Air Force’s top-secret X-37B spacecraft lands after nearly two years in orbit

Published time: October 17, 2014 20:18

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X-37B Orbital Vehicle (Reuters / HO)

The Air Force’s top-secret space plane landed in California on Friday morning after nearly two years orbiting Earth on a classified mission. The robotic spacecraft’s purpose remains a mystery, though surveillance is a likely candidate.

The Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle ‒ an unpiloted aircraft that looks like a miniature space shuttle ‒ made its third landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California after spending more than 670 days in low-Earth orbit.

“I'm extremely proud of our team for coming together to execute this third safe and successful landing," Col. Keith Balts, commander of the 30th Space Wing that is headquartered at Vandenberg, said in a statement. "Everyone from our on-console space operators to our airfield managers and civil engineers take pride in this unique mission and exemplify excellence during its execution.”
The spacecraft was launched on December 11, 2012 by an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It has since been flying in low-Earth orbit, performing whatever mission the Pentagon had prepared for its third test run. In March, X-37B broke its own space longevity record for staying in orbit. Its two previous rounds in space in 2010 and 2011-2012 lasted 225 and 469 days, respectively. This mission lasted a total of 674 days.

A report by the IDG News Service earlier in 2014 suggested the trip’s mission was to test out the Air Force’s new space capabilities while also boosting the intelligence community’s surveillance capacity. However details about X-37B missions ‒ including the payloads carried to orbit ‒ are officially classified, Space.com reported.
Conventional theories from space and military enthusiasts believe the spacecraft will add additional reconnaissance capabilities to the US arsenal – either directly, or by deploying a small satellite from its cargo bay at a desired orbit.
More sinister theories suggest that the vehicle may be weaponized and serve as a space counterpart to the Predator unmanned aerial vehicles. Some postulate that it could be used to attack and destroy adversaries’ satellites orbiting the Earth. Others suspect that the X-37B might be used to transport troops to global hotspots within mere hours.
The Air Force owns two of the solar-powered space planes built by Boeing’s Phantom Works. The spacecraft will call Florida’s Kennedy Space Center home, thanks to an agreement between the Air Force and NASA announced last Wednesday. The X-37B will use the center’s Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) Bays 1 and 2 to process the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle for launch. The OPF bays have sat unused since the end of the Space Shuttle Program in August 2011.
“This agreement ensures the facilities will again be used for their originally-intended purpose ‒ processing spacecraft,” the space agency said in a statement. “In addition to vehicle preparation for launch, the X-37B Program conducted testing at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility to demonstrate that landing the vehicle at the former shuttle runway is a technically feasible option.”
NASA expects to complete renovations on the two hangars by the end of the year, though painted blue doors on OPF-1 already tout it as "Home of the X-37B," marketing that is visible to passing tour buses, C4ISR & Networks reported.
The X-37B is about 29 feet long by 9.5 feet tall (8.8 by 2.9 meters), with a wingspan of 15 feet (4.6 m) and a payload bay the size of a pickup-truck bed. Two X-37Bs could fit inside the payload bay of the space shuttle, which was 184 feet (56 m) long from nose to tail.

Matoshi: Edi Rama should go to Serbia 

 

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has confirmed that he will visit Belgrade on October 23rd. Publicist Halil Matoshi thinks it is nonsense to say that Rama should not visit Serbia. Matoshi explains that he is absolutely against mixing sports with politics.

"First, I am against any interfering in the internal affairs of the Republic of Albania. And, second, I am against mixing the sport with politics.

We are dealing with a football game and nothing more. There are two opposing teams, 22 players, respectively. I think the problems of Tuesday evening, which occurred in Belgrade, should not serve as an opportunity for the alienation between the two peoples" said Matoshi to "Telegrafi" newspaper.

According to him, this visit should bring these two countries closer and not create more problems.

Greece sends demarche to Albania

ATHENS -- The Greek government has announced that a demarche had been delivered to the Albanian foreign minister because of attacks against members of the Greek minority.

It was stated that the Greek ambassador in Tirana forwarded the protest note because of the attacks Albanians staged against Greeks in southern Albania after the stadium incident in Belgrade.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Albanian authorities are asked to condemn the incidents that occurred near the border between the two countries.

The Greek ambassador also asked Albania to undertake all necessary measures in order to find, arrest and punish those responsible, as well as to protect the ethnic Greek minority ahead of the upcoming celebration of Greek Independence Day, October 28.

"The ambassador conveyed Greece's enormous concern because of such attacks on peaceful Greek minority, which represents an obstacle to the European perspective of Albania," the statement added.

The ministry in Athens also warns that "attacks of extremists and nationalists certainly weaken the European perspective of the country" and "awaken memories of the past of the Balkans that all countries in the region need to leave behind for the benefit of the common European future."

As the Greek media reported earlier this week around 100 people carrying Albanian flags and banners with nationalist messages arrived in the village of the Dervician in the district of Gjirokaster and demolished stores and cars before they were stopped by the police.

The violence broke out a few hours after the football match in Belgrade was abandoned on Tuesday night because of incidents sparked by a drone flown over the pitch, with a map of Greater Albania attached to it - showing Albania expanded to include parts of Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Greece.

The rise of the tension on Military Co-operations

Agreement on technical cooperation between armed forces of Serbia and Russia


BELGRADE – The agreement on technical cooperation between the armed forces of Serbia and Russia is very significant for the Serbian military as an umbrella agreement used in further talks, Serbia’s Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic said on Friday. InSerbia-PiB-0992 The agreement was signed on Thursday by Gasic and head of the Russian federal agency for technical military cooperation Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin. 

The presidents of the both countries attended the signing. “Serbia has signed its first contract with the Russian Federation as an independent country,” Gasic told Radio and Television of Serbia, pointing out that the agreement was the bases for all future forms of cooperation and negotiations regarding the modernisation of the Serbian Armed Forces and equipment and spare parts purchases. 

He hopes that thanks to its reforms, Serbia will be able to take out the commodity loan it discussed with the Russian side in 2012 and will be able to buy new aircraft in 2016. Serbia and Russia have had close military relations so far, but they can now be expanded to military education, healthcare and technical cooperation based on this agreement, Gasic noted. It is extremely important that Serbia develop its defence industry and retake the place it belongs to it, because that branch can start the country’s reindustrialisation, he pointed out. 

The Serbian Armed Forces were reduced in size from 2000 to 2012, sold their equipment and property, and had that trend continued, this once respectable military force would have been reduced to a civil defence force, he stated. 

The military has been growing stronger for the past two years, and it has been successful in its work on all three of its missions, maintaining security, taking part in international peace operations and helping the population during natural disasters, Gasic said. 

The military parade held in Belgrade on Thursday in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin showed that, he remarked. The Serbian government is committed to EU integration, he said, adding that Serbia lied both in the east and west and wished to have good relations with everyone while keeping the interest of its people as its top priority.

Agreement on technical cooperation between armed forces of Serbia and Russia Today Politics Published: Oct 17, 2014 at 3:32 pm Modified: Oct 17, 2014 at 3:32 pm 0 Get Short URL Twitter1 Facebook2 Google Reddit BELGRADE – The agreement on technical cooperation between the armed forces of Serbia and Russia is very significant for the Serbian military as an umbrella agreement used in further talks, Serbia’s Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic said on Friday. InSerbia-PiB-0992 The agreement was signed on Thursday by Gasic and head of the Russian federal agency for technical military cooperation Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin. The presidents of the both countries attended the signing. “Serbia has signed its first contract with the Russian Federation as an independent country,” Gasic told Radio and Television of Serbia, pointing out that the agreement was the bases for all future forms of cooperation and negotiations regarding the modernisation of the Serbian Armed Forces and equipment and spare parts purchases. He hopes that thanks to its reforms, Serbia will be able to take out the commodity loan it discussed with the Russian side in 2012 and will be able to buy new aircraft in 2016. Serbia and Russia have had close military relations so far, but they can now be expanded to military education, healthcare and technical cooperation based on this agreement, Gasic noted. It is extremely important that Serbia develop its defence industry and retake the place it belongs to it, because that branch can start the country’s reindustrialisation, he pointed out. The Serbian Armed Forces were reduced in size from 2000 to 2012, sold their equipment and property, and had that trend continued, this once respectable military force would have been reduced to a civil defence force, he stated. The military has been growing stronger for the past two years, and it has been successful in its work on all three of its missions, maintaining security, taking part in international peace operations and helping the population during natural disasters, Gasic said. The military parade held in Belgrade on Thursday in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin showed that, he remarked. The Serbian government is committed to EU integration, he said, adding that Serbia lied both in the east and west and wished to have good relations with everyone while keeping the interest of its people as its top priority. Subscribe to Our Feed SOURCE Tanjug InSerbia Team InSerbia | E-Mail: desk@inserbia.info | http://inserbia.info TAGS army Bratislav Gasic Russia Serbia Twitter Facebook Google Reddit Previous article New Serbia-Albania match on neutral ground - report Next article Red Star Belgrade beats Galatasaray SIMILAR ARTICLES New Serbia-Albania match on neutral ground – report Oct 17, 2014 0 Biden: US not supporting ”Greater Albania” – report Oct 17, 2014 1 Albanian Ambassador: No “Greater Albania” In Gov’t Program Oct 17, 2014 0 Dick Advocaat pleased with his players’ conduct Oct 17, 2014 0 NO COMMENTS Leave a Reply Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Today Agreement on technical cooperation between armed forces of Serbia and Russia Oct 17, 2014 0 BELGRADE - The agreement on technical cooperation between the armed forces of Serbia and Russia is very significant for the Serbian military as an... 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Putin meets with Merkel and Poroshenko

Source: Beta

MILAN -- Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Milan with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

(Beta/AP, file)

Putin and Merkel stated that there are still serious differences in their opinions regarding the Ukrainian crisis.
Shortly afterwards, the Russian president spoke with the Ukrainian counterpart during a meeting attended by Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Prime Minister of Italy Mateo Renzi.

"There are serious disagreements about the evaluation of the internal conflict in Ukraine, and about the deep causes of what is happening there now," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Putin late last night met with Merkel, after arriving to the Euro-Asian summit from Belgrade.

"During this long and detailed conversation (two and a half hours) Putin and Merkel carefully checked the implementation of the agreement signed in Minsk," said Peskov.

The agreement was signed on September 5 establishing a cease-fire in the east of Ukraine between separatists and forces loyal to Kiev, and is being broken on a regular basis.

Merkel last night also spoke with Poroshenko when, according to a source close to the Ukrainian government, they "expressed regret that a number points of the agreement has not been implemented, although they were accepted by both sides."

Foreign Ministry announcement regarding the demarche made by the Greek Ambassador to Tirana

Current Affairs - News - Announcements

 

Friday, 17 October 2014

On the instructions of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, Greece’s Ambassador to Tirana made a demarche to the Albanian Foreign Ministry, asking that the Albanian authorities condemn the incidents that occurred in the village of Dervican against members the Greek National Minority of Albania following the suspension of the Serbia-Albania football match.

Ambassador Rokanas also requested that all the necessary measures be taken to find, arrest and punish those who carried out the unprovoked attack, as well as to protect the Greek National Minority ahead of the upcoming events in celebration of the 28 October anniversary.

The Greek Ambassador conveyed Greece’s strong concern at similar attacks that target the peaceable Greek National Minority and pose an obstacle to the country’s European perspective, which is weakened and certainly not strengthened by extremist conduct and nationalistic flare-ups that awaken memories of a Balkan past that all the countries of the region must abandon, to the benefit of the region’s common European future.

Finally, Greece’s Consul General in Gjirokaster made corresponding representations to the local authorities.

NATO Naval Drills Begin in Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean

• Last updated: 16 Oct. 2014

A large fleet of naval vessels is taking part in the multinational “Noble Justification” military exercise which is underway in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. More than twenty warships, and several submarines and aircraft, are involved in the drills. "The exercise Noble Justification is a substantial opportunity for NATO to develop force integration, multinational inter-operability and enhance readiness, by using of an improved technology", said NATO's Maritime Commander, Vice Admiral Peter Hudson.

The aim of the event is to test the collective defence and crisis response capabilities of NATO’s Response Force. It will also test NATO naval forces to respond to crisis situations anywhere in the world, at short notice.  More than five thousand military  personnel are taking part from fourteen NATO nations: Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. Two partner nations, Finland and Sweden, are also involved.

“It exercises a high-density, high-threat scenario in which NATO responds to a threat to its integrity, and the sovereignty, of its member states,“ said Vice Admiral, Peter Hudson. The event is being directed from NATO’s Maritime Command at Northwood in the United Kingdom. The exercise is running from 13-26 October.
A wide variety of aircraft are participating, including U.S. B-52 bombers. Anti-submarine and electronic warfare units are also taking part.

THE PRESS RELEASE OF NATO 

NATO’s Response Force (NRF) tests its crisis response capabilities at Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic 
 
A large fleet of warships from NATO’s Response Force (NRF) sailed from ports across Europe today to take part in the maritime component of Exercise NOBLE JUSTIFICATION in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, which will encompass the anti submarine component and the electronic warfare component.

The Noble Justification prepares and tests the highest levels of readiness for rapid response to any NATO contingency. It also develops force integration, multinational interoperability and enhances readiness by building joint capability and deployability through a high density, high threat scenario in which NATO responds to a threat to its integrity and the sovereignty of its member states.
The warships will participate in demanding training evolutions that will enable them to respond to crisis situations anywhere in the world at short or no notice. The exercise, which runs through October 26,  will involve more than five thousand military and naval personnel from 14 NATO nations: Belgium, Canada, France, Germany , Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States; and 2 partner nations: Finland and Sweden.

Afloat participants will include 23 warships: ten frigates, two amphibious ships, five auxiliary ships and six Mine Countermeasures vessels along with a number of submarines,  small units and embarked Marines.  Exercise Noble Justification will also include a wide variety of aircraft, including U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bombers. The participation of the bombers, which will assist in the exercise’s focus of validating the Spanish Maritime Forces as the 2015 NATO Maritime NRF, aims to strengthen interoperability with NATO allies and demonstrates the United States’ commitment to enhancing regional partnerships.  

NATO Allied Maritime Command, in Northwood, UK, is responsible for directing the exercise, ensuring that the NATO Response Force (NRF) is faced with a realistic and demanding scenario, presenting a number of challenges for the participants.
The first part of the exercise will focus on interoperability training in asymmetric multi-threat and maritime warfare operations. This will help units to be ready to work together for the second phase of the exercise, during which the force will undertake demanding responses within a complicated, crisis response scenario.

“The exercise Noble Justification is a substantial opportunity for NATO to develop force integration, multinational interoperability and enhance readiness, by using of an improved technology” said NATO’s Maritime Commander, Vice Admiral Peter Hudson of the UK Navy. “It exercises a high density, high threat scenario in which NATO responds to a threat to its integrity and the sovereignty of its member states. “ he said.


For more information on the exercise please contact NATO Maritime Command:
Email: publicaffairs@mc.nato.int
Telephone: (+44) 1923 956 763
http://www.mc.nato.int/Pages/home.aspx

Albania's PM 'disappointed' but undaunted by drone incident

By Scott Malone

CAMBRIDGE Mass. Thu Oct 16, 2014

Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama is interviewed by Reuters at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts October 16, 2014.

Credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder

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(Reuters) - Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he was "disappointed" at Serbian officials' comments following a drone stunt at a soccer match this week but vowed on Thursday to push ahead with plans to meet his counterpart in Belgrade next week.
Relations between the two countries have been tense since a Tuesday incident in which a drone bearing a flag representing "Greater Albania," an area covering all parts of the Balkans where ethnic Albanians live, flew over a major soccer match between the Albanian and Serbian teams, prompting a brawl on the field and the cancellation of the game.
Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic earlier on Thursday claimed the incident showed that Albania was "not mature enough" to join the European community.
"We feel really sad and we feel really disappointed about what happened and about how Serbian authorities are reacting. It's unbelievable," Rama said in an interview with Reuters.
But he said he would not allow the remarks, or claims by Serbian officials that his brother had been responsible for the drone, to derail his plans to visit the Serbian capital on Oct. 22, in what would be the first visit to that city by an Albanian leader in almost 70 years.
"We should not be driven by this kind of politics of the past and hatred of the past. We should not be driven by what happened at a soccer game," Rama said ahead of a speech at Harvard University, just outside Boston. "I am very determined to go ahead."
The Albanian team fled the field at Tuesday's match, held in the run-up to the Euro 2016 championships. Riot police were called in to disperse the crowd.
Rama noted that, in an effort to avoid any violent outbursts, Albania had sent no fans to the game other than a contingent of 45 dignitaries including his brother. The group was searched carefully by Serbian authorities, he added.
"I don't see how someone could have brought in a drone or a flag when even scarves with Albanian symbols were not allowed to enter the stadium," Rama said. "It's clear that the flying object came from out of the stadium."
He also asked why media accounts to the game played down the crowd shouting threats to kill Albanians, using an ethnic slur.
Both Serbia and Albania aim one day to join the European Union. Relations between the two have long been marked by tensions over Serbia's former province of Kosovo, which has an ethnic-Albanian majority and declared independence in 2008.
"We are not going to respond in the same old way of a region that has suffered so much from this old way, from a region that has finally found peace," Rama said. "We are in peace not because we became angels but because we are all convinced that Europe is our destination and we want to be part of the European family of nations as members of the European Union."

 Fans ask Rama to cancel his visit to Serbia





After what happened in Belgrade, Albanians urge PM Edi Rama to cancel the official visit to Serbia this month, on October 22nd. On Twitter and Facebook you can read comments like this:

"Cancel the visit!", "Head of the Albanian Government, Vucic and Dacic are using your brother. Give them an answer that shows that we are a strong state". "Edi cancel your visit to Belgrade. 

Yugoslavia always worked against Albania. Act like Enver Hoxha did one, with the same language. Serbia wanted a piece of Albania, this is their big problem.

Albania sends a letter of protest to Serbia 

 

Albania has sent a letter of protest to Serbia, after what happened during the match. They ask Serbian authorities to apologize for what happened in Belgrade. The letter of protest was handed to the Serbian ambassador in Tirana Miroljub Zaric, who was summoned by the Foreign Ministry to give an explanation. In an official press release the Ministry says: "We firmly reject the political offense by leaders of Serbia against the Albanian people and state."
"Statements of Serbian officials contradict the most basic ethics of diplomatic relations and reciprocity of conduct, self-restraint and respect between sovereign states", the press release reads.
"We invite Serbia's leaders to show maturity condemning acts that occurred before, during the match Serbia-Albania, the blocking in the Belgrade airport of Albanian journalists and entrepreneurs accompanying the national team, burning the Albanian flag in the stadium, calls to kill Albanians and pathological violence exerted on the Albanian national team athletes. Albania is not responsible for the fact that the past can weigh on the conscience of government officials.
Albania as a NATO member and EU candidate, faithfully follows the policy of cooperation, good neighborliness and democratic stability in the region", it says.

PM: Serbia expects apology from Albania

Source: Tanjug

Serbia will remain a true pillar of stability in the Western Balkans, and nothing can compromise this, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić has told CNN.

(Tanjug, file)

He was commenting on the football match between Serbia and Albania on Tuesday evening in Belgrade, when a small drone was flown above the pitch with a map of the so-called "Greater Albania," which caused disturbance and incidents, after which the game was abandoned.
"This was a severe provocation. I do not know who could benefit from this, but it is a fact that officials were the only supporters of the Albanian team at the match," Vučić said.

He said that this case is very clear, adding that in this incident he does not see any mistake by the Serbian side.

Vučić also posed a question how the world would react if something similar happened in Albania, namely if the Serbian side "waved the flag of Greater Serbia" in that country.

"I hope that we will manage to overcome this situation," the Serbian prime minister said, stressing that the Serbian side expects "a profound apology" from the Albanian side that caused the incident.

Tanjug noted in its report that "not a single official in Priština and Tirana condemned this provocation," and that, "on the contrary, Albanian footballers were welcomed as heroes, and Albanians in the region celebrated the incident as a national victory."

Vučić and Putin hold joint news conference

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Serbia and Russia have strong political ties.

(Tanjug)

He underscored that Moscow's position on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija will not change and that Russia insists on it being resolved in line with UNSC Resolution 1244.
"I thank President Nikolić and Prime Minister Vučić for the invitation. The talks passed in a constructive, working atmosphere. Our trade and economic relations are developing very well," Putin said during a joint press conference with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, held in the Palace of Serbia after the talks of the two state delegations.

Putin extended an invitation to Nikolić for the celebration of 70 years since the victory over fascism that will be held in Moscow next year.

"We will be glad to see the president of Serbia at the celebration of 70 years since the victory over fascism in Moscow next year," he said.

Taking into consideration that Serbia will assume the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2015, the Russian president voiced the hope that "at that moment Russia will be able to continue constructive work and cooperation with that international organization, in this case with the support from Serbian friends."

Putin said that agriculture is the field with big cooperation prospects, adding that if the agreements signed today are realized, the exports of Serbian products to the Russian market will increase from USD 130 million to USD 500 million in a short time.

That is beneficial for the Serbian economy, means job creation, and it benefits Russia too, Putin said.

Pointing to the restrictions for imports of products from the countries that joined the sanctions against Russia, Putin said that this is a real chance for producers from those countries that want to develop cooperation with the Russian Federation.

Asked by a TASS reporter about the Russian investments and prospects for Russia-Serbia cooperation, Putin said that as long as the Western countries' sanctions against Russia are in place, there are big chances for Serbian companies to take the places they deserve in the Russian market.

"We are ready to invest," Putin said, adding that today's talks dealt with investments in the energy, machine building, railway, agriculture sectors, noting that these are not just state, but also private investments.

Putin noted that the South Stream gas pipeline cannot be realized unilaterally, but that he "truly believes that it is useful for European consumers."

"South Stream cannot be realized unilaterally, if our partners are still in two minds about it. This is like love, it can be happy only if there are two participants of this wonderful process, who both want to develop relations," he said.

The Russian leader added that similar debates about whether the pipeline is needed were held before the beginning of construction of Nord Stream, and now that it has been built everyone is happy, adding that he is confident that it will be similar with South Stream.

"I am deeply convinced that the project is beneficial for European consumers," said the Russian president, stressing that in this case policy harms economy and to some extent lowers the competitiveness of the European economy.

Putin also stated that Russia's investments in the Serbian economy could be doubled, and reach USD 6-10 billion in three years and specified that he and his hosts among other things considered prospects for cooperation in the agrarian sector.

In relation to that, he noted that European agricultural producers are sustaining losses worth billions of euros due to Russia's response to the sanctions.

"We would not like to continue that practice. But, for now, it is in place," Putin told reporters.

Besides the possibility of further developing cooperation in the agrarian sector and other investments to the benefit of both countries, in the energy, machine building, infrastructure sectors, he pointed to the fact that Russia granted an USD 800 million loan to Serbia for construction and upgrade of the railway system.

All in all, Russia's investments in Serbia so far total USD 3 billion, and in three years, including the private sector, they could be doubled, and reach USD 6 billion, or even USD 10 billion, Putin said.

(Tanjug)

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić also addressed reporters to say Serbia would not impose sanctions on Russia, and would continue with its EU integration.

Vučić thanked the Russian leader for his visit to Belgrade and decision to attend the 70th anniversary of Belgrade's liberation from German occupation, a victory won jointly by the Yugoslav Partisans and the Red Army.

"Serbia is on a path towards the EU and will not abandon it, but it is grateful to Russia for respecting that and not trying to make it give up on EU integration," Vučić stated.

"The Russian Federation has always protected Serbia, but Serbia has also shown that it is Russia's friend in tough times," the Serbian prime minister pointed out.

"I am embarrassed to have to reiterate that we have not and will not impose sanctions on Russia. This government will definitely not do that," Vučić emphasised.

Commenting on Serbia's upcoming chairmanship of the OSCE, he said that Serbia would play an important role and help solve problems in other parts of the world.

A number of cars manufactured in Fiat's plant in the Serbian city of Kragujevac will be exported to Russia, Vučić stated.

"The good news for the people of Serbia is that President Putin agreed to my request to export a certain quota of Fiat vehicles made in Kragujevac to Russia, and we also agreed on a moral liberal arrangement concerning cheese export, which is important for our agriculture," Vučić remarked.

"We also talked about increasing trade... we are on the verge of solving some energy issues, and the Russian president showed great understanding for our workers, for our efforts to save their jobs," he said.

"Putin showed a lot of understanding for employment. We discussed Petrohemija also and got significant support from our Russian partners, and we are grateful for all the humanitarian aid that has come from Russian," Vučić stated.

Serbia and Russia have a free trade agreement.

Serbian chemical company Petrohemija, which is scheduled to be sold, owes a large debt NIS, which is owned by Gazprom.

Albanian FA claims Serbian police attacked players after abandoned match

• Statement claims president Armando Duka was hit by concrete
• ‘Police went through each player’s personal belongings’
• Lorik Cana: our lives were in danger against Serbia
• Albania and Serbia face Uefa sanctions

• theguardian.com, Thursday 16 October 2014 11.13 BST

The Albania FA has alleged its players were attacked by Serbian stewards and police in the tunnel after the match was called off. Photograph: Alexa Stankovic/AFP/Getty

The Albanian Football Association has released a detailed statement that alleges its president, Armando Duka, was hit with a piece of concrete and players were attacked by supporters, security personnel and the police after the Euro 2016 qualifier against Serbia in Belgrade on Tuesday.
Uefa has charged both the Serbian and Albanian FAs after the match held at Partizan Stadium was abandoned by the English referee Martin Atkinson following a mass brawl, triggered when a drone carrying the insignia of so-called “Greater Albania” was flown over the field of play.
On Wednesday, the Serbian FA accused their opponents of a “pre-planned terrorist action” and blamed Albania’s players for refusing to re-start the match. However the statement posted on the Albania FA’s website on Thursday morning hit back by describing the chaotic scenes that marred their visit to the Serbian capital.
“Making our way to the stadium the Albania side’s bus was hit with stones thrown by Serbian fans,” it begins. “Before the team warm-up, a part of the Albanian delegation led by the AFA president, Mr Armando Duka, was hit with a piece of concrete which was received as evidence by the Uefa delegate present.
“Each time the team or a member of the team appeared on the pitch, the atmosphere became extremely hostile and aggressive on the part of Serbia supporters. At the end of warm-up Albanian players were hit by a shower of coins, lighters and other objects thrown at them as they were making their way to the tunnel that takes players inside.”
The statement continues: “For the entire duration of warm-ups before the game, the offensive chants of 30,000 strong repeated ‘Kill the Albanians’ and ‘Death to Albanians’. Tens of Serbian supporters went over the lateral fence at the left side and were not apprehended by police for the entire duration of the minutes played.
“Before the national anthems were played the official band played a nationalistic march, that was not part of the program, which created extreme chauvinistic emotions in the stands. The Albanian anthem was terribly booed and whistled over, so much so that it was impossible to hear it in the stands or on television.
“Stones, hard objects, lighters and pyrotechnics were thrown in the pitch, negatively influencing the game atmosphere, as it was made evident by video footage. Three Albanian players that got up to warm-up during the game were hit by hard objects, causing Uefa official to move them further away from the stands.”
There is no mention of the remote-controlled drone that caused Atkinson to halt proceedings in the 42nd minute of the match, although the statement goes on to allege police and stewards were involved in clashes with players once Albania’s captain, Lorik Cana, had led them from the pitch.
“Civilians entered the pitch causing a melee, punching Albania players and hitting them with stools. Furthermore, our players were also hit by stewards and security personnel serving at the game.
“Making their way to the dressing rooms, in the tunnel, Albania players were repeatedly hit by Serbia supporters, security personnel and the police.
“Also, before the Albanian players were allowed to leave the stadium, with orders from Belgrade prosecutor general (according to the police) the entire staff and players of the Albania national side were physically searched. Police went through each member’s and player’s personal belongings.
“The AFA is of the opinion that the above mentioned actions negatively impacted the normal conduct of the match, which was ultimately abandoned.”
Meanwhile, Serbia’s interior minister said on Thursday that Albania was “not mature enough” to join the European Union, stepping up a war of words over the drone stunt.
Nebojsa Stefanovic’s remarks cast further doubt on a scheduled visit by Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, to Belgrade next week – the first by an Albanian leader in almost 70 years.
The countries have long had a turbulent relationship, centred on Serbia’s majority-Albanian former province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008.
Serbia has pinned the blame on a cluster of Albanian fans in the VIP stand of the stadium, including Rama’s brother, Orfi, who were granted entrance despite a ban on ordinary Albanian fans over security concerns.
“Police have found the drone and will forward it for expert analysis to determine its producer and where it was purchased,” Stefanovic said in a statement.
“Statements by leaders of the Albanian government demonstrate that they knew such a provocation was being prepared.
“If Albania believes that European values are the values of so-called ‘Greater Albania’, then the Serbian Republic cannot share them by any means, and hence we believe that they are not mature enough as a state to join the European family.”
The remarks are unlikely to please Albania, with the prime minister due to visit Belgrade on 22 October. The visit had been hailed as opening a new chapter in otherwise fraught relations. Both countries aim to one day join the European Union. Albania is already a member of Nato.

Greek community in southern Albania 'attacked by nationalists'

First entry: 15 October 2014 - 14:59 Athens

Greek community in southern Albania attacked by nationalists

Albanian nationalists attacked members of the ethnic Greek minority at the village of Dervicani, in Albania's region of Gjirokaster (Argyrokastro in Greek),according to the Greek daily Kathimerini.
The paper reports that a group of about 100 people, holding flags and banners with nationalist slogans, drove to the village near Greece's border with Albania where they smashed shop windows and vandalized parked cars until they were stopped by police.

The violence in Dervicani occurred a few hours after a brawl at the politically-sensitive Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania forced authorities to suspend the game.
The match on the Partizan Stadium pitch was abandoned Tuesday after a drone carrying a Greater Albania flag sparked clashes involving players and fans.

Source: Kathimerini
Read also:http://en.enikos.gr/society/17198,Greek_community_in_southern_Albania_att.html//en.enikos.gr/society/17198,Greek_community_in_southern_Albania_att.html

 

Why is there tension between Serbia and Albania?

By Chris Harris

15/10 13:21 CET

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A Euro2016 qualifier betweeen Serbia and Albania was called off on October 14, 2014, after fights among players and supporters, sparked by a drone with a pro-Kosovo flag landing on the pitch. Here euronews examines why both countries are at loggerheads.
The tension centres around the history of Kosovo, a disputed area between Serbia and Albania. The majority of its inhabitants are ethnic Albanians.
Kosovo had enjoyed a high degree of autonomy within Serbia. But that changed in 1989 when the then province’s status was rescinded, bringing it under the direct control of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.
It came as communism was collapsing in Europe. That saw increased nationalism in Yugoslavia, which was made up of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.
Slovenia, Croatia and the Muslim government of Bosnia-Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.

Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina opposed this and began attacking the country’s Muslims, forming the basis of the Balkans War.
Then, in 1998, Slobodan Milosevic launched a Serb attack against ethnic Albanians, who were fighting for independence in Kosovo.
The conflict saw at least 5,000 Kosovans executed, according to NATO. One-and-a-half million people, 90% of Kosovo’s population, had been expelled from their homes.
NATO intervened and in June 1999 Serbian troops withdrew from Kosovo.
After the war Kosovo was placed under transitional UN administration, while the region’s future status was hammered out.
Talks broke down in 2007. Then, the following year, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.
The government of Serbia does not recognise Kosovo’s independence. However talks took place in 2013 which saw a thawing of relations.
Serbia now recognises the government in Pristina – the captial of Kosovo – exercises administrative authority over Kosovo.

COMPETING CLAIMS FOR KOSOVO

Serbs settled in the Balkans in the 7th century and ruled Kosovo for more than two centuries until, in 1389, following the Battle of Kosovo, control passed to the Ottoman Empire.
Kosovo remained part of Ottoman territory until the Balkan Wars of 1912, when it was re-conquered by Serbia.
It is perhaps Serbia’s medieval period of control of Kosovo which lies behind nationalists’ claims to the province – some consider it the cradle of the culture and state of the Serbian people.
But Albanian claims to the territory pre-date the arrival of the Serbs. Nationalists argue Albanians are descendants of an ancient tribe who allegedly inhabited the western Balkans before the 7th century.

By Chris Harrishttp

://www.euronews.com/2014/10/15/why-is-there-tension-between-serbia-and-albania/

Greece urges Serbia and Albania to "strengthen stability"

Source: Beta

ATHENS -- The Greek government hopes that the governments of Albania and Serbia will "in words and deeds" work to strengthen regional stability.

(Tanjug, file)

Athens also hopes for "respect of borders and European perspective of all countries of the region."
This was stressed by Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek media reported.

Commenting on the incident at a football match between Serbia and Albania on Tuesday in Belgrade - when a map of "Greater Albania" was flown on a drone above the pitch, resulting in incidents and abandonment of the game - Venizelos said that "sports events should be meetings of friendship, cooperation and peaceful coexistence of peoples and nations, and those who disrupt that, are making a grave mistake."

"We in the Balkans have very unpleasant historical experiences, and I am convinced that governments of both our neighboring and friendly countries - Albania and Serbia - will not only condemn the incident but will take advantage of the opportunity, to in words and deeds, strengthen the sense of regional stability, respect of borders and European perspective of all countries of the region," said Venizelos, who is also Greek deputy prime minister.

After the match in Belgrade, members of the Greek national minority in southern Albania came under attack, and incidents were reported elsewhere in the region.

More Americans want ground troops to fight IS: poll

AFP

 
© Stringer/Reuters An Islamic State militant (L) stands next to residents as they hold pieces of wreckage from a Syrian war plane after it crashed in Raqqa, in Syria September 16, 2014.
A rising number of Americans think the battle against the Islamic State group should broaden to include US ground troops, according to a poll published Wednesday.
Forty-one percent of those surveyed believe the fight should include both air strikes and ground troops, up from 34 percent in September, according to the NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll.
A total of 35 percent back just airstrikes against the militant group that has seized broad swathes of land in Syria and Iraq, down from 40 percent in September, according to the poll.
The rise in those who back broadening the campaign to include soldiers on the ground stems mainly from people who make up the core of the Republican Party, the poll said.
The level among Democrats, white women and young people is basically unchanged since September.
The poll added that 55 percent of Americans do not support the way President Barack Obama is handling the fight against Islamic State jihadists. Thirty-seven percent approve.
The poll of 1,000 registered voters had a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.

Brother of Albanian PM denies involvement

Source: B92

BELGRADE -- The brother of Albanian PM Edi Rama, Olsi Rama, has been allowed to leave Serbia after he was reportedly detained on suspicion of causing a stadium incident.

(Starsport)

The authorities in Belgrade suspected that he was behind a provocation staged by the visiting Albanian fans during the Serbia-Albania qualification match for the European football championship.
Namely, a small, remotely guided craft was released above the pitch near the end of the first half, with a map showing Greater Albania attached to it. When a Serbian team member attempted to remove it, several Albanian players assaulted him.

Serbian fans then invaded the pitch, and attacked some Albanian players as they were heading toward the tunnel. The referee suspended the game, and it was not resumed on Tuesday night.

According to the sources with the Serbian MUP who spoke for Tanjug, Olsi Rama was released at around 02:00 CET on Wednesday.

The map shows Albania including territories of neighboring states (Tanjug)

The Albanian News24 broadcaster earlier said that Rama and three other Albanians were first held for 40 minutes at the stadium and then put in a vehicle and transferred to the airport.

It was suspected, and Serbia's public broadcaster RTS reported it, that it was Rama himself who operated "the drone" with a map showing Greater Albania.

Although it was unofficially heard that he was under arrest, he has been allowed to leave Serbia. Reports also said that he showed a United States passport to the police.

According to the Albanian media the case was "a misunderstanding," while after negotiations with the Serbian police four persons were "released, and were not arrested."

Upon returning to Tirana, Rama denied his involvement in the incident and rejected "Serbian media speculation" that he organized the incident and was controlling the craft.

"I was neither arrested nor detained. When the incident happened the situation became chaotic, the police officers checked everything. I showed them my American passport and camera. That lasted a couple of minutes," he said.

The major incident took place amid indications that relations between Serbia and Albania might improve. It was previously announced that Edi Rama would on October 22 visit Belgrade - which would make him the first Albanian prime minister to do so in the past 70 years.

 

Mrs. Ermioni Prigou from Himara, was honoured by the Ministry of National Defence 

 

     
   

Mrs. Ermioni Prigou from Skutara, Himare, was honoured at the Ministry of National Defence yesterday. Over the last 74 years Mrs. Prigou has been taking care of the graves of 6 Greek soldiers who were killed in the war of 1940 and were buried in the yard of her house.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Ioannis Lambropoulos, the General Secretary of Transparency and Human Rights Georgios Sourlas, the Chief of HNDGS General Michail Kostarakos, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Evangelos Tournas and the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Christos Manolas.

Albanian Ambassador takes Note of Protest by Belgrade



 

Belgrade - Albanian Ambassador in Belgrade Ilir Bočka arrived this afternoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, where he was handed a demarche over the incident for the Serbian - Albanian Match.

Bocka, was in the building of the Ministry came around 15:40, but did not want to answer questions from reporters.

Serbian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the incident at a football match Serbia and Albania, as premeditated and pre-planned provocation political package that is "done with intent to cause riots in Belgrade that would cast a shadow on the fact that Serbia is successfully fostered cooperation in the region."

The ministry stressed Serbia "can not be held responsible for the irresponsible provocations by Albanian guests and will continue to work on the development of good neighborly relations, he believes that the only way to overcome potential problems."

Source: B92

After the incident withe flag of the Greater Albania in Belgrade

 

The return of the Greek army on the Greek – Albanian Border

An Anti guerrilla operation Delta Force in Thesprotia with support of AH-64 Apache helicopters

The Greek army, restores the border with Albania, the Elite troops of "Delta", urges today by Head of the Greek Army Kostarakos to activate any dangerous attack by Albanian nationalist groups.

Cause is made incident to the flag of the Greater Albania in Belgrade during the qualifying match for the 2016 European Football Chamionship in France, Serbia - Albania.

According to the media, there have been incidents in Greek populated areas in the south of Albania by Albanian nationalists, which has made ​​in alert once response teams of rapid reactions of the Greek army and police services.

  Specific considered “adjacent nationalist extremist groups” (usually so designated groups who had founded the “Liberation Army of Camouria” – UCC) and combined with the fact the recent arrest Albanians revealed the crypt significant number of aggressive AK-47 rifles and ammunition in Greek Albanian border.

The exercise aimed at rapid development and transfer members of the special Delta Force, who are involved in a battle with rebel groups, to support attack helicopters AH-64 Apache.

The group of special forces transferred by helicopter UH-1H, and Defence sources reported that “Were all the planned to development time.”


Source: http://www.defencenet.gr