US evacuates 100 special forces from Yemen airbase

US pulls out the last of its forces over security concerns as embattled president blames Iran for escalating crisis.

21 Mar 2015

The United States is evacuating its remaining 100 special operations forces from Yemen amid the deteriorating security situation in the country, local sources have told Al Jazeera.
The troops, who conducted counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda and its affiliated groups, were leaving the al-Anad airbase in Lahj province on Saturday citing security concerns.
The US military told Al Jazeera that it was in the process of pulling approximately 100 special operations out of Yemen, because of the political instability and continued fighting there.
The personnel, who worked in coordination with the Yemeni government in controlling drone operations, were the last US forces stationed in the country.
The evacuation comes a day after suicide bombers, reportedly pledging allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), killed at least 137 worshippers and wounded hundreds more at two mosques in the capital Sanaa.
Washington, which considers Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) one of the most dangerous wings of al-Qaeda, had lent financial and logistical support to Yemen's government in combatting the armed group.
President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has since fled the capital to the southern port city of Aden, has been a vocal supporter of the US war against al-Qaeda, at one point saying he approved each US drone strike.

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RELATED: Yemen strife threatens neighbours too

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Saturday's US withdrawal comes as Hadi made his first televised speech since escaping house arrest, pledging to fight what he called Iranian influence.
Accusing Tehran of backing the Houthis who drove him out of Sanaa, the embattled president vowed that "the Yemeni republic flag will fly on the Marran mountain in Saada [the Houthis northern stronghold] instead of the Iranian flag".
Iran has been repeatedly accused of backing the fighters who belong to the Zaydi sect of Shia Islam, but the Houthis insist that the Islamic Republic does not meddle in Yemeni affairs.
Hadi also called on the Houthis to leave the capital and for its allied militias to quit government ministries. He denounced the Houthis as "coup plotters" and said he wanted to confront sectarianism.
Meanwhile, the Houthis called for an offensive against security and military institutions controlled by Hadi describing it as a battle against extremists.

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RELATED: The rise of the Houthis

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Yemen has descended into chaos since the 2012 ousting of longtime president Ali Abdullah Saleh, with security having broken down since Houthis swept unopposed into the capital last year.
An ISIL affiliated group claimed responsibility for Friday's attacks on Twitter, threatening that the bombings were "only a part of the coming flood".
The Houthis, who are considered heretics by ISIL and al-Qaeda, descended from their heartland in Saada last year, fighting their way towards Sanaa and defeating tribal and military rivals along the way.
Earlier this year, they put Hadi, the elected president, under house arrest, disbanded parliament and appointed Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a cousin of the group's leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, as the new president.
Stability in Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, is of international concern because it borders major international shipping lanes and lies next to Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

UK Kurds honor Greek-Briton who died fighting Islamists

First entry: 21 March 2015

Hundreds of British Kurds were at Manchester Airport to honour the first Briton to die fighting Islamic State.

The body of Konstandinos Erik Scurfield arrived on a plane from Istanbul after being handed over to his father at a ceremony on the Syria-Iraq border last week.
The former Royal marine, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was shot dead earlier this month while fighting in Syria alongside Kurdish forces.
Although Britain has taken part in airstrikes against IS, Mr Scurfield was frustrated by what he saw as the country’s lack of action and support for the Kurds.
Supporters, some of them in tears, threw yellow roses onto a private ambulance carrying the 25-year-old’s body as the vehicle moved slowly along roads around the airport.
Pro-Kurdish rights supporter Mark Campbell described him as a "fallen hero" and a "martyr".
As fellow campaigners applauded, he read out a message from Mr Scurfield’s mother Vasliki saying: "He went out to oppose the so-called IS of course.
"But really he went out to support the rights of every human being to live in their own country with a government they have chosen rather than have one imposed on them by religious ideology."
Mr Campbell dismissed suggestions the former marine had been a mercenary saying he hadn't been paid for fighting with the Kurds.
Another campaigner Aysegul Erdogan said supporters had turned up from all over the UK.
She said: "People have been beheaded including humanitarian aid workers. Journalists were beheaded.
"This needs to stop and in order for this to stop, the international community needs to support the Kurdish people."
The Foreign Office has advised all Britons against travelling to Syria.
About 500 are believed to have gone to join IS but there is little information about the number of people travelling to fight with the Kurds. 
Sky News

Greek minister is accused of benefiting from reinstatement of public employees

First entry: 21 March 2015

The leftist government of Alexis Tsipras faced its first internal crisis as a media report revealed that the deputy minister of public administration was offering his services for a fee to sacked public –sector workers.
According to an exclusive report in To Vima due to be published on Sunday, George Katrougalos, a practicing lawyer before he assumed office in January, signed private contracts with laid-off workers that would have given him a fee for each reinstatement.
According to the report, the fee was 12% of the gross compensation for each worker and the minister continued to sign private contracts up until January 27, when he was sworn in.
Katrougalos is the minister responsible for implementing Syriza’s pledge to rehire thousands of public-sector workers sacked by the previous governments.
In a press conference late on Saturday, Katrougalos denied the report. He said that the documents presented were fake and accused To Vima newspaper of provocation.
Opposition parties are calling for his resignation. However,  according to reports, PM Tsipras is  providing full support to the embattled minister.

Source: enikos.gr

Albania for a secular Europe: interview with Klajda Gjosha, Albanian minister of European integration

by 

Dan Alexe

21.03.2015 - 14:57

Turkey, FYROM, Serbia, Bosnia and Albania have begun or are currently lined up to begin negotiations to join the EU. The decision to allow Albania to start its accession negotiations followed progress by Edi Rama, the Albanian prime minister, who came to power in June 2013, in the battle against organised crime and corruption. 

The 28 EU member states granted Albania the status of official EU membership candidate on 24 June 2014. This is the next step in Albania's long road to becoming an EU member state, and is recognition of recent reforms in the country.
Albania is now the fifth accession candidate along with Turkey, Montenegro, Serbia, FYROM. Klajda Gjosha is Minister of European Integration of Republic of Albania from September 2013.
New Europe: You run one of the most important ministries in your country, more important, in the present circumstances, than, let’s say, the ministry of defence. You have to push your country into Europe. How far are you from the goal?
Klajda Gjosha: Mine is, indeed one of the most important ministries. European integration is our main priority. Last June, all member states voted for Albania. We are focusing now on the five main priorities that are already set. Judicial reform is the most important. Actually, the Commission likes to start the negotiations with the most difficult chapters, like everything that concerns the rule of law, human rights and so on… What happens is that a country’s legislation is slowly brought on the same level with EU legislation.
New Europe: Is there a term, a time limit, for a country to join the EU? Let’s take Croatia, for instance. Negotiations went on for something like six years, right? While Turkey has started negotiating ages ago, and it is still far from the goal. How do you feel when you are told that during this Commission term there will be no enlargement?  
Klajda Gjosha: You can’t compare the situation of Albania with that from other countries, like Turkey, for instance. Albania is part of Europe, not only geographically, but also in full spirit.
New Europe: Who are your allies? There must be some older member states, like Italy for instance, that you feel closer to. Croatia, maybe? There must be some countries that help you more than others. 
Klajda Gjosha: Albania has very good relations with all member states, even with more developed member states, like Germany or France. But, of course, Italy or Greece, countries closer to us are traditionally more friendly.
New Europe: In the Balkan context, do you feel that the situation of Kosovo is a burden for you? Aren’t you slowed down by what happens there?
Klajda Gjosha: Absolutely not. We don’t feel that Kosovo is a burden. We even cooperate with them, as we do with all countries that aspirate to become member states one day.
New Europe: How do you view the Albanians from Kosovo? How do Albanians from Albania proper view the Kosovar identity? 
Klajda Gjosha: We always communicated with them in order to be together a part of Europe. We, Albanians, project a very good image when it comes to religion and neighbourhood relations. This is the best message that we have always given to our neighbours.
New Europe: Right, Albania is more secularised than its neighbours. 
Klajda Gjosha: Yes. We are secularised, although there are many religious communities that live together in Albania in total understanding and peace.
New Europe: You even have a national religion: the Bektashis, that only exist in Albania.  
Klajda Gjosha: Yes. On the other hand, we would like Europe not to take this for granted and to understand that religion can always be exploited, dragged towards terrorism, as we see around these days. We want Europe to understand this in the case of Albania and to notice the importance of our efforts.

President responds to MEP: I did not ask for advice

Source: Beta

BELGRADE -- Tomislav Nikolic on Friday reacted to a suggestion voiced by a European Parliament (EP) official that he should not attend the Victory Day parade in Moscow.

(Beta, file)

Eduard Kukan said that Nikolic should travel to Moscow, but only to visit a monument for WW2 soldiers, and snub the parade.

In his reaction, the Serbian president said that the pressure exerted on him to make a decision that is not in the interest of the citizens of Serbia was "in vain."

Nikolic added that it was "rude to offer advice to somebody who did not ask for any."

A statement issued by the president's cabinet said that neither Nikolic nor any other Serbian politician ever offered advice to Slovakia's president concerning where they should go and what they should do.

Kukan is a Slovak MEP, and was this week visiting Serbia as head of an EP delegation, when he commented on Nikolic's announced trip to Russia in a statement to a Belgrade-based newspaper.

"The opinion of a large majority of citizens is that our country should foster best possible relations with everyone, including the Russian Federation. The president represents this opinion unequivocally and nobody will succeed in changing it, Mr. Kukan included," Nikolic's statement said.

French president sees Russia as "friendly country"

Source: Tanjug

PARIS -- France sees Russia is a friendly country, French President Francois Hollande has told the magazine Society in an interview.

(Beta/AP, file)

"For me, Vladimir Putin is above all the president of Russia. When I talk to him, I talk to Russia, and it is a country I respect, a great country and a friendly country," said Hollande.
The French leader admitted that there were "some misunderstandings" between Moscow and Paris.

"President Putin has his own interests, his vision and methods, and the things he says are not always generally accepted," he added.

According to Hollande, he for this reason decided to "speak openly to a head of state who always speaks directly."

Commenting on the Ukrainian crisis, Hollande said that he sees the solution in the full implementation of the agreement from Minsk.

"It would not be in the interest of Russia for Ukraine to be swallowed by NATO, because then Russia would find itself in direct contact with those its considers a threat," the French president said, and added that such a turn of events would also not correspond with the French position.

"It is in the interest of Europe to conduct direct talks with Russia, because it is a great country, and it is in the interest of Ukraine to preserve its territorial integrity," he said, adding this was why "it is clear that the solution lies in the full implementation of the agreement from Minsk."

Berlin: No date named on which Greece must present new reform list

First entry: 20 March 2015

The German government does not expect Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to bring his new detailed economic reform plan with him when he visits German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday, a spokeswoman said.

"There is no date, not even Monday, on which this concrete reform list has to be presented but these reform suggestions must of course be presented relatively soon," said Christiane Wirtz said at a government news conference on Friday.
She said the Eurogroup's agreement of Feb. 20 remained the basis for discussing any further steps for Greece.

Golden Dawn leader, lawmaker set free

First entry: 20 March 2015

Nikos Michaloliakos, leader and MP of extreme right Golden Dawn, and lawmaker Ioannis Lagos were released from jail Friday afternoon.
The two, who had been arrested in September 2013 on charges of belonging to a "criminal organization" as judges had described Golden Dawn, were released because the 18-month pre-trial detention limit has expired.
The two, along with other Golden Dawn officials and members, still face trial on a variety of charges, including murder.
"Mr. Michaloliakos has exited the place where some people placed him illegally convinced he would never come out. But he will be acquitted in the coming trial. He will stay under house arrest on the illegal charge of illegal possession of a weapon," said Michaloliakos' lawyer Nikos Antoniadis.
"Eveerything will be fine," Lagos said.

Two Albanian MPs face arrest over murder claims

Two Albanian MPs face arrest over murder claims
20 March 2015






The Prosecution Office on Friday sought parliament's permission to arrest two MPs, Mark Frroku and Tom Doshi, who are suspected of giving false testimonies.

Albania's General Prosecutor's Office on Friday sought permission from parliament to arrest two MPs suspected of giving false testimonies.

The Prosecution Office said that Tom Doshi, who earlier this month claimed that the speaker of the parliament, Ilir Meta, had hired a hitman to kill him, invented the plot in collaboration with another MP, Mark Frroku.

The prosecution said it did not believe any such plot to assassinate Doshi ever existed.

According to the constitution, parliament must first lift the immunity of the MPs before they can be arrested on suspicion of a crime.


Tom Doshi
Former Socialist MP Doshi aired allegations about the attempted murder on 2 March, the day when Prime Minister and Socialist leader Edi Rama expelled him from the party.

Doshi claimed that Frroku had informed him about the murder plan and that the assassin had since confessed the plot to him, and been rewarded by him with an armoured car.

Frroku denied being the source of information about the murder plot.

However, the prosecution says it believes he lied to the prosecutors. Last week, leaked police documents showed that Frroku is suspected of having hidden a drug dealer from police in his car.

U.S. Embassy Statement

The U.S. Embassy welcomes the Prosecutor General’s action to seek Parliament’s approval to arrest two Parliamentarians. This is an important opportunity to show that no individual is above the law. We reiterate our call for the Prosecutor General, Parliament, and judicial institutions to fulfill their responsibilities to ensure due process in accordance with the law.

NATO Secretary General discusses relations with Russia at Brussels Forum

• 20 Mar. 2015
• |
• Last updated: 20 Mar. 2015 18:00

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to stop destabilizing its neighbours and respect international rules at the tenth annual Brussels Forum conference on Friday (20 March 2015). In the face of Russia’s aggressive actions, Mr. Stoltenberg underlined that NATO is responding by strengthening its collective defence and supporting regional partners – including Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.

The Secretary General participated in a panel entitled “Zero-Sum? Russia, Power Politics, and the post-Cold War Era”. His co-panellists were EU High Representative Federica Mogherini; US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland; and Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman of Russia’s Federation Council Committee on International Affairs. The moderator was David Ignatius, associate editor of The Washington Post.
Organised by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Brussels Forum brings together political, economic and intellectual leaders from Europe and North America to discuss key challenges facing the Euro-Atlantic area.

Dnevnik, Macedonia: DUI, DPA don’t wish number of Albanians not living in Macedonia to be known

19 March 2015 | 09:17 | FOCUS News Agency

Picture: Дневник, Македония

Skopje. Declining to back the amendments to identity cards legislation, the Albanian parties in Macedonia want to conceal the number of Albanians living abroad, Macedonian Dnevnik daily writes.
The news edition says countries in the region sanction differently not having an address registration on the part of citizens living abroad – from suspending the address registration to fines. But the authorities everywhere insist citizens provide accurate information about their place of living so that identity papers are issued on the basis of this. The problems arose after the ruling Albanian party Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) said it would not back the amendments as they were anti-Albanian. For them the fact every citizen can have his or her address registration suspended after not registering as a person living abroad is controversial. Dnevnik also says the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) also finds the amendments unacceptable.

Serbs want "strong community of municipalities"

Source: Tanjug

GRACANICA -- Councilors from ten Serb municipalities have adopted "a decision on united political action, protection of rights and realization of interests of Serbs."

This would happen "through the constitution of a strong community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo (ZSO)," Tanjug reported. The meeting on Wednesday also asked for a harmonized draft of the ZSO statute to be submitted to a joint meeting of municipal assemblies.
According to the Serbian Government's Office for Kosovo and Metohija, "councilors from municipalities with Serb majority requested constitutional and legal provisions concerning the number of Serbs in institutions and public enterprises on all levels to be respected, as well as adequate representation of Serbs in municipalities where Serbs do not constitute majority population."

In the conclusions, they "insist on the principle according to which their presence in institutions on all levels and selection of Serb staff is in exclusive jurisdiction of appointed Serb political representatives."

The councilors also called for protection of property and rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church and noted that new laws on issues of importance for the Serb community should be adopted only with the consent of appointed Serb representatives.

Serb List leader Aleksandar Jablanovic said on Wednesday that the Albanian side also had a share in the responsibility to set up a community of Serb municipalities (ZSO) in Kosovo.

Speaking at a meeting of representatives of Serb-majority municipalities in Gracanica, Jablanovic said that the Kosovo government should show a constructive approach and implement what it had signed in practice.

“We should not be looking at any new agreements before seeing that which has been signed implemented, and I hope that we will leave this meeting more united,” said Jablanovic, who was prime minister in the Kosovo government before Prime Minister Isa Mustafa dismissed him from his position as minister of returns in February.

Jablanovic was dismissed for branding a group of ethnic Albanians as “savages.” The group threw stones at and broke the windshield of a bus carrying displaced Serbs and prevented them from visiting the graves of their ancestors on the day before the Serbian Orthodox Christmas.

"We should all focus on one single goal and it should lead to not having any one city or town in KiM where Serbs cannot go to, to not having to observe Orthodox holidays under police escort, to letting people know where their ancestors’ graves are and to having the rights guaranteed to the Serbs on paper respected on the ground," said Jablanovic.

"Political conditions"

Director of the Office for Kosovo Marko Djuric said that members of the assemblies of the Serb-majority municipalities gathered in Gracanica on Wednesday to create the political conditions for setting up the community of Serb municipalities (ZSO).

The aim of the meeting is to see how the Serb communities in Kosovo will work together to resolve issues of importance to the local communities and how they will prepare development projects together, he said.

Djuric said that those goals were "reachable" and that they were not detrimental to Belgrade’s and Pristina’s efforts to find a formula for cooperation and a way to coexist.

“These goals and priorities concern the survival and future of our people in Kosovo and Metohija,” Djuric said, pointing out that the Serbs "wanted to elect their representatives in all Pristina’s institutions by themselves, rather than have them elected by somebody else."

Russia signs major alliance treaty with South Ossetia, pledges military protection

Published time: March 18, 2015 15:50

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov make a statement for the press March 18, 2015. (RIA Novosti / Aleksey Nikolskyi)

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Military, Politics, Putin, Russia, South Ossetia

The presidents of Russia and South Ossetia have signed a key treaty according to which the two nations will partially join their military forces, and Russia will provide full military protection to its ally.
The treaty introducing the collective security principle was signed by Vladimir Putin and Leonid Tibilov on Wednesday, after the two presidents held talks in Moscow.
Vladimir Putin said the document was another step not only in improving mutual legal systems, but also in economic development between the two nations. Leonid Tibilov added the friendship between the two countries and the stepping up of integration processes, were an answer to threats and challenges existing in the modern world.
“We know the Russian Federation is the only guarantor for our people and for our republic,” Tibilov said, adding that South Ossetia supported all Moscow’s political moves, such as the reunification with the republic of Crimea one year ago.
The document sets out that Russia would provide for the security and defense of South Ossetia, including constant protection of its state border. In return, South Ossetia would allow part of its military to join Russian military forces. The details of the process must be developed jointly by the two countries within six months of signing the treaty. The procedure will be financed by the Russians and 1 billion rubles (about $16 million) will be allocated from the Russian budget for this purpose.
READ MORE: Russia to continue helping South Ossetia, Abkhazia – Putin
The treaty with South Ossetia is very similar to the agreement with the Caucasus republic of Abkhazia signed in 2014 and ratified by the Russian parliament in January this year. Both republics were recognized by Russia after a brief war in 2008, which took place after Georgia tried to reclaim South Ossetia by military force, in violation of ceasefire agreements and despite Russian peacekeepers’ presence.
In December 2013, Russia introduced a free trade regime with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Greek PM to travel to Berlin, and then to Moscow

Source: Tanjug

ATHENS -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will visit Berlin next Monday, and will travel to Moscow in April, a month earlier than planned.

(Beta/AP, file)

A spokesman for the German government stated that Tsipras was invited by Chancellor Angela Merkel.
German media, citing diplomatic circles in Athens, reported that Tsipras aims to "calm the relations between Berlin and Athens" and that his associates are saying ahead of the visit that he "wants to take on the solving of the financial crisis."

Tsipras will go to Berlin amid a serious political debate and disagreements on the subject of the debt crisis and the demands from Athens for Germany to pay WW2 reparations in full for the killing and destruction caused by the fascist German troops.

The first differences on this topic are discernible within the ruling German coalition that has so far always refused the Greek demands for reparations. The Social-Democrats thus think that these should be "discussed," while the opposition Left and Greens are also voicing their support for the Greek demands.

German government sources stressed ahead of the visit that Greece's debt policy is not a bilateral issue and that Germany wants friendly relations with that country.

After Germany, Tsipras will travel to Russia on April 8, a full a month earlier than was originally planned, it was announced in Athens.

"The prime minister will visit the Kremlin at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin," a source from the Greek government has said, according to AFP.

Tsipras was scheduled to visit Moscow on May 9, for Victory Day. The Greek PM's office did not wish to give additional explanations as to why the visit was moved a month ahead.

The Greek newspaper Ta Nea, however, writes that Tsipras' trip to Russia was moved "because of the money shortage faced by Athens due to the delayed payment of new tranches of the loan within the 240 billion package of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund."

"Athens has worked on moving the meeting with Putin because of the difficult economic conditions in Greece caused by Europe," reports the newspaper.

Utrinski Vesnik, Macedonia: Albanian parties to veto amendments to identity cards legislation

18 March 2015 | 09:03 | FOCUS News Agency

Picture: Утрински весник

Skopje. Albanian parties in Macedonia will not back the amendments to identity cards legislation, Macedonian online news outlet Utrinski Vesnik writes.
Ali Ahmeti’s Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) said it would use the Badinter majority to impose a veto on the legislative amendments. According to DUI, this is anti-Albanian legislation. The amendments envisaging the deletion of address registration of anyone who did not declare leaving the country for over 3 months are controversial for both DUI and the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA). According to DUI’s Talat Dzaferi, this is anti-constitutional as it restricts freedom of movement.
“Citizens have the right to leave Macedonia when they wish to and to return when they want,“ Dzaferi commented.

Statement at the Conclusion of an IMF Mission to Albania

Press Release No. 15/119
March 17, 2015 An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Nadeem Ilahi visited Tirana during March 4-17, 2015 to conduct discussions on the fourth review of Albania’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF). On the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Ilahi made the following statement:
“Albania's economic program remains on track. The IMF team reached staff level agreement with the authorities on the policies needed to complete the fourth review of the EFF.
“Economic growth is projected to continue its moderate recovery in 2015, reaching around 3 percent, despite the recent floods and a slowdown in the oil sector. Growth will be driven by a sustained recovery in domestic demand, benefiting from low energy prices and interest rates, and a gradual pickup in bank lending. However, output still remains below potential, and along with subdued external pressures, will contribute to inflation staying low.
“Fiscal performance in the fourth quarter of 2014 was broadly in line with program targets. The authorities remain committed to achieving the fiscal deficit target for 2015 as well as limiting expenditure within the programmed envelope.
“Monetary policy should continue to be supportive of economic recovery, consistent with the Bank of Albania’s mandate of maintaining price stability. Credit growth is recovering but remains low, affected by high non-performing loans and weaknesses in contract enforcement. We welcome the commitment of the authorities to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the NPL issue with the aim of improving the credit environment.
“Implementation of power sector reform is on track. The reform has been developed in consultation with the World Bank and is central to lowering fiscal risks. Electricity theft, although still high, is being reduced; tariffs have been adjusted: and revenue is increasing; and the state enterprises in the power sector are being reformed.
“The Executive Board of the IMF is expected to discuss the fourth review in the middle of 2015. Approval of the reviews would enable the disbursement of SDR 28.9 million (about €37.4 million). Albania's 36-month EFF arrangement was approved on February 28, 2014. (see Press Release 14/81).”

9 Albanian Muslims on trial in Albania for allegedly recruiting people for Syrian rebel groups

• Article by: Associated Press
• Updated: March 17, 2015

TIRANA, Albania — Nine Albanian Muslims, including two preachers, have gone on trial in Albania on charges of recruiting and sending more than 70 men to fight with rebel groups in Syria.
The suspects were arrested a year ago and charged with promoting and funding terrorist activities. They face a minimum 10-year prison sentence if convicted in the trial that began Tuesday.
Prosecutors claim the suspects recruited Muslims in Tirana, the capital, from two mosques that are not recognized by the country's Muslim community.
About two-thirds of Albania's 3.2 million inhabitants are Muslims. Mainstream religious leaders have asked believers not to join rebel groups in Syria.
Prosecutors say some Albanians have died in the fighting in Syria, citing information provided by their families.

Albania to sell state oil firm, offer oil blocks

Tue Mar 17, 2015

 

* Albania to sell state oil firm this year-PM
* Investors will be offered new exploration blocks
* Albania says has 40 million tonnes of easily extractable oil
By Benet Koleka
TIRANA, March 17 (Reuters) - Albania wants to try again to privatise its state oil company this year, and will soon begin offering its blocks for oil and gas exploration, Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Tuesday.
The previous Democratic Party government, which Rama's Socialist-led coalition ousted in June 2013, cancelled the sale two years ago to a private buyer.
"We will end the long-drawn process of the privatisation of the state-owned Albpetrol company this year," Rama said.
"Since the very first day, it was clear to us Albpetrol was an anachronism and a hybrid that could not meet the challenges of the future," he told oil executives.
His audience included representatives of Shell, already active in Albania, Exxon Mobil, BP, Italy's Eni , Austria's OMV and Croatia's INA.
Albpetrol is an upstream company only, having sold its oil refinery four years ago.
Wooing investors, Rama said the government was determined to "secure a favourable regime for the exploration and development of oil and gas", including stabilizing fiscal clauses for the duration of contracts.
Oil and gas reserves are estimated to amount to 400 million tonnes, of which 40 million are easily extractable, Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri said.
Thirteen onshore and offshore blocks can be explored for oil and gas, Rama and Gjiknuri said. "Very soon we shall start procedures to give the first three blocks for exploration to interested companies," Gjiknuri said.
Albanian law offered attractive fiscal terms during the exploration period, exempting companies from paying Value Added Tax, extending the research period from 5 to 7 years and the production time from 25 to 30 years, Gjiknuri said.
Shell and Calgary, Canada-based Petromanas Energy Inc already operate a well offshore Albania and have said test flows found oil and gas, but are yet to establish its production capacity.
The well is across the Adriatic Sea from Italy's offshore Val d'Agri field which pumps around 85,000 barrels per day. (Editing by William Hardy)

War Crimes Prosecution "looking for 115 perpetrators"

Source: Beta, Tanjug

BELGRADE -- The Association of the Families of Kidnapped and Murdered Serbs has marked the 17th anniversary of the outbreak of large-scale anti-Serb violence in Kosovo.

(Tanjug)

On this occasion, Deputy War Crimes Prosecutor Bruno Vekaric said that "the primary goal is for the kidnapped to be found, and the perpetrators punished."
"Our public is unaware that we are looking for 115 perpetrators of these crimes, and within these cases are also these people, whose photographs are on display," Vekaric said, speaking next to an improvised display put up by the families of the 2,500 missing and murdered Serbs.

Vekaric said that "the formation of a special court for war crimes in Kosovo was very important," stating that it would be "an opportunity for the families of the kidnapped and the murdered tell their stories on the international scene."

"We expect that it will soon be formed, it is said this will happen in the summer," he told those gathered.

The association's representative Simo Spasic also stressed the importance of the future court that should deal with crimes ethnic Albanians committed against Serbs and others, as it would, in his words, "bring those responsible to justice."

Spasic said that the families on Tuesday marked not only the anniversary of the March 2004 persecution of Serbs, but also the 17th anniversary of the first murders, kidnappings and other crimes committed against civilians, policemen, and soldiers that started occurring in the province in 1998.

According to him, "Albanian terrorists intended to finish in March 2004 what they started in 1998."

One of the participants in the gathering whose loved one is among the victims "verbally attacked" Vekaric, who responded by saying he was there "out of respect for the families and the victims."

German politicians admit Greece has case for wartime reparations

Social Democrats and Greens break ranks with Merkel as relations between Berlin and Athens deteriorate over Greek attempts to renegotiate bailout terms

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras, who meets Angela Merkel on Monday, has accused Germany of trying to avoid paying reparations. Photograph: ARIS MESSINIS / POOL/EPA

Reuters in Berlin

Tuesday 17 March 2015 14.14 GMT Last modified on Tuesday 17 March 2015 14.26 GMT

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Several senior Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens in Germany have for the first time said their nation should consider paying reparations to Greece for Nazi crimes committed during the second world war, breaking ranks with Angela Merkel’s government.
Relations between Germany and Greece have deteriorated as Athens tries to renegotiate its bailout terms and Berlin fears it will ditch previously agreed financial promises.
The Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, who is due to meet Merkel in Berlin on Monday, has accused Germany of using tricks to avoid paying reparations. One of his ministers raised the prospect of seizing German property to compensate victims of a Nazi massacre.
While Berlin says it has honoured its obligations, including a DM115m payment to Greece in 1960 (around £45m at the time), some mainstream German politicians have gone against government policy and said it was impossible to draw a line under the highly charged issue.
“We should make a financial approach to victims and their families,” said Gesine Schwan, a respected member of the Social Democrat party (SPD), who share power with Merkel’s conservatives.
“It would be good for us Germans to sweep up after ourselves in terms of our history,” she told Spiegel Online. “Victims and descendants have longer memories than perpetrators and descendants,” said Schwan, twice-nominated as a candidate for German president.
Germany, which is keen to avoid setting a precedent by reopening the issue of reparations, argues that the 1990 “Two Plus Four Treaty” signed by then-East Germany and West Germany and the four wartime allies before German reunification drew a line under future claims.
Resentment in Greece runs deep over the German occupation. Nazi forces destroyed scores of Greek villages and killed more than 20,000 civilians between 1941 and 1944. In a chatshow on ARD television on Sunday, the Greek finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, said the issue was about morals, not money.
“Personally I would be happy if one euro is paid. As long as there was recognition that this moral debt has been settled,” he said, adding that he was speaking as an individual.
A further question hangs over an “occupation loan” forced on the Bank of Greece, which some experts put at €11bn. Schwan said the occupation loan must “of course be repaid“.
The SPD deputy chairman, Ralf Stegner, representing the party’s left, said reparations should not be linked to the euro crisis. “But independently, we must have a discussion about reparations,” Stegner told Spiegel. “After decades, there are still international legal questions to be resolved.“
The co-leader of the Greens, Anton Hofreiter, said the issue could not be brushed aside as it was “neither morally nor legally closed”.