PDSH: Berisha to cancel visit in Skopie

The Albanian Democratic Party in the neighboringFYROM declared that the Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, should cancel his visit in Macedonia due to the anti-Albanian actions that have been undertaken by the government in Skopje, the Foreign Ministry of which invited the Albanian ambassador, Arben Cejku, to give explanations about his declarations against the Macedonian Encyclopedia and the school texts that offend Albanians.

“This act is the culmination of the arrogance and craziness of this government. We support the declaration of Ambassador Cejku only partially, because the main responsible for this is the Party that represents the Albanians in the government, BDI. The Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, should cancel his visit to Macedonia due to the anti-Albanian, anti-Nato and anti-EU position held by the sllavo Macedonian government”, declared Orhan Ibrahimi, MP of the Albanian Democratic Party in Macedonia.

Albanian representatives in the Macedonian government reacted after this declaration saying that Prime Minister Berisha doesn’t need a mentor from Macedonia. They say that on the international point of view, the invitation in the Ministry is normal procedure.

“The Prime Minister of Albania doesn’t need a guide and a mentor from the Parliamentary Groups of Macedonia. It is a common practice to ask an Ambassador to give additional clarifications in the respective institution”, declared Talat Xhaferri, MP of the BDI.

Berisha is expected to visit Macedonia after the invitation of Nikolla Gruevski, on October.

More Albanian asylum seekers

After the alarm given by the European Commission for the increased number of asylum seekers from Albania and other countries of the region, the public data of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) has confirmed this growth.

While in the first six months of 2011 there have been 25 applications per month in average, in the last months there has been a sudden increase of the number of applications by Albanian citizens.

In August there have been 50 applications, in September 84. If it continues with this pace, the free movement will be endangered, since the monitoring mechanism provides punishment measures for abuses.

The Commissioner Malmstrom has reminded the recent changes made to the visa regulation.

“On 24 May 2011, the Commission proposed a security clause that will allow, in extraordinary conditions, the temporary reestablishment of visas for the citizens of countries that benefit from the visa lift with the EU. This mechanism gives EU a means that can be used in extraordinary circumstances, for avoiding any serious negative consequence from the visa liberalization, especially the arrival of a great number of emigrants or asylum seekers, whose pretenses are unfounded”, declared the European Council office.

Since the day when this alarm was raised, and until the day of a possible return of the visa regime, there are a series of reports, analyzes and complicated procedures that would take several months.

The problem is the lack of means for stopping such a phenomenon, as it has happened with Serbia and Macedonia.

While the applications of these two countries show higher numbers than Albania, there is a decreasing tendency, while Albania’s is increasing since August.

This is reflected in the top 10 countries list for the number of asylum applications in Belgium, where Macedonia is not present any more, but it has been replaced by Albania, ranked after Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia.

The practice of other regional countries for punishing the phenomenon, such as the blocking of passports, fines and other strict measures has not given any efficient result, since the number of asylum seekers from Serbia and Macedonia is still high, although the numbers are falling.

Most of them request asylum for economic reasons, a right that is not granted by the Geneva Convention.

According to CGRS public data, only 1% of the applications by people who come from Western Balkans benefit the right to asylum. The other 99% receives a negative answer and are repatriated according to the agreements.

The visa free regime is at risk of temporary suspension if the tendency will be increasing, as Malmstrom underlined in her letter of September 20th that was addressed to the regional Interior Ministers.

“It must be clear that if some of the Western Balkan countries will not fulfill their commitments and will not address quickly to the concerns of EU countries, the achievements with the visa liberalization could be at risk”, the EC office declared.

After the information asked by Top Channel, the Brussels Foreigners Office says that in the first week of October there have been 40 asylum requests by Albanian citizens.

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Greece: Hellenic Ethnic Community, boycotted Census because they do not believe the Albanian state

Athens, October 6, ANA "A census in Albania would have to function as an instrument for better functioning of the Albanian public administration towards its citizens and to guarantee and protect the rights of minorities living in the country".

Thus said today in response to questions from reporters, foreign ministry spokesman Greek G. Delavekouras.

According to him, "the decision of the representatives of minority groups, including ethnic Greek minority to their members calling for a boycott, in protest that does not guarantee respect for the right of free self-determination, shows lack of confidence of the minority to the state Albania, which should immediately address the Albanian government itself. "

Foreign Ministry spokesman Greek, as quoted by the Greek news agency ANA, further stressed that respect for minority rights is an essential criterion of the European Union integration process.

"Greece, - finished Delavekouras, - has continually invested to build good relations with Albania, considered as given respect and protection of minorities - a bridge of friendship between the two countries".

The Legendary Athens Greece Riot Dog

Narta Region declares the Greek origin

The Narta, Zvernetci and Poro residents in northern Vlore, who have a large Greek origin among them, refused Omonia’s appeals for blocking the population registration process.

The interviewers have not been refused in this coastal village, when they knocked on the doors for the Census questionnaires.

The residents say that they are participating in the registration and are declaring of having all the Greek nationality.

“The process is going better than we expected. No one has refused the Census on the first days and neither the nationality declaration, while everything else has been normal”, says one of the Narta interviewers.

Omonia organization and HRUP appealed the Greek minority to boycott the registration and oppose the way how the process is performed.

Greece sends "Hydra" frigate to East Med. for NATO exercises (VIDEO)

Greece sends "Hydra" frigate to East Med. for NATO exercises (VIDEO)

Tuesday, October 05, 2011

The Greek Navy just confirmed news reports that the "Hydra" frigate (F452 Class MEKO 200HN) will be dispatched to the Eastern Mediterranean right away and take part in the NATO-led operation “ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR”(which works towards the stability and peace in this region). The frigate is Greece’s contribution to the security and stability in the area where drilling for hydrocarbons is currently going on.

A report on defence-point said that the vessel was to depart on Tuesday and begin conducting exercises with the “PAPANICOLIS" submarine Type 214

NATO’s interest on the developments in this region are obvious, as a member state Turkey has raised claims in this area and regardless of whether they are legal or not directly threaten the peace and stability of the whole region. At the same a potential conflict with Alliance member Greece is also cause for concern.

Consequently, NATO’s presence in the region aims to appease the spirits and let it be known “to all concerned” that the Atlantic Alliance is interested in stability and peace in the region.

A. Samaras: "Respect for the Greek national minority determines the Albania's path towards EU"

The ND leader, Antonis Samaras, called on representatives of the Greek minority in Albania to make their decisions purely in the interests of Northern Epirus Hellenism and weigh with caution their actions in all situations. In his meeting with President of "Omonia", Vassilis Bolanos, and the chairman of HRUP, Vangelis Dule, Mr. Samaras also noted that Albania's path towards the European Union passes through full respect of all rights of the Greek national minority, which is the best "bridge" of friendship between the Greek and the Albanian people.

Korce Vlachs: We were declared as Greek

Vlach community members in Korca say that they have asked photocopies of their Census questionnaires, for proving that they have been declared as Greek. Some of them express the dissatisfaction for not receiving them.

One of the accusations made by the Red and Black Alliance is that for obliging people to declare themselves as Greek, they have been told to photocopy the declarations. But in most of the cases it has been refused by the interviewers.

Greek Consulate asks photocopy of the questionnaire

The population registration process in Korce has started with some controversies, but not yet officially verified.

The interviewers have met suspicious requests by some residents, such as a copy of the questionnaire page where the nationality is declared.

The interviewers say that some citizens have asked this photocopy for presenting it at the Greek Consulate in Korçe. Official authorities in Korce have not commented about this.

Sami Mecollari, from the INSTAT branch in Korce, says that the questionnaire has no official value if photocopied. But the fact that unauthorized structures of a foreign country are attempting to exert control on the Census, compromises the process.

The Consulate that has asked the photocopies is still led by Theodhoros Ikonomou, who declared one year ago that the Aromanian minorities were Greek, and invited them to declare themselves as such.

The other organization that has requested confirmation for the citizens’ declaration as Greek nationals has been sentenced by the Court of First Degree over violation of the Albanian graves for opening way to the homage that were to be paid over a Greek grave.

Meçollari added that the Liqenas commune, with a population of 5000 residents, mostly Macedonians, have started a normal registration process. Different to the declaration of the head of the commune, who invited residents to boycott, the process has continued normally.

INSTAT officials are expected to visit Korce for inspecting the problems that have been encountered.

HIMARA PEOPLE, ANOTHER BATTLE WITH SUPREME COURT OF ALBANIA AND THE MAFIA FOR 850 HA OF PORTO PANORMO TERRITORY

OCTOBER 6, AT 12.00 AM, THE HIMARA COMMUNITY URGES ALL THE HIMARA PEOPLE TO BE CAME AT THE SUPREME COURT OF ALBANIA BUILDING

SManalysis.... retro

Is Socialist Party, implicated on the Census process in Albania?

Does knowledge Brussels, which finances 10 million euros, for the Census project in Albania, as the Albanian government and opposition, considers the Albanian Census, as a process that threatens the national security of the country and not a statistical record, as it has signed agreement with Tirana?

Broken the silence of the Albanian opposition, it is sabotaging implicated with Albania Census.

Following the statement of representatives of the Socialist Party to the National Security Parliamentary Group, Ilir Gjoni, said at a meeting of national security in Parliament the last December 2010..


FACTS

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Tirana considers as national security issues, the population count

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

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

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

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

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

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

EXCLUSIVE: WHEN Edi Rama talked with GREEK PM Papandreou and praise hem!

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO!

Thursday, June 2, 2011 http://borioipirotika.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post_02.html

"Partition possible solution for Kosovo problem"

Večernje novosti

BELGRADE -- Erhard Busek says that "when the crisis in the north eases", Priština, Belgrade and the international community should consider possible solutions for Kosovo.

The former Austrian vice-chancellor and coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe specified in an interview for Belgrade's Večernje Novosti daily that one of those solutions "could be a partition of Kosovo".

Although there are few advocates of the idea in the EU at the moment, as most member-countries claim that "there can be no more change of borders in the Balkans", Busek expressed his belief that in time, and with the crisis going on, things could change and that could become the prevailing stand in the union.

"Additional complications are of no use to anyone, and it is obvious that the current tactics do not give results. I agree that the dialogue is the only path, in scope of which issues which seem to be impossible at the moment should also be discussed, such as the division of Kosovo," Busek told the newspaper.

The Austrian politician is convinced that the delineation of new frontiers in Kosovo and Metohija would not pose new problems for the region, but, as he put it, if everyone agrees on the matter, it would additionally and permanently stabilize the Balkans.

"I do not see why the international community would not agree on the division if Belgrade and Priština reached an agreement on the issue. All details of such resolution of the Kosovo stalemate could be agreed at some kind of 'Kosovo Dayton', with the international community as the guarantor of the accord," Busek concluded.

More people on Northern Kosovo roadblocks

Northern Kosovo passed another calm night, without incidents, but there were noted more Serbians in the roadblocks, due to the arrival of Serbian students at the Mitrovica University.

Sources from Kosovapress that the organization and the communes have implemented a schedule for guarding the roadblocks.

“People have placed tents near the roadblocks, with heating ovens inside. They are determined to stay in these roadblocks even during winter, until the Kosovo Customs and Police agents will leave the border checkpoints”, say some of the people in these tents.

The vehicle traffic with Serbia is being conducted through alternative roads.

Posters in Ioannina for the Census in Albania

Once again the Ioannina has demonstrated its support and stand for their con nationalists in Southern Albania, after just a few kilometers separate them from the provisional Albanian-Greek border.

So, just to see the pictures all over the city filled with posters while Ioannina roads covered by flyers that .... invite Northern Epiriotes to remember and declare the Greek and Orthodox identity place of origin.

The census conducted in Albania is now perhaps the best opportunity to officially now to demonstrate the considerable number of Greek Community in the neighboring country Albania.

PRO ALBANIA LOBBYIST IN USA, ACCUSES ATHENS FOR THE "RIGHTS OF ALBANIANS"


Joe DioGuardi: Albanians in Greece, are discriminated

Chairman of the Albanian American Civic League, Joe Dioguardi says that Albanians in Greece do not enjoy even the most basic rights.

"In Albania, the Greek minority rights are all derived - the minorities enjoy all their rights in Albania, according to European standards, versus those in Greece, Albanians have no right - or in Albanian schools or the use of Albanian language - nor the right of the Albanian declaration.

But, according to him, the rights of the Greek minority in Albania are all completed.

Albanians living and working in Greece are discriminated against, "said DioGuardi for news agency INA

http://ina-online.net/shqiperia/9906.html

FACTS, ARCHIVE

Unfinished mission of former U.S. Ambassador in Albania

http://smarkos.blogspot.com/2010/09/unfinished-mission-of-u.html

Papandreou has no intention of resigning

by (AMNA) 4 Oct 2011

Prime Minister George Papandreou Government sources on Monday night termed as "rubbish" a report in the German financial daily Financial Times Deutschland that claims that Prime Minister George Papandreou has reportedly told close associates, twice over the past weeks, that he intends to resign.

Red and Black Alliance: Census abuses
04/10/2011

The Red and Black Alliance declared that there are evidence and facts for abuses with the population registration process.

RBA declared that they are following the registration process with great concern, mentioning the case of the of Shengjergj village, in Korce, where Muslim villagers are being declared as Greek.

The Alliance also declared that many interviewers are using pencils, leaving space to abuses.

“Many citizens are photocopying the registration questionnaire for using it as a document at the Greek Consulate. Macedonian Embassy representatives have asked the Golloborda citizens to declare themselves as Macedonian. They have also asked to handpick the interviewers in these areas. Thousands of militants have been contacted to politically control this process, in exchange of job opportunities. Many of the interviewers lack of proper education for being part of this process in accordance with the parameters requested by the EU”, the declaration says.

RBA emphasizes that this registration violates the Constitution and is not based on any Albanian law.

Vlore: car of Chief of Police burned

The vehicle of the Chief of Municipal Police in Vlore has been burned during the last night, at Isa Boletini neighborhood.

The car of the Chief of Municipal Police was parked near his residence, but fortunately no one was hurt.

Veliu’s car might have been burned because of his duty.

This new event in Vlore comes after the murder of Judge Skerdilajd Konomi, on September 9th, by a car bomb.

The 33-year-old judge was married, father of two children, 4 and 1 year old. He was going to work with his vehicle and the explosion took place while he was driving, without any other vehicles near him at that moment. The explosion has shocked the passerby citizens who saw the car still moving after the explosion. Some of them rushed to open the destroyed doors. The explosion had caused his legs to get stuck in the iron parts of the car, and the citizens were unable to remove the body from the vehicle, which took fire right after.

Albania to Destroy Surplus Ammunition by 2013

Albania’s remaining stock of 45,000 tonnes of surplus ammunition will be disposed of by 2013, Albania’s Minister of Defence Arben Imami said today.

Besar Likmeta

Tirana

Shells collected by the army after the explosion on March 15, 2008 | Photo by Besar Likmeta

“Our goal is to reduce the danger they pose to citizens,” Imami said during a press conference held on Tuesday in Tirana.

According to the Ministry of Defence, with the help of the United States and the OSCE, Albania managed to dispose of 20,000 tonnes of ammunitions in 2010, and another 25,000 tones will be disposed of in 2011.

Only three years ago, on March 15, 2008, an explosion at a munitions demolition depot in the village of Gerdec, ten kilometres outside Tirana, killed 26 people, wounded over 300 and left thousands of others homeless.

The explosions began when workers were moving stocks of old Chinese and Soviet shells stored at the base, a central collection point for the arsenal amassed by the communist-era dictatorship of Enver Hoxha.

Albania has been trying for years to dismantle the obsolete arsenal, which was one of the conditions for the country’s successful entry into NATO in April 2009.

The U.S. approved to grant 400 M1A1 Abrams to Greece

October 3, 2011 | Filed under: Army,Featured News

According to information of the “Hellenic Defence & Technology” magazine, the U.S. authorities approved to grant 400 M1A1 Abrams tanks to the Greek Army, which will include options between simple refurbishment – worth tens of millions dollars for all the tanks- and upgrading to a higher level of operational capability, with a higher corresponding cost. The relative Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) is expected soon.

Also according to exclusive information of the” Hellenic Defence & Technology” magazine, a Price and Availability letter was sent to U.S. authorities regarding 20 AAV7A1 and a low cost upgrade program for them. This is the first step to cover an operational requirement for 75-100 vehicles.

Additional exclusive details on these requirements as well as for Bradley IFVs, in a forthcoming issue of the “Hellenic Defence & Technology” magazine.

Source: hellenicdefence.gr

Albanian Census, problems with ethnicity
03/10/2011 12:00

The population registration in Korce has started showing some problems related with the ethnicity. The interviewed families have asked to photocopy the materials after the registration, because they have officially declared themselves as Greek.

In Shengjergj village, where there are 80 families, there have been debates for the fact that the residents do not register a declared Greek ethnicity, but an unproved and not documented one. Knowing the origin of their predecessors, these residents have pretended to have Greek origin, although the birth certificates of their family tree do not show such a nationality.

The interviewer Mimoza Ashimi declared that the population registration has progressed normally.

She added that there are many problems with the mapping of the residences, since it is old and the new houses that have been built in the last years do not show there.

http://www.top-channel.tv/artikull.php?id=219782&ref=fp

North Kosovo Calm, Serbs Strengthen Barricades

The situation in northern Kosovo remains calm although local Serbs are continuing to strengthen barricades blocking major roads in the region.

Bojana Barlovac

Belgrade

For the 18th night in a row, Serbs have kept guard of the barricades on all main roads in the Serb-populated region of northern Kosovo.

However, the everyday monotony on the barricades got broken on Sunday night after Serbia’s women’s volleyball national team won for the first time the European Championships.

Local Serbs in the north celebrated the victory by raising Serbian flags and setting off fireworks.

In the meantime, the barricade on the bridge which divides the town of Mitrovica has been additionally strengthened.

After KFOR soldiers dismantled a barricade on the Jarinje border crossing last week, local Serbs have pledged to build two instead of one for each destroyed barricade. There are 18 barricades at the moment.

The locals say all roads will remain blocked until the Albanian-led Kosovo government withdraws its recently installed customs officers from the two main border points with Serbia at Brnjak and Jarinje.

The scheduled deployment of Kosovo customs officers along with EULEX police followed the conclusion of an EU-mediated “customs agreement” between Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels on September 2.

Heads of the Serbian municipalities in northern Kosovo demanded at a joint press conference on Sunday for an independent commission under the auspices of the UN to be found to investigate the events of last Tuesday.

On Tuesday, at around noon at the Jarinje border-crossing, hundreds of Kosovo Serb protesters tried to breach a KFOR security perimeter.

A NATO peacekeeper spokesman said that NATO had been forced to adequately respond, when the violence and indiscriminate acts occurred, “shots were fired in the direction of KFOR personnel as well as explosive devices thrown at KFOR soldiers."

As a result at least 16 people were injured.