“NATO against forming of Kosovo army”

Source: Tanjug

PRIŠTINA -- NATO does not agree with the idea of Kosovo getting its own army, Priština-based Albanian language daily Koha Ditore writes.

According to the daily, the main obstacle to the forming of the Kosovo army are four NATO member states that have not recognized Kosovo's independence.
“Kosovo can decide to turn the Security Force into Kosovo Army but NATO would not like such a step at all. The future status of the Kosovo Security Force is unclear and it remains a topic for debates within NATO,” a source told the daily.

A high-ranking NATO official said that the alliance was looking for a way out from the current situation since KFOR troops could not remain in Kosovo forever.

However, according to the source, a planned transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into Kosovo is not possible, regardless of statements of top Kosovo officials.

The Koha Ditore’s source says that NATO believed that the Kosovo institutions would not risk transforming the Kosovo Security Force into the army without NATO’s consent.

Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz has stated that Kosovo should have its own army.

“Kosovo is an independent and sovereign state and it should have the same rights, no more and no less, as other countries in the region. Just like all other countries that have courts and other institutions like an army, Kosovo should be entitled to its army as well,” he said after a meeting with Kosovo Security Force Minister Agim Ceku.

NATO-Trained Kosovo Army To Be Activated in June 112

 

But the Turkish defense minister visits, Kosovo

 

 

Kosovo is planning to convert its lightly-armed Kosovo Security Force into a full-fledged army.
Established in 2009, the force consists of 2,500 active and 800 reserve members and is primarily responsible for crisis response.

Over the past few years, it has been intensively trained by KFOR, which reports to NATO. Based on the Kosovo Security Force’s success, the alliance will decide on the future of the Kosovo army.

“NATO nations are considering the right time for the KSF final endorsement,” KFOR spokesman Alexander Willing said. “The North Atlantic Council, NATO’s highest decision-making body, will make a political decision based on the assessment of NATO’s military authorities,” he added.

The council is expected to decide on the force’s status at its June meeting.
Voice of Russia, SETimes.com

• 

Turkish defense minister in Kosovo

09 February 2013

Minister Yilmaz met Kosovar Security Force Minister Ceku.

PRISTINA
Turkish National Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz on Friday met with Kosovar Security Force Minister Agim Ceku in Pristina.
Minister Yilmaz arrived in Kosovo's capital city of Pristina after completing talks in Albania.
Minister Agim Ceku welcomed Yilmaz to Pristina with a military ceremony.
The two ministers held a joint press conference after a tete-a-tete meeting.
Minister Ceku indicated that they had a very positive meeting with Yilmaz and that they received Turkish support in diverse fields.
"I must say that my dear friend Ismet Yilmaz arrived here with good news. The Turkish Parliament has allocated a budget to assist Kosovo and the budget was approved by the Turkish Parliament," Ceku noted.
"Turkey's assistance will be utilized in the military field and will add strength to Kosovar security forces," Ceku stressed.
"I will visit a military fair in Turkey in May along with Ismet Yilmaz," Ceku said.
"To date, 150 Kosovar youth received education in Turkish military schools. At the present time, 20 Kosovar students are about to complete their education on becoming helicopter pilots," Ceku stated.
Ismet Yilmaz, in his part, said that Turkey would always be on the side of Kosovo.
Touching on the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia, Ismet Yilmaz said that Turkey supported such a dialogue.
We favor solving all problems by dialogue, Yilmaz underlined.
As Turkey, we will extend all forms of support to Kosovo, Yilmaz emphasized.
Minister Yilmaz will meet with Public Administration Minister Mahir Jagcilar and Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi later in the day.

KFOR, KPS block Serb monastery after threats

Source: B92, Beta

VISOKI DEČANI -- The situation is calm on Friday afternoon in the vicinity of the monastery of Visoki Dečani in Kosovo, after "local extremists" were prevented to approach it.

(Beta, file)

Earlier in the day, the Raška-Prizren Eparchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) stated that its medieval monastery had been under siege since Friday morning.
KFOR and Kosovo police blocked off the monastery and formed cordons around it in order to prevent extremists from approaching on Friday morning, reports said earlier in the day.

In the afternoon, the KPS announced that "no protest took place", and that it had acted in time to prevent incidents.

The protest of the municipal officials and the radical ethnic Albanian Self-Determination Movement party ended without incidents around 14:30 CET.

Father Sava Janjić told B92 earlier that the situation was peaceful but tense. He said that the monks had been informed by Italian troops that a group of men would try to stage a protest near the monastery.

“KFOR stopped the group at a checkpoint this morning, the situation is peaceful but it is still dangerous because unseen hatred among people is incited. Banners they wanted to place in front of the monastery, saying ‘This is our monastery, keep your hands off our land’ prove it. The Dečani municipal leadership has been leading a unscrupulous media and political campaign for days aimed at overturning the decision of the Supreme Court to return the land to the monastery,” he said.

Janjić said that the behavior of the local authorities showed that they did not respect their own laws and structure. He believes that the campaign is aimed at driving the monks away, which would means that there would be no more Serbs left in Dečani.

Janjić today informed OSCE and EULEX that the monastery and monks could not lead a normal life and that the Dečani municipality not only failed to respect the laws but was also openly working on ethnical cleansing of the territory.

Visoki Dečani’s prior on Friday morning decided to close the gates of the monastery for the first time in 13 years due to threats of the Dečani municipality and groups that have been protesting for days against the monastery.

The extremist ethnic Albanian groups announced that they would hold a protest in front of the monastery on Friday.

According to the monastery’s monks, they have been exposed to the “most insulting messages and open threats” over a decision of the Kosovo Supreme Court to confirm that 23-hectare land belongs to the monastery.

“We consider such behavior, that is directly contrary to the rule of law, an open security threat and we cannot allow that threats be brought to vicinity of this holy place which is on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage List and which has been attacked four times by those who are forcing the campaign today,” the Raška-Prizren Eparchy has released.

 

NATO Urges Bosnia to Register State Property

Anders Fogh Rasmussen of NATO urged Bosnia to implement last year's agreement on registering state property as a condition of advancing its membership of the alliance.

Elvira M. Jukic

BIRN

Sarajevo

The chair of Bosnia's tri-partite Presidency, Nebojsa Radmanovic, said Bosnia must move ahead with registering military property as a condition for joining NATO.

After a meeting with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO, on February 7, he recalled that political agreement was reached on the issue a year ago.
It now has to be implemented so that Bosnia's Membership Action Plan, MAP, can be put into force, he added.

Joining NATO is Bosnia's “wish... as a guarantee of peace in the world,” Radmanovic said, urging the ruling parties to implement their agreement from March 2012.

Rasmussen said that NATO was ready to activate the MAP as soon as Bosnia registers military property as state property, which is the last remaining condition for the country.

“This is a national decision, I am not here in Sarajevo as a head of an international organization to impose any solutions,” Rasmussen said.

But he noted that by joining NATO, along with the European Union, Bosnia would assure itself security and economic prosperity.

“Look at the countries in Central and Eastern Europe and see how they benefited from NATO and EU,” Rasmussen said, “they enjoy security that has also made them attractive for foreign investment and they've seen high economic growth and job creation.”

He also said that the move would show that a political agreement, and its implementation, remains possible in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After the Presidency meeting, Rasmussen also met Prime Minister Vjekoslav Bevanda, the leaderships of both parliamentary chambers and leaders of the six ruling parties.

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, head of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, SNSD, said that after meeting with Rasmussen that the parties had agreed to discuss implementing last year's agreement.

But he added that his party still opposed the decision of the Bosnian Constitutional Court on state property last year.
This ruled that 22 locations of military property in the Bosnian Serb entity, the Republika Srpska, should be registered as state property and given to the Defence Ministry.

The ruling came after Republika Srpska in 2010 adopted a law on the status of the state property being on its territory, which declared that all property that used to belong to the Yugoslav republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina had succeeded to the Serb entity.

After the leader of the Party of Democratic Action, SDA, Sulejman Tihic, appealed to the Constitutional Court, the Court last year said that only the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina could consider itself a successor to the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and thus all state property belonged to the state, not the two entities.

Albanian Judges Accuse US of Interference

Three Albanian judges, who acquitted two Republican Guard officers of the killings of three protesters in the January 21, 2011 riots, have accused the United States of interfering in the case.

Besar Likmeta

BIRN

Tirana

Ndrea Prendi, former head of the elite Republican Guard who, with another officer, an Albanian court acquitted of charges they shot dead three opposition supporters during an anti-government protest two years ago | Photo : AP/Hektor Pustina

The accusations come after the US embassy in Tirana expressed shock over the verdict, which has caused uproar in Albania, too.
“The embassy statement is troubling because it interferes in the judicial process,” the judges' panel said.
“Such statements can create prejudices toward this impartial verdict,” they added.
Tirana’s District Court on Thursday rejected murder charges against General Nrea Prendi, former head of the Republican Guard, and Agim Llupo, former chief of staff of a special unit of the Republican Guard, arguing that there were was insufficient evidence to convict them.
According to prosecutors, Llupo aimed at, and shot dead, two protesters during the January 2011 rally, while Prendi shot with his pistol toward the crowd 11 times, killing one person. Four protesters in total died in the rally and seven others were wounded, including a TV reporter.
The prosecutor’s conclusions were backed by ballistics evidence, including expertise from the FBI Crime Lab.
On Thursday, the US embassy in Tirana said the verdict raised questions about the independence of the judiciary in Albania.
“We are dismayed by the decision of the Tirana District Court to acquit the two defendants who stood trial on charges related to the deaths of three civilian protestors on January 21, 2011,” the embassy said.
“Regrettably, today’s verdict has undermined confidence in the ability and willingness of the Albanian judicial system to deliver justice in an impartial, transparent manner,” it added.

 

Bosnia-Herzegovina's Energoinvest begins the project of build 250 km long 110kV transmission lines in Albania

Sarajevo Company ‘’Energoinvest’’ began the project to build 250 kilometers long 110kV transmission lines in Albania, as well as the reconstruction and expansion of the facilities for five substations with a voltage level of 110kV.

‘’Energoinvest’’ has already opened an office in Tirana and carried out the necessary preparations to begin its work, which will be led by ‘’Energoinvest’’ employees. Albanian firms in cooperation with ‘’Energoinvest’’ will work in the field.

‘’Given that this is about a project operating under the system ‘key in hand’, it has already begun. ‘’Energoinvest is responsible for the design, unit testing, equipment procurement, construction and commissioning of transmission lines and substation lines. The German Development Bank KfW is financing it. ‘Energoinvest’ designers are already working, and field work will begin upon an advance payment that is expected for several months. The deadline to finish the job is 30 months from the date of taking over the building sites, plus 2 months to test the lines’’, announced ‘’Energoinvest’’ to FENA.
‘’Energoinvest’’ signed an agreement with OST Albania (Elektroprenos) in Tirana on 31 January on the construction of transmission lines, reconstruction and the expansion of five substation plants in southern Albania.
The value of the contract is 30.5 million euros.
‘’Energoinvest’’ will work in strict accordance with the requirements of the tender, and will be supervised by the consultant company ‘’Fichtner’’ from Germany.

There was high competition for this job in Albania that‘’Energoinvest’’ d.d. obtained, because around 20 global and respectable companies had the tender documents. Other companies that gave offers were ‘’SA-RA” from Turkey, ‘’Dalekovod” from Croatia, and ‘’Iberdrola’’ from Spain.

 

Greek telecom OTE sells satellite unit to Arabsat

ATHENS | Thu Feb 7, 2013 
 

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Greece's biggest telecoms operator OTE said on Thursday it agreed to sell its satellite unit Hellas SAT to Saudi Arabia-based Arabsat for 208 million euros as part of measures to cut its debt.
OTE, managed and partly-owned by Germany's Deutsche Telekom , has been cutting costs and selling assets to cope with its debt load amid a severe austerity-fuelled recession in its two biggest markets, Greece and Romania.

"We achieved a significant agreement," said OTE's Chief Executive Michael Tsamaz in a statement adding that the value of the deal was "satisfying".
The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of the year, OTE said in a statement.
Standard and Poor's on Monday upgraded OTE's credit rating after the company sold 700 million euros ($937 million)of new bonds on Jan.30, in a sign of debt markets gradually opening for the cash-strapped country's firms.

OTE has also said it plans to sell its Bulgarian unit Globul, but sources have said that it might reconsider the sale after the successful bond issue last month. ($1 = 0.7469 euros)

Albanian court clears police in protesters' deaths

Published: February 7, 2013 

FILE - Photo dated Oct 25 2011 of Ndrea Prendi, head of Albania's elite Republican Guard , who along with Agim Llupo, a senior officer in the unit, an Albanian court acquitted of charges of shooting dead four opposition supporters during an anti-government protest two years ago, in a trial ending in the capital Tirana Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. An investigation found that police bullets killed the four men at a Socialist Party protest against alleged corruption and vote-rigging by Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s government. Prendi and Llupo admitted firing shots in the air, but denied hitting anyone.

Hektor Pustina, File — AP Photo

By LLAZAR SEMINI — Associated Press

 

TIRANA, Albania — An Albanian court acquitted two senior police officers on Thursday of shooting dead four opposition supporters during an anti-government protest in 2011.
The ruling was bluntly criticized by the United States, which provided assistance in the forensic investigation, and was met with outrage by Albania's political opposition, fueling the country's rising political tensions ahead of its June 23 general election.
The Socialist opposition party walked out of Parliament in protest Thursday, and the son of one of the dead hinted that relatives could take the matter into their own hands in accordance with Albania's long history of vendettas.
"Tradition says that blood is paid with blood," the son, Renato Myrtaj, told the private News 24 television station.
Presiding judge Besnik Hoxha said prosecutors were unable to prove the charges against Ndrea Prendi, head of the elite Republican Guard, and Agim Llupo, a senior officer in the unit. A third officer was acquitted of concealing evidence about the Jan. 21, 2011, shootings.
Prendi and Llupo were charged with the murder of Faik Myrtaj, Hekuran Deda and Ziver Veizi; no one has been charged in the death of the fourth protester, Aleks Nika.
An investigation found that police bullets killed four men at a Socialist Party protest against alleged corruption and vote-rigging by Prime Minister Sali Berisha's government. Prendi and Llupo admitted firing shots in the air, but denied hitting anyone.
Berisha declined to respond to the ruling Thursday, saying he would never "comment on a court verdict."
The opposition has accused Berisha of authorizing police to use lethal force at the protest - a claim the prime minister rejects.
"I assure the families of the four martyrs that their deaths cannot be forgotten ... until a fair verdict is obtained," Socialist Party leader Edi Rama said.
"When justice speaks, you should keep silent," responded Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli, a governing Democratic Party lawmaker.
A spokesman for the Prosecutor General's office, Albi Serani, declined to say whether prosecutors would appeal the ruling. He said they must read the decision first.
The U.S. Embassy in Tirana issued a statement saying it was "dismayed" by the court decision.
The court did not take into consideration "extensive assistance, including expertise from the world-class Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab," provided by the United States after an urgent request from the Tirana government and the Prosecutor General's office.
"Today's verdict has undermined confidence in the ability and willingness of the Albanian judicial system to deliver justice in an impartial, transparent manner," the embassy said.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/02/07/2506666/albanian-court-clears-police-of.html#storylink=cpy

Visit of Turkish defense minister in Albania

The visit of the Turkish minister began with the official reception at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense of the Albanian counterpart Arben imams, which would then have a bilateral meeting on strategy and defense according to the Albanian agency balkanweb.com

During his visit to Tirana, the Turkish Minister Yilmaz will be received by President of the Republic, Bujar Nisan, and will have meetings with other senior officials.

Albanian YPAM said that "cooperation in the military sector between the 2 countries is quite successful."

The visit of the Minister of Defence of Turkey Ismet Yilmaz who crowded entourage accompanied by Turkish officers within the framework of strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.

Kutsova aeroport, Orikum Naval Base and the modernization of the Commandos Forces, are the objectives of the Turkish diplomacy, to help the Albanian Army, one more indication that call the strategic interest of Turkey, to open in Albania.

Greek governments have lost the trust of the Community of Northern Epirus

Only 10% of Northern Epirus inhabitants, about 40 thousand people, have received the Greek citizenship, while since 7 years, the rest are waiting endlessly, this injustice bureaucracy, of  the Greek state.

There are several reasons why today, the people of Northern Epirus, feels abandoned by  Greece's ethnic policies.

Property belong historically to Greeks, is transferred to Albanians, the Greek citizenship, is impossible to win with national pride , pensions of fathers, being blocked and the Albanian census, has "deleted" the Greeks by the claim, the Orthodox community, is attacked as ever, in the history of modern Albania. What other?

Maria Bolanos, a lawyer in Athens, leader of the League Himariot, has raised concerns in the Greek media, for some issues, which belong to the Greek national feeling, for the people of the northern Epirus.

During an interview, given to Eleftheri Ora newspaper, Bollano expresses her anger, for some cardinal issues, such as the properties of Greek citizens in northern Epirus, especially in Himara Region, as well as the right to have Greek citizenship, a historic national dignity.

Meanwhile, today, it is inconceivable that the Greek government continues to block, about 90% of the award of citizenship for Northern Epirus (about 360 thousand people) issue that has stunned the public, that someone has obtained the Greek nationality and other members of the family are still waiting for 7 years.

This is another of suffering, of the community in Northern Epirus, for which the Greek government must make its decision soon as possible, with responsibility that belongs, as this community, feel frustrated by bureaucracy and failed diplomacy of the Athens Governments.

Σαμαρά αυτές οι εικόνες είναι για να κάνεις χαρακίρι

These views, have led the world's media lap showing, the situation of which is the poverty in Greece. Disaster, which country, Greece, as the world cultural heritage, has been denigrated by elite of the Greek politicians, who led Greece, after the 1974 military junta.

Ragousis Law Scrapped - Gov't To Introduce New Citizenship Law

Ragousis Law Scrapped - Gov't To Introduce New Citizenship Law

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We cannot help but jump for glee with the next bit of news because it will help decrease the amount of illegal immigrants entering our country, unlike the days of PASOK when it was a free-for-all.

On Wednesday Prime Minister Antonis Samaras apparently asked Deputy Interior Minister Haralambos Athanassiou to proceed with a string of amendments in regards to a new law that will allow second-generation migrants to apply for Greek citizenship. The new law has to comply with the Council of State since the council on Tuesday ruled against the provisions provided in the Ragousis law, saying that they were unconstitutional. As soon as the news was made public, legal circles began saying that the results of the 2010 municipal elections should now be annulled.

A report on SKAI Tv said that the new law is not going to be imposed retrospectively and at the same time it will not affect those who have already received Greek citizenship under the Ragousis Law. Unfortunately it is not going to effect the municipality election results of November 2010 either, but then again this was only reported on SKAI and there is no formal announcement about that.

The Council’s decision stated clearly that “the right to vote is reserved to Greek citizens and cannot be extended to those who do not possess this status," unless, there is a revision of the relevant provision in the Greek Constitution.

The controversial law -or Law 3838/2010- or the Ragousis law, aimed at granting foreign nationals who were holding a temporary resident permit, the right to vote in municipal and regional elections. Something of which came under fire back in 2010 but just like other PASOK administrations in the past... was totally ignored!

The former law was introduced by ex-Interior Minister Yiannis Ragousis (under the Papandreou government), and ratified by a PASOK dominated Parliament in 2010. It allowed those who had been born to immigrant parents and that had been living in Greece legally for five years to obtain Greek citizenship as long as they had studied at a Greek school for at least six years. (Doesn't make sense, but then again everything with PASOK never does.)

When it was introduced there was heavy criticism against it because it was obvious that it was drafted in order to serve the petty interests of the then PASOK government.

http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2013/02/ragousis-law-scrapped-govt-to-introduce.html

Nikolić, Jahjaga, Ashton meet in Brussels

Source: Beta

BRUSSELS, BELGRADE -- Tomislav Nikolić says that he "told President Jahjaga that the dialogue will not move toward a solution if she continues to insist that Kosovo is independent".

(EU)

Nikolić spoke for B92 in Brussels shortly after a 50-minute meeting he held with Jahjaga and EU's Catherine Ashton, who acted as mediator.
"As part of the dialogue that I support, two months ago I suggested that (Kosovo) President Jahjaga and I meet. Unfortunately, Mrs. Jahjaga insisted - along with a textbook story about human rights - that two independent states should cooperate," the president said.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians five years ago unilaterally declared independence, but Serbia rejects this proclamation.

"I said that if she continues to insist that Kosovo is an independent state, the dialogue will not be able to move toward moving a joint solution," Nikolić added.

"According to the Serbian Constitution both foreign and internal policies are in the hands of the Serbian government, my role is to control whether this is being done within the framework of the (Serbian parliament's Kosovo) Resolution, it is not my role to reach agreements. The meeting can be appraised as useful, in terms of getting acquainted with one another, but the problem is that there were no common topics that could be discussed and for which solutions could be found."

The president stressed that during the meeting today, he "moved within the scope of the Resolution":

"Clearly, everyone who is talking with our representatives is insisting that it (Kosovo) is about an independent state, and that cannot pass."

Asked to comment on the speculation that the meeting was "the last step toward (Serbia's) recognition" of Kosovo, Nikolić said that the encounter was "certainly not motivated by our desire to recognize Kosovo, but rather to tone down the passions."

"Serbia's desire is completely clear - the last thing that I would do for as long as I Iive would be to agree to, to accept Kosovo as an independent state."

In a statement for Tanjug, Nikolić said that his meeting with head of interim institutions in Priština Atifete Jahjaga did not ensure a step forward concerning the biggest obstacle, that is the Kosovo and Metohija status.

Nikolić underscored that by the parliamentary resolution, Serbia recognizes the specific nature of the territory of Kosovo and Metohija with an independent judiciary, president, government and the asse, but there are also communities there, such as the Serb or the Roma community, and they should have a certain autonomous status within it.

The Serbian president underscored that during the meeting, he voiced all the stands contained in the Resolution adopted by the Serbian parliament.

He noted that this is the framework Belgrade's negotiating team will not overstep in the continuation of the dialogue.

Nikolić stated that this is a good start because the book of agreements has been opened, but it is uncertain just how long the process would last.

“After all, this is not so important. It is better for the talks to last longer and yield a solution eventually,” he said and added that it would be difficult to reach an agreement if Priština's stand about its independence remains firm and unchanged although it is not recognized by the UN.

Nikolić said that without Serbia's consent, there can be no independence for Kosovo and Metohija for as long as the UN exists in their current form, adding that he does not see why authorities would be unwilling to discuss another solution which would improve living conditions both in Serbia and in the Balkans as a whole.

“There is no other solution save for the agreement and if you read the Resolution of the Serbian National Assembly, you will realise that Serbia offered the solution according to which Kosovo and Metohija would be able to function and develop almost as an independent state, but no country can be expected to recognise the independence of any of its parts without asking their citizens first,” Nikolić said.

He added that everyone should bear in mind that there is a number of countries which have not recognized Kosovo and Metohija independence because they are aware it would open problems in their own territory.

According to Nikolić, during their separate meeting Ashton "did not voice any remark which could serve as grounds for doubt that the European Commission (EC) report would be positive".

Nikolić expressed his optimism and added that in his view, the fact that Serbia wants to conduct talks with ethnic Albanians and is doing so is positive for the country.

“EU membership is our primary goal and we will do all a country and a nation with their pride can do,” Nikolić said.

He also stated that a new meeting could take place "only if there are results on other levels, in the technical agreements of government representatives", and added:

"Then it would be time for us to confirm it with our authority."

Ahead of the meeting, Jahjaga briefly addresses reporters in passing to say that she would talk with Nikolić as the president of "a sovereign, independent state".

"We are equal here. This is the opening of a new chapter in our road of Euro-Atlantic integrations," said Jahjaga.

The top-level meeting will be held “as a part of the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Priština”, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Ashton said in an official invitation to Nikolić and Jahjaga.

Ashton first had separate meetings with Nikolić and Jahjaga.

The meeting between is considered an “affirmation of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue at the top level”, European Commission (EC) officials have stressed earlier in the day.

European diplomatic sources told Beta news agency that Ashton was expected to point out the importance of the dialogue and "normalization of relations for Serbia and Kosovo’s EU perspective”.

Ashton: Nikolić, Jahjaga are committed to dialogue

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said after meeting with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga Wednesday that she saw constructive engagement coming from both sides.

Ahton said in a press release that she met in Brussels today with the two heads of state to discuss the on-going dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, which has already produced a number of significant achievements.

“We are now tackling the issue of northern Kosovo and the coming weeks will be critical, she said.

The European foreign policy chief said that Both Nikolić and Jahjaga have assured her of their continued support and commitment to the dialogue and their respective European agendas.

“I reaffirmed the European perspective for both Serbia and Kosovo and encouraged both sides to continue

Jahjaga: Useful meeting

Atifete Jahjaga stated after the meeting with Tomislav Nikolić on Wednesday that this was "the first meeting between presidents of two independent and sovereign countries".

In a telephone statement for Priština-based RTK media outlet, Jahjaga noted that the meeting was "constructive and that strong support was given to the normalisation of the two countries' relations, which constitutes an important contribution to peace and stability".

Jahjaga said that "strong support was given to the dialogue headed by the prime ministers with a view to normalising the relations between the two countries and resolving the problems which the two countries' citizens are facing".

When asked who was "the biggest winner in the meeting with Nikolić", Jahjaga said that "Kosovo and Serbia are the winners, as well as peace and stability, both in the two countries and the wider region".

Meeting represents “proof of top leaders’ unity”

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić has said, ahead of the Brussels meeting on Wednesday, that the Serbian president will show support to everything done by Serbian representatives with the meeting with Jahjaga.

According to him, this shows unity of top state officials’ position regarding Kosovo.

He told daily Blic that the president would not negotiate because Prime Minister Ivica Dačić negotiated on behalf of Serbia.

“Our goal is to implement what is written in our document (parliament’s resolution on Kosovo) because it is taking care of Albanians’ interests but it thoroughly protects the Serb community as well,” the minister noted.

He added he was optimistic regarding Serbia’s EU integration and that the country had a good chance to get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks.

“I truly believe we have a very good chance to get a date for the start of the EU negotiations and that it has rarely been this good,” Mrkić stressed.

  Picture: AFP

 

 

FBI team in Turkey to probe US embassy attack

 

06 February 2013 | 14:43 | FOCUS News Agency

Ankara. The United States has sent an FBI team to join the Turkish investigation into a deadly suicide bombing on the US embassy in Ankara last week, the mission said Wednesday, cited by AFP.
Friday's bombing, the second attack on a US diplomatic mission in five months, was claimed by a radical leftwing group the Revolutionary People's Liberation Front (DHKP-C).

"The DHKP-C has put itself squarely in the path of American justice," US embassy spokesman TJ Grubisha said.
"An FBI team has arrived in Turkey in order to cooperate with Turkish authorities," he added.
"The United States will work with Turkey and other countries to gather intelligence and evidence to use against the DHKP-C."
A Turkish security guard was killed and three other people wounded in the attack.
The DHKP-C, which is fiercely anti-US and is blacklisted by Washington and the European Union as a terrorist organisation, identified the bomber as Alisan Sanli.

Sanli was previously jailed in Turkey for his involvement in an attack on an Istanbul military compound in 1997.
The group has carried out several attacks in Turkey since the 1970s, sometimes targeting prominent figures.

Rise of Golden Dawn: A presage of doom?

 

As Europe turns a blind eye to the immigration crisis, many impoverished foreigners find themselves trapped in an economically crippled country that can't sustain them, says Hatef Mokhtar.

Hatef Mokhtar is chief editor of The Oslo Times.

"The undisguised extremism promoted by Greece’s neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn is a chilling watershed in its post-war democracy.
Fascist gangs are turning Athens into a city of shifting front lines, seizing on crimes and local protests to promote their own movement, by claiming to be the defenders of recession-ravaged Greece.
An opinion poll published by KAPA Research in October showed that support for the extremist political group had grown from 7.5% of the population in June to 10.4% currently.
The Golden Dawn emerged from political obscurity into the mainstream in May, after winning 7% of the vote in the Greek parliamentary elections. Since then, the country has reportedly witnessed an upsurge in racial violence connected to the right-wing group.

The party has manipulated a weak Greek state and disastrous austerity management by European bureaucrats to become, according to recent polls, the third most popular political party in the country - a noxious omen for the euro zone and a worrying challenge and counterpoint to the very idea of the EU itself, which received this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
Three years ago, Greeks ignored Golden Dawn, seeing its members as neo-Nazi thugs waging war against migrants and giving it a miserable 0.29% of the vote.
Last year, however, Golden Dawn - rebranded as an anti-austerity party - won nearly 7% and secured 18 of the 300 seats in Parliament.
Its ascent has continued in opinion surveys despite its parliamentary deputies' being filmed attacking immigrant vendors and demanding that all non-Greek children be kicked out of day-care centres and hospitals.

As the cash-strapped government struggles to offer its citizens basic services, Golden Dawn has set up parastate organisations to police the streets, donate to Greek-only blood banks and help unemployed Greeks find jobs.
The party has also promised to cancel household debt for the unemployed and low-wage earners. "Soon we'll be running this country," says Ilias Panagiotaros, a beefy 38-year-old army-supply-shop owner who is now a Golden Dawn parliamentary deputy representing Athens.

http://www.euractiv.com/general/rise-golden-dawn-presage-doom-analysis-517582

Orthodox Archbishop Janullatos, warns that religious unity, is at risk of Albania.


Janullatos: People of other religions are attacking Orthodox Church.

    Archbishop ; "Great value in Albania, they want to destroy, people from other religions, attacking Orthodox Church, under the guise of art. They tried to make ridiculous clerics not only priests, but also saints"
Albania's future depends on the preservation of Orthodox saints. "Let us learn all that we do not fear. We, Will not leave the Saints to break down, so break the future of Albania itself. "


In the last Mass in Orthodox Cathedral in Tirana, Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and All Albania Anastasios Jannoulatos, spared no harsh response to attacks, according to him, are being carried out on the Orthodox Church. Janullatos did not hesitate to compare the "methods" attacks with the Orthodox Church who underwent persecution during the communist religion.

Janullatos underlined the fact that, recently, art was used to denigrate not only the Albanian Orthodox priests, but also saints. "Recently attacked Orthodox Church under the guise of art. They tried to make ridiculous clerics not only priests, but also saints. Previously a director made a film with lies and broadcast abroad, ostensibly to honor our country and saw that there was a clear response by Orthodox Korça and Berat.

 Do you think that Albania has not problems as drugs, corruption, illegal of trafficking, that their art deal with the Orthodox Church, "said Orthodox cleric. Janullatos put emphasis on what he described as the destruction of religious harmony in Albania, named because of the attacks that other religions are making Orthodox Church. "The greatest gift in Albania want to destroy it, and here I refer to religious harmony. There can be no religious harmony, where people of other faiths attack the Church Orthodox "said Janullatos.

 At the conclusion of his speech, the Archbishop left realize that Albania's future depends on the preservation of Orthodox saints. "Let us learn all that we do not fear. Will not leave the Saints to break down, so break the future of Albania itself. "

http://shekulli.com.al/web/p.php?id=15827&kat=87

ΙΜΙΑ 2013 - Ομιλίες (Γ΄ Μέρος)

MP of Golden Dawn, Christos Pappas, during his speech in a meeting raly in Athens, declared that he come back to Albania (Northern Epirus), again.

Christos Pappas, is on the Black List of the Albanian State, for his declaration to liberate the Northern Epirus (Southern Albania) if is necessary with intervention of the Greek Army. 

Lobbying, government gives 800.000 USD

Last week, the Council of Ministers decided to add 800.000 to the Prime Ministry’s budget to pay a lobbying agreement of 2013.

Decision 29 was never published on the official website of the Council of Ministers, but it was posted on the official bulletin.

The Prime Ministry has added 80 million ALL to its budget, or 800.000 USD, to pay lobbying services in the US.

Although the decision doesn’t quote the name of the company, traces might lead to Patton Boggs.

A few days ago Top Channel published two agreements of the Albanian government with two lobbying companies in the US.

The first payment made to Podesta (720.000 USD) is being paid with monthly instalments of 55.000 USD, with most of the payment already made.

This payment excludes that this new payment is going to Podesta.

The second agreement was that of the amended agreement with Patton Boggs, published by the US Justice Department.

The agreement was signed on December 7th, two months ago, and it didn’t have the price that the government was paying to the US company for the lobbying services.

At this point, the government’s decision seems to be the next bill for Patton Boggs, other 800.000 USD after the millions that were paid since 2008.

If it is the same, the value that the Albanian government pays with the taxpayers’ money goes to 520.000 USD for two companies.

But if the money is not for Patton Boggs, it would mean that besides Patton Boggs and Podesta Group, the government is paying a third company.

Golden Dawn statement about Berisha`s declaration in Munich

Berisha struck again: "Albanian, Preveza"

Will answer finally the greek FM?

New declarations externalized the Albanian expansionism, has been the Prime Minister of Albania, Sali Berisha. The statements made by the 49th step of the Conference on security in Munich, without even giving a Greek official answer.

Albanian Prime Minister, speaking at a conference on security in Southeast Europe and the Caucasus, he said: "If you look at the map of Europe is not another country that is surrounded by the sea and five other countries, such as Albania, where the current Albanians are divided in 5 countries. I believe that through the process of EU borders this issue is trivial, but it is dangerous to the idea that Albanians are deformed into five nations in five different countries together. And that is unacceptable. Although this may create and cause reactions. " He added that "I support and welcome the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade to Brussels.
Apparently achieved key successes. But I think the behavior which is released from alvanofovia and moves towards reconciliation is vital. The situation is delicate because the area of ​​Albanians. We have to accept that these people live in five different states. It is a nation that is divided into five states, one of them is Greece. But we want to look to the future, however, prevents us from the alvanofovia, which is in operation. "

Bottomless audacity of the Albanian Prime Minister, which is fed by the inaction and appeasement of the Greek government. Repeated even earlier statement which was given as part of the celebrations for the 100 years since the founding of the Albanian state, a statement Berisha had argued that the borders of Albania starting from Preveza! .. Additionally, he clarified that the Albanian government will reject in advance any ideas put on the table, from five Balkan countries hosting Albanian populations.
As we have repeatedly stressed, is the defeatist approach to Greek political leadership which  throws oil, on the fire of Albanian irredentism. Albanians raise issues of major national importance for the Greek Nation, based on non-existent political, historical, cultural, and military components. So it is a natural outcome of the Greek obstruction, the growing Albanian provocations.

The People Link-Golden Dawn, in contrast to all the Greek parliamentary parties, responded with the Albanian historical nonsense and expressed his willingness to activate the Protocol of Corfu, which provides autonomy for the Greeks of Northern Epirus. In this case, the Greek people must realize that the coalition of  defeatism and seriously damages the Greek national interests.


http://www.xryshaygh.com/index.php/enimerosi/view/oneireuetai-ellhnika-edafh-o-mperisa#.URF8pPJ-VJg

The "Golden Dawn", controlled by the Albanian government, within its territory

 Noka: There is no connection of the "Golden Dawn" in Albania

Interior Minister Flamur Noka, reports to the Security Committee for the crime situation in the country. In addition, the Vice-President of the Commission, representatives of the Socialist Party, Ilir Gjoni, known for anti Greek rhetoric, in all its political activity, has expressed concern over the publication of a story in the media, for the Greek party "Golden Dawn" which has opened branches in Saranda . But Interior Minister denies as untrue such news.

11 priests of the Orthodox Church of Elbasan, react against "Father" Nicholas Marku

At Marku: I come, by the Macedonian churches

11 Elbasan Orthodox priests attacked today, Father Nicholas Marku, who has become well known for over public opinion by continuing nationalist criticism issued by Archbishop Dr Anastasios of Tirana.

Orthodox priests of Elbasan, and believers in the church of "St. Thanas" accuse Father Nicholas Marku, for usurping the Church 'St. Mary', which is a monument of culture with exceptional value.

Clerics demanded the intervention of state structures for the protection of the church, which according to them is being destroyed by an illegitimate priest, Father Nicholas Mark. According to them, Father Nicholas Mark wants to hide behind the extremist nationalist rhetoric.


"I am a legitimate and respected cleric who serve with dedication and faithful love. As a reputable clergyman, will make every effort to not allow "Janullatos grab of the Albanian Orthodoxy " he says.

At Marku adds that he is wearing as priest by the Synod of the Church Orthodox of Macedonia, and says it has the support of all believers

At Marku, is the only Orthodox priest, who constantly attacks Archbishop Dr Anastasios of Tirana, in the same wavelength as the Albanian nationalist extremists, while the Orthodox Church does not recognize a priest.

US Tells Tsipras That Turkey Will Attack If Athens Proclaims EEZ

US Tells Tsipras That Turkey Will Attack If Athens Proclaims EEZ

 ( Wikipedia)

Washington believes that if Greece declares its EEZ and begins hydrocarbon exploration in the Aegean then Turkey will provoke a heated incident in the Aegean. This "message" was apparently conveyed by Eric Rubin, US State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary to main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras when they met in the US capital last week. Tsipras then of course passed on the "message" (or sermon) to a few select deputies at a closed meeting last Wednesday.

According to an article by Athanasios Ellis in the Sunday edition of Kathimerini, Washington is against the projection and submission of coordinates and maps, but not necessarily against Greece conducting drilling (in other words, drill, if you have to, but no maps), and this only in areas that do not cause friction, such as the Ionian or south of Crete. (A similar story was also featured in the Sunday edition of "To Paron").

On the other, the US wants Greece to restrain itself and seek consultation with other "stakeholders" in regards to the Aegean. It should be reiterated that in 2010 the then State Department special envoy for Energy in Eurasia, Richard Morningstar, had said that Greece and Turkey should share the energy in the Aegean because of "questionable" (or 'grey') areas. 

Editor's Note - In other words, the US sent a message to Athens through Tsipras to not overstep its "UNIVERSAL RIGHT" in Greek territorial waters because Turkey will react negatively if this happens, and it does not want Greece to publish maps which will prove that these territorial waters belong to our country. The only thing we understand from this is that Greece obviously has the maps to back up its territorial sovereignty. But back to the "message" from DC, or what we want to believe is a select few who believe that they run the world. Why so much fuss about the maps? Is this because these Golden Boys in Washington purposely want the division of the Aegean and the world to believe that there are actual grey zones in the Aegean -through falsifications- when we all know there aren't? Is this why these few circles in Washington continually support Turkey over Greece, because we know this is not the case of all Americans, and certainly not all US politicians. This only applies to Morningstar -who we find rather dull- and his band wagon of friends, who are all inter-connected from the Clinton and Bush eras. But enough about them, What the heck is the Greek lobby in the US doing about this? Oh... silly me, our INACTIVE Diaspora leaders in Washington don't lobby... that is demode... they only attend chic soirees and push their own political agendas. But that is not all, they also fatten the wallets of specific US politicians who in some cases support these messages of horror to the Greek people. Will our Diaspora for once stand up -in its entire INACTIVE life- and finally defend this country and do what they were elected to do which is to LOBBY for Greek interests? And finally... why send the message with Tsipras? Is Alexis their new Papandreou? Hmmm....

http://www.hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2013/02/us-tells-tsipras-that-turkey-will.html

"Cretan Revolutionists" Send Stournaras A Bullet In The Mail

"Cretan Revolutionists" Send Stournaras A Bullet In The Mail

Now that Europe is clearly unfixed once more, it is time to shift attention back to broke Greece where as we showed yesterday things are certainly back to the "new normal" with 24 hour strikes again on the daily agenda. And just to keep it real, Greek police reported that the new Greek Finance Minister received a care package with just two contents earlier today: a bullet and a death threat.

From Reuters:

    Greece's finance minister was sent a bullet and a death threat from a group protesting home foreclosures, police officials said on Monday, in the latest incident to raise fears of growing political violence.
    The package was sent by a little-known group called "Cretan Revolution", which warned the minister against any efforts to seize homes and evict homeowners, police sources said. The group sent similar letters to tax offices in Crete last week.
    Yannis Stournaras, a respected economist who became finance minister in June, has angered many Greeks by championing austerity policies demanded by the European Union and International Monetary Fund as the price for bailout aid.

It was unclear as of this posting how the mainstream media will spin the particular development in Greece as favorable for the economy, and supportive of all time highs in the S&P. We will provide an update once we know the answer. One thing we do know is that it is becoming very possible that the next time a bullet is delivered to the Greek authorities, it could well be traveling faster than just at snail mail pace.

Finally, it is time Greece took a hint from the US and banned all bullets. That would surely eliminate all such fan mail in the future. zerohedge

 

http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2013/02/stournaras-gets-bullet-in-mail.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FIhFVK+%28HELLAS+FRAPPE%29&utm_content=FeedBurner

La crisis en Grecia obliga a los emigrantes albaneses a volver a su país

The crisis in Greece requires Albanian migrants to return home


180,000 Albanians from about 600,000 settled in Greece have returned to their homeland

The severe economic crisis suffered by Greece for five years has been forced to return to almost a third of Albanian migrants who once left their homes to search the neighboring country a way out of poverty.

According to the Center for Foreign Trade in Tirana recently published some 180,000 Albanians from about 600,000 settled in Greece have returned to their homeland in recent years, leaving behind what at one point looked like paradise to them out of the deep poverty.

"People come back because there is no work here, and although neither are Albania, at least they have a roof that shelters them," told Osman Feimi, head of the Albanian community in Athens.

Many of the returnees have been abroad ten, fifteen and twenty years. As a neighboring country, most of them have been able to travel quite often to their villages and towns, and many of them are destined to be what saved a house and help the families who stayed there.

"My brother left last year after 19 years as a bricklayer in Athens. With the crisis have stopped construction orders and had no choice but to go back to his family. There is unemployed, but at least she has a house and their children can go to school, "says Elsa Semi Athens.

She still can continue in Greece because he works in several houses and cleaning her husband, also a construction worker, is doing the odd job. However, in the park where Elsa takes the kids to play, and only sees half of Albanians a few years ago.

Albania, with 2.8 million inhabitants, is one of the poorest countries in Europe, with an average salary of 250 euros and an official unemployment rate of 13.3%.

It is estimated that a million and a half of Albanians emigrated since the fall of communism in 1991, half of them to neighboring Greece, which improved their economic situation and also helped repopulate rural areas that had been virtually uninhabited.

Now, however, the scourge of the crisis in Greece has turned into a way of life that seemed to perpetuate.

Back in Albania, life is not easy. Although the Government of Tirana has approved a strategy to support the social reintegration of returnees, one of the requirements of the European Union, which Albania suck-enter most of them struggle to get jobs, health care and social and educate their children, many of whom were born in Greece.

Between 2010 and 2012, there were about 3,530 returnees in Albanian employment offices and 86% of them returned from Greece. Only one in ten has found work, while another 15% were registered with vocational training, according to information from the National Employment Service.

"Nobody helped us. The Albanian state is absent or exists only to steal.'s Worse than in Greece. Revenues are lower and higher food prices," complains Shyqyri Shahini who returned with his family to Albania the year after three decades spent in Athens.

Yet Shahini, who worked in the building, plus some money during their stay in Greece and with the accumulated savings of their hard work has been able to rent a small shop in Tirana, which ensures the survival of the three family members .

Their children are even more difficult to adapt to the new life, and who have not mastered the language having lived a long time in Greece. For example, Besmir, the youngest son, who left Albania when he was only one year, is offended when his class mates call him "the Greek" to speak with an accent.

So to help returnees, the Ministry of Education decided to introduce this year's special learning courses for 3770 Albanian immigrant children who attend public schools precollege.

Nevertheless, the Greek crisis has had some positive effect for Albania.

Although the Balkan country has ceased to enter the remittances sent home by migrants fears of a Greek bankruptcy financial system made in the last three years the Albanians living in Greece 2,000 million euros transferred to their country.


http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Grecia-obliga-emigrantes-albaneses-volver_0_96940348.html

Serbian president on two-day visit to Turkey

Source: Beta, Tanjug

BELGRADE, ANKARA -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić is on Monday starting his two-day visit to Turkey, where he will be meeting with the country's top officials.

(Beta/AP)

Nikolić has conferred with his counterpart Abdullah Gul, and will meet with Turkey's parliament speaker, Cemil Cicek, it has been announced.
He will also meet with the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, and leading members of the Turkish business community.

The president is accompanied by Serbian Minister of Sports and Youth Alisa Marić and Assistant Foreign Minister Goran Aleksić, as well as representatives of Serbia's businesses.

Nikolić's foreign policy adviser Marko Đurić told Tanjug that the visit meant that intensive foreign policy activities were resuming, while the focus will be on the economic cooperation.

The Serbian delegation, according to this official, expects concrete results in that area. However, the trip will also be a chance to stress that "political relations must closely follow the economic ones and that we expect Turkey to take into account our interests when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija," said Đurić.

Nikolić was already in Turkey at the start of his mandate last summer when he and Gul co-presided over a summit of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The two presidents also met for a bilateral meeting.

Majko: "Golden Dawn" be treated as a terrorist organization, the Albanian government, to act

Pandeli Majko, an Orthodox leader in SP, never until today, has not rejected the Albanian census that brought Orthodox 6.7%
 
Anyway, if, orthodox community, decides to boycott the next Albanian Elections, the Socialist Party will lost the elections.

Former Prime Minister Pandeli Majko reacted today in connection with the establishment of the first branch of Greek Nazi fascist movement, the 'Golden Dawn' in Saranda. Majko has become guilty, the Albanian state, which allows the Greek neo-Nazi party "Golden Dawn" to open a branch in Albanian territory.

"Does the Minister of Interior and Justice Minister in our country to give explanations about the news that was published today in the media ... "Golden Dawn" in Albania applies treated as a terrorist organization. Such groups are "clinical death" of European principles and spirit of the region, "writes Majko social network Facebook.

But Pandeli Majko, before it is orthodox politician, whose party SP has not opposed the census of Berisha, who recorded 6.7% of Orthodox in Albania.

Meanwhile, rumors spoken that the Orthodox community, may boycott the upcoming elections in Albania, for which, the socialist party, may lost the elections., raising again Sali Berisha as prime minister.

Füle in Tirana, asks what will happen with Albania, If the parliamentary elections will fail?

European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, call to Albanian politics, to develop democratic elections

Albania celebrated its 100th anniversary, but the country, never in its history, has not developed democratic elections

Central Election Commission is a permanent institution, which has consistently been politicized and challenged by the political opposition.
Political developments in Albania, have reached the peak, on the eve of the development of political elections for the next June. For the first pre-election preparations, in Tirana has arrived the Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, who has made meetings with political parties.

But in particular, meeting with opposition leader, Edi Rama, has made ​​quite an impression as Commissioner Fule, has run very interesting question, concerning not only for elections but also for the stability of the state Albania.

Commissioner Fule has asked Edi Rama, if Albania will not develop fair and democratic elections, what will happen next, Albania, which will be governed? According to the Albanian press, it is believed that the opposition, elections chuck, if they are not democratic standards set for this process, which was also said to Commissioner Fule, from the Albanian opposition.

Albania celebrated its 100th anniversary, but the country, never in its history, has not held democratic elections, while the western alliance, has repeatedly assisted, near Albania, to have permanent stability.

Strong explosion in northern Kosovska Mitrovica

Source: Tanjug

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- A strong explosion was reported in northern Kosovska Mitrovica at 22:20 CET on Sunday.

A view of Kosovska Mitrovica (Beta, file)

There were no casualties, but there was damage to vehicles and windows on the nearby building.
The device used was most likely a hand grenade.

The explosion happened in the vicinity of the city's multiethnic part called Tri Solitera and a Kosovo police checkpoint, according to a Tanjug reporter at the scene.

The police secured the area immediately and started their investigation.

KFOR was also at the scene.

The explosion was extremely powerful, so a crowd of people gathered at the location.

Kosovo Albanian Selver Haradinaj was killed in an explosion at the same place last year.

"Να πάει στο διάολο ο Μουίζνιεκς"

 "Go to heck, Mouiznieksi"

This answer is given by the Secretary General of the Golden Dawn, Nicholas G. Michaloliakos, to the European Commissioner for "human rights" Nils Mouiznieks, who suggested putting the Golden Dawn Outlaw

More specifically, the European commissioner after meeting with officials of the Greek government to "increase in racist violence in Greece", said: "The Golden Dawn is a threat to the Greek Republic. Is a Nazi party that jeopardizes Greece's image and think to ask that outlawed ".

In reply Mouiznieks N. Michaloliakos during yesterday's speech in concentration Imia.

Albanian cemetery in southern Serbia desecrated

Source: B92

BUJANOVAC -- Several tombstones were damaged last night at an Albanian cemetery in ethnically-mixed village of Oslare near the southern town of Bujanovac.

The Vranje Police Administration has confirmed that the incident took place.
“At the moment we only have a confirmation that several tombstones were desecrated in the village of Oslare. We will have more details later bearing in mind that investigative organs and police are in the field,” Vranje Police Administration Spokesman Dragan Stamenković told B92.

Local community representative Naser Bajrami told B92 that such incidents had not been recorded in the village or in Bujanovac because “a grave is sacred to Albanians and it is not to be touched it at any cost”.

“We are all shocked by the event in this multiethnic village. We strongly condemn the incident and request from the competent state organs to find the perpetrators and punish them,” Bajrami noted.

The village of Oslare is located about five kilometers southwest of Bujanovac.

According to the 2002 census, the village has 904 residents. 498 of them are ethnic Albanians and 400 are Serbs.

Turkey will say goodbye to EU, PM Erdogan warns

Source: RTS

ANKARA -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that Turkey “will say goodbye to the EU”.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Beta, file)

While governments of the EU member states fear that they would have to face dissatisfaction of their voters if they supported Turkey’s EU accession, Vienna-based daily Die Presse writes Turkey’s membership could bring economic and geopolitical benefits.
Ankara appears to be frustrated with the lack of progress on the EU pathway and Erdogan recently said that Turkey “will say goodbye to the EU”.

Die Presse writes that the entire case has turned into a moral test of the Austrian daily politics and the local public that is rather nervous about having Turkey in the EU.

Negotiations between the EU and Turkey officially started in 2007 but were suspended last year because of Cyprus. Turkey does not recognize Cyprus, which is an EU member state, and thus automatically does not recognize the European law, i.e. the so-called acquis communautaire which practically means it cannot join the EU, Die Presse writers.

In reality, numerous European governments, including the Austrian government, are quite happy with the situation. They believe that if Turkey started to cooperate regarding the Cyprus issue they would have to deal with their own voters and it would be a battle they could not win, Austrian media say.

Erdogan said that Turkey would look to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization if the EU did not want to allow the country to become a member.

Turkey has a status of “dialogue partner” in the Russia and China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The organization has managed to maintain its character of a security and geostrategic cooperation.

According to Austrian media, it is debatable how Russia and China would react if Turkey, a NATO member, became a full-fledged member in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Die Presses criticized the EU’s inability to recognize the benefits of the Turkish membership, bearing in mind that the country had a high economic and geopolitical growth.

According to the daily, the EU could give Turkey a status of a “privileged partner” but Erdogan stressed last year that it was out of the question and that Turkey would only accept to be a full-fledged EU member.

Berisha: Albanofobia kërcënon rajonin - Top Channel Albania - News - Lajme

Berisha: albanophobia threatens inter region

Berisha: "We must accept that they are the only people who live in 5 states. A nation that is unjustly divided into 5 states, a nation that wants to look to a common future. But again albanophobia is still in action "

Albanian Prime Minister for the second time, threatening Greece, claiming that Albanians in Greece, should join the Albanian state.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, speaking at the 49th Security Conference in Munich, where security discussed in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, has expressed his concern that attitudes against Albanians in the region are on the move and that it seriously threatens stability .

"If you look at the map of Europe, can not find another place surrounded by compatriots and the sea, as they are today Albanians divided into 5 states. I believe that through the process of the European Union, borders become irrelevant but dangerous is the idea according to which, since Albanians are dispersed in 5 countries should be converted into 5 different nations from each other. This is totally unacceptable. This will generate and provoke the opposite reaction. I support

We welcome the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade to Brussels. Obviously he has achieved some key successes. But I think attitudes released by albanophobia and moving towards reconciliation are crucial. Delicate situation in the region is that of the Albanians. Must accept that they are the only people who live in 5 states. A nation that is unjustly divided into 5 states, a nation that wants to look to a common future. But again albanophobia is still in operation, "said Berisha in his speech.

Asked by a German MP which is the message that will convey to the Prime Minister of Albania, Sali Berisha has urged quick action. Berisha illustrated his message with a statement in 1992, that should be bombed military bases in Serbia, which according to him, NATO did 7 years later. Perhaps, Berisha said, would have been better not delayed.