από δω και στο εξής καθοδηγούμενη από ένα στρατηγικό σχέδιο το οποίο να υιοθετεί συγκεκριμένες δράσεις, ικανές να οδηγήσουν στην επίτευξη των τιθέμενων στόχων. Η νέα γενιά Βορειοηπειρωτών μπορεί να συνεισφέρει σ’ αυτό. Δεν είναι άλλωστε τυχαίο το γεγονός πως η επιτακτικότητα χάραξης ενιαίας πολιτικής γραμμής για το βορειοηπειρωτικό, μέσα από ένα Παν-Βορειοηπειρωτικό συνέδριο, έτσι ώστε να τύχει της αποδοχής του συνόλου του βορειοηπειρωτισμού, αποτέλεσε ένα από τα μείζονα θέματα του προεκλογικού δημόσιου διαλόγου, τον περασμένο Δεκέμβριο στη Νε.Β, με σαφείς δεσμεύσεις από την πλευρά της τελευταίας για την καταβολή προσπάθειας προς την υλοποίηση αυτής της δράσης. Στην επιτακτικότητα αυτή, αναφέρθηκε δις κατά την ομιλία του στην 7η τακτική συνδιάσκεψη ο νεοεκλεγείς πρόεδρος της ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ, Βασίλης Μπολλάνος.

Επιπλέον, οι συγκυρίες τις εποχής προσφέρουν σημαντικές ευκαιρίες για την ελληνική μειονότητα και τη βελτίωση της θέσης της. Η προοπτική ένταξης της Αλβανίας στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και η απόδοση της ελληνικής υπηκοότητας στους εν Ελλάδι βορειοηπειρώτες δημιουργούν νέο σκηνικό πολιτικής δράσης. Οι ευκαιρίες αυτές δεν θα πρέπει σε καμία περίπτωση ν’ αφεθούν ανεκμετάλλευτες αλλά αντίθετα ν’ αποτελέσουν τη βάση για μια μακρόπνοη πολιτική. Είναι επιτακτική η ανάγκη να χρησιμοποιηθούν στο μέγιστο δυνατό βαθμό και οι δυο αυτοί διαπραγματευτικοί παράγοντες. Από τη μία πλευρά, η δυνατότητα ελέγχου της πορείας της Αλβανίας προς την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, ως μοχλός πίεσης στην αλβανική πλευρά για την κατοχύρωση των εθνικών δικαιωμάτων, όπως ορίζουν οι Ευρωπαϊκές συνθήκες και ιδιαίτερα η Σύμβαση Πλαίσιο κι από την άλλη πλευρά, οι Έλληνες πλέον πολίτες Βορειοηπειρώτες, ως μοχλός πίεσης στην εκάστοτε ελληνική κυβέρνηση για την προώθηση των βορειοηπειρωτικών συμφερόντων από το Εθνικό Κέντρο.

Σ’ αυτό το νέο περιβάλλον η ανάγκη για αγαστή συνεργασία μεταξύ της ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ και της βορειοηπειρωτικής διασποράς στην Ελλάδα είναι ζωτικής σημασίας. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό λοιπόν, την κρίσιμη αυτή περίοδο για την ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ και το μέλλον του ελληνισμού της Βορείου Ηπείρου γενικότερα, η Νε.Β. θα παρακολουθεί στενά την διαδικασία αναθεώρησης του καταστατικού της οργάνωσης και θέσεώς του σε δημόσια διαβούλευση, συνδράμοντας όσο το δυνατόν δημιουργικότερα. Η διαδικασία αυτή αποτελεί αφορμή για αυτοκριτική από τους μέχρι τώρα ιθύνοντες της οργάνωσης αλλά και γόνιμου προβληματισμού όλων των υπολοίπων που νοιάζονται για την ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ. Την κρίσιμη αυτή περίοδο θα πρέπει όλοι οι Βορειοηπειρώτες να σταθούν στο ύψος των περιστάσεων, να κοιτάξουν μπροστά και να συνεισφέρουν εποικοδομητικά στη διαδικασία, με συγκεκριμένες προτάσεις οι οποίες θα υπόσχονται ένα καλύτερο μέλλον για την ίδια την ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ αλλά και μέσω αυτής, ένα καλύτερο μέλλον για τον ελληνισμό της Βορείου Ηπείρου.



Νεολαία Βορειοηπειρωτών (Νε.Β.)
Αθήνα, 14 Μαρτίου 2008
http://www.neb.gr/

Ankara "supports" minority in Thrake

"ELEFTEROS TIPOS" Thursday, 13.03.08

Silently and systematically escalated, the attempt to Ankara for the guardianship of the Muslim minority in Thrace, which is treated as a strategic minority «» from the Turkish diplomacy especially after the unilateral declaration of independence Kosovo.

San mushrooms spouts in the region Turkish clubs (last, The example ”Platanos in Xanthi”) that promise to help the minority - with funding from abroad-to acquire hospitals, schools and other types of infrastructure of public interest. In addition, the rapidly expanding network of associations representing their “Nationality abroad”, with the clear goal internalizing oppression sensational.

The mobility of unrecognized by the Greek State mouftidon and the Consul of Turkey to Komotini is impressive, and the border crossings for representatives of minorities who have close contact with Ankara is becoming more and more regular. Four moves were not made known to disclose in the strongest possible terms the strategy of Ankara in connection with the minority in Thrace, which is trying to be trained to separatist ideas. Specifically: ▪ «The European Federation of Western Thrace Turks» expanded with new ones in London and The Hague. And having observer status in the Human Rights of the UN constantly egkalei the Greek State for violations of rights and freedoms. ▪ The president of «Solidarity Association of Western Thrace Turks Mr» Erol Kasifoglou (living in Turkey hailing from Thrace) called on expatriates to autonomous regarding the independence of Kosovo, expressing his optimism that the secession of the former Serbian province will serve as example. A few days later, he met in Istanbul the president of the Association of Scientists of minority lawyer Mr Xanthi Ahmet Kara.

▪ The Anti Mr Rodopi M. Devetzi Oglou recently visited Ankara and in an interview on Turkish television network reported on Attila “as a peacekeeping operation in Cyprus”.
▪ A few days ago the elected muftis in Xanthi Mr. Ahmet Mete visited Ankara where he had contacts with the National Security Council. The issue of minority handled by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And publicly highlighted as one of the three debated (Aegean, Cyprus, minorities) Turkish Foreign Minister Mr. Ali Bampatzan after he met Saturday with the main counterpart Dora Bakoyanni in Ankara.

The spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs C. Koumoytsakos, to a question relating to the content of the talks the main agenda and Mr Bampatzan for minorities, he said that was brief mention recent laws relating to vakoufia, in minority institutions and their properties. He explained that there is no «structured dialogue, commissions or other mechanism on minority issues» and referred to the desire of the Government to have every opportunity to dialogue with the Government of Turkey to improve bilateral relations. In his report, the State Department on human rights complaints referred pomakikon clubs that pressured by members of the Turkish community in order to deny the existence pomakikis identity.It is noted that thanks to the efforts of the Office of Political Affairs Xanthi increased the crush of Gypsy children in schools.

Original on: http://www.e-tipos.com/newsitem?id=29003

AEC INVOICES ABUSIVE PRICES FOR SOUTHERN POPULATION. SP DECLARES: PEOPLE; DO NOT PAY ENERGY!

Photo: Erion Brace, high SP represent during the declarate.

The Socialist Party (opposite) urges it electorate to abandon the energetic invoices, after a decision of Albanian Government to raise the price of energy 100% for the year 2008.

AEC (Albanian Energetic Corporation) has planed to raise the energetic price because the Corporate which is going to privatize distribution sector and the coasts are very high while the payments of invoices are divided in tow parts, northern Albanian community (simpantisants of Democratic Party of Primier Sali Berisha known as Ghegs) do not pay while the southern community (known as supporters of Socialist Party, Toskes) continuing to pay regularly the energy.

But important is the pressing used by Albanian authorities against southern population to discriminate particularly the Greek community sending abusive high price as counter measures of opposite united until collectively interrupted energy.

One year ago the people of Himara Region blocked the national way Vlora - Saranda protesting against politic measures of Albanian Government which uses AEC as pressing against Hellenic community.

However, the declaration of SP should sent Albania to the new economic chaos as long as the real inflation is going 8% and the government measures are extremely not to be a solution.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman Jonathan Farrar

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

QUESTION: Lambros Papantonious, Eleftheros Typos Greek daily. One on Albania. Do you have anything to report about the human rights for the Greek minority in northern Epirus and Albania, which is under permanent attacks by the Albanian government of Sali Berisha against basic human rights, political freedom and properties, including the church?

MR. FARRAR: I refer you to the Albania report, both the sections on treatment of minorities and religious freedom.

WHAT SAYS THE REPORT OF STATE DEPARTAMENT (MINORITIES CHAPTER)

Albania Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2007Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and LaborMarch 11, 2008

National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities

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

In September the Greek cultural association Omonia presented a request to the prime minister for the registration of population based on ethnicity. The letter was cosigned by the minister of labor and equal opportunities, and a representative of the Human Rights Union, a Greek-focused political party that is currently part of the governing coalition.

While there were Greek-language public elementary schools in the southern part of the country where most ethnic Greeks live, Omonia complained that the community needed more classrooms both within and outside the minority zones, due to overcrowded classrooms and unfulfilled demand. Every village in the Greek zones had its own elementary-middle (nine-year) school utilizing the Greek language, regardless of the number of students, and Gjirokaster had two Greek-language high schools.

In 2006 the government granted an operating license to one school in the south outside the Greek zone. During a 2006 visit by the prime minister to Greece, the government agreed to cooperate in the building of a Greek-language university in the city of Gjirokaster funded by the Greek government.

Note: In albanian press, this chapter has been cencured for the public opinion.

See more: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100544.htm

Kosovo spurs more Greater Albania dreams

Encouraged by Kosovo’s independence, Albanians in Macedonia are now discussing ambitious plans for a new country made up of Albania, Kosovo, large parts of Macedonia and part of Ipiros in Greece.

"RUSSIA TODAY"

If you walk down the streets o Skopje, the capital city of Macedonia, the signs and the language is Slavic. But if you drive just 25 kilometres on, it appears to be a completely different country where the language and tradition is Albanian and the religion is Muslim - that’s Tetovo. In 2001, civil war broke out there between Albanian and Slav populations.

Nowadays it’s more peaceful.Small restaurant owner Agim Berzati says Albanians are treated as second-class citizens in a country where they make up at least 30% of the population. He’s Albanian and the food he serves up is traditional kebab and shishlik alongside Turkish coffee. ”We are born here and deserve equal rights. Macedonians don’t give us equality. I don’t feel they treat us with respect. There were lots of things we fought for and were promised in 2001, but nothing has been implemented,” he complained.But what has changed though is Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

For Mustafe Hasani it was the dream of a lifetime. He spent a month in prison for his political activities and for years he’s donated part of his salary to developing an independent Kosovo. ”We only want an ethnic Albania, for all the Albanians in all the countries to get together. Now is the end of protest and war. Now we Albanians have to get educated and then we’ll get what we want. Albania is like our mother, Kosovo is our father,” Hasani thinks. What many Albanians want is a greater Albania that incorporates the country Albania, Kosovo, big parts of Macedonia and part of Ipiros, which is in Greece.

Tailor Shahin Osmani, Albanian who has lived all his life in Tetovo believes a greater Albania is inevitable and will happen once the country becomes part of the European Union:”There will be a time of great Albania in the future, maybe after thirty years. History repeats itself, and if we get into the European Union, borders will be eliminated. We’ll be free and it’ll be like having a greater Albania”.But it’s not a certainty that Macedonia will join the European Union, largely because Greece objects to it using the name Macedonia.

http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/21950

Note: In an interwe on Greek Newspaper "Kathimerini" The Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that "I think that the independence of Kosovo puts an end to the indeterminate state of the Albanians in the Balkans. There are Albanians in southern Serbia, Montenegro and FYROM. In fact there are minorities everywhere. Their rights in this context of agreements about minorities must be respected, but the idea of redrawing the borders is unproductive, as it would create new tension and insecurity for the next 15-20 years, a period which we could use to get into Europe".

THE GREEK AMERICAN LOBBY SUPORTS DEMOCRATIC CANTIDATES

A big-buck Democratic house divided While Sacramento Valley developer Angelo Tsakopoulos and daughter Eleni ara backing Clinton, son Kyriakos will support Obama.

By Dan Morain, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer SACRAMENTO -- For the better part of two decades, Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton have counted on the support and money of the Tsakopoulos clan of the Sacramento Valley.

Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis is one of Sen. Clinton's most active fundraisers, having hosted numerous Northern California galas for her Democratic presidential campaign. Patriarch Angelo Tsakopoulos, a major Sacramento developer and one of the former president's early California backers, supports the New York senator as well. But on Monday, Kyriakos Tsakopoulos, Angelo's son and Eleni's brother, said he was backing Democrat Barack Obama.

The lawyer and developer said he would fly to Chicago today to confer with Obama's campaign about how he could best help. He is offering to raise money for the Illinois senator.

The Albanian press about new Omonia leader elected.

BOLLANOS, WINS GREEK EXTREMIST BRUNCH

How is possible that to the "Omonia" elections process, wins Greek extremist brunch? Those are many of titles of newspapers and TV stations in Albanian media, pretending "how is possibile that Albania losted control of "Omonia", holding since 1991?” The Albanian National Strategy is making analyses of opening Northern Epirus Issue by Great Powers, after Kosovo Independence under the name “Domino Effect”.

"Omonia", is the Greek Ethnic Organization in Albania since 1991 after communist regime dead, when the democratic parliament elected, excluded by a law voting to block the Greek minority request to compose the Hellenist Party of Albania. During this period 'Omonia" has confronted the violence and persecution systematically from Albanian government, beginning by Omonia`s Politically Trial against five members of Greek organization in 1994, to the local and politic elections in Albania always monitored by International Community and OSCE.

Until now, the Greek ethnic minority of Albanian never has been politically and civil rights beginning from individual declaration of national and religion rights to politically represent of pluralism specter and proprieties rights. The albanian propaganda often has claimed for the three member parliament by greek origin as member of "Omonia" as only represents of greek minority with about 30 - 40 thousand or 2.5% of voters with about 10 years, reclaming the percentuage of the Greek Minority only 1.17% of total population of albania with 3.6 million inhabitantes.

Omonia in fact has been included politically to be part of HRUP, a Party often interpreted by Albanian media as Greek Party of Albania, but in reality has been under influence particularly after 1997, to a group persons linked with Greek origin with Dictature Regime and actually with strong economically interests of as part of government to justify the Greek Albanian relations controlled by Albanian side. Omonia`s control has been often systematically an instrument of Albanian strategy to crush the Northern Epirus Issue. In the Pan Epiriotic Convention in 2006 in Joanina, the leader of Omonia was criticaly attacked by realy oposition inside greek community for the inferiority to protect the greeks of albania and particularly to failed the proces of General Counting Population last 10 years.

Under the title ‘Wins the Greek Extremist Brunch” its very clear that the consequences of Omonia`s election process has been a crash between influences of Tirana and Athens. Who are new extremist of Omonia and until now what the head of Omonia was? Sure Vassilis Bollanos is a Greek himariotas who never known officially by Albania as represent of Greek minority zone of Himara Region an old discussion of Albanian nationalism which prohibited to know the Protocol of Corfu in 1914, for the rights of Greek minority of Albania. Also the declaration of Vassilis Bollanos “What will win Kosovo would win Northern Epirus” is a strong horn often not liked by Albanians.