Returned emigrants from Greece, hard to reintegrate

Dozens of families have returned from emigration at the Picar commune, Gjirokaster. Many of them say that were obliged to return by the Greek crisis, but without many opportunities of employment or integration.

This are had more than 1000 residents, but after the 90s no more than 100 remained. Lina Thana declares that she has returned from emigration after 15 years and she sees no employment opportunities.

The residents have suffered prolonged emigration, which can be seen with the closed houses, amortized roads and abandoned lands. On the other hand, emigration has brought revenues.

Only during this year, more than 80% of the emigrants in this village have returned. Most of them start working their farms, but few go to cities for their products.

Korce, District Council without money
Top Channel TV

The investments of the District’s Council for 2012 in korce have been blocked, due to the local units’ failure to pay the 3.5% obligation.

According to the data, many of the local units have not paid the annual obligation. Due to this delay, 210 employees have not been paid for the last five months.

According to the Finance Directory data, the grants of these units will be blocked, not only for the communes, but also for the municipalities.

From the 37 local units in Korce, the most problematic are those of Pogradec, Devoll, Erseka and Voskop.

According to the data, from 7.8 million ALL, only 1.5 million have been collected.

Pyrros Dimas: The Greek parties for many years had forgotten the Northern Epirus
Dimas: The last member of the Greek Parliament from Himara, was exactly 100 years ago. I think the fullness of time has restored an injustice.

Pyrros Dimas with the President of PASOK Mr. Venizelos
 
In a ceremony held at Hippocrates for sports hosted by the President of PASOK Evangelos Venizelos having the side of the head of the party PASOK, the gold medalist, Pyrros Dimas. Before speak, the President of PASOK, who was preceded by a short position of the Lion of Himara."Mr. President, dear fellow, my friends sport. All my life I lift weights. It is not easy. So I do now. I accepted the honorary proposal of the President Evangelos Venizelos to head the State of PASOK ballot, mainly because I think it hides a deep symbolism.

I did not by ambition. I deeply believe that the President, knowing better than anyone what lifting weights asikota the country, asked me to show the Greeks that we can and will succeed.I think a medal is a benchmark that unites a people. So I responded to this call to share with all Greek to you, and efforts to lift up Greece again, because this is a national effort. A huge effort of national importance.

Greece is struggling with a very strong opponent, with its debt. This brought the crisis and the plight of the Greek people that all the living. All the fear and all looking for ways to cut our. I am a child born in a very difficult area of ​​Hellenism and Northern Epirus, and there where people lift weights incredibly decades now. Forgive me, but I will say my complaint. This area for many - many years had forgotten the Greek political parties. The last member of the Greek Parliament from Himara, was exactly 100 years ago. I think the fullness of time has restored an injustice.

Obama urges Greeks to stay in euro

US President Barack Obama indicated on Friday that life outside the eurozone would be far worse for Greeks than the austerity measures demanded in exchange for financial aid from Europeans whom he pressed to take action to stabilize the bloc.

Addressing reporters in Washington, Obama said the Greek people must recognize, ahead of crucial general elections on June 17, “that their hardships will likely be worse” if they choose to leave the euro.

In a nod to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, Obama urged European leaders to pursue growth alongside austerity, noting that they have the support of the US, whose economy is inextricably linked to theirs.

Merkel, for her part, once again reiterated her desire that Greece remain in the eurozone, but as long as it honors the terms of the foreign bailout known as the memorandum. “This memorandum is the foundation for a favorable development and we have to say that clearly to all those who are seeking election in Greece,” she said.

Former European Commission President Romano Prodi told Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore that Greece is “a test for the future of Europe” and would also test the ability of EU member states to remain united.

Meanwhile Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed “solidarity” with Greece, backpedaling on disparaging comments earlier this week. “Our culture dictates that we cannot sleep with a full stomach when our neighbor is hungry,” he said.

The comments came a few days after the Turkish PM, in response to a comment by an opposition party leader who had claimed that the Greek economy was in a better state than the Turkish one, had described Greece as “going cap in hand” to international creditors.
  
   

FM says his UN success is "tribute to Serbian people"

Source: B92, Tanjug

NEW YORK -- Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić says his election as new UN General Assembly president was "a tribute to the Serbian people".

Vuk Jeremić (Tanjug, file)

Speaking in New York on Friday after the voting, Jeremić noted that he had had the honor to serve his nation as foreign minister for over five years.
"It is an extreme honor to stand before the General Assembly after becoming the president of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly," Jeremić said in his first address to representatives of UN member countries.

As the first topic of the debate at the opening of the 67th session, Jeremić proposed bringing views closer and solving international disputes by peaceful means.

"In view of our experiences, I believe we can help implement all the harmonized proposals, especially those referring to prevention of conflicts," he noted, calling on the assembly "not to forget that peace is not merely an absence of war once they start discussing that important issue in September".

Jeremić stressed Serbia's commitment to preserving international peace and security, the UN's first declared goal.

"Governments in Serbia changes by peaceful means and in accordance with the rule of law," he pointed out.

"Serbia is a democratic country, which has no other ambitions but to contribute to humanity's general interests, preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity and benefit its people," Jeremić underscored.

The 37-year-old became Serbia's foreign minister in 2007. Jeremić graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in physics, to later attend the Harvard University and graduate with a degree of Master in Public Administration in International Development.

He is set to assume his duties as the UN General Assembly president in September 2012, for a one-year mandate.

also Albanian press:
http://www.gazetatema.net/web/2012/06/08/jeremic-zgjidhet-president-i-asamblese-se-pergjithshme-te-okb-pas-nje-beteje-te-hidhur/
http://www.shqiptarja.com/home/1/okb-serbi-jeremic-ne-krye-te-asamblese-se-pergjithshme-92070.html

Humor with the election process of the new Albanian President

Op-Ed: Outrage as student to be charged with shooting Albanian burglar

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Katerina

By Katerina Nikolas

Jun 8, 2012 - 3 hours ago in World

2 comments

Στην Ευελπίδων ο 24χρονος απο την Παιανία από Miss-Jessy-Lays

+

The young Greek veterinary student who shot and killed an Albanian burglar that had held a knife to his mother's throat, was cheered as he entered the court complex on Friday morning.

Digital Journal reported the shooting of a 43-year-old Albanian, who together with two other men broke into three residences in Peania in the early hours of Thursday morning. In the second home the gang entered the female owner was threatened at knife-point but her two sons were alerted by the alarm sounding. One of the men alerted was a 24-year-old veterinary university student. Alexandros Alexandrakis, the suspect's lawyer, said "He was awoken by the house alarm and saw one of two attackers wearing masks: one was holding a knife to his mother's throat and the other wielding an iron bar." Ekathimerini reported the student told his lawyer “I thought they would kill my mother; my mind snapped when I saw the knife held against her neck.” He chased after the burglars with his hunting gun, intending to immobilise him. The student stumbled on the ground and his gun went off, killing the Albanian. Ta Nea reports that the student, who turned himself in to police, has been charged with manslaughter. If convicted he could face up to 20 years in jail. He is said to be in shock and fully repentant of his actions. Police said the dead Albanian was breaking into houses with two accomplices, one his 46-year- brother who has now surrendered to the police. The men had entered Greece from Albania just three days earlier. Keep Talking Greece reported that residents of Peania described the crime wave that has overwhelmed the village. Residents said every single house in the village had been broken into. One resident who had been burgled twice said “We cannot go out, we cannot sleep at night,” whilst another said the family slept in shifts to keep watch for burglars. As the student was brought to court hundreds of supporters applauded him, calling out "Innocent." Because he surrendered to police immediately he is now in custody. If he had instead chosen to evade capture for 48 hours he would not be locked up but only required to appear in court on given dates. The case is all to reminiscent of many others where householders, defending their property and loved ones, have inadvertently taken the law into their own hands and paid the price. The young man has spoken of his repentance, saying he did not intend to kill anyone. Locals have appealed to the prosecution to deal with the student, described as a quiet young man, with leniency. The student witnessed a stranger, who had forced his way into his home, holding a knife to his mother's throat. It is no wonder there is outrage today in Greece over the prosecution of the man who thought of nothing more than defending and protecting his mother against foreign criminals.

This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com

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Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/326268#ixzz1xEBvm7KX

Hero of Kosovo, Wesley Clark requires a license for oil


U.S. General Wesley Clark, who led the campaign against Serbia in 1999, asked the Kosovo government a license to coal and oil. So says a document provided by Balkan Insight. The method returns the coal to oil supposed to be a solution at the end of oil reserves in the world.

Clark, a beloved figure in Kosovo, had intervened in Albania, for contract businesses. He, together with Damir Fazlic negotiated for fiscal stamps monopoly in Albania. Company was given monopoly for which lobbying Clark and Fazlic in troubled days after January 21.

The scandal lay in the fact that tax stamps will be sold two times more expensive and to doubt that they will not lead to reduction of tax evasion. Also, the media have speculated that Fazlic and Clark are meant to enter the gambling business, as reported NEWSPAPERS "century".

source:
http://www.gazetatema.net/web/2012/06/08/clirimtari-uesli-klark-kerkon-licence-per-nafte-ne-kosove/
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/wesley-clark-seeks-licence-for-oil-in-kosovo

Press release

From my personal email address, of journalist Stavri Marko "acrocheranea@yahoo.com, are abusive news spread, which inform much worse, collaborators and fellow journalists. This is not true. but meanwhile, inform security services, and the central server of Google and Yahoo, to conduct verification of hackers, damaging the reputation of the freelance Journalist.

This happens often in Albania, threatening press freedom and journalists, who work for freedom and basic human rights.

Only a day earlier, a team from the OSCE, monitored with critical notes, free press situation in Albania.

Greece and Turkey: Offensive and Defensive Balance of Naval Power in 2012

By Ioannis Michaletos

Balkanalysis.com Editor’s note: readers interested in this article will also want to see a recent article by the same author, Greece and Turkey: Offensive and Defensive Balance of Air Power in 2012.
The Greek and Turkish naval forces are two of NATO’s strongest and most experienced. The chronic antagonism between the two neighboring states has meant that their naval crews and officer corps have been trained and simulated wartime situations. The Greek Navy in particular has a longer tradition in maritime affairs due to the prevalence of a merchant marine culture and the numerous Islands, archipelagos and long stretches of coastline.
While Turkey also has a considerable coastline on three sides, it has traditionally had a much more continental orientation whereas Greece has traditionally looked to the sea. For example, during the rule of the Ottoman Turks, it was noted that the majority of their navy was manned by Greeks, while Turkish officers and soldiers were more effective serving in the land forces.
The following detailed report breaks down the inventory of these rival-but-allied naval forces for the year 2012. It also reveals that equilibrium of power has been established; the two countries have, both in quantitative and qualitative terms, reached an equal projection of naval power, something that partly depends on the threat perceptions military planners have regarding different fronts.
We expect this dynamic to remain as it is, at least for the mid-term, though pending acquisitions by Turkey could affect the balance in future. On the Aegean Sea front in particular, Greece for the time being enjoys a small level of superiority, since the Turkish Navy has obligations in the Black Sea as well, and it is considered that these forces would not be able to reach the Aegean in case of war, due to the difficulty in passing through the Bosporus Straits and Hellespontos without risking heavy casualties from the Greek air force, not to mention slowdowns due to the heavy presence of international maritime shipping in the Straits.
All data presented below derives from official information gathered from the Greek and Turkish Naval inventories, available in the archives of their respective military staffs and defense ministries.
.....................................

see more:  http://www.balkanalysis.com/greece/2012/05/31/greece-and-turkey-offensive-and-defensive-balance-of-naval-power-in-2012/

President, Serbs from north Kosovo meet

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić on Thursday in Belgrade met with representatives of Serb municipalities from northern Kosovo.

The four mayors attend the meeting on Thursday (Tanjug)

He told them that the government and all other state institutions "must do everything in order to protect the security and rights of Serbian citizens in Kosovo and Metohija".
However, Nikolić did not hand over the documents related to the Belgrade-Priština dialogue, started in March 2011 under EU mediation, as he had previously announced.

Instead, said reports, he only "showed the documents to Serb representatives".

The president stressed during the meeting today that the problem of the province must be resolved through peaceful and democratic means.

The presidential press service said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that Nikolić stated that a consensus of all relevant political factors in Serbia must be achieved when it comes to resolving the problem of Kosovo.

He also undertook the obligation to organize talks as soon as possible in order to achieve that consensus.

The president further called on the citizens in the southern Serbian province not to respond to provocations and to refrain from violent actions directed toward members of civilians and military missions present there.

The meeting in Belgrade was attended by mayors of the municipalities of Kosovska Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Zvečan and Leposavić - Krstimir Pantić, Dragiša Milović, Slaviša Ristić and Branko Ninić, as well as the head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District, Radenko Nedeljković.

Ahead of the meeting, reporters saw that SNS party leader Aleksandar Vučić also entered the presidency building, but it remains unclear if he participated.

The Serb representatives traveled to Belgrade to inform the president about the problems Serbs face in the southern province, focusing especially on recent incidents.

The mayors are officials from the area north of the Ibar River - where Serbs are the majority. President Nikolić also announced that he would in the coming days meet with representatives of Serbs who reside south of the Ibar - where they live in isolated enclaves.

"Serbs will to receive documents"

After the meeting today, Zvečan Mayor Dragiša Milović told reporters that President Tomislav Nikolić will soon give the representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo documents about the negotiations between Belgrade and Priština in order to familiarize them with the contents.

"We will get all the documents from Brussels very quickly, but we already got some insight from the OSCE and UNMIK. These are the documents that the office of the president has yet to study," Milović stated.

Asked whether the documents signed in Brussels contain something about which the Serbian public was not informed, Milović answered affirmatively.

Asked if Serbs will continue to block the movement of EULEX and if this was discussed in the meeting with the president of Serbia, Milović said that it was not a topic of conversation, and that EULEX members will be able to move freely when they prove to be status-neutral, as is the case of KFOR.

"We call on Kosovo Serbs not to fall for provocations in order to avoid being accused," Milović said.

During the previous 13 years, Priština - i.e., the ethnic Albanian authorities - had the opportunity to offer an olive branch "but I have never seen that", Milović said.

"Our citizens are frightened and we expect a u-turn, as well as for Serbs in Kosovo to participate in the negotiations with Priština soon, and Nikolić agreed," Milović noted.

According to Milović, EULEX this morning took off license plates that were not labeled "RKS, or KS" and called on the head of the negotiating team in dialogue with Pristina Borislav Stefanović "to tell the truth" on the subject of license plates.

Athens to Erdoğan: "look at your job"
June 7, 2012.
The expression of the prime minister "Greece comes begging for money", the Greek government spokesman made a tough response: "Very noise make Turkey has long way to reach the level of national income in Greece."

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in response to the leader of the Republican People's Party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, which made Turkey compared to Greece, told not to make such ridiculous comparisons when Greece comes to begging for money and puts the islands on sale.
In response to these statements came the strong statement of the Greek representative.
Turkey has long way to go
The Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tsiordas responding to the comments of Erdogan said, "Instead of the neighbors to respect our problems, noise, let's look at their job."
The Tsiordas said that "Turkey still has a long way to go to reach the currently reduced average per capita income of Greece," says a Turkish newspaper.

  Picture: AFP

CIA Director Petraeus visits Bulgaria June 5-7

07 June 2012 | 12:36 | FOCUS News Agency

Home / Bulgaria

Sofia. The Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, David Petraeus, visited Bulgaria June 5-7, 2012. During his visit, he met with President Rosen Plevneliev, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, and Minister of Defense Anyu Angelov, as well as with each of the Bulgarian intelligence agency directors, announced the U.S. embassy in Bulgaria.
As a former commander of the US Central Command and the coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, General Petraeus expressed sincere appreciation for the impressive contributions Bulgaria has made in those countries. He also praised the quality of the Bulgarian forces with which he was privileged to serve in those missions and in the Balkans.
The Director also expressed his appreciation for--and commitment to increasing--the strong, cooperative intelligence relationships between the CIA and the Bulgarian intelligence services as they work together to capitalize on emerging opportunities and to counter common threats.
Director Petraeus applauded, in particular, the efforts of the Bulgarian Government to combat terrorism, organized crime, and corruption. He recognized, in addition, Bulgaria's fiscal responsibility and discipline. The Director also noted that the United States recognizes and encourages the important steps Bulgaria has taken to modernize and its efforts to diversify its sources of energy and to provide more transparency in the energy sector, as well as to promote security and stability in the Balkans. And he left Bulgaria very impressed by the overall visions articulated by the President and the Prime Minister.
The Director recognizes that the close partnership between the United States and Bulgaria is of great importance to both countries, and he looks forward to that partnership becoming even stronger in the intelligence and other spheres in the months and years that lie ahead.

NewsIt.gr: Πυροβόλησε και σκότωσε ληστή

Albanian robber killed by a Greek citizen. The event happened in a periferic quarter of Athens. 
The owner of the house hit to death with guns, one of two robbers, who had entered the night in his house. See video from Greek TV

Merkel Threatens Greece With European Court of Justice June 6 2012 at 1:17 PM		ups434   (Login Ups434) The Conquerors (Turkey)
Merkel Threatens Greece With European Court of Justice By Stella Tsolakidou on June 5, 2012 in News, Politics Addressing a Social Democratic Union meeting in Berlin yesterday, Chancellor Angela Merkel clarified that Greece is legally bound to stick to the already signed bailout agreements, and reminded the Greek parties that no alteration in the terms and conditions of the Memorandum will be accepted. The German Chancellor also noted that in case Greece does violate the financial agreements, the country would have to appear before the European Court of Justice just like any other country has to do. Moreover, Merkel rejected the EU bond idea as a crisis solution anew but seemed willing to become flexible about the imposition of a new taxation on financial transactions and the measures aiming at boosting growth within the Euro Zone. Merkel insisted that all EU Member-States must give part of their national sovereignty in terms of their national budgets in exchange for development. In this framework, the German Chancellor met with the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso. The official meeting on the current European affairs is scheduled for June 28 & 29 in Brussels. According to Reuters, Barroso and Merkel also met last Wednesday during the summit of the Baltic Sea Council, where Merkel said that both sides agree that Europes fiscal pact on budget discipline is only the first of many steps toward greater Euro Zone integration and more sacrifices of national sovereignty in the European Union.

No Comment! ...Waiting for politic elections in Greece

EU, Albania Sign Agreement On Security Cooperation

6/5/2012 1:08 PM ET
(RTTNews) - The European Union and Albania have signed a framework agreement on the participation of Albania in EU crisis management operations across the world, according to an EU statement issued Tuesday.
The agreement was signed in Brussels on Tuesday by Pierre Vimont, the Executive Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), and Albania's deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Edmond Haxhinasto.
Albania is already a partner in the area of the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). The two sides had earlier negotiated "ad hoc arrangements" for Albania's participation in two EU military operations, namely EUFOR Tchad/RCA in Chad and the Central African Republic, and EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The agreement signed Tuesday "will set out a legal framework for possible future Albanian participation in the full range of EU-led military operations and civilian missions, and represents a step towards more structured cooperation between the EU and Albania in the security field," the EU statement said.
The new agreement also sets a legal framework for future Albanian participation in EU's on-going and future EU crisis management efforts across the world and eliminates unnecessary delays in cases where Albania accepts invitation to participate in EU operations.
"The agreement comes in response to Albania's strong desire to contribute with personnel and assets to the EU efforts, offering enhanced effectiveness and flexibility in response to future crises," the statement added.

Nano: Leaving when president is elected

After communicating for three days through press releases, Fatos Nano, the former Prime Minister and former Socialist leader, returned to the public meetings.

Nano had a 60 minutes long meeting with the US ambassador to Tirana, Alexander Arvizu, who gave no comments about the meeting.

Nano declared that the conversation with Mr. Arvizu was part of his campaig to meet the most important representatives of the Euro-Atlantic community and exchange any necessary information for the solution of the presidential challenge.

The former Prime Minister gave no direct answer when asked if he will be a candidate in the third presidential voting session.

“An acceptable and democratic solution is also a race between two parties, when there is no full consensus, such as the current situation, when we have consensus from the majority for Zaganjori, but not from the opposition. The opposition has requested to change the majority’s offer, so that they can give consensus too, as there is a request from the majority for the SP to present their candidate. If the consensus is impossible, a democratic solution is a race between the representatives of both parties. I will leave the race with the same calmness and good will with which I entered, right after the new President will be elected”, Nano declared.

Nano considered as unfounded the voices that he will be supported by the SMI leader, Ilir Meta, rather than Edi Rama.

Property Title procedures, online

The Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, focused today’s government meeting in some decisions that turn the Digital Albania project concrete. According to the government, this new project makes the Albanian administration more transparent and facilitates bureaucracies.

One of these decisions is related with the Property Titles. If the citizens have to transfer the property to someone else, they can realize this through the notaries, who can use online applications for verifying the real estate data electronically.

The priorities of this decision are the avoidance of direct contacts with the citizens in the property title offices, reducing this way the long queues, the lost time and corruptive acts. The realization of this project leaves to citizens only to days, one to go to the notary, to sign the agreement, and one to withdraw the agreement together with the property title. Another important decision is the realization of a pilot project, which can be seen at 1300 administration employees. This project enables the citizens and businessmen to track the right offices online.

“These practices will identify those who sleep with their eyes open on the acts, finding this way where are they being delayed and why. This project will be expanded throughout the entire administration activity, for easing the communication between the citizens and the administration. This project will make the Albanian administration one of the most transparent in the region and the entire planet”, Berisha declared.

When speaking about the realization of his dream, Digital Albania, the Prime Minsiter didn’t hesitate to use irony for the current presidential debate.

“I understand that when I said ‘dream’, you thought about the president. It can be realized only by one person, because that’s where our post has the limits”, Berisha declared. 

Note: Continues without end, looting of property through anti-democratic laws adopted by the Albanian government. Following the adoption of Law 7501, now extends to higher mortgage rates in the seaside property, to be given to foreign citizens, under 1 euro. 

Albanians with AK-47 terrorized an entire village in Greece

Sources by DefenceNet

http://www.defencenet.gr/defence/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43887&Itemid=139
       
When in broad daylight Melissochori of Voeotia, two Albanians with AK-47 Kalashnikov come into the village "kafaneio", grab the pensions of the village postman and heavily injuring one resident of the village and the worst of all, leave undisturbed.

What hope for the future internal security of the Greece?

And yet all that was described is true: The postman went to the village cafe, where the residents were gathered to distribute pensions.

Suddenly, two "aliens" who speak Albanian, dressed in uniform, came in with a Kalashnikov and shouted "Do not shake one," as described by fearful villagers.

Immediately after, Albanian bandits began bolting up shop in the dark over the heads of the Bar, who fall to the ground to protect themselves, but one of them was lucky: The bullet of 7.62 mm. pierced his neck!

The robbers stole pensions from the postman, threw another one burst and left a car without anyone bothering them. All of this took place at 12.00.

The unlucky man was taken to hospital of Thebes, and from there to Athens, under critical situation for his life.
Anyway, source by Greek Security Servises, think that, need to tackle an insurgency in the northern border as how the UCC albanian group, how it treated? There are different situations where they can not conceive two Albanians in a village to next to Athens, do not expect to face organized guerrilla units in the northern border ...

Department news defencenet.gr

Cyprus reiterates position on Kosovo ahead of EU presidency

Source: Tanjug

BRUSSELS -- During its EU presidency Cyprus will not change the policy towards Kosovo and will continue to support Serbia on its path of European integration.

This was heard on Wednesday from Permanent Representative of Cyprus in Brussels Cornelius Corneliou.
"We will not recognize Kosovo and that remains our position," Corneloiu told reporters at a briefing held as his country prepares to take over the European Union's rotating presidency.

Cyprus is one of five EU member states that have not recognized Kosovo's ethnic Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, made in February 2008.

Corneliou said that this will not affect priorities and the development of socio-economic relations between Brussels and Priština, or the dialogue between Priština and Belgrade.

When it comes to policy towards Serbia, Corneliou said that Belgrade should be given a little more time to meet the requirements of the European Council and Commission set to begin accession negotiations.

If these conditions are met, we will continue to support Serbia, he said.

Corneliou said that the process of EU enlargement to the Balkan countries, including Turkey, remains the top priority regardless of the fact that Turkey has announced that it will suspend dialogue with Brussels during the Cypriot presidency.

"It is their unilateral decision, but we are arguing for the continuation of negotiations," he said.

Cyprus will take over six-month EU presidency from Denmark on July 1.

The Greek election, in one extremely indecisive table

Posted by Brad Plumer 

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The fate of the euro — and, perhaps, the global economy — could rest on the elections in Greece on June 17. No pressure or anything. And the Greeks still can’t make up their minds on which way to vote. Polls have been lurching wildly back and forth.

Syriza’s Alex Tsipras wants your vote. (Reuters) Let’s recall the background. Greece owes a whole bunch of money it can’t repay. In February, the country received a $140 billion bailout from the IMF, the European Central Bank, and the European Commission. In exchange, Greece is supposed to make a bunch of sharp spending cuts. Greek voters don’t like this, given that their country’s economy is already in tatters. But if they don’t accept further austerity, they might not get the bailout. And that could mean a Greek exit from the euro. Possible doom to ensue.
So that’s the context for the upcoming Greek parliamentary elections. The party that voters back could determine Greece’s fate. On the one hand, there’s Syriza, the far-left party that’s threatening to rip up the bailout-for-austerity agreement. That sounds awfully enticing to voters. On the other hand, there’s the pro-bailout New Democracy party, which wants to renegotiate the agreement a bit — maybe wheedle some more aid out of Germany — but isn’t ready to do anything drastic that might get the country booted from the euro. That pro-euro stance is also popular with voters.
So Syriza and New Democracy keep alternating leads. The most recent poll has Syriza in the lead with 31.5 percent of the vote. Earlier polls had New Democracy ahead. Masa Serdarevic (using Reuters data) created this handy table of all the polling results to date, with the leaders in bold:

Keep in mind that the winning party gets an extra 50 seats in the 300-seat parliament. So the key question, as LSE’s Kevin Featherstone explained a few weeks ago, is whether the June elections will allow any of the Greek parties to form a working government. One possibility is that ND takes the lead and tries to form a government with the pro-bailout Pasok. In that case, they might try to pick up support from the Democratic Left, which wants to stay in the euro but doesn’t approve of the bailout.
That ambivalent position seems to reflect the attitude of most Greeks. Polls suggest most people want the country to remain in the euro, but they’d rather not endure too much wrenching austerity, which only seems to be making everything worse. And Syriza is convincing many voters that it can thread this needle. “There’s a delusion in the public debate in Greece that Syriza can persuade the euro zone not to kick us out, that we can play this game of poker and they will concede,” Featherstone said. “That’s very risky.”
But how risky? On that question, it seems like the Greek public still can’t make up its mind.

N. Kosovo Serbs “still waiting to meet with Nikolić"

Source: Beta

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor Krstimir Pantić says northern Kosovo municipal officials still have not received an invitation to a meeting with the Serbian president.

Northern Kosovo Serb leaders (Tanjug, file)

Pantić told Beta news agency that he and his colleagues would, once they received the invitation, meet with Tomislav Nikolić in order to find out what Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanović had agreed with Priština in Brussels.
“We should know what obligations of us who run the local self-governments are. It is not good for citizens to go out in the streets, to endanger their safety if something that needs to be fulfilled was agreed and signed in Brussels,” he pointed out.

Pantić stressed that if the agreements that Albanians claim were reached were not signed, the northern Kosovo citizens had the right to protest and the local self-government heads had the right to support them at barricades.

Nikolić said on Saturday that the Serbian citizens would soon be informed about the details of the agreements that were reached in Brussels.

Did George Goro avoid the meeting with Berisha in Himara?

The first step of Goro, opposite the Prime Minister of Albania, discontent against the Development Plan, or Edi Rama, ordered not to meet with Berisha

The fact is, the Himara Development Plan; Tirana decided that building licenses obtained by the Albanian Government

No need for comment, a video, the scatters of the televisions in Tirana, the fact that during a visit in Himara, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, was not welcomed by Mayor George Himara Goro, ....is more than an "accident".

Lot to be analyzed this fact, when only a few days ago, the Albanian government, passed by the Council of Territory Adjustment, Development Plan of Himara Region. What has caused indignation from many sources by Himara, is the fact that Prime Minister Berisha, decided that building permits in this Development Plan shall be provided exclusively from Tirana.

Could this be fact, a grab in "surprise" to Goro? Something credible, if you added another fact that Edi Rama, had called all socialists Municipalities, to oppose to the government for the "Memorandum of boats" in which involvement also just this day, together with the representatives of Himara, George Goro?

However, this is a sign of dissatisfaction of George Goro, against Berisha. The facts show that Goro, has met several times with Berisha to take of funds into infrastructure of Himara, but also to contribute to the Development Plan.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Himara, there are problems with finances, and George Goro, calling for help, but global poverty index, which is largely affected in Himara immigrants, who are returning from Greece, could create problems, in tax collection, for the administration of the Municipality.

Albanians with German uniforms in KFOR (!)

 11:00 pm |  Posted by mikres-ekdoseis | 

June 4, 2012.

Belgrade.

The current situation in northern Kosovo is peaceful, after a "Bloody Friday" when the forces of NATO- KFOR organized a campaign to remove barricades near the village of Rudare , as noted by the Serbian electronic edition of the "West being Lyne" .

American and German soldiers of KFOR had ruled for eight hours all the roads of northern Kosovo. Kosovo Serbs seeing this blockade assumed that would come to the territory of northern Kosovo Special Forces, Rosa .

The strange thing is that the Serbs had no doubt that the uniforms of German soldiers of KFOR , was dressed by Albanians of Kosovo.

"We swear to Serbia. Hear them speak in Albanian. "

"How should we understand the KFOR peacekeeping mission as? "said Doug Filimovits who participated in roadblocks.

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Balkan Periscope - Articles & Thoughts-George Echedoros

Right-wing nationalists in Greece, with campaign propaganda, even with a humorous video

Albania, EU, Sign Agreement On Security Cooperation

The European Union and Albania have signed a framework agreement on the participation of Albania in EU crisis management operations across the world, according to an EU statement issued Tuesday.

The agreement was signed in Brussels on Tuesday by Pierre Vimont, the Executive Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), and Albania's deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Edmond Haxhinasto.

Albania is already a partner in the area of the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). The two sides had earlier negotiated "ad hoc arrangements" for Albania's participation in two EU military operations, namely EUFOR Tchad/RCA in Chad and the Central African Republic, and EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The agreement signed Tuesday "will set out a legal framework for possible future Albanian participation in the full range of EU-led military operations and civilian missions, and represents a step towards more structured cooperation between the EU and Albania in the security field," the EU statement said.

The new agreement also sets a legal framework for future Albanian participation in EU's on-going and future EU crisis management efforts across the world and eliminates unnecessary delays in cases where Albania accepts invitation to participate in EU operations.

"The agreement comes in response to Albania's strong desire to contribute with personnel and assets to the EU efforts, offering enhanced effectiveness and flexibility in response to future crises," the statement added.

Greeks Divided as Election Stalemate Looms Again


ATHENS - The final day of polling before the repeat election in Greece on June 17 showed the two main contenders neck and neck. The economic crisis has divided Greeks, who appear split on the causes and solutions to the country's financial meltdown. The political stalemate only appears to be entrenching these divisions.

Industrial disputes do not get much worse than this.  The workers at the Hellenic Halyvourgia steel plant have been on strike for more than 200 days. Yorgos Sifonios is president of the workers’ union.  He showed letters of solidarity from unions across the world.

“The Union has undertaken collective action, which has roused the whole of Greece's working class. Our strike has become a landmark, a model of how all workers must fight,” Sifonios said.

The factory’s owner laid off 50 workers last year, blaming falling demand.  The company declined an interview.

The workers say production was actually increasing.  Among those on the picket line is Panayiotis Papanikolaou, who has worked at the factory for more than 20 years.

“Right now, I think most of the workers will support and vote for Syriza - not PASOK or New Democracy - because Syriza supports the workers,” Papanikolaou said.

Greek unemployment hit a record 21.7 percent in February. More than half of young people have no job.

Alex Tsipras, the 37-year-old leader, of the Syriza Party, has vowed to cancel the austerity program insisted on by the European Union in return for financial bailouts.

Results from Friday, the last day of polling before the June 17 election, show Syriza  and New Democracy - which supports the bailout - each holding around 26 percent.
Anastasios Georgiadis is director of Kapa Research, which carried out the poll.

“Based on today’s information, it will be no easier to form a government than it was on May 7 [after the first election],” Georgiadis said.

Analysts say the economic crisis has polarized Greek politics.  Nikos Christodoulou from Merit Securities says the markets would punish a Syriza victory.

“The market wants a more pro-European government which would implement the reforms and would not attack the bailout agreement,” Christodoulou said.

Athens residents flocked to the beach Saturday and Sunday to enjoy the sun and try to forget about the crisis.

In less than two weeks, they return to the polls knowing another economic storm could soon follow.

Freedom House, Albania's level reduced
05/06/2012

The Freedom House organization is expected to publish the annual report “Transit Countries 2012”, which analyzes the democratic developments in Central and Eastern Europe, together with the former Soviet Union countries.

Top Channel has secured a copy of the report, where Albania has went some places lower, as regards the electoral processes, the justice system independence and democracy. This is the conclusion of Freedom House for the recent political developments in our country:

“There was no progress during 2011, after some troubled years that are keeping Albania far from the EU candidate status. A high profile corruption scandal that implicated the Deputy Prime Minister caused anti-government protests, where the security forces killed four persons. The local elections were characterized by violence, while the court decisions regarding the May 8th local elections were treated partially by causing Albania to fall in the justice system independence framework, after the influence of politics”.

The report also refers to the murder of the Vlore judge, Skerdilajd Konomi, marking the first killing of a judge in the history of the country. Same as in the recent evaluation of Freedom House, the Albanian government is received 4.75 from 7 points.

Less than Albania were ranked Bosnia and the newest country in the world, Kosovo, the government of which received 5.75 points. Albania remains the last in the Balkan list as regards the local administration, receiving 3.25 points.

The justice system has fallen at 4.75 in Albania, but it has improved in Kosovo with 5.5.

War against corruption received 5 points, unchanged since 2007, while Kosovo’s goes to 5.18 for democracy. The level of democracy in Albania fell to 4.14.

As regards the electoral processes, Albania has fallen with the recent elections to 4.25.

The media independence index remains the same, with 4 points.

Freedom House is an NGO in New Your, founded in 1941, which has been considered an advocate of democracy by monitoring the human rights.

Freedom House has included Albania in its rankings since 2003

Serbia's new president revives Balkan tensions


By JOVANA GEC, Associated Press – 1 hour ago
 
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia's new nationalist president has been in office for less than a week and he's already rocking fragile Balkan stability and casting doubt over his proclaimed pro-European Union policies.
Tomislav Nikolic, a former ultranationalist ally of Serbia's wartime leader Slobodan Milosevic, revived ethnic tensions in the still volatile region by stating that the Srebrenica massacre, in which Bosnian Serb forces killed some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in 1995, was not genocide but a "grave crime."
"There was no genocide in Srebrenica," Nikolic told Montenegro state TV last week.
Europe's worst slaughter of civilians since World War II was proclaimed genocide both by the International Court of Justice and a U.N. war crimes court for the former Yugoslavia that has convicted several Bosnian Serbs for taking part in the carnage.
In Brussels, the office of EU's Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned Nikolic's comments Monday, saying that "the EU strongly rejects any intention to rewrite history." Spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said that "the massacre in Srebrenica was a genocide ... a crime against all of humankind.
"We should never forget and it should never be allowed to happen again."
Nikolic also told a German newspaper that Croatia's border town of Vukovar, which was bombed to the ground by the Serb-led army during the country's war for independence in 1992, was in fact a "Serb town."
The statements were reminiscent of the war era of the 1990s, when Milosevic launched the wars in Croatia and Bosnia to create a pan-Serbian state after the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. They fueled fears that Nikolic's surprise victory over liberal Boris Tadic in a May 20 presidential runoff vote will threaten the volatile process of postwar reconciliation in the Balkans — one of the main conditions set by the EU for Serbia to become a member.
The war in the former Yugoslavia claimed more than 100,000 lives and left millions homeless. The United States and its EU allies have sought to foster harmony in the region, encouraging the Balkan states to put the past behind them and work together to join the EU.
While campaigning, Nikolic — a former right-wing extremist who supported Milosevic's war campaigns — claimed to have become a conservative populist who supports Serbia's integration into the EU. But his resurgent nationalism has triggered alarm in the region and could derail Serbia's EU membership bid.
Bakir Izetbegovic, one of Bosnia's three presidents, said that Nikolic's remarks are "an insult to the victims" of the 1995 Srebrenica killings.
The comments "cast a shadow and seriously brought into question his publicly proclaimed pro-European rhetoric and statements in which he supported regional cooperation," said Izetbegovic, who represents Bosnia's Muslims. He added that "unfortunately, Nikolic has shown that he is not ready to face the events of the recent past."
A prominent Serbian human rights group, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, demanded that Nikolic apologize to the families of the Srebrenica victims. The group said that Nikolic's remarks "added uncertainty to future of the regional relations."
Serbia had slowly started to shake off its troublemaker image under Tadic, who championed the country's pro-EU reforms.
During his eight years in office, Tadic had moved to mend ties with both Croatia and Bosnia. He visited Srebrenica and apologized for the massacre, and parliament passed a declaration condemning the killings. Nikolic now says he won't apologize over Srebrenica.
"If Boris Tadic, the (former) Serbian president, has already been to Srebrenica, if he condemned the crime in Srebrenica, if the Serbian parliament has done the same, then why would I revive that issue again?" Nikolic asked.
While taking important steps on the road to the EU, Tadic fell victim to Serbia's economic crisis and plummeting living standards. Nikolic campaigned on promises of reviving the economy and fighting corruption.
Tadic is still hoping to forge a pro-EU government with Socialist allies and a liberal group, which would sideline Nikolic as a figurehead president because the post of the prime minister is more powerful than that of president.
During his inauguration Thursday, Nikolic pledged to maintain friendly relations with Croatia and Bosnia. But he reiterated that Serbia should abandon its EU ambitions if it means giving up its claim on Kosovo — the former province that declared independence in 2008.
Nikolic said cooperation with Croatia will be "very much welcome and open."
But Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said that Nikolic still needs to revise his wartime stands.
"Once it is clear that Mr. Nikolic is firmly on that road, there will be no obstacle for cooperation," Josipovic said. "But this needs to be shown and proven."
Associated Press correspondent Dusan Stojanovic contributed.
Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Even the President of Albania, decided by Merkel 

SManalysis

Futile effort, without any seriousness of Albanian politicians, to elect the new President, has come to an end. The next president must speak German. It seems that Washington has given the "OK" for Xhezair Zaganjori, which has been for four years, the Albanian Ambassador in Germany.

Determination of Angela Merkel, to have political and economic control to the Balkans, even Greece, has affected the nomination of president of Albania. Geopolitical observers to Albania, has revealed much concern, so long, it's "free choice to vote" in Albania, thus have found the way, to make stable solutions, no matter in the Albanian people, if "they vote or not."

And this solution comes through tough regime of ambassadors in Tirana, for whom, Albanian politicians, make any concession.Undo edits

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, left, holds a meeting with opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama, right, on the election of the new president in Tirana, Albania, Sunday, June 3, 2012.

Albania fails a second time to elect a president

Today at 13:08 | Associated Press

RS president accuses Bosniaks of “self-genocide”

Source: Tanjug

BANJA LUKA -- Republic of Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik said on Saturday that Bosniaks were committing “self-genocide” by constantly claiming they were victims.

Milorad Dodik (Tanjug, file)

“Nobody is threatening them. The RS and Serbs did not commit genocide in the past. Genocide was committed against us in Jasenovac and in other places, which was supported wholeheartedly by (Bosnian chief mufti) Mustafa Cerić’s predecessors,“ he told reporters.
Dodik reacted to Cerić’s statement that Bosnian Muslims were facing new genocide.

The RS president noted that a “huge crime” happened in the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and that individuals who had committed it needed to be put on trial.

Dodik stressed that the elections in the Islamic Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina were underway.

“The fact that Mustafa Cerić is dealing with politics shows that the role of the Islamic Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina is completely negative in this society,” he said, adding that the religious community should stay outside politics and the government.

According to him, the Islamic Community has enabled extreme Muslim groups, such as Wahhabis, Salafists and others, to operate freely in the country.

“All terrorist attacks that happened here were done by members of the radical Wahhabi movement,” Dodik said.

Serwer: Nikolic is giving signs of division, for entire Balkan

(Koha Ditore, Kosovo)

Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo and the Balkans have entered a dangerous period of divisions. American analyst Daniel Serwer evaluates that the behavior of the new Serbian president, Tomislav Nikolic, will create division. 

A division, which according to the well know expert of the Balkans, would not only involve Kosovo, but the whol Balkans up to Cyprus. Serwer, calls on the five EU countries which do not recognize Kosovo to do so, in order to be prevent such a development. Server concludes that in the EU there is prejudice towards Kosovo and Albanians. 

According to him those prejudices should be challenged. “Nikolic may have said many things and done many things in the past, but I am not worried about that. I want to know what he is going to do now. The first signals are not good. 

He visited Russia immediately after he was elected. In addition, right away newspaper started to publish articles with some of my colleagues who are talking about the division throughout Balkans and these are not good signs”, said Server.