 The USA has a naval base in Souda Bay, Crete. |
Athens will let NATO forces use military bases in Greece for operations in Libya after the United Nations approved the imposition of a no-fly zone over the North African country, the government appeared to decide on Friday.
Sources said that following a meeting between Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas and Defense Minister Evangelos Venizelos and consultation with Prime Minister George Papandreou, it was decided that Greece would not take part in any military operations but would be willing to provide support for humanitarian needs or to help patrol the Mediterranean to ensure arms are not smuggled into Libya.
Greece, however, does appear willing to allow NATO forces to use bases in the country to be used for operations in Libya, where Colonel Muammar Gadhafi’s forces have been pushing back pro-democracy rebels over the past few days before announcing a ceasefire yesterday.
The two options for NATO if it wishes to use bases in Greece are at Aktio in the west of the country, where AWACS aircraft that carry long-range radars can take off from, or at Souda in Crete. Two US KC-135 planes, known as Stratotankers, which are used for midair refueling, are already at Souda, as is an American C-130 plane and a French C-160 cargo plane. The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge docked at the naval base in northwestern Crete on March 18. Some 400 US Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina arrived a few days earlier. There are also two US tankers and a French minesweeper in Souda.
“We are ready to contribute, in cooperation with our partners and allies, to the effort of ensuring that international law is respected,” said Droutsas, who added that the international community was correct to allow the use of “any means necessary” to protect civilians.
The Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) and the Communist Party expressed concern about Greek forces being involved in any military operations or forces in Greece being used.
However, Droutsas’s comments suggest that Athens, which has traditionally had good relations with Gadhafi’s regime, was encouraging a nonviolent solution. “Greece believes that everyone’s goal should be to solve the crisis in Libya, to restore stability and to ensure the smooth transition to democracy through a wide dialogue between the groups representing the country’s people,” he said.
| Greece, Extraordinary National Council on Foreign Policy, Libya | | | | |
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The range and type of Greek involvement in the operation against government forces in Libya will be the main subject of this meeting along with developments in Greek-Turkish relations. Meanwhile, "orange" signal to the Cyprus Police sent Thursday Interpol, requesting to remain vigilant in case, when Muammar Gaddafi, his family members and close associates, try to travel through Cyprus or transfer assets. It said police spokesman, Michael Katsounotos with the label, sent the police forces of all States parties to Interpol, with specific reference to 16 family or the environment Gaddafi. |
President wants "historic Kosovo solution" | ||
| 18 March 2011 | 10:27 | Source: Tanjug | ||
BELGRADE -- A solution for the Serbian-Albanian conflict cannot be a scenario in which Serbia will recognize Kosovo's independence, said Serbian President Boris Tadić.
The Serbian president told Priština-based TV station Klan Kosova that he hoped the introductory phase of the ongoing talks between Serbia and Kosovo would be followed by a search for that essential solution to the underlying conflict. “Any agreement between Serbs and Albanians has to be legitimized by acceptance from both sides. Representatives of the people cannot accept an agreement rejected by the people themselves. However, those representatives are allowed to bravely step forward with ideas that might not be appealing to the whole people, but which could be accepted in the end through a referendum,“ he argued. Tadić refused to give any actual suggestions, explaining that it would not be wise at the moment. “There are models that have already been implemented, as well as the possibility of the two sides coming up with a new type of solution,“ he added. "It is not wise or purposeful right now to give actual proposals for a political solution, because we would not reach that solution then, and I think that it is wiser now to address technical issues and avoid politics," he noted, claiming he was prepared to take responsibility and offer possible solutions, but only once the time was right. The president stressed that he could not give up on protecting the interest of the Serbs in Kosovo who did not wish to be integrated into the unilaterally declared state of Kosovo. “I cannot search for a practical solution without taking into account the existing reality. Because if I denied the opinion of Serbs in Kosovo I would be acting like Milošević who, before the conflict broke out, denied the opinion of Albanians, who didn't want to live under Serbia's sovereign roof even before the conflict,“ he pointed out. .............................. more see: http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=03&dd=18&nav_id=73301 |
| President Ivanov urges slavo Macedonians in Albania to Unite | | | |
| Friday, 18 March 2011 | |
 President Gjorge Ivanov called on slavo Macedonians in Albania and the leadership of their only political party - Macedonian Alliance for European Integration (MAEI) - to unite in order to be able to ensure their minority rights and to improve their living standards in Albania, where local polls are going to be held in May and a census of the population in November. Representatives from Mala Prespa, Golo Brdo and Gora - mostly populated by a slavo Macedonian minority in all of Albania - met with President Ivanov to discuss their problems, voicing satisfaction that their issues had been discussed at the highest level for the first time, MIA reports. "The visit of the Macedonian president for us is crucial and the fact that talks were held with the premier and president of Albania to discuss openly about the problems of Albanian Macedonians, who are recognised only in Mala Prespa, Pustec municipality. Those outside of this municipality are not registered as Macedonians and thus do not enjoy any right. Hopefully, these bilateral meetings will finally solve the issue and Macedonians from Golo Brdo and Gora will be recognised as Macedonians by official authorities in Albania, stated Edmond Temelko - MAEI president and Pustec mayor. Vasil Sterjovski - director of TV Kristal from Korca - said the President urged Macedonians in Albania to be united over their party, as a way to obtain their rights. "Solely by engaging in Albania's politics, we will manage to integrate in local institutions and by securing posts in the local authority and MP seats, we'll have the chance to raise issues at economic and national plan," Sterjovski said. He commended that Albanian President Bamri Topi for the first time discussed the minority issue. "It is considered as an encouragement for all minorities. Topi has condemned hard-line nationalists who refuse to have a census with an ethnic section in the form, not only for slavo Macedonians, but also for other minorities, being scared Albania to become a multi-ethnic state," stated Sterjovski. Talks also focused on the issue involving the Xhepciste - Trebista border crossing near Golo Brdo and the construction of a road, thus solving infrastructure shortcomings. |
18/03/2011
TIRANA, Albania -- A number of courts in southern Albania have suspended all nationality change requests, local media reported on Wednesday (March 16th), amid suspected violations involved in the process. It is believed that in the Gjirokastra and Permet courts alone, about 2,000 citizens have changed their nationality from Albanian to Greek. The courts of Permet and Saranda have asked the Constitutional Court to interpret the law on marital status, on which these requests were based.
The issue has become a hot topic, with the civil society working now on a petition asking parliament and the president to annul some parts of the law on marital status. They say that an increased number of Albanians declaring themselves as Greeks will encourage Greek nationalists to claim control of territories in Albania. The main reason behind changing the nationality is to receive benefits from neighbouring Greece. The government recently postponed the census, originally due in April, arguing it would hinder campaigning ahead of the May 8th local elections.
Greek Gov't on fYRoM ICJ recourse
(ANA-MPA) -- Α foreign ministry spokesman on Wednesday referred to the imminent opening of a hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague (ICJ) on March 21-30 over a complaint brought against Greece by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM), underlining that fYRoM's recourse is a "legal process that was politically motivated when it was initiated".
In response to the Skopje government's claims that Greece has violated Article 11 of the September 1995 "Interim Accord", the Greek side has prepared "two well-documented legal memos and fYRoM's allegations are being refuted by the arguments included in their appendixes", spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras said.
As regards ongoing UN mediation over the fYRoM "name issue", he merely said that Greece "adheres to the process taking place under the UN auspices". Commenting on negative actions undertaken over the recent period by the fYRoM government, he observed that "the use of ancient Hellenic symbols is in conflict with the Interim Accord".
Ex-KLA questioned, released | ||
| 17 March 2011 | 10:41 | Source: B92 | ||
PRIŠTINA -- EULEX has released former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Fatmir Limaj who was arrested last night for war crimes committed in the village of Klečka.
Limaj, former Kosovo transport minister and current deputy leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) turned himself in to the EULEX police last night at his home in Čaglavica near Priština. He told reporters as he was leaving the house that he was "proud he took part in the war and in building Kosovo after the war." Limaj also said he would answer to judicial bodies even though he believed they were wrong. His arrest followed after yesterday's arrest of former KLA members in Prizren and other towns in Kosovo. After two-hour questioning the former KLA commander was released. According to the media, the judicial proceeding will continue in the next several days. “We have responded to the court subpoena and came to EULEX, Limaj said he would cooperate with the judiciary. He is going back home, to his family now,” Limaj’s attorney Tom Gashi stated. The former KLA commander had already been put on trial in the Hague Tribunal but he was acquitted. B92 has learned that even though Limaj had been acquitted by the Hague Tribunal, the domestic prosecution has a court permission to conduct an investigation into the Klečka camp and one more locality. Serbian War Crimes Prosecution has welcomed EULEX’s effort regarding investigation into the crimes committed against non-Albanians in Kosovo. Their latest operation is a result of a good cooperation between EULEX and Belgrade prosecutors who have been conducting the investigation into the events in the two KLA camps which were commanded by Limaj for three years now. |
Minister for Kosovo talks population census | ||
| 16 March 2011 | 16:30 | Source: Tanjug | ||
BELGRADE -- Belgrade believes that the census of population in Kosovo and Metohija should be conducted by the United Nations (UN) in all Serb-inhabited areas.
This in order to avoid possible manipulations regarding the number of Serbs living there, Bogdanović stated on Wednesday. Stressing that Belgrade is not opposed to a census being carried out, but only considers it unacceptable for it to be conducted by the Kosovo institutions, Bogdanović pointed out that the UN should be the body in charge of taking the census in all Serb-inhabited areas - “both north and south of the Ibar River.” In the north Serbs are a majority, while south of the river they live in isolated enclaves. “We have double standards here. The international community accepted that the census be taken by the UN in the north and by Kosovo's institutions south of the Ibar River - which we cannot accept due to previous bad experiences in this regard and because citizens of Serbian nationality have no more trust in them,” the minister told Tanjug. Bogdanović noted that Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković informed Brussels about Serbia's position on the matter. According to Bogdanović, the latest elections in Kosovo - organized by the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština - "showed massive manipulations and vote rigging, and census is and even more serious an issue than these". “If you steal during elections, you are sure to steal during a census as well,” warned Bogdanović. He assessed the situation as "fragile", since this is “not the first time that (ethnic) Albanians are trying to manipulate the number of Serbs living in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija.” |
Israel denies change of Kosovo stance |
| BELGRADE -- Israel has not recognized Kosovo’s independence and sees no reason to change its position. This is according to a statement made by the Israeli embassy in Belgrade on Monday. The embassy reacted to a report by Radio Kosovo that Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman "promised Albanian Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinasto at their meeting that Israel would reconsider its stand regarding recognition of Kosovo's independence". Israel does not recognize Kosovo's independence, the embassy reiterated. The province's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence over three years ago, which was rejected by Serbia's authorities as an illegal act of secession. |
16. March 2011.
The Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) called on the leading parties in Albania to stop with mutual accusations and give their contribution so that the forthcoming elections would be held in a democratic atmosphere.
The Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) called on the leading parties in Albania to stop with mutual accusations and give their contribution so that the forthcoming elections would be held in a democratic atmosphere.
The political environment continues to be deeply polarized, with harsh rhetoric and personal attacks by the leaders of the main political parties, OSCE says in the report. Parties should demonstrate the political will for the conduct of democratic elections and they should discharge their electoral duties in a responsible manner for the general interest of Albania, the Balkan Insight portal reports.
No local elections have ever aroused so much interest in Albania and in the world like the ones to be held on May 8. Two leading parties, the Democratic Party of Albania and the Socialist Party of Albania, have not cooperated since the parliamentary elections in mid 2009. The Socialists never recognized the results of those elections as they claim they were stolen. Prime Minister Salji Berisa rejected those accusations, but neven agreed to a recount of votes and reexamination of the election material.
Political tensions increased ahead of the 2009 elections, particularly following the death of four opposition protesters during an anti-government rally on January 21. The opposition continued the protests, requesting from the government to resign and accusing them of murdering Albanian citizens, as well as of corruption and organized crime.
OSCE announced a robust presence in Albania during the local elections, with 30 long-term monitors and 400 short-term observers to follow polling day procedures. The international observers would support 900 local monitors, which are expected to be deployed by a coalition of Albanian NGOs.
Europe Report N°211 14 Mar 2011
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe dispute between Kosovo and Serbia is most acute in Kosovo’s northern municipalities. The North has not been under effective control from Pristina for two decades; its sparse and predominantly rural Serb population uniformly rejects integration into Kosovo. Though small and largely peaceful, it is the main obstacle to reconciliation and both countries’ European Union (EU) aspirations. A Kosovo-Serbia dialogue mediated by the EU began on 8-9 March 2011 and is likely over the coming months to look at some of the consequences of the dispute for regional cooperation, communications, freedom of movement and the rule of law. For now, however, Belgrade, Pristina and Brussels have decided that tackling the North’s governance or status is too difficult before more efforts are made to secure cooperation on improving the region’s socio-economic development, security and public order.
For some time, the North will remain in effect under dual sovereignty: Kosovo’s and Serbia’s. Kosovo seeks to rid the region of Serbian institutions, integrate it and gain control of the border with Serbia. It is willing to provide substantial self rule and additional competencies as suggested under the Ahtisaari plan, developed in 2007 by the then UN Special Envoy to regulate Kosovo’s supervised independence. But local Serbs see the North as their last stand and Mitrovica town as their centre of intellectual and urban life. Belgrade will continue to use its influence in the North to reach its primary goal, regaining the region as a limited victory to compensate for losing the rest of its former province.
Serbia and Kosovo institutions intersect and overlap in the North without formal boundaries or rules. The majority Serb and minority Albanian communities there live within separate social, political and security structures. They have developed pragmatic ways of navigating between these parallel systems where cooperation is unavoidable. Yet, in a few areas – notably criminal justice – cooperation is non-existent, and the only barrier to crime is community pressure.
Northern Serbs across the political spectrum overwhelmingly cleave to Serbia. However, Belgrade and the Northern political elites belong to different parties and are bitter rivals. Apart from the technical work of managing the North, they share only one common interest: keeping Pristina out and blocking any international initiative that could strengthen common Kosovo institutions, notably police and courts. Two other groups, former local leaders who retain strong influence behind the scenes and an organised crime underworld focused on smuggling, share this one overriding goal. Belgrade prosecutes criminals and rivals selectively, allowing others room to operate; their presence in the North provides plausible deniability for many of its actions.
more see...www.crisisgroup.org.
Posted on 14 March 2011 by Venetia Aftzigianni
The conditions for this favorable regulations are not yet announced. However, according to Mr. Papandreou, the Greek fiscal consolidation program includes structural reforms, privatization plans and use of public property of 50 billion euro.
At the same time, a financial aid of 440 billion euro is also agreed to be given by the European Financial Stability Facility. Moreover, the Greek PM refered to the acknowledgement of Greek effords and to his refusal towards a constitutional regulation of the amound of the deficit and the debt.
Greece, anti terrorism measures
Raids on terror safehouses in Athens, Volos
Counter-terrorism police launched a coordinated raid on two suspected terror safehouses in Athens and Volos early Monday in an ongoing investigation into the "Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire" urban terror group, and found a substantial arms cache.
Ethnic Hungarians in Romania seeking Hungarian passports will be able to realise their dream this week, though the benefits will be mainly symbolic.
Thousands of members of Romania's ethnic Hungarian minority are to start getting dual citizenship this week.
The first group of Hungarians to take their oath on Monday will be in Miercurea Ciuc, in southeast Transylvania. Around 6,000 ethnic Hungarians have expressed interest in obtaining Hungarian passports.
One is European MP Laszlo Tokes, head of the Transylvanian Hungarian National Council, CNMT. Tokes and his family were among the first to apply for Hungarian citizenship early this year.
Hungary adopted legislation in May 2010 making it easier for the 3.5 million ethnic Hungarians outside the country to obtain dual citizenship. Most live in Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine.
Pastor Tokes says dual citizenship should help the community "in its drive for greater autonomy and cultural rights". Hungarian citizenship would also mark "recognition that after 90 years of living outside Hungary, we still maintain our identity", he added, referring to Hungary's cession of Transylvania to Romania after the First World War.
Tokes's CNMT seeks greater autonomy for Romania's ethnic Hungarians and champions close relations between the community and Budapest. His defiance of Romania's former communist authorities in 1989 helped touch off the Romanian revolution that overthrew dictator Nikolae Ceaucescu.
While mainly of symbolic importance, dual citizenship papers will make it easier to obtain a US or Canadian visa and ease access to jobs in the European Union. Both Romania and Hungary are members of the EU and NATO.
About 7 per cent of Romania's 22 million citizens are ethnic Hungarian. The 600,000 or so so-called Szeklers in southeast Transylvania have long campaigned for an autonomous region in Transylvania.
Bucharest officials have no objections to Romania's citizens taking out dual citizenship. “We have no objections to the Hungarian law making it easier to grant Hungarian citizenship to ethnic Hungarians living abroad," President Traian Basescu has said.
“Talks bad for Kosovo” |
| 13 March 2011 | 15:11 | Source: Tanjug |
| PRIŠTINA -- Kosovo opposition party Self-Determination Movement has started a campaign against Belgrade-Priština talks. The movement claims that the process is damaging “the state of Kosovo”. Self-Determination Movement supporters have started their campaign in Priština in order to “affect the awareness of Kosovo citizens”. They are handing out flyers pointing out the reasons why Kosovo should not take part in the talks. The Self-Determination Movement claims that the talks will help Serbia integrate into the EU, that Serbia has not changed its Constitution according to which Kosovo is a part of Serbia and point out that ”Serbia has not apologized for the crimes against Albanians during the 20th century”. The Self-Determination Movement, the third biggest party in the Kosovo assembly, has announced similar campaigns in other towns of Kosovo. |
At a conference organised by the EU and US delegations in Tirana, participants called for reform of Albania's criminal code and changes to immunity rules that protect judges and politicians from prosecution.
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| Tirana | Photo by : Pedrag Bubalo/ Flickr |
Speaking during the roundtable on Friday, US Ambassador in Tirana Alexander Arvizu stressed that Albania’s criminal code was problematic in at least four areas, according to experts.
Arvizu identified Albania’s constitutionally guaranteed immunity for judges, parliamentarians and other high government officials as a significant problem, describing the practice as an “outdated privilege.”At a conference organised by the EU and US delegations in Tirana, participants called for reform of Albania's criminal code and changes to immunity rules that protect judges and politicians from prosecution.
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| Tirana | Photo by : Pedrag Bubalo/ Flickr |
Speaking during the roundtable on Friday, US Ambassador in Tirana Alexander Arvizu stressed that Albania’s criminal code was problematic in at least four areas, according to experts.
Arvizu identified Albania’s constitutionally guaranteed immunity for judges, parliamentarians and other high government officials as a significant problem, describing the practice as an “outdated privilege.”
