Saturday, September 18, 2010


Unfinished mission of U.S. Ambassador in Albania

SManalysis, special edition

Photo: John Withers (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/91729.htm)

Former Ambassador of US, in Tirana, John. Withers, was the only representative of USA, those 20 years in Albania, that during the years of his career in Tirana, he never has spoken about Himara, nor for the rights of property, and everything else related to community rights including ethnic discrimination, the violence used often during political and local elections ecct. Even though thousands of American citizens originally from Northern Epirus and Himara, have systematically raised voice at the U.S. Department and Congress, with the aim to interfere at the Albanian authorities, to stop the attacks of Albanian nationalist, to the Region of Himara. Also he has not even spoken to Ethnic Greek minority rights and is often avoided public debate on this issue. The Ambassador Withers, more recently has been concerned about Gay rights in Albania, which has conveyed the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while the top leader of Greek Ethnic Minority and Himara, Vassilios Bollano, has been systematically targeted by Albanian nationalism, as well as state institutions, including courts and prosecutors. Do you know these facts, the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Member of Foreign Relations of US Congress?


SM


Facts:


Photo: Lambros Papantoniou (right) with Condoleezza Rice

US State Dept Daily Press Briefing

Gordon Duguid
Acting Deputy Department Spokesman
Daily Press Briefing
February 18, 2009

Yes, Mr. Lambros.
QUESTION: On Albania, the World Bank acknowledged yesterday serious errors by the Albanian Government against a Greek village in northern Epirus and presented an action plan for addressing this issue to a panel. I am wondering what is the U.S. position, since the European Union is involved, too.
MR. DUGUID: I would refer you to the World Bank for their action, and I believe that the – this matter is before the courts in Albania, so that would be – those would be the proper places to go for an opinion on this. It’s a court matter. The World Bank, I understand from press reports, has launched its own investigation. They would have many more details than I would be able to give you.
QUESTION: One more question. Any response by Mark Toner to my pending question of last week on the Sali Berisha supreme court in Albania regarding the sentence of five Greeks in Himara of northern Epirus for political reasons 25 years in prison who simply raised a Greek flag?
MR. DUGUID: I believe that the matter is a court matter for the Albanians, and they do have an independent judiciary that has worked through this.
QUESTION: Thank you.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2009/02/117508.htm


State Departament: Importance of Minority Rights and Religious Freedom in Albania (Northern Epirus)

Daily Press BriefingTom Casey, Deputy SpokesmanWashington, DCDecember 18, 2007

Mr. Lambros Papantoniou?

Q: On Albania, Mr. Casey, what is the U.S. policy vis-a-vis to the Greek minority of Northern Epirus in Albania, since in the most recent days the entire Himare area is under attack by Albanian mob,destroying 35 Greek churches and terrorizing the Greeks?

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, I don't have anything new to offer you in terms of the issues related to the territorial integrity of any ofthe countries in the region.

Certainly we believe it's important for all the countries in the Balkans to ensure protection of minority rights and religious freedoms. That's a general principle that we certainly adhere to and promote. I don't have anything specific for you, though, on any of these individual incidents.

Q: One more, on Kosovo. Tomorrow is the discussion at the
U.N. on the final status of Kosovo, and I'm wondering, Mr. Casey, if you'd care to make any statement.

MR. CASEY: Well, Mr. Lambros, you know our position on Kosovo, and I fully expect that you will hear that from Ambassador Khalilzad and other officials there. Certainly we all believe that the time has come to deal with the final status of Kosovo. And as you know, we strongly believe that the way forward lies with implementation of the basic outlines of the Ahtisaari plan, including, in the short term,supervised independence for Kosovo.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2007/dec/97782.htm

Saturday, 21 March 2009, 1:17 pm
Press Release: US State Department

Daily Press Briefing - March 19

Robert Wood

Acting Department Spokesman
Daily Press Briefing

March 19, 2009

Photo: US V/President Joe Biden

with Mayor of Himara Vassilios Bollano

QUESTION: On Northern Epirus, Mr. Wood, mayor of Himara Vasilis Bolanos in Northern Epirus is under constant attack by the Albanian Government of Sali Berisha. Without any excuse, Mrs. – Mr. Bolanos is goin

g to prison for clearly political reasons. I know that Secretary Hillary Clinton has different opinions in respect of the Albanian courts. Once again,

I’ll ask the government – U.S. Government right now in order to stop this unpopular Albanian political plan?

MR. WOOD: I’m not aware of this issue, Mr. Lambros. I’m sorry.

QUESTION: But can you take this question? Because it’s important.

MR. WOOD: I’m not sure it’s – what’s the question?

QUESTION: The question is that the mayor of Himara is going to prison for political reasons. I would like you to get involved to stop this movement.

MR. WOOD: I’m not going to take this. This is not a question you’re asking. You’re making a request. And I’m –

QUESTION: No, the question is that he’s going to prison for political reasons alread

y.

MR. WOOD: Are you asking or telling me? I’m not quite sure here.

QUESTION: The question is he’s going to prison for political reasons. It is being done by a court. And I would like you to get involved.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0903/S00401.htm

US State Dept Daily Press Briefing: 27 Sep 2007

Friday, 28 September 2007, 10:48 am
Press Release: US State Department


Daily Press Briefing
Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman
Washington, DC
September 27, 2007

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros.

QUESTION: On Albania.

MR. CASEY: On Albania. Okay.

QUESTION: Albania's intentions today in Northern Epirus, the Albanian tribunals co

ntinue to give land and properties to Albanians (inaudible) the Greek mi

nority. And a lot of protests have taken place today in the Greek town of Himara (ph). Since the Albanian Government, Mr. Casey, started a new (inaudible) campaign against the Greeks in Northern Epirus, I'm wondering if you have any comment, in the framework of human rights, for who is the U.S. Government is very concerned.

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, I'm not familiar with the specific incident you're referring to. What I would say is, of course, in any actions that the Government of Albania takes or any government takes, we would expect that those actions would follow the laws of that country, follow established norms and procedures and certainly be in accordance with the constitution.

I haven't read the Albanian constitution recently. But as I recall, it does provide a general and good guarantee for basic human rights.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) another question. So it is a matter of our relation of human rights and that's why I'm asking you.

MR. CASEY: Well, again, Mr. Lambros, if your question concerns decisions rendered over the distribution of property in towns in Albania, I don't have anything specific for you on that. But what I would tell you is we would expect that any decisions made, whether by an executive body or by a court system, would follow the rule of law and the established laws of the country.

QUESTION: Thank you, (inaudible) to that specifically, but --

MR. CASEY: If you want, Mr. Lambros, I'm sure our friends in the European Bureau could answer you about that or perhaps the Embassy as well. But I think I would leave it to the Albanian Government to describe their actions. If there was anything -- there are any concerns that are raised by that I'm sure you'll hear from our folks in the appropriate time.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00730.htm


Daily Press Briefing
Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman
Washington, DCJanuary 11, 2008


KOSOVO AND NORTHERN EPIRUS ISSUES....


Tom Casey...Okay, Mr. Lambros. We're back to you.

Question: On Kosovo, Mr. Casey, according to The New York Times and to International Herald Tribune, the U.S. government is going to recognize the illegal entity of Kosovo immediately after the elections
in Serbia.

MR. CASEY: (Laughs.)

Question: And I'm wondering why. Under which legal basis?

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, first of all, the United States position
with respect to Kosovo remains clear and consistent. You've heard it
from us before. We believe that, in keeping with U.N. Resolution
1244, it's time to resolve Kosovo's final status. That, for us and
for the broad cross-section of the international community, means
proceeding with implementation of the Ahtisaari plan, and that's what
we'll be working for in the coming days and weeks.

QUESTION: A follow-up. If the Greeks of Northern Epirus in Albania
will elect their own prime minister, like the Kosovar Albanians in
Serbia, I'm wondering, Mr. Casey, if Undersecretary Nicholas Burns,
with the same token, will congratulate such a Greek prime minister as
he did yesterday for Hashim Thaqi?

MR. CASEY: Oh, Mr. Lambros, what an unfair question! Mr.
Lambros, as you know and as everyone well knows, Kosovo is a very
unique situation, and it -- (audio break) -- and settlements are not a
precedent for any other region.And as you know, that's long been a consistent part of U.S. policy.

more: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2008/jan/99231.htm

Daily Press BriefingRobert Wood, Deputy
Spokesman Washington,DC
October 23, 2008INDEX:
Mr. Lambros.

QUESTION: On Albania. Mr. Wood, in response to my yesterday question regarding property rights of the Greeks in Northern Epirus, I got the following message over the phone from the Department of State: “This is a matter between the Government of Albania and people with interest in pursuing these claims. For information on this, Mr. Lambros, we will refer you direct to the Governm ent of Albania.” I’m wondering why you are not involved in the framework of property and human rights for which the U.S. Government is very concerned, preparing, actually, an annual report.

MR. WOOD: Mr. Lambros, again, as the press guidance mentioned, this is a government between – this is an issue between the Government of Albania and those who have an interest or claims to this issue. I don’t have anything more on it for you.

QUESTION: A follow-up?
MR. WOOD: Sure.

QUESTION: I'm wondering why it's so difficult to discuss the matter
With Sali Berisha government, who is not another Emver Hotza to begin with and is not acting under Hitler, Mussolini or Mao Tse-tung but he is an elected democratic leader, very loyal to President Bush.?
MR. WOOD: I don’t have anything further for you on it, Lambros. Sorry.



.State Dept Daily Press Briefing

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
March 8, 2007
MR. MCCORMACK: ...Lambros.

QUESTION: On Northern Epirus issue in Albania. Mr. McCormack, regarding my pending questions I raised March 7th for the Greeks of Northern Epirus and Albania when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice presented to us the Annual Report on Human Rights, I got yesterday the formal answers from your press officer Kurtis Cooper: "There are no reliable statistics on the exact population of the Greeks minority in Albania. The last census was taken in 2001. However, Greeks are the largest national minority. Estimates range from 3 to 10 percent, depending on the source. In general, the Albanian Government is allowing the Greek language scho ols to be open. The Albanian Government granted an operating license to two schools outside the "Greek zone," one in Korca and one in Himare. During a September visit by the Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha to Greece, the Albanian Government agreed to cooperate in the building of a Greek-language university in Gjirokaster to be refunded -- to be funded by th e Greek Government."

MR. MCCORMACK: Are you going to wrap this up here?

QUESTION: And in conclusion, "In addition several members of the Greek minority serve on both that 140-seat people's assembly and the executive branch in ministerial and subministerial positions." Do you agree with this response?

MR. MCCORMACK: Kurtis -- (laughter) -- Kurtis is -- as opposed to the unreliability of the statistics that you're asking about, Kurtis Cooper is very reliable and that's a good answer and that is the State Department's answer for you, Lambros.

QUESTION: But the response, however, about the size of the Greek minority in Albania, Mr. McCormack, stated there's "no reliable statistics" about its size, that the la st census was taken in 2001, according to the statement.

MR. MCCORMACK: Right, right.

QUESTION: I must note that the absence of reliable statistics in the results of the Albanians Government decision to exclude ethnic identity from the census questionnaire, is there any thought given by the Department of State to request that such a choice be allowed in the next Albanian census?

MR. MCCORMACK: I'm not aware of any move in that regard, but we'll have Kurtis get back to you with an answer to that question. (Laughter.) It's proven reliable in the pa st.

Daily Press Briefing

Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman
Washington, DC
April 14, 2008

INDEX:

Mr. Lambros.

QUESTION: Yes. Mr. Casey, on northern Epirus, last week, the Albanian attacks against the Greeks in Himara of northern Epirus have been escalated in violation of the most basic human rights and the mayor of the city Vasil Bolano protested. I’m wondering if the U.S. Government’s concerned.

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, certainly, we would like to see any incidents or any concerns that people ha

ve resolved peacefully, but I’d refer you to the Albanian Government in terms of the specifics of this internal issue here. Certainly, we would hope that whatever differences might exist, they could be resolved peacefully and w

ithout resort to violence by either party.

QUESTION: But it’s a matter of violation of human rights. Why I have to address my question to the Alban

ian Government? Otherwise, what is the purpose to prepare the annual report on human rights globally?

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, you can certainly look at our annual report on human rights and see what it might say about the situation there. All I’m simply saying is Albania is a sovereign country. It’s soon to be a member of NATO. And I would fully expect that the Albanian Government could provide you with a clear response as to how they intend to resolve what appears to me and sounds to me to be like a fairly localized matter.

QUESTION: Do you know how large is the size of the Greeks in northern Epirus?

MR. CASEY: Nope.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2008/04/mil-080414-stateb01.htm


Daily Press Briefing

Robert Wood
Acting Department Spokesman
Daily Press Briefing
March 19, 2009

QUESTION: On Northern Epirus, Mr. Wood, mayor of Himara Vasilis Bolanos in Northern Epirus is under constant attack by the Albanian Government of Sali Berisha. Without any excuse, Mrs. – Mr. Bolanos is going to prison for clearly political reasons. I know that Secretary Hillary Clinton has different opinions in respect of the Albanian courts. Once again, I’ll ask the government – U.S. Government right now in order to stop this unpopular Albanian political plan?
MR. WOOD: I’m not aware of this issue, Mr. Lambros. I’m sorry.
QUESTION: But can you take this question? Because it’s important.
MR. WOOD: I’m not sure it’s – what’s the question?
QUESTION: The question is that the mayor of Himara is going to prison for political reasons. I would like you to get involved to stop this movement.
MR. WOOD: I’m not going to take this. This is not a question you’re asking. You’re making a request. And I’m –
QUESTION: No, the question is that he’s going to prison for political reasons already.
MR. WOOD: Are you asking or telling me? I’m not quite sure here.
QUESTION: The question is he’s going to prison for political reasons. It is being done by a court. And I would like you to get involved.

Daily Press Briefing Gonzalo R. Gallegos, Director,
Office of Press Relations Washington, DC June 16, 2008 .......

Photo: Letter of R. Congressman Billirakis to Secretary Rice

Yes, Mr. Lambros.

QUESTION: On Northern Epirus. Congressman Gus Bilirakis has written Secretary Rice about continuing Albanian treatment against the Greeks in Northern Epirus and urging the

Administration to press Tirana to respect the basic rights they are entitled under international agreements. I’m wondering if Secretary Rice is concerned about that since Sali Berisha Government most recently systematically attacks the Greeks in Himara of Northern Epirus?

MR. GALLEGOS: Well, I think in terms of communications, congressional communications, I’m sure that we – I haven’t seen whether or not we have receiv ed that or not. But I can assure you that it will be appropriately addressed and an appropriate response will be given.

U.S. envoy to Albania linked to cover-up of Afghan arms deal


By Eric Schmitt
Published: June 24, 2008

WASHINGTON: A U.S. ambassador helped cover up the illegal Chinese origins of ammunition the Pentagon bought to supply Afghan security forces, according to testimony gathered by congressional investigators.
A military attaché has told the investigators that the U.S. ambassador to Albania endorsed a plan by the Albanian defense minister to hide several boxes of Chinese ammunition from a visiting reporter.
more:http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/24/europe/arms.php

ALBANIAN AMMUNITION SCANDAL

Daily Press BriefingTom Casey,
Deputy SpokesmanWashington,
DCJune 24, 2008

Yeah, Mr. Lambros, go ahead.

QUESTION: Why your Ambassador to Albania then endorse a plan by the Albanian Minister of Defense to hide several boxes of Chinese ammunition?

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, I believe that we have just gone through saying that we have no reason to believe that that, in fact, occurred and that we are going to ensure that there is a transparent investigation by our IG to verify the facts and make sure that both Ambassador Withers, as well as Chairman Waxman, have a full and complete review done of this matter, so that there will be no questions about it. But certainly, I have no reason to believe that that, in fact, occurred.



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