The Panepitotic Convention in Chicago USA, raises Nicholas Gage again to head the epiriotes in USA Greece and Albania.

 The new president of the Panepirotic Federation of. America.... Nick Gage elected absolutely by members.

The "Lion of Himara" Olympic Champion and the Greek Parliament member,  Pyrro Dimas was special guest.

 

The nationalist Mayor of Vlora Municipality under arrest

Gjika: I will speak only in court
Top Channel TV

The Mayor of Vlore, Shpetim Gjika, broke the silence by declaring one week before the trial against him that all charges pressed by the Prosecution are unfounded.

“So far I have remained silent, which doesn’t mean that the accusations stand. But being a man that respects the law and institutions, certainly that my word will be said there where the judiciary will give its verdict”, Gjika declared.

Gjika explained the reasons why he hasn’t spoken before about the accusations against him.

“I haven’t spoken so far, and I’ve left everything to facts and papers that are being represented by the lawyer that defends my case. Certainly that I will be at court, as a man that has respected the state institutions, the rule of law, and certainly that I will be at court in sign of respect for my work, my stance, my conscience and certainly, for the judiciary”, Gjika declared.

“This was the first declaration of the Vlore Mayor, from the moment when the Prosecution sent the case at Court. The first court session will be held on November 15th, and it will be led by Judge Anastasi Shehu. The Prosecution started investigating Gjika on February 2013, accusing him of using his power as Chairman of the Vlore City Council of Territory Regulation, in cooperation with Eleni Dardhaj, the Director of the Territory Planification at the vlore Municipality, and of falsifying the content of two documents issued by the Council of Territory Regulation on 24 March 2010 and 15 July 2010.

America's First Next Gen Aircraft Carrier Takes High Tech To Sea

Chemical weapons, Kerry spoke with Rama

The contacts of the United States government with the Albanian one for destroying the chemical weapons of Syria havd advanced.

The United States State Secretary, John Kerry, has had a phone conversation with Prime Minister Edi Rama, according to the Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati.

“This Thursday, the Prime Minister of Albania had a long phone call with the United States State Department, John Kerry, about issues related to safety and how allies can contribute in this process so that the objective can be reached”, Bushati declared.

In this first explanation of the Albanian government for the possibility of destroying the Syrian chemical weapons in Albania, the Foreign Minister gave a detailed panorama.

“In full accordance with the United States and European Union allies, we are one of the countries that have been contacted for studying the chances of contributing in this operation. No decision has been taken, and we haven’t even started a technical discussion. We are on this phase and there is no room for alarm, because it is still unknown if we will take this process”, Bushati declared.

The public and political opinion in Tirana have started reacting against the possible destruction of Syrian chemical weapons in Albania. The Foreign Minister declared that the concern was premature. He argued that the Trans-Atlantic club didn’t have a clear idea yet about what they will do with the Syrian weapons, since the matter is still complex.

“As regards the contacts that the allies have made with us, as government of the Albanian Republic, we’re proud to be part of the consultations for a possible contribution that has not been decided”, Bushati declared.

Bushati appealed the Albanian politicians to be careful with the amplifying of this matter.

Government-President conflict erupts
08/11/2013

A conflict between the President and the Albanian government has just erupted.

A few minutes ago, the Albanian President has rejected the Parliament’s decision for the “Normative Act of the Civil Employee”. The decision was announced on the president’s website, together with a letter sent to all Parliament Members with the respective arguments.

“The main reason that drove me to reject this law and return it to the Albanian Parliament, is based on the respecting of a very important legal norm hierarchy. As an act with a special legal power, the law has the highest place (after the Constitution) in the hierarchy of the legal acts, and as such it should be amended or repealed only through another law, and not through a normative act. The creation of these precedents would put in question the legal order and the rule of law”, President Nishani declared.

According to the President, if the Normative Act will pass, there will be a violation of article 84.4 of the Constitution, which foresees the consent of the Albanian President before it enters in act.

Ship Carrying 20,000 Rifles Found in Aegean

• Friday, 08 November 2013 14:54
• Written by  E.Tsiliopoulos

E.Tsiliopoulos

The alarm was raised by authorities in the Aegean when a ship was found, after inspection, to be carrying a shipment of arms.

The Hellenic Coast Guard escorted the ship to Rhodes, and inquiries immediately began as there is a mystery concerning the ship's destination.
The alarm was raised on Thursday night, when the brigade based on the island of Kos informed port authorities on Kalymnos that the ship "Nour M" was following an unorthodox course near the Imia islands.
A Coast Guard vessel rushed to the spot, while the police narcotics squad identified the ship as belonging to a Syrian company, and as having concerned authorities in the past for drug smuggling, As was noted it has changed names often in the past.
The ship was escorted to Symi island, on Friday morning, and a few hours later to Rhodes, where the search took place.
Authorities found that 56 of the 59 containers the ship carried, held 20,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and large quantities of ammunition.
Meanwhile there are discrepancies as to the final destination, with the captain originally claiming they were bound for a Turkish port.
However, the "marin trafik" system showed heading for Tartus, Syria, while another maritime monitoring system showed Tripoli in Libya, as a destination.

"Relations with Russia government's priority"

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić underscored on Friday that "further improvement of friendly relations with Moscow is a priority of this government."

Aleksandar Vučić and Aleksandr Chepurin (Tanjug)

Vučić made the statements as he met with Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Chepurin.
The Serbian official added that he "will not allow for the deterioration of those ties," the Serbian government's press office announced.

The meeting addressed the issues relating to the forthcoming visits of Russian officials, Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, "which will be an excellent opportunity to discuss further improvement in cooperation between Serbia and Russia," Vučić and Chepurin were quoted as saying.

During the talks, the officials resolved "the dilemma over the statements that some Serbian officials made about the cooperation with the Russian Federation."

Earlier this week, Leonid Reshetnikov, director of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, spoke for the Belgrade-based weekly Vreme and accused Serbian Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlović of sabotaging the agreement reached between the two countries' presidents, Vladimir Putin and Tomislav Nikolić.

Mihajlović reacted by saying that the claims of her sabotaging the agreement were "not supported by arguments."

Vučić and Chepurin also talked about the elections in Kosovo and Metohija which were held last Sunday, and the recent meeting in Brussels in the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue.

Ambassador Chepurin underlined once again the Russian Federation's support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia.

Albania confirms U.S. request on Syria chemical weapon demolition

Friday, 8 November 2013

A demonstrator protests against the dismantling of Syrian chemical weapons in Albania in front of the Prime Minister's office in Tirana November 7, 2013. (Reuters)

 Al Arabiya

Albania confirmed on Thursday that the United States has demanded to dismantle Syria’s chemical arsenal on its soil, amid protests in the capital rejecting any plans of such.
“We were contacted by the United States, but no decision has been made yet,” Agence France-Presse quoted parliamentary speaker Ilir Meta as saying late Thursday in an interview with Top Channel television.
“Any decision will be made transparently and will take into account the interest of the country,” Meta said.
“I do not think that Albania has the capacity, even other much bigger and more developed countries do not accept to do it,” he added.
Albania, France and Belgium have been listed as possible sites for the destruction of Syria’s entire chemical weapons, estimated at about 1,000 tonnes.
Activists held protests earlier in the day outside the Albanian Parliament in Tirana, chanting “No to chemical arms.” They urged the Albanian government to reject the U.S. plan and any similar requests from foreign governments.
“The authorities must not allow the Syrian chemical arsenal to be destroyed on Albanian soil. Albania must firmly oppose such a demand,” AFP quoted Saiga Guri of the non-governmental Alliance Against Waste Import as saying in a statement.
Guri added: “Albania has no capacities and should not be a dustbin, thus endangering lives of its citizens.”
Syria is cooperating with the disarmament operation and has already said it had approximately 1,290 tons of chemical weapons and agents as well as 1,230 unfilled chemical munitions, meaning shells, rockets or mortars.
Head of the world’s chemical watchdog said earlier that destroying Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal outside of the country is “the most viable option.”
Ahmet Uzumcu said in a meeting with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons that Syria has proposed that the destruction of weapons takes place outside the war-torn country.
The OPCW head said Syria’s proposal is based on “practical challenges of carrying out destruction work in the midst of an armed conflict,” as well as on “resource limitations.”
Under U.N. Security Council Resolution 2118 passed in September, Syria’s weaponry has to be destroyed by June 30, 2014.

Albania’s government has so far refused to make any comment on a possible offer.

Security services coordination bureau meets

Source: B92, Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Deputy PM and Head of the Bureau for Coordination of Security Services Aleksandar Vučić has scheduled a meeting of the Bureau for Friday.

(Tanjug, file)

It will discuss the problem of hooligans and will also be dedicated to the incidents during elections in northern Kosovo.
Serbian police's Deputy Head of Monitoring and Prevention of Violence at Sports Events Vladimir Stojanov announced that the police will during today's meeting offer "a solution for the cases concerning hooligans."

"We have done a comprehensive analysis of violence at sporting events for the past period and we give concrete suggestions on how to overcome the current situation," he added.

Announcing the session, Vučić said on Thursday that the Serbian state will "deal with criminals, not fans, and in the next few days."

"The state cannot tolerate that people should be in danger because they wear this or that shirt," Vučić said, adding that "the state does not threaten anyone, but will bring and implement its measures."

Vučić also stated that that Serbian "services" have all the information about who was behind the incidents in Kosovska Mitrovica during the voting Sunday, and that this information was "delivered to all those who who need it."

"I have nothing to hide. Everyone in the world knows who was doing what in Kosovska Mitrovica," Vučić said.

Why Albania agree to take part in process of Syrian chemical weps destruction?

Photo: EPA

In 2007 Albania became the world's first country to destroy all of its chemical weapons in verifiable fashion eliminating more than 16 metric tons of mustard gas and other toxic agents. It did so during a six-month period using a German-designed incinerator with Swiss technical assistance. Björn Arne Johnson, a chemist who has been working with questions related to the chemical weapons for more than 30 years, told in exclusive interview to the Voice of Russia why Albania decides to take part in process of destruction of Syrian chemical weapons.

When we talk about this plan to destroy Syrian chemical weapons- why Albania? And do you see any rational in a decision to destroy Syrian weapons on Albanian soil?

Albania recently has destroyed all their weapons, so I guess that's why they've come off as a possible country.

Do you think Albania is really the only place that's technically equipped to do this?

No, I'm sure there maybe can be other places. But for the moment as you know the four countries that were asked were Albania, Belgium, France and Norway. So that's why they've ended up with Albania, I think.

Can you tell us about the repercussions? People I think are getting nervous when they hear that chemical weapons are gonna be destroyed in their country or in their neighborhood. I'm just wondering how dangerous is it? And are there any possible repercussions to the environment? Is there any danger to people who are located near the destruction sites?

Of course, it's dangerous. But I think the safety around such destructions is always so good and the procedure has been known. I don't think if it's placed in an area where you can have a safety like this, it should be any problem with doing it. So I don't think anyone should be afraid of that.

The next question that comes to mind as lament in this matter is how will this weapons be transported? Albania destroyed several thousand metric tons but Syria has 16 metric tons, right? Syria has about a thousand metric tons of sarin nerve agent and mustard gas. How do you transport something like that?

Well, they have discussed to bring them by a ship. But I've also seen that Sweden has said that they can transport it by an airplane. And maybe that is possible to do from Syria to Albania, because you don't have to cross any other countries. Because if that method has been used for Norway, I think it will be impossible because then you have to cross a lot of countries and I don't think it will have a permission to do that. But from Syria to Albania – I think that could be possible also.

But psychically speaking, how difficult, I mean technically difficult, is it to really do that in a safe fashion? Because I'm thinking of the pressure, the change of pressure when you fly and so forth. Is that dangerous?

These agents will be stored safely in containers and in a big plane like Hercules it's completely possible to do this. You don't have any big pressure differences for instance in an airplane like that so that is possible.

Ok. And if we talk about the possibility of just doing it in Syria, how difficult would it be to create a system that similar to the one in Albania? Is that expensive? Does it take a long time to create that? Would it take a long time to create incinerators that would be able to safely destroy those weapons in Syria?

Probably it takes some more time to build up a system like that. And I think that's the reason not to do it. Of course also it's not safe enough to do it in Syria but it also takes time and what the UN resolution said that this weapon should be out of Syria before the end of the year. So I think it's a time limit that no one likes to break.

This is more a political perhaps question: do you think that Albania and Albanians will actually agree to take part in that process? Could people be really opposed to this? I don't think I would be happy about having this happening near me..

But again it's very important to get information about this. Because as I said before only the main chemical weapon is enough to scare people. So there is a need for an explanation and insurance of what it is. It doesn't seem to be a local binary components, it's more like handling more relevant chemicals you may say.

I think the biggest risks possibly might be during the transport of it. Because you know if you have a proper incinerator that may be isn't that scary but when you have a plane flying overhead..

I also think that they should be taken by a ship and therefore has been discussed so far. But as I said that Sweden has proposed that they can fly it. But I guess both these methods will be discussed, but I would prefer to take it by ship.

Angela Davis

UN, Syria, chemical weapons, Albania, Syria. Elimination of chemical weapon

Greece's 'Robin Hood' journalists raided by riot police after working months for free

John Kolesidis / Reuters

Protesters scuffle with policemen as they try to approach ERT's headquarters in Athens on Thursday.

By Alexander Smith, NBC News contributor

Riot police stormed the headquarters of Greece’s former state broadcaster early Thursday and evicted dozens of journalists who have been working for free since the station was closed by the government almost five months ago.
The country’s coalition shuttered the state-run broadcaster ERT in June because it said it cost too much to run during Greece’s economic crisis.
Dozens of staff have continued to broadcast online since then, with one journalist comparing their operation to "Robin Hood" and claiming "we are the voice of the people."
Government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou, who is a former ERT employee, told Reuters the station was "under illegal occupation," and that police had raided the building to "apply the law and restore legality."

John Kolesidis / Reuters

Former ERT staff comfort each other outside the broadcaster's headquarters on Thursday.

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At around 4 a.m. local time (9 p.m. ET on Wednesday), police fired teargas into a crowd of pro-ERT protestors gathered outside the headquarters in Athens, Reuters reported.They evicted dozens of journalists from the building, some of whom refused to leave the yard, and several people were briefly detained.Officers, in the presence of a prosecutor, checked to see if equipment had been damaged.One journalist, Nikos Kourovilos, told the BBC he had evaded the police and was hiding in the building."They are in the building, they have control, they put everyone out,” he said live on the BBC’s Today radio program. "The good thing is they forgot about me, because I told them I had to take my stuff and I will go."Kourovilos said he hoped to continue broadcasting independently "because it's for democracy." He added: "We feel like we are Robin Hood… We are the voice of the people."

The raid came as inspectors from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Union were in Athens reviewing the country's progress in meeting the targets of two multi-billion euro bailouts it has received over the past three years.Journalists in Greece continued a broadcast streamed on the internet after the government shut down state television and radio operations in the country's efforts to save money. NBCNews.com's Alex Witt reports.The decision to pull the plug on ERT and fire its 2,600 employees in June prompted the Democratic Left party to quit Greece's coalition government in protest.The government subsequently launched a new state television channel called Public TV.On being evicted from the building on Thursday, former ERT employee Adrianna Bili told Reuters: "This is how fascism works, slyly and in darkness. I feel like they have raped me, like they have violated my home, they have violated my life, democracy. They have destroyed everything."

Zoe Konstantopoulou, a senior lawmaker from the leftist opposition Syriza party, added: "The government has reached such a point of delirium that it is staging a coup against itself. Some people will be held accountable before history and future generations."
More protests at the station's headquarters were planned for later on Thursday.
Reuters contributed to this report.

Against Syrian Weapons
07/11/2013

Hundreds of citizens, environmentalists and journalists protested in front of the Prime Minister’s office.

With signs saying “Prime Minister, don’t poison us”, or “Albania, destination of tourist resources, not chemical weapons”, the citizens asked the government and politicians to say no to any possible agreement for dismantling the chemical weapons in Albania.

“They should be careful with the chemical weapons. As Albanians, we will say no to every Parliament Member or politicians that wants to import them”, said the environmentalist Sazan Guri.

“We have the opportunity to put our logic at work, and one of the elementary questions is why the chemical weapons should be eliminated in Albania”, asked Mustafa Nano.

The protesters continued their march on the boulevard and stopped at the Parliament’s Office. They will ask the Parliament Members for an interpellation with the Prime Minister.

Protesters asked all citizens to help raising awareness among them and say “no” to the Syrian chemical weapons, and warned another protest this Saturday.

Corruption, arrests at the Tax Office
07/11/2013

The Police arrested Aferdita Hysa, former Director of the Tax Inspection of Tirana, on charges of power abuse, robbery with considerable consequences and cleaning criminal products.

The 42-year-old cooperated with other Directory experts, and in the past two years they caused an economic damage of 5.2 million EUR.

The court gave the arrest order for eight other people, starting with the former inspector of reimbursement procedures, Tahir Kuka.

Police is also searching for Ismail Muca, former director of the Tirana Regional Tax Directory, Lauren Vata, former head of the Tax Inspection Sector; Edmond Osmani; Gramoz Milushi, Kujtim Metaliaj, all three of them former inspectors of the Tax Inspection, and also Mirjan Beneja and Gjergji Tupe.

Everything is related to the reimbursement of the VAT procedure. 11 trade associations have been activated, sold and inspected, and they have profited a reimbursement by asking a unregistration within three days. All 11 companies were bought by two businessmen now on the run, Beneja and Tupe. Right after taking the reimbursement, the companies have asked to unregister at the regional tax office and declared bankruptcy.

As result, there has been a damage of 515 million ALL, including employees from the Tirana regional tax administration, and the only two partners of these companies have also profited the VAT reimbursement.

The criminal proceeding started on October 18th, when the Minister of Finances, Shkelqim Cani, declared at the Parliamentary Commission of Economy that several crimes had been consummed in the tax administration, with huge damages to the state.

Top Channel learned that this was about a giant scheme with the VAT bills. There were also ghost companies from China involved, which, according to the first calculations, have received dozens of millions of EUR through fictive bills.

Sources say that most of this scheme has been realized in July and August, in the months of the political transition. Minister Cani signed the criminal report against the people and companies involved.

Dačić calls on Serbs to vote in repeated elections

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Prime Minister Ivica Dačić called on Serbs on Thursday to vote in the repeated local elections in Kosovo at three polling stations in Kosovska Mitrovica.

(Tanjug)

Dačić called on Serbs to vote in the repeated elections on November 17 and assume a serious stand because this matter bears relevance for the survival of Serbs.
Addressing reporters after a conference in Belgrade, Dačić called on Serbs to vote in the elections not for the sake of the Serbian government but because the elections are relevant for their fate and survival, and said that "Serbia cannot defend more than this."

"Unless the Serbs vote in the elections, their mayor will be an ethnic Albanian. Good luck to them," Dačić was quoted as saying.

According to him, the elections do not constitute a status issue but a matter of survival.

The first round of the local elections was held in Kosovo on Sunday and the second round will take place on December 1.

The elections will be repeated in three polling stations in Kosovska Mitrovica where incident occurred during the voting in an atmosphere marked by tensions and pressures on voters by supporters of the boycott of elections which were for the first time organised by Priština in the northern part of the province

Rama, Express Orient

"Por nuk duhet nënvleftësuar se si Tirana dhe Athina, përplasen jo thjesht për kufirin ndarës shtetëror, për rezervat e naftës ose të gazit, për tokat e camëve ose të grekëve në jug, por ndoshta…për një kufi asnjëherë i ratifikuar në 100 vjet, që ndan një rajon, një histori, një federatë, një bashkim, ndoshta, atë të Epirit(?)"

Stavri Marko

Ne nje lëvizje sa diplomatike aq edhe Gjeopolitike, Kryeministri i Shqiperisë Edi Rama, perfundoi një vizitë inconjito në Maqedoni. Nxitimi për të takuar krerët shqiptarë ne vecanti dhe kolegun maqedonas Gruevski, ndodhi menjëherë pasi Rama u njoh me pretendimet e Presidentit Grek Papoulias në Tiranë. “Duhet të rruajmë Maqedoninë nga ndonjë tendencë përcarëse me pasojë shkatërrimin e saj”. Misioni express i Rames, i dha një shtysë të fortë kryeministrit shqiptar, për ti dhënë atij një rol më të rëndësishëm në ballkanin jugperëndimor, këtë radhë në Maqedoni. Pse ky nxitim në Shkup i Ramës?

Stabiliteti I Maqedonisë është shumë i rëndësishëm për rajonin, këtë e dinë të gjithë që nga krijimi i saj në vitin 1991. Vetëm për shqiptarët, janë zhvilluar tri Regjistrimke popullsie, pasi pretendimet e tyre kishin të bënin me fallsitete të dhenash nga Shkupi. Për të drejtat e tyre, janë zhvilluar beteja nga grupe të armatosura shqiptarësh dhe autoriteteve maqedonase, e cila solli në vitin 2001, “Marveshjen e Ohrit”, me disa dhjetra të vrarë. Sot ky problem vazhdon dhe ngrihet si ceshtje e te drejtave te shqiptareve. Ndërkaq, Rama si përherë cdo Kryeministër shqiptar, i kujtoj autoriteteve të Shkupit se Marveshja e Ohrit duhet të zbatohet, por edhe duke përgëzuar Gruevskin dhe qeverinë e tij, si factor paqeje dhe stabiliteti në Rajon. 

Goditjen e pritshme greke, sic e quajnë në Shkup, propozimin e emrit Republika e Slalvo Shqiptaro Maqedonise, në të cilën Tirana dhe Shkupi, kanë interesa rajonale vecanërisht të Aleancës Perëndimore, duan ta eleminojnë pa zhurmë, me takime intensive mes shqiptarëve dhe maqedonasve. Për këtë Gruevski bëri edhe një shoë me një shqiptar qe e kishte qëlluar me vezë në Tiranë disa muaj më parë. Ndërsa në Tiranë, nacionalistë shqiptarë të Aleancës Kuq e Zi, i gjobisin për fyerje ndaj Maqedonasve në Shqiperi. Daniel Server analist i cështjeve të sigurisë në Ballkan, në një deklaratë nga Washingtoni, akuzonte si provokimin sipas tij të propozimit të emrit të ri për Maqedoninë të mediatorit Matew Nimitc, nga ana e Athinës, duke thënë se Greqia kërkon destabilizimin e Maqedonisë dhe gjithë ballkanit, duke future në përplasje shqiptarët dhe maqedonasit. Me pak fjalë, Rama nxiton me expresin e tij të bashkojë fillimisht shqiptarët “armiq me njëri tjetrin” dhe pastaj ti thotë sllavo maqedonasve se jemi miq dhe shtetformues në Maqedoni dhe se interesat e Tiranës nuk janë separacionet, Iliriada dhe as edhe Shqiperia e Madhe, por bashkëjetesë brënda aspiratave europiane dhe NATO. 

Nuk ka se si bëhet ndryshe, përderisa Rama deklaronte se me “Shtetet e Bashkuara, Shqiperia do të jetë në cdo front brënda dhe jashtë”. Por allias, kjo thënje e Ramës, kuptohet se me “grekët  SHBA-të, mos vallë kanë larë duart nga aleati më i vjetër i ballkanit dhe tani janë ngjitur me shqiptarët”, ndërsa si Greqia dhe Shqiperia, brënda NATO, i kanë hapur telashe njëri tjetrit, për kufirin? Kurrësesi Jo. 

Por nuk duhet nënvleftësuar se si Tirana dhe Athina, përplasen jo thjesht për kufirin ndarës shtetëror, për rezervat e naftës ose të gazit, për tokat e camëve ose të grekëve në jug, por ndoshta…për një kufi asnjëherë i ratifikuar në 100 vjet, që ndan një rajon, një histori, një federatë, një bashkim, ndoshta, atë të Epirit(?) Llafe pazari do të thoshte dikush. Por expresi Rama, nuk ndalet. Pas Shkupit, Kryeministri shqiptar, pritet të vizitojë Kosoven, në Prizren, një tjeter ndalesë me karakter historic, nacionalist dhe gjeopolitik, një tjetër hap, një tjetër betejë, paralelisht me “albanofobinë e Berishës”, të lënë përgjysëm.    

Albanian Elections again again..... 
 
DP: Complete investigation of elections

The Democratic Party leader, Lulzim Basha, condemned the phenomenon of bought votes in the Korce municipality, as reported by Top Channel’s investigative program “Fiks Fare”.

Basha asked the Prosecution to take some urgent steps and to make the process credible, to also investigate the people who financed the purchase of votes in Korce.

“The Democratic Party reports this crime not only against the Korce citizens, but against all Albanians. Buying votes means killing democracy. We ask the Prosecution to urgently seize all materials of the Socialist Party in Korce. They need to make a fast, complete and comprehensive investigation of those who gave the money, but also of those who organized it and used mafia money for buying the power of the Korce municipality”, Basha declared.

The Democratic Party leader, Lulzim Basha, believes that behind the scheme for buying votes in the Korce municipality, there is a fatal scenario for democracy in Albania.

“Rama and his people did in Korce what they have done in the June 23rd elections, and their plan is to use it massively in the next elections. This is the explanation for the illegality that they are quickly building in our system through their governance: eliminating free elections by buying the votes of a fair popular process. But we are more determined than ever to take all the necessary steps for stopping the murder of free and honest elections through the dirty money of crime and political mafia. We will not give up from free elections, constitution, law and democracy”, Basha declared.

By reiterating the request of the Democratic Party for canceling the elections in Korce, Basha recognized the merits of Top Channel’s investigative show “Fiks Fare”.

“I want to thank the staff of this show for the priceless service that they did to the truth of the elections in Korce”, Basha declared.

Albanian PM Rama received by PM Gruevski: Committed to advance relations between the two countries

By Scopje Correspondent  /   06/11/2013

Skopje, November 6, 2013

The advancement of relations between Albania and FYR Macedonia, the realization of joint projects, implementation of the OHRID Agreement, the process of the integration of the two countries in the Euro Atlantic structures and the regional developments have been the topics of today’s meeting in Skopje between Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama and Prime Minister of FYROM, Nikola Gruevski.

In their joint press conference, the two prime minister talked about different topics of cooperation.

“We concluded that there’s a continuity of bilateral cooperation to boost up economic cooperation, for projects in the road system, railway and energy. We are in the phase of starting the 8^th Corridor and we are committed to have good road links with Albania”, said Gruevski, adding that FYROM remains committed in the advancement of relations between the two countries in the spirit of understanding and good friendship.

Gruevski stressed the support of FYROM for the full integration of Albania in the European Union and in order for both countries to advance in the Euro integration aspect.

On his part, Prime Minister Rama said that he had an open conversation with Prime Minister Gruevski on different topics and that the relations between the two countries are of a special importance.

“Albania is interested to have intensive relations with the neighbors and with FYROM, in all aspects. We are ready and prepared to open new ways in this cooperation and to strengthen economic cooperation with concrete ideas for joint development”, said Rama, mentioning that there must be great focus on the Ohrid Lake project as an unexploited space of economic and social development between the two countries.

As far as the region is concerned, Premier Rama underlined that peace in the region has entered a new process with the Agreement reached between Kosovo and Serbia and that this is a new window of possibilities for the regional development.

As far as the issue of Albanians of FYROM is concerned, Rama spoke of the Ohrid Agreement and its implementation.

“To us, it’s important for the Ohrid Agreement to be a focal point in the political developments of FYROM and to be implemented daily as a basis for the success of this country, for which we are very interested”, declared Rama.

The Albanian Prime Minister has also talked about the recent inter ethnic incidents in Skopje, stressing that the Albanian government is closely following these episodes of intolerance and inter ethnic violence. “We have been and remain determined to call for composure and maturity, because good inter ethnic relations will be a joint success.

“To us it’s important for everyone to understand that the future is common and together we will build the future in the region and in this country where Albanians are part of the state formation and involved in the entire social spectrum and government of this country. We are aware of the fact that political processes need time. Therefore, I would like to reiterate that every act of violence takes the processes backwards”, said the Albanian prime minister.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gruevski said that inter ethnic relations are stable and that they are being established through debate.

At the end, Rama has stressed that the quicker FYROM becomes part of NATO and EU, the better it is for the country and for Albanians, because every delay threatens prosperity and the development of the region. /ibna/

- See more at: http://www.balkaneu.com/albanian-pm-rama-received-pm-gruevski-committed-advance-relations-countries/#sthash.sOPtFNms.dpuf

Dačić "to seek annulment of voting in north"

Source: B92, Beta, Tanjug

BELGRADE, BRUSSELS -- Prime Minister Ivica Dačić says he will seek the annulment of elections in northern Kosovo when he meets with Catherine Ashton and Hashim Thaci in Brussels.

(EU, file)

Dačić will also be joined on Wednesday by his first deputy, Aleksandar Vučić.
"At the meeting with Thaci and Ashton, one of the topics for discussion will be the annulment of elections in northern Kosovo and Metohija, as well as in all places where Serbs were unable to vote and where they were intimidated," Dačić told the telegraf.rs website on Tuesday.

He added that the start of activities to form the community of Serb municipalities will also be on the agenda.

Sources in Brussels are saying that a key topic tomorrow will be the consequences of Sunday's elections in Kosovo, in an effort to examine whether the voting will be repeated in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, so that the community could then be "properly formed."

Reporters from Brussels stress this is something that Belgrade is requesting, "because otherwise Albanian citizens could take power in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, which would make the setting up of the community practically and politically impossible."

This community of Serb municipalities is a key element of "permanent and substantial" normalization of relations and the implementation of the Brussels agreement between Belgrade and Priština. In December, after the second round of elections in Kosovo, this should be confirmed by the EU Council of Ministers and the European Council, in order for Serbia to begin membership negotiations in January.

Belgrade believes that elections in northern Kosovska Mitrovica must be repeated in their entirety because Albanians could take over "due to the very low turnout, intimidation, violence, the voting impeded by violence in three polling stations," as well as the fact that in two polling stations, in Suvi Do and Bošnjačka Mahala, "only Albanians voted, without the presence of cameras."

Well-informed EU and international diplomatic sources said the EU believes that it cannot be appraised that the failed elections in three polling stations in the north jeopardized the overall regularity of the voting throughout Kosovo.

According to reports, they, however, accept in part the opinion of some Serbian officials that "a political blow" has been dealt to the strong commitment of the EU, international factors, Belgrade, "and in words at least, also of Priština," aimed at securing a mass turnout of Serbs.

Himara Revolt of 1912

Today in history, November 5, 2013, 101 years of anniversary of the revolt of Himara, by the Turkish invasion

Book in Albanian version of the Himara Revolt
Priamo Bollsno, Kostandin & Eleonora Gjoka

Book in English version the Himara Revolt

 

Himara Revolt of 1912

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Himara revolt was a Greek uprising during the First Balkan War that took place in the region of Himara (Himar?, today southern Albania), on November 18 1912. It successfully overthrew the Ottoman forces of the region, thus securing the coastal area between Sarand? and Vlor? for the Hellenic Army. After the successful uprising Spyromilios suggested to the Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos that the coastal city of Vlor? should come under Greek control but he responded negatively in fear that this might trigger Italian milit

 

Himara revolt of 1912

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Himara revolt
Part of the First Balkan War
Spyromilios in the entrance of the Himarë castle
Date November 18 [O.S. November 5] 1912 Location Himarë Result Greek victory
Belligerents
Greece	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Spyros Spyromilios

[show] v t e First Balkan War

The Himara revolt (Greek: Εξέγερση της Χειμάρρας), was a Greek uprising during the First Balkan War that took place in the region of Himara (Himarë, today southern Albania), on November 18 [O.S. November 5] 1912. It successfully overthrew the Ottoman forces of the region, thus securing the coastal area between Sarandë and Vlorë for the Hellenic Army.

Contents 1 Background 2 Conflict 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 Bibliography

Background

During the First Balkan War, the Epirus front was of secondary importance for Greece after the Macedonian front. A small unit that consisted of local Epirote volunteers was stationed in the nearby island of Corfu under the command of Major Spyros Spyromilios,^[1] who was a native of Himarë.^[2] This unit was later reinforced by 200 Cretan volunteers sent by General Konstantinos Sapountzakis, commander of the Greek army in Epirus front.^[1]

Conflict

On November 18, 1912, the local population rose in revolt, while Spyromilios and his group landed in the region and quickly secured the coastal area between Sarandë and Vlorë without facing significant resistance.^[3] After the successful uprising Spyromilios suggested to the Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos that the coastal city of Vlorë should come under Greek control but he responded negatively in fear that this might trigger Italian military intervention.^[3] After the Albanian Declaration of Independence in Vlorë, on November 28, Himarë was constantly attacked by Albanian units without success and the area remained under Greek control until the end of the Balkan Wars.^[1]
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Albania "wants Greece to recognize Kosovo"

Source: Blic

PRIŠTINA -- Albanian President Bujar Nishani has asked his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias "to recognize Kosovo."

This is according to an article in Tuesday's edition of the Priština-based Albanian language daily Epoka e Re.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence. Greece is one of five EU member countries that have not recognized the proclamation.

Nishani also asked for the "the Greek law on war with Albania" to be abolished, along with other legislation that is "contrary to the agreement on friendship between the two countries," the Belgrade-based daily Blic is quoting the article.

Further, Nishani said his country wants a settlement on the issue of maritime borders between Albania and Greece.

KFOR "rapidly intervenes" in northern KM

Source: B92

PRIŠTINA -- NATO troops in Kosovo, KFOR, said they "rapidly intervened" on Sunday afternoon "as a result of attacks on polling stations."

(FoNet, file)

The incidents happened in northern Kosovska Mitrovica.
"At the request of EULEX, KFOR troops, pre-deployed in the north of Kosovo to contribute to a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement during the election, immediately intervened," KFOR said in a statement.

The press release added that "a Quick Reaction Force from the Carabinieri Multinational Specialized Unit" was deployed in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, and was later joined by reserve units from the KFOR Tactical Reserve Manoeuvre Battalion to reinforce others already deployed in the area.

"In addition, in the town of Zvečan, KFOR troops reacted to a disturbance and restored security within the area. Later in the evening, KFOR, as requested by EULEX, provided for a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement on the routes through which the election ballot material travelled to the counting centre," the statement said, and added:

"KFOR will continue to act impartially, prudently and firmly to contribute to maintain a safe and secure environment for all people in Kosovo."