Saturday, July 20, 2013

Published On: Sat, Jul 20th, 2013

Natural (Great) Albania or new war on Balkans – Koço Danaj

MONTENEGRO – Albanian politician Koço Danaj said that Montenegro should leave eastern parts of its territory, mainly inhabited by Albanian population, so that territory would belong to “Natural Albania” , reported Serbian daily Kurir. If “Natural Albania” is not formed, there will be new war on the Balkans, he said.
Photo from: www.abcnews.al
Photo from: www.abcnews.al
Danaj, in an interview for the DPA agency, said that all Albanians should live in one state.
He also said that Albanians suffered great injustice at the conference in London in 1913. At the conference was prevented the unification of all Albaninas, although few years back everyone had agreed to it.
“Today we demand unification of all Albanians, without war,” said Danaj.
When asked what sort of effect would cause forming of “The Great Albania”, he said that they [Albanians] actually like to call it “Natural Albania” because the term “The Great Albania” comes from the Nazis during the World War II.
“The effect is the guarantee that there will be no more violence on the Balkans. Otherwise, new Balkan war is pending. If we have Albania in its natural borders, this will not happen,” said Danaj.
When asked how can the “Natural Albania” be created for all Albanians, he said that the only solution is organizing new international conference. Danaj, at the promotion of its political list “Natural Albania” in 2010, said that the creation of the new state can be done peacefully and through negotiations with neighbors.
Danaj also asked the Government of Montenegro to organize  a referendum which would allow Albanians to say whether they would like to continue living in Montenegro or to have their territories set aside.
In january this year, leading Kosovo and Albanian media wrote about the existence of the future map of Europe, which predicts that the Great Albania will be created by 2035. This were prognosis made by, as said at the time, by the American CIA analysts.
Milovan Drecun, chairman of the board for Kosovo and Metohija of the Serbian Parliament, said recently that the signing of the agreement of military cooperation between Kosovo and Albania, as well as having Albanian military forces on the Kosovo territory, is heavy and unacceptable provocation that contributes to destabilization of peace in the region and sends the message of great Albanian pretensions.

Forming armed forces in Kosovo threats implementation of Brussels agreement – Drecun


BELGRADE – Milovan Drecun, president of the parliamentary Committee for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM), stated on Tuesday that forming armed forces in Kosovo destabilizes the position of Serbs, and poses a threat not only for the survival and security of Serbs in Kosovo, but also for the implementation of the Brussels agreement.
milovan-drecun-bruno-vekaric-zlocini-albanci-zmije-bunar-bacali-srbe-1360843706-221092
Drecun told reporters in the parliament that such formation can in no way be a protector of the citizens.
“How this formation will be called does not change the essence. As for us, this cannot be the army of Kosovo since we do not recognize Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence,” Drecun said.
He believes that such forces are no contribution to the regional peace and stabilization, and that they do not contribute to the implementation of the Brussels agreement.
“This armed force, which is the successor of notorious Kosovo Protection Corps which succeeded the Kosovo Liberation Army, was created, trained and armed by NATO. I believe that it is not a contribution to regional peace and stability to have this formation administratively renamed into a kind of army,” Drecun said.
He thinks that the Albanian side is operating mostly for internal reasons since it has felt that its position in the international arena is weakening and it wants to establish itself as a NATO partner.
One million signatures for the Greater Albanian state
 


Albanians will sign a mass petition, which will put pressure on the international community to achieve their goal, joining in a single country.

Until November to gather a million signatures from the Albanian diaspora living abroad "Natural Albania". 

It said the chairman of the list for Natural Albania, Koco Danaj at a conference in Munich, Die Presse reports.

The Austrian daily writes that "The EU strongly opposes this project."

After collecting signatures, they will be sent, among others, the governments of Germany, the UK and Austria.

The project was launched last night gathering in Munich Karlsplatz Square.
CEC is violating the Electoral Code
20/07/2013


CEC is violating the Electoral Code
The Socialist Party and Socialist Movement for Integration condemned the initiative of the Central Election Commission to open all the ballot boxes in Lezhe and Shkoder.

According to Ilirian Celibashi and Luan Rama, these decisions are  against the Electoral College.

“The four CEC members were unable to bring a formal pretext for this decision. Opening all the ballot boxes in these districts when none of the interested parties requested this, and when the Central Election Commission has no proof, makes this decision merely arrogant and against the law”, Celibashi declared.

“It is clear for everyone what is currently happening at the Central Election Commission. This is a consequence of the political pressure made by the outgoing government”, Celibashi declared.

“Although the people who encouraged this initiative are very clear that nothing will change the electoral result, the Socialist Party reports this act which will only bring as consequence a deeper compromising of the outgoing government’s good will for a political rotation decent to an European country”, Celibashi declared.

Luan Rama from the Socialist Movement for Integration declared that the Central Election Commission is implementing double standards.

“Allow me to bring to your attention another fact which proves that this halved CEC is implementing two standards, against the law. We can compare it to the request of the Socialist Movement for Integration for 15 boxes in Kukes, which was accepted by this halved CEC. While for the case of Lezhe they apply a different standard”, Rama underlined.
Albanian election "mania"

Ballot recount in Lezhe and Shkoder
20/07/2013


Ballot recount in Lezhe
The Central Election Commission is continuing the recount of all the Lezhe district ballots. The process started in the early hours of this morning, and the result has not changed so far.

After the decision taken one day ago, the Central Election Commission established eight counting groups made of two members each.

The result so far shows that there has been no discrepancy and they found only small human errors that do not affect the final result.

If the process will continue with this pace, the Lezhe district recount might end within two days

Greek Shipowners Say They Will Support State Budget


By on 20.7.13

It is about time! Greek shipowners, who until now have enjoyed a tax free life in Greece, said that they are going to support the state budget with 140 million Euros annually for the next four years. Peanuts some would say, but at least it is a step in the right direction, because 140 x 4 = 520 million and many jobs can be created with this kind of money!

The announcement was made while they met with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. On his part Samaras said this was a significant decision and praised the role of Greek shipowners underlining that the shipping sector has always supported the country's efforts.

Samaras said that 90 pct of the shipping fleet under Greek flag and a 65 pct of the fleet under foreign flag is planning to support this effort in a first stage. As such, the shipowners are set to immediately offer 75 million Euros and then the Greek shipowners union is planning to support the state budget with 140 million Euros annually, for the next four years.

(Editor: They will never gain the prestige of Aristotle Onassis, who unlike them, fully and unconditionally supported the Greek economy and the product called Greece. Today's shipowners unfortunately threaten to change their flag to a foreign one every time the government asks them to pay taxes!)
Strong declaration of the Greek archbishop  
 
 
 
Ambrose: "The memorandum, brings war with Turkey or social rebellion"


A military conflict with Turkey or a social uprising inside is not impossible, as estimated by the Metropolitan  Ambrose
the Greek archbishop, in an article published yesterday. He characterized for national positions and the courage of his words, is denunciatory against memorandum of the greek governments stressing that "if Greece continue this course heading for a new national disaster."
 

Vvisiting the German minister, Schaeuble, Bishop speaks of "obedience" to "German boot" while Samaras criticized the government that not only drains finances of the Greek citizens already but which destroys morale, since worships of Germans without bringing the slightest resistance, to provide citizens with at least some dignity.
Considers that this depression of morale leads thousands of Greeks in suicide, and the next few months with the love letter from the Tax Office will bring new suicides with the government..
 
Concludes that it is not a prophecy, but on common sense, based on which the Reverend sees occurs a great destruction of national dimensions, or outside on the side of Turkey, either from within a large social uprising with unpredictable dimensions Ambrosios said.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Fule: Kosovo may complete SAA process next spring

PRIŠTINA -- Stefan Fule stated in Priština on Thursday that Kosovo may wrap up the process of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) in the spring of 2014.
The EU enlargement commissioner told a joint press conference held with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci that the decision on opening SAA negotiations with Kosovo was "a deserved reward for the great work Kosovo's institutions have done."
He also said and that EU members decided unanimously to approve the start of SAA talks with Kosovo.

With this decision, Fule added, Kosovo has definitely entered the agenda of EU integration and membership.

Fule also commended "Priština's constructive role in talks with Belgrade."

Fule also addressed a special session of the assembly in Priština.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Many Durres hotels are empty
17/07/2013


Many Durres hotels are empty
July is counting the second fortnight off, and traditionally this is the peak of the holidays, but this is not something you can say for Durres, Golem and the other beaches in this area. There is a drastic fall of the number of holiday goers and the ones saying this mostly are the owners of several businesses by the beach.

“This tourist season is very weak compared to last year. It looks like we are not in summer now, with this low demand”, one worker says.

The weather this year has not been very good for a nice tourist season.

But what has damaged Durres and Golem mostly is also the Ramadan. The most loyal holiday makers of this area are the Albanians of Kosovo, who are also Islam devotees.

“Maybe the crisis, the bad weather has decreased the number of holiday makers, and probably even Ramadan, since Kosovo beach goers respect this tradition”, the business owners say.

While some businesses are ready to declare bankruptcy for this year, other holiday makers are enjoying the situation, because the beach is calmer, the water and the sand cleaner.

“This is the first time that we come here and we like. It is very nice here”, one of them said.

“I’m coming for the third time this year, and I can see that it is very clean, there is good service and good people”, another visitor says.

This tourism season has not been very well for most of the Albanian Riviera. Businesses hope that the situation will change in the first 10 days of August, if the weather will be any better.

"Kosovo issue open from start to finish of EU talks"

BELGRADE -- Ivica Dačić has said it is " very important for Serbia to respond quickly to starting signal for the beginning of EU accession talks."
(Tanjug)
(Tanjug)
The country should also "form a negotiating team and determine who will be its chief negotiator."
The Serbian prime minister welcomed EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule in Belgrade on Wednesday, pointing out that "we now officially fall under his department."

The prime minister told a joint press conference after a meeting at the Palace of Serbia that Fule's arrival in Belgrade shows that Brussels too "believes that Serbia will be the 29th EU member."

Fule informed Dačić that he will present the negotiating framework for Serbia to EU members next week.

"I thank Fule for reacting so quickly, after the decision of the European Council to open accession talks, and for coming with a team which already prepared the negotiating framework," Dačić said.

Fule told Dačić that his team has already prepared the framework plan of screening for Serbia, which will start in late September and last for 18 months.

The meeting also discussed which chapters of accession talks will be opened first, Fule added.

"It is very important that the SAA enters into force on September 1, which means that the interim trade agreement will no longer be valid, and this is great progress for Serbia," Fule added.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule stated Wednesday that the suggestion is that the issue of the normalization of Belgrade-Priština relations be addressed in Chapter 35, which would be open from the beginning to the end of EU accession talks with Serbia.

"We chose Chapter 35 and proposed to Member States that the same procedures are applied to it as for Chapter 23 - judiciary and fundamental freedoms - and that it is opened on the same principle at the very beginning, stays open throughout the process and is closed at the end, Fule told a joint press conference.

Dačić pointed out that the EU "knows that Serbia will never recognize the independence of Kosovo."

"We expect the negotiating framework not to contain formulations which would imply that Serbia has to recognize Kosovo's independence. This would be absolutely unacceptable for us," the prime minister said.

Fule also stated that Serbia has to appoint a lead negotiator in EU entry talks and put the EU issue at the top of its agenda, and underscored that all agreements in the dialogue with Priština need to be implemented.

Fule said that is a part of the document that contains basic steps that Serbia will have to take, now when the negotiations have opened.

Fule presented the Serbian leadership with the document on Wednesday.

Fule also presented in Belgrade a draft timeline for the screening process, which refers to the reforms that Serbia has carried out and will begin on September 1 and most likely last until June 2015.

Next week, we will present a draft framework for negotiations to the EU member states in Brussels. After a debate, this framework should be adopted with the aim of holding the first intergovernmental conference in January at the latest, Fule said.

Much has been done, but great efforts are needed for the first intergovernmental conference to be held in January, possibly even earlier, Fule said.

Dačić said that Serbia's lead negotiator in EU entry talks should not a high-ranking political figure, as Serbia will have a state delegation that will take part in the talks.

All other bodies that are needed for accession talks have practically been established, he said, adding that a state delegation is yet to be formed and a chief negotiator appointed.

Dačić said that the role of the lead negotiator is very important, so authorities are now considering who could be the best solution for that job.

“We should put forward the best proposal- that is the essence. The negotiator should not be a high-ranking political figure, but rather head of technical talks, as at political level, we will have a state delegation, the prime minister's team and others,” Dačić said.

It is not necessary that Serbia has another politician in the negotiating process, “in a sense that the negotiator should not approach that job in the same way as the political position, but if someone from political circles wants to perform these duties, this will have to be their main job.”

Dačić is of the opinion that the talks should include as many people as possible, so as to mobilize all sectors of the society, including the civil sector, NGOs, various professionals and experts.

On Wednesday, Fule also met with Dačić's deputy Aleksandar Vučić and a number of other ministers.

On Thursday, he is scheduled to address the members of the Serbian parliament and meet with President Tomislav Nikolić.

Pegasus launches flights to Tirana, Albania

Pegasus launches flights to Tirana, Albania
Pegasus Airlines continues to expand its network rapidly with the addition of such new routes as Albania's Tirana.
Pegasus' latest new destination of Tirana launches on 2 September and will run five times a week from Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport. Guests from London can fly to Tirana via Istanbul at fares starting from just £78.65 including taxes and charges.
This latest route from Pegasus in Eastern Europe offers shuttle flights to Tirana on Mondays and Thursdays departing at 14:50 from Istanbul, returning from Tirana at 16:15 and on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays departing at 10:15 from Istanbul, returning from Tirana at 11:40.
Pegasus' latest new destination, Tirana, brings its network encompassing Europe, the Middle East, Russia and the Caucasus to 72 destinations in 30 countries, of which 43 are outside of Turkey.
Pegasus is based at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport in Turkey.
PEGASUS CONNECTS TIRANA TO 45 DESTINATIONS
Pegasus will be flying from Tirana to 21 destinations within Turkey, including Adana, Alanya (Gazipasa), Ankara, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Denizli, Elazig, Gaziantep, Hatay, Izmir, Kahramanmaras, Kayseri, Konya, Kutahya (Zafer), Malatya, Nevsehir, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Sivas and Trabzon.
Pegasus will also be flying from Tirana to 25 destinations beyond Turkey including Almaty, Amsterdam, Baku, Beirut, Berlin, Bishkek, Bucharest, Cologne, Copenhagen, Doha, Donetsk, Dubai, Kharkiv, Krasnodar, London, Marseilles, North Cyprus (Ercan), Nuremberg, Omsk, Skopje, St Etienne / Lyon, Stockholm, Tbilisi, Tehran and Tel Aviv.

Albania's PM-designate vows to 'defeat' corruption

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Albania is the most corrupt country in Europe according to Transparency International, but the Prime Minister-designate of Albania, Edi Rama, has promised to change this when he takes over in September 2013.
He told HARDtalk's Sarah Montague how he intends to fight corruption and said he would follow the lessons of other countries that had been successful in defeating corruption.
Watch more clips at HARDtalk's website
You can watch the full interview on BBC World News on Thursday 18 July at 14:30 and 20:30 GMT and on the BBC News Channel on Friday 19 July at 00:30 BST.
Albania country profile
Map: Which country pays the most bribes?

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

"Priština serious obstacle to implementation of deal"

BELGRADE -- Aleksandar Vulin stated on Wednesday that "Priština is becoming a serious obstacle to the implementation of the Brussels agreement."
(Tanjug, file)
(Tanjug, file)
It is "a strong opponent of Kosovo Serbs' integration into the institutions envisaged by the agreement," the director of the Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija further charged.
Vulin told Tanjug that the latest troubling fact is the adoption of "some kind of an administrative decision on the election of regional commander" of the police.

"This is absolutely unacceptable for us - everything about the election of regional commander is regulated by the Brussels agreement and the agreement cannot be changed. What was agreed in Brussels cannot be changed in Priština," Vulin pointed out.

He qualified as completely unacceptable the idea according to which Priština will nominate the candidates.

"This seriously violates the implementation of the Brussels agreement and the possibility of integration of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. Priština thus becomes a serious obstacle to the Brussels agreement, it threatens further continuation of talks and the Serbs' confidence that the integration will be status neutral and exactly like it has been agreed," he said.

"We are also quite worried about saber-rattling Priština is resorting to - and also that certain oaths have been taken by something that is called the future army of Kosovo," Vulin said, adding that Serbia asked and received guarantees from NATO that there will be no military formation in northern Kosovo in the next ten years.

"We take our partners at their word and ask them to take care that no armed elements, whatever they call them, threaten security in Kosovo and Metohija, especially the security of the Serbs," he noted.

Vulin also said that Serbia strongly protests against an agreement between the so-called Kosovo security forces and the Albanian army on mutual crossing of borders and some kind of mutual assistance and cooperation.

"This is absolutely unacceptable for us and it certainly does not lead to peace and stability in Kosovo and Metohija," he stressed.

"I am afraid that, if things keep going like this, we will come to a conclusion that Priština perhaps wants the territory but not the Serbs. The Serbian government will not agree with that and will not allow it," Vulin concluded.
Turkish investments reach 10% of Albanian GDP


Berisha-Erdogan-2_1
The weekly "Impact"
http://impakt.al/rajoni/investimet-turke-arrijne-10-te-gdp-se

Direct investment and contractual Turkey to Albania from the $ 100 million in 2004, went over USD 1 billion in 2010, or 10% of the GDP of the country. One of the first companies investing "Kürüm JSC Demir Celik", has obtained the concession for 20 years ex-Metallurgical Combine at Elbasan.

Likewise Turkish company "Ber-Oner" has obtained the concession for 30 years, and copper mines in the northeast. Çalikbank along with Sekerbank bought in June 2006, 60% of the shares of the National Commercial Bank and subsequently have increased their share to 75%, being one of the two largest banks in Albania. Calik Calik Enerji Group along with Turk Telekom acquired in 2007, with an amount of 120 million Euros, 76% of the shares of Albtelecom, and has set up a third mobile operator, Eagle Mobile.

Turkish firm Ayen Energy AS, has signed an agreement for the construction of a hydropower cascade River Fan, investment worth 300 million euros. Turkish Companies "Durres Kurum Shipping" and "Global Liman ISLETMELERI" have obtained the concession for 35 years the container terminal of the Port of Durres. The company has made privatization KURUM 4 H / C, worth about 120 million euros.
Fatos Lobonja: Albanians qualifies as schizophrenic, and counts the "crimes" of Ramush Haradinaj

lubonja Lobonja: This hypocrisy so courageous can be explained by the fact that this approach has to do with the dominance of nationalist ideology which continue to operate in Albania and Kosovo political and cultural elites systematically to brainwashed people. 

Fatos Lobonja, the famous Albanian publisher, in an article for the magazine "Sudosteuropa Mitteilungen", called a murderer Ramush Haradinaj, who was released from The Hague after the disappearance and execution of witnesses. For this reason, he has criticized the Albanian politicians, starting from Berisha and Rama have come out in defense though and have praised Haradinaj for his release.

"The irony is that all senior politicians celebrated the shfajësuarin have enough information, if not to be obedient, to have serious doubts that the Hague against Haradinaj allegations are true. So that in 1998-1999, and especially after the NATO bombing, the KLA men who run Haradinaj, kidnapped Serbs, Roma, Albanians, among them the women, who were held in inhumane conditions of captivity in makeshift prisons, tortured, raped, murdered, that has a large number of zhdukurish, who include many Kosovo Albanians, who are among those considered traitors KLA or not supportive of her, and that Haradinaj is released of these charges because he and his people were feared killed and witnesses.  


They know that the Council of Europe report 2010 has described the situation of witness protection in Kosovo as the worst in the Balkans because the 2008 decision of the ICTY, which brought Haradinaj innocent first time, underlining difficulties in persuading witnesses from Kosovo to go to The Hague and testify. They know that the last and final trial witnesses refused to talk or changed their version of events. They know, too, that the same thing happened in the trial of one another hero KLA, Fatmir Limaj, "writes Lobonja.

According to him, it's incredible how Albanians glorify these characters. This is, according to him, because we are a schizophrenic nation.


"This hypocrisy so courageous can be explained by the fact that this approach has to do with the dominance of nationalist ideology which continues to work in Albania and Kosovo political and cultural elites systematically to brainwashed people. Just as in the time of communism, Albanians continue to feed on the idea that they are nothing, as individual beings, the interests of the nation, that they should sacrifice themselves for motherland and close their eyes to any crime committed in his name. Thanks to this wash machine of the cervical they continue to live among schizophrenic glorious glorification of heroes who sacrifice themselves for the nation and misery of hooligans who steal, even kill them - they are all being glorified heroes, "writes one Other Lobonja.

Suspects Fire Kalashnikovs Against Police Officials In Athens


By on 17.7.13

Unknown assailants using ΑΚ-47 Kalashnikov rifles apparently fired against the a special unit of DIAS officers early on Wednesday (around 8:40 am) when the latter attempted to check their vehicle. Press reports said that the incident occurred on Kedrinou Street, which is located near the Greek police department’s headquarters (GADA), on Alexandras Avenue, in central Athens.

The reports said that immediately after the incident the suspects fled the scene in an unknown car. The automobile was later discovered by police on nearby Achaias Street.

The incident terrorized many witnesses at the scene who began running left and right for cover to escape the gunfire. Thankfully the officers were not injured.

According to defencenet, police officials have now launched a manhunt for these armed criminals in the areas of Ampelokipi and Gizi.

Quoting police officials, defencenet even said that the perpetrators might also be terrorists. For one, they were carrying heavy weaponry and secondly they were thirsty for bloodshed.
Robbery in Northern Albania
16/07/2013


Robbery in Northern Albania
The robberies iin northern Albania have obliged the General Police Director, Hysni Burgaj, to summon an urgent meeting with all the police leaders of this area.

Present in this meeting was the vice general director for the Crime Investigation, Agron Kulicaj.

During this meeting Burgaj asked the police officers to leave the transition period aside, to forget holidays and work harder now that citizens need them more.

“Unfortunately the Police is not working as hard as before. I don’t know why is this happening, but it is intolerable and will receive the punishment it deserves, starting with the police leaders and the basic officers”, Burgaj declared.

As for the injuries that took place in Puke a few days ago, and for the fact that buses with Kosovo tourists were hit with stones, Burgaj held a harsher speech, saying that he doesn’t want to listen about similar cases that ruin their work and the tourist season.

“What happened in Puka is very serious and I urgently demand the collection of evidence and arrest of those who are responsible as soon as possible”, Burgaj declared.

Sources said for Top Channel that investigations show that the attackers might not be residents of Puka or the surrounding areas. They might have come to this area only to steal.

Same sources say that the investigations focused only on the robbery lead, excluding personal conflicts.

The shells found in the area are undergoing ballistic analyses, since the authors might have used their weapons in other Albanian areas.
Rama meets Tony Blair in London
17/07/2013


Rama meets Tony Blair in London
The next Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, attended a two day visit in London, which he announced through a post on Twitter.

"At London’s airport, where we landed for meeting tomorrow with the former Prime Minister Tony Blair and his staff”, Rama declared.

This is the second meeting since May, when Rama received the availability of the British Prime Minister to advise Rama if he wins elections. The news was commented differently by news outlets in London and Albania.

But Rama explained this situation in a declaration saying that: “There is great and useless rush to compare Blair with Podesta, which is paid by the Albanian taxpayers to disinform the international public and to make up for the image of a corrupted government”.

Rama declared that we “must be sure that Blair’s good will to help Albania is priceless for the benefits, and the agreement will not be a burden of the state budget”,

Now that Rama has been confirmed as the next Prime Minister, this meeting takes a special importance, since it will be used to discuss more concretely about the help that Tony Blair will give to Rama’s government.

Together with the announcement on Twitter Rama published a photo in the airport terminal where some Tirana-London travelers stopped to take a picture with the next Prime Minister of Albania.

During his stay in London, Top Channel learned that Rama has been invited by the giant British media BBC for an interview on Hard Talk, a political show based on direct questions and answers of world leaders.

Russian, Serbian patriarchs criticize Serbian government

MOSCOW -- Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Irinej has conferred with Russian Patriarch Kirill II in the Russian Patriarchate in Moscow.
(Beta)
(Beta)
The patriarch called for help of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian government in the preservation of Kosovo and Metohija, leveling criticism at the Serbian authorities.
Irinej underlined that Serbia must not renounce Kosovo and Metohija, because that would imply renouncing our history, culture, spirituality and holy sites.

“The current government is under considerable influence of the West. The Church is doing all in its power to bind their consciousness to the powerful Russian history and the Russian Church,” the Serbian patriarch said.

“Russia's stance on Kosovo and Metohija is influential. Therefore, I ask you and, through you, the state leadership to help us solve this issue and thus preserve Kosovo and Metohija,” he added.

Patriarch Kirill reiterated that the Russian Orthodox Church agrees with the stands of the SPC in terms of Kosovo and Metohija, and he also criticized Serbia's political leadership.

"I regret to say that Serbia's political leaders lack courage to take the same stands. I believe that the political leadership should consider the stands of the SPC and not ignore them, let alone to do that publicly," the Russian Patriarch said at the meeting.

Patriarch Kirill "reacted positively to the request of Patriarch Irinej," Tanjug reported.

"We are offering our unreserved support to the SPC righteous position in terms of Kosovo-Metohija and we will remain in the dialogue with leaders of Russia and other countries in defending the stance that we are sharing with the SPC," the Russian patriarch said.

"In creating of a model for solving the Kosovo and Metohija issue, the SPC would have to be included, and an acceptable model would have to provide firm guarantees for the survival of the Serb community and preservation of Serb holy sites in Kosovoand Metohija," said Kirill.

The Russian Orthodox Church will continue to collect funds for the reconstruction of Serb churches and monasteries in Kosovo, the Russian patriarch said.

Patriarch Irinej on his first official visit to Russia since his appointment. The SPC delegation will visit Russian churches and monasteries and Orthodox holy sites in Ukraine and Belarus during the two-week visit.

The SPC Patriarch and other Patriarchs of autocephalous Orthodox churches will take part in marking the 1025 years of Christianity in Russia.

The Orthodox Patriarchs will be received by the presidents of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

OPINION - What really caused the Greek economic crisis?


By on 15.7.13

The main root cause of the economic crisis can be traced back to 1974.  From 1967 to 1974 Greece was ruled by a military regime known internationally as the “Junta”. The leader of the regime, George Papadopoulos, began developing the infrastructure of the country at a time when it was poor at the level of other Balkan countries.

Roads to remote areas of the country, electricity, telephone systems, schools, and factories were built, and the country had its most prosperous period of NATURAL economic growth not seen since.

This is to say that the while the economy had grown, it was growing at a slower, steadier pace without huge loans and massive debt. It was still economically not at a level of western European countries, yet production was there and the country was on the right track economically. With its own factories and industries, its own currency and its own interests without the “European Community” dictating what it should do.

However, in 1974 this all changed, by 1980 the current system called “Social Democracy” was put into place, factories were closed down little by little, the country joined the “European Commission” and Massive Loans were taken under the son of George Papandreou Senior, Andreas Papandreou of the “PASOK” party, and later its twin “Nea Dimokratia”.

Civil Servant Jobs, State Funded Jobs, State Funded Government Programs, appeared almost overnight, and within a decade a massive middle class was created. Greek people who had been poor almost all their lives suddenly had secure useless bureaucratic jobs all over the country.

“Vote for PASOK, they will give your son a job” was a common phrase heard in villages across Greece. This “miracle” was so widespread, that Greeks learned a bureaucratic state job was superior to any other.

Useless positions were created to produce army of loyal voters,  government jobs that may need 2 or 3 people were employing 10. Pensions, and the near impossibility of getting fired all sweetened the deal.

As the purchasing power increased, the once poor Greek working class was now able to live in a way never imagined before, they felt they had finally reached a level of prosperity only western Europeans once had. They never questioned how this “miracle” happened.  An average person, who grows up in a small town in Greece, or anywhere for that matter probably is not going to understand how international loans and finance works.

All the average Greek had to do was vote for PASOK or Nea Demokratia and the cars, houses and job security would keep rolling in.

While the average Greek did not understand the cause of this “miracle”, the western educated Greek politicians certainly did.  This “miracle” came at a price, and the price was Greece’s national autonomy. The price was international access to all of our homeland’s resources natural, political and economic. This was a systematic plan.

Now we are told that the international banks who loaned Greece all this money, were “tricked” by Greek politicians into making Greece look like a lucrative economic investment and that now the Greek people must pay with harsh austerity measures to compensate for this supposed trickery.

Banks can approve or deny loans for private citizens based on things like debt to income ratio, credit history, assets etc and is virtually never “tricked” because the borrower always has some kind of collateral.  Yet we are to believe the banks naively loaned billions of dollars to an entire country for decades without suspecting there would be a default?  In this case, the collateral the banks want is our whole Nation, our people and our future.

xaameriki

Russia: Biggest war games since collapse of Soviet Union

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin was on Sakhalin where he observed a part of the large-scale military exercise staged by the Russian military.
(Tanjug)
(Tanjug)
It involves 160,000 troops and 5,000 tanks, and represents the largest military maneuvers in Russia since the era of the Soviet Union.
Sakhalin is an island in the Pacific Ocean in the Russian Far East, north of Japan. Covering 76,400 square kilometers, it is Russia's largest island.

The maneuvers are part of Russia's recent efforts to improve the mobility and combat readiness of the Russian armed forces.
(Beta/AP)
(Beta/AP)
The drills began on Friday and continued over the weekend, and also include several ships of the Russian Pacific Fleet, along with 130 combat aircraft.

The maneuvers are taking place across the country, through several time zones, and some units are deployed in areas thousands of kilometers from their bases.

Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told foreign military attaches that the exercise was part of regular combat training and was not directly aimed against any one country.

This is the fourth military drill called suddenly since the start of the year.
(Beta/AP)
(Beta/AP)
The previous included military exercises in the Black Sea and in the north of the country, and each saw participation of an increasing number of troops and equipment.

At the same time the modernization of the Russian army is continuing - an equivalent of USD 640 billion has been set aside for this purpose through 2020.

For the current exercise, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, on the orders of the Russian president and commander-in-chief, Vladimir Putin, raised the combat readiness of 160,000 officers and soldiers, 1,000 tanks and armored vehicles, 130 military aircraft, including fighter and bomber aircraft, and 70 warships.

Erdogan and AKP Dismantle Turkish Republic


By on 16.7.13

Christof Lehmann (nsnbc),- On Saturday Turkey´s Prime Minister R. Tayyip Erdogan and the Freedom and Justice Party passed legislation in Turkey´s parliament that significantly changed the status of Turkey´s armed forces. Law changes, endowing police and intelligence services with sweeping powers over protesters are expected. The law changes constitute part of a soft-power, but de facto coup d´etat and prepare the dismantling of the Turkish Republic.

On Saturday, the Turkish parliament amended a regulation for Turkey´s armed forces, which ended the military´s role as guardian of Turkey´s constitution and the status of Turkey as a secular republic.

Likewise, legislation is being prepared to endow Turkey´s police and national intelligence service with sweeping powers. The legislative changes constitute additional steps in years of use of Turkey´s democratic institutions by the Muslim Brotherhood or Freedom and Justice Party government, to rein in the power of the army, that was once prone to staging coups when the national integrity or the secular status of Turkey´s constitution was threatened, and an additional step to endow Turkey´s police with sweeping powers as instrument of political control.

Amendment of Armed Forces Regulation Part of de facto Coup d´Etat. Prior to the amendment of the armed forces regulation, article 35 specified, that it was among the duties of Turkey´s Armed Forces to protect and preserve the Turkish Republic.

After Saturday´s amendment of article 35, the article states, that it is the duty of the Armed Forces of Turkey to defend the nation against external threats and dangers. The amendment thus reduces the military´s function to that of an instrument, solely for the protection of the boundaries of the nation, but not the protection of the republic.

Large parts of Turkey´s secular opposition perceive the amendment as an additional step in a sweeping power grab by the Muslim Brotherhood, which much like the administration of Egypt´s President Mohammed Morsi was, is misusing democratic institutions to institute Islamic rule and to dismantle the the secular constitution.

The amendment of Turkey´s army regulation comes shortly after Egypt´s army prevented a similar de facto Islamist coup d´etat by a people-powered coup d´etat. Also Turkey has been shaken by popular uprisings and heavy clashes between protesters and Turkey´s police forces. While the protests in Turkey focus on Gezi Park and Taksim Square, the protests oppose a “sneaking erosion of Turkey´s secular constitution”. Large parts of Turkey´s opposition and a large percentage of the general population, are also accusing R. Tayyip Erdogan of participation in a US-backed plan to dismantle the Turkish Republic to create smaller states.

As late as 2007, Turkey´s army had issued a warning to the administration of Prime Minister R. Tayyip Erdogan, stating that Turkey´s Armed Forces are taking their obligation to protect the constitutionality and integrity of the Turkish Republic as a secular state with political and religious freedom seriously.

The amendment is, according to several analysts, also tied to the final trial hearings and sentencing in the controversial Ergenkon trials, in which 300 military officers stand accused for espionage, and another 300 officers as well as dozens of civilians, including the chairman of one of Turkey´s opposition parties, Dr. Dogu Perencik from the Workers´Party – Turkey, stand accused of passing on secret information.

According to many international lawyers as well as independent analysts, the Ergenkon arrests constituted a de facto coup d´etat already. The amendment of the Armed Forces Regulations consolidates the coup, and is, according to analysts, a move to prevent a similar situation as that in Egypt, where President Mohammed Morsi was ousted after illegally amending Egypt´s constitution so as to favor his own and other Islamist parties, while making it all but impossible for secular parties to register for elections.

Amendment of Armed Forces Regulation preparing Turkey´s Military for Regional NATO War. Additionally, the regulation was amended, so that it has become the duty of Turkey´s armed forces to help ensure international peace. Turkey´s opposition warns, that this could be interpreted so, that the Turkish Armed Forces are being transformed into a regional striking power for NATO.

This part of the amendment is particularly causing concern because it has become known that the Erdogan administration has been taking part in preparing the illegal aggression against its neighbor Syria, long before the first protests in Syria erupted in 2011.

Turkey is the primary front-line state in the war against Syria, and the vast majority of weapons shipments and fresh mercenaries are coming into Syria via Turkey.

Journalists as well as the Syrian government have numerous times reported about the presence of Turkish military officers inside Turkey. In some incidents Turkish troops as well as pilots were directly involved in combat operations, where they were fighting alongside al-Qaeda associated mercenaries, against Syrian Armed Forces.

In two incidents, the Turkish armed forces have been directly implicated in the use of chemical weapons. During a chemical weapons attack that killed 25 and injured more than 100 in Khan al-Assal, Aleppo, the chemical laden missile was fired from a “rebel”held position. The Syrian government claimed, that members of Turkey´s military intelligence were present in that area. Likewise, Turkish troops and pilots were reportedly taking part in battles for the Ming air field. A chemical laden missile was fired from the region where the Turkish troops were reported to be.

According to recently disclosed intelligence, the anti-Syrian political and military opposition as well as the international alliance that supports them, are planning a major political and military campaign against Syria in August and September, and part of the strategy is reportedly, to justify calls for an international military intervention and the establishment of a no-fly-zone by using chemical weapons. Also because of these facts, the amendment is causing gravest concerns among members of Turkey´s opposition and among international analysts.

Turkey´s Opposition Split

Turkey´s opposition is split with regard to the amendment. While the M.P.s of the Republican People´s Party, CPH, and those of the Peace and Democracy Party, BNP voted concurrently with the Freedom and Justice Party, AKP, the Nationalist Movement Party, MHP, voted against the amendment. Although many members of parliament have voted concurrently, in favor of the amendment, their endorsement of the amendment elicits a disconnect between the Members of Parliament and the parties basis as well as the majority of the general population.

The AKP and Erdogan 

Administration are reportedly also strengthening Turkey´s police force as well as Turkey´s National Intelligence Service by militarizing the police forces and by endowing the police and intelligence services with far reaching new powers over protesters, whom Prime Minister Erdogan described as terrorists last month, when he threatened that protesters who refused to leave Taksim Square would be charged and treated as terrorists.

Taksim 12 june 2013

Egyptian Pattern Repeated in Turkey. Protests in Turkey erupted on 31 May, after a violent crack down on peaceful protesters who had occupied the historically significant Gezi Park to protest again the destruction of the Park and Taksim Square. The protesters compared the destruction of historical sites, which are representing the Turkish Revolution and the establishment of the Turkish Republic with a secular constitution, and plans to substitute the historical sites by building a shopping mall and by re-erecting military barracks from Turkey´s Ottoman period as direct affront against the constitution and as an attempt to re-write history.

Protests have continued on a daily basis ever since 31 May, and analysts expect that mass protests will reoccur in September during the last phases of the Ergenkon trial. Like the ousted Mohammed Morsi, R. Tayyip Erdogan uses democratic institutions in a soft-power and sneaking, but never the less de facto coup d´etat. Like Mohammed Morsi in Egypt, R. Tayyip Erdogan has to fear that the military ultimately will side with the people. The difference between Turkey and Egypt is, that the Erdogan administration has started its coup d´etat by weakening the military with the arrest of 600 officers. Whether his strategy will succeed or not  remains an open question which may be answered in September.

Time to start "Albanian Lion 2013" exercises in Southern Albania

 6000 British sailors and marines will exercise in Porto Palermo of Himara and Orikum Naval Base

 Hotels of Himara Region, British tourists have been added

THE "desperately difficult" terrain of Albania has been the setting for two weeks of November 2012, of amphibious exercises for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.


Now, is to start the Exercise Albanian Lion 2013 which will involve more then 6,000 sailors, soldiers and Marines of British Navy.

Named the Response Force Task Group, a fleet of Royal Navy warships, hundreds of Royal Marines and elements of the Army have been exercising in the Mediterranean whilst also being on standby for any Government re-taskings.

 Meanwhile, there is in increased British tourists, in Himara Region, who book hotels, and flow from the beginning of August, some will come from Corfu and another part with tourist boats.

Beginning of August until October 2013, British Navy, of the Task Force will be deployed Mediterranean of the wild coast of Albania. 

This deployment, recalls August 1944 when British troops, who fought against the fascist axis, landed in Himara and Saranda, to relieve population of southern Albania, of the German fascist troops, who had invaded Albania, but also of young Bolshevik Communists of Enver Hoxha.

However the British landing in southern Albania, ran into a double resistance not only German occupation, but also of communist partisans, who did not allow a collaboration troops against invaders.

 

The British Marines, are preparing to instal in Himara Region 

Sugar beach, (Kakomea) Sarande, Albania , October 1944

Raiding Support Regiment with their guns. Photo courtesy 
Date: 30/11/2011
Owner: Peter Rogers
Size:
Full size: 1100x741
Assyrian Paratroopers in Albania and Greece
 
By Gaby Kiwarkis
The Assyrian RAF Levies Association

Assyrian ParatrooperThe company was formed on the 6th January 1942 from volunteers at RAF Habbanyia in Iraq to safe guard against Axis infiltration through the Caucuses, the area being mostly impassable terrain the enemy would need to rely on existing roads, tunnels and railways. The [AOC] Air Officer Commanding Iraq, Air vice Marshal Hugh De Crespigny reasoned that a parachute company consisting of trusted indigenous servicemen, could destroy these access points and slow German advance, after the operation they would be able to discard their uniforms and blend in with the local population evading capture.

Lectures were given to the regular Levies on the needs to establish a parachute company and volunteers were asked for without enticement, no increase of pay or privileges were offered, this was to ensure that only the “right type” would volunteer. 1000 volunteered for the task and were put through a rigorous selection process, after two weeks of gruelling exercises only the fittest were selected, the 1,000 volunteers were filtered down to 150 Assyrians and 50 Kurds, and these were to form the initial company personnel commanded by Major Barnes. By December 1942, parachute training had commenced from Vickers Valencia’s, the only Aircraft available. The Valencia was so outdated and slow that it was nicknamed the “flying Pig” by the RAF, but it did serve useful as a parachute training aircraft, the fuselage was large enough to accommodate 20 men with equipment..................................... continues....................

J. Bettany and John Japp of No.2 Cdo , Frank Gilles of the RSR, and partisan Martho Rapo

This photo is part of a group taken during Operation Healing 2 , the raid on Spilje, Albania July 1944. The No.2 Commandos shown are L/Cpl. John Japp, Pte. J. Bettany, and they are with Cpl. Frank Gillies - Raiding Support Regt. The Albanian Partisan with the sten gun is Martho Rapo. ( Update by Pete Rogers)

Update 16/10/11 by Pete R. Des Rochford of No.2 Cdo provides a copy of this photo to Paul Bell confirming details and adding the fact of Cpl. Gillies being in the RSR.
Date: 02/12/2007
Owner: Geoff Murray
Size:
Full size: 1218x819




Albania Parachute and Sugar Beach




http://www.assyriatimes.com/engine/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3318

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Albania/11+11+09+Lett+DR+No+3A.jpg.html

 


Monday, July 15, 2013

15 violates and rape of elderly women in Narta


Narta Community, letter to Albanian President

After assembly and news that makes people who have given their children, elderly relatives living alone, learned that he prepared a letter with the signatures of all residents, addressed to the President of the Republic Mr. Nishani, which requires the commitment of all state structures to find the perpetrators of rape of older women and put to justice.

Perhaps this letter and the appeal will be decided in the spotlight, to give way forever of pain and panic in Narta mothers and grandmothers, living in their silence. - See more at: http://www.shqiptarja.com

Shows in Narte rape, the Albanian government and public opinion, in silence.

Chairman of Omonia, this is terror against the Greek community of Narta


Shqiptarja.com brings today a report on Narte village, where women have violated by the unknown rapist. Enigma confuse the event with concealment of shame has enabled the perpetrators to hide any clues that might lead to his capture.

Mayor of Narta, Fredo Barber: "24 hour police patrol in Narta";

Omonia leader, Demetrius Seva: "Even in older men are afraid"; fear among women living:


more exclusive report in www.shqiptarja.com