Thursday, December 30, 2010

The fall of Balkan leaders

by George Delastik - Ethnos Newspaper

Suddenly began to occur exponential developments surrounding Balkan political leaders.
Developments painful, which tend to alter fundamentally the politics of some countries of our region. It even took two weeks to begin the political crises in different intensities, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania. It started Thursday, December 9, 2010, the highway leading from Croatia to Slovenia, the border Bregkana. Surprised border guards saw him pass with his car on the five and a half years late Prime Minister Ivo Sanader.

A few hours later, the Attorney General submitted a request to parliament to lift the immunity of Sanader, who met instantaneously and with a unanimous (!) A decision of parliament. "Suspicions of corruption," said the prosecutor. On Friday, December 10, Sanader was arrested on a motorway in Austria, while driving. Zagreb immediately requested his extradition, but Vienna does not hurry to extradite him to Croatia. Yesterday, an Austrian court ruled in custody in Austria for at least a month even while Austrian investigators opened an investigation as there are indications that the former prime minister of Croatia is involved in laundering "black" money through banks and Austrian!


December 12, elections were held in Kosovo.Prime Minister Hashim Thaci won. The party came first with 33.5% amid accusations of fraud. The formation of the government, however, is complex.
Once established, the political weakening of Thaci came the blow from the outside. On Tuesday, December 14, 2010, published a report of the Council of Europe accused Thaci to participate directly as chief executive of albano kosovo criminal gang that kidnapped, transported to northern Albania and murdered hundreds of Serbs to sell their organs for transplants!
The story is ten years old. The Europeans knew from the time these crimes, but with the Yankees had the mask, because the main political motivation was the removal of Kosovo from Serbia and the proclamation of an independent state. Thaci were essential in this business, which is why the coverage and recognition as a top political leader and public figure in Kosovo.


A reasonable question is therefore: who and why now pulled this old story? What political goal which country serves the desired marginalization if not elimination of Thaci from the main Kosovo political scene, why of course it is impossible now to talk with the EU is a prime - criminal and also so hideous! On Friday, December 17, the EU summit formalized its decision to grant the status of Montenegro in a candidate for EU membership on Tuesday, December 21, new political bombshell: unexpectedly resigned the prime minister for nearly two decades, president and general absolute political sovereignty of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, although it is early age of politician - just 49 years today!

Officially declared that it was withdrawing because he completed all the political goals of his life: once led Montenegro to independence in 2006, now led in the lobby of the EU but connoisseurs believe that Djukanovic was immediately and fully understood the message of "case Thaci . Experts know that Milo Djukanovic accused as fully been involved, and indeed a leading feature locations in circuits smuggling weapons, drugs, cigarettes, etc. together, even the Italian Mafia! There are previous orders against him. So, he chose to resign himself instead of waiting for orders to come out again to the surface.

Last acuses - Berisha along with Thaci Serbia tried to exploit these developments. Through the newspaper "Politika", Belgrade report back the Serbian prosecutor claims that the Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha was in charge of smuggling arms for the UCK during the Kosovo conflict. Knowing that this is normal policy, the Serbs are trying to develop as an accomplice Berisha and Thaci's horrific organ trafficking. The report would be irrelevant if the current Serbian government was not blind instrument of Germany. This might mean something.

http://www.ethnos.gr/article.asp?catid=11826&subid=2&pubid=48692962

Wednesday, December 29, 2010


Albania: Heavy weapons arsenal found in train coming from Montenegro, Serbia

A
smuggling weapons seized coming from Serbia towards to the "Kurum" Company, to Elbasan destination.

In its notice, the police in Shkoder declares that in Bajza station, has arrived in Montenegro, a train with 16 carriages and three of whom were charged with scrap.

On physical examination conducted by the services of the Border Police Station in Bajza is concluded that in one wagon was loaded with scrap munitions (heavy artillery) , assembled in which were irregularly distributed along with the rest of scrap.

By performing actions before the investigation has resulted in the train of line Tuz (Montenegro)-Bajze, Great Highland, entered the station Bajza with 5 speaker, foreign nationals.

Following the investigation has shown that wagon in question came from Serbia by the Company "NOVO METAL" where the destination of this commodity was the Turkish company "Kurum" in Elbasan.

Prosecution of Shkodra has launched investigations into the crime of "trafficking of arms and ammunition"

http://www.balkanweb.com/videoAlbum/popup.php?vIDCategoria=42&IDVideo=8396&va_id_video=8396

Tuesday, December 28, 2010


Southern Albania (Northern Epirus)

World's top destinations for 2011

By A. Pawlowski, CNN
December 28, 2010
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Travel experts name nine great destinations to explore next year
  • New York will be particularly memorable as it commemorates 10th anniversary of 9/11
  • Japan can be more affordable than you think; Norway is perfect for lovers of outdoors
  • Guatemala is "a bargain wonderland"; Bulgaria offers both great beaches and skiing
RELATED TOPICS

(CNN) -- Where on Earth will you find yourself in 2011?

Here's wishing it's somewhere unforgettable -- and the time to plan your journey is now, as the New Year brings the customary yearning for a fresh start and the promise of new people and places.

To set your itinerary in motion, we sought out recommendations from three travel experts: Robert Reid, U.S. travel editor for Lonely Planet; Pauline Frommer, creator of Pauline Frommer's guidebooks; and Martin Rapp, senior vice president of leisure sales at Altour.

Here are nine of their top destinations for 2011:

6. Albania

The top pick on Lonely Planet's list of top 10 countries for 2011 may be a surprise for many people, but Albania gives travelers a taste of the Mediterranean without the crowds and the prices, Reid said.

The real rising destination is Gjirokastra, a city whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, he added.

"It's this cobbled town with Ottoman-era mansions," Reid said. "It's a very atmospheric place that has a lot of history."

With picturesque beaches, good food and a number of heritage sites, Albania won't be off the beaten track for much longer, Lonely Planet says in its review.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/12/28/top.destinations.2011/?hpt=Sbin

Albania's Berisha denies allegations of weapons dealing

28/12/2010

TIRANA, Albania -- Prime Minister Sali Berisha on Monday (December 27th) rejected allegations published by the Serbian newspaper Politika, describing them as "racist slander which are part of the anti-Albanian hysteria orchestrated by Dick Marty".

In its article, Politika described Berisha as one of the main weapons dealers of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the 1998-1999 war. According to the newspaper, Belgrade prosecutors have testimony from four Kosovo Albanians who say they purchased weapons in Berisha's house in the northern village of Prifc.

"Politika is the mouthpiece of Serb ultra-nationalist circles and a blind advocate of the genocide committed by the Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo," Berisha said.

Albania’s Political Crisis Extends into 2011

The ruling Democrats in Albania have rejected the latest proposal to break the political deadlock which has plunged the country into crisis since the 2009 parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha' Democratic party have voted down an opposition plan to create an investigative parliamentary commission into alleged irregularities in the disputed elections.

“Berisha yesterday made the political crisis deeper,” said opposition leader Edi Rama in a press conference on Tuesday. “In the session we saw how parliament has been taken hostage and how the opposition was offended,” he added.

According to Rama, the premier lacks the political will to solve the crisis that has dragged on since the end of the 2009 elections and has poisoned the political climate.

“We are in a dramatic and dangerous situation,” concluded the Socialist leader.

Monday’s extraordinary session was a last-ditch attempt to solve the standoff between the parties in 2010 and had been proceeded by a series of failed talks to find a compromise.

Opposition Socialists continue to demand an investigative commission into last year's general election with unrestricted power to probe polling materials.

The ruling Democrats insist that it would be illegal to order a probe based on doubts alone. The Democrats would support an investigation into election fraud if the opposition produced proof of irregularities.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Security on Balkans

US KFOR troops to be deployed in north Kosovo as of February

The U.S. troops in the international Kosovo Force (KFOR) are expected to take control over northern Kosovo, predominantly populated by Serbs, as of next February, the US KFOR contingent's commander, Francisco Neuman, said on Saturday.

Brigadier Neuman was quoted by the independent Klan Kosova TV station as saying that U.S. troops would replace the French contingent, that had been deployed in the north of Kosovo 11 years.


Russian and Greek airborne forces, exercises in Northern Greek territorry

Russian special forces and Greek equivalent (unconfirmed information talk to ETA units and paratroopers), for the first time on Greek soil in Macedonia in a special collaboration political weight.

The five-day exercises were implemented various scenarios, and made and base jumping, as reported safe sources by
defencenet.gr. A particular interest was the Greek side the specialist equipment used by the Russians, and general cooperation between special units of the two countries left great impressions in the Greek and the Russian side.

So far, despite the fact that the exercises were concluded ten days ago, veil of secrecy covering the common practice especially regarding the origin of the Russian unit.


Russia does not send special forces abroad and even parachutists, often it is only to "restore order", as happened recently in Kyrgyzstan. "It is important to see some that we are not alone in this difficult time," says a senior officer on defencenet.gr, visibly excited by the collaboration of the Greek Army in the Russian special forces.

defencenet

Albanian Nationalists Point Finger at Archbishop Anastasios

Many people accused the Archbishop of Albania, Anastasios and characterized him as a: “Secret agent of the Greek chauvinism in Albania”, “soldier of fortune”, “conspirator”, or “ fighter of Greek interests”. Others said that he is illegal and he must have already left.
There are many who have turned against Archbishop Anastasios, despite his 20 year presence in the Archdiocese and his strong efforts to reconstruct the Albanian Orthodox Church. Additionally, Archbishop Anastasios was internationally recognized as the best ambassador of Albanian interests. “My only sin is that I am Greek”, says the Archbishop, to those who do not want to remember that a Greek prelate contributed to the rebirth of the Orthodox Church of Albania.

see related

ALBANIAN NATIONALISM AGAINST THE ORTHODOX ARCHBISHOP

THE LAST BATTLE OF THE ALBANIAN NATIONALISM AGAINST THE ORTHODOX ARCHBISHOP ANASTASIOS JANULATOS

......Copyright: http://www.rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=289&catid=17&Itemid=74

Facts: 70 years ago. Ten days and ten nights kept the battle of Himara

22/12/1940 The story of 10 Days Battles for Himara during Greek Italian War

The Greek Press in December 1940 for the Liberation of Himara

"With an unstoppable march of our army, the city of Chimaras released on December 22, 1940"

Paul Paleologos Himare sent by the newspaper "New Athenian '(24-12-1940) response to title:" Our army in Himare. The reception of moving people.

In the same tone announcing the happy event and other newspapers:

The "New Hellas" (24 December 1940): The Himare free! Was captured yesterday by our army. The Heimarriotes congratulation our soldiers.

The "Daily" (24 December 1940): "The Greek troops occupied yesterday Himare.


"Ten days and ten nights kept the battle of Himara. The Italians had fortified and used for protection of tanks, aviation, artillery and infantry. On the beach, the Italians had blocked the Strait of Papathias with successive lines of defense. The Greeks were repulsed on 15 months. They made three days and lost 370 men until you take a hill. When, on 19, was taken inside the saddle of Koutsi, the Italians of Papathias where circulated.

On 20 fell on the beach.
On 21 delivered. Kutsi and Papathia claimed 900 prisoners, 300 dead, artillery, mortars and large quantities of ammunition "armed him" the Greek army. On December 22tou, "on foot, ten hours, as indicated by the standard bearer of the Navy commander Mylos Spyromilios, the Greeks entered the city" and becoming accepted by residents furious with inspiration. "

The flagship hoisted the Greek flag and started.
new course to north. The heavy winter stopped the advance. The Italians barricaded themselves in Vlore".

Parcel bombs in Albanian, Finnish embassies false alarm

Dec 27, 2010 19:53 Moscow Time
Rome. Photo: RIA Novosti
Print Email Add to blog

Roman police has found no explosives in alleged parcel bombs reported by the Embassies of Albania and Finland on Monday. Earlier, suspicious parcels were received by Greek, Danish, Monacan, Swedish, Kuwaiti and Venezuelan diplomats.

Only the Greek envelope contained an explosive.

Last Thursday two parcel bombs exploded at the embassies of Chile and Switzerland, injuring two diplomats. Italy’s police believe anarchists to be involved.

National Albanian American Council: The Albanian American Community Strongly Denounces Dick Marty's




The Albanian American community strongly denounces the unsubstantiated allegations made by Mr. Dick Marty, a rapporteur for a committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, of illicit trafficking in human organs and organized crime by former leaders of the KLA. The report is an uncorroborated attack attempting to smear not only PM Thaqi, but also the heroic resistance against the Serbian ethnic cleansing campaign made by the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA).

Mr. Marty's report alleges fresh evidence but presents no new information, contends to have spoken with multiple witnesses, but refuses to publish names.

The international community has been extremely critical of Mr. Marty's report:

Mr. Bernard Kouchner, former Foreign Minister of France and UNMIK Chief at the time of the allegations, responded, "My first reaction, and I read the report very carefully, is that I'm very skeptical about those accusations of the organ trade. My second reaction is to have somebody investigate this, conduct a real investigation."

Mr. Philip Crowley, State Department spokesman, stated, "there are tribunals, such as the ICTY, that have been active for many years. To the extent you've got allegations of war crimes, there have been successful prosecutions. Both the UN and the ICTY have investigated allegations of an organ trafficking ring as far back as 2004. They decided to take no action at that time. But we certainly continue to encourage any cooperation – or cooperation in any further investigation of these matters."

Dr. Sali Berisha, Albania's Prime Minister, stated, "This is a report absolutely not based on any facts, evidence or reality, which shows the clear taking of sides of the author, including a flagrant abuse of the authority of the Council of Europe."

The Albanian American community fully stands behind the government of Kosova's demand that Dick Marty step back and allow competent, impartial authorities to look into these unsubstantiated allegations and commit to cooperate fully with any fair and unbiased inquiry. Additionally, we implore the international community to continue to support Kosova's inevitable membership into Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Daily: Albanian PM trafficked arms

27 December 2010 Source: Politika
BELGRADE -- Sali Berisha, who is currently Albania's prime minister, was one of the chief arms smugglers during the war in Kosovo.

A file photo of Sali Berisha (FoNet)
A file photo of Sali Berisha (FoNet)

This is according to a report in Belgrade's Politika newspaper this Monday.

The daily writes that four ethnic Albanians from Kosovo mentioned Berisha in this context. Their testimonies are part of the Serbian War Crimes Prosecution's investigation into the human organs smuggling case.

The case, filed as 33-08, cites statements that said the center for arms trafficking was in Berisha's house in the village of Prifc near Tropoja, in northern Albania.

At the time, Berisha was an opposition politician and former Albanian president, during whose time in office military barracks in that country were robbed of weapons and ammunition, with several hundred thousand pieces gone missing.

Most of those arms ended up in the hands of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, writes Politika. The four witnesses are former members of the KLA arrested by Serbia's security forces during the war in the province.

One of them is an ethnic Albanian from the area of the town of Đakovica, formerly a member of the KLA group led by Ramush Haradinaj, who said that it was on Haradinaj's orders that he illegally traveled to Albania in March of 1998 to buy weapons.......

www.b92.net
National Albanian American Council: The Albanian American Community Strongly Denounces Dick Marty's




The Albanian American community strongly denounces the unsubstantiated allegations made by Mr. Dick Marty, a rapporteur for a committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, of illicit trafficking in human organs and organized crime by former leaders of the KLA. The report is an uncorroborated attack attempting to smear not only PM Thaqi, but also the heroic resistance against the Serbian ethnic cleansing campaign made by the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA).

Mr. Marty's report alleges fresh evidence but presents no new information, contends to have spoken with multiple witnesses, but refuses to publish names.

The international community has been extremely critical of Mr. Marty's report:

Mr. Bernard Kouchner, former Foreign Minister of France and UNMIK Chief at the time of the allegations, responded, "My first reaction, and I read the report very carefully, is that I'm very skeptical about those accusations of the organ trade. My second reaction is to have somebody investigate this, conduct a real investigation."

Mr. Philip Crowley, State Department spokesman, stated, "there are tribunals, such as the ICTY, that have been active for many years. To the extent you've got allegations of war crimes, there have been successful prosecutions. Both the UN and the ICTY have investigated allegations of an organ trafficking ring as far back as 2004. They decided to take no action at that time. But we certainly continue to encourage any cooperation – or cooperation in any further investigation of these matters."

Dr. Sali Berisha, Albania's Prime Minister, stated, "This is a report absolutely not based on any facts, evidence or reality, which shows the clear taking of sides of the author, including a flagrant abuse of the authority of the Council of Europe."

The Albanian American community fully stands behind the government of Kosova's demand that Dick Marty step back and allow competent, impartial authorities to look into these unsubstantiated allegations and commit to cooperate fully with any fair and unbiased inquiry. Additionally, we implore the international community to continue to support Kosova's inevitable membership into Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Politika: Organ transplantation conducted in "Mother Teresa" hospital in Tirana


Saturday, 25 December 2010
Image

Surgical procedures of the victims’ bodies were conducted in health centres or hospitals that are used during the war for the treatment of Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) soldiers, according to Saturday's edition of Politika daily.

Daily has learned that these are some of the results of the investigation of the Serbian prosecution for war crimes.

75 patients were admitted from Kosovo at the Clinical Hospital Centre "Mother Teresa" in Tirana during the 1999, while the University Hospital in Skopje, received 70 patients from Kosovo diagnosed with severe renal insufficiency, according to Politika.

Several kidney transplantations have been conducted in Tirana. In the same hospital, out of 75 patients 35 are kept while the others were transported to Italy (25) and Austria (15) where they waited for the transplant.

Serbian prosecutor's office as one of the evidences for claims of existence of organs implies the statement of Dr. Sulejman Kodra, Head of the Department of Transplantation University Hospital "Mother Teresa" in Tirana, who stated for Top News television that cases of transplantation of organs from unknown donors were recorded, however the "surgeons cannot be responsible for this."

It is suspected that there are mass graves on Albanian territory where bodies of the victims were buried, Politika reads.

Germany to extradite Serb war criminal
Sun Dec 26, 2010
Graves of more than 77 Kosovo Albanians first found buried in a collective grave on Serbian police grounds sit in a row after being re-buried individually July 21, 2001 in Petrovo Selo, eastern Serbia.
Germany has detained a member of a Serbian paramilitary group who allegedly committed war crimes in Kosovo and wants to extradite him to Serbia.


Zoran Obradovic was arrested several weeks ago in Germany and a Frankfurt court ordered his extradition to Serbia.


He has appealed to the German Constitutional Court, a Justice Ministry spokesman announced on Saturday.


Obradovic is a member of the paramilitary Cakali (Jackal) unit, which is accused of killing at least 43 civilians in the village of Cuska, near the western Kosovo town of Pec, on May 14, 1999, AFP reported.


Nine members of the group went on trial in Belgrade on Monday for committing crimes against ethnic Albanian civilians during the 1999 Kosovo conflict.


The indictment accuses the defendants of committing murder, rape, and robbery in an "extremely brutal" way, with "the main goal to spread fear among Albanian civilians in order to force them to leave their homes and flee to Albania."


Serbian forces, under the command of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, waged a violent crackdown on separatist Kosovo Albanians.


After Milosevic was ousted in October 2000, Serbian justice gradually started investigations into the crimes committed during the Kosovo conflict.


About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, were killed in the Kosovo conflict.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/157166.html

Wednesday, December 22, 2010


SMANALYSIS
WISH YOU
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Albanian PM seeks probe on organ traffic claims



The Associated Press
Wednesday, December 22, 2010; 9:55 AM

TIRANA, Albania -- Albania has invited an international investigation into claims it was linked with the trafficking of organs from slain civilians during the war in neighboring Kosovo.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha said Wednesday his government has offered full cooperation with the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, should it wish to conduct a probe.

A Council of Europe report last week said Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci was behind the grisly trade while leader of the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army in the 1998-99 independence war with Serbia.

The kidneys were allegedly removed from Kosovan opponents of the KLA and Serbs in detention facilities in Albania. Thaci and Albanian officials have denied the allegations, and Berisha claimed the report showed a pro-Serb bias

National Albanian American Council: The Albanian American Community Strongly Denounces Dick Marty's Accusations

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Albanian American community strongly denounces the unsubstantiated allegations made by Mr. Dick Marty, a rapporteur for a committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, of illicit trafficking in human organs and organized crime by former leaders of the KLA. The report is an uncorroborated attack attempting to smear not only PM Thaqi, but also the heroic resistance against the Serbian ethnic cleansing campaign made by the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA).

Mr. Marty's report alleges fresh evidence but presents no new information, contends to have spoken with multiple witnesses, but refuses to publish names.

The international community has been extremely critical of Mr. Marty's report:

Mr. Bernard Kouchner, former Foreign Minister of France and UNMIK Chief at the time of the allegations, responded, "My first reaction, and I read the report very carefully, is that I'm very skeptical about those accusations of the organ trade. My second reaction is to have somebody investigate this, conduct a real investigation."

Mr. Philip Crowley, State Department spokesman, stated, "there are tribunals, such as the ICTY, that have been active for many years. To the extent you've got allegations of war crimes, there have been successful prosecutions. Both the UN and the ICTY have investigated allegations of an organ trafficking ring as far back as 2004. They decided to take no action at that time. But we certainly continue to encourage any cooperation – or cooperation in any further investigation of these matters."

Dr. Sali Berisha, Albania's Prime Minister, stated, "This is a report absolutely not based on any facts, evidence or reality, which shows the clear taking of sides of the author, including a flagrant abuse of the authority of the Council of Europe."

The Albanian American community fully stands behind the government of Kosova's demand that Dick Marty step back and allow competent, impartial authorities to look into these unsubstantiated allegations and commit to cooperate fully with any fair and unbiased inquiry. Additionally, we implore the international community to continue to support Kosova's inevitable membership into Euro-Atlantic institutions.

NO COMMENT!

A Photo for Albanian historians:

Saranda, The Year 1917. In Port, the Greek flag, and in the background The Lëkursy Castle


Today, The Port of Saranda and big changes after......






Tirana considers as national security issues, the population count

Socialist MP, Ilir Gjoni, demands from the Albanian Secret Service, that it would take measures against the ethnic groups living in the Albanian territory "Anti Albanian groups, seeking to create in Albania, a multi ethnic state"

Is
Albania, multi-ethnic state? Here's ethnic groups, that the Parliamentary Commission for Security, has announced as anti Albanian?... There are Greeks, Montenegrins, Bulgarians, Macedonians, Serbs, Bosnians, Vlachs and gypsies.


According to the newspaper "Shekulli" the socialist MP in the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Ilir Gjoni, has expressed his concern about anti Albanian demands of all ethnic groups living in Albania, and for this purpose is explained by calling the Albanian government.

Gjoni, has stated that it is worrisome that by a ratio of the Albanian Secret Service SHISH, that certain
ethnic groups, are seeking to proclaim Albania through counting of the population, a multi ethnic state.

However, it is appropriate to remember that, counting the population, is a European obligation of official Tirana, countries such as Kosovo and Macedonia, will develop the process, on the same date that performs and Albania.

Some days ago, the chairman of HRUP, Vangel Dule, has expressed his concern that the government of Albania, is seeking to manipulate the process of counting the population, for which he said he would not be contested in place in the most democratic self disclosure to include religion and ethnicity.

But what says the biggest European newspaper "Le Monde" Shortly after the self declaration of the independence of Kosovo?

Follow the writing of "Le Monde Diplomatique" below:

Independence for Kosovo: the domino effect

What borders for Albania?

by Jean-Arnault Dérens

In 1878 at the Congress of Berlin the German chancellor Bismarck declared that Albania was no more than “a geographical expression”. In the same year, however, influential delegates from the Albanian regions of the Ottoman empire gathered to found the League of Prizren, establishing the first modern claims to national status. Austria-Hungary defended the Albanian claims in the years that followed, in a standoff with Serbia and Greece who had entered alliances with Great Britain, France and Russia.

Ismail Qemal proclaimed a first, and ephemeral, Albanian republic at Vlora in 1912. But a year later the London Peace Conference created the Kingdom of Albania over only half of the regions with Albanian populations. The treaty also split Kosovo (predominantly Albanian) between Serbia and Montenegro. The Albanians have never accepted the prejudice to their people, and today its nationalists are intent on “rectifying” the “historical injustice”.

It is true that there was little guarantee of a future for the state of Albania at the time. It almost disappeared in the first world war, and there was no real settlement on its borders until the treaty of 1926, which was based on doubtful logic. The town of Gjakovë/Gjakova, for example, became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, despite the small size of its Serbian population. Similarly, territory that had always been part of the important municipality of Debar/Dibra was shared between the kingdom and Albania; today the city is part of the Republic of Macedonia, although its traditional hinterland lies in Albania (around the town of Peshkopi).

There are two issues intertwined here. The delicate balance between Albania’s neighbours (Montenegro, Serbia and Greece) and their powerful protectors had an influence on the definition of Albanian territoriality, as did Italy’s historical claims over the Albanian coastline. Also there are the problematic notions of an “Albanian region” or “Albanian cultural area”. Albanians have always lived in the midst of other national communities in these areas. Can we say that this or that town is part of the Albanian world because 50%, 60% or 80% of its inhabitants are Albanian? What percentage do we take and, more particularly, what scale of settlement do we include?

http://mondediplo.com/2008/02/11albania