Kavaja protester dies

The event that brought the arrest of the Mayor of Kavaja is not closed with his liberation.

One of the persons who were taken last Sunday under police custody has passed away today. The cause of his death is not clear, and brings back the attention on March 10th in Kavaja, when Ruzhdi Aliu, 47, who was among the  protesters that were demanding Roshi’s liberation, was arrested by the police and died while going to collect scrap metal near the railway.

His relatives blame the police for Aliu’s death. They say that he was hit on his chest, and after this he had health problems in prison.

The relatives added that Aliu has never had health problems before, rejecting this way the police claims that he had health problems before the arrest.

One of his friends said for Top Channel that Aliu had problems during Sunday night, and in the morning he even vomited blood.

Contacted by Top Channel, sources at the Durres Hospital confirmed the relatives’ declarations, saying that Aliu had never asked medical aid before that Sunday. But they added that he was brought in by the Police on Monday. He has had the same concerns during the week and received laxatives.

Aliu’s body is currently at the Durres morgue and the family is waiting for the coroner’s final report. Aliu was arrested last Sunday, during a protest of dozens of citizens against the arrest of Elvis Roshi, the Mayor of Kavaja.

Roshi was detained in Kavaja until March 13th, and then was released. Aliu’s death could spur controversies for the way how the incident in Kavaja was handled, especially for the fact that the opposition thinks that the incident was politically motivated.

Albania to shelter 210 Mujahedins
Top Channel TV

Albania will shelter the 210 Iranians as refugees. The promise was given by PM Berisha, saying that this is a result of a 6-month dialogue with Washington.

These are not some citizens in need, but members of an organization that were considered terrorist by the US State Department until September 21st of the last year. The history of this organization is very long and with diplomatic and military complications.

Mujahedin Khalik, or the Organization of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran, internationally known as MEK, is led by Islamic Marxists who supported the Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1979. After breaking up with the new Islamic regime, they moved to Iraq where they were under the protection of Sadam Hussein during the Iraq-Iran war.

They were declared a terrorist organization by the US in 1997, but after the fall of Hussein’s regime, in 2003, the organization was considered the opposition in exile of the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

With strong diplomatic support in Washington, the Obama administration removed the organization from the terrorist list, despite Teheran’s appeals against this decision. They are sheltered in a US military base in Iraq, and the UN was negotiating for their transfer. Although their headquarters are in Paris, France, Albania was the only country that accepted to shelter the members of the former terrorist organization.

The US State Department states that the promise was given by Prime Minister Sali Berisha, during Hillary Clinton’s visit in Albania. Barbara Leaf from the US State Department congratulated PM Berisha and declared that he is being a true friend of the US.

“Serbia will not renounce Resolution on Kosovo”

Source: Tanjug, Večernje novosti

BELGRADE -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić says top officials absolutely agree that not a single part of the Resolution on Kosovo can be renounced at any cost.

Tomislav Nikolić (Beta, file)

“Serbia's top officials are united in their defense of the Resolution,” he told Belgrade-based daily Večernje novosti.
Commenting on media speculations that the agreement between Belgrade and Priština was reached secretly and that according to it, Serbia practically renounced the core of the Resolution on Kosovo, which was adopted by the Serbian parliament, the Serbian president said that there was absolute unity as to the government's firm stand concerning the Resolution.

Nikolić said that Prime Minister Ivica Dačić, First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić and himself had achieved absolute agreement that they would not renounce any part of the Resolution on Kosovo.

“Rest assured that there is a strong agreement on this matter and that there are no weak links in the government concerning this,” Nikolić stressed.

The Serbian parliament adopted the Resolution on Kosovo on January 13. The Resolution envisages that all future agreements with Priština need to be in accordance with the document and it insists on the forming of the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo.

The Serbian president told Zvečan-based Most TV that that if Belgrade pulled out of the talks on Kosovo and if it was left to Priština to administer Kosovo together with the EU and without Belgrade's consent, the situation would become very unstable and Belgrade would be able to do very little for the Kosovo Serbs.

Speaking about Belgrade's proposal concerning powers to be enjoyed by the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo, Nikolić said that the Community should be entitled to enact statutes, regulations, decisions, resolutions and regulations based on laws passed by the Kosovo parliament.

The Serbian president said that the Serb community should have a number of representatives in the Kosovo parliament and any proposed legislation relating to the Serb community should require a majority vote from the community.

"If no majority is formed by members of the Serb community to vote in favor of something that relates to the Serb community, that something cannot be passed," Nikolić said.

"All these are protections guaranteed to minority communities and the same protections are guaranteed to the Kosovo Serbs since Priština will be setting the rules in Kosovo," he explained.

The president said that Serbia could help the Kosovo Serbs a lot right now, adding that it was bound by law to help Serb communities in every area lacking resources and experts.

"I wish to avoid someone blaming us of being hostages to the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija or the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija accusing us of betraying them. I therefore wish to have the issues completely settled, leaving no room for ambiguity," Nikolić concluded.

The Turkish submarine TCG ANAFARTALAR in Durres



  At the port of Durres hosted the Turkish submarine that bears his name TCG ANAFARTALAR S-356. The visit of the Turkish submarine was part of the joint military cooperation Albania-Turkey and NATO for 2013 indicate that the Albanian site www.durreslajm.com.

Talk about a visit closer military cooperation between the two countries of friendly. The mayor of Durres Mr. Vangjush Dako greeted in a friendly ceremony in the town hall office commander of the submarine Yucel Kalacos they came and the Turkish military attaché in Albania Nizametin Bogar.

The particular relations and military cooperation between Albania and Turkey. As broadcast Albanian media, refer to 'exchange of experience and closer military cooperation. "

KOSOVO ISLAMIST MOVEMENTS AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

KOSOVO ISLAMIST MOVEMENTS AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

15.3.13  dr Athanasios E.Drougos  

BY IOANNIS MICHALETOS
ANALYST

A steady process of introducing radical Islamist politics in Kosovo is being gradually backed by a variety of Middle Eastern interests that have managed over the years to recruit a substantial number of adherents.
The impeding elections in Kosovo will be characterized amongst other by the recent establishment of the political party «Islamic Movement to Unite (LISBA)». This particular party follows a clear pan-Islamic agenda composed by radical Sunni elements.

The Weekly Standard media in a February 2013 reportage reported around the aims of that party to push towards an Islamic Caliphate in the Balkans. It was also described around the connection of LISBA through its leader Arsim Krasniqi and the Muslim Forum of Kosovo (FMK) «which is associated through the fundamentalist European Muslim Network, led by the Islamist media celebrity Tariq Ramadan, with the Qatar-based hate preacher Yusuf Al-Qaradawi».
LISBA is a clear indication of the formal appearance of Muslim Brotherhood in the Balkans been supplied with capital from Qatar mostly, with an eventual goal of establishing a stronghold in the Southeastern part of Europe. In the meantime a nexus between mercenaries venturing from Kosovo to fight along Jihadists in Syria has been established by a variety of worldwide media, including local Kosovo ones, whilst the EU and NATO seem hesitant in conducting a thorough policy upon the issue, despite the fact that all these culminations increase considerably the threat level of terrorists attacks in many countries with Netherlands being the latest one to prepare itself for a potential spillover.

Moreover, the newly formed Islamist party is directly connected with the groups controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood in Bosnia-Herzegovina and also acts as a coordinating hub for similar groups in Albania and FYROM. The pace of Islamization of Kosovo is being consistently upgraded, through a variety of means. Around 200 mosques have been erected since 1999, while a similar number of Christian churches and monasteries was destroyed, a clear case of cultural genocide in which the international forces paid little attention.
The attempted Islamization of Kosovo and of the rest of the Western Balkan territory, alerted nevertheless some European leaders, that fear sensibly that the territory will be in flames sooner rather than later, endangering the stability of the EU as a whole. Slovakia’s deputy Prime Minister and foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák, made a public statement recently citing his anxiety upon the issue and more specifically of the aims for the creation of a Greater Albania which coincidently are fervently supported not only by nationalistic circles but from Islamist ones as well. The German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle has also called for a check on these phenomena in the Balkans, while Germany as a whole disengages from participating in high-risk games regarding the Sunni Islamic world, as does UK and France which actively support the Jihadi rebels in the Syrian civil war that are in turn related to those in the Balkans and beyond, in fact across the world. 

In the regional level, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Serbia are concerned on the pace of these developments with Croatia and Montenegro paying also attention. FYROM suffers from serious destabilization mainly attributed to the Albanian nationalists and the activities of the local Islamists, while EU countries with a stake in the region such as Italy and Austria also fear the birth of new radical networks, should they are left unchecked.
The role of Turkey is of particular interest. Although it officially promotes the strategy of «Neo-Ottomanism» based on the local Turkish minorities and the expansion of Turkish businesses, as well as, NGO’s in the region, from the other hand it fears that the expansion of Qatari and Saudi strain of Islam will push aside its own agenda. Further, Turkey itself is entrapped into the Syrian civil war, since it is being used as the stage point for attacks of the rebels against Syria, since Ankara made wrong calculations that the war will end soon and it would not endanger its own stability. Thus, in the Balkan terrain Turkey places itself in another strategic crossroad, endangering it own «investments» in the local Islamic communities without an easy exit. 

The USA, although they have invested considerable political, diplomatic, economic and most importantly military capital in the Balkans, seem absent from the developments while Russia without doing anything of substance wins «Hearts and minds» of the Christian Orthodox population in the region which forms the majority in most countries. That further obstructs Serbia’s impeding accession in the Euro Atlantic structures, whilst it also hinders the socio-economic development for the whole of the region from FYROM-Kosovo-Albania up to Montenegro and Bosnia. In essence, a territory in Europe which is being contested by the most extremist form of Sunni Islam will certainly find itself unable to integrate in both the EU and NATO.
The issue of «Greater Albania» which was mentioned previously is another tinderbox in political terms and is gaining in pace based upon all available data. Apart from the public statements being heard even from the Prime Minister of Albania Sali Berisha in December 2012, a few years back in January 2010 three quarters of Kosovo-Albanians already supported such goal according to Gallup Balkans Monitor and two-thirds of the Albanian citizens. It’s a common secret and an obvious everyday political reality that nationalistic movements from all Albanian communities in the Balkans are actively pursuing such prospect which can only be achieved through another «Balkan war» of the scale of the ones back in 1912-1913 which were also the prelude for WW1. 

In overall, the normalization of the Balkans and in particular of Kosovo is far from over and new set of issues are emerging such as the gradual expansion of extremists from the Middle East. For those really interested in establishing stability and prosperity in the region, a careful assessment of the historical context upon which the Balkan Peninsula was formed should be a priority. Otherwise history may repeat itself in one of the most turbulent areas in Europe and one where all major Empires of both modern and ancient era begun their course of decline. Balkans is the barometer of Eurasian politics and the cultural revolving door between the «West» and the «East» since the break-up of the Roman Empire, a move that sealed the fate of «Rome» for many centuries ahead.

New Poll Gives 1pct Lead to SYRIZA Over ND

New Poll Gives 1pct Lead to SYRIZA Over ND

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By Hellas Frappe 

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A new opinion polls gives SYRIZA a 1pct lead over the New Democracy party, but also shows that voters still consider Antonis Samaras as a more suitable for PM. The poll, which was conducted by Public Issue for SKAI television and the newspaper Kathimerini notes that SYRIZA leads with 29.5 percent, followed by ND with 28.5 percent, ultra-right Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) with 10 percent, Independent Greeks with 8 percent, PASOK with 7.5 percent, Democratic Left (DIMAR) with 6 percent, and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) with 5.5 percent, while 5 percent of the respondents expressed support for other parties and the blank and invalid votes and abstention was 19.5 percent.

Asked who is the most suitable for prime minister, Mr. Samaras was preferred by 44 percent of the respondents, followed by SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras with 27 percent, while 26 percent said neither of the two.

The geographic coverage of the opinion poll was nationwide and was conducted between March 8-12, 2013.

Turkey's TCG Cubuklu In N.Aegean, Hellenic Navy on Alert

Turkey's TCG Cubuklu In N.Aegean, Hellenic Navy on Alert

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By Hellas Frappe on 15.3.13

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credit - defencenet

A second Turkish research vessel set sail on Friday, this time in the northern Aegean. Reports claim that the TCG Cubuklu is going to survey areas in Turkish territorial waters but also warn that it is also planning to conduct oceanographic research in certain areas near the south of Samothrace and west of Ai Stratis. The Hellenic Navy has been placed on alert in case the surveyor ship enters Greek territorial waters or Greece's continental shelf.

Now that Turkey submitted a note verbale to the UN in response to a similar move from Greece in February, it is obviously elevating the tension in the Aegean and directly challenging Greece's continental shelf.

According to the Turkish Navtex 168/13, the research vessel TCG Cubuklu is going to conduct oceanographic surveys as of March 13 and until April 2 in areas within and outside of Turkish territorial waters. Two of the coordinates that have been given by Turkish authorities includes areas between Samothrace and Imvros, and between Lesvos and Ai Stratis.

A report on defencenet said that the Piri Reis, which apparently was spotted across from Chios on Thursday, (near Smyrna), completed its work, but this does not in any way mean that it will not return. The point is that all these motions are directly challenging Greece's sovereign rights.

But the real interest is obviously Turkey's recent acquisition of the modern Barbaros Hayeddin Pasa surveyor ship which Ankara purchased for a whopping 130 million Euros. The ship is apparently going to conduct seismic surveys in the Black Sea and then in the Mediterranean. The ship, which was purchased from the Polarcus company that is based in Dubai, has the technical ability to carry out seismic research in areas within Greece's continental shelf!

Still no deal with Priština, prime minister reiterates

Source: Beta

BRUSSELS, BELGRADE -- Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dačić has stated in Brussels that essential progress still has not been made in the dialogue with Priština.

Ivica Dačić (Tanjug, file)

He added that media reports that an agreement in principle had already been reached were not true.
"I would like it to be true, but we have not reached an agreement," Dačić told reporters after meeting with EU officials.

He recalled that in his meetings to date with Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, Pristina had not budged from its position that the association of Serb municipalities in Kosovo should not have executive and legislative powers.

The prime minister added that the next round of the dialogue with Thaci would be held on March 20 in Brussels.

“(EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) Catherine Ashton has a principle and that is that she does not want us to get together that we will reach some agreement and I agree with her,“ he noted.

Dačić told daily Večernje novosti that Priština was not likely to give in because it had Washington's support and that the EU believed that Serbia would do anything in order to get a date for the start of the EU accession negotiatons.

Daily Blic writes that Brussels has already come up with a formula for the Community of Serb municipalities and that only certain details still need to be agreed on.

According to the daily, Priština will transfer new powers to the Serb municipalities while the Serb municipalities will transfer the powers to the Community of Serb municipalities. Four municipalities from the north and six from the south will join the Community.

Democratic Party (DS) official Goran Bogdanović has said that the EU's proposal for the Community of Serb Municipalities is not completely acceptable to the Serb community.

The prime minister and the Serbian delegation are visiting Brussels today where they will confer with several EU commissioners.

They should meet with EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Tonio Borg, Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, Ecology Commissioner Janez Potočnik and Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Sport, Media and Youth Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou.

Deputy PM and Trade Minister Rasim Ljajić, Health Minister Slavica Đukić-Dejanović and Education, Science and Technological Development Minister Žarko Obradović are a part of the Serbian delegation.

Dačić said on Thursday that a goal of his visit to Brussels was not to talk about the Belgrade-Priština dialogue but to meet with the EU commissioners.

“My visit to Brussels tomorrow and talks with four European Commissioners – trade, health, environment and education, together with Serbian government’s ministers has nothing to do with the issue of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue because we have to do other things too,” he said after a meeting with Ashton in Belgrade on Thursday.

The prime minister added that the visit to Brussels was important “both for personal communication and good preparation for the accession negotiations”.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Suzana Grubješić stated on Thursday in Brussels that Serbia had never been closer to the EU and that it deserved to get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks.

FYROManians Destroy Greek Military Cemetery in Valantovo - Desecrate Graves Of Soldiers

FYROManians Destroy Greek Military Cemetery in Valantovo - Desecrate Graves Of Soldiers

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By Hellas Frappe on 14.3.13

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Unknown assailants entered the Greek cemetery in Valantovo, FYROM late on Wednesday night and literally desecrated the graves of tens of Greek soldiers who are buried there.

Once the incident was made known, the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje immediately contacted FYROM's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express its anger and horror as well as request that an immediate investigation be made.

The Greek side stressed that events such as these hurt relations between nations and obviously do not do anything to improve relations between both countries.

Sadly, when a representative from the Liaison Office together with a Defense Attaché visited the cemetery, they discovered that it was almost completely destroyed.

In Athens, Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos ordered the Head of the Liaison Office in Skopje to submit a formal demarche to the FYROM Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that requests from authorities there to condemn the incident, take all necessary steps in order to identify, punish those involved, as well as restore the cemetery.

Such acts cannot -and will not- be tolerated by the Greek people, especially from specific groups who we all know are financed by Mr. Hedge-fund Soros.

This is a disgrace, and a disrespect for the dead.

Today, pension protests, tomorrow for the autonomy of Northern Epirrus

The Panepirotic Federation and several organizations of Greeks in Albania, demanded more rights from the Greek government to protect their brothers in Northern Epirus.

The protest took place in the Greek Parliament Square, and in the center Cultural Zapios, while also marched in the main streets of Athens.

As other represent in the protest, was the very known MP Christos Pappas of the "Golden Dawn Party".

WB: Albania, the country with the highest public debt in the Western Balkans


According to World Bank financial imbalances impede economic growth in Albania. Removing the law in Albania, the ceiling of 60% for public debt threatens its further growth and exit out of control.

In an analysis of the "Deutsche Welle", which refers to World Bank figures, noted that Albania's public debt has reached in the first months of this year to 63.8% of GDP at a time when the region have lower public debt and higher GDP.

According to the World Bank, the bitter experience of Greece, with a public debt above 100% of GDP and attributing emblematic crisis of Greece as public debt crisis has sparked alarm to the international financial institutions are present in Albania.

World Bank through its representatives persistently Albanian government warned that if you do not sit or national public debt, Albania risks to suffer like Greece. Articulated concern as growing financial imbalances that hinder economic growth. New Director of World Bank and Regional Coordinator for Southeast Europe during his visit to Tirana, said that the growth of public debt is a danger to choke economic growth.

Recommendation No. 1 WB is the payment of overdue bills of entrepreneurs and private investors, who have committed major public works and are not paid by the government, as one of the causes of the growth of public debt.

New director of WB, Ellen Goldstein said that the most appropriate level of debt for an emerging economy like Albania is about 40% of GDP.

"This is a global standard, the economy is not under stress and at risk, but there is no magic figure than it should be the level of public debt. It is best to be low, "she said.

Ksenya Lvovski, World Bank Country Director said: "fiscal measures to address fiscal imbalances will be part of a draft of the government, to be released June 23 parliamentary elections. Whatever government to be formed after the elections will faces the task to improve the situation of public finances, to improve the efficiency of revenue administration and enhance the sustainability of fiscal regime, "said Ksenya Lvovski.

Mayor of Liqenas: Macedonian want their police, feel threatened

Edmont Themelko, the Mayor of Liqenas, at the same time the leader of ethnic Macedonian Minority "Alliance of Macedonia", seeks to change the name of this local unit,  Pustec.

"I am committed to this and I take full warranty by Prime Minister Sali Berisha, opposition leader Edi Rama and SMI leader, Ilir Meta," he said to GSH.

While members of the PS, the Union Fino and Pandeli Majko, who declared the vote against, he said: "I was familiar with their positions. I learned from the media that Mr. Majko said at the meeting that this application proposes the PD and non-residents of the area. .

Demand is the local residents themselves. We hold a referendum and plebiscite is seeking the return of name Pustec.

According to Themelkos, they will be in league with those who will allow: "Respect for conventions and international organizations appeals for the protection of our ethnic identity, cultural and religious. In short, the right to learn our native language, representation in state institutions, local minimum.

Want Macedonian ethnic minority representatives to be part of public administration, part of the judicial system and the police. Have therefore the same rights as Albanians, who as you know are represented at all levels of government public administration. "

He states that feel threatened by Albanian nationalist extremist circles as the Red and Black Alliance.

Belgrade, Priština reach agreement, daily claims

Source: B92, Blic

BELGRADE -- Belgrade and Priština have reached an agreement on a community of Serb municipalities, Belgrade-based daily Blic claims.

Ivica Dačić, Catherine Ashton and Hashim Thaci (Beta, file)

According to the daily, both sides have requested more time from the EU in order to prepare the public.
A well-informed source from the EU told Blic that it was obvious that neither Serbs nor Albanians would be satisfied with the solution.

He said that “as far as the EU is concerned, an agreement between Belgrade and Priština has been reached”, adding that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić’s statements had caused some concern in the EU.

“EU High Representative Catherine Ashton’s mission has succeeded and as far as we are concerned, an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo on the establishment and powers of the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo has been reached. However, both sides asked for a little more time to prepare the public for the agreement because both sides had to give up on parts of their requests in order to reach the agreement. What caused concern in Brussels was Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić’s statement after the meeting with Catherine Ashton that Priština has relented, because it threatened to harm the deal,” the source was quoted as saying.

Serbian PM Ivica Dačić said on Wednesday that the EU “is not giving any ultimatums to Serbia“ and denied that the agreement had been reached.

“Progress was made in the dialogue but we are far from a solution. I cannot say I am a great optimist. There is an opinion that Belgrade will do anything for a date (for the start of the EU accession negotiations). This is wrong, Belgrade is not doing this because of a date but in order to find a sustainable solutions for the functioning of institutions that will be recognized by both Belgrade and Priština,” he explained.

On the other hand, Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci believes that Ashton’s visit will be an encouragement in terms of the agreement and normalization of relations with Belgrade.

The agreement with Priština is a key request for Serbia in order to get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks.

Journalist Živojin Rakočević, who lives in Kosovo, told Radio B92 that he did not expect the international community to exert pressure on Priština in a true sense of the word.

“It is obvious Priština is asked to formally accept something that does not sound good now. But the point is not what Priština will accept but what it wants and can implement. This is the basis of the problem. We have had no guarantees in the past 13 years that Priština has implemented anything that did not suit it. You can not expect from a half-built society that has no capacity to implement democratic standards. However, this society sees the democratic standards as the other side’s weakness,” he explained.

He also believes that the position of Serbs south of the Ibar River will depend on a solution for northern Kosovo.

Suspicions to the Police Station in Himara

While in Sarande, Albanian nationalist groups, post threatening messages at the houses where they live Greek indigenous community, while the event is kept secret.

A citizen of Himara, has reported that police crime agents had planned to decide during the control in the home, guns or drugs, to arrest then.


In the operating room of the state police in Tirana, has arrived a denunciation of a citizen of Himara, which stated that "in Crime Police station in Himara, had prepared a plan, that during inspecting, will have the opportunity to arrest at flagrance, by introducing drugs or weapons in the house.

The event has taken occasion, after a resistance to the police of a family group, who had opposed the police forces, due to a decision by the executive enforcement agents.

Denunciation of the citizen of Himara, casting strong doubts, to state police, while some boys from Himara, long ago, narcotics were found in the boot of the car and were arrested.



About 5 years ago, because of a dispute between police forces and a citizen in Himara, the Police Station in Himara, was attacked by hundreds of citizens of Himara, who wanted to be punished officers who exercised violence against an indigenous inhabitant.

Meanwhile, there is an increase in ethnic tension in Saranda. Numerous citizens of Greek ethnicity, complain that posts in the doors of the houses, make threatening calls, for which police sources say they are working on this problem.

There is an increase in violence against the Greek community to personal property and community, but in particular Orthodox Church, which the state police is silent, while no one can guarantee what extent, the violence of the Albanian nationalist groups, which recently have been protagonists of the Albanian media, even burning headquarters of the Greek Community,

Not yet known a concrete reaction of Greece, but Greek ambassador in Tirana, has spent several days in the south of the country. But at the focus of attention of the Albanian media, is the fact that, Samaras `s adviser, faces strong reacted to to the Albanian government: one month ago.

"If Albanian chauvinists threaten the Greeks of Northern Epirus, Greece clearly will react strongly" encounters been the Declaration of Failos Kranidiotis, the Samaras `s adviser.

Turkey verbal note to UN: Threatens war with Greece over Continental Shelf

Turkey just proceeded to deposit a verbal note to the UN which denies the right of the Greek islands in the EEZ and continental shelf, in violation of Article 121 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea, which in accordance with customary international law is therefore mandatory in nature and which binds all the countries of the international community.

Essentially Turkey is carving up its own EEZ on top of the Greek EEZ and threatens with war in case Greece decides to pursue its rights.

The above answer in response to the Greek verbal note submitted to the UN on 20 February 2013 and just one week after the meeting of the countries prime ministers.

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement whereby "the Greek government, in continuation of its recent actions, will secure all the sovereign rights of the country, such as those arising from International Law".

http://www.defencenet.gr/

Colin Powell’s personal emails infiltrated by Bush family hacker ‘Guccifer’ 

Powell's hacker had access to years of financial data and correspondence including emails to former cabinet members and the ex-CIA chief.

By Kristen A. Lee / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 1:20 PM

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Julia Schmalz/Bloomberg

Colin Powell is one of the latest victims of the hacker known as ‘Guccifer.’

The hacker who vandalized Colin Powell’s Facebook page on Monday reportedly also infiltrated years of the retired four-star general’s email correspondence from an AOL account.
The Smoking Gun reported that “Guccifer,” a hacker who also published personal Bush family emails and photos, was behind the security breach.
RELATED: HACKERS TARGET TIGER WOODS, MITT ROMNEY
“Guccifer” reportedly gained access to the former Secretary of State’s emails about financial and personal matters. The hacker also saw his correspondence with former government officials including ex-CIA Director George Tenet, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, and former U.N. ambassador John Negroponte.
The Smoking Gun, which is in contact with “Guccifer,” said Powell was not aware of the security breach until he was contacted by a reporter on Tuesday.
RELATED: BUSH FAMILY EMAILS AND PHOTOS HACKED, POSTED
A spokesperson told the website that Powell had since regained control of the account and had taken steps to make sure it was not compromised again.
“Gufficer” made headlines in February when the hacker accessed and published emails and images sent between members of the Bush family.
RELATED: FBI INVESTIGATING HACKERS WHO POSTED PRIVATE INFO OF CELEBS, POLITICIANS
They included family emails about the then-ailing former President George H.W. Bush and ideas for his potential eulogy. They also included photos of former President George W. Bush’s amateur self-portraits.
The Secret Service confirmed it was investigating "Guccifer” after that incident.
The report about the breach of Powell's personal emails comes as the Justice Department, Secret Service and Los Angeles police are investigating a separate hacking website that has published personal financial information about First Lady Michelle Obama, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and wrestling star Hulk Hogan, among others.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/colin-powell-emails-infiltrated-hacker-guccifer-article-1.1287354#ixzz2NSMupfOP

 



James Clapper: ethnic and political divisions, the greatest danger for the Western Balkans

Clapper - To implement the agreements reached between Kosovo and Serbia with the mediation of the European Union


In Albania, according to the report, government institutions suffer from corruption and undue political influence over them. In the months preceding the parliamentary elections of June, there is concern back in fierce partisan conflict that erupted after the 2009 parliamentary elections, when the opposition contested the elections and occasionally boycotted parliament for nearly 2 years.


Internal political and ethnic divisions, will pose the greatest risk to Western Balkans in 2013. This is the assessment of U.S. intelligence agencies, according to the annual report that they submit to the Congress. The report was presented yesterday by the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, during a seance on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Issues.

According to the intelligence agencies, the states of the region's poor suffer from economic stagnation, high unemployment, corruption and a weak legal state. Although the security situation in northern Kosovo, inhabited by Serb majority, has improved since 2011, and he's diplomatic engagement in the security of the West, it is necessary to implement the agreements reached with the mediation of the European Union.

The report states that by increasing the efforts to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, there is also increased risk of violence in northern Kosovo Serb extremist groups. Relatively new government of Serbia faces numerous obstacles on its way towards meeting obligations to start accession negotiations with the European Union, among which is finding a solution between constitutional claim over Kosovo and the fact that Kosovo is independent.

Supervision of independence ended, says the report, and the Kosovo government will aim to expand the instruments of sovereignty over all its territory.

In Albania, according to the report, government institutions suffer from corruption and undue political influence over them. In the months preceding the parliamentary elections of June, there is concern back in fierce partisan conflict that erupted after the 2009 parliamentary elections, when the opposition contested the elections and occasionally boycotted parliament for nearly 2 years.

In Macedonia, the report does not provide a return to civil war a decade ago, but provides further deepening disputes between the Macedonian and Albanian communities.

Director of National Intelligence testified in Congress yesterday along with the new director of the CIA, John Brennan and FBI Director Robert Mueller.

http://www.voal-online.ch/index.php?mod=article&cat=LAJMIIF&article=31451

Even the Greek Military aircraft, on Albanian Territory

A video shows the operation at night, of training aircraft Mirage 2005, of squadron regiment 331 M, of the Greek Air Force, from the aerodrome of Preveza, Greece's northwest region.

Greece has announced maritime economic zones, under international laws, by intensifying military operations against any territorial infringement by air, sea and land. For this event, the Greek Prime Andonis Samaras, has announced to the NATO allies, that until a final decision of the International Court, about the right of EEZ territorial sea of Greece, will be considered as indisputable, under the sovereignty of Greece ..

Meanwhile in Photos, shows a Greek Force Mirage 2005 aircraft, of this regiment, who is flying over the Ionian sea territory, and exactly on Draleo, the Himara Municipality, Southern Albania (Northern Epirus).

Greece and Italy, on the orders of NATO, controls the airspace of Albania, with its F-16 aircraft and Mirrage 2005, while Italy with FANTON 4 and Euro Fighter. Operational centers are Larisa and Gioia del Colle.

Act Now - Albanians Coming Together Now

US Ambassador Arvizu exclusively for "My Story": You need a mechanism that protects the individual and fair judicial system
"Society needs two essential elements to guarantee the respect of human rights: must have the vision to see human rights as a priority and should be a mechanism to protect individuals. Government can not establish priority against with the people it governs.

If the Albanian people are not working to protect minorities, if families do not seek to protect women and children, it would be unrealistic to think that the government would come to act on their behalf. Albanians have a good name for their hospitality and kindness.

When these qualities are directed towards the communities and their country, the potential for change would be enormous. This is why we undertook the initiative ACT Now!: It is an attempt to make people act on the basis of the values ​​of their community; work with elected leaders; and improve their communities, including the scope of the rights of human. "

Note.

 The Himara Community, addressed publicly, to the U.S. ambassador in Tirana, Alexander Arvizu, as a special guest, to visit the Himara Region, under the observance of universal human rights, to demand that thousands of American citizens originally from Himara to have properties inherited from their grandparents, to investigate the looting of the properties of the people of Himara....

 The U.S. government has funded three projects to the Himara Community, in which the struggle for freedom and the right to identity and property, but also the glorious history of 2600 years of independence of the region, which unfairly including, by the great European powers, to current Albanian territory.  

Attempts made to return Macedonian toponyms in SE Albania

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Albania's legislative parliamentary commission at yesterday's session with votes from deputies of the ruling majority passed a draft-law on restoring authentic toponyms in settlements in Mala Prespa. The law has been put forward by a deputy of the ruling Democratic Party of Albania, Edmond Spaho. This is his second attempt to restore authentic toponyms in Mala Prespa - which were Albanized in the 1970s by the communist regime of Enver Hoxha. Members of the opposition Socialist Party were against the draft-document calling its adoption a "precedent". A two-third majority is required in order the draft-law on restoring authentic toponyms to be enacted, which means that opposition MPs need to be in favour of the document. It is expected the draft-law to be voted by the Albanian parliament at a session scheduled this Thursday. "In the municipality of Pustec no one uses the Albanized name of the municipality (Liqenas), or the other names of places such as Leska, Gorna and Dolna Gorica... for us and for our ancestors and future generations it has been and will always be Pustec, Leska, etc. In 1973 a decision had been reached against the will of the Macedonians in Mala Prespa to change the toponyms. In recent years, the Macedonian language is in use thus they are written in Macedonia with Cyrillic letters," says the mayor of Pustec, Edmond Temelko. He is optimistic believing that the second attempt will yield results. According to him, it is time to amend this injustice done to the inhabitants of Pustec. Moreover, the Memorandum of Understanding with Minorities signed by the Albanian government in 2009 entitles local authorities to give traditional names to roads, bridges, villages and various toponyms. Representatives of the Macedonian community in Albania have welcomed the move to restore the names of settlements. One of their main demands is the restoration of traditional names used by the Macedonian community.

Russian Navy Starts Forming Mediterranean Task Force

Russia Starts Forming Mediterranean Task Force
© RIA Novosti. Vitaly Anjkov

 

MOSCOW, March 11 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Navy has begun setting up a permanent task force to defend Russia’s interests in the Mediterranean, Navy Commander Adm. Viktor Chirkov said Monday. “The defense minister has ordered us to form a task force that will operate in the Mediterranean Sea on a permanent basis,” Chirkov told reporters after a defense ministry meeting. “We have already started work on this task.”

The move comes at a time of increased international tension in the eastern Mediterranean due to the worsening civil war in Syria.
According to Chirkov, the issue has been discussed at the Navy's Main Headquarters, with the focus on logistics and training of commanding personnel.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier on Monday that a decision to deploy a permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean had been made.

“I believe that we have the capability to form and maintain such a task force,” Shoigu said, citing the success of recent large-scale naval drills carried out by the Russian navy in the Mediterranean and Black seas.
The exercises involved warships from the Northern, Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific fleets, strategic bombers and naval infantry.
Neither Shoigu nor Chirkov mentioned a timeline for the deployment of the new task force, which would likely require significant effort to ensure efficient logistics and the proper maintenance of warships in the Mediterranean group.

Shoigu admitted Monday that the general state of affairs in the navy "could not be called satisfactory," particularly in terms of poor servicing and maintenance of vessels.
“A significant part of the fleet has to be operated with extended periods [of time] between repairs, while many ships and vessels have armaments and military equipment that can be used only with restrictions," Shoigu said.

A high-ranking defense ministry source told RIA Novosti in the beginning of March that a proposed Russian permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean Sea could consist of up to 10 combat and auxiliary ships from three of the existing fleets.
The task force may operate on a rotating basis and use ports in Cyprus, Montenegro, Greece and Syria as resupply points, the official added.

The Soviet Union maintained its 5th Mediterranean Squadron in that sea from 1967 until 1992. It was formed to counter the US Navy 6th Fleet during the Cold War, and consisted of 30-50 warships and auxiliary vessels at different times.

Updated with modified headline and Shoigu's assessment of the state of the navy.

 













French Ambassador: Paris alerted to the growth of Albanian asylum seekers

 France expresses concern about the increasing number of asylum seekers illegal from Albania in this country. During an inspection at the airport the French ambassador, Krisitin Moro said that, there were people with forged and false identity cards which is unacceptable.

"But I want to say that in 2012 we have increased the illegal attitudes of Albanian citizens. There was also a significant increase in asylum requests. We found an increase of minors stay in our country, who left in France by their families.

 The attitude of these minors in France, which we consider as abandoned minors is a matter very concerned and sensitive because of a minor country is close to his family and not caught centers for this purpose.

Is something unnecessary that these offenders are provided with counterfeit cards because it is already known that all European countries police are well equipped and have the proper education about it.

It is also unnecessary to be able to change the national identity that has exchange of information and ways to block this, "said the French ambassador.

"Candidates, no connections with crime"
12/03/2013

Civil Forum 2010 asked the leaders of the political parties in Albania to chose people of integrity as MPs, avoiding this way discrimination of names that are related with corruption.

Former Presidents Alfred Moisiu, Rexhep Mejdani and other renowned names of the civil society say that the corruption and criminality have increased due to their connections with the high rank state officials.

The tens pre-election situation is consequence of the harsh and destabilizing behaviour of the highest politicians.

“It is time for some politicians to make room for people who have a contemporary mentaltiy. The Parliament should not have people with moral and political stains. The parliamentary candidates should also be chosen more carefully to represent with dignity the major interests of the public and our nation”, declared the former President, Alfred Moisiu.

“After all, everything is related with integrity. This important element should be part of the public voice and impose the political parties in the selection of candidacies”, declared former President Rexhep Meidani.

This meeting concluded that the pre-election situation is very concerning, especially when the Central Election Commission and the police is led by political orders.

This meeting also opposed the proposition of the Albanian Prime Minister to reduce the voting age to 16. Moisiu and Meidani considered it a political trick to remove attention from major issues. This was also opposed by the head of the OSCE in Albania, Eugen Wollfarth.

“I think that it could be an option for the future, probably for the elections 2017, because nothing is unchangeable. There is no time for these elections. We are three months before the elections and we have the first extract of the voters’ list. It is very important to have a stable situation before the elections, without unnecessary changes in the names of the communities”, Wollfarth declared.

When asked if this proposition was sent to any of the organizations that observe the elections in Albanian, Wollfarth declared that he has no information about it, and that the Prime Minister should provide better information.

  Picture: FOCUS News Agency

Vecer, Macedonia: It is dangerous to conceal problems, says Greek foreign minister
 

12 March 2013  FOCUS News Agency

Home / Southeast Europe and Balkans

 

Skopje. Authorities in Athens have been keeping silent about the political situation in Macedonia but eventually they came up with a position, comments Macedonian Vecer daily.

Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos preferred to remain rather reserved about Greece’s expectation from the next round of the name issue talks with Macedonia.
Vecer writes further that it was a matter of time for Athens to take advantage of the political crisis in Macedonia.

“The political crisis and the upcoming elections in Macedonia tell us that we should not cherish too high expectations. The crisis confirmed what we have been alarming about when the report of the European Commission (EC) was released, and namely that it is dangerous to sweep the problems under the carpet.

Under the standards of the European Union (EU), it is not enough to simply adopt some laws, which remain only on paper, to secure the functioning of the democracy,” Dimitris Avramopoulos remarked.

  Picture: FOCUS News Agency

Dnevnik: Athens accuses Bulgarians of Macedonia 
 

12 March 2013  FOCUS News Agency

 

Home / Southeast Europe and Balkans

Skopje. Athens accuses the Bulgarians of Macedonia, writes Macedonian Dnevnik daily in a commentary on the book titled European Cartography and Politics: 

The case of Macedonia, whose authors are Greek Minister of Environment Evangelos Livieratos and MEP Hrisula Paliadeli. According to the two authors, Macedonia was the result of the Bulgarian national movement and the Treaty of San Stefano.


“The purpose of this policy was to form a Great Bulgarian state with borders that satisfy the ethnographic criteria of the common language (and the respective dialects) and which state was supposed to include all territories questioned by neighbouring countries,” the book reads.

According to Evangelos Livieratos and Hrisula Paliadeli, this project, which was supposed to include Thessaloniki and part of Khalkidhiki, never succeeded.

RS leader weighs in on Kosovo issues

Source: Tanjug

BANJA LUKA -- The Serb community in Kosovo "must not be lost" - this is the case "because it preserves the identity and heritage that Serbs have there", says Milorad Dodik.

(Tanjug, file)

"In this regard, you will always have my support and that of the Serb Republic," the president of the Serb entity in Bosnia, RS, told leaders of Serb municipalities and other representatives from Kosovo and Metohija.
"We will always be willing to talk and to concretely demonstrate and highlight the opportunities of that political struggle. Our experience in a similar environment is certainly great."

Dodik said the RS intended to open its cultural center in Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo.

He added that the international community, by insisting on solutions that do not envisage the protection of the Serb community and the Serbian state in that area, continues to humiliate Serbs in Kosovo.

The RS president said that the international community, using its methods that are well known in the RS, performed integration of Kosovo "step by step, against the will of Serbia and the entire Serb people, especially the legitimate representatives of the Serbs living in Kosovo and Metohija."

Dodik was also quoted as saying that the international community was "unfair to Serbs as a whole", and compared the situation in Kosovo to the Brčko District in Bosnia.

"The number of Serbs in Kosovo is greater than the entire population of the Brčko District. Yet the international community has given Brčko the status of a district and executive and legislative powers. But, since this is about Serbs in the case of Kosovo, then they (international community) are restrictive," said the president.

Dodik added that this spoke about double standards and unfairness of international factors on this issue. He expressed his admiration for the people who led the fight for the political status of the Serb community and the Serb municipalities in Kosovo under "difficult circumstances".

Kosovo Liberation Army

420 Albania Albanians seeking KLA veteran status


About 420 Albania Albanians claim that they were former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, or have contributed in various forms in the struggle for the liberation of Kosovo. But among the applicants, there are also victims of the Serbian mine, located on the border in 1998-1999, and those who have suffered from Serb shelling.

Representative leadership of KLA veterans Albania Sokol Poga, has announced the "Daily Time" than five days before the deadline have applied to benefit KLA veteran status 420 people from Albania.

"Of these, 40 applications were to acquire the status of martyr and 67 people for war invalids. Among the applications to obtain the status of martyr and war invalids people who lost their lives or were maimed by the explosion of Serbian mine located on the border during the war, but also by the Serbian army shelling in the territory of Albania. Applicants according Poga, they are from districts of Has and Tropoja Region, but also from other areas of Albania, "said Poga.

He inadvertently prejudice their status, said that these people should be treated as civilian casualties.

"Martyr Status can receive about 50 percent of the number of applications," said Poga. A similar approach, according to him, goes to war invalids.

Falklands referendum: Voters choose to remain UK territory

There was a turnout of more than 90% from 1,672 British citizens eligible to vote in a population of about 2,900.

Continue reading the main story

Falklands referendum

• Falkland Islands: Residents' views
• 'More British than British'
• What are the competing claims?
• Falklanders 'must decide own future'

The people of the Falkland Islands have voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory.

Of 1,517 votes cast in the two-day referendum - on a turnout of more than 90% - 1,513 were in favour, while just three votes were against.
It follows pressure from Argentina over its claims to the islands, 31 years after the Falklands War with the UK.
The UK government welcomed the result and urged "all countries" to accept it and respect the islanders' wishes.
The referendum had asked: "Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?"

CNN, still don’t even know where Albanians are 

'Albania, A New Mediterranean Love'

 

Somewhere in this picture, there's a beach. We're sure. One of Europe’s poorest nations, Albania isn't a common entry on many must-visit lists.
For much of the second half of the 20th century, the hermetic country was off-limits to foreigners. The Communist government even made the decision to shun its only friends the Soviet Union and China, for being what they deemed to be revisionist to the ideals of Stalinism.
A cheeky alternative: “Albania, you don’t even know where we are.”

http://m.travel.cnn.com/worlds-most-cringe-worthy-tourism-slogans-651116

SManalysis

 Recognizing officially Kosovo from Athens, is first step for a large Autonomy for Greeks in Southern Albania

 TARGU MURES -- About 5,000 ethnic Hungarians protested on Sunday in the Romanian town of Targu Mures, demanding territorial autonomy

Christos Pappas: Dangerous on national issues of Greece, indirect recognition of Kosovo by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs

QUESTION

TO: FOREIGN MINISTER

SUBJECT: "The Foreign Ministry concluded diplomatic relations with "War criminals of UCK"

The Greek Energy Ministry last week has announced the establishment of the Office of Commercial Affairs of Kosovo in Athens, even without prior notification of the political parties and the Greek people, is moving multiple detrimental to national interests.

"Is this a slip" of historic proportions to withdrawal from the established position of Greek foreign policy of non-recognition de facto Kosovo, regarding the change of borders in the Balkans.

The establishment of the Office of Commercial Affairs of Kosovo in Athens, is a sad prelude to the gradual recognition by the Greek secession of Kosovo from Serbia. It is obviously a move dictated by the U.S. State Department, and not consistent with the national interest.

Once the Albanians make claims on the western border of Greece and besides claiming territories in Macedonia, it is quite unacceptable to the legitimate Albanian expansionism and blatant historical injustice against the Serbs.

To the Minister Avramopoulos

   1) Is aware of the impact and effects of actions such as this that can operate not only at the expense of national interests, but to lead to national tragedies?

2) It is possible to rescission and reduction of our national position for the sake of "development" and "economic cooperation", as happened in this case? 'Is it possible for Greece to accept as interlocutors criminals UCK (and allowing them settling in Athens), who indeed working on a new army, the UCC, which will attempt to interference to the territories of Thesprotia?

3) He realizes that in this way legitimized the Albanian irredentism (do not forget that just last week S.Berisa and H. Thaci, agreed to get passports for Albanian residents of Kosovo) which is expressed with longer formal way against Greece?

Athens, 11/03/2013
 
The MP Christos Pappas 
The Golden Dawn Party.


SManalysis, our point:

Known officially Kosovo from Athens, is first step for a large autonomy for Greeks in Southern Albania

 

The question of changing the borders on Balkan Penisula, is a military and diplomatic process of NATO and the EU, which is expected to be made respecting the freedoms and rights of self-determination of small nations.

Specifically, according to the interference that American diplomacy in relations between Albanians and Greeks, must have a full understanding of both parties. Athens has made ​​the first step, as "de jure" the recognition of Kosovo, then the remains Albanian side, to increase the involvement of the "Protocol of Corfu", in the south of Albania, historically inhabited by Greeks of Epirus.

This is an invitation for the Albanian diplomacy, which in the run-up to parliamentary elections, is also involved in a nationalist campaign. But if Athens method works, that through diplomacy of Kosovo, to press to Tirana, to open negotiations for large autonomy in Southern Albania, then in this case, American interference, as mentioned Christos Pappas, should be assessed.

Should not be underestimated a matter of fact, the Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, has declared time ago, that "if Albania and Kosovo will join, then we (means united Albanians) we are obligated to leave the territories .... ... "



What can be said a special autonomy for Serbs in northern Kosovo, under EU interferences? What can be said that for the Albanians in Southern Serbia, who want the same rights as the Serbs in Kosovo or in Bosnia? What can we say about the requirements for autonomy of the Hungarians in Romania, which formally demonstrated for the first time??? What can we say to Himara, Northern Epirus Autonomy, may do not say: No, thanks.This did not wish!???

Therefore, from the diplomatic point of view, Athens, has acted just at the right moment.