TOP Analysis, Prognoses and News about Greek - Albanian Relations and the Region.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Update:
Vlora Gulf, in Albania is to send the FerryBoat "Norman Atlantic" while, the Italian battleship, San Giorgio left Brindisi
Passenger ferry evacuated after fire breaks out off Greece
About 10 miles from Albanian maritime borders of west of Sasan Island, between passengers Albanians tourists
By Renee Maltezou
ATHENSSun Dec 28, 2014
(Reuters) - An international rescue effort was under way in high winds
after a car ferry carrying 466 passengers and crew caught fire while
sailing from Greece to Italy and its captain ordered its evacuation,
officials said on Sunday.
Passengers who telephoned Greek
television stations gave dramatic testimony of conditions on the ship,
which caught fire just before 6.00 a.m. local time (11.00 p.m. EST)
while traveling from Patras in western Greece to the eastern Italian
city of Ancona.
"They tried to
lower some boats, but not all of us could get in. There is no
coordination," one said. "It's dark, the bottom of the vessel is on
fire. We are on the bridge, we can see a boat approaching... we opened
some boxes and got some life vests, we are trying to save ourselves."
It
was unclear whether there had been any casualties or whether any
passengers were in the water, where cold winter temperatures would make
survival difficult unless rescue came quickly.
The
Norman Atlantic, carrying 222 vehicles, 411 passengers and 55 crew, was
44 nautical miles northwest of the island of Corfu when it sent a
distress signal after a fire started in the lower deck, Greek coast
guard officials said.
"The ship is
already being evacuated," an official told Reuters, adding that 130
people had been transferred from a rescue boat to a container ship that
had been nearby when the fire broke out.
Officials
said both Italian and Albanian authorities were taking part in the
operation, which was being conducted in difficult conditions with strong
winds.
Seven other ships were in the area and rescue helicopters and a C-130 search-and-rescue support aircraft had also been sent.
(Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Editing by James Mackenzie and John Stonestreet)
Samaras: The country is dragged into election on account of the Tsipras – Kammenos duo
The Greek Prime Minister appeals anew to MPs in order to elect the new President of the Republic.
Furthermore, he launched an attack against SYRIZA and ANEL and referred to the Chaikalis case.
According to Mr. Samaras everything said by SYRIZA will lead our country outside the euro.
He continued by saying that “Liberation” revealed that SYRIZA is
proof that if the troika leaves the Greeks will begin wastefulness and
added that the more the Europeans hear what SYRIZA has to say the more
they become appalled.
“If we go to elections we will win”, said the Prime Minister and added that: “The people do not want elections”.
Moreover, once again Mr. Samaras urged MPs to vote Stavros Dimas and to elect a president and not trigger early elections.
Minister of Defense Nikos Dendias on a frigate patrolling the Aegean
“Navarino” Navy frigate which is at sea in the Aegean is being visited by Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias. The Minister will remain on the frigate overnight in order to have a
complete picture on the operational activities of the Fleet. With this move, the Minister sends a clear message to our country’s
neighbors after the challenges with virtual dogfights in recent days. The Defense Minister is accompanied by Navy Chief, Admiral Evangelos
Apostolakis HN, and Fleet Chief Admiral Panagiotis Litsas HN.
Russia’s new military doctrine lists NATO, US as major foreign threats
Published time: December 26, 2014
12.8K2K8
Russia has adopted an updated version of its military
doctrine, which reflects the emergence of new threats against its
national security. NATO military buildup and American Prompt Global
Strike concept are listed among them. The new doctrine was
approved on Friday by President Vladimir Putin. Its core remains
unchanged from the previous version. The Russian military remains
a defensive tool which the country pledges to use only as a last
resort. Also unchanged are the
principles of the use of nuclear weapons which Russia adheres to.
Their primary goal is to deter potential enemies from attacking
Russia, but it would use them to protect itself from a military
attack – either nuclear or conventional – threatening its
existence.
The new sections of the doctrine outline the threat Russia sees
in NATO’s expansion and military buildup and the fact that the
alliance is taking upon itself “global functions realized
with violation of international law.”
The doctrine lists among major foreign military threats “the
creation and deployment of global strategic antiballistic missile
systems that undermines the established global stability and
balance of power in nuclear missile capabilities, the
implementation of the ‘prompt strike’ concept, intent to deploy
weapons in space and deployment of strategic conventional
precision weapons.”
Another new point in the doctrine is that one of the Russian
military’s goals is to protect national interests in the Arctic
region.
READ MORE: Sneak peak at Russia’s ‘under
renovation’ Arctic base
The document also points to the threat of destabilization
countries bordering Russia or its allies and deployment of
foreign troops such nations as a threat to national security.
Domestically, Russia faces threats of “actions aimed at
violent change of the Russian constitutional order,
destabilization of the political and social environment,
disorganization of the functioning of governmental bodies,
crucial civilian and military facilities and informational
infrastructure of Russia,” the doctrine says.
Moscow sees international cooperation with countries sharing its
effort to increase security, particularly members of BRICS, the
OSCE, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and others as the key
to preventing military conflicts, the doctrine states.
Traditional threats that Russia must deal with mentioned in the
doctrine include extremism and terrorism, proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction and rocket technology and actions of
foreign intelligence services.
The document notes that modern threats are increasingly drifting
from a military nature to informational, and states that the
likelihood of anyone launching a fully-fledged war against Russia
is decreasing.
Manolis Glezos, 92, is Europe's oldest member of European Parliament (MEP), and this Christmas marks the 70th anniversary of the day that he almost blew up Winston Churchill.
A
Greek campaigner, politician, and nationally-revered war hero, Glezos
was elected to the European Parliament earlier this year as a member of
the Syriza Party (Coalition of the Radical Left).
In his new
position Glezos is regularly put in chambers and debates with members of
Europe's new far-right parties. These are the elected faces of a
movement that — in various manifestations — is experiencing increased
support across the continent. Glezos — who was imprisoned multiple times
by the Nazis — told VICE News that reasons for this rise are obvious.
"This
phenomenon of the far-right rising into power is always observed once
austerity measures are enforced; once poverty, hunger, unemployment,
misfortune, and despair befall the people," he said.
France's
National Front, Britain's UKIP, the Freedom Party of Austria, Germany's
National Democratic Party, Holland's Party for Freedom, and Hungary's
Jobbik are all far-right groups that are increasingly garnering attention. While some of these parties wear their fascism a bit more discretely, Greece's Golden Dawn party's main spokesperson allegedly has a visible Swastika tattoo.
Glezos
said that Golden Dawn's appeal was nonexistent for 99 out of 100 Greeks
before the economy's collapse, but now people are beginning to identify
with the issues they raise.
"Those in the European Union
responsible for the situation must take this seriously into account," he
warned, "unless they want to witness the far-right taking over Europe
and the consequences that will follow." In Photos: Years of Greece's Great Depression. Read more here.
Greeks are coming to the end of their fifth year living under austerity measures, and the effects have been devastating. One in four are out of work. Less available healthcare has led to
soaring suicide rates, HIV infection, and child mortality. A UNICEF
study of 23 Western countries found that Greece has had the biggest rise
in child poverty since 2008, as it has risen from 23 percent to 40.5 percent.
At
89, Glezos was tear-gassed by riot policemen at an anti-austerity
protest outside the Greek parliament. His party, the radical-left
Syriza, is unreservedly against austerity, and they look likely to win
the next general election. The most recent polls have them leading by a
reasonable majority. If Syriza do come to power, they hope to
renegotiate the bailout.
Glezos told VICE News that his party
operates on the idea that money does not create value, only work does.
Therefore, bailouts cannot solve their problems.
"When (Syriza)
come into power they are capable to face and overcome all hardship and
can create goods and culture for everyone," he said.
Glezos also said that he believes those who credit the European Union with stabilizing the continent and averting a third world war have been deceived.
"Unfortunately,
the European Union still depends heavily upon the United States and
NATO and acts under the absolute political and economic control of
Germany and Merkel," he said.
Greece was occupied by the Nazis
between April 1941 and October 1944. This period was incredibly
difficult for Greek citizens, and an estimated 40,000 Athenians died of
starvation. After the Nazis overran the city, they raised a huge
swastika over the Acropolis — itself a symbol of the greatness of
ancient Greece.
On May 30, 1941, Glezos and a friend — Apostolos Santas —
heard that, in a speech from Berlin's Reichstag, Hitler had proclaimed
his intention to liberate Europe "from the enemies of Germany."
The
reaction of the two teenagers was instantaneous. Glezos told VICE News:
"We decided to liberate the Acropolis, the temple of civilization, from
the swastika, the symbol of the completion of the German occupation of
Greece. Furthermore, we chose that very day in order to express a first
reaction to Hitler's gloating. We fully realized the possible
consequences and the meaning of our action."
Taking full
responsibility for any consequences this rash act might cause, Glezos
said that they informed only one friend of their plan "in case we got
ourselves killed." In the dead of night, the two proceeded, armed only
with a torch and a pocket knife. It took them three hours to scale the
50-foot flagpole. Glezos also said that they consciously and
deliberately left fingerprints all over the flagpole.
"We did not wish someone else to be arrested and punished for our action," he said.
This
act of defiance inspired others, and was given huge media coverage by
local papers which, with Nazi approval, visibly and enthusiastically
"condemned" the action. Glezos also avoided execution, though his
younger brother was not as lucky.
However, Glezos's notable ability to take a stand would get him in trouble again.
After
the German withdrawal, the Allies feared that the Communist group
EAM/ELAS would take power. A small British force was sent to Greece to
help maintain order, but ended up involved in the shooting of at least
15 unarmed protesters. With the prospect of a prolonged civil war
looming, Churchill flew into Athens on Christmas eve, 1944, accompanied
by his foreign secretary Anthony Eden.
That same night happened to be the date that Glezos and about 30 compadres had decided to blow up the British headquarters.
Glezos told the Guardian
that he spent hours crawling through the sewerage system, fuse wire
wrapped all around him, in an effort to plant the dynamite.
"We crawled through all the shit and water and laid the dynamite right under the hotel," he said.
However,
when they discovered that Churchill was in the building, the order to
detonate the dynamite was withdrawn. Glezos only recently admitted to
his part in the plot, and VICE News asked him to explain his reasoning
further — why was he happy to blow up the headquarters, but not
Churchill?
"The British headquarters had to be brought to
ruin, because this was the place from where the war against the Hellenic
People (Greek) was being controlled," Glezos replied.
"Let
us not forget that in a time of war the ultimate goal is always to
destroy the enemy's headquarters. This, however, is different to killing
Winston Churchill, one of the leaders of the Allied forces still
battling against Hitler at that time," he said. "It was a time when no
one would think to forgive us should we be responsible for Churchill's
death."
Glezos himself has come close to death, surviving nine
assassination attempts, one time that allegedly involved an explosive
chocolate bar, Incidentally, Churchill was also targeted by exploding chocolate.
Glezos attributes his survival to a little help from his friends and the influence of his birth village.
"Of
the nine assassination attempts against me, seven were avoided thanks
to the immediate response of my friends, whilst the other two I managed
to survive thanks to the natural survival instinct of any man from
Aperathou," he said.
White-haired, but still a forceful speaker,
Glezos is now actively campaigning for Germany to pay Greece about 162
billion euros in reparations for WWII. He also claims that Greece is the
only injured country that hasn't been compensated for their suffering
70 years ago. He said that it is "inexplicable" that this money hasn't
been handed over.
"The payment of the German obligations owed to
Greece is a moral need," he said, adding that until these payments are
made, there can be no peace treaty between the two countries, leaving
them in the "rigged status quo of not at war."
"It is high time for this whole story to come to an end."
Xinhua News AgencyDecember 27, 2014 12:15am
Albania to change energy price from next year
TIRANA,
Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Albania energy regulatory entity (ERE) published on
Friday its decision for the new energy price, Albanian Daily News
reported.
"Households connected with 35 Kilovolt
line will have a price of Lek 9.5 (0.08 U.S. dollar) per kwh. Consumers
with 20, 10 and 6 kilovolt line will pay Lek 11 per kwh. The price for
bakeries will be Lek 7.1 per kwh, for small businesses Lek 11 per kwh
and for large businesses Lek 14 per kwh," explained the ERE leader,
Petrit Ahmeti.
The new fees will take into effect on Jan. 1 and will be valid until December 2015.
The decision was taken after the entity reviewed the requirements of companies of the energy sector.
Currently
the price of electricity for households was charged at two levels, Lek
7.7 per kwh up to 300 kwh and Lek 13.5 per kwh beyond this level. (1
U.S. dollar = 114.7 Lek)
Friday, December 26, 2014
Albania hikes electricity prices to help power company pay debts
TIRANAFri Dec 26, 2014
Dec 26 (Reuters) - Albania's power regulator ERE
raised the price of electricity for businesses and scrapped its
cheaper rate for households on Friday to help companies in the
sector pay off debt to meet criteria set by international
lenders. The World Bank lent Albania $150 million in September for
power sector reform and the government aims to return it to
profitability in 2017.
Retail distributor OSHEE needs to bring its debt down to 22
percent in 2015 of total electricity billed from 48 percent this
year, a level reached due to abuse of the two-tier price system,
unpaid bills and an obsolescent distribution network.
ERE chairman Petrit Ahmeti said businesses using 35 kV
electricity will start paying 9.5 lek per kWh from 8.5 lek per
kWh throughout 2015, the price they used to pay at peak hours.
Industrial, agriculture, trade and service businesses using
20, 10 and 6 kV electricity will be paying 11 lek per kWh. They
had paid between 8.7 lek per kWh and 10 lek per kWh.
Businesses using 0.4 kV electricity will be paying 14 lek
per kWh, while bakeries 7.5 lek per kWh, Ahmeti said.
Households, which had been paying according to consumption,
will pay a single price of 9.5 lek per kWh, he said.
Those consuming less than 300 kWh of electricity paid 7.7
lek per kWh and 13.5 lek per kWh for electricity above that.
ERE authorised the KESH electricity producer to raise its
price to 1.45 lek per kWh from 1 lek per kWh, but did not change
the price for the electricity transmitter monopoly OST from 0.65
lek per kWh.
OSHEE, KESH and OST are all state monopolies.
(Reporting by Benet Koleka; Editing by Louise Ireland)
"Serb held in Pristina in connection to explosives"
Source: Beta, Tanjug
PRIŠTINA -- The Kosovo police after midnight on
Friday removed suspected explosives from a Belgrade-license plates
Renault Clio car in Pristina.
(Tanjug)
They also arrested the driver.
"The
substance that is suspected to be explosives was taken and sent for
expert analysis, while the arrested person is being questioned," police
spokesman Bakir Kelani said.
The car was stopped at around
22:00 CET yesterday near the U.S. embassy in the Dragodan settlement,
where most diplomatic missions are located, because it was suspected to
carry explosives.
Tanjug quoted Kelani as saying that "a Serb
resident" was arrested, and that the car was stopped because the police
"had previous information" and thus "managed to stop the vehicle and
arrest the driver."
"Clear intent"
Kosovo
Interior Minister Skender Hyseni said on Friday that the suspect
arrested in Pristina had "clear intent to carry out a terrorist act."
He told a news conference that the car was driven by "a citizen of
Serbia born in 1968, with initials S.G.," and that "some 13 kilograms of
materials for manufacturing of explosives" was found in is car.
However, Hyseni said that he "could not speak about the details of the
investigation," but that the suspect's "biography" would be "revealed
completely."
The Beta agency has named the suspect as Slobodan Gavric, and said he was "a veterinarian from Raska."
Meanwhile, the Albanian language media in Pristina said that the
material found in the car, referred to as explosives, was to be used in
"a terrorist attack on the Catholic cathedral in Pristina."
They also reported that "beside the explosives, details maps of Pristina were found in the vehicle."
Thursday, December 25, 2014
President reiterates Kosovo is "EU's condition"
Source: Tanjug, N1
BELGRADE -- Tomislav Nikolic says he does not
support "quite every move made by the government," but claims they are
"one team that will, if it so occurs, leave together."
(Tanjug, file)
"We are not in any kind of cohabitation," the president told the N1 television outlet in an interview broadcast late on Tuesday.
"That I support it publicly means that I stand behind it. If we go, we will all go," he said.
Nikolic noted that the measures taken by the government are risky for
it, but that Prime Minister Vucic is "of an age when he can take risks
and spend one mandate in opposition, and then be returned to power by
the people," but added that he expects the government to "fully
stabilize the situation in the country by the next election."
The president also said he thinks the government "has a chance of remaining in power despite the measures it is taking. "
Asked "who wants him to step down as president," Nikolic said those
were "perhaps the ones who want and need a weaker Aleksandar Vucic,"
who, he pointed out, has his support despite the fact they have not held
identical positions "on many issues in the past 20 years - but managed
to solve all the problems."
Asked whether the Progressive Party
(SNS) was "the last party in his career," he said the answer depends
primarily on his health and what is ahead of him in life.
"It
depends primarily on my health, I would not want to impose myself on
anyone, and also to be competition to my own party, but I could again
become a member of the SNS," Nikolic, who stepped down as party leader
after he was elected as Serbia's president, said.
The fact that
Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Russia is not the reason why the
country failed to open the first chapter in EU membership negotiations
this year, he said, and reiterated that Serbia "should become a member."
The president said that "it would not be good if there is no agreement with the government" when it comes to his announced plan for Kosovo, because, he said, the solution can be found easily.
While confirming he is working on the plan, Nikolic noted that "there
is no need to hurry, because on the one hand, this question requires a
serious approach, and then the resumption of the dialogue between
Belgrade and Pristina has been announced for early February."
"By then the situation will be much clearer because the Brussels
administration will present the conditions for opening of (EU membership
negotiating chapters) chapters and for Serbia joining the EU," Nikolic
said.
He said he did not know what solutions his predecessor
Boris Tadic and Vojislav Kostunica as prime minister offered in the
past, but claims he is "the only president who dared to present a plan,
from which originated the Brussels agreement, and present it to the
public."
"The plan originated from me. I do not want to hide
behind anyone," Nikolic said, adding that was the reason why "it would
not be good" if he and the government failed to agree now - considering
that they "managed to do that before."
Criticizing Hashim
Thaci's statement that Serbia "already recognized Kosovo" Nikolic said
that "the Kosovo minister knows that recognition of Kosovo was never put
on the table," and added that this statement "only complicates the
position of the interim institutions in Pristina ahead of the talks in
Brussels - "because they will have trouble explaining why the agreement
on the resolution of living conditions without prejudice to status is
being interpreted as a de facto recognition of Kosovo."
Nikolic said that "a sensational recognition of Kosovo cannot and should not happen."
Nikolic also repeated his criticism of some diplomats posted in
Belgrade, especially the German ambassador, referring to his public
appearances as "meddling in our country's internal affairs."
This was "especially true" when it comes to "the talks with EU
Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn, when, although he was
present , the German ambassador had no objection to Hahn's statement
that recognition of Kosovo was a condition for Serbia's EU membership."
Therefore, Nikolic believes, the diplomat "cannot say that Hahn did not
say that" - adding that if he himself lied, "the recordings do not."
The president also said this was "the first time in many years that he
heard something of the kind during a formal conversation."
Such
a statement should not be interpreted by anyone, he is convinced.
Nikolic them added that "he interprets it in a simple way":
"The statement by European Commissioner Hahn was that Serbia will be
faced with 'a complete agreement' with Kosovo and Metohija before
entering the EU. And now I ask whether there is agreement with the
Albanians and how Serbia can achieve it in order to become an EU
member," he concluded Nikolić.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
SManalysis wishes a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2015!
Turkey-Macedonia economic ties should boost on heels of shared culture: Turkish PM Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu (L) and his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Gruevski attend a press conference in the Government building in Skopje on December 23, 2014. AA Photo Close cultural ties between Turkey and Macedonia are valuable for business and the two countries should elevate their economic relations to the level their historic partnership deserves, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said while visiting Macedonia.
“These lands are no stranger to us. The culture and texture of these lands are part of our culture and texture. This cultural closeness is important for the business world,” Davutoğlu said during a working breakfast with the representatives of Turkey-Macedonia Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 23, the second day of his visit to the Macedonian capital of Skopje.
“Macedonia has an atmosphere where one can easily communicate with everybody like they are in Anatolia. This is significant in terms of economic relations,” he said.
However, Davutoğlu expressed reproach that the two countries’ trade and investment relations are not at the desired level.
“Turkey currently ranks 13th in Macedonia’s exports. On the other hand, our exports to Macedonia are at eighth place. I wouldn’t even accept second place in Macedonia-Turkey relations,” he stated. Once again referring to the shared history and culture of Macedonians and Turks, as well as the warm political ties between the governments, Davutoğlu said “economic relations should be at the highest level, considering the intensity of cultural and political relations.”
“If you were to ask me whether the statistics show our relationship in other fields, it doesn’t,” he stressed, noting he thinks there are enough materials to upgrade Turkish-Macedonian trade volume to a record level.
He also vowed to do whatever necessary to realize the long-lasting trade volume target of $1 billion, recalling the countries’ trade volume was at around $375 million in the 10 months of this year. Dubbing Macedonia as the “heart of the Balkans,” Davutoğlu also said Ankara should plan its economic relations with Skopje regarding the country as a natural extension of Turkey.
“When there is political stability – which we have always supported Macedonia for – when there is peace and stability in the Balkans, it [Macedonia] is one of the countries that have become most important as a future economic hub. Today, there might be some problems regarding the country’s economic balances, and issues with its relations with the European Union, being the name of the country on top. However, we see this country as a natural extension of Turkey, a country integrated with Turkey, and we need to plan our strategic investments according to this,” he said.
Prime ministers meet Later in the day, Davutoğlu held a bilateral meeting with his Macedonian counterpart, Nikola Gruevski, which was followed by a meeting with their delegations.
Both meetings were closed to the press, but the leaders briefed reporters shortly ahead of their tête-à-tête meeting.
When Gruevski pointed at the intense press interest for the meeting, Davutoğlu said: “The attention rises when the issue is Turkey-Macedonia. Moreover, it is my first visit to the Balkans, the former Republic of Yugoslavia, after becoming the prime minister.”
When Gruevski reminded Davutoğlu he was the first prime minister to visit Davutoğlu after he assumed office in late August, Davutoğlu said the two countries’ relationship is marked by several firsts.
“Turkey appointed the first ambassador to Skopje. It was the first country that recognized Macedonia with its constitutional name. And you were the first prime minister who visited me. Now, I am responding to that gesture,” he said.
December 24, 2014 10:33 AM
By The Associated Press
TIRANA,
Albania - (AP) -- Albania's main opposition Democrats have ended a
four-month boycott of Parliament in a deal brokered by two European
Parliament lawmakers.
The walkout by the center-right party, headed by Tirana
Mayor Lulzim Basha, was triggered by a fistfight in Albania's Parliament
in July when two governing Socialist lawmakers allegedly attacked a
Democrat colleague.
The Democrats started their boycott on Sept. 1 to protest
the incident and demand that all legislation of major significance
require more than a simple majority of votes.
The impasse was overcome this week by European legislators
Eduard Kukan of Slovakia and Knut Fleckenstein of Germany. Senior
Democrat lawmaker Edi Paloka said Wednesday the agreement was accepted,
but he provided few details.
The government, elected in June 2013, controls 84 seats in the 140-seat house.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
"Citizens should decide on Montenegro's NATO membership"
Source: Beta, Pobjeda
PODGORICA -- Russia's ambassador to Montenegro says
it would be democratic to include citizens in the decision making
process on Montenegro's NATO membership.
Andrei Nesterenko also spoke against the argument that membership in the military alliance "means more democracy."
"Let's look at what kind of 'democracy' NATO has brought to Iraq, Libya, and Syria," he told the Podgorica daily Pobjeda.
Despite the fact Montenegro joined western sanctions against his
country - a development he described as "disappointing" - Nesterenko
said that the Montenegrin-Russian relations "have a positive dynamic
after all."
According to the diplomat, western countries
"tricked" former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev into agreeing to the
unification of Germany, with the promise that NATO would not expand.
"Unfortunately he believed them and there was no agreement that would
guarantee these promises," Nesterenko said, and added that the military
alliance has since been constantly getting closer to Russia's borders.
Vecer, Macedonia: Opposition MPs discontent with boycott
23 December 2014 | 09:59 | FOCUS News Agency
Picture: Focus Information Agency
Skopje. MPs with the opposition met with the
leader of the oppositional Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM)
Zoran Zaev, writes Macedonian Vecer daily.
The meeting was initiated by the MPs over their discontent with the boycott of the parliament.
They asked Mr Zaev on what would happen, if they were lefts without
mandates and the ruling refuses to form an interim expert’s government.
Some of the MPs are considering terminating the boycott, withdrawing their resignations and returning to parliament.
Greek F16s exercise with nuclear weapons December 23 2014
In the planning of missions with nuclear weapons was trained in 2014 the Air Base Araxos with their super F-16s under NATO exercise. The NATO-led activity was held last March (11-13) and was called STEDFAST NERVE II with exact object "training in planning for nuclear missions".
The nuclear planning exercise of 116 Combat Wing was announced by the Defence Ministry together with the list of the main International Operations Activities attended by the Hellenic Armed Forces in 2014. It has the character of the annual report. Bear in mind that always Araxos air base (116 CW) was incorporated in the plans for nuclear weapons of NATO, it hosted nuclear warheads (11 nuclear bombs) of the US type B61 until 2001. The bombs were removed by a secret US operation to Italy and then to an unknown location.
[linked image]
For the first time were put into Araxos nuclear weapons in 1962. Greece substantially participated in nuclear NATO air force with aircraft type F-104, known as the "Strike" squadron until 1992, when these aircraft were withdrawn from the Greek arsenal. Since then it seems that it has not included combat aircraft of the nuclear power of the Alliance, although theoretically the Greek F-16 is multirole and based on its modeling can carry nuclear weapons from a technical-engineering side. However oldest reference relevant sources say that the Hellenic Air Force has not obtained the relevant necessary software from the US.
Read more http://www.onalert.gr/stories/se-sxediasmo-askiseon-me-pyrinika-ta-f16-tou-arxou/39469
Russia to probe media reports that Ukraine military shot down MH17
Published time: December 23, 2014
Russia’s Investigative Committee is investigating a
Russian newspaper report alleging that a Ukrainian military jet shot
down Malaysian Airlines passenger plane MH17 over the rebel-held eastern
part of the country last summer. “Investigators have
talked to the editor-in-chief and journalists of the
‘Komsomolskaya Pravda’ newspaper and have taken the contact
details of the Ukrainian citizen [cited in the report],”
spokesman for the committee Vladimir Markin said.
He added that the witness would be interviewed as part of the
Russian investigation into the use of banned weapons and methods
of warfare in Ukraine. The information he shares will be
cross-checked, he added.
The witness, who chose to remain anonymous, told Komsomolskaya
Pravda (KP) daily that a pilot of a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet
was behind the MH17 flight downing on July 17. He claimed that
the pilot used air-to-air missiles to shoot down the Malaysian
Boeing, which he concludes was probably mistaken for a military
plane.
“About an hour before the catastrophe, three fighter jets
took off [from Dnepropetrovsk]. One of the planes was an Su-25,
which was equipped with these kind of [air-to-air]
missiles,” the witness told KP in an interview, adding that
he was on the airport grounds at the time.
Once the surviving pilot got out of the plane, he looked
“very frightened.”
The Ukrainian pilot’s first words as he got out of the jet were:
“Wrong plane,” the alleged witness claimed. Later in the
evening that same pilot also reportedly stated: “The plane
happened to be in the wrong place at a wrong time.”
While the daily could not immediately verify the interviewee’s
claims, its readers soon discovered the allegedly involved pilot
– Vladislav Voloshin – is real, and has been awarded for his role
in Kiev’s so-called “anti-terrorist operation” in
eastern Ukraine.
Back in July, the Russian military said that it detected a
Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet gaining height towards the MH17
Boeing on the day of the catastrophe.
READ MORE: Ukrainian Su-25 fighter detected in
close approach to MH17 before crash - Moscow “A Ukraine Air Force military jet was detected gaining
height, its distance from the Malaysian Boeing was 3 to
5km,” said the head of the Main Operations Directorate of
the HQ of Russia’s military forces, Lieutenant-General Andrey
Kartopolov.
Kartopolov added that the presence of the Ukrainian military jet
could be confirmed by video shots made by the Rostov monitoring
center.
MH17 flight crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17. All 298
passengers and crewmembers on board the Boeing 777 were killed.
The victims were from 10 nations, while most of the passengers –
193 in total – were from the Netherlands. The second-largest
number of casualties, 43, was from Malaysia.
Stakes rise for Greece as risky election looms
By Alanna Petroff @AlannaPetroffDecember 23, 2014Early elections in Greece could derail the nation's fragile recovery.
LONDON (CNNMoney)
Greece is digging itself into a hole again.
The Greek parliament failed to elect a new president Tuesday, bringing closer the possibility of snap national elections that could hand power to a popular anti-austerity party.
The government has one last chance to get its
candidate elected by parliament on December 29. If it fails again, it
will be forced to hold elections in January.
Opinion polls give a clear lead to Syriza,
a party that wants to renegotiate the terms of Greece's bailout package
-- worth a whopping 240 billion euros ($293 billion) -- with the International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank.
The party has also vowed to reverse many of the reforms that have
helped Greece return to economic growth, and said it plans to introduce
billions in spending programs that would hike wages and increase
pensions.
While Syriza's plans are popular among Greeks who have been hurting from high unemployment and years of recession,
experts say they are unrealistic and irresponsible and could trigger a
crisis that would ultimately lead to Greece leaving the eurozone.
Berenberg economist Holger Schmieding estimates there's a 20% risk that
it "all goes wrong," with Syriza rising to power and following through
on its plans.
"Greece may descend into a new deep crisis with potential euro exit. That is a significant tail risk," he said.
The main index in Athens dropped by 2% in reaction to Tuesday's vote.
The yield on Greek 10-year government bonds increased to 8.25%. That's
up from 7.8% a month ago, reflecting growing concern that Greece may be
heading for another debt crisis.
Greece's massive bailouts
from 2010 and 2012 kept the country afloat and within the eurozone, but
left it saddled with a mountain of debt worth about 170% of GDP.
Syriza has been softening its tone recently as the chances of an early
election rise, saying that it wants to stay in the eurozone.
But even if all hell breaks loose, experts think the eurozone is now better placed to cope with another Greek crisis.
"The eurozone could probably handle an unlikely but not impossible
Greek accident with no more than very limited and temporary damage,"
Schmieding noted. -- CNN's Elinda Labropoulou in Athens contributed to this report.
‘Counterproductive’: Ukraine seeking NATO membership ‘a false solution’, says Russia
Published time: December 23, 2014
Kiev’s latest move to become a NATO ally is
counterproductive and gives rise to false hope for resolving its
political crisis, Moscow said. The Ukrainian parliament voted to repeal a
law that upheld the country’s non-participation in military blocks. The move on Tuesday is a
step towards becoming a member of the North-Atlantic Treaty
Organization, a goal the post-coup authorities in Kiev have made
a key point of their foreign policies. Kiev says that Russia is
the cause of the civil war that led to eastern parts of the
country rebelling against the central government and hopes that
NATO’s military might will help resolve the situation.
READ MORE: Ukraine wouldn’t have civil war if not
for West - Putin “This is counterproductive. It only escalates the
confrontation and creates the illusion that the internal national
crisis in Ukraine can be solved through adoption of laws like
that,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented on
the new legislation.
“A much more productive and sensible way would be to finally
start a dialogue with the part of the Ukrainian people that were
ignored when the coup was staged,” he added. Lavrov called
on Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to initiate a
constitutional reform, which Kiev had pledged to do in April.
READ MORE: Pentagon confirms military buildup
along Russian borders for ‘peace and stability’
The law revoking Ukraine’s military non-alignment stance was
adopted by 303 votes against nine, with 2 MPs abstaining and 56
not voting. Now the law states that establishing closer ties with
NATO and eventual membership in the military bloc is a priority
for the Ukrainian government.
The alliance noted Ukraine’s move and said it “respected” the
parliament’s decision. Earlier some major members of NATO like
Germany voiced doubt that Ukraine could join the organization
anytime soon.
There are numerous obstacles, including Ukraine’s political and
economic problems, a territorial dispute with Russia, and
Moscow’s critical attitude towards Ukraine becoming part of NATO.
Arguably the most strongly-worded comment was voiced by Prime
Minister Dmitry Medvedev as the voting was about to start in
Kiev.
With his move President Poroshenko “has made a de facto
application to join NATO and turned Ukraine into a potential
enemy of Russia,” Medvedev said.
R
Monday, December 22, 2014
China pledges to help Russia overcome economic hardships
China’s foreign minister has pledged support to
Russia as it faces an economic downturn due to sanctions and a drop in
oil prices. Boosting trade in yuan is a solution proposed by Beijing’s
commerce minister.
“Russia has the capability and the wisdom to overcome the
existing hardship in the economic situation," Foreign
Minister Wang Yi told journalists, China Daily reported Monday.
“If the Russian side needs it, we will provide necessary
assistance within our capacity."
The offer of help comes as Russians are still recovering from the
shock of the ruble’s worst crash in years last Tuesday, when it
lost over 20 percent against the US dollar
and the euro. The Russian currency bounced back the next day, but
it still has lost almost half of its value since March.
At his annual end-of-year press conference on Thursday, Vladimir
Putin acknowledged the ruble has been tumbling along with the
price of oil, and estimated that Western sanctions account for
25-30 percent of the Russian economic crisis. However, the
president’s economic forecast is that the slump will not be a
lasting one.
READ
MORE: Putin: Russian economy will inevitably bounce back, 2 years
in worst case scenario
Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng proposed on Saturday to
expand the use of the yuan in trade with Russia.
He said the use of the Chinese currency has been increasing for
several years but western sanctions on Russia had made the trend
more prominent, Reuters cited Hong Kong’s Phoenix TV as saying.
Gao said this year’s trade between China and Russia could reach
$100 billion, approximately 10 percent growth compared to last
year.
The minister said he did not expect cooperation on energy and
manufacturing projects with Russia to be greatly affected by the
current crisis.
“Many Chinese people still view Russia as the big brother,
and the two countries are strategically important to each
other,” Jin Canrong, Associate Dean of the School of
International Studies at Renmin University in Beijing, told
Bloomberg. “For the sake of national interests, China should
deepen cooperation with Russia when such cooperation is in
need.”
China has been increasingly seeking deals in its own currency to
challenge the US dollar’s dominance on the international market.
And Beijing is not alone in attempts to counter the influence of
Western-based lending institutions and the US currency.
BRICS, the group of emerging economies that comprises Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa, accounting for one-fifth
of global economic output, has been pursuing the same goal. The
five nations agreed in July to increase mutual trade in local
currencies, and also to create a BRICS Development Bank with
investment equivalent to $100 billion as an alternative to the
Western-controlled World Bank.
hydroplaneThe decision for the establishment of Greece’s first hydroplane airport was signed on Monday, December 22, by the Minister of Mercantile Marine and Aegean, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Transportation and Networks, Michalis Papadopoulos.
The hydroplane airport will be built in the island of Corfu and will be operated by the local port authority. The decision was signed in the presence of Deputy Culture Minister Angela Gerekou, as well as Corfu Port Authority President Spiros Andriotis.
Varvitsiotis stated that this new form of transportation will contribute to Greece’s tourism and economic growth, while improving connections between the mainland and Corfu.
“Greece’s sea, lakes and landscape will facilitate the operation of hydroplanes. This was the first crucial step. We are planning on signing more hydroplane airport licenses across the country in order to establish more routes for this summer,” said Varvitsiotis.
On his part, Papadopoulos noted that “the Greek Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks, in collaboration with the Ministry of Mercantile Marine and Aegean, paved the way for the establishment of the first hydroplane airport, which will be located at the port of Corfu. Today, we introduced a new means of transportation that will connect islands with the mainland, lakes and various destinations abroad.” - See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/12/22/first-greek-hydroplane-airport-to-be-built-in-corfu/#sthash.F6mXUjCg.dpuf
U.S. ambassador denies interfering in Kosovo politics
Source: Tanjug
PRIŠTINA -- U.S. Ambassador in Pristina Tracey Ann Jacobson says she "she did not interfere in the coalition agreement reached between the DPK and DLK."
Jacobson
told the Albanian language daily Zeri that she was "merely an observer"
during the post election deadlock in Pristina, denying also that she
was against the Self-Determination Movement joining the Kosovo government.
"I never said that Self-Determination should not be part of
the government. People occasionally attribute such things to me, but
this is absolutely not true," the U.S. diplomat said.
She urged the public sector, seen as "the most corrupt," to "delegate credible people," the newspaper quoted her as saying.
Jacobson noted that there are still the mayors "accused of corruption who are remain in office."
The article said that commenting "on those convicted by the Special
Court," she said they should "pay according to justice, although they
are part of the institutions."
Speaking about religious
extremism in Kosovo, Jacobson was quoted as saying the issue was "at the
center of their attention during 2014, and will have priority in the
new year as well."
Serbian mission chairs informal NATO group
Source: Tanjug
BELGRADE -- Serbia's mission at NATO took over the
chairmanship of the SEEGROUP during a meeting held on the ambassadorial
level on December 16 at NATO's headquarters.
(Beta, file)
The
South East Europe Security Steering Group (SEEGROUP) is "an informal
and flexible forum for security and political consultations on issues of
importance to the region of Southeast Europe," according to a statement
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia.
This forum "brings together partner countries of the Western
Balkans, NATO and the Western European NATO partners," according to the
same source.
The results of the chairmanship Macedonia's mission during 2014 were also presented during the meeting, the statement added.
Ambassador Miomir Udovicki who heads Serbia's mission presented the
priorities of the Serbian presidency of the SEEGROUP and announced that
its action plan will be presented in January.
Udovicki
"particularly emphasized Serbia's commitment to further advance regional
security cooperation and announced that one of the first topics on the
agenda of the SEEGROUP in 2015 will be the priorities of Serbia's OSCE
chairmanship," said the MFA.
High Commandant of Albanian special forces, removed from office for violating the military status
Armed Forces has explained the reasons for dismissing Colonel Dritan
Demiraj, adding that the decision was taken after finding out that
Demiraj has repeatedly violated the law "for the military status",
traveling abroad without permission.
In a statement distributed to the media, the Ministry of Defense informs
the public opinion that they have classified information at their
disposal that could affect national security.
"Armed Forces as any other institution in a democratic system fulfill
their mission only based on the laws of the country. Everyone within AF
must be punished when they violate the law and the military discipline.
Everyone must respect the law, and unfortunately, this turns out not to
be true for Colonel Dritan Demiraj, who repeatedly in more than one case
violated law 'for military status', traveling abroad without
permission.
These actions constitute serious violations of military discipline as
long as these high rank officials dispose classified information that
could affect national security This is not the first case we have acted
in conditions of severe violation of discipline and the law. We
acknowledge his contribution and wish him success in private activity,
law enforcement and the future of AM always remain more important than
one individual "reads the statement of the Ministry of Defence.
Germany's burgeoning anti-immigrant rallies
Weeks of growing protests against Muslims continue in Dresden with 15,000 hitting the streets last Monday.
A protester holds a sign striking out the words 'hatred', 'violence', and 'Quran' [Yermi Brenner/Al Jazeera]
Dresden, Germany -
A movement called Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the
West (PEGIDA) continues to grow in popularity, drawing thousands of
people to a series of Monday evening marches in the city of Dresden.
On December 15, an estimated 15,000 people took part in PEGIDA's march, many came from all over Germany. One was Paul, a
retired doctor from the capital Berlin, 200km away. He said it was
important for him to march in order to show that PEGIDA is made up of
ordinary people, not far-right ideologues.
"I am not in principle against Muslims," Paul told Al Jazeera, asking to be identified only by his first name. "I
say we don't want so many Muslims that our culture will be changed. We
want to be Germans, we want to be Europeans, we don't want too many
people to come here and try to get money from our social system."
Chancellor Angela Merkel has condemned the demonstrations, saying:"There
is no place here for stirring up hatred and telling lies about people
who have come to us from other countries." Justice Minister Heiko Maas said the demonstrations are "shameful for Germany", and severalother politicians have referred to PEGIDA as "Nazis with pinstripes".
'Protecting West culture'
PEGIDA
says it is against preachers of hate, no matter what religion they
belong to, and against radicalism whether it is religious or politically
motivated, according to its Facebook group, which has received more than 70,000 "likes".
The group is marching for "the right to preserve and protect our Christian-Jewish dominated West culture", and against parallelgesellschaft - a German term used to describe immigrant communities that maintain their cultural norms and don't integrate in local society.
The
movement began two months ago with a small protest of 200 people in
Dresden. Every Monday since, the number of demonstrators has increased;
7,500 on the first day of December, 10,000 a week later, and 15,000 a
week after that.
Marching
a few metres behind Paul was a protester who gave only one name Jorg,
who is from Dresden. He held a sign that included three words - all
crossed out with a red line: hate, violence, the Quran. He said Islam
dictates hatred and violence, and endangers peace in German society.
Henrik,
who came from Bremen, held a sign saying "No Sharia in Europe", because
he said he does not want to see Christian traditions disappear. He said
German politicians are wrong for suggesting that PEGIDA is an extreme
right-wing movement.
"I
don't like these 'left' and 'right' titles," Henrik told Al Jazeera,
also offering just one name. "I am a nationalist. My first interest is
not the situation in Afghanistan or in Cuba. My main interest is the
situation of the people in Germany... I am a patriot."
Rise of the right
The
public display of right-wing ideas at demonstrations has increased in
the past few months, according to Gereon Flümann from the German Federal Agency for Civic Education. Flümann explained there are smaller but similar movements in other parts of Germany, such as the Hooligans Against Salafists in the city of Cologne.
"PEGIDA
say they do not promote xenophobia," Flümann told Al Jazeera. "But if
you look at the protests and how they make use of particular
information, you see there might be xenophobia behind it."
The
Dresden demonstrations have so far remained violence-free - unlike a
Hooligans Against Salafists march in Cologne on October 26, which ended in a riotwith police with protesters yelling "foreigners out".
PEGIDA
marchers' main slogan is "We are the people!" - which was first used in
peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations against East Germany's government
in the days leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
We all know from different surveys that the less diversity - less
people with migration background - means more prejudices, more
anti-attitudes towards migrants.
- Ralf Melzer, Friedrich Ebert Foundation
Several
PEGIDA protesters in Dresden held up signs against Nazis, and one man
marched with the rainbow-coloured flag of the lesbian-gay-bi-trans
community that had the word PEGIDA written on it. He said he was warmly
received by other protesters. In fact, PEGIDA's position paper clearly
states they are for sexual self-determination.
Flümann said PEGIDA's popularity does not mean that right-wing radicalism in Germany is growing.
"The
NPD has very low numbers of voters," he said, referring to the National
Democratic Party of Germany, a far-right political party that is
usually described as neo-Nazi. "So organised right-wing extremism is not
on the rise. But I think some loose right-wing extremist attitudes have
a very broad distribution in Germany, and that definitely is a problem
that needs to be tackled."
Increasing Muslim visibility
Muslims are the largest minority in Germany, making up about five percent of the country's 82 million population. Muslims have increased from less than 0.01 percent in 1920, to more the five percent in 2009, according to research paper by the International Journal of Environmental Science and Development.
Germany
is facing a wave of incoming migrants. In the first six months of 2014,
there were more asylum seekers in Germany - about 65,700 - than any
other country worldwide. Many were from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
About one-third of Germans have an unfavourable view of the Muslims in their country, according to a Pew Research Centre survey,
higher than in France and the United Kingdom. Twenty-nine percent of
Germans said immigrants are a burden because they take jobs and social
benefits.
One
of the reasons for the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment is the growing
visibility of Muslims - immigrants and German-born, according to Schirin
Amir-Moazami, a professor at Berlin Free University's Institute of
Islamic Studies.
"I
think there is an awareness that Muslims have taken roots in German
society and that they are not quiet actors any longer; that they are
making claims in terms of political participation, public participation,
public visibility," said Amir-Moazami.
"Muslims
are becoming increasingly visible in many different ways, and people
are disturbed by that. A lot of people have difficulty to accept
pluralism in the broader sense."
PEGIDA activists are trying to benefit from attitudes, fears and prejudices towards Muslims and immigration and diversity in general, according to Ralf Melzer, who monitors extremism for the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, a German non-profit. He said hostility towards immigrants exists throughout Germany, but it is more widespread in the eastern part of country.
Protesters hold a sign denouncing Islamic law in Dresden at last Monday's demonstration [Yermi Brenner/Al Jazeera]
"The
number of people with migrant background in the east is much lower than
in the west. There is much less diversity," Melzer said. "And we all
know from different surveys that the less diversity - less people with
migration background - means more prejudices, more anti-attitudes
towards migrants."
Public debate needed
One of the participants in the latest Dresden demonstration
was Leif Hansen, from the nearby town of Hertzberg. Hansen, 40, came to
show his support for PEGIDA, even though he said the arrival of
foreigners benefits German society both socially and economically.
Hansen
said he felt constructive public discussion on migration and minority
issues is missing from the public sphere. It is a suppressed topic
because of the legacy of World War II, and there are many Germans who
fear foreigners, he explained, so it is better to have an open
discussion about it.
"That
is their fear and that is their opinion, and I am really happy that
they have the courage to voice it, and not hold it inside - the feeling
of resentment," Hansen said.
"It
is better to voice it out, to stand in public and say, 'This is my
problem, now what do we do with it.' Then we can handle it all together.
It shows the strength of our democracy I think to handle it without
violence."
PEGIDA's next protest is planned for Monday evening. Germany is waiting to see if the number of participants will continue to grow.
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Later in the day, Davutoğlu held a bilateral meeting with his Macedonian counterpart, Nikola Gruevski, which was followed by a meeting with their delegations.
