EU criticises Albania for rejecting election monitor
14/05/2009
TIRANA, Albania -- The European Commission considers unacceptable Albania's rejection of Audrey Glover as the new head of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), local media reported on Wednesday (May 13th).
The ruling coalition objects to her appointment this time around because her first posting in Albania produced a report in 1996 that the same right-wing coalition branded "unrealistic". "The government's position does not match the criteria of a country which aims to become part of the EU," said Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Albania holds general elections on June 28th.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
KATHIMERINI
Losing the minority
By Stavros Lygeros
Albania’s new electoral system, which is to come into force in the June parliamentary elections, will shut out the smaller parties.
The system has been designed to prompt the latter to cooperate with the two mainstream parties, the Socialists and the Democrats. The Unity for Human Rights Party (KEAD), which is supported by the Greek minority, is facing a dilemma. According to projections, if the party runs on its own it would win one parliamentary seat, while if it joined a coalition it would win at least three out of the 140 seats.
The cooperation between Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the party of Albanian Cams, which has made claims on Greek territory, prompted KEAD to join hands with the Socialist Party of Albania instead. KEAD has in the past participated in Socialist and Democratic-led governments without relinquishing its independence.
However, Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister Theodoros Kassimis has asked KEAD chief Vangjel Dule not to cooperate with the Socialists. His demand came only a few days after the Greek prime minister urged Dule to decide based on his own criteria. Like a bull in a china shop, Kassimis violated the code of ethics. KEAD is a party of the Albanian parliament and not a Greek expat organization; worse, he damaged national interest. If KEAD has managed to survive so far it’s because it has resisted Greek and Albanian partisanship. With his actions, Kassimis caused cracks in the unity of the Greek minority.
Kassimis’s inexperience on the matter may explain some mistakes but not his attitude. Some explained his reaction saying that he tried to back Berisha. Others blamed it on his dislike for Dule whom, according to sources, he sees as an obstacle in his attempt to control the minority. After all, the Greeks of southern Albania (northern Epirus) are a key factor in Kassimis’s tough constituency. Now it’s too late to change anything. Whether he knew it or not, Kassimis has destroyed years of efforts on a very sensitive matter.
Losing the minority
By Stavros Lygeros
Albania’s new electoral system, which is to come into force in the June parliamentary elections, will shut out the smaller parties.
The system has been designed to prompt the latter to cooperate with the two mainstream parties, the Socialists and the Democrats. The Unity for Human Rights Party (KEAD), which is supported by the Greek minority, is facing a dilemma. According to projections, if the party runs on its own it would win one parliamentary seat, while if it joined a coalition it would win at least three out of the 140 seats.
The cooperation between Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the party of Albanian Cams, which has made claims on Greek territory, prompted KEAD to join hands with the Socialist Party of Albania instead. KEAD has in the past participated in Socialist and Democratic-led governments without relinquishing its independence.
However, Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister Theodoros Kassimis has asked KEAD chief Vangjel Dule not to cooperate with the Socialists. His demand came only a few days after the Greek prime minister urged Dule to decide based on his own criteria. Like a bull in a china shop, Kassimis violated the code of ethics. KEAD is a party of the Albanian parliament and not a Greek expat organization; worse, he damaged national interest. If KEAD has managed to survive so far it’s because it has resisted Greek and Albanian partisanship. With his actions, Kassimis caused cracks in the unity of the Greek minority.
Kassimis’s inexperience on the matter may explain some mistakes but not his attitude. Some explained his reaction saying that he tried to back Berisha. Others blamed it on his dislike for Dule whom, according to sources, he sees as an obstacle in his attempt to control the minority. After all, the Greeks of southern Albania (northern Epirus) are a key factor in Kassimis’s tough constituency. Now it’s too late to change anything. Whether he knew it or not, Kassimis has destroyed years of efforts on a very sensitive matter.
Press Releases of Omonoia regarding electoral cooperation Omonoia - HURP
PRESS RELEASE
The solid fact that the Albanian press, deals in detail with the issue of electoral cooperation beetwen OMONIA and HURP (Human Union Right Parti)
On May 13,during the meeting of the General Bureau of OMONOIAS and HURP, there is concern, and heard many opinions. Despite the disagreements, the talks were heading in the interests of harmony of the communities we represent the HURP, the falseness of albanian press speak for tension in relations OMONIA - HURP. Omonia full suports any decision that concerns for it ethnic interests with HURP.
OMONIA as always, will be prodictiv to any decision taken by the General Bureau of HURP because we believe that it is a decision only in the light of the principles and values outside any self interests. We call on the attention of our executives to make statements to the media. The views of everyone at this critical time is valuable to the bureau and not the media.
Saint Saranda
May 13, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
The solid fact that the Albanian press, deals in detail with the issue of electoral cooperation beetwen OMONIA and HURP (Human Union Right Parti)
On May 13,during the meeting of the General Bureau of OMONOIAS and HURP, there is concern, and heard many opinions. Despite the disagreements, the talks were heading in the interests of harmony of the communities we represent the HURP, the falseness of albanian press speak for tension in relations OMONIA - HURP. Omonia full suports any decision that concerns for it ethnic interests with HURP.
OMONIA as always, will be prodictiv to any decision taken by the General Bureau of HURP because we believe that it is a decision only in the light of the principles and values outside any self interests. We call on the attention of our executives to make statements to the media. The views of everyone at this critical time is valuable to the bureau and not the media.
Saint Saranda
May 13, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
U.S. Admiral James G. Stavridis Appointed NATO Supreme Commander
The NATO military alliance announced Tuesday that it has appointed U.S. Navy Admiral James G. Stavridis as its top military commander.
Adm. Stavridis, who was a senior adviser to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, is currently the chief of US Southern Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in Latin America.
With the confirmation of his appointment on Tuesday, Adm Stavridis becomes the first naval officer to hold the top NATO military post.
He replaces U.S. General John Craddock as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), and like his predecessor, Adm Stavridis will now also serve as commander of U.S. forces in Europe.
The NATO Defense Planning Committee's announcement appointing Adm Stavridis as the alliance's supreme commander comes after President Barack Obama approved his nomination in March to become NATO chief and head of U.S. European Command.
The NATO military alliance announced Tuesday that it has appointed U.S. Navy Admiral James G. Stavridis as its top military commander.
Adm. Stavridis, who was a senior adviser to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, is currently the chief of US Southern Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in Latin America.
With the confirmation of his appointment on Tuesday, Adm Stavridis becomes the first naval officer to hold the top NATO military post.
He replaces U.S. General John Craddock as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), and like his predecessor, Adm Stavridis will now also serve as commander of U.S. forces in Europe.
The NATO Defense Planning Committee's announcement appointing Adm Stavridis as the alliance's supreme commander comes after President Barack Obama approved his nomination in March to become NATO chief and head of U.S. European Command.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Albanian "students" in suspected trafficking scam
TIRANA, Albania -- Italian authorities on Sunday (May 10th) sent home 170 Albanians who spent four days in the port city of Trieste because of visa problems. The group of self-proclaimed "students" found themselves barred from entering Italy, the first stop in a planned Mediterranean trip, after the Hungarian Embassy in Tirana declared their Schengen visas invalid, only days after it had issued them. Investigators say this may have been a human trafficking scheme, as only 87 of the students were enrolled in universities.
TIRANA, Albania -- Italian authorities on Sunday (May 10th) sent home 170 Albanians who spent four days in the port city of Trieste because of visa problems. The group of self-proclaimed "students" found themselves barred from entering Italy, the first stop in a planned Mediterranean trip, after the Hungarian Embassy in Tirana declared their Schengen visas invalid, only days after it had issued them. Investigators say this may have been a human trafficking scheme, as only 87 of the students were enrolled in universities.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Προεκλογικό Συνέδριο ΚΕΑΔ
Ο Ντούλες φλερτάρει με το Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα
Στο προεκλογικό συνέδριο που ξεκίνησε τις εργασίες σήμερα στα Τίρανα ο πρόεδρος του ΚΕΑΔ δεν ξεκαθάρισε με ποιούς από τους δύο Σοσιαλιστικό ή Δημοκρατικό συνασπισμό θα συμπράξει στις εκλογές.
Ο κ. Ντούλες άσκησε σκληρή κριτική στη πολιτική Μπερίσα υπογραμμίζοντας πως η ένταξη στο ΝΑΤΟ καπηλεύεται από τον πρωθυπουργό για εκλογικούς σκοπούς ενώ στην ουσία είναι επίτευγμα ολόκληρου του Αλβανικού λαού.
Κριτική επίσης άσκησε στην κοινωνική πολιτική, στην παιδεία καθώς και στη πολιτική απέναντι στις μεονότητες και στους μετανάστες. Αναλύοντας όλα αυτά σύσσωμος ο αλβανικός τύπος συμπεραίνει πως η απόφαση του Ντούλε είναι η προεκλογική σύμπραξη με το Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα. Η τελική απόφαση πάντως θα ληφθεί την επόμενη Τρίτη όπου και λήγει η προθεσμία και ξεκινάει επίσημα η προεκλογική περίοδος.
Νωρίτερα ο Γραμματέας του κόμματος Λεονάρντ Σόλις δήλωσε πως ανεξάρτητα από τις προθέσεις δεν έχουμε εγγυήσεις για μια τίμια εκλογική διαδικασία, αυξάνοντας τους ψιθύρους για αλλαγή συμμάχου στις εκλογές.
Στο συνέδριο παρεβρέθηκε ο πρόεδρος της ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ και δήμαρχος Χιμάρας Βασίλης Μπολάνος.
Ο Ντούλες φλερτάρει με το Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα
Στο προεκλογικό συνέδριο που ξεκίνησε τις εργασίες σήμερα στα Τίρανα ο πρόεδρος του ΚΕΑΔ δεν ξεκαθάρισε με ποιούς από τους δύο Σοσιαλιστικό ή Δημοκρατικό συνασπισμό θα συμπράξει στις εκλογές.
Ο κ. Ντούλες άσκησε σκληρή κριτική στη πολιτική Μπερίσα υπογραμμίζοντας πως η ένταξη στο ΝΑΤΟ καπηλεύεται από τον πρωθυπουργό για εκλογικούς σκοπούς ενώ στην ουσία είναι επίτευγμα ολόκληρου του Αλβανικού λαού.
Κριτική επίσης άσκησε στην κοινωνική πολιτική, στην παιδεία καθώς και στη πολιτική απέναντι στις μεονότητες και στους μετανάστες. Αναλύοντας όλα αυτά σύσσωμος ο αλβανικός τύπος συμπεραίνει πως η απόφαση του Ντούλε είναι η προεκλογική σύμπραξη με το Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα. Η τελική απόφαση πάντως θα ληφθεί την επόμενη Τρίτη όπου και λήγει η προθεσμία και ξεκινάει επίσημα η προεκλογική περίοδος.
Νωρίτερα ο Γραμματέας του κόμματος Λεονάρντ Σόλις δήλωσε πως ανεξάρτητα από τις προθέσεις δεν έχουμε εγγυήσεις για μια τίμια εκλογική διαδικασία, αυξάνοντας τους ψιθύρους για αλλαγή συμμάχου στις εκλογές.
Στο συνέδριο παρεβρέθηκε ο πρόεδρος της ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ και δήμαρχος Χιμάρας Βασίλης Μπολάνος.
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