Turkish troops kill 18 PKK rebels in major offensive

A Turkish military helicopter flies over the border of an area between Iraq and Turkey during a military operation against PKK Kurdish militants October 25, 2011. Picture taken October 25, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Stringer

By Seyhmus Cakan

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey | Fri Sep 7, 2012 9:00am EDT

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) - Turkish soldiers have killed 18 Kurdish rebels in two days in an offensive involving over 2,000 troops, as well as by F-16 fighter jets operating on both sides of the Turkey-Iraq border, security sources said on Friday.
The operation against separatist rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) began on Wednesday night in Sirnak, a southeasterly province bordering Iraq and Syria and the site of frequent clashes between rebels and Turkish troops.
The summer has been one of the bloodiest in Turkey since the PKK took up arms against the state in 1984 with the aim of carving out a Kurdish state.
"Eighteen PKK members have been killed. The intense operation is continuing," security sources told Reuters.
The operation has largely focused on Kato mountain, a remote area in Sirnak, but Turkish security sources as well as Iraqi residents said warplanes had bombed areas inside northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
A Reuters witness said he had seen several F-16 jets take off from Diyarbakir air base on Thursday night and Friday morning. Diyarbakir is the main city in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast.
There were no reports that Turkish ground troops had crossed the border into northern Iraq, although Turkey has sent soldiers into the region in the past, and still has some 1,000 troops based there under an agreement with Iraq dating from the 1990s.
PKK ATTACKS ON THE RISE
Turkey has stepped up air operations on suspected PKK rebels in northern Iraq over the past year after an increase in PKK attacks, and the raids have fuelled tension between Ankara and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Security sources said one Turkish soldier had been killed during clashes with PKK militants at the start of the offensive on Wednesday night.
On Sunday, PKK fighters killed 10 members of Turkey's security services in simultaneous attacks on four state and security installations in Sirnak.
More than 40,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
In the 15 months to August, some 800 people were killed, including about 500 PKK fighters, more than 200 security personnel and about 85 civilians, according to estimates by the International Crisis Group think-tank.
Ankara has linked the upsurge on the unrest in neighboring Syria and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has accused Syria's President Bashar al-Assad of arming the PKK militants.
Turkey has raised the possibility of military intervention in Syria if the PKK were to launch attacks from Syrian soil. On Wednesday, the military conducted a major military exercise on the Syrian border, a clear warning to Damascus.
(Writing by Jonathon Burch; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Priština replaces Serbian country code with Albanian

Source: Tanjug

PRIŠTINA -- The Kosovo assembly adopted Thursday a resolution by which the country code for Serbia - 381, will be replaced by the international code of Albania - 355.

Albania's unique international prefix - 355 would, according to the resolution, be valid not only for fixed telephony, but also for two mobile operators with calling codes 377 and 386.
The resolution notes that the citizens of Kosovo will gain a lot at the political, economic and security level by replacing the international telephone code.

The document also requests that the Kosovo government quickly initiates negotiations with the Albanian government on using the new international prefix.

The document also envisages that, if agreements on using current international calling codes are still valid, they should be respected but not further extended.

The discussion on the resolution was held at a session on August 30. The document was adopted by the votes of 47 MPs, nine were against, while two MPs abstained from voting.

Vetro Energy places top bid for Albpetrol

TIRANA (Reuters) - Vetro Energy, a U.S.-based consortium, has offered 850 million euros ($1.07 billion) for Albpetrol, more than double the value placed on the Albanian state-owned oil firm's assets by advisers to the sale.

Vetro Energy's bid, equivalent to 10 percent of the Balkan country's gross domestic product (GDP), was one of five opened on Friday in front of an audience that included reporters, the bidding companies, and the state board reviewing the process.

Bidding through the Vetro Silk Road Equity Ltd consortium out of Singapore, Chicago-based Vetro Energy topped a 790 million euros offer from Amber Shine.
The buyer will win all Albpetrol's above-ground assets and the right to explore and exploit oil and gas in Albanian territory for 25 years, the government has said.
To sweeten the deal, the government has also granted Albeptrol the right to build a refinery and licenses to transport and distribute natural gas.

Sokol Dervishaj, the deputy economy and energy minister and head of the sale board, said the bid documents would be examined. He did not give a date for the winner to be announced.
Bankers Petroleum of Canada (BNK.TO), which has an output-sharing agreement with Albpetrol in the Patos-Marinza oilfield, offered 304 million euros, while Chinese consortium Win Business offered 298 million. JSC Gazprom Neft bid $52 million.
Seven of Albpetrol's eight oilfields are run by foreign companies under output-sharing agreements. The eighth, at Amonica, is operated by Albpetrol.
(Reporting By Benet Koleka; Editing by Dan Lalor)

Statement by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker Following Meeting with Albanian PM Sali Berisha (September 6, 2012)

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker with Albanian PM Sali Berisha during the press conference.

Thank you very much, PM Berisha. Good afternoon everyone. It is truly an honor for me to be back in Albania, and particularly in this centennial year of Albania’s independence.  The Prime Minister and I indeed discussed the strong bilateral relationship between our two countries. Albania is a reliable partner of the United States. 
As always, we had the opportunity to discuss the European perspective of Albania, developments in the region, and I always appreciate the Prime Minister’s views on the region and the broader world.  The United States appreciates the government’s steadfast contributions to regional and international security, including contributions to ISAF and bringing about stability in Afghanistan. 
Washington remains committed to the region’s continued democratization and Euro-Atlantic integration.
As I told the PM, Washington will be watching the next year very closely.  We expect to see continued reform progress, and respect for the independence of democratic institutions, and in particular the next weeks are critical.  They are critical in demonstrating movement on reforms and a seriousness of purpose that transcends politics and reflects the best interests and desires of the people of Albania.  I thank again the PM for his generosity of time today, and again I express my delight and gratitude for this opportunity to visit in the Republic of Albania.

http://tirana.usembassy.gov/press-releases2/2012-press-releases/statement-by-deputy-assistant-secretary-of-state-philip-reeker-following-meeting-with-albanian-pm-sali-berisha-september-6-2012.html

Albania, Bulgaria Offer Greek Professors Big Salaries, Cars

By Marianna Tsatsou 

“Greek professors wanted to tutor in Albanian and Bulgarian Universities. Very good salary. Transportation, accommodation and alimentation covered.” This ad was published in several Albanian and Bulgarian media to lure Greek professors to teach in those countries a few days a week, to work for private institutions.

The Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported that some Greek professors have already moved to Saudi Arabia or Qatar for big salaries and three-year deals. The Rector of the University of Ioannina, Triantafyllos Albanis, said that, “Some representatives of Albanian colleges asked to meet me at my office. I thought they intended to discuss about issues concerning our research collaboration, but they wanted to offer some professors of our University a good position in Albania.”

Albanis said he was told that there are seven private colleges in neighboring Albania which follow a European or American program and cooperate with several universities abroad. Albanian representatives told him they would offer Greek academics a car as well to transport them from the border, as well as big salaries and would cover all their expenses in the country, including food and accommodation.

Similar proposals have been addressed to professors of the northern Dimokritio University to work for Bulgarian universities though none had reportedly accepted yet.

(Source: Newsbeast)

 

New York Times

September 5, 2012, 11:06 am12 Comments

Kurds and (the Turkish) Way

By ANDREW FINKEL

ISTANBUL — When I first started covering Turkey in the early 1990s, my foreign colleagues and I were sometimes mocked for referring to the brewing resentment in southeastern Turkey as “the Kurdish problem.” There was no sectarian or ethnic discrimination, we were told; the problem was terrorism. The Kurdistan Workers Party, better known as the PKK, resorted to violence and extortion, which no civilized society could abide.

How can Ankara deal with Kurds beyond its borders if it can’t manage relations with its Kurds at home?

The major flaw in this argument was that the Turkish state also resorted to tactics unworthy of a civilized society. For years, to argue for Kurdish rights — let alone regional autonomy — or simply to write in Kurdish could mean prison; such acts were considered aiding and abetting terrorism. Kurdish political parties were shut down. Political activists were tortured. In what became Turkey’s own dirty war, thousands of people were assassinated or disappeared.
It’s not just the Kurds who suffered. Fear of Kurdish secession has long been the canker in Turkish democracy, the justification for a raft of laws that restrict human rights and the freedom of expression. Now it is compromising Turkey’s attempt to play a greater role in its region, particularly as Syria implodes. How can Ankara deal with Kurds beyond its borders if it can’t manage relations with its Kurds at home?

And as long as Turkey blurs the line between terrorism and legitimate protest, it will continue to alienate its Kurdish population while legitimating the men of violence.

Aris Messinis/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesA Kurdish man wearing a T-shirt with the portrait of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed PKK leader, guards a checkpoint near the Syrian-Turkish border.

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) was aware of this challenge when it came to office in 2002. And so in early 2009, after having consolidated power, it initiated a “Kurdish opening.” It started a Kurdish-language television station and offered amnesty to young PKK militants to lure them back into civilian life.
But that opening famously shut down in October 2009, after the PKK tried to cast as a victory parade the return of a group of its militants at the Habur border crossing with Iraq. The AKP, despite commanding a strong majority in Parliament, simply wasn’t prepared to brave nationalist sentiment and the many Turks who saw compromise as weakness. Just as in Northern Ireland, where a bloodier-than-thou faction of the IRA was shadowing the peace process, there were factions within the PKK with no intention of giving peace a chance.
After Habur, the Turkish government abandoned the carrot and picked up the stick. It was determined to stop the spread of a campaign of civil disobedience to cities with large Kurdish populations, by way of mass arrests and pretrial detention.
These harsh policies have brought Turkey little security, and the bloody events in Syria are now making matters worse. President Bashar al-Assad of Syria has voluntarily ceded control of the Kurdish north of his country to the Democratic Union Party, a Syrian variant of the PKK. There has recently been an upsurge in PKK attacks against Turkish soldiers and police near the Iranian border, as well as a rise in acts of random terrorism — including a bomb explosion on Aug. 20 near a police station in Gaziantep that killed 10 civilians. Many suspect the bloodshed is the direct result of political games in Syria, as well as a ploy by Iran to use the PKK against the Turkish government to punish it for supporting the Syrian opposition.
Ankara has not responded so far, but it could get sucked into the conflict by trying to enforce a buffer zone along the Syrian border. It is already trying to get the international community to establish a no-fly zone to protect the growing tide of refugees from Syria. Some of those are deserters from the Syrian Army, and there is little doubt that the Turkish government is encouraging them to re-enter the fight on the side of the rebels.

All this has prompted Cemil Cicek, the speaker of Parliament and a former hardline AKP minister of justice, to call for a “national consensus” — code for re-opening the Turkish government’s Kurdish initiative and granting Kurds more power locally. This sort of plan might have worked miracles decades ago. And it might still succeed today, except that Cicek is being criticized, and by his own party.
Instead of declaring that there is no Kurdish problem, as it did two decades ago, the Turkish government now appears to be saying there is no Kurdish solution. Does that count as progress?

---

Andrew Finkel has been a foreign correspondent in Istanbul for over 20 years, as well as a columnist for Turkish-language newspapers. He is the author of the book “Turkey: What Everyone Needs to Know.”

 

Greek Far Right Support Rises

09/06/2012 | 06:05am US/Eastern
ATHENS--Greece's coalition partners have seen their popularity drop since the elections in June as they finalize the country's next round of austerity measures, according to poll results published Thursday, with ultranationalists Golden Dawn the only party to see a rise in support levels.
According to a survey prepared by Pulse RC and published in weekly To Pontiki newspaper, conservatives New Democracy--who lead the coalition government-- saw their support drop to 25% from 29.7% in the June elections.
Backing for the two junior coalition partners--Pasok and Democratic Left--also dropped. Socialists Pasok are supported by 8% of respondents, down from 12.3%, among the lowest levels seen by the party since being established in 1974. Greece's small Democratic Left party saw its popularity drop to 4.5%, versus 6.3% at the latest national polls.
The survey, conducted Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, found that the majority of Greeks are displeased with the choices made by the government which is struggling to finalize 13.5 billion euros ($17 billion) of cuts demanded by international creditors. With the savings plan expected to be announced in coming weeks, protests to proposed cuts to pensions and public servant's salaries are picking up.
Police, firefighters and port authority employees are scheduled to demonstrate in Athens Thursday afternoon after judges and public prosecutors staged a protest at the country's Supreme Court building Wednesday.
Further demonstrations are expected in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Saturday where Greece's prime minister traditionally makes a keynote economic speech at an annual trade fair. This year Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will skip the speech as the government prepares for the next round of talks with representatives of the so-called troika of creditors--the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and the European Central Bank--starting Friday.
Among the seven parties represented in parliament, Golden Dawn is the big winner with 10.5% of those questioned in the survey saying they would vote for the far right party. It was backed by 6.9% of the electorate in June.
Radical left party Syriza remains the country's second most popular party, despite seeing its popularity also drop. The survey showed that 24% of voters support the party, down from 26.9% in June.

“Serbia should recognize Kosovo without north”

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Serbia should offer the international community recognition of Kosovo but without its northern part which should remain within Serbia, Milorad Dodik has stated.

Milorad Dodik (Tanjug, file)

The Republic of Srpska (RS) president told Belgrade-based weekly Novi Magazin that reality was northern Kosovo, where majority Serbs did not accept the province's independence that was self-proclaimed by ethnic Albanians.
On the other hand, he said that Serbia had to realize that it is impossible, in political terms, to return Kosovo within its framework.

Dodik pointed out that it was a better time for such a solution earlier, and added that all interested parties should meet and see what reality is, in order to "end this story."

According to him, the solution is not to just avoid reaching any decisions so you are not remembered by history as a "bad guy."

Dodik believes that "some things" still can be returned, suggesting that, if the current situation remains, "you should never recognize Kosovo."

"You cannot agree to that, because tomorrow someone else will come and break off a part of your territory and then what?” the RS president stressed, adding that some messages have to be sent.

Dodik voiced belief that excellent relations between RS and Serbia would continue regardless of the change of government.

When it comes relations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he pointed out that 99 percent of property has been returned to Bosniaks and Croats in RS, including apartments that were socially-owned until 1990.

“However, Banja Luka and Sarajevo still remain alienated due to different perception of crimes and victims,” he said, adding that the problem lied in double standards to which RS cannot not agree.

"There was a crime in Srebrenica and RS should never forget Potočari, but no one should forget (crime against Serbs) in Bratunac and other victims," Dodik concluded.

Fule: Albania has a real perspective for progress on its European integration path in 2012

European Commission Press - 05.09.2012

Statement by Commissioner Štefan Füle following his meeting with Edmond Panariti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania:

The Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Mr Štefan Füle, met yesterday with Mr Edmond Panariti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania. Commissioner Füle and Minister Panariti discussed the latest developments regarding Albania's EU integration process and its role in the region.

Commissioner Füle commended the genuine efforts made by both government and opposition to strengthen the cooperation in the context of institutional reforms and welcomed the positive developments achieved recently. He notably referred to the consensual adoption of the revised electoral code as an important step, which brings the November 2011 political agreement close to full implementation.

He stated that Albania has a real perspective for progress on its European integration path in 2012, provided the country delivers a critical mass of concrete results in key reform areas. He underlined that constructive political dialogue needs to continue to complete the reform of the parliamentary rules of procedure. He also stressed the need to continue progress in the fulfilment of the 12 key priorities of the Commission's Opinion, with particular emphasis on the rule of law, including the adoption of the Law on High Court and progress on establishing a solid and credible track record in the fight against corruption. In this respect, Commissioner Füle indicated that the revision of the immunities system would be an important step in the right direction.

Reiterating the European Commission's engagement and full support of these efforts, Commissioner Füle invited Albania to remain focused on comprehensive reforms, which are necessary for the achievement of the national objective of European integration and to continue playing a constructive role in the region.

Source: EC Press

Brussels, Albania submits report
04/09/2012

Albania submitted its most recent report about the accomplishment of 12 key priorities, receiving a preliminary evaluation by the European Commission.

“Since November, when a new spirit started to exist in the country, and when we see what has been implemented from the 12 key priorities, the balance is extremely good and positive. Not only the government but all parties and political actors, and the Albanian society in general, can be happy for what has been achieved so far”, declared Stefano Saninno, General Director for Enlargement at the European Council.

Despite the voting of some qualified majority laws, the appointment of the Ombudsman and the passing of the Electoral Rreform, Albania did not close the Parliamentary regulation issue and that of immunities. The latter had an important place in the debate organized by the European Policies Center in Brussels.

“There are several alternatives for a country to pass the immunity lifting law. As you know, the majority has proposed a national referendum which is a democratic instrument to continue it. I don’t see any disagreement about this. It is seen in different ways, but this doesn’t mean that the parties are not committed to fight corruption and establish harsher measures in order to have better control”, declared the Foreign Minister, Edmond Panariti.

“We don’t have enough time to start the debate for the Constitutional amends in September. The immunity lifting is a proposition that we have made since 2003. The other Constitutional amends that are related with the justice system can be discussed later”, declared the Minister of Integration, Majlinda Bregu.

“I want to highlight the role of the immunity lifting law, which is an important element for us. War against corruption is one of the areas that we think it needs more efforts, and this would be a good effort in the right direction. If we see that this law passes not in a forced way, if we can call it that, but with an agreement between all political parties, then this would be an important step ahead, followed by all other things that have been achieved and the efforts that the political forces are making in other areas”, Sanino declared.

The European Commission has already started the progress-report and they will review the recent data handed over by the Albanian government, in order to include them in the document that will be published on October 12th.

 

LN: ČEZ wages war with Albania

ČTK |

4 September 2012

Prague, Sept 3 (CTK) - The Czech CEZ national power company has threatened that it will cut its supplies of electricity to state-owned water management companies in Albania, daily Lidove noviny (LN) writes yesterday.
Albanian authorities have called on CEZ to pay [an equivalent of] half a billion crowns as an additional tax, LN writes.
"We will cut state-owned companies from the electric current as they owe us over one billion crowns for unpaid electricity bills," the daily quotes CEZ managers as saying.
The business in Albanian has become a nightmare for CEZ, LN writes.
Even Prime Minister Petr Necas's recent intervention in Albania and an appeal of the World Bank have not helped, it adds.
Albanian authorities have imposed an additional tax of 23 million euros on the company CEZ Shpernadrje, the Czech firm's daughter company in Albania, LN writes.
The authorities insist on the payment although CEZ was not paid for its electricity, it adds.
As a result, it must still pay the VAT and income tax to the Albanian state, LN writes.
"CEZ absolutely rejects this approach," CEZ spokeswoman Barbora Pulpanova is quoted as saying.
On the other hand, CEZ has adopted a tough approach to those who fail to pay for its electricity, LN writes.
It has threatened to cut the supplies to the state-owned water management companies in order to have the debts of the total sum of 1.1 billion crowns repaid to it, it adds.
Pulpanova said the extreme means had succeeded.
The Albanian government has paid at least a part of its debt, LN writes.
However, electricity is drawn in Albania illegally not only by state-owned companies.
In the past months, CEZ Shpernadrje (CEZ Distribution) disconnected from its network whole villages, in which no one paid for the delivered electricity, LN writes.
In some cases, the villagers physically attacked the company's employees, it adds.
Due to the problems, the Albanian daughter company has run into financial difficulties, LN writes.
In its annual report from 2011, CEZ warned that if conditions for business do not change in Albania, it will lose up to ten billion crowns there in the next three years, it adds.
The unfair conditions have affected Czech-Albanian relations, LN writes.
Necas and Industry and Trade Minister Martin Kuba spoke in favour of CEZ during their April visit to Tirana, it adds.
Kuba said he would deal with the situation with the company management this week, LN writes.
CEZ has drawn the Czech state into its legal and political war with Albania, LN writes in its commentary on the issue.
Should Necas's visit to Tirana mean that this state should be called CEZka republika (instead of Ceska republika), as the foreign minister sometimes says jokingly? it asks.
After all, CEZ is a state-owned company, its billions are also our billions and to defend state interests abroad in a sensible extent is among the duties of all prime ministers, LN writes,

http://praguemonitor.com/2012/09/04/ln-%C4%8Dez-wages-war-albania

Himara as a target of criminals, growing violence

Masked paramilitary robbed late night a center fuel distributor

Have not completed the actions of the paramilitary criminal groups at the end of the tourist season in Himara Region.

Having beaten a citizen of Himara, which continues to remain in the Vlora `s Hostpital, violence has continued extortion under threat of arms.

The night before, was raped under threat of arms, an employee of a fuel distributor in Dhermi, ripped all the finances and isolated after overnight.

Status according to residents, has become alarming, so that residents have been put on alert for any episode of violence and looting.

Meanwhile, there is no explanation from the police department, although the Region of Himara, is istoricaly one of quiet areas in Albania.

New Parliamentary session opening
03/09/2012

After a one month break, the Albanian Parliament started working again. The MPs sat on the Parliament floor for the first session of Season 7 of Legislation XVIII.

Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli emphasized in her opening speech that this is a very special session that will mark the 100th anniversary of independence, stating that “reforms” will be the key word of this legislation.

“The opposition made us fail passing the immunity lifting law. Passing laws of great importance is a task established by the EU. The Albanians deserve the EU candidate status and politics must come together and vote these important laws”, Topalli declared.

The Head of the Socialist Parliamentary Group, Gramoz Ruci, declared that this session started with a new President who took three politically based decision only in the first month.

“The President failed when appointed as Vice Chairman of the High Council of Justice a party militant with an indecent performance. He failed when he appointed on the top of the Secret Service a person with a dark past, and even when he appointed as head of the Marine a military man who had graduated for infantry”, Ruci declared.

The SP Parliamentary Group leader launched other accusations against the majority, claiming that their real concern is not the EU candidate status for Albania, but holding their grip to power for as long as possible. He mentioned a series of reforms, part of the EU 12 recommendations, and that have not been realized by the government. Ruci appealed the majority to vote the amends proposed by the opposition.

“We have no results for the property conflicts, the war against crime and corruption and the judiciary. It all comes down to voting them just for closing the debate for our initiative. Who wants independent justice and unbiased judges must vote our amends”, Ruci underlined.

The DP Parliamentary Group Leader, Astrit Patozi, accused the opposition and its leader of blocking important reforms for the country, stating that the majority will not vote the constitutional amends proposed by the opposition. He invited the SP to cooperate for removing immunity on October 6th.

“We will not vote the nonsense that was filed. We will implement any procedural norm. We cannot take seriously something that Edi Rama has brought to Parliament as a pretext for delaying the integration reform, so that he can block the status again”, Patozi declared.

The main challenges of this session will be the immunity lifting for high rank officials, the reformation of the Central Election Commission, the continuity of the parliamentary agenda with other issues left suspended by the previous session, and also the draft law “for the Supreme Court” and the approximation of the Albanian legislation with the European one.

Nishani: Parties must cooperate

The Albanian President, Bujar Nishani, gave a congratulatory speech for the opening of the seventh session of the 18th legislation.

“The Albanian Parliament is the place of debate and competition; the place where different views and alternatives are presented, and when decisions are taken with consensus. We are about to celebrate the 100th anniversary for the creation of the Albanian state, a key moment in our history. This is a moment that coincides with a path that we have taken many years ago and that everyone considers as the only alternative: the European integration”, Nishani declared.

The message published on the Presidential official web page states that the will and desire to have our country as a candidate for joining the European Union demands real contributions.

“I invite the political forces to cooperate in order to accomplish the important tasks provided by the 12 EU priorities, before the publishing of the EC progress report about Albania. I want to emphasize the significance that the commitment of all MPs has in limiting or lifting the immunity for high rank officials, as the establishment of a new legal and political standard which is necessary for a country and society that aspires the European values of the rule of law”, Nishani underlined.

The President reminded that the much wanted political consensus, the dialogue, tolerance and aimed cooperation would free the way to a normal electoral process that will be held next year.

US CIA chief Petraeus arrives Monday to cool Israeli ire

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report September 2, 2012, 

CIA Chief David Petraeus to Turkey and Israel

President Barack Obama is sending CIA Director David Petraeus to Israel in a hurry Monday, Sept. 3, in an attempt to quench the flames of discord between Israel and his administration on the Iran issue. He will fly in from a visit to Ankara Sunday, where too he faces recriminations for US handling of the Syrian crisis.
Israel has a double grievance over Obama’s Iran policy: Not only does his administration spare Iran’s leaders any sense of military threat that might give them pause in their dash for a nuclear weapon, but US officials are actively preventing any Israel striking out in its own defense to dispel the dark shadow of a nuclear Iran.
Behind closed doors in Ankara Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul are preparing to vent their anger against the US administration for tying their hands against establishing safe havens in Syria for rebel operations against the Assad regime. The Turkish Air Force has been on standby for the last two months for this mission, along with the Saudi and UAE air forces. However, none are prepared to go forward without logistical backing from the US Air Force.
They blame Obama’s refusal to engage directly in the Syrian conflict for the escalating terrorist threats confronting Turkey from Assad’s open door to PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) bases in northern Syria and the Iraqi-Syrian-Turkish border triangle.  Turkey is also stuck with a swelling influx of Syrian refugees piling an unmanageable burden on its economy.
Israel does not expect anything useful to come out of the Petraeus visit – or even any alleviation of the bad feeling between Binyamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama. High-placed officials in Jerusalem were of the view that the CIA chief fits the US president’s bill at this time. His visit is a non-binding gesture of goodwill for Israel which does not require the White House or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey to backtrack or apologize for his derogatory remarks about the IDF's capacity for taking Iran on. Another advantage is that any words passing between the CIA chief and Israeli leaders may be classified.
His visit to Jerusalem will therefore not stem the ill will prevailing between Jerusalem and Washington.
All the same, Prime Minister Netanyahu chose his words carefully Sunday to avoid fingering the US directly when he urged the international community to get tougher against Iran, saying that without a "clear red line," Tehran will not halt its nuclear program. He was addressing the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
"I believe that the truth must be said, the international community [not the US] is not drawing a clear red line for Iran, and Iran does not see international determination to stop its nuclear program," Netanyahu said.
 "Until Iran sees this clear red line and this determination, it will not stop its advancement of the Iranian nuclear program. Iran must not have a nuclear weapon," he declared.
Earlier Sunday, debkafile reported:  Slashed US military input shortens Israel's notice of Iranian missile launch.

ECB Eyes Greek Myth Symbol for Euro Note Security

By Andy Dabilis

As Greece continues to teeter on the brink of bankruptcy and is regarded as unreliable and untrustworthy for lying about its economy and breaking its promises to reform, the European Central Bank (ECB) is reaching into the country’s mythological past to use a symbol to help make euro bank notes more secure.
Greece is still on the brink of bankruptcy, but the ECB apparently felt secure enough reaching into the country’s storied past to put the image of Europa, the Phoenician princess abducted by Zeus, for its watermark on euros due to come out next year, according to the Bloomberg news agency.
The Frankfurt-based ECB invited public relations companies to pitch for the contract to help present the new notes and dispel concern over the use of the image at a time when investors are questioning whether Greece can remain in the euro area, two sources told the news agency.
Using an image that symbolizes the foundations and history of Europe and transcends national boundaries may reinforce the message of political leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the euro is a currency of unity, even though Greece triggered the sovereign debt crisis that’s driven up borrowing costs for governments from Rome to Dublin, pushing at least five economies into recession and threatening to destroy the monetary union.
The ECB plans to make the designs public in November and issue the first new note, a 5-euro bill, in May, two of the people said.  “As we have announced already some time ago, work on the second generation of euro banknotes is ongoing,” ECB spokesman Niels Buenemann said. “Details will be communicated at a later stage.”
Central banks typically redesign their banknotes on a regular basis to improve security and prevent counterfeiting. Putting a face rather than the current architectural structure on the watermark may make it harder for forgers to produce fakes. The ECB has repeatedly delayed the redesign of euro banknotes, which were first introduced in 2002.
In the first half of this year, the ECB removed 251,000 fake banknotes from circulation, down from 310,000 notes withdrawn in the previous six-month period. Current euro notes show windows, gateways and bridges from different eras in European architecture, both as the main pictures on the bills and in the watermarks.
In Greek mythology, Europa, the beautiful daughter of Phoenician king Agenor and his queen Telephassa, was kidnapped by Zeus. Taking the form of a white bull, the king of the Greek gods seduced Europa and stole her away to the island of Crete. Europa, whose moniker could be translated as “wide- gazing” or “far-seeing,” is already depicted on Greek two- euro coins and several commemorative pieces.

“Priština continues to exert pressure on Serbs”

Source: Beta

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- Serb National Council of Northern Kosovo President Milan Ivanović says Priština’s decision to ban Serbian driver’s licenses is unacceptable for Kosovo Serbs.

(Beta, file)

He announced that the decision would not be implemented in northern Kosovo.
The Priština authorities made a decision to ban the use of the Serbian driver’s licenses in Kosovo as of September 1.

Ivanović told Beta news agency that the “citizens will defend their right to exercise their basic human rights – freedom of movement, expression of their identity, nationality and use of their documents, with all legitimate means”.

“Kosovo police members will not implement the decision on driver’s licenses in northern Kosovo because they have to serve the people under jurisdiction of municipal assemblies in the areas they work in northern Kosovo,” he explained.

He said that Serbia should implement reciprocal measures.

“If Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija cannot use their documents where they live and work, especially those south of the Ibar River, then the same thing should be imposed on Albanians who live in the territory of Serbia”.

Ivanović stressed that a decision to ban the driver’s licenses issued by the Serbian police “is aimed at pressuring Serbs”.

Nishani visited Prishtina: Dialogue with Serbia is the only efficient means

President Bujar Nishani stated in Prishtina that Kosovo's independence is irreversible and it is also an important factor of regional peace and stability.

The Head of State of Albania made the comments at the start of his first official visit to Kosovo, after the meeting he had with Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga.

President Nishani said that the removal of Kosovo's supervised independence is a historical moment that opens a new road to Kosovo, to its citizens, in the consolidation of state and institutions, as well as in the development of democracy and economic prosperity.

Speaking about dialogue with Serbia, the President said that Albania supports the agenda of Kosovo institutions, while adding that dialogue is the most efficient and successful means to solve open issues between countries.

'Free, independent, democratic and sovereign Kosovo is today not only an irreversible reality, but also an indispensable factor for peace, stability and economic development all over the Balkans region. Albania has always supported and continues to support all the commitments of Kosovo institutions in their contacts, negotiations and communications. The dialogue is today the most efficient, the most successful and the most European means to handle all problems that may arise between two different countries or states,' President Nishani stated.

'We agreed that border between our two countries must be a European one which unites people, enabling thus a free communication and an exploitation of our resources, through concrete programs. This year the construction work for the nation's highway 'Ibrahim Rugova' is due to end in all Prishtina-Durrës segment. This will help to increase the commercial exchanges and the goods flow. The emerging of the Republic of Kosovo in Albania's ports is of the utmost importance for the distribution of our products, but also for the economic connection with all the countries of the world,' President Jahjaga stated.

President Nishani met with Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Speaker of Parliament Jakup Krasniqi, as well as with LDK Leader, Isa Mustafa, Self-Determination Movement Head Albin Kurti, AAK Deputy Chairman Blerim Shala and the Chairman of the Serbian Liberal Party, Kosovo Deputy PM, Sllobodan Petroviç.

Nishani paid homages near the grave of Kosovo's Historical President Ibrahim Rugova and paid a visit to his family.

In the second day of his stay in Kosovo, Nishani is due to pay homages next to the grave of the Legendary KLA Commander Adem Jashari and next to the Martyrs' Cemetery in Deçan, where he is due to stay for a while at the Jasharajs' Tower and at the house of the father of former PM Ramush Haradinaj.

President of Albania will conclude his visit to Kosovo with a visit at the Albanian League of Prizren and at the Sinan Pasha's Mosque in the city.

Breaking news

Beaten and send to the Vlora hospital, a citizen from Himara by a paramilitary group

Beb Varfi, is admitted in the hospital of Vlora, in serious condition, was attacked in his restaurant by a vagabond group, coming from a disco in Jali

Attempted to repeat the "Guma`s Case"

Looks like they are going in silence, but in fact, specialized groups are taking appropriate information about an incident with ethnic influences in Himara, on Saturday evening.

According to sources from Himara, on Saturday evening, in the restaurant, near the Harbor of Himara, has come a speed boat with a group dressed in uniform.

Immediately they have argued with the owner of the restaurant, Beb Varfi, a citizen of Himara, and then have badly beaten, in the presence of all the tourists.

According to non-public information, the group of men in uniform, belonged to a big Disco in Jali, who are members of a private police Company, after injured the owner from Himara, left to Jali, without being bothered by local police station.

But the event has taken dramatic proportions, which according to some rumors, threaten to repeat the case of Aristotle Guma. So far, none of the Albanian media has not published the news as it comes to a media censorship, and citizen of Himara, is still gravely, in Vlora Hospital.