Greek FM Droutsas, about Ballkans and Albania

The alternate minister also called on the Albanian government to respect the rights of the Greek ethnic minority in Albania and spoke of a "lack of progress in Bosnia-Herzegovina".

During his speach in the Grek Parliament, emphasised the importance of the government "2014 Agenda" for the accession of the western Balkan countries to the EU, saying that this initiative was once again giving Greece a leading role in the region.

He said this policy sought to enhance Greece's presence in Eastern Europe by actively promoting the Western Balkans with the aim of incorporating them into Europe, deepening economic growth, as well as preserving and reinforcing Greece's role in the region.

The minister also stressed a fourth goal that sought to make the Southeastern Europe Cooperation Process a more useful body for security and peace in the region, with a collective framework of principles that would allow Balkan countries to take their fate into their own hands.

While admitting that serious problems remained to be dealt with, such as organised crime, illegal migration, drug trafficking and environmental protection, he also pointed to the EU accession of Bulgaria and Romania and the new opportunities for growth thus created.

"Even at this difficult economic juncture with road blocks on the highways, we are reminded of the inter-dependence of our economies," he noted.

The alternate minister also called on the Albanian government to respect the rights of the Greek ethnic minority in Albania and spoke of a "lack of progress in Bosnia-Herzegovina".

He repeated Greece's active, tangible support for Serbia's bid to join the EU and criticised the Community's "absence" on the issue of Kosovo, stressing that for Greece there was no question of recognising Kosovo.

The response of George Papandreou for the Albanian Encyclopedic Dictionary

Greek PM George Papandreu has responded to the questions of MP of LAOS John Korantis, about the "Albanian Encyclopedic Dictionary"

Photo: LAOS PM John Korantis

A rapid Response to questions by LAOS PM , John Koranti on "Albanian Encyclopedic Dictionary".

"Efforts to trying and to counterfeiting misuse of the Greek history", says on the his response the Foreign Minister (and Prime Minister), George Papandreou to LAOS PM Korantis, which stresses that "It should be mentioned however that, according to the evaluation of services, in this latest version, it contained many gaps and distortion of historical reality that existed in previous similar work." John Korantis questions to PM Papandreu:

"The official Albanian Encyclopedic Dictionary of a few days ago issued by the Academy of Sciences of Albania, noting in his introduction that "national character" known repeats allegations longitudinal Albanian identity of Arta, Ioannina, Preveza and Igoumenitsa. Large extracts serve megalomania of the Albanian irredentism and cultivate the dispositions of the Chams.

Furthermore, degradation in the presence of the Greek minority in areas that are their ancestral homes, while removal of the Greek identity of areas such as Himara Region.

It asked the responsible P. Minister:

It informed the Foreign Ministry on this new piece of the Albanian Academy of Sciences, which is a government agency?
If yes, what you have made to the Albanian government to complain and ask for the removal of all the conflicting information?
Do you mobilize the Academy and other spiritual entities to make and they take the necessary steps?
you intend to raise this issue at international fora, such as the Council of Europe and the OSCE, particularly in the latter, as long as the Greek Presidency of this?

The honorable member

John KORANTIS
Member of Parliament LA.OS.

Albania, Closes after 11 years the newspaper "TEMA"

TIRANA-Bad news for the Media in Albania. After 11 years existence, the newspaper "Tema" has closed its activity. The Publisher Mero Baze announced its closing, writing an editorial today, calling "an inability to continue further in terms of numerous financial difficulties".

Mero Baze its editor writes that in terms of arbitrary police authorities blockade and destruction of its investment financial situation has passed the limits of survival. According to him, which Tirana court should consider lawsuit filed against the Ministry of Interior for destruction of property and investment to make the former Military Topography, has not yet made the first regular session of court after more than a year from the time.

He further explains that financial controls and selective pressures that began with newspaper balances from 2004 have also strengthened their hostile climate. "This is an end but not the end of media freedom" ended his writing editor of the newspaper "topic", Mero Baze.

Albania Warns of Possible Credit Downgrade

Tirana | 22 January 2010 | Gjergj Erebara

Tirana

In an internal memo obtained by Balkan Insight the ministry of finance says Albania needs urgent cuts in budget expenditures in order to improve its credit rating.

According to the document the Albanian government should revise its 2010 budget and cut its expenditure by ten per cent before March in order to avoid a very likely downgrade in its Moody’s credit rating

“We face high uncertainty in the revenue forecast, while a new credit rating that will take into account the macro-fiscal situation of the last year will be issued in March,” the report reads.

“In the current situation there is little possibility that the country's rating will stand at minus B1 with a stable outlook and the only way to avoid [the downgrade], is to demonstrate our will to manage the risks with a credible scenario,” it adds.

In December, the government forecast 5.5 per cent economic growth for 2010, but the Ministry of Finance says that such a forecast is unrealistic. The 2010 public budget forecasted 410 billion lek (2.97 billion euro) worth of expenditures and 360 billion lek (2.63 billion euro) in revenues.

Albania intends to issue 300 million euro sovereign bonds this year to repay old debts, but many analysts believe that the current economic forecast for the region does not bode well for an entry into the international bond market.

Dodik: Dayton referendum in February

22 January 2010 | 17:34 | Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- A referendum that will allow citizens of RS, to declare their support for the Dayton Agreement could be held in mid-February, says Milorad Dodik. Milorad Dodik (FoNet, file) The Dayton accord ended the 1992-95 war in Bosnia and organized the country into two entities: the Serb republic, RS, and the Muslim-Croat federation. “We expect that Bosniaks [Bosnian Muslims] would veto the law, which means it will be sent to the Constitutional Court. After the approval from that court – and there’s no reason for any other outcome, since the law is utterly constitutional and regular – we will call the referendum,“ Dodik said in Belgrade this Friday. The RS premier also explained that the voting would likely take place one month or a month and a half after the Constitutional Court’s expected ruling. ...................... more see: www.b92.net

Greece, Austria's letter to EU for Balkans

Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas and Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger stressed in a joint letter addressed to the European Union's Foreign minister Catherine Ashton and all their European counterparts that "Greece and Austria, neighbouring countries from the north and south to the countries of the Western Balkans, are observing the developments with special interest and note the progress achieved in past years, since these countries have adopted the European agenda.

However, the political, economic and social problems remain and many doubts are being expressed about the European perspective of the Western Balkans."

The two ministers pointed out that a "new momentum is required now to make more effective the political messages that will be sent."...

more se: www.ana.gr

FYROM: Ali Ahmeti mad at Nikola Gruevski

Leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), Ali Ahmeti, threatened to withdraw his unconditional support in the name dispute in case the open issues with the VMRO-DPMNE are not solved in DUI’s favor, Skopie Dnevnik daily writes.

The newspaper comments that the relations between VMRO-DPMNE and DUI have worsened because of the issues connected to education, religious establishments, the launching of four lawsuits returned to FYROM by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the status of the former soldiers from the National Liberation Army.

DUI said that Ahmeti mulls reconsidering the agreement with VMRO-DPMNE.

UN Security Council to discuss Kosovo

22 January 2010 Source: Beta

BELGRADE -- The UN Security Council will debate on the situation in Kosovo in New York this Friday, at a session to be addressed by President Boris Tadić. Boris Tadić (FoNet, file) Tadić is due to speak at the council at 21:00 CET. The session will consider the latest three-monthly report of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about the situation in Kosovo, in which Serbia and Kosovo are urged to find a way to put aside the status considerations and commit to the resumption of regional cooperation. Besides the Serbian president, the member of the delegation is Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, who said that "Serbia will be represented at the highest level on Jan. 22, because of the extremely serious and complex situation in Kosovo." UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, chief Lamberto Zannier will also present his report............ more see: http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=01&dd=22&nav_id=64660

Berisha changes the Albanian Intelligence Service

According to Project Law proposed by Berisha, only an authorization by Prime Minister, CIA and other foreign Secret Services, must collaborate with SHISH.

On February 7 is expected to complete the post of Bahri Shaqiri, Director of the Albanian intelligence service SHISH (Shërbimit Informativ të Shtetit).

In addition, Tirana adopted a decision pursuant to which the term of the new Head of SHISH will be 5 years with right of renewal for another time.

SHISH has its roots in the famous Sigurimi, the powerful internal security service, which was dissolved with the collapse of the communist regime.

With the rise of Sali Berisha to power in 1992 founded the Albanian intelligence service SHIK (Shërbimi Informativ Kombëtar) and staffed mainly by Bashkim Gazidede north-east regions of the country, where there was the new Prime Minister Berisha.

On this project, the Socialist Party has opposite the decision of the Government, forgetting it for the bad administrating of SHIK by former President Berisha during 1996 - 1997, as military structure against albanian opposition.

Another great risk, is the using of secret service structures by the government, against the critic media of the country. According to "TEMA" newspaper, "Berisha continues to resume the most power investigation structures of the state, to control the politic opposition and the critic media of the country".

But the most important issue to use the secret service, just now, is the beginning the process of the Census population in Albania, that the government would use his Secret Service to make pressing to the Greek community for ethnic and religion self declaration.

Albania Press Review - January 22

Here are the top stories in Albania’s main newspapers.

SHQIP
Greece says it will help Albania compile a register of its population according to ethnicity and religion. The proposal has stirred debate in Tirana.

TEMA
Albania’s opposition leader Edi Rama said in an interview on Thursday that his party intends to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha through protests.

SHEKULLI
If opposition deputies do not end their parliamentary boycott they will be replaced, says the head of Albania’s Electoral Commission, Arben Ristani.

Eva Mendez to star as Maria Callas in “Greek Fire”

The story of Maria Callas, renowned Greek opera singer and Aristotle Onassis, the richest man of his time will be brought to life on screen in 2011. The film is based on the book, Greek Fire by Nicholas Gage, a Greek author who’s family comes from Epirus. The script has been developed by Jullian Fellowes, and will star Eva Mendez as Maria Callas.

The book, and soon to be film, unveils the scandalous love affair of Callas and Onassis and the significance the relationship plays on their lives. Gage is credited as one of the first investigative reporters and was the first to work on the Watergate scandal. He also reported for the NY Times. Through Gage’s expert eye, and extensive research we discover shocking information about Callas and Aristotle’s story. Now, to be translated onto film.

Gaumont, France’s leading film production and distribution company has paired up with producer, Nick Wechsler behind the movie. Gage will also be co-producing.

Gaumont CEO, Cristof Riandee explains the interest in working on this project, “This is a story of the impact that love can have on a star, Maria was so in love with Onassis that when their affair ended, she began to lose her voice, and there is a famous moment in Paris where she could not sing the third and fourth acts of an opera. Nick wanted to be more international, and we want to produce more U.S. movies. We have the same taste and have developed a very collaborative relationship, which is very important.”

Balkans Becoming Economically Freer, Says Index

| 21 January 2010 | By Sabina Niksic

Tirana

Albania has region’s freest economy, Bosnia the least free, while Bulgaria is sole country in region whose score has dropped. All but one country of the Balkans registered an improvement in economic freedom last year but the region still faces difficult challenges, notably corruption, political interference and excessive bureaucracy, according to the Index of Economic Freedom.

The index of 179 world nations is published annually by the Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation, and the regional details are announced by its strategic partner, the Adriatic Institute for Public Policy, an independent think tank.

Albania had the freest and Bosnia the least free economy in the region, the 2010 Index of Economic Freedom said, rating the two countries in 53rd and 110th position respectively.

The index measures economic freedom within 10 specific categories including business freedom, labour freedom, and government spending.

Despite its poor rating, Bosnia and Herzegovina registered “signifi¬cant improvements” in fiscal, investment and labour freedoms, the index said in its report. As the result, the country’s average economic freedom score was 56.2, which was 3.1 points higher than in 2009.

more see: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/25114/

Spanish PM on Greek initiative for W. Balkans

Spanish PM and EU Chairman Jose Luis Zapatero said in Strasbourg that “attention should be given” to a Greek initiative regarding Western Balkans.

The initiative envisages the EU accession of the countries in the region in 2014.

Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou has always advocated the positions which deserved to be heard. We will therefore give our attention to the initiative, Socialist Prime Minister Zapatero said after visiting the European Parliament in the eastern French town.

Zapatero, whose country will head the EU until July 1, also said that he wants to resolve quickly the dispute between the authorities in Skopje and Greece regarding the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Kosovo Albanians apply for biometric Serbian passports

20/01/2010

PRISTINA, Kosovo -- Many Kosovo Albanians have applied for biometric Serbian passports in order to benefit from visa free travel to EU member countries, local media reported on Tuesday (January 19th).

Serbia, FYROM and Montenegro were offered the privilege in mid-December, and a building run by Serb parallel structures in Gracanica, outside Pristina, is frequently visited by Albanians seeking Serb citizenship.

Pristina residents tell Klan Kosova TV that Serbian passports offer more opportunity for travel and that they are frustrated with empty promises of free movement.

Chaos in Tirana

Gramozi-Real Madrid football match , "Black Out" after first half

TIRANA-Black Out the 'National Stadium of Tirana, in the early part of the long-awaited second match Gramozi-Real Madrid.

The second part starts at 19:00, have already spent 50 minutes without power and footballers are back in rooms.

Vip tribuna learn that the stadium itself is present the Energy Minister Dritan Prifti. But many fans who packed the stadium have started nervous while awaiting the return of electricity and the rest of the match.

DSO of Energetic Corporate has sent specialists to the scene and are working to repair the defect, which appears only in areas around the stadium because there is energy.

The first match has ended in 1-1 draw.

Real Madrid To Play In Albania On Wednesday

Real Madrid will be paid over €2 million for playing a friendly in Tirana in midweek. Goal.com's Ashish Sharma reports from Madrid.

By Ashish Sharma

Jan 19, 2010 4:18:00 PM

Photo Gallery

Zoom

Florentino Perez, Real Madrid (Goal.com)

It's being nicknamed the Oil Cup, but Real Madrid may be about to pick up a trophy even before Barcelona in 2010. In fact, as early as Wednesday night. The Spanish giants are heading off for a bizarre trip to Albania on Wednesday to play in a one-off match for the Taci Oil International Cup.

The match was supposed to have taken place over the winter break, but did not go ahead then. Instead it now comes in midweek at the mid-way point of La Liga after a weekend in which Los Blancos saw Barcelona stretch their lead at the top to five points, following Real's loss to Athletic Bilbao.
http://goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2010/01/19/1752206/real-madrid-to-play-in-albania-on-wednesday
more see:

Obama’s First Year Positive

Alexi Giannoulias gives positive marks to the President on economy, foreign policy. “He reversed the Bush Administration’s attempt to force an unfair solution on the people of Cyprus”

New York.- By Apostolos Zoupaniotis

On November 4, 2008, election day, just few hours before the polls close, President Obama with some of his closest friends were relaxing playing basketball n Chicago. Among the 10 people in the court was the 32 year old Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Their acquaintance started almost a decade ago and became closer during Obama’s 2004 senatorial campaign. Giannoulias’ late father was one of the stronger supporters of the young African American dreamer, who repaid the gesture by strongly supporting Alexi’s bid.

Their strong relationship still continues, as Alexi is one of the few having the president’s personal cellular phone number and his personal email. On February 2, 2010, Giannoulias will run at the Democratic Primary for Obama’s senatorial seat. The polls give him a double digit margin over his opponents and hopefully, in the November election, he will double the number of Greek Americans in the U.S. Senate....

more see:http://www.greeknewsonline.com/?p=11739

Greek - Albanian Mourns Legendary Footballer

Greek - Albanian footballer, Panajot Pano, who passed away at the age of 71 in a Florida Hospital on Tuesday. In Wednesday’s cabinet meeting the Council of Ministers observed a minute of silence in his honor and Prime Minister Sali Berisha announced that on the day of his burial the government will officially declared national mourning.

“Pano’s death was a huge loss for Albanian football,” Berisha said, adding that he would be buried with state honors.

Pano (a Greek Vllah family origin) started his career as a goalkeeper in the Tirana youth academy but he became the most prolific striker of its arched-rival, Partizani. During his 18-year career he has played 24 matches with the Albanian national football team and was awarded in 2003 the Albanian UEFA Jubilee Award.

In March, Pano also received the order ‘Honor of the Nation’ from President Bamir Topi, Albania’s highest official recognition.

Athens response to FYROM suit

Greece on Tuesday filed its obligatory counter-memorial at the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) in relation to a suit brought by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM) over the 1995 "interim agreement" between Athens and the one-time Yugoslav province.

The counter-memorial was filed by Greece's agents at the proceedings, Amb. Georgios Savvaidis, foreign ministry legal counsel Maria Telalian and a team of ministry diplomats and legal experts assigned the case.

The counter-memorial lists, in detail and with accompanying documentation, Greece's legal arguments vis-?-vis the case, according to a foreign ministry press release on Tuesday. The ministry added that Greece's written response categorically rejects all of fYRoM's arguments, presenting legal, political and historical counter-arguments and points of reference.

Athens had been given a Jan. 20 deadline to file its counter-memorial, whereas fYRoM had filed its memorial by last July.

EU visas agreement

Sllavo - Macedonians spend around EUR 200,000 in Thessaloniki last weekend

Sllavo - Macedonian citizens have spent around EUR 200,000 in Greece during the last weekend, Skopie Kanal5 television reports.

Around 6,000 people have crossed the border to Greece. If each of these people has spent an average of EUR 50, then Sllavo - Macedonians have poured EUR 200,000 into the Greek stores. The mass trips to Greece are not something uncommon.

At almost all holidays and in the weekends, several thousands of Sllavo - Macedonians are heading to Thessaloniki. During the last two weekends, there is a serious increase in the number of Skopie citizens who go to Greece due to the record discounts offered at the Greek stores.

Computers with Greek characters in Albanian schools

The hope that the Albanian leadership will soon conduct an objective census under the supervision of the Council of Europe – which will include Greeks living in that country – was expressed by the Parliamentary Speaker Philippos Petsalnikos and the presidents of the Omonia organisation, Vassilis Bolanos (foto), and of the Human Rights Unity Party, Vangelis Doule.

It was stressed at the meeting, which took place in a very cordial climate, that the issue of documenting the size of the Greek minority in Albania was also a demand of the European Union, which always refers to the issue of human rights in its reports on the country’s progress towards potential EU accession.

World Security Network reporting from Sigmaringen, Germany, January 18, 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama: "What is on the score card one year later ?" On January 20 2009, the inauguration of the new President was an emotional celebration. Hundreds of thousands attended on the streets of Washington D.C. and billions of TV viewers around the globe watched euphorically, optimistically joining the feeling that a new era had begun. Hope, optimism and high expectations of a safer and better world were concentrated on one man and his family. So what is on the score card one year later? One impact is certain: the election of the first African-American President has already changed the image of the United States drastically. This effect has been generated by the President's public appearances in so-called "Town Hall Meetings" and by speeches carefully tuned to various audiences, like his speech on television addressing the people of Iran and his Cairo speech addressing the Muslim world. His Nobel Peace Prize was a result of his reach-out politics. On the other hand, there are critics who ask whether or not Obama relies too much 'soft' power. However, they miss the balance with 'hard' power - the second pillar of smart politics. Obama's critics are wrong to blame him for addressing all important domestic and foreign issues at once. In a globalized and interwoven world there is an urgent need for simultaneous political efforts. There is no way to isolate one issue and take time out for the rest. .....more.. www.worldsecuritynetwork.com

Albania PM Pans Opposition Boycott

Tirana | 18 January 2010 |

Sali Berisha

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha slammed the opposition on Monday for its continued boycott of parliament, as it gears for an extraordinary session to discuss recent flooding in Northern Albania.

Speaking at a meeting of the parliamentary group of his Democratic Party Berisha called the boycott a 'big mistake.'

“The opposition should take the place that it belongs in parliament,” Berisha said...........

more see: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/25057/

Albanian opposition to boycott emergency session

Lawmakers from the opposition Socialist Party (SP) plan to boycott Monday's (January 18th) extraordinary session of parliament, devoted to the aftermath of devastating floods in northern Albania. Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli sent an invitation to each individual lawmaker, explaining the importance of the discussions. She accused the opposition of manipulating the emergency situation for political reasons.

The SP said they would continue street protests against missteps by the government, including actions they say only exacerbated flooding in the Shkodra region. Opposition lawmakers have been boycotting the work of parliament since September, after their request for an investigation into the June general elections was ignored.

However, at least three SP members now say they will end their boycott in early March, saying it was the wrong move.

Genc Pollo: Brussels recommended, but the decision is ours

But according to politicians Pellumb Xhufi and Sabri Godo, the registration of population on ethnic grounds is a requirement of Greece, which requires the raise "artificially the number of Greeks in Albania to carry out the breakaway North Epirus Territory from Albania.

Registration of the population on ethnic grounds would not bring any problem for Albania, even though the number of minorities to rise artificially. Minister of State, Genc Pollo, who made a proposal of such registration argues that today, "Albania has guarantees of NATO, EU candidate status and bilateral treaties.

In his interview to newspaper "Shqip", Mr. Pollo also clarifies that a census on ethnic and religious grounds has been recommended by Brussels, but the decision is taken by the Albanian government, as well as responsibility for this decision. But, though convinced that the decision taken is right, Minister of State says that consultation will take place a half, before he received the final form.

But according to politicians Pellumb Xhufi and Sabri Godo, the registration of population on ethnic grounds is a requirement of Greece, which requires the raise "artificially" the number of Greeks in Albania to carry out the breakaway North Epirus Territory from Albania.

Still remains skepticism about Berisha government's decision to count the population, because according to analysts, this is a "karem" that Berisha use to avoid the crisis to leave his government, while he promised in 2005 to make it but still remain a propaganda risking the integration of the country in EU.

Albania Airlines plane makes emergency landing in Bratislava

An Albania Airlines plane flying from Albania to Italy made an emergency landing in Bratislava after experiencing a "technical problem" on Sunday evening, an Air Slovakia source told AFP.

An Albania Airlines plane flying from Albania to Italy made an emergency landing in Bratislava after experiencing a "technical problem" on Sunday evening, an Air Slovakia source told AFP.

He added the Albanian carrier had hired the plane from Air Slovakia.

"Some time after takeoff, they had a technical problem, so they decided to land in Bratislava because we have maintenance here," said the source, refusing to give his name.

He added technicians in Bratislava were still looking for a solution shortly before midnight (2300 GMT on Sunday).

Albanian media and an Albania Airlines spokesman said on Sunday the pilots of a Boeing 737 with 110 passengers on board, flying from Tirana to Bologna in Italy, diverted the plane towards Bratislava in protest against delayed salaries.

According to the Bratislava airport website, Flight LV 226 landed at 18:40 local time (1740 GMT).

The flightstats.com website said the plane was scheduled to land in Bologna at 16:30 (1530 GMT).

Rama: Shkodra, one more reason to remove Berisha

It is meeting today at around 11:00, the Assembly of the Socialist Party which had the topic of flooding in Shkodra and their cause. Socialist leader Edi Rama, said the flood of Shkodra is one more reason to protest against Berisha dictature.

"The Flooding feared an entire nation while the head of government Berisha, should shift Minister Dritan Prifti, but makes the opposite, and gave thanks him and other ministers for" good work they have done, "said Rama.

According to him, after the election robbery, prosecutors and courts blocked by fear of Sali Berisha, violations of media freedom and after the declaration of opposition as an alliance "punisto - mafia", are sufficient reasons to continue the protests.

Jeremić: Kosovo is Serbia’s Jerusalem

17 January 2010, The New York Times

NEW YORK -- Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, who was the Saturday profile in the New York Times this week, said that Kosovo is Serbia’s Jerusalem. Vuk Jeremić (FoNet archive) “The fact that this kind of fervent, pro-European politician in Serbia happens to have this position on Kosovo confuses a lot of people,” Jeremić said. “This place, Kosovo, is our Jerusalem; you just can’t treat it any other way than our Jerusalem,” he said. Jeremić did not say what Serbia would demand if the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules in its favor on the legality of Kosovo and forces the issue to return to the negotiation table. He said that the U.S. and its allies made a mistake before the declaration for proclaiming Kosovo independence, by substituting debates on the issue with an imposed solution. Their other big mistake, he said, was expecting Serbia simply to acquiesce to the loss of the province, cowed in the face of American and Western European recognition for Kosovo. “This energy we invested, you know, in going around the world, has surprised a lot of people,” Jeremić said. “A lot of people didn’t expect us to dare to try.” The Times noticed that Jeremić said been fighting for Kosovo very strongly, lobbying all around the world. In the last two years, he has visited 90 countries, while in 2009, he spent 700 in the air, traveling, the New York daily stated in its story on Serbia’s image change and its new face, the young minister Jeremić. Jeremić’s stridency on Kosovo has led his opponents to charge that he was a closet nationalist, talking one line when he was abroad and quite a different one at home in the Balkans. “Personally, I don’t think I’m a nationalist,” he said. “I’m half Bosnian and half Serb.” Jeremić sees his age, which many consider a weakness, as one of his assets. “When you’re young, and when you come and they see you for the first time, a lot of them are just kind of surprised. They say, ‘Who’s this kid?’ “That’s actually a good thing because it opens up their minds. They’re curious. They want to hear what you have to say to them because you’re different,” he said. Stating that President Tadić was once Jeremić’s high school teacher and is now his political mentor, the Times adds that the current Serbian government is Serbia’s “most Western-oriented” government it has ever had. The daily also states that Belgrade is aggressively making progress towards European Union membership and good relations with the U.S.

TV A1, Macedonia: DPA suggests new agreement between Macedonians and Albanian

Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) has suggested a new agreement between Macedonians and Albanians, Macedonian television station informs.

According to Menduh Thaci’s party the agreement aims at overcoming the problems in the country in a time when the deadlines for implementing the Ohrid Framework agreement have not been observed.

Thaci says the political agreement is the only way to find a solution to the big political and economic problems.

The "Colombia" of EUROPE

The following research and analysis, prepared in late 2008 and published in the magazine U.S. «Defense Foreign Affairs» in early 2009 and the website of the Foundation «Global Information System», based in Washington D.C.

"Foreign Affairs" 2009

Kosovo-STATE Mafia

Nine years completed by the start of NATO bombing against Serbia, when on March 24, 1999 without the approval of UN Security Council, hundreds of aircraft sowed death and destruction. In June of that year 37,200 foreign soldiers actually occupied Serbian province of Kosovo............continues

more see in Greek: http://www.spynews-gr.blogspot.com/