Dhunohen zyrat e PS ne Cerrik. Tema TV. 20 prill 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3FHSrfDGBC0#!

Albania: Starts the election campaign, under attacks against, parties communal offices. 

Obama - Greece & US Have Always Stood "Side-By-Side"

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By Hellas Frappe on 19.4.13

US President Barack Obama on Thursday night hosted the annual White House reception in honor of Greek Independence Day, which was also addressed by Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios of America, and Vice-President Joe Biden, while the Greek government was represented by the country's Ambassador in Washington Christos Panagopoulos.

Addressing his 350 guests at the annual White House reception in honor of the 192nd anniversary of the March 25 Greek national Independence Day, which marks the start of the Greek revolution against Ottoman rule on March 25, 1821, Obama noted that the United States and Greece have always stood side-by-side, and stressed the US' solidarity wit Greece for the restructuring of its economy.

Speaking warmly of Greece and the Greek heritage, he said that each year America celebrates Greek Independence Day and the enhancement of the ties between the birthplace e of democracy and the oldest democracy in the world, adding that "we reflect on the ancient Greek principles that inspired our nation's founders to consolidate the authorities of the government in the hands of the people".

He said that the people of the US and Greece have learned the democracy flourishes "when we respect our differences, insist on the principles that unite us, and proceed with a common purpose".

IN his own greeting to the event, Vice-President Biden noted Greece and liberty are identical meanings", and noted the achievements of the Greek-American community, lauding the contribution of the Greeks of the US to the enhancement of Greek-US relations.

Archbishop Demetrios, in turn, noted that "we are at the side of those who fight to strengthen freedom. And we pray that we will all one day see the prevalence of peace, justice and the power of love".

The event was also attended by members of Congress and other government officials of Greek descent, and prominent members of the Greek-American community. (AMNA)

"We secured protection for Kosovo Serbs"

SOURCE: TANJUG

KRUŠEVAC -- Serbia’s President Tomislav Nikolić has said that it was not possible under the given circumstances to reach a better solution in Brussels.


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Tomislav Nikolić (Tanjug)

Tomislav Nikolić (Tanjug)
He pointed out that Serbia would never recognize Kosovo’s independence.

“This was the only possible solution that guarantees a peaceful life for our people and that Kosovo will never be recognized in the UN,” the president said on Saturday.

He stressed that Serbia had managed to secure protection for Serb communities and their rights to run their lives, to have unlimited ties with Belgrade, adding that it was up to citizens to say whether they were satisfied with the solution or not.

“We have come closer to an agreement that neither Serbs nor Albanians would be satisfied with,” Nikolić stressed and once again reiterated that Serbia would never recognize Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence.

Belgrade, Priština initial agreement

Source: B92, Tanjug

BELGRADE -- The tenth round of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue is over and Serbian and Kosovo PMs Ivica Dačić and Hashim Thaci have initialed an agreement.

Ivica Dačić and Aleksandar Vučić (EU)

B92 has learned that the ninth point which refers to the police is unchanged while the 14th point that referred to Kosovo’s membership in international organizations has been altered.
B92 has also learned that it is still unknown when and if the agreement will be officially signed.

The agreement has not been made public yet. It is only known that it contains 15 points and that two of them – point 9 that refers to police in Serb-populated areas and point 14 that refers to Kosovo’s membership in international organizations, were especially disputable.

It has been confirmed to B92 that both delegations and Ashton will have a meeting at the NATO headquarters later today.

It is believed that the meeting with NATO will be held because of Serbia’s requests that the Kosovo army must not have access to the north which could only be realized with NATO’s support.

According to Tanjug, the Serbian negotiating team said earlier that it would not discuss an agreement if “the 14th point remains in the agreement and if the ninth point is changed”.

The Serbian delegation includes Serbian PM Ivica Dačić, First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vučić, Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin and President Tomislav Nikolić's advisor Marko Đurić. Deputy PM for European Integration Suzana Grubješić is not a part of the team.

Ashton first held bilateral meetings with Belgrade and Priština’s teams. Her pokeswoman Maja Kocijančič stated around 16:00 that the trilateral meeting was underway.

“Deal possible if no changes are made to proposal”

Đurić stated in Brussels earlier on Friday that the Belgrade-Priština agreement was possible if there were no deviations from the proposal which was on the negotiating table.

“According to the proposal, the community of Serb municipalities will have executive competences, particularly in the terms of police, and it will be able to appoint regional police commander,” he told reporters ahead of the beginning of the tenth round of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue in Brussels.

He said that Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci was continuously manipulating and telling lies regarding the content of the proposed agreement.

“For Priština, the hardest thing is that the agreement which is currently on the table reads that only Serb policemen will be present in north Kosovo, while the Kosovo Security Forces will not be allowed to approach the north without a NATO approval and an agreement of the community of Serb municipalities,” Đurić noted.

“There is hope for the agreement if there are no manipulations and deviations from the proposal which is on the negotiating table,” he stressed.

Disputable parts of draft agreement

Dačić said earlier that Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci had tried to change point 14 so it would oblige the two sides not to block each other in the international organizations.

He said that it would mean that Serbia would have to allow Kosovo to be a member of the international organizations which was unacceptable to Serbia.

Thaci, on the other hand, said that Serbia could state its wishes but that the reality is different.

“In the agreement that Ashton proposed, Kosovo is given the right to be represented in regional and international organizations, to become a NATO member but also the UN,” he noted.

It was announced earlier that the Serbian team’s visit to Brussels would begin with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen but according to new information, the meeting will be held later today.

B92 has learned from NATO that they “cannot rule out a possibility that the meeting will be held” but the Alliance could not say when the meeting could begin.

Rasmussen said on Friday that NATO would do everything “in order to implement a possible agreement”.

Nikolić, Dačić and Vučić on Thursday held consultations and analyzed the last round of the talks that ended without an agreement.

The agreement was not reached at the ninth round because Thaci insisted that the 14th point be changed so Kosovo’s membership in the international organizations would not be blocked. B92 has also learned that Priština had additional conditions regarding the police.

“NATO will support Belgrade-Priština agreement”

Source: B92

BRUSSELS -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says that NATO will do everything to implement an agreement reached by Belgrade and Priština.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen (Beta, file)

Rasmussen also said that the Alliance supported EU High Representative Catherine Ashton’s efforts to reach an agreement.
“NATO supports the dialogue and we are ready to play our role if an agreement is reached,” he told a press conference.

However, he did not say whether NATO would give guarantees that the Kosovo army would not enter Serb municipalities, which is one of the key requests of the Belgrade delegation in the talks with Prištiina.

Rasmussen said he was in “constant contact with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton”.

“The EU and NATO work closely together and coordinate their moves,” the NATO secretary general stressed and expressed hope that an agreement would be reached “very soon”.

The tenth round of the Belgrade-Priština talks will be held in Brussels today.

Albania in a political turbulence
19/04/2013

Two Council of Europe rapporteurs, the British Jonathan Evans and the Moldavian Grigore Petrenco, expressed their concerns regarding what they call a political turbulence, after the recent developments regarding the Central Election Commission.

"Our visit coincided with a troubled period regarding the Central Election Commission, and institution that not only should be independent and impartial, but that has a decisive role for guaranteeing such elections. We strongly encourage all political parties to come together and resolve the current irregularities with the CEC functionality. These elections are also decisive for evaluating the need to continue the monitoring procedure of the Council of Europe, and also Albania's request for the EU candidate status", Evans declared.

Jonathan Evans said that he has been asked by some CoE politicians to take the role of the referee and resolve the crisis of the CEC, but this is impossible, according to him, since they have only a reporting role.

He underlined that there would be no sense continuing Albania's request for the candidate status while they are still having the CoE procedure. His homologue, Grigore Petrenco, declared that they feel disappointed that there is still no progress with some reforms that should have passed in Parliament.

"We expect progress in the future regarding the requests of the CoE, war against corruption and reinforcing independence for the judiciary. We have heard concerns about the need to establish an independent regulating body for the media, and to protect it from political interferences", Petrenco declared.

The findings of the two reports will be presented in the following days to the Monitoring Committee of the Council in Strasbourg.

Kosovo Serbs urge officials not to sign “detrimental” deals

Source: Beta

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- Representatives of northern Kosovo Serbs have called on top state officials not to sign any harmful agreements in Brussels.

They added that they would not participate in the implementation of agreements that were not in accordance with the Serbian Constitution.
Councilors of Zvečan, Leposavić, Kosovska Mitrovica and Zubin Potok municipalities are holding a joint session which is also attended by Serbian government's Office for Kosovo Deputy Director Krstimir Pantić and Kosovska Mitrovica District Head Radenko Nedeljković.

“Nobody in northern Kosovo wants to participate in the implementation of a possible agreement. Let (Serbian PM) Ivica Dačić come, take the agreement he may sign in Brussels and implement it in Kosovo together with (Kosovo PM) Hashim Thaci,” Pantić pointed out.

He added that he was afraid that today’s round of the negotiations in Brussels could be a D-Day.

“We will not accept anything imposed on us regardless of whether it is by Albanians or the international community. We want to be a part of the EU too, but not as citizens of independent Kosovo but the state of Serbia,” Pantić stressed.

Commenting on Thaci’s statement that he could not do anything that was not in accordance with the Constitution, he said that Serbia’s Constitution was older than Kosovo’s and that everybody had an obligation to adhere to it.

The main topic of the session is the latest round of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue. 92 out of 119 councilors are attending the session.

Zvečan Mayor Dragiša Milović said that nobody had the right to sign an agreement renouncing a part of the territory, an agreement that was contrary to the Serbian Constitution and that was not in accordance with conclusions of the last year’s referendum in northern Kosovo which rejected a possibility of recognizing the Priština institutions.

“What the negotiating team is offered in Brussels is not acceptable to Serbs in Kosovo,” he stressed and expressed concern that the top state officials “will give everything and get nothing” in order to get a date for the start of the EU accession negotiations.

Zubin Potok Mayor Slaviša Ristić said that Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin had told the four mayors at a meeting on Thursday that Serbia had not been offered anything new in the ninth round of the talks and that media reports were just “spinning ideas”.

According to him, Vulin said that he personally would not accept the agreement and that he would continue to fight to keep Kosovo within Serbia together with the Serbian people.

Ristić stressed that councilors of the four northern Kosovo municipalities were organizing a petition to launch a referendum so Serbian citizens could say if they were in favor of Kosovo or the EU “because only the people can decide that”.

The tenth round of the Belgrade-Priština talks will be held today in Brussels.

Resignation crisis at CEC

The situation that has been created at the Central Election Commission, after the resignation of the opposition members, was discussed today between the Socialist Party leader, Edi Rama, and all EU diplomats and vice ambassadors accredited in Albania.

While the Parliament was discussing the political crisis, the ambassadors visited the Socialist Party to learn about their views on the situation.

SP sources say that the conversation between Edi Rama and the diplomatic body focused on the recent situation created with the replacement of a CEC member by the government, thanks to three votes given by three former SP members. Rama expressed the opposition's concerns regarding the lack of legitimacy at CEC.

Diplomatic sources say for Top Channel that the SP leader declared that the opposition is unable to replace the CEC members for as long that the Central Election Commission is not legitimate. The ambassadors gave no details about the meeting, but they said that it was about the situation at CEC and the politics in general.

While the EU ambassador, Ettore Sequi, underlined that he hoped that a solution will be found soon for this situation.

Rama: Returning legitimacy to CEC

After meeting with the EU diplomats, the Socialist leader, Edi Rama, met with two rapporteurs of the European Council Parliamentary Assembly.

Rama declared for the media that the opposition wants the return of legitimacy at the Central Election Commission, to give the June 23rd elections the decency that the Albanian people deserves.

"CEC was blown to pieces, and as for us, Berisha can take CEC at his house, and still he won't be a problem for us. This is a problem for the Albanian society and the Albanian people after June 23rd, when despite the fact that we will win, this country will be stained in front of our international partners, with the shame that this majority that is not a real majority caused to this country", Rama declared.

Rama declared that the request to return legitimacy to CEC aims to divide the electoral process from the panic that has now taken the Prime Minister and his family party.

"The solution is well determined by the Electoral Code, the document that makes the rules of the game. It was written and approved with a consensus, which has now been violated completely. The Code clearly states that CEC is not an instrument of the Parliament", Rama declared.

The SP leader declared that with free and fair elections, in full accordance with the international standards, Albania will leave the map of hybrid regimes, and the list of countries that have nothing in common with the Democratic world.

Authorities to decide whether to send delegation to talks

Source: B92

BELGRADE -- The Serbian authorities have received an invitation to take part in a new round of the Kosovo negotiations on Friday in Brussels.

(EU, file)

They will on Thursday evening decide whether to accept it, and if so, whom to send as their negotiating team.
During the day, President Tomislav Nikolić, PM Ivica Dačić, and his first deputy, Aleksandar Vučić, held consultations and analyzed yesterday's round of talks which ended without agreement.

Wednesday's round fell through despite the negotiators being close to an agreement, when Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci insisted on one of the points of the proposed agreement to be tied with Kosovo's membership in international institutions.

Kako saznajemo, Priština je imala i dodatna uslovljavanja i oko tačke 9 koja se tiče policije.

B92 has learned that Priština has further conditions regarding another point, which concerns the police in a future community of Serb municipalities.

The Serbian side now believes that today's invitation to resume talks, sent by the talks' mediator, the EU - came because solutions have been found for the contentious parts of the agreement.

However, the negotiating team, and Vučić in particular, are reportedly viewing the invitation "with reserve", above all because of the "inappropriate atmosphere" during the talks on Wednesday.

Moore: CEC should represent all sides

Published: April 18,2013 - 12:44

Tirana - The official of the U.S. State Department Jonathan Moore expressed concerns for the tense situation in Tirana following the voting that took place in Parliament, resulting with the replacement of a member of the Central Election Commission. After a series of meetings with Albanian politicians, Moore emphasized that there is strong argument that raises questions on the way how parliament voted. "In some of these meetings we have discussed the developments in parliament on Monday, and as it was clear from what our embassy stated, there are several concerns about a change of balance on the CEC formation. We believe that there is a strong legal argument that that raises questions on the way how parliament voted. However, we want to see a functional CEC. If this does not happen, it is impossible to hold elections on June 23. We will see how the process develops. We are very concerned from what we have seen. There is a high level of political tension on the eve of the elections," declared Jonathan Moore, Director of the Office for Southern and Central Europe at the State Department. He said that in other NATO member countries as well there have been cases when elections were jeopardized. "There are also NATO member countries, and sometimes even the United States, when elections have been jeopardized. However, we have all the reasons to think that elections will be held," Moore said. And over this issue, the political leaders have expressed their commitment that they will hold elections on due time and that they will accept the final result. "All of them shared with me their position that they want elections to be held on June 23. All of them said that they will respect the result and will support the great efforts from international observers and that they want to remain partners with the United States of America," Moore said. The U.S. State Department official stressed that the situation will be observed in its entirety, adding that a great number of long-term OSCE observers will come to Albania. He also noted that June 23 elections in Albania will be also discussed in the U.S. Congress. Taulanta Boja

NATO is looking opportunities to send troops in the eve of parliamentary elections in Albania

Albania is close to a new collapse after parliamentary elections may fail, which could oblige NATO to intervene to maintain stability
 

Tirana. NATO is considering military intervention opportunities, maintaining stability in Albania and in the region, after parliamentary elections are going to a failure, as a result of the destruction of the Central Election Commission.

In fact, the warning for a military intervention by NATO, has been a formal proposal of the OSCE mission in Albania, who see the advantages of Albania's political stability.
strategic point in South Eastern Europe, and a phase instability, can also infecting Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro.

Sources close SManalysis, say that the Albanian government has not accepted the installation of NATO troops, although De-fence Minister Arben Imami said that the funds of the Ministry of Defense have been added for this year, as expected installations of American and British troops during 2013.

Greece: 20 migrant workers shot in pay dispute

Source: Tanjug

ATHENS -- More than 20 migrant workers have been shot and wounded in the town of Nea Manolada in the Peloponnese after they demanded overdue wages. 

Around 200 strawberry pickers went on strike, demanding their six months’ unpaid wages and then clashed with three Greek foremen, ANA news agency has reported.

One of the foremen fired shots at the workers and wounded around 20 of them, the Greek police have said.


The site owner was arrested and the police are still looking for the three foremen.

Greece: 20 migrant workers shot in pay dispute

Source: Tanjug

ATHENS -- More than 20 migrant workers have been shot and wounded in the town of Nea Manolada in the Peloponnese after they demanded overdue wages.

Around 200 strawberry pickers went on strike, demanding their six months’ unpaid wages and then clashed with three Greek foremen, ANA news agency has reported.
One of the foremen fired shots at the workers and wounded around 20 of them, the Greek police have said.

The site owner was arrested and the police are still looking for the three foremen.

Albania is a step from the chaos

CEC freezes. Interrupt activity by member HRUP, Jani Jani

Crisis deepens after pleading CEC member of HRUP will not take part in any meeting of the Central Election Commission.

A day earlier gave resignations proposed by SP member.

While today's parliament session is taking place, where they will discuss the replacement of members left the institution.

Jani Jani has been the president of Omonia, the Greek organization in Albania.

Another round of Kosovo talks ends without agreement

 B92, Tanjug

BRUSSELS -- Wednesday's negotiations between the delegations of Priština and Belgrade, under the mediation of the European Union, have ended in Brussels.

(EU)

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci first addressed reporters to say that "Serbia rejected the proposal."

According to Tanjug, he added that "Serbia might change its mind in the coming days."

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić then addressed journalists to say that during today's negotiations - which lasted almost 14 hours - Thaci attempted to impose the topic of Kosovo's membership in international institutions.

However, our reporter in Brussels says that both he and Thaci noted that "a solution can be found."

Dačić explained that the membership of Kosovo in international organizations was not a subject of today's talks, but that Thaci attempted to set that as a condition for the resolution of the topics concerning police and judicial powers that should be given to a future community of Serb municipalities.

According to Dačić, "Belgrade was ready to accept an agreement on jurisdictions for the community of Serb municipalities, but Thaci undermined it by linking this to the problem of membership in international organizations, including the United Nations - which our delegation could not accept."

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally proclaimed independence, which Serbia rejected as illegal. The EU sponsored talks have been ongoing in a number of rounds since March 2011, with most recent ones focusing on northern Kosovo, where Serbs are the majority population and reject the authority of the government in Priština.

Speaking shortly after midnight on Thursday, Dačić also told reporters that Thaci's interpretation of the outcome of Wednesday's round - that Serbia rejected the agreement - was "utterly unfair."

The Serbian prime minister added that the Belgrade delegation was ready to continue negotiations until all issues have been resolved.

Thaci, on the other hand, said that EU's Catherine Ashton "rejected all suggestions tabled by Serbia", that there was no desire to go back to negotiations "such as Rambouillet", and that, "in 2013, solutions cannot be sought with the head of Vojislav Šešelj."

President Tomislav Nikolić's adviser Marko Đurić spoke for Tanjug to say that negotiations could continue but that no date has been determined.

He accused Thaci of obstructing the talks on Wednesday concerning "the already suggested formulations of EU's high representative Catherine Ashton, which regarded the issues of police".

Đurić also said that Thaci engaged "in open threats of violence."

"Belgrade is ready to talk, but not using the logic of terrorists," Đurić concluded.

Turkish Fighter Jets Violate Greek Airspace Again!

Turkish Fighter Jets Violate Greek Airspace Again!

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By Hellas Frappe on 17.4.13

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The number of violations in Greek airspace in 2013 from Turkish jets are indeed staggering. They frequently cross into Greek air space with the aim of baiting Greek pilots, who follow them until they leave.

On Tuesday four Turkish fighter jets violated Greek air space once again and conducted a low level over several small islets between Chios and Samos.

According to the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, a formation of four Turkish fighter jets, consisting of two F-4 and two F-16, entered the Athens FIR between Chios and Samos at 10:53, and then operated a flight above the island group of Fourni, at 11:06, at an altitude of 1000 and 3000 respectively.

The Turkish planes remained in the Aegean airspace for about 15 minutes before being intercepted by Greek fighter jets.

Albania to return in the process of ethnic identities

Map of Pustec Municipality 

After changing Pustec Municipality name, officially returned by the Albanian government, the names of the eight villages

Pusteci Municipal council decided unanimously to change the names of the eight villages in the municipality, turning to the original ethnic names..

Thus, according to the today, the names of these villages returned as follows:

Zaroshke - Zrnosko

Lajthiza - Leska

Djellas - Shulin

Gollomboç - Glloboçeni

Kallamas - Tuminec

Great Gorica - Gorna Gorica

Small Gorica - Dolna Gorica

The names of these villages have actually been so up in the 70s, but was later changed by the communist system.

Few weeks ago, the Assembly decided unanimously to change the name of the municipality in Pustec Liqenas, upon request of the Macedonian minority living in the municipality.

Montenegrins invited to rally against election theft

Source: Tanjug

PODGORICA -- Montenegrin presidential candidate Miodrag Lekić has invited citizens to a protest against the election theft on Saturday in Podgorica.

Miodrag Lekić (Tanjug, file)

His campaign headquarters filed an appeal to the Constitutional Court of Montenegro earlier today.
Lekić told a press conference that the protest on April 20 would be a “voice for protection of the Constitution and legality and democratic and European values in Montenegro”.

He pointed out that it was a citizens’ rally that should be held in a civilized and peaceful atmosphere and that all citizens of Montenegro were invited to come, regardless of their ethnicity and religion.

When asked to comment on EU officials Miroslav Lajčak and Jelko Kacin’s statements against the announced protest, Lekić said that he did not want to comment on them, adding that he would not rule out a possibility that their statements “were taken out of context”.

When asked what would happen after the protest, he said that it was primarily a question for the Montenegrin authorities.

“I think the authorities have a problem because they are starting to panic because they are aware that they have been caught stealing,” Lekić stressed.

The Constitutional Court has 48 hours to decide on Lekić’s appeal. The Constitutional Court is the last institution he can file an appeal to.

The Electoral Commission (DIK) rejected all complaints of Lekić’s campaign headquarters on Monday with a majority of votes. Lekić requested that the results of the vote be annulled at all polling stations where citizens had an opportunity to vote by mail.

DIK announced earlier that according to preliminary results, Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) candidate Filip Vujanović won the election after 161,940 citizens of 51.21 percent voted for him. According to the same results, Lekić won the votes of 154,290 voters or 48.79 percent.

However, according to results of Lekić’s campaign headquarters, he won 50.5 percent of the vote while Vujanović won 49.5 percent.

Montenegrin PM and DPS leader Milo Đukanović said earlier he was not afraid of the announced protests of the opposition and added that any doubts about election irregularities should be addressed in the state institutions.

Montenegrin Police Administration has formed a team tasked with monitoring the security situation after the Democratic Front had announced the protests.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton called on all political factors in Montenegro on Monday to respect the legal procedure regarding the results of the presidential election.

“I call on all political parties in Montenegro to be involved in the issue in a constructive manner and to act in accordance with legal procedures,” Ashton told reporters in the EU Delegation’s headquarters in Podgorica.

She met with Đukanović but not with representatives of the opposition.

Albanian Opposition abandons CEC
17/04/2013

After the resignation of the vice Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Denar Biba, another member proposed by the Socialist Party has also resigned.

Albana Shtylla states on her resignation note that the by removing one of the other members, the Parliament has damaged the independence of the CEC. The same motivation was used by Biba in his note.

Shtylla was voted by the Parliament as a CEC member proposed by the Socialist Party, and now the opposition has no representation in this institution. Three members left the CEC within two days, one who was removed by the Parliament and two others resigned.

After this situation, the Parliament Speaker, Jozefina Topalli, asked the Socialist Parliamentary Group leader, Gramoz Ruci, to bring within 48 hours the candidacies that will replace the resigned members.

Sources from the Socialist Party declared that they will not submit any new candidacies, since CEC lost it legitimacy with the violent removal of Ilirian Muho.

This position was announced earlier the day by the Socialist leader, Edi Rama, after meeting with the representative of the State Department, Jonathan Moore, saying that we are not talking about replacing people, but returning the legitimacy of CEC.

Jonathan Moore of State Department, urgent visit to Tirana
17/04/2013

After the political crisis that was created with the replacement of one Central Election Commission member, the US State Department has urgently brought to Tirana the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Asia, Jonathan Moore, who started his meetings with the opposition leader, Edi Rama. The meeting lasted more than 50 minutes, but Moore refused to comment what they discussed.

Edi Rama gave a press statement, saying: "We had an open and fruitful exchange of opinions regarding the pre-electoral situation, focusing on the hottest topic, which is the robbery made at the CEC, and the ruining of this institution which is supposed to be independent and untouched by the political will. We reiterated the necessity to reestablish the lost credibility on the main institution that handles the elections in Albania".

Rama also commented the resignation of Denar Biba as vice Chairman of CEC.

"I respect Biba very much and with his act he affirmed his moral and professional integrity, going against the flagrant damages made to the moral and professional integrity of CEC and their members", Rama declared.

But who will replace Denar Biba?

"We are not talking about replacing people, but returning the legitimacy of CEC", Rama declared.

Drugs Flow Through Greek Border With Albania

By Margarita Papantoniou on April 16, 2013

 

Greek Reporter

 

“The law enforcement authorities in Epirus are faced on a daily basis with an organized crime, that of drug trafficking from Albania to Greece, a natural bridge, as it borders on the neighboring country, 240 kilometers in length, while the rugged terrain helps the development of illegal activities,” the police Inspector of Epirus, Brigadier Constantinos Trompoukis stated.
In just the first three months of this year, 2.5 tons of hashish have been seized in Thesprotia and 1.1 tonsin Ioannina, near the Greek-Albanian border. Trompoukis sait it was the work of organized crime, with roles, teams and hierarchy, which acts with methodical planning.
The forests, the mountain paths and the inaccessible areas of the borders, the illegal border crossings or green borders as characterized in a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s report, November 2011, make the illegal activities easier. The same report says that “Albania is still a country of origin of cannabis and its products- marijuana, hashish, cannabis oil” and continues that “Greece and Italy are the main destinations for marijuana and hashish and that they are intermediate stations to send drugs in Europe.”
In March 2013, the U.S. Department of State pointed out in a report concerning drug control: “Albania is an intermediate station and destination of cannabis, heroin and cocaine. It is a country of origin of cannabis, which is transferred in the member states of the European Union.”
As Europol specialists estimate concerning the organized crime in the EU: “Albania, Turkey and Pakistan are the three major countries in drug trafficking.”
The police investigation reveals that hashish arrives at the borders’ regions from Albanians, where Greeks take it and transfer it to Greece. Along the borderline, the thugs have created paths even through the most inaccessible parts. The smuggling of drugs to Epirus is conducted by armed groups of Albanians, who either hide the drugs at the mountain, or load them in their Greek partners’ vehicles. Sometimes, they use even donkeys for the drug transportation, which are familiar with the mountain roads.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crimes said in November 2011 that cannabis cultivation is mainly done in Lazarat, a small town in the Gjirokaster District, with about 5.600 residents. It is 25 kilometers from the Greek border crossing Kakavia. Most of Lazarat’s people are armed. Strict controls are held at the town’s entrance. As reported, an amount from the drug trafficking money has been offered to mosques’ reconstruction.
The average salary in Albania is 250 euros per month, but those working pot farms are paid 20 euros per day and are mainly women. According to Albanian information, there is money-laundering by crime gang leaders who make investments in Albania and abroad.
During the last two years, the organized hashish cultivation and production has been expanded in various regions of Albania, like Avlona, Shkodra and the borders with Kosovo and FYROM, as reported from the same sources. As a result the production has doubled.

Wollfarth (OSCE): Politics must not damage elections
17/04/2013

The EU ambassador to Tirana, Eugen Wollfarth, confirmed the voices that he will leave Albania a few weeks before his official mandate will be over, reiterating that this move is based on an offer for a better position from the German Foreign Ministry.

As regards the recent developments, Wollfarth declared that the Central Election Commission should be completely divided from politics, and that the latter should not interfere with this institution.
"I hope that the elections will not be compromised. I am sure that Albania has sufficient human resources to work with professionalism at the CEC or the local centres. However, it is very important for Albania to do its best, so that politics will be divided from such technical and apolitical institutions", Wollfarth declared.

Wollfarth appealed for more dialogue to resolve the problems within the parties, as the only way to avoid other political stalemates in the internal policy.

"By what I have understood, this has been the tradition of CEC for the last 10 years. The local actors have been the one who have decided and CEC has been considered somehow balanced. Although it is considered balanced, there is always the need for a better balance. However, it is important to not overlook the rule of law. It is important to have dialogue, awareness and consensus, in order to have a better commitment of the Albanian people. I hope that June 23rd will bring a clarity and consensus for the agenda of Albania in the European integration, and I believe that Albania will leave behind once and for all the time when stalls were created within its  domestic discussions", Wollfarth declared.

Albania, a hybrid regime like Tunisia





Top - Channel TV

Albania is a hybrid regime and leaves behind only Bosnia in Europe. This is the conclusion of the world democracy index given by the The Economist Intelligence Unit.

The economist concludes that there has been a stalling situation, which means to decent progress, but not even regress of the democracy, based on the developments of the last year.

The economist analyses the democracy situation of 165 independent states and two territories, which covers more than half of the world's population. The democracy index is based on five categories: the electoral process and pluralism; the civil freedoms; government functionality; the participation in politics and political culture.

The total identified four types of regimes: full democracies, flawed democracy, hybrid regimes and authoritarian regimes. The Economist ranks Albania among the hybrid regimes, in a classification that includes 37 states and 14% of the world's population. In this list Albania is left behind by many countries from Latin America, Asia and Africa, ranked below Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and above Nicaragua.

Hong Kong, Malawi, Eastern Timor and Senegal have had improvements and have been classified this time higher than Albania, as flawed democracies.

But what are hybrid regimes? "Economist " explains that the hybrid regimes have deep problems and electoral irregularities that often do not allow the elections to be free and fair. The government pressure on the opposition parties and their candidates could be very spread as a phenomenon. These serious problems are more dominating than in flawed democracies, such as the political culture, the functionality of the executive and the political participation. Corruption is more spread and the rule of law is considered weak. Such is the civil society. Typical of these regimes is the pressure on the media and the fact that the judiciary is not independent. Together with Albania are countries such as Venezuela, Mali, Egypt, Pakistan and Lybia, countries that have experienced wars or severe turmoil in the recent few years.

Nationalist rhetoric grows in Albania

 

 

 

 

 

Updating: 13:38, 17 April 2013 Wednesday

File photo

The trend mirrors the rise of nationalists in other parts of southern Europe hardest hit by an economic slump, soaring unemployment and falling living standards.

 World Bulletin/News Desk

 

The walls of Kreshnik Spahiu's office in the Albanian capital bear the names of towns far beyond the borders of this Adriatic state, in modern-day Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
Albanians regard the settlements as their own, dating from when the Balkans marked the western reaches of the sprawling Ottoman Empire. Some are still home to Albanians, restive minorities in the 100 years since the borders of today's Albania were set by the Great Powers in London.
A century on, Spahiu says they should be united, and the nationalist rallying call of his Red and Black Alliance political party is resonating among impoverished Albanians ahead of a parliamentary election in the NATO member state in June.
The trend mirrors the rise of nationalists in other parts of southern Europe hardest hit by an economic slump, soaring unemployment and falling living standards.
Some polls put Spahiu's party third in the June 23 election, and he could emerge as a kingmaker, swaying policy in any future government.
"If Albanians want to live tomorrow with the Greeks, Serbs, Italians, Spaniards and the Portuguese (in the European Union), what's stopping them from removing the borders between themselves?" Spahiu, a former district court judge, said in an interview with Reuters.
Diplomats say the fiery rhetoric is far from helpful as the EU tries to coax Serbia and its former Kosovo province - where Albanians are the majority - towards a delicate rapprochement and to cement a fragile calm in Macedonia, which flirted with civil war in 2001.
Spahiu's strain of hardline nationalism was once confined to the margins, but a sense of national awakening has sharpened with the 100th anniversary of Albanian independence last year and a 2008 declaration of independence by Kosovo.
"ALBANIAN LANDS"
Spahiu's success has dragged mainstream leaders to the right, including Prime Minister Sali Berisha, as the close-run election draws near.
Marking the 100th anniversary of independence, Berisha referred to towns in Macedonia, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro as "Albanian lands".
In January, he hailed fallen Albanian fighters in Serbia as "heroes of the Albanian nation."
Then in February, in a Munich speech railing against "Albanophobia", Berisha rejected the idea that Albanians could be regarded as five different nations because they live in five different Balkan states.
"Albanians cannot accept this," he said. "The national unity of the Albanians will be the alternative to this."
Ethnic Albanians laid down arms in Macedonia and southern Serbia's Presevo Valley in 2001 on the promise of better lives inside NATO and the EU. But progress has been painstakingly slow, and they remain far from satisfied with their lot.
Albania's NATO allies and the European Union that it wants to join are making their displeasure known, in unusually blunt terms.
"Is nationalism in a form we hear it from Tirana really based on Euro-Atlantic values?" Stefan Fule, the EU commissioner tasked with steering the countries of the Western Balkans towards membership of the bloc, tweeted last month.
His remark followed an unusually blunt intervention by the United States, a close ally of Albania and Kosovo, in a State Department memo to the Albanian Foreign Ministry in February that was leaked to media.
It told Tirana to "stay out of the affairs of Serbia" and warned that nationalist rhetoric could "erode peace and stability".
Berisha has denied that Albanian nationalism poses any threat.
Some analysts put it down to pure electioneering, with the June vote expected to be a close-run affair and Berisha and his rivals trying to harness the discontent of Albanians struggling with the fallout from Europe's debt crisis.
Albania was a closed Stalinist dictatorship from World War Two until 1990, but enjoyed enviable rates of economic growth from the turn of the century until the crisis broke in Europe's single currency bloc, cutting into remittances from some 1 million Albanian migrants in Italy and Greece.
The Albanian economy grew a relatively meagre 1.6 percent in 2012, its lowest level in 16 years.
Albania's bid to join the EU has faltered due to the country's deep polarisation between its two traditional parties, Berisha's Democrats and the opposition Socialists.
Their inability to get along has slowed reforms, and occasionally boiled over into violence.
If the polls are correct and Spahiu's party - which takes its name from the the colours of the Albanian national flag - comes third, he could have the casting vote in deciding who rules. That would put the next government in an awkward spot given the Red and Black Alliance's demand for a referendum on uniting Albania and Kosovo.
Spahiu's slogans and straight-talking has struck a chord with Albanians frustrated with the two biggest parties that have dominated government since the collapse of communism, with mixed results.
"If he's in government, I'm sure no police officer would take a bribe and spend it on beer," said 20-year-old Xhevit Sula, at a rally addressed by Spahiu in the southeastern town of Korce.
Despite a diploma as a construction technician, Sula said he had struggled to find work over the past couple of years, with the construction sector in decline.
Critics, however, says Spahiu's nationalism shares the ugly, xenophobic agenda of other right-wing groups such as the anti-immigration Golden Dawn in Greece, which has witnessed a surge in support from Greeks angry at years of brutal austerity and recession.

Resigns the deputy of the CEC in Albania

Electoral crisis deepens in Albania

Deputy CEC, Biba, has resigned from the post carrying.

It is learned that his resignation is irrevocable and it came after yesterday's decision of the Assembly, which was voted dismissal of a member of the CEC SMI, Ilirijan Muho.

Biba Speaking to reporters yesterday dismissal qualifies as an act that violated the country's independent institutions.

"Today, most of the MPs case, voting dismissal of a member of the Central Election Commission, consciously or irresponsibility, committed a very serious extremely detrimental to the fundamental principles of separation of powers, constitutionalism and the rule of the right.

Beyond the arguments about the need to balance the CEC politically, this act showed clearly and without any doubt the utter lack of will to build independent institutions in Albania.

For the first mission and the last of them should not be balanced institution building, but independent institutions, "said Biba.

Albanian diaspora in USA, calls for boycott of the Albanian Elections in June 23

Protest with the vote, write to cross the ballot

  https://www.facebook.com/votobardhe

 

Protesto me votë, vëri kryqin fletës updated their cover photo.

Sunday

 

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/16/3346808/albania-changes-election-committee.html#storylink=cpy

EU foreign policy chief warns Albania on election

 

EU Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton speaks at a news conference in Tirana, Tuesday April 16, 2013 saying that the Brussels considered Albaniaís June parliamentary elections as a test for the functioning of its democratic institutions and the progress toward the bloc.

Hektor Pustina / AP Photo

The Associated Press

TIRANA, Albania -- The European Union's foreign policy chief warned Albanian leaders Tuesday that the conduct of forthcoming parliamentary elections would be a major test for the country, which hopes one day to join the 27-nation bloc.
Catherine Ashton's comments came in the wake of a dispute between the government and the opposition over the make-up of the country's election commission.
"The EU considers of crucial importance that the (June 23 polls) are in line with international and European standards," Ashton said after talks with political party leaders in Tirana.
Post-Communist Albania has repeatedly failed in the past to meet international election standards, and some 400 international observers will be in the country to monitor the upcoming vote.
Ashton spoke in the Albanian capital a day after the conservative-led governing coalition won a vote in Parliament to replace a key electoral official - a move the opposition denounced as unconstitutional. Socialist lawmakers boycotted the vote.
The official who had been serving on the seven-member Central Election Commission, or CEC, was backed by a small party that recently left the coalition government to join the opposition. The party's departure from the government meant that Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democratic Party effectively lost its majority on the committee - thus the push to replace the official.
The CEC manages election preparation and certifies results. Its membership corresponds roughly to the strength of the various political parties in Parliament.
The electoral official's replacement drew international criticism. The EU on Monday expressed concern "over the possible repercussions of a vote in parliament on the people's confidence in the electoral process."
U.S. Ambassador to Albania Alexander Arvizu said the decision puts Albania on a collision course with the international community.
Albania applied for EU candidate status in 2009, but has failed to meet some of the conditions, including political and judicial reforms, and fighting corruption and crime.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/16/3346808/albania-changes-election-committee.html#storylink=cpy

Greek Village Near Sparti Calls Golden Dawn To Protect Them From Roma Gypsies (VIDEO)

Greek Village Near Sparti Calls Golden Dawn To Protect Them From Roma Gypsies (VIDEO)

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By Hellas Frappe on 16.4.13

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The incompetence and indifference of local police have caused citizens of Trapezonti Laconia (near Sparta) to seek support from the people’s protectors, Golden Dawn. Gypsy violence, sex attacks, and theft has plagued the beautiful town, with its most vulnerable citizens such as women, the elderly and children, afraid to leave their homes.

Community leaders contacted Golden Dawn division Sparta to stand up for them, as democrats are too concerned about offending the EU canonized Gypsies, or simply too lazy to make the town hospitable for its citizens.

The meeting began with local towns folk speaking about various crimes, ranging from petty to vicious, they or their neighbors have suffered. With the economic implosion, citizens seek to at least preserve the picturesque beauty of their town, but gypsies refuse to abide by even the most basic and easy to follow sanitation standards, which hurts the pride of the community.

After the speeches, citizens of all ages made their voices heard in a peaceful yet firm demonstration to the gypsies and the police, that Greeks will defend themselves against predators.

The humanitarian Greek Left, speaking from their rich gated communities, reacted hysterically to Golden Dawn taking up an important issue they dismiss and conservatives ignore.

The community and Golden Dawn Sparta are organizing a plan for safety patrols.

Because of their Romanian and Bulgarian passports, Gypsy violence and repulsive habits have ravaged towns even in Western Europe. Despite generous social welfare and free housing, the Roma community culturally enriched a working class town in Germany so much that it has even gotten on the nerves of the fervent Leftist municipality. (EUTimes)

"Our conditions in Kosovo talks are known"

Source: Tanjug

VILNIUS -- Prime Minister Ivica Dačić says Belgrade has informed Brussels about what constitutes "sufficient cause and condition" to accept an agreement with Priština.

(Tanjug, file)

"In recent days several questions have been defined which Belgrade believes must be contained in an agreement that the Serbian side could accept," Dačić told Tanjug on Tuesday afternoon.
He said that Belgrade, meanwhile, "provided answers to the question it was asked - what was sufficient reason and condition to accept the agreement."

He stressed that Belgrade "does not have any secrets, hidden agendas or desires to go to negotiations that would not succeed."

"On the contrary. We simply believe that it is vital to address the issue of the police, the judiciary and that some future Kosovo army would not be present in the northern territory," said Dačić.

"The issue of a date for the start of negotiations on Serbia's membership in the EU must not be at the expense of the quality of the agreement and its viability," said the prime minister

He added when he returned from Lithuania later this evening, there would be discussion about the composition of the delegation that will go to Brussels on Wednesday, but added that, considering that this time the talks had been scheduled urgently - the delegation would be in its "narrower format."

Dačić reiterated that Belgrade was ready to continue the dialogue in Brussels and that progress was possible if there was good will on the other side as well.

"It is expected that these talks will start already in the morning, I guess as usual, first bilaterally with High Representative Catherine Ashton and later the plenary session," Dačić said.

He added that Belgrade was approaching the continuation of the dialogue "in good faith and with good will."

Dačić stressed that Serbia wanted to make progress in relations with Priština "because this was primarily in its own interest."

"In recent days we have analyzed further steps to be made, aware of the gravity of the situation and the responsibility that lies before us, but also the need to reach an agreement and that it should reflects what can be done on the ground, and which representatives of the Serb people in Kosovo would be satisfied with," Dačić said.

The prime minister expressed his gratitude to Catherine Ashton and the EU, and the embassies of Western countries, including the United States, "for showing their understanding for Belgrade's position that the dialogue should continue."

"And if there is good will on the other side, progress in the dialogue can be expected," Dačić stressed.

"We are ready to continue the dialogue, we do not believe that tomorrow is D Day in the sense that we must to come to an agreement or else the world will end," concluded the prime minister.

As U.S. Seeks Security Pact, Obama Is Set to Meet Putin

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

Published: April 15, 2013

MOSCOW — President Obama has accepted an invitation to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin ahead of a Group of 20 conference in Russia this fall, officials here said Monday — signaling a new opportunity to ease tensions even as the Kremlin continues to bristle over an American effort to punish Russian citizens accused of violating human rights.

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The announcement of a “bilateral summit” meeting in Russia in September, and of the planned meeting between the two presidents on the sidelines of a Group of 8 meeting in Northern Ireland in mid-June, came as Mr. Obama’s national security adviser, Tom Donilon, met in Moscow on Monday with Mr. Putin and other top officials to push for renewed cooperation on security issues.

In a series of meetings, first at the Russian Foreign Ministry and then at the Kremlin, Mr. Donilon pushed for more cuts in the two nations’ nuclear weapons stockpiles, for expanded cooperation in containing the threat of a missile strike from Iran or North Korea, and for stronger economic ties, Russian and American officials said. Mr. Donilon also delivered a letter to Mr. Putin from Mr. Obama that addressed many of those topics.

In numerous ways, the timing of Mr. Donilon’s visit could hardly have been more awkward — just three days after the Obama administration banned more than two dozen Russians from traveling to the United States or maintaining assets there, because of purported human rights abuses. Although the step, required under a law approved in December, was widely expected, it still drew outrage and swift retaliation from Russia, which published its own list of Americans to face similar sanctions.

Officials said that Russian displeasure was made clear at each of Mr. Donilon’s four meetings, but that given the context, the overall outcome seemed rather positive and that his appearance in Moscow despite the simmering diplomatic contretemps also sent a loud signal that the White House was ready to get down to business with the Kremlin, and to look past the recent sour tone of their relations.

“National Security Adviser Donilon came here with some very concrete proposals about security and economic issues that we think are of common interest to Russia and the United States,” said a senior administration official who attended the meetings but was not allowed to speak publicly because of the sensitivity of the discussions. “From our perspective the reaction was constructive, especially given the context and the timing.” The official said the agreement for two meetings between the presidents “set in place kind of a work plan.”

Ties between the United States and Russia have taken one bad turn after another over the past year, beginning with a wave of anti-Americanism during Mr. Putin’s presidential campaign in early 2012. After that came legislation and other steps to curb American and other influences here, including restrictions on nongovernmental organizations.

Russian fury over the American law aimed at punishing human rights abuses also led to legislation barring Americans from adopting Russian children.

Despite these differences, the Obama administration has sought Russia’s help on security issues related to Syria, Iran and North Korea, and Mr. Obama cited his desire to achieve further nuclear weapons reductions in his State of the Union speech. His administration has made clear that it views nuclear nonproliferation as a “legacy” issue.

Mr. Donilon started his day by meeting with the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, then went to the Kremlin where he saw his Russian counterpart, Nikolai P. Patrushev, the general secretary of the Russian Security Council. About an hour into that session, Mr. Putin dropped in and stayed for about 45 minutes.

The White House confirmed that Mr. Donilon had delivered a letter from Mr. Obama, but officials would not discuss its contents. Mr. Donilon later met with Yuri Ushakov, a senior adviser to Mr. Putin on foreign policy and a former ambassador to the United States. Other officials who took part, included a Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, and the American ambassador in Moscow, Michael A. McFaul, as well as Rose Gottemoeller, an assistant secretary of state.

Mr. Ushakov told the Interfax news agency that Mr. Donilon’s visit and the letter from Mr. Obama had sent “positive signals.” Mr. Ushakov said the letter from Mr. Obama “covers military-political problems, among them missile defense and nuclear arsenals.” He added, “The Putin-Donilon conversation had a rather positive nature, same as the messages sent by the Obama administration.”

Samuel Charap, a Russia expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Washington, said the announcement of the meetings between the two presidents was important because it sent a signal to officials at all levels that they could engage. He said this was particularly important given the Kremlin’s decidedly anti-American posture in recent months.

“To have that green light issued jointly in a very public way,” Mr. Charap said, “this is a step forward.”

Mark Landler contributed reporting from Washington.