The Qafe Bote march
30/06/2012 
Top Channel

The Chameria Week continued with the march to Kllogjer, which has turned into an annual event for the commemoration of the Greek Genocide victims among the Albanian Cham population after the Second World War.

Hundreds of people traveled to the border with Greece, together with the Self-Determination Movement of Kosovo, Albin Kurti. The first stop was Kllogjeri, where was inaugurated the starting of the monumental cemeteries construction for the 3000 Cham victims.

The march continued to Qafe Bote, where the Party of Justice, Integration and Unity leader, Shpetim Idrizi, declared that the construction of the monumental cemeteries was an obligation for their predecessors, and he compared the Cham genocide with the holocaust.

“The homogenous Greece of today was established with the elimination of 70% of the Jews and 100% of the Cham population, only because they belonged to another ethnic, religious and social community”, Idrizi declared.

The PJIU leader declared that this is the time to bring justice through peaceful efforts.

The march was greeted also by the Self-Determination Movement, Albin Kurti, who declared that the Albanians are a people that have suffered many injustices that now must disappear.

More than 5000 Cham Albanians died 67 years ago in the ethnic cleansing held against the Albanian land that remained outside the ethnic borders after 1013. 3000 of them were killed by the Greek forces and 2000 others lost their lives while fleeing to Albania.

Talks on Syria overshadowed by Russia-U.S. split

Source: Deutsche Welle

GENEVA -- World powers are meeting in Geneva to discuss ways to resolve the bloody crisis in Syria.

(Beta)

But differences between the U.S. and Russia are likely to make it difficult to reach any unanimous agreement.
The multi-nation talks now under way in Geneva were called by international envoy Kofi Annan and are being attended by foreign ministers from the U.S., Russia, Britain, China, France, Qatar, Turkey, Kuwait and Iraq. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton is also present.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are conspicuous by their absence in the list of those invited.

Diplomats said Russia opposed Saudi Arabia because it supports the Syrian opposition, while the U.S. and European nations were against having Iran at the meeting as it is a longtime ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The Geneva meeting will, among other things, debate a peace proposal on forming an interim Syrian government circulated by Annan prior to the gathering.

Saturday's talks were preceded by a meeting in St. Petersburg on Friday between U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Following the talks, Washington warned of continued differences in approach between the U.S. and Russia, with some reports saying Saturday's talks were nearly cancelled because of Russia's demands.

Lavrov was far more upbeat about the outcome of the meeting, saying there was "a very good chance" of reaching agreement at the Geneva conference.

The main bone of contention is the implied suggestion in Annan's proposal that Assad should step down to make way for an interim Syrian administration.

The proposal calls for a unity government that would exclude figures that jeopardize stability.

Russia rejects this idea, insisting that Assad's fate "must be decided within the framework of a Syrian dialogue by the Syrian people themselves."

Moscow is Syria's most important ally, protector and arms supplier, and, with China, has twice used its Security Council veto to shield Damascus from UN sanctions.

The meeting on Saturday aims to find a way of ending 16 months of bloody violence in Syria since a nationwide anti-government uprising began in late January 2011. Rights monitors say the conflict has left 15,800 people dead since March last year.

The UN says violence in the country has worsened since an ineffective cease-fire deal in April.

On Friday, Syrian troops shelled a suburb of Damascus, killing an estimated 125 civilians and 60 soldiers.

Death tolls cannot be independently verified, as journalists are mostly not allowed into conflict areas.

EU police mission leaves Bosnia-Herzegovina

Source: Beta

BRUSSELS -- EU Police Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUPM) has completed its support “to the rule of law in the country,” the European Commission (EC) has stated.

EUPM was initially launched on January 1, 2003 and according to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton “it has in many respects contributed to shaping our common security and defense policy and the EU's role as a security provider”.
“The completion of EUPM reflects the progress achieved by Bosnia-Herzegovina in strengthening the rule of law,” Ashton pointed out, adding that EU Special Representative Peter Sorensen would “support further improvements and accompany Bosnia-Herzegovina on its path towards EU accession”.

“EUPM worked as part of the broader EU rule of law approach in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in the region, supporting relevant law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system in the fight against organized crime and corruption, in enhancing the interaction between police and prosecutors and in fostering regional and international cooperation,” she added.

According to the EC data, more than 2,300 police officers and international experts of various professional backgrounds from all 27 EU member states and other countries participated in EUPM over the last decade.

Future Serbian PM sets priorities: EU and Kosovo

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Serbia's future PM Ivica Dačić has said that the priorities of his cabinet will be "Serbia's European path", but also "protection of Serbian state interests".

Ivica Dačić (Tanjug, file)

The leader of the Socialists (SPS) stressed that this meant "solving the problem of Kosovo and Metohija in a peaceful manner and through negotiations, based on the implementation of what has already been agreed".
"I believe that it is of essence to define the Balkans as a zone of peace and stability," he told reporters in Belgrade late on Friday, while attending a farewell reception organized by German Ambassador Wolfram Maas.

Asked how Serbia's new government would react if the EU comes up with "more strict demands for Serbia's further integration", Dačić responded by saying that this was "a matter for further discussion":

"Looking at the criteria that has been set thus far, it is very important to approach continued negotiations seriously and to eliminate as many points that could represent obstacles for being given a date for the start of negotiations with the EU."

Dačić also stated that he expected a cabinet to be put together soon, and that there were no major differences between the future coalition partners - the Socialists and the Progressives (SNS) - when it came to political stances and issues.

"In the coming days we will also talk to other parties, but it is clear that there is a parliamentary majority", concluded Dačić, who was earlier this week given the mandate by the president to form Serbia's new government.
.

The Coast line and The Himara Community Association, to protest property in Tirana

they reminded Albanian politics and government, that without the return of all property, including community property and the Orthodox Church, any step can not unite Albania with EU values​​.

Chairman of the Coast Line Association, Niko Nesturi, 7501 stated that the law is stated as civil disobedience and that the OSCE would ask to have full transparency for coastal zone management. While from Himara Community, Prof Priamo Bollano, stated about the Constitutional Law of the properties that Albania must full respect as human rights conditions.

The Himara Community, and the Coast Line Association, have sent to the Constitutional Court approved the Law of 7501, the Albanian parliament, only 64 votes out of government, at the same time the opposition boycotted the session.

Property issues in the Himara Region, is one of 12 points to Albania, must meet the criteria as the basis for accession in EU.

Saudis forces mass on Jordanian, Iraqi borders. Turkey, Syria reinforce strength

DEBKAfile Special Report June 29, 2012, 

Turkey deploys anti-aircraft guns

The Syrian crisis was Friday, June 29, on a knife edge between a Western-Arab-Turkish military offensive in the next 48 hours and a big power accord to ward it off.
debkafile’s military sources report heavy Saudi troop movements toward the Jordanian and Iraqi borders Thursday overnight and up until Friday morning, June 29, after King Abdullah put the Saudi military on high alert for joining an anti-Assad offensive in Syria. The Saudi units are poised with tanks, missiles, special forces and anti-air batteries to enter Jordan in two heads:
One will safeguard Jordan's King Abdullah against potential Syrian or Iranian reprisals from Syria or Iraq.
The second will cut north through Jordan to enter southeastern Syriam, where a security zone will be established around the towns of Deraa, Deir al-Zour and Abu Kemal – all centers of the anti-Assad rebellion. The region is also the home terrain of the Shammar tribe, brethren of the Shammars of the Saudi Nejd province.
The Saudi units deployed on the Iraqi border are there to defend the kingdom against potential incursions by Iraqi Shiite militias crossing into the kingdom for reprisals. The Iraqi militias are well trained and armed and serve under officers of the Iranian Al-Qods Brigades, the Revolutionary Guards’ external arm.
Western Gulf sources report that Jordan too is on war alert.
Following the downing of a Turkish plane by Syria a week ago, Turkey continues to build up its Syrian border units with anti-aircraft guns, tanks and missiles towed by long convoys of trucks.
A Free Syria Army officer, Gen. Mustafa al-Sheikh, reported Friday that 170 Syrian army tanks of the 17th Mechanized Division were massed near the village of Musalmieh northeast of Aleppo, 30 km from the Turkish border.  He said they stood ready to attack any Turkish forces crossing into Syria.
As these war preparations advanced, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in St. Petersburg Friday for crucial talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.  They meet the day before the new UN-sponsored Action Group convenes in Geneva to discuss UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan’s latest transition proposal for Syria. He hopes for a political settlement that will ward off military intervention.
Invited to the meeting are the five veto-wielding UN Security Council members plus Turkey and Arab League envoys from Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq.
Annan proposes forming a transitional national unity government in Damascus that includes the opposition and excludes unacceptable regime members.
It was widely reported Thursday that Russia had agreed to this formula, even though it entailed evicting Bashar Assad from power. However, Lavrov stepped in to correct the record, stressing in reference to the Annan proposal that Moscow would not lend its support to “any outside interference or imposition of recipes in Syria.”
This position is doubly aimed at the intensive military movements afoot around Syria.
Clinton and Lavrov are therefore expected to go at the Syrian issue hammer and tongs. The outcome of their meeting will not only determine the course of the Action Group’s discussions but, more importantly, whether the Western-Arab-Turkish alliance goes forward with its military operation against Syria.
US-Russian concurrence on a plan for Assad’s removal could avert the operation. The failure of their talks would spell a worsening of the Syrian crisis and precipitate Western-Arab military intervention, which according to military sources in the Gulf is scheduled for launch Saturday, June 30.

Shpetim Idrizi: Resolution for Cham case

Activists from the Patriotic Club, part of the PJIU, donated to the MPs the special issue of the “Chameria” magazine, including a book with photos and natural and cultural monuments of Chameria.

MP Shpetim Idrizi, also PJIU leader, declared that on this day of the year, 67 years ago, 3000 men, women and children were killed in Chameria, and 2960 others died in the artificial border of Chameria with Albania, in Kllogjer. Idrizi brought to the attention of the MPs the fact that Albania needs a resolution for the Cham case.

“In order to make justice about the victims of the Chameria genocide, we need to have the Cham case at the agenda of our diplomatic and legal institutions. We believe that this is time to pass a resolution about the Cham case, and sanction its inclusion in our national agenda.

This Parliament is not like the one of 2004, where there was no national awareness and when the Chameria Association members were beaten in the Parliament doors for asking a resolution. In this Parliament, all MPs are equal. We, the Cham Albanians consider all of you as patriotic men and women”, Idrizi declared.

Shpetim Idrizi declared that the PJIU will take all necessary steps for making this resolution a reality.

Turkish Authorities Give Back Large Area of Land to Greek Community of Istanbul

By Marianna Tsatsou

 

Turkish authorities gave back to the Greek Orthodox foundation based in Istanbul an area of 98 acres situated close to Kandilli, in the Asian part of northern Bosphorus. This area was attached by Turkish officials illegally and after so many years, the Turkish state has decided to give it back to the Greek Orthodox community of Istanbul.
This is a rather expensive plot of land as the broader region is regarded one of the Turkish capital’s most luxurious.
Pantelis Vingas, representative of the non-Islamist minorities and active member of the Greek community of Istanbul, commented that “over the past time, Turkish authorities have made significant decisions, making clear their government’s intention to change everything they have promised to do in regards to Istanbul-based minorities’ freedoms and rights.”
He stressed also the fact that “the Greek community of Istanbul wants to thank Turkish officials for this move and wish that they continue with their positive efforts in several other sectors,” so that Turkey’s minorities can live peacefully.

Russian envoy travels to Kosovo, accuses K. Albanians

Source: Beta, Tanjug

GRAČANICA -- Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Konuzin today attended a memorial service in Gračanica, commemorating the Serb soldiers fallen in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389.

Konuzin (L) and Oliver Ivanović are seen in Gračanica on Thursday (Beta)

Konuzin also addressed reporters in front of this medieval Serb monastery, located near a Serb enclave bearing the same name.
He accused the authorities in Priština of violating basic human and international rights when they prevented Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović from attending.

The move, the top Russian diplomat in the country said, was not contributing to "improved authority of the Kosovo institutions".

Speaking about the ways to solve the Kosovo problem, Konuzin said he saw the issue "in the same way Serbs see it":

"When you Serbs decide how to solve the problem of Kosovo, you can be certain we will support you."

The ambassador added that he was likely visiting Kosovo the last time, and that his trip was heavy with "worry and hope".

"It is very exciting for me to see the feelings of goodness that Serbs show toward Russians," Konuzin noted.

By marking Vidovdan (St. Vitus Day), the Serb nation is remembering the Serbian Kingdom soldiers fallen 623 years ago in the Battle of Kosovo, when they stood

Turkey sends weapons to Syrian border

Source: Tanjug

ANKARA -- Turkey has started deploying anti-aircraft guns and other weapons alongside its border with Syria, state television TRT reported on Thursday.

Several anti-aircraft guns have been deployed elsewhere alongside the border, days after the Syrian forces downed a Turkish military jet.
Turkey has warned Syria that it will not tolerate any breaches of border and that any Syrian military unit approaching its border would be treated as a direct threat, AP has reported.

Dogan news agency has released photographs of a small convoy of military trucks, towing anti-aircraft guns toward the border with Syria.

New Greek deputies sworn in to Parliament

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2012/06/28/3244711/new-greek-deputies-sworn-in-to.html#storylink=cpy

ATHENS, Greece — Greece's 300 newly elected lawmakers were sworn in to Parliament on Thursday, eleven days after the country's second election in six weeks left no party with enough votes to govern outright and leading to the formation of a three-party coalition government.
The deputies sworn in during a religious ceremony led by Archbishop Ieronymos, the head of Greece's Orthodox Church, included 18 members of the extremist far-right Golden Dawn party, a group that rejects the neo-Nazi label but whose members have frequently been accused of violent attacks against immigrants.
Among the party's deputies who were sworn in was party spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris, 31, who became a household name in Greece earlier this month after slapping a Communist Party candidate during a live TV political talk show and then evading an arrest for three days until the warrant expired.
As they had done when they were sworn in for a single day after the May 6 inconclusive elections - when they had gained 21 Parliamentary seats - the 18 Golden Dawn lawmakers remained seated when the country's three Muslim deputies took their oath on the Quran. At the time, Parliament only sat for a day before being dissolved as coalition talks had failed to form a government and new elections were required.
Golden Dawn gained massive support in this year's elections, running on an anti-immigrant and anti-bailout platform and promising to "clean up" crime-ridden neighborhoods from immigrants. The party advocates expelling all immigrants and planting landmines at Greece's borders with Turkey to prevent illegal immigrants trying to enter the country. It won 6.92 percent in the June 17 election, compared to just 0.29 percent in the previous national election in 2009.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was not present at Thursday's swearing-in ceremony, as he was recovering at home from an eye surgery over the weekend.
His conservative New Democracy party, which came first in both the May 6 and the June 17 elections, now heads a coalition government with the traditional rival socialist PASOK party and the small Democratic Left.
Samaras' fledgling government has been beset by bad luck since it was formed last week. Samaras was hospitalized to repair a detached retina last Friday, the same day that his designated new finance minister, Vasilis Rapanos, was rushed to hospital after a collapse. Rapanos turned down the post earlier this week for health reasons, and Samaras has appointed Yannis Stournaras in his place.

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2012/06/28/3244711/new-greek-deputies-sworn-in-to.html#storylink=cpy

Berisha: Everything for tourism

The burden of this summer will be on the Minister of Tourism shoulders, Aldo Bumci, who has to take care of the tourist flux in the country.

For realizing all  instructions given by the Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, the Ministry of Tourism must cooperate with the ministries of transport, internal affairs and health. Berisha was very clear in his instructions, starting with the movement of trucks at Vlore’s most important road, Uji i Ftohte.

“The Traffic Police, the Directory of Roads and the Ministry of Public Works must fulfill in time every transportation obligation. Mr. Minister, we widened the Uji i Ftohte tunnel and the customs must offer the best services at the border. Together with the Border Police, the Interior Ministry must take measures for guaranteeing order throughout the country. It is necessary to review the positions of the Police Posts, such as the Alps, where there used to be police posts for guarding the border. Now we need to establish police posts for the tourists. The Health Ministry, besides keeping the helicopters in stand by, must establish emergency unit teams even in the farthest corners of Albania, where there are tourists”, Berisha declared.

Berisha also asked the municipalities and communes to clean the territory, so that Albania can be cleaner than ever for this season. The Prime Minister mentioned zero tolerance for those who commit environmental crimes. Although he said that there have been big investments in the terrestrial and aquatic roads, Berisha didn’t mention the moratorium, which was asked to be repealed by the local governments, since it damages tourism.

Kosovo Parliament writes to 5 EU countries for recognition

The Kosovo Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Affairs will send a letter to their homologues of the five EU countries that have not recognized Kosovo yet.

The decision was taken this Wednesday and according to the Chairman of this Commission, Albin Kurti, the letter will have a detailed explanation of Kosovo’s Independence.

“Many of these states have been misinformed about Kosovo by Serbia and Serbia’s friends, but we also know that they have their internal problems. However, if these states find an analogy between Kosovo and their interior problems, we would suggest to not compare themselves with Milosevic’s regime and Serbia in general”, Kurti declared.

The former Kosovo Foreign Minister, now an MP for the LDK, Skender Hyseni, Kosovo must pressure the decision making centers, such as Washington, Brussels, London and Paris, by insisting in the need of an unified policy from the EU. He added that the EU should abandon the neutrality policy that started after these five states decided to not recognize Kosovo.

The other members of the commission declared that the Kosovo Parliament should give more efforts with the recognition. The PDK parliament member, Hydajet Hyseni, declared that the Commissions can influence the respective governments for this decision.

Donika Kadaj Bujupi, a Parliament Member from the AAK, declared that these prime level commitments through letters and inter-parliamentary visits help improving the general perception about Kosovo.

Besides Kosovo’s recognition, the letter also aims to establish contacts between Kosovo’s Parliament and the homologue commissions of these states.

Kosovo is Serbian Jerusalem, patriarch says

Source: Tanjug

GRAČANICA -- Serbian Patriarch Irinej has stated in Gračanica that Kosovo was, is and will be the holy Serbian land, the Serbian Jerusalem.

Patriarch Irinej (FoNet, file)

Irinej served a holy liturgy for St. Vitus Day on Thursday.
In a speech he held at the courtyard of the Gračanica monastery, where several hundred orthodox believers gathered, the patriarch said that "we came here to show and prove that this was, is and will be the holy Serbian land."

“The holy Kosovo soil is ours and we must never lose sight of it,” he noted and added that there had been many migrations and escape from toil and trouble “but the people always got back to their destroyed and burnt homes, rebuilt them and started life anew”.

"Freedom is a gift from god, the greatest gift god gives to a man, and only man has this gift and possibility to choose one or another. Our freedom is linked with the cross for which heroes fought in Kosovo and for which heroes are still fighting, for the honorable cross and the golden freedom," said Irinej, whose speech was interrupted by applause several times.

The liturgy was attended by Serbian Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanović and Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Aleksandr Konuzin.

By celebrating St. Vitus Day, the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) and the Serbian people mark the 623rd anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo, when the Serbian army defended its land and Christianity from the Great Ottoman Empire.

Kosovo police increased their presence along the Kosovska Mitrovica-Priština road and a part of the Gnjilane-Priština road near the Gračanica monastery is closed for traffic due to the celebration.

Albania: little progress on EU integration


Tuesday, 26 June 2012
The new Albania takes a step backwards in its EU aspirations: the recent election of new President, Bujar Niashani gave a new proof of the lack of political unity of the country: Niashani it was voted by one majority, after a confrontation with the 'opposition ended in a stalemate.

Peter Stano, spokesman for EU Commissioner for Enlargement said that at this point is difficult to see positive signs or other developments that may lead Albania to take the next step in the integration process: the possibility that we can proceed to take the status of the candidate country are now remote.

At this point you just have to wait the usual reports of the European Commission in autumn, in which the body will present its assessments, drawing a clearer picture of the state of the EU integration process of Albania.

NATO condemns downing of jet, no threat of retaliation

Source: Tanjug

BRUSSELS -- The NATO Council has issued strong condemnation of Syria's shooting down of a Turkish aircraft, but refrained from threatening with military intervention.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen addresses reporters on Tuesday (Tanjug)

"NATO allies have expressed severe condemnation of this totally unacceptable act," the western military alliance's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said after the emergency session held on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by ambassadors of 27 NATO member-states.

Turkey requested the meeting after one of its military jets was downed on July 22 above the Mediterranean, near the Syrian coast. Although Turkey invoked Article 5 of NATO's founding charter - where an attack on one member is defined an attack on the entire pact - Rasmussen said that Article 5 was not mentioned in today's session.

A statement from the meeting said that the shooting down of the aircraft, apart from being "unacceptable", was also "another example of the disregard of the Syrian authorities to international law, peace, security and human lives".

The statement made no mention of the possibility of military intervention against Syria.

Tensions between Turkey and Syria have grown since brutal clashes broke out between the Syrian security forces and rebels, causing serious suffering of the civilian population.

Turkey received a large number of Syrian refugees and joined the calls of the international community for President Bashar al-Assad should step down.

According to Turkey, the plane downed on Friday was on a training mission and violated the Syrian space accidentally, to "leave it immediately".

Nevertheless it was shot down, while the Syrian authorities said that the anti-aircraft crew "could not have known that the aircraft was unarmed" and that its commander "reacted automatically".

The search continues for the Turkish pilot in the meanwhile. Turkey has also accused Syria of shooting at military aircraft that participated in the search.

The Golden Down press release about an incident in Ag Saranda

"Continues the terror against the Greeks of Northern Epirus"
Another incident of oppression of the Greeks of Northern Epirus is in addition to all of them. While even the blood of Aristotle Gouma is still fresh, and had nearly killing another Greek, this time in Saranda. As informed by e SFEVA site more often now come down in recent summers in Sarande Albanians from Kosovo. Typically, some of them, said they were satisfied with their holidays but they bothered me in particular the fact that they heard constantly around the Greek!
Victim was Nick from Mesopotamos along with two sisters. When he fell to the attention of the fact that Albanians spoke Greek rushed in a provocative way to drive them out from the beach: "Get up and leave. Here are Albania, not Greece. " The boy refused and then 4-5 other people came and started beating him furiously until he heard someone ordered to sink in the'' sea''. Then they began to drag in the water and if not been for some of the tourists are sure they would have drowned!
Nick sued and while it has now gone more than a week there is no evidence for Albanian criminals. Incidents like this happen in the tens to the oppressed Greek population gives itself the battle to preserve the origin of language and religion. The Greek state has finally turned his back to the Greeks of Northern Epirus, and the media are provocative and deliberate indifference.
The Golden Dawn did not forget their homelands and enslaved by all means stand alongside the Greeks in Northern Epirus!

http://www.xryshaygh.com/index.php/enimerosi/view/sunechizoun-na-matwnoun-oi-ellhnes-ths-boreiou-hpeirou#.T-osoZGbJzR

Note: The Golden Down is the ultra nationalist party in Greece with 18 parliament member in. One month ago, the leader Nikos Mihalogiakos, of Golden Down expressed his opinion standing that "Albanians and Greeks are brothers".  

Albanian citizens, seeking justice from U.S. Embassy in Tirana


SManalysis

With thousands of letters a week, complaining about injustice in U.S. Embassy in Tirana


Even The Himara Community, sent an invitation to Ambassador Arvizu, to visit the dramatic situation of cutting the olives, pressure government to pay more taxes and the issue of properties, in the Himara Region.

"We want justice in this country, because none of the institution does not work in democratic way, including justice, said one of the letters to the American ambassador in Albania, Alexander Arvizu.

Sources from the U.S. Embassy in Tirana, but above all by the Albanian press, expressed for SManalysis, the injustice, corruption, Mafia, organized crime, has blocked democracy and expression in a critical way to the Albanian government and justice.

Of course, it remains to be seen the political opposition, which in view of publicist Fatos Lubonja, remains "a decor of the government" which has nothing in common with critical values ​​and policy alternatives to the ruling.

U.S. Ambassador, Arvizu, stated that civil society should be raised against the injustice that is being invaded Albania. He has been criticized in directly electing the president of Albania, the votes of government, but has urged that every citizen should denounce injustices, in every corner of the country.

Albania currently looks like a corrupt Ottoman system through which, the central government uses the pressure and threat, to the personalities and businesses, thus penalized with fines, if they are critical to the central government, forcing the not speak. In this case, the bad institutions used, are justice and taxation.

Analysts say the current system of Albanian politics, is transformed in a dictatorship, which could lead to violent political crisis inevitable, whereas, the opposite happens in the foreign policy of Albania, it is intensive and diplomatic.

However, the U.S. ambassador in Tirana, Alexander Arvizu, as the active character of Western diplomacy, the opposition remains, lawyer, civic protests, and a symbol of freedom, where the Albanian citizens, to think that appeals to him, is a tangible way, to oppose aggressive and corrupt policies of the Albanian government.


Even The Himara Community, sent an invitation to Ambassador Arvizu, to visit the dramatic situation of cutting the olives, pressure government to pay more taxes and the issue of properties, in the Himara Region.

Newly Constructed Greek Orthodox Church in Albania Is the 3rd Largest in Europe

By Areti Kotseli on June 24, 2012 In Albania, News

Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios  inaugurated the third largest Orthodox Church in Europe in Albania in the presence of dozens of Greeks.

The newly constructed cathedral is dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ and is located in the center of the Albanian capital. Members of the Albanian government and the neighboring country attended the ceremony which was held in all pomp and spiritual glory.

“The new cathedral in Tirana is one of the most important architectural constructions built over the past twenty years, not only for the Orthodox Church, but also for entire Albania. It was built near the central square of the Albanian capital in a historical region,” explains the mechanical engineer who undertook the project, Mr Leonidas Pappas.

A message from Tirana to Athens

  Tirana whitewashed for "Camera weekly"

Today begins the week of the Cham culture and history. The event is announced a day earlier by the head of PDIU, Rescue Idris, who stated that it is time that all Albanians to join those who were discriminated that were Albanians. Boulevard "Martyrs of the Nation" was dressed this morning with flags, as national ones, and the banner that read "I love Chameria".

Anny way, the message that comes this time from Tirana, is more diplomatic but also threatening, the fact that anti-Greek rhetoric, used as a threat to the greek community, in which, from Cameria politicians in the government of Sali Berisha, using nationalist tactics to attack by means of blackmail, and economic pressure, members of the greek community.

FYROM Searches For Greek-Speaking Volunteer Spies

By Marianna Tsatsou on June 21, 2012 In News

FYROM’s Central Intelligence Agency announced, according to Focus Information Agency, that they are searching for five Greek-speaking volunteers to work for them.

Among the qualifications needed, Skopjan officials ask that volunteers speak the Greek language as well! The advertisement reports that their work will last for six months.

More skills are required, though. Applicants should have earned a bachelor’s degree in law, political science, information technology or economics and should speak  any Asian language or Greek, as already mentioned, fluently.

They should also be younger than 30 years, have certificates proving their competency in English and be able to use computers.

Focus agency published this ad entitled “Volunteers needed to spy on Greece?” and as a result, this captured the Skopjan media’s attention at once.

Turkey calls Nato meeting on warplane downed by Syria

Syria said it engaged the aircraft in its airspace "according to the laws that govern such situations"

Continue reading the main story

Syria Conflict

• UN mission at crossroads
• Russia stands by Assad
• An intractable conflict?
• Qubair: Sectarian strife grows

Turkey has called a meeting of Nato member states to discuss its response to the shooting down of one of its warplanes by Syrian forces on Friday.

Ankara has invoked Article 4 of Nato's charter, under which consultations can be requested when an ally feels their security is threatened, officials say.
Earlier, Turkey's foreign minister said the F-4 Phantom was in international airspace when it was shot down.
Syria has insisted the jet was engaged while it was inside its airspace.
It has also said no act of hostility was intended, noting that as soon as the military discovered the "unidentified" aircraft was Turkish its navy joined efforts to rescue the two crew members.
The Turkish foreign ministry said it knew the coordinates of the jet, which was in Syrian territorial waters at a depth of 1,300m (4,265ft), but has not yet found it.
The coast guard is still searching for the crew in the Mediterranean Sea, though hopes are fading of them being found alive.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Jonathan Marcus BBC Diplomatic Correspondent

Turkey's decision to call a Nato meeting to discuss the downing of one of its warplanes by Syrian air defences is a measure of the seriousness of the situation. But it also sends a signal that, for now, Ankara is looking for a concerted diplomatic response rather than taking military action of its own.
Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty allows for countries to consult together whenever "in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened".
Turkey might have sought such consultations at earlier stages in the Syrian crisis, prompted for example by the flood of refugees across its borders or shells fired by Syria landing on its territory.
Nato's deliberations will raise the pressure on the Syrian regime, but it is hard to see them having any practical effect in terms of convincing President Bashar al-Assad to relinquish power.

The government has also issued a diplomatic protest note to Syria.

'Training mission' Nato spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the North Atlantic Council, the principal political decision-making body within the military alliance, would meet in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the incident.
"Turkey has requested consultations under Article 4 of Nato's founding Washington Treaty," she told Reuters.
"Under article 4, any ally can request consultations whenever, in the opinion of any of them, their territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened."
Turkey wants to be sure of the strongest backing once it decides its official response, reports the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul.
The government has promised that it will be strong, decisive and legitimate, and that it will share all the information it has with the public.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu became the first senior Turkish official to challenge Syria's account of the downing of the jet.
After lengthy meetings with military chiefs, he told TRT state television that the unarmed jet had "momentarily" entered Syrian airspace by mistake on Friday but had left when it was shot down 15 minutes later.
"According to our conclusions, our plane was shot down in international airspace, 13 nautical miles (24km) from Syria," he said.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the aircraft was unarmed, and on a routine training mission

According to international law, a country's airspace extends 12 nautical miles (22.2km) from its coastline, corresponding with its territorial waters.
Mr Davutoglu also insisted that the jet had not been on a "covert mission related to Syria" but had instead been carrying out a training flight to test Turkey's radar capabilities.
He said the plane had not "shown any hostility", been clearly marked as Turkish, and that he did not agree with the Syrian military's statement that it had not known to whom it belonged.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Syrian military's actions were "outrageous" and underlined "how far beyond accepted behaviour the Syrian regime has put itself".
"It will be held to account for its behaviour. The UK stands ready to pursue robust action at the United Nations Security Council," he said.
'Unidentified target' The Turkish military said it lost radio contact with the F-4 Phantom at 11:58 (08:58 GMT) on Friday while it was flying over Hatay province, about 90 minutes after it took off from Erhac airbase in the province of Malatya, to the north-west.
Later, the Syrian military said an "unidentified air target" had penetrated Syrian airspace from the west at 11:40 local time (08:40 GMT), travelling at very low altitude and at high speed.
It said that in line with the laws prevailing in such cases, Syrian air defences engaged the craft, and scored a direct hit about 1km (0.5 nautical miles) from its coastline.
It burst into flames, and crashed into the sea at a point 10km (5 nautical miles) from the village of Om al-Tuyour, off the coast of Latakia province, well within Syrian territorial waters, the statement added.
Relations between Nato-member Turkey and Syria, once close allies, have deteriorated sharply since the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011. More than 30,000 Syrian refugees have fled the violence across the border into Turkey.

Alleged flightpath of downed Turkish F-4 Phantom

1. F-4 Phantom takes off from Erhac airbase, Turkey, at approximately 10:28 local time (07:28 GMT), on 22 June
2. Syria says the jet enters its airspace at 11:40 (08:40 GMT)
3. Turkish military loses contact with the plane at 11:58 (08:58 GMT), while it is over Hatay province
4. Syria says its air defences engaged aircraft about 1km (0.5 nautical miles) from the coast and that it crashed into the sea 10km (5 nautical miles) west of Om al-Tuyour. Turkey says the plane was 24km (13 nautical miles) from Syria, which under international law is considered international airspace

Kosovo set to join OIC

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  Kosovo set to join OIC
  

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Jeddah: Nadim Al-Hamid & Ibrahim Naffee

Sunday 17 June 2012

Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has welcomed the application tabled by the Republic of Kosovo to become an official and permanent member of the organization. He told the visiting Prime Minister Hashim Thaci following a meeting Saturday in Jeddah that the OIC had since 1996 supported Kosovo’s right for independence.
"Kosovo suffered a lot from injustice and repression under an administration that did not care for the political, religious and cultural rights of the people of the country. Now, after independence and the recognition of 91 countries including 30 OIC members, the organization looks forward to Kosovo soon becoming a member of the UN and the OIC," he said.
Thaci, on his part, appreciated the continued support of the OIC to his country until it gained independence and said he discussed with the secretary-general all the available means of further consolidating cooperation between Kosovo and the 57 OIC member countries. He said Kosovo maintained good relations with all countries of the region and was hoping to have close ties with Serbia.
The prime minister said the policies of his country, with more than 95 percent of its population Muslims, were in conformity with the general political stances of the Muslim countries. He explained that to be a member of the OIC, Kosovo should first be a member of the UN. "Kosovo is determined to further strengthen its ties with the OIC in the next phase," he said.
In a meeting with Saudi businessmen at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) on Saturday, the prime minister asked Saudi businessmen to invest in various fields in his country.
"Kosovo is rich in raw materials including agriculture, electricity, minerals and tourist attractions," he said.
Thaci recalled that Kosovo’s GDP growth rate last year was about 5 percent, and 79 percent of its land is arable. "Saudis can invest in basic infrastructure projects, communications, trade, cooper, zinc, iron, coal, cooper, silver and other minerals," he said.
He told the businessmen they could also invest in tourism and said many Westerners came to his country for medical tourism. "We have ample facilities for entertainment tourism including mountains, hot springs and ice skating," he added.
Thaci said Kosovo is strategically located in the heart of the Balkan, so when businessmen come to it they will actually be in the middle of Europe.
He said the Kosovo-Arab Friendship Chamber was a non-profitable organization established to promote the country as a confluence between the West and the East. "The chamber is making strenuous efforts to cement the country's ties with the Arab and Islamic world," he said. Welcoming his guest, JCCI Secretary-General Adnan bin Hussain Mandoura said the chamber was keen to support investments in Kosovo and to entice Saudi businessmen to invest in it.
"The JCCI is determined to support investments in Kosovo and to establish business partnerships with it," he said.
Kosovo obtained its independence in 2008. It has an area of 10,577 square kilometers and a population of 2.3 million.

Fatos Lubonja: Albania, is in the hands of bandits, political opposition, is the decor, I predict riots

Lubonja tests in recent months but more frequent, have increased the dose of civic revolt, the criticism against the political system and claim to be his equals stopped to this passivity. We have considered writing to the president's choice for the loss of political dialogue, to private universities, for former political prisoners and their use as electoral commodity. Most numerous political primitivism hit directly responsible to the loss of security and hope to people.
 
more in Albanian: http://www.respublica.al/artikuj/2012/6/23/lubonja-ndihet-i-vetmuar-dhe-i-pafuqishem-dhe-parashikon-trazira