As Turkey front freezes, Israel looks to warming Balkan ties

Shared concerns about Turkey's radicalism leads to expanding ties and new opportunities for economic and security cooperation.

By Barak Ravid

Since its relations with Turkey crumbled over the past year, Israel has begun looking to the Balkan states for new friends and allies. The new initiatives extend to shared intelligence, joint military exercises and boosting tourism, officials say.

	Pro-Palestinian Turks demonstrating against Israel in Ankara, Turkey on June 6, 2010
	Photo by: AP

In the past year Israel has expanded relations with Greece and Bulgaria and upgraded its existing ties with Cyprus, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Croatia. These states share concerns about Turkey's new radicalism and world jihad's growing influence there and see new opportunities for economic, technical and security cooperation with Israel.

"They realized a great danger was in store for them and the issue rose in the talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov in January," a senior Israeli official said.

The botched Israeli raid on a Turkish flotilla increased Bulgaria's motivation for intelligence and defense cooperation with Jerusalem. Borisov and Netanyahu had three conversations with each other within two weeks following the action, intended to facilitate the release of two Bulgarian journalists who had been on board one of the ships, the official said.

Borisov suggested increasing military cooperation by enabling the Israeli Air Force to use Bulgaria's bases and air space for training. The first training session is due to be held soon.

............more see: http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/as-turkey-front-freezes-israel-looks-to-warming-balkan-ties-1.326903

Papandreou: No talks with Ankara over Aegean

ΑΝΑ-ΜPΑ/Prime Minister George Papandreou reiterated, from Parliament's podium on Friday, that there is no issue of co-exploitation in the Aegean Sea with neighbouring Turkey, in answer to a tabled question by Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) leader George Karatzaferis.

The premier noted that no such a discussion can be held with Turkey under the still existent threat of war (casus belli) issued in the 1990s by Turkey's assembly, "because our territorial rights are being disputed via incessant violations and infringements, and of course, because Turkey has not recognised the International Law of the Sea."ANA-MPa/

He also cited the fact that the issue of the Aegean's continental shelf has not been resolved based on international law and the International Court of The Hague.

SALES AFTER SALES........happening in Himara

Mafia wants to sell half of Dhermi and Palasa, Qeparo and Yale in Himare, without officially registering properties. Real estate company, data scandalous situation of land sales in Himara. Have priority, the tourist office in London.

An office of international real estate, makes propaganda to sale of tourist residences resorts in Drimades, Himara Region

Albanian Mafia, has entered deep into people of Himara families, members of which, abusing under the chaotic situation at the seaside property, land sale with the law 7501 doing without splitting them up first in the family inheritance generation.
The Law 7501 of Albanian legislation, prohibits the sale of agricultural lands and cutting of the olive tree, and it comes more complicated the problems, due to abuse of this form the Mafia, in cooperation with notary offices and registration of real estate, including the Albanian courts.

In 2011, OSCE, will start the registration process of lands and properties during the coastal Ionian area from Orikumi, to Ksamil near the Greek border. According to Communities, that are inhabitants of this region, needs that this registration process, must be made by old generation documents by authentic families.

Picture: The Web sites that propagates the sale of luxury villas in Drimades,
http://www.property-abroad.com/albania/listing/PA237-Dhermi_Riviera
http://www.albania-properties.co.uk/index.php?id=86
http://www.albania-properties.co.uk/index.php?id=114

The Adriatic's new star: Albania's unheralded coast is opening up to tourists and British home-buyers

By Gwenda Brophy

Albania is only a short, 45-mile hop from Italy across the Strait of Otranto — but it has always felt an age away.

Occasionally, one of our national teams plays Albania in an important football match and, yes, it was mentioned a lot for its unbridled adulation of the recently deceased comedian Norman Wisdom. But that’s about it.

However, the Balkan nation has been hiding a few secrets, not least its miles of beautiful Adriatic and Ionian coastline, and a landscape of soaring mountain ranges.

Now the country is about to open up to foreign investment, while the Albanian tourism ministry reports fast-growing numbers of overseas visitors.

A coast with potential: The Albanian resort of Saranda has new developments at bargain prices

British Airways has regular flights to the capital, Tirana, which take around three hours, and the international airport has been upgraded.

‘Multi-nationals are setting up businesses in and around the capital, resulting in a need for good-quality housing for locals and expatriates — and making Tirana’s property market of particular interest to overseas investors,’ says Bernard Ellis, 90MD of British-based property company Albanian Acquisitions.

The city also has several universities and academies, ‘which give it a young population and a buzzing vibrant feel,’ says Ellis.

There is a vast new project on Tirana Lake, where Rotterdam-based architects MVRDV are planning to create new areas including an extensive lakeshore drive. A chain of parks around the lake will be the setting for homes, terraces, outside public pools, play areas — and bridges to walk over a planned ‘blue cloud’ of Jacaranda trees.,,,,,,,,,,........................

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-1333254/The-Adriatics-new-star-Albanias-unheralded-coast-opening-tourists-British-home-buyers.html

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-1333254/The-Adriatics-new-star-Albanias-unheralded-coast-opening-tourists-British-home-buyers.html#ixzz16OMkFu7I

Property Row Heightens Albania's Social Tensions

Disturbances in the south blamed on government's longstanding failure to deal with property disputes inherited from the Communist era.

Besar Likmeta

Tirana

Riots in villages in the south of Albania are being blamed on the government's failure to sort out the issue of properties that were confiscated under the Communist regime.

"For the last 20 years, the political class has applied its own laws and transferred land to people who were not legitimate owners," said Agim Toro, head of Property with Justice, an organisation that protects the interests of families expropriated by Albania's Communist regime. "Not only is there a lack of strategy but mistakes continue to be made [by authorities] that shock the public," Toro added.

Police have been called to several protests in recent months in the village of Dukat and the town of Orikum in southern Albania, where residents have rioted with stones and thrown Molotov cocktails. Although 14 people were arrested last week after the latest clash, the villagers remain adamant in their demands.

Arion Sulo, editor of the daily newspaper MAPO, said the disturbances in Dukat and elsewhere stemmed from the failure of government agencies to resolve property rights issues.

"Italian investors now plan to build a wind farm in the area and local developers have plans for tourist resorts, while the rightful owners get nothing, which creates tension," Sulo explained.

Until the collapse of the Communist regime in 1991, all property in Albania was owned by the state, which confiscated it from its previous owners at the advent of the regime, nearly half-a-century before.

After the fall of Communism, the government moved to return these properties to their former owners but the process has often lacked transparency and was marred by corruption.

According to Property with Justice, the commission tasked with returning the property and compensating the owners, AKKP, has been blocked for years and has yet to deal with about 8,000 claims.

Even when cases find resolution, there is still no guarantee that the owners will ever get their property back, or be compensated for by the government, the group says.

The association notes that over 400 cases have been filed by former property owners in Strasbourg because the government had not returned or not compensated them for their property, even after the AKKP recognized their claims.

"The government has written to Strasbourg saying it's impossible to fulfill these claims because it risks collapse," Toro said. He added out that the problem had become serious enough for Brussels to rank property rights as "one the main problems that the country faces in its accession process with the European Union".

'Wikileaks documents show Turkey helped al-Qaida'

By JPOST.COM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS

Report: Documents expected to be leaked allege that Turkey allowed citizens smuggle weapons into Iraq, US helped Kurdish terrorists.

Wikileaks is planning to release files that show Turkey has helped al-Qaida in Iraq, according to London-based daily Al-Hayat. The newspaper also reported that the US helped the PKK, a Kurdish rebel organization. One of the documents, a US military report, reportedly charges Turkey with failing to control its borders, because Iraqi citizens residing in Turkey provided al-Qaida with supplies to build bombs, guns and ammunition. RELATED: US warns of harm from impending WikiLeaks release Analysis: Lies, leaks, death tolls & statistics A Wikileaks administrator also told Al-Hayat that the site needs Turks to volunteer to translate documents about Turkey's role in the war in Iraq and its bid for EU membership. Other documents show that the US has supported the PKK, which has been waging a separatist war against Turkey since 1984 and has been classified by the State Department as a terrorist organization since 1979. The US military documents call the PKK "warriors for freedom and Turkish citizens," and say that the US set free arrested PKK members in Iraq. The documents also point out that US forces in Iraq have given weapons to the PKK and ignored the organization's operations inside Turkey. On Wednesday, the Obama administration said that it had alerted Congress and begun notifying foreign governments that the WikiLeaks website is preparing to release sensitive US diplomatic files that could damage US relations with friends and allies across the globe. Officials said the documents may contain everything from accounts of compromising conversations with political dissidents and friendly politicians to disclosures of activities that could result in the expulsion of US diplomats from foreign postings. US diplomatic outposts around the world have begun notifying other governments that WikiLeaks may release these documents in the next few days...................more see:....... http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=196752

Generals Cham and Orthodox together, were convicted of conspiring to create the autonomy for Northern Epirus

The cooperation of the General Teme Sejko, to topple the government of Enver Hoxha, in a lecture at the University of Hawardit in 1981

Vassilios Kyranis, criticizes the official Greek policy, which has helped the dictator Enver Hoxha, to the detriment of the Greek Community

The role of Nikita Khrushov to suport the Northern Epirus Authonomy, during his visit in Albania in 1959

In late May and early June of 1959, general secretary of the Communist Party and Prime Minister of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) Sergejevic Nikita Khrushchev visited Albania and closely observed the grecittation-Northen Epirus. So in 1960, received in audience by the President of the Liberal Party, the late Sofoklis Venizellos (1892-1964), accepted the proposal of the last to be declared autonomy of Northern-Epirus and was promised it would bring the matter to Congress of the Communist Party in Romania, Bucharest Meeting on 20 June 1960, which were invited all the leaders of communist parties in Eastern Europe.

The agreement between Venizellos and Khrushchev, agrees Hoxha who never went to Congress. At that time, in Northern-Epirus unfortunate tragic event took place. The Albanian government within three days of mass arrests began in the province of Northern Epirus arrest of high officials Christian and Mohammedans, and senior officers of the Albanian army, doctors, lawyers, senior officials of the state.

Most of those arrested died turturat. In the months May-June 1961 was held in Tirana a session of court-parody. Among those arrested were Gizelis Ilias (Gjyzelis), Spiros Ekonomu, Aleksandhros Kalivopullos, Filipos Papas, Evangjellos Zahos, Athanasios Gerxos, Theodhoros veto Topic Sejko, Taho Sejko, Avdul Resuli, Tahir Demi, and many detainees were charged tjerë.The insurgency where under accuse for prepare the autonomy in Vorio-Epirus and many of them were sentenced to death.

This ugly act shook the hearts of people Vorio-Epirotes. On top of this "conspiracy" was the commander of the Albanian coastal forces (naval combat) Lieutenant General Teme Sejko. If with real detainees and prisoners tried to release the Northern-Epirus, this is a document that they where Greeks in that country, who lost their language and religion once, they knew their Greek origin (Greek and Albanian-speakers in Northern Epirus,) collaborated to liberate their homeland, was suffering under the rule of Albania, because they forget that we are all brothers and sons of Greece and Epirote).

http://www.scribd.com/doc/10088983/Northern-Epirus-Through-the-Centuries-Lecture-%20in-Harvard%20University

Macedonia Arrest Leaves Albanian Opposition Red-Faced

Latest revelations in the so-called 'spy files' affair are likely to boost the political ascendancy among Macedonian Albanians of the governing Democratic Union for Integration, DUI.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje

Macedonia's Albanian political scene was in turmoil after police on Tuesday said they had arrested a former senior officer, Hisen Musliu, suspected of fabricating secret police files naming leaders of the ruling Democratic Union of Integration, DUI, as spies.

The DUI is the largest ethnic Albanian party in Macedonia and is a junior partner in government with the centre-right VMRO-DPMNE of Nikola Gruevski.

But what caused consternation among Albanians, one-quarter of the country's population, were police claims that Musliu had confessed to working for the DUI’s bitter rival, the smaller Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA.

"This will strengthen the DUI’s domination [of the Macedonian Albanian bloc] as it portrays them as victims of a political set-up," Marko Trosanovski, a communications and marketing expert from the Institute for Democracy think tank, said.

Police said that the incriminating material found at Musliu’s home included four alleged secret police dossiers naming DUI leaders, including party head Ali Ahmeti, as former Yugoslav and Serbian spies in the 1980s and 1990s.

"After this, the DUI can count on strengthening its already high level of support among [Macedonian] Albanians, although this will not necessarily attract sympathy votes from the general public," Trosanovski added.

He believes some members of the public will probably suspect that the DUI used its position in power to lean on the police.

Macedonia's "spy files" affair erupted last month after anonymous persons handed in four dossiers to the country's Lustration Commission, a body tasked with purifying the public administration of former communist spies.

The DUI immediately suspected that the affair was of the DPA’s making, while the Commission refused to probe the four files, arguing that they were photocopies and that they needed the originals in order to launch an investigation.

Imer Ismaili, a political science professor at the University of South-Eastern Europe, based in Tetovo, western Macedonia, said the police action had left the DPA red-faced.

"The DPA leadership has acted irresponsibly and this shows them in a very bad light, pulling dirty tricks to discredit their political opponents," he told Balkan Insight.

But Trosanovski predicts that the DPA will hold onto its core supporters who will feel reassured by the claims of party leaders, flatly denying the police's claims.

Recent opinion polls show the DUI enjoys the support of about 9 per cent of voters, more than double the support that the DPA enjoys. Ali Ahmeti remains by far the most popular politician in the Albanian bloc.

Former Albania government aide to stand trial in US on murder, drug trafficking charges

The Associated Press

TIRANA, Albania - Albanian authorities say they have handed over a former government aide to stand trial in the United States on murder, kidnapping and racketeering charges.

A police spokeswoman says 28-year-old Almir Rrapo was handed to officers from the U.S. Marshals Service early Wednesday. Courts approved the transfer despite claims by Rrapo's lawyers that he could face the death penalty if extradited.

The former senior aide to Albania's deputy prime minister was arrested in July following a U.S. request. Rrapo is accused of being part of an international crime organization that engaged in murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, robbery, arson and other crimes, mostly in the New York area.

Continues the anti Hellenic situation in Albania

'Boboshtitsa', Charges to OMONIA's leader in Korca, Naum Disho

Prosecutor's Office announced today that Chairman Korca branch of OMONIA, Naum Disho, and two other collaborators Luan Zace and Alqi Koroveshi, committed illegal activities, in Boboshtitsa cemetery.

The press statement of the Prosecutor of Korce stated that "In October 2010, in the village Boboshticë, in the district of Korca, the defendant committed of the illegal works, not obtain construction by competent authorities in the old cemetery of this village, located within the territory of Saint-Mary's Church in this village "

From investigations made show that the defendants have expanded the basis of the cross, and created a path between this cross and the location of bells, are violated some of the graves of this village, which were excavated and then covered in concrete.

Kosovo: election promises for union with Albania

Kosovo: election promises for union with Albania

November 24, 2010.

"The Return of the movement« Vetëvendosje "('Self determination), was in active politics by joining in reported registered political parties in Kosovo, which will participate in the elections on December 12, 2010. The party, which previously was an expression of nationalist Albanians against foreign presence in Kosovo, has attracted the interest of the German press, especially the German journalist Norbert Mappes-Niedieck », says today the Albanian TV 'Channel TOP '.

Niedieck has interviewed the leader of the party of 'Self Determination' Albin Kurti.

In this conversation Albanian Kurti explained that the 'Self' is not against the international presence in Kosovo.

But do not hesitate to declare to the interview - according to the Albanian-channel that promises to undertake the union of Kosovo with Albania.

"The Albanians in the Balkans constitute a single nation. The border between Kosovo and Albania have been installed by force, "said Kurti to the German journalist.

The "Self determination" exercise in political campaign in Kosovo, trying to extract part of the electorate is in favor the idea of union of Kosovo with Albania and the creation of so-called 'Greater Albania'.

http://www.top-channel.tv/artikull.php?id=198384

Italian journalist claims NATO deposits toxic waste along Adriatic

Croatian Times

NATO is disposing of bombs and missiles in the Adriatic sea, with toxic waste potentially reaching Croatian and Italian shores, an Italian journalist has warned. Gianni Lannes claims that NATO and the Italian government are not telling the truth when claiming that these materials - bombs and missiles not used during military missions - are deposited in six pre-determined zones. Lannes says that in reality, there are 24 such zones which lie not only in international waters but also within Croatian and Italian state borders.

These zones span the Adriatic from Trieste in the north to Santa Maria di Leuce in the south. The article warns of the existence of a large arsenal just fifty miles from Istrian shores. World War II bombs and bombs used by NATO during the bombing of Serbia in 1991 are said to have been deposited there. The concentration of mustard gas, phosphorus and other poisonous chemicals is frightening, Lannes warns. He calls the deposits "mobile arsenals of death" as they are susceptible to water currents. Italy has recently noted a large number of turtle and dolphin deaths.

The Italian state agency Icram - which has been monitoring the phenomenon – says that many of the carcasses found contain burns and deep wounds. Lanne’s book based on his investigations is coming out soon, the daily Jutarnji List writes.

Jihadist wanted by FBI lives openly in Kosovo

Nov 24, 2010

The United States considers lumberjack Bajram Asllani one of its most wanted men but, because of Kosovo’s unusual international status, it is unable to extradite ands interrogate him.

Unlike others on the “most wanted” list, Asllani is not hiding out in a distant desert or rugged mountain range.

The 30-year-old lives openly with his family in Kosovo, a pro-American Balkan country where about 800 U.S. soldiers help preserve a fragile peace between majority ethnic Albanians and minority Serbs, formerly the territory’s rulers.

A friendly local policeman even pointed the way to his street when a journalist recently tried to find Asllani’s home in Mitrovica, one of the country’s largest cities.

Asllani’s case is caught up in the hybrid legal system of

Kosovo, whose own weak judicial system leaves European Union judges and prosecutors to handle major cases involving terrorism and war crimes.

Bajram Asllani, 30, wanted by the FBI for allegedly conspiring to engage in violent jihad, is interviewed in his house in Mitrovica November 19, 2010. The United States considers lumberjack Asllani one of its most wanted men but, because of Kosovo's unusual international status, it is unable to extradite and interrogate him.

Kosovo, whose independence nearly three years ago has been recognised by many countries, wants to join the European Union one day but remains an international protectorate more than a decade after its war for liberation from Serbia.

The FBI “Wanted” poster on the internet (here) has complicated life for Asllani, who lives on state unemployment benefits for his wife and three children of just 75 euros ($100) a month.

“I lost my job and there are times when I don’t have enough to feed my children,” he said after offering a guest a glass of strawberry juice in his ramshackle house.

“No one is hiring me. They tell me: you are a terrorist, you have attacked the Americans.”

The FBI wanted poster reads: “Bajram Asllani is an alleged co-conspirator with a group of eight individuals in the United States who were allegedly co-conspiring to engage in violent jihad, or holy war, and to raise money for mujihadeen, or warriors engaged in violent jihad.”

Asllani, a Kosovar Albanian, was arrested in June but released after EU judges rejected a U.S. request for his extradition.

The EU judges found that the United States had not provided sufficient grounds for believing that Asllani had committed the offences, and also cited the absence of an extradition accord between Washington and Pristina.

Albanian paradoxes, have no end......

SManalysis

A NATO member and EU candidacy aspiration Albania, promotes Tourism, without to give the right of Citizens to have their private Boats

Albania launches Cultural Marketing Strategy to Promote Rich Cultural Heritage and drive tourism development, without proper legislation Navy marine, blocking of 5 years freedom of movement in the maritime border.

The United Nations Joint Programme on Culture and Heritage for Social and Economic Development in Cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports launched Albania's Culture Marketing Policy Paper, its action plan for Implementation and Recently Developed marketing tools.

Prepared by the Tourism Development International (TDI), an Irish Consultancy Group, the policy paper to project AIMSA Albania internationally as a country with an outstanding Wealth in terms of Cultural Heritage Assets and tourism potential. The conference Brough Together representatives of the New Government, the United Nations.

But on the one hand, Albania launches Cultural Marketing Strategy to Promote Rich Cultural Heritage and drive tourism development, on the other hand populism remains written on paper, since without proper legislation Navy marine, blocking of 5 years freedom of movement in maritime border, can not claim to be elite in the field of tourism.

The government of Sali Berisha, the successor of Socialists of Fatos Nano, have blocked the law from the parliament, all private marine resources, and do not allow tourist activity, for the 400 km length of coast, so as long, how to change this decision Parliament, on the other hand, the country is a member of NATO and sees the future European perspective.

Anti-Immigrant Political Party Issues Image of Naked Models

More news stories on Europe

Nick Squires, Telegraph (London)

A Right-wing political party in Switzerland has produced a provocative anti-immigration campaign in which a photograph of naked young models wading into Lake Zurich is contrasted with an image of headscarf-wearing Muslim women bathing in filthy water.

The campaign is meant to warn the Swiss of what could happen to the country if it allows greater immigration.

It comes as the Alpine nation prepares to vote on whether immigrants who commit serious crimes should be automatically expelled.

The online campaign was produced by a regional branch of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), the largest in parliament and the country’s biggest political force.

The first image shows a rear view of four young women holding hands and standing in the shallows of Lake Zurich.

The second shows a group of elderly women, possibly Albanians or Bosnians, wearing headscarves and smoking as they immerse themselves in muddy water. It is supposed to represent a vision of Switzerland 20 years from now.

A spokeswoman for the SVP told The Daily Telegraph that the controversial images had been created by party activists in Wohlen, west of Zurich, and would not be adopted nationally.

Switzerland will hold a referendum next week in which voters can decide whether foreigners who have been found guilty of murder, rape, drugs trafficking and other serious offences should be deported.

The expulsion initiative was put forward by the SVP, which has won support by capitalising on fears about foreigners, who currently make up more than a fifth of Switzerland’s population of 7.7 million.

Recent polls show that 54 per cent of Swiss voters would vote in favour of the measure while 43 per cent are against it.

The federal Justice Ministry has warned that a “yes” vote on Nov 28 could bring Switzerland into conflict with international obligations such as the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion or nationality.

Switzerland drew international condemnation last year after voters backed a ban, proposed by the SVP, on the construction of new minarets.

The party also caused outrage with a poster showing a group of white sheep kicking a black sheep off the Swiss flag.

In Athens, the Albanian Chief Army

General Maksim Malaj will be accompanied by General Secretary of Foreign Ministry to discuss for new negotiation of maritime border.

The Chief of the Albania Armed Forces General Major Maksim MALAJ, will make an official visit to Greece from 23 to 25 November 2010, invited by the Greek Chief of General Staff, Air Force General John Yangon.

General Major Maksim MALAJ, will hold talks with the Greek Chief of General Staff on military issues of mutual interest and prospects for further development of military cooperation between the two countries.

But other sources said for SManalysis that, General Malaj will be accompanied by high senior officials of Foreign Ministry of Albania, headed by General Secretary Gazment Turdiu, to re - negotiate again the Maritime Border of Ionian Coast, Albania - Greece, contested by the Constitutional Court of Albania.

One month ago, asked by media about re - negotiation of agreement of Maritime border by Tirana and Athens, the Albanian President Bamir Topi, said that: "The agreement would sent to the International Court to resolve".

Number of Kosovo Candidates Under Probes Causes Concern

Kosovo's Election Commission says candidates can only be disqualified from December's poll if they have been found guilty.

Petrit Collaku

Pristina

Senior international actors and Kosovo-based organisations have criticised the number of politicians running for office in December's general election who are under suspicion of offences ranging from war crimes to corruption.

One member of the Central Election Commission, Fadil Maloku, voted against last Thursday's decision of the Commission to certify the candidates' list, saying they should have awaited the legal outcome facing some of the candidates under investigation. "The law has been violated. Candidates have been certified without any decision or opinion from the legal office," Maloku said.

The head of the Commission, Valdete Daka, disputed this, saying the law only banned candidates who had been found guilty of criminal offences, not people under probes. "No candidates can be certified if they've been found guilty of a criminal offence... in the past three years," Daka explained.

Two of the ten top candidates of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, the party of the Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, are under criminal investigation. One is the Minister of Transport, Fatmir Limaj. He has been under an investigation by the EU rule-of-law mission, EULEX, since April 2010, suspected of corruption.

The other is Azem Syla, a former Kosovo Liberation Army commander. He has also been under a EULEX investigation since a self-declared assassin, Nazim Blaca, mentioned his name in November 2009 when he went public over his crimes.

Blaca admitted having once worked for Kosovo's unofficial secret service, SHIK, and mentioned several names in connection with SHIK's activities, including Syla's. Limaj and Syla and four and fifth respectively on the PDK's list of candidates.

Thaci's party is not the only one with candidates facing possible trial. The leader of the opposition Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, leads his party's list in December although he is awaiting re-trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, ICTY, in The Hague.

Another party leader seeking a seat in parliament in December is the former speaker of the Kosovo assembly, Nexhat Daci, head of the Democratic League of Dardania. On November 10, a Pristina court found him guilty of abusing his official post and gave him an 18 months' suspended jail sentence.

Andy Sparkes, deputy head of EULEX, said that while everyone accepted the principle that people were innocent until proven guilty, the selection of some candidates sent an unfortunate signal.

"Where it's known that someone is under an investigation or judicial procedure, it would be better and more honourable, and better for the reputation of Kosovo, if they didn't present themselves for public office until they had cleared their names," Sparkes said.

Avni Zogiani, head of the anti-corruption organisation Cohu, said that the judicial system in Kosovo was too corrupt to keep people with criminal records out of pubic life. "Where is the ethics in our society today?" he asked.

Albanian National Secret Services requires budget: Government to give us money, we do not have money to agents

Director of NIS: The Secret Service, does not guarantee protection of the sovereignty of Albania

Chairman of the National Intelligence Service yesterday asked the help by the committee members of Albanian Parliament, to increase the budget laws of this institution for the year 2011, because otherwise can not perform tasks that were given to guarantee the national security of the country, the newspaper "Shekulli" writes.

One of the main concerns of the Albanian intelligence leader Bahri Shaqiri, is the insufficiency of funds to reward the sources of information. "There is no budget to cover travel expenses for agnets and sent to services", - said Bahri Shaqiri to the commission. Another major concern according to the head of SIS is the establishment of the Center of eavesdropping after the allocated budget can not build the new center.

http://www.shekulli.com.al/2010/11/23/shish-kerkon-rritje-te-buxhetit-qeveria-te-na-jape-para-nuk-punojme-dot.html

No deal on Aegean borders, Turkish PM says

Monday, November 22, 2010

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. AA photo

Reports in the Greek media that Turkey had agreed to allow Greece to expand its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea were denied Monday by the Turkish prime minister.

“There is nothing like an agreement that has been reached on the 12 miles [issue]. The talks are still underway with Greece,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told reporters Monday.

The Greek newspaper To Vima had reported that an agreement was reached between Turkey and Greece, with Ankara accepting that Greece would expand its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea from six nautical miles to 12.

Such an agreement is out of the question at the moment and, if one were ever to be reached, would be announced in a joint statement by both parties, Erdoğan said. “Authorized people continue with talks,” he added. “We will make a necessary statement if they reach a specific point.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Monday, however, that there had been progress in talks concerning the territorial-waters dispute.

Turkey and Greece have achieved progress in good faith during exploratory talks on the issue, Davutoğlu told reporters Monday in response to a question, noting that the talks between Turkey and Greece are confidential. “It’s not appropriate to go into details on the issue. We give importance to continuing the talks in good faith and determination,” he said.

Citing an international maritime agreement, Greece claims its territorial waters should be extended to 12 nautical miles from the current six miles. Turkey has not signed the agreement in question and has thus far refused to accept the Greek claim. ........more see:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkish-premier-conditions-reciprocity-principle-to-open-ports-to-greek-cypriots-2010-11-22

Albania again at a Crossroads

The Opposition launches massive protest on 26 November

Berisha: We will start the visa celebrations declared December holiday month

Removing the Schengen visa area continues to be a source of joy for Prime Minister Sali Berisha who is not satisfied with the concert organized in Tirana last week, but announced the coming months, as month celebration. The decision is taken exactly at the moment when the opposition has decided to protest on 26 November, the decision adverse to the candidate status and to investigate past elections. Instead of anti-rallies we saw years the majority has chosen another form response, celebration and decoration of the city. The head of government has ordered all municipalities to beautify their cities to celebrate as he said many parties, starting with the flag on November 28 and then the day of free movement, Christmas and New Year.

The Opposition: Massive protests in all Albania
Ngjela: Started from the city of Elbasan on 26 November

UPDATE-Opposition announces launch of massive protests by the city of Elbasan. During a statement to the media, the leader of the Movement for Freedom and Justice, Spartak Ngjela speaking on behalf of the United Opposition said that the first city that will mark the opening of the protests will be Elbasan on 26 November. Ngjela has indicated that the protests will be aimed at investigating the election as required by the PS, after Prime Minister did not return answers about new bid on the opposition. "Protesting the only way to exit the country from the crisis, as the country is caught in the crisis overall," he said.

Around 8,000 Serbs seek asylum in EU in 2010, minister reveals

Nov 22, 2010

Belgrade - More than 8,000 Serbs have this year claimed asylum in European Union countries, Belgrade's Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said Sunday, according to local media.

Many were bogus asylum seekers, Dacic said, hoping to leave the Balkan country for economic reasons.

Sweden alone had received 6,000 applications, whilst roughly 2,000 had applied to Germany.

Many of the applications for asylum came from the Roma community in the north of Serbia, whilst there were also some from ethnic Albanians in the south.

Serbia is not an EU member state, but earlier this year joined the Schengen zone of visa-free travel.

Dodik Says Bosnia “Irreversibly Divided”

Nov 22, 2010

Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country ‘irreversibly divided’ along ethnic lines, Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik told a Serbian paper Monday, 15 years after a peace deal ended the country’s inter-ethnic war in the 1990s.

“Bosnia is divided in an irreversible way” and “[the international community] will eventually get tired and understand that they are trying to bring together something that cannot be brought together,” Dodik told the Vecernji Novosti daily.

“They cannot build a [united] Bosnia without taking into account Serbs and Croats. I am convinced that this project, after all these years, is failing.”

“Fifteen years since the Dayton [peace agreement] it is clear that this attempt has failed,” Dodik said.

The peace deal reached in Dayton, Ohio, Nov. 21, 1995, ended the 1992-1995 war between Bosnia’s Croats, Muslims and Serbs.

It left the former Yugoslav republic split into two semi-autonomous halves–the Serb-run Republika Srpska and the Muslim Croat Federation.

The two entities are linked by weak central institutions while each has its own government.

The international community, notably the European Union, wants Bosnia and Herzegovina’s central institutions to be strengthened in order to implement reforms needed for the country’s integration in Europe.

Dodik, a former powerful Bosnian Serb prime minister, is opposing any strengthening of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s joint institutions at the expense of his entity’s autonomy.

However, while being sworn as Bosnian Serb president earlier this month, Dodik softened his nationalist rhetoric and called for inter-ethnic dialogue and a “basic consensus,” with the country’s Croats and Serbs.

November 22, 2010

More Migrants Seek Asylum in Macedonia

While many Macedonians seek a better life in Western Europe, the number of people seeking refuge in Macedonia is also growing.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje

This year alone, 94 foreign nationals have sought political asylum in Macedonia, Macedonian police say.

Last year this number was 60.

Most, 46, came from Afghanistan, where Macedonia has troops stationed as part of the NATO ISAF force. Another 22 were Palestinian.

Others came from Sudan, Somalia, Iraq and Algeria. Three were from neighbouring Kosovo.

Macedonia was not these people’s first choice as a country of asylum, police said.

"Most come to Macedonia after being rejected by another Western European country," Ivo Kotevski told Balkan Insight.

"They see Macedonia as a temporary refuge before they attempt to enter the EU again."

more ....www.balkaninsight.com

Attack on journalist in Southern Albania

In a further example of the fragile state of press freedom in Albania, a regional journalists' union leader was beaten up by two men last weekend.

One of the men who attacked Piro Nase, a reporter for the newspaper Panorama, shouted at him: "Let's see if you will be more careful what you write after tonight."

Nase, who also works for TV Planet, heads the Gjirokastra branch of the Albanian Union of Journalists.

In condemning the attack, Oliver Vujovic, secretary general of the South and East Europe Media Organisation, said: "This was a criminal act...

"The press freedom situation in Albania remains distressing; the repeated occurrences of vicious physical attacks on journalists, such as this one, are particularly troubling."

Dozens of responses to the article "The Elephant of Northern Epirus (Epirus) still sleeps!"

Petro Marko for Himara: "Himara with Albania is as if to say, is heavy tail more than ax"

Photo: Staffan De Mistura

For more accurate information for readers SManalysis, must add that: Just in July of 1990, Petro Marko, visited Staffan De Mistura, the UN special envoy for the crisis of refugees who were attacked Western embassies in Tirana. Inter alia on the political situation in Albania, at the end of the fall of the Berlin Wall, De Mistura, was interested to know the opinion of Petro Marko about the relationship Albania Greece and the situation it was found in Northern Epirus and the Greek minority, after more than 40 years of persecution. Petro Marko's response was that: "Northern Epirus resembles a giant elephant, which one day will wake up from sleep, after Albania to join with Kosovo." Petro Marko used the other words while also an interesting epithet was to Himara, in which made a strange comparison. "Himara with Albania is as if to say, is heavy tail more than ax." Petro Marko, William & George Tenet and Pyrros Dhimas, are honorary citizen of the Municipality of Himara.

PM Berisha at NATO summit: Albania joins in NATO’s new strategic concept

21. November 2010. | 08:44

Source: Emg

PM Berisha in his speech delivered to the summit said Albania joins in the NATO’s new Strategic Concept, the most sweeping NATO reform, its role and mission in the 21-st century.

Leaders of NATO's 28 nations have begun discussions in Lisbon, Portugal today and approved the NATO’s new strategic concept.

Along with the heads of states and governments of the NATO member countries were invited senior EU officials like Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council and Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.

PM Berisha in his speech delivered to the summit said Albania joins in the NATO’s new Strategic Concept, the most sweeping NATO reform, its role and mission in the 21-st century.

Further on, PM Berisha appreciated highly the NATO decisive role for prevention of genocide and promotion of peace and stability in the Balkans. And he also ensured the member countries that Albania will continuo to take part actively and support all the Alliance peace missions and also support NATO facing new security threats over the Euro-Atlantic space as well as over a wider area.

The prime minister emphasized that Albania considers the further enlargement of the Alliance with new members in the region like a quite important development for the security of our region and said that Albania is determined to make a contribution to the process.

The prime minister said that during the current year, Albania has a continuing commitment to Afghanistan and has put a new dimension in proportion to its potential to the alliance's military campaign there while it is working for a further increase of its presence.

We are determined to upgrade further our armed forces so that to be able to respond and take part in the NATO missions wherever the need arises, said PM Berisha.

Deepening division in the Greek community in Albania. Both parties aim to employ militants, losing the perspective for important geopolitical events in the near future

Mega, the new Greek Party, anti-HURP and OMONIA's

"The Union of Human Rights has gone bankrupt, has closed its political cycle". The statement was made by her former deputy general Thoma Mico who introduced today a new party of minority representative. "Mega is the party which will constitute the only road station and the Greek minority", Mico said,

He issued strong charges against HURP and OMONIA-s, which according to him have divided the Greek minority in Albania. "Before OMONIA was founded 20 years with the same aspirations and further HURP, which instead of divided us. Later we broke up in PS and PD, and further in the patriot and traitors", said Mico

It should be an absolutely, representing the Greek minority of OMONIAS, he went on, and stated that Mega minority will be a continuation of OMONIA's real. As far as local elections nearby future, new party announced it would stand alone, while the Mega's membership has reached 3000 members.

Greek Community, needs new vision for the next geopolitical developments on the region

Photo: New Party "Self determination"calls Albanian politic parties in Kosovo to be unite with Albania

SManalysis

Greeks in Albania, continue to remain without the necessary political orientation, to the geopolitical future of the region. Remaining as an element of exploitation for electoral purposes like Athens and Tirana, the unknown perspective, has forced many members of the Greek community, to immigrate within Albania being shifted from the South in capital Tirana, having thus, the possibility of employment in state offices. On the other hand, Athens, sees the Greek element in Albania, as demagogic instrument to call for violation of the human rights in the minority area saving as usually an important role of the economic Hellenic interests in Albania. The Indifference of Athens, has reached its peak when a few months after in Himare, was killed a member of the Greek community, Athens led the new offer to Tirana, to the detriment of interests of Northern Epirus, the adoption of maritime agreement between Greece and Albania. With this moving, no diplomatic but close contradictory interests of foreign policies in Athens, the Greek element in Northern Epirus, is oriented in the wrong way, for the future of their children. It's worrying, is the reason that the community should take important decisions, outside the interests of Athens and Tirana, in cooperation with the diaspora community in the United States of America, as important actors in the geopolitical developments in our region, but directly connected with vital interests such as properties, management issues and economic resources of autonomous region, not forgetting the historical background of international agreements.