The half-hour protest went without incidents on Thursday
afternoon, and saw participants chant "UCK" ("Kosovo Liberation Army";
KLA), "Constitutional Court violates the Constitution," "Hands off from
the land," "No to new demarcation," "International factor, don't put
pressure."
The protesters, organized by the Albanian Alliance of
Historians of Kosovo, also accused Visoki Decani Abbot Sava Janjic of
"condicting propaganda," RTS reported.
The protesters said the
Serbian Orthodox Church monastery, a UNESCO site, is a pat of "cultural
and historic heritage of Kosovo Albanians."
The protest was secured by the police, while KFOR troops were deployed around the monastery.
A member of the the Albanian Alliance of Historians of Kosovo, Shkodran
Imeraj, said the ruling was contrary to the Kosovo Constitution and
called on the government and the assembly to declare the property of two
companies, Apiko and Ilirija, as the property of the Decani
municipality.
He wants the Constitutional Court to withdraw the
decision and its president to resign "for legalizing decisions from the
times of violent measures made during the 90s that were discriminatory
and anti-national for Albanians from Kosovo."
He said Sava
Janjic's statements and stances were of a "highly waring" nature,
representing "an announcement of his plan to destabilize general
circumstances in Decani."
Imeraj also claimed that the
monastery was "not attacked by Albanians because it is a structure of
cultural and historic heritage of Albanians."
"The malicious
propaganda of Sava Janjic is evident not only in this case... the whole
time he has been calling on Serbian nationalist against the Albanian
people in Decani and Kosovo. He and his friends should know that the
monastery of Decani was built by Albanians themselves."
Abbot
Janjic on Thursday recommended that Serbs delay their travel to Decani,
due to the announced protest by "the historians of Kosovo." He also
published a video from the protest:
Europe
and Turkey closed airspace for Russian Long-Range Aviation planes
carrying out airstrikes on Daesh positions in Syria, forcing Russian
pilots to reroute, Deputy Commander Maj. Gen. Anatoly Konovalov said
Saturday.
MOSCOW
(Sputnik) — According to Konovalov, Russian pilots had to leave
for Syria from Russia’s northernmost Olenegorsk military airport
in order to bypass Europe and then cross the Mediterranean Sea
toward Syria.
"There
were certain issues that excluded the possibility of performing the
tasks by other means. Europe would not allow us, Turkey would not allow
us," Konovalov said.
He added that even in such conditions, Russia’s Long-Range Aviation proved its capability to perform the assigned tasks.
Russia has been conducting airstrikes on positions of IS, a group
outlawed in many countries including Russia, in Syria since late
September at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Albania's parliament on Thursday passed a much awaited law banning convicted criminals from public office with strong cross-party support.
The law bans people convicted of serious offences, such as murder and rape, from appointment or election to state office.
Hours of debates in the plenary session ended in a compromise that changed the constitution.
There was little opposition, as 131 of 140 MPs present in the parliament backed the law, which aims to clean up politics and the administration.
In addition to permanently barring people with serious convictions from office, the law imposes a minimum period before those convicted of lesser offences can assume office.
An official found guilty of corruption is banned from holding public office for 20 years, while those convicted of offences resulting in jail terms of two years or under, will be barred for 10 years.
All MPs, local politicians, government officials, civil servants and members of the military and police forces will also be subject to criminal background checks.
In a rare move, President Bujar Nishani sent parliament a decree that made it possible for both the constitutional changes and the law to take effect from the moment that the MPs voted.
The US ambassador in Tirana welcomed the passage of the law as a courageous decision. "This law is the toughest law in Europe against criminals in politics. While it is the result of the hard work by both the majority and the opposition, ultimately it is a victory for the Albanian people who want clean government and an end to corruption," the ambassador said.
The EU delegation considered the adoption of the package a sign that "constructive cross-party dialogue is the best way to pursue reforms needed for the country."
The EU called on the political parties to engage in constructive dialogue on all of Albania's further delicate reform challenges, above all justice reform.
"Progress in the reform agenda is crucial to further the entrenchment of the rule of law and to move the country forward on its path towards European integration," the statement read.
- See more at: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-adopts-decriminalization-of-politics-law-12-18-2015#sthash.khxfDssS.dpuf
Albania Parliament Bans Criminals From Politics
MPs voted almost unanimously on Thursday to change
both the constitution and the law to ban people convicted of crimes from
holding public office.
Fatjona Mejdini
BIRN
Tirana
Albania Parliament | Photo: Wikimedia.
Albania's parliament on Thursday passed a much awaited law banning
convicted criminals from public office with strong cross-party support. The law bans people convicted of serious offences, such as murder and rape, from appointment or election to state office.
Hours of debates in the plenary session ended in a compromise that changed the constitution.
There was little opposition, as 131 of 140 MPs present in the
parliament backed the law, which aims to clean up politics and the
administration.
In addition to permanently barring people with serious convictions
from office, the law imposes a minimum period before those convicted of
lesser offences can assume office.
An official found guilty of corruption is banned from holding public
office for 20 years, while those convicted of offences resulting in jail
terms of two years or under, will be barred for 10 years.
All MPs, local politicians, government officials, civil servants and
members of the military and police forces will also be subject to
criminal background checks.
In a rare move, President Bujar Nishani sent parliament a decree that
made it possible for both the constitutional changes and the law to
take effect from the moment that the MPs voted.
The US ambassador in Tirana welcomed the passage of the law as a
courageous decision. "This law is the toughest law in Europe against
criminals in politics. While it is the result of the hard work by both
the majority and the opposition, ultimately it is a victory for the
Albanian people who want clean government and an end to corruption," the
ambassador said.
The EU delegation considered the adoption of the package a sign that
"constructive cross-party dialogue is the best way to pursue reforms
needed for the country."
The EU called on the political parties to engage in constructive
dialogue on all of Albania's further delicate reform challenges, above
all justice reform.
"Progress in the reform agenda is crucial to further the entrenchment
of the rule of law and to move the country forward on its path towards
European integration," the statement read.
- See more at:
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-adopts-decriminalization-of-politics-law-12-18-2015#sthash.khxfDssS.dpuf
BRUSSELS (Sputnik) –
British Prime Minister David Cameron is presenting his case for EU
reforms to the European Council today. The prime minister has repeatedly
said that the United Kingdom would only remain in the bloc if the
European Union implemented reforms.
"So, today we have a lot of things to discuss,
not only about refugee issues, also about Brexit, but I think that this
is not time for exits in Europe, it’s time for more cooperation,"
Tsipras said, arriving at the summit of European leaders in Brussels.
London is looking to curb social benefits for EU migrants, for more
powers to be granted to the bloc members' national parliaments, greater
protections for non-euro countries in the bloc, measures to strengthen
the European single market, and to ensure that the United Kingdom is not
obliged to adhere to the EU’s commitment to an "ever closer union."
"All information" about chapter 35 relating to Kosovo in Serbia's accession negotiations with the EU must be known to the public, Tomislav Nikolic has said.
Source: Vecernje novosti
(Beta, file)
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In an op-ed he wrote of the Vecernje Novosti newspaper,
the president argued this was "the only way to avoid any misgivings" and
pointed out that "the Cypriot model" would be the best solution for the
issue of Kosovo and Metohija.
"Serbia has reached a new stage in relations with the EU,
the opening of chapters, which is the key and probably the longest
stage of our accession to the Union. Along with the 34 standard
chapters, Serbia has the burdensome chapter 35. It refers to Kosovo and
Metohija and will be the topic of discussions the most, and it will be
the most difficult to establish a principle with Europe around that:
which requirements established by this chapter Serbia can fulfill, and
which it cannot," said Nikolic.
He pointed out that "we now
need to wait for the key items that are speculated about to be delivered
to those in Serbia who work on this chapter."
"All information
should be made available to the public and it needs to know what we are
negotiating with regard to Kosovo and Metohija and which points of
these agreements imply the attributes of an independent state. That is,
whether we, by acceptaning what is asked of us, pretending not to - are
de facto accepting Kosovo's independence - or if we will say openly that
it is simply not acceptable, because Serbia does not accept what a
majority of humankind does not accept, and that is for the so-called
state of Kosovo to become an independent state, a member of the UN."
"Therefore, this will be the most difficult chapter. Chapter 35 was
invented because a large number of states recognized the independence of
Kosovo and Metohija and because they want to finally take this issue
off the agenda. This essentially means they do not want a problem like
Cyprus. For Serbia, on the other hand, it would be the ideal solution,
which means full membership within its borders as a UN member, while
afterwards we would talk. No - they will simply ask that we agree on
everything beforehand, before we join. Therefore, it should be discussed
with cool heads and there should be a general, Serbian consensus on
it," said Nikolic.
In his opinion, "it will be the most
difficult because in all this, it is most difficult to determine oneself
toward Kosovo and Metohija."
"Many would like us to solve this
problem as soon as possible. Others will say it is out of the question,
at any price. And the government, which will be taking care of all that
and determining the principles for chapter 35, which will take both the
glory and the responsibility for solving this problem, it must be very
cautious, must be fully prepared and clear in determining what
agreements it is reaching, that is, what it is negotiating. Especially
if it is known that at he end awaits - if it awaits - the task to sign a
legally binding agreement with the so-called state of Kosovo, which we
do not recognize and will never be able to recognize," said Nikolic.
The Serbian president stressed that a key point when it comes to Kosovo
and Metohija was "determining the status of the Serbian Orthodox Church
and Serbian cultural heritage."
"There are many things about
which we could agree with the Albanians, if heritage of the Albanian
people is clearly delineated from the heritage of the Serbian people. I
really do not think we should, nor can, take care of the heritage of the
Albanian people, but for that reason I will not let anyone interfere
with what we are doing with our own heritage. I want to congratulate
citizens of Serbia on the opening, at last, of the two chapters, and
warn them that the process is very long. And yes, at the pace of two to
three chapters per year, they can calculate how long it will take if
everything goes well. And I would like to tell them that nothing can be
gained without sacrifice, but that what we intend to gain must be
adequate to what we are sacrificing," Nikolic said.
Former President of the
State Union of Serbia and Montenegro Svetozar Marovic was arrested on
Thursday morning in Podogrica, Montenegro.
Source: Vijesti
(Image made from YT video)
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Montenegro's Special Prosecution said that Markovic was
arrested on suspicion he abused his official position. He was questioned
and will be detained for up to 72 hours.
Tanjug is reporting that Marovic during the questioning today denied the accusations against him.
Podgorica daily Vijesti reported earlier that the arrest came on the
order of Montenegro's special prosecutor, Milivoje Katanic.
Montenegrin website CDM said that Katanic earlier hinted at Marovic's
arrest, stressing that "the head of the organized criminal group in
Budva had been identified" and that the investigation would soon be
expanded to include this person, related to corruption cases known as
Jaz Plateau and TQ Plaza.
According to the website, all key
actors in the so-called Budva Affair have admitted they are guilty for
causing damages worth several million euros to this seaside municipality
and to the state.
Marovic's son Milos, his brother Dragan, and
aunt Mirjana are all already in prison, while legal procedures are
underway against his daughter Milena Marovic-Bogdanovic, and his son's mother-in-law, Dragica Popovic.
Marovic, who is currently president of the political council of
Montenegro's ruling DPS party, in the past served as Montenegrin
parliament speaker.
The Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras warned that there was a risk of Greece turning into a “black hole” for tens of thousands of refugees and migrants, in an interview for the Financial Times.
In his interview, which was published shortly before a critical EU
summit, Mr. Tsipras argued that Greece is accused of not protecting its
borders, however the country’s critics are not offering up any
solutions.
According to the Prime Minister, Greece authorities have done their best to address the crisis "without any discounts on our values”
and stressed that it is important to approach the problem with care and
treat the arriving refugees and migrants compassionately.
PM Tsipras also denounced the decision of Slovenia, Croatia and FYROM
to filter refugees and migrants and exclude those from Africa from
wanting to pass through their territories.
New data claim as many as 200 of the 727 mosques in
Albania operate outside legal standards and Muslim Community
regulation - raising fears about the potential growth of radical
Islamist ideas.
Fatjona MejdiniBIRNTirana
A representative of KMSH | Photo: BIRN/ Ivana Dervishi.
New data about the number of mosques in Albania operating outside the
legal standards or the rules of the Muslim Community, KMSH, put the
figure at around 200 out of a total of 727 in the country.
The number is far higher than it was previous estimates and has fuelled concern about the aims of those setting them up.
The data came from the head of the State Committee on Cults, Ilir
Dizdari, during a conference on the risk of terrorism that
Muslim-majority Albania faces and who also made an interview with BIRN.
"Our process of identification up to now tell us that 200 mosques out
of 727 don’t fulfill at least one of the required legal standards or
Muslim Community regulations," he told BIRN.
"They might be closed, have lost ties with the community, might be
illegal buildings, might not have the proper documentation, and so on,"
he said.
It has not been specified how many of the 200 mosques are, in fact,
open, as the full report of the State Committee on Cults will not be
released until next year.
Dizdari said that not all of these mosques had exhibited problems
regarding extremism, but that uncontroled mosques could not exist any
longer.
"This kind of situation... cannot continue. Controls and proper
documentation should exist for every of them and we are working in this
direction," Dizdari said.
Dizdari blamed the KMSH in part for the growth in freelance mosques,
saying it was not just unable to control these mosques but had
contributed to this situation.
"The Albanian Muslim community should stay away from sectarianism. It
should be inclusive and above all increase the level of theology," he
said.
The KMSH was also urged to attend to its role in containing extremist preachers within the mosques.
"The Albanian Muslim Community should openly criticise forms of
preaching that lead to the development of terrorist ideas. It also has
to form regulations in this regard and distribute them to all the
mosques. These things are not being done," Dizdari continued.
The former deputy head of the KMSH, Ermir Gjinishi, also blamed the current leadership of this community for not doing its job.
"If the KMSH does not intervene immediately to change this situation
next year, half of the mosques in Albania will pass out of its control,"
Gjinishi said.
Concerns about Islamist extremism in Albania rose on March 2014 when
two self-appointed imams heading mosques independently from the KMSH
were arrested for recruiting jihadists to fight for radical Islamist
groups in Syria.
The KMSH is the only Muslim organization that the state recognizes and collaborates with.
Having this exclusive position, it claims the right to administer and
oversee every mosque in Albania, as no other Muslim religious
organisation is officially registered in the courts and approved by the
State Committee on Cults.
The head of the Islamic community in Tirana, Ylli Gurra, told BIRN
that he shared the concerns of the state institution in charge of cults.
"The situation could become dangerous if it continues the same way. A
mosque outside the community's control can be an open window for
extremism," he said.
Gurra urged the KMSH to reflect on the situation and take measures to
fix it by increasing its influence within Albania's mosques.
Published:
16:13 GMT, 17 December 2015
| Updated:
16:13 GMT, 17 December 2015
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Anti-government
protesters in Albania have pelted police with tomatoes, eggs, and smoke
flares during a rally near parliament. Several
thousand supporters of the conservative opposition attended the rally
Thursday and challenged a police cordon as lawmakers from the
center-right Democratic Party presented procedural obstacles during a
municipal budget debate. The
opposition has launched a protest campaign against Socialist Prime
Minister Edi Rama's government, accusing it of corruption and
ineffective leadership.
An Albanian opposition Democratic Party
supporter, centre, wears a mask, during a rally in front of the
Parliament building, in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015. to
protest against government¿s links to crime, corruption and taking the
country into poverty, (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Protests are being organized
amid an unpopular government crackdown on nonpayment of household
electricity bills, as well as recent hikes in income taxes and social
security contributions.
An Albanian opposition Democratic Party
supporter shouts, during a rally in front of the Parliament building,
in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015. to protest against
government¿s links to crime, corruption and taking the country into
poverty, (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Albanian opposition Democratic Party supporters
take part in a rally in front of the Parliament building, in Tirana,
Albania, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, to protest against government¿s links
to crime, corruption and taking the country into poverty. (AP
Photo/Hektor Pustina)
An Albanian opposition Democratic Party
supporter releases a smoke flare, during a rally in front of the
Parliament building, in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, to
protest against government¿s links to crime, corruption and taking the
country into poverty. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
A group of Albanian opposition Democratic Party
supporters wear masks during a rally in front of the Parliament
building, in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, to protest
against government¿s links to crime, corruption and taking the country
into poverty. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
View of the tomatoes, broken eggs and potatoes
thrown by Albanian opposition Democratic Party supporters, during a
rally in front of the Parliament building, in Tirana, Albania, Thursday,
Dec. 17, 2015. to protest against government¿s links to crime,
corruption and taking the country into poverty. (AP Photo/Hektor
Pustina)
The
Turkish leadership has become the proverbial loose cannon on deck: no
one knows which way Ankara will roll, but everyone realizes that the
results will be very damaging, a former CIA Case Officer Philip Giraldi
remarks.
Turkey
with its unique geographic position, a 600,000-strong army and a
vibrant and diversified economy is both "indispensable" as well as a
dangerous power in the Middle East, former CIA Case Officer and Army
Intelligence Officer Philip Giraldi underscores.
"It is perhaps Turkey's indispensability that
is part of the problem, as it has given its current government a
hubristic sense of entitlement that has developed into a conceit that it
can be the arbiter for all its neighbors while also transforming itself
into an autocracy at home," Giraldi writes in his article for The Unz
Review.
The
former CIA official calls attention to the fact that a largely secular
Turkish republic has now turned into an "illiberal democracy"
increasingly run on "Islamic principles." Turkey's independent media
have been eradicated, protesters beaten and shot and the opposition
ruthlessly suppressed.
Giraldi stresses that it was Turkish President Recep Erdogan who is responsible for this embarrassing transformation.
So, it is hardly surprising that Ankara has been repeatedly spotted
colluding with radical Islamists, most notably Daesh (IS/ISIL), in Syria
and Iraq.
"As Turkey is nominally a US ally in combatting
ISIS [Daesh] going after another de facto ally would seem to be a
strange choice, but it ignores the fact that Ankara has been duplicitous
from the beginning in terms of its real objectives," Giraldi notes.
Indeed, during the US-led operation against Daesh Turkey allowed
jihadists to travel through it in and out of the war zone in the Middle
East. Turkey's motif is understandable: Ankara's major goals in Syria
are to eliminate the Kurdish military forces and topple Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad.
According to the former CIA officer, Recep Erdogan has no interest at all in defeating Daesh, quite the contrary.
"One
might reasonably go a step farther to assert that Turkey has been an
ally of ISIS [Daesh], supporting from the beginning radical Sunni groups
that eventually came together to form the terrorist organization," the
former CIA Case Officer underscores.
Giraldi refers to that fact that back in 2014 he himself saw a
certain number of Daesh supporters collecting money for Islamic
extremists in various Istanbul neighborhoods.
It has long been rumored that Ankara is funding terrorists, providing
them with arms and treating wounded Daesh militants in Turkey's
hospitals. However, when two well-known Turkish journalists stepped
out to provide ample evidence of Ankara's complicity in terrorism they
were immediately detained and charged with treason.
But it is only a part of the story. On the other hand, Turkey has
been twisting the EU's arm, threatening the European leaders
with flooding the European Union with refugees from the Middle East and
North Africa.
"It has been taking advantage of the refugee
crisis, which it has helped create, and exploited legitimate fear
of ISIS [Daesh] infiltration. Erdogan has promised to slow the human
wave engulfing Europe only if the European Union comes up with 3 billion
Euros to cover expenses," Giraldi points out.
In light of this Turkey resembles nothing so much as a blackmailer and a racketeer, not a credible partner.
Furthermore, Ankara has been involved in oil smuggling
from Daesh-held territories in Syria and Iraq. The president's son Bilal
Erdogan, the principal owner of BMZ Group Denizcilik, is transporting
the stolen oil to Asia and Israel, according to the former intelligence
official. Turkey is also smuggling Kurdistan oil despite vocal protests
from the Iraqi government.
"Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is now seeking
to increase his own considerable de facto powers, has certainly become a
danger to all its neighbors but mostly inflicts damage on itself,"
Giraldi emphasizes, adding that Ankara's treacherous attack against the
Russian Su-24 proved this assumption once again.
"Erdogan has become, internationally speaking, the proverbial loose
cannon on deck. No one knows which way he will roll, but everyone has
become absolutely certain that the results will be very, very damaging,"
the former CIA Case Officer concludes.
Back in 2000, the CIA published a 70-page report on what the world would be like in 2015.
Here were some of those predictions, according to a December 2000 story from The Telegraph. "International affairs are increasingly determined by large and powerful organizations rather than governments." Verdict: Probably true, though it is sometimes hard to distinguish between non-state actors and state actors. Just look at the Islamic State or the possibly-not-North Korean hackers who took down Sony. "Between now and 2015 terrorist tactics will become increasingly sophisticated and designed to achieve mass casualties." Verdict: Definitely true. Sadly, this prediction became true within months. "Iraq and Iran [will] develop long range missiles in the near
future. Iran … could be testing such weapons by as early as the coming
year, and cruise missiles by 2004." Verdict: Both true and false. Iran is definitely working on an ICBM, but it won't test it till next year. "The world population will grow by more than one billion, to 7.2 billion." Verdict: True. "Energy resources will be sufficient to meet demand." Verdict: Nailed it. Companies are actually canceling plans to dig up more natural gas because oil is abundant right now. "China's economy will grow to overtake Europe as the world's second largest but still behind the United States." Verdict: True-ish. By some measurements, China's economy is now larger than the US economy. "Europe will not achieve fully the dreams of parity with the US as a shaper of the global economic system." Verdict: Correct. The report was way too bullish on the European economy, which is "going nowhere" these days. "Aids,
famine, and continuing economic and political turmoil means that
populations in many [African] countries will actually fall." Verdict: False. Africa's population rose from 800 million in 2000 to 1.1 billion in 2014.
The
very existence of the European Union is already threatened and no one
can guarantee that it will retain its present form in ten years,
according to European Parliament President Martin Schulz.
In
an interview with the Czech news website Novinky, European Parliament
President Martin Schulz said that the existence of the European Union is
currently under threat and that it remains to be seen whether it will
retain its present form in a decade.
"The EU is being endangered and no doubt, the
situation is extremely alarming. No one can say whether the EU will
exist in its current form ten years later," Schulz said.
According to him, it is absurd to believe that each country can cope
with the global challenges of the 21st century, including migration,
terrorism, climate change and international crime."
Schulz lamented the fact that some EU member states are interested
in weakening the EU, while at the same time accusing Brussels of failing
to solve the main modern-day challenges.
As an example, he referred to some EU countries' unwillingness
to grapple with the migration crisis, with only five countries, Greece,
Italy, Austria, Germany and Sweden, currently bearing the burden.
"If we distributed one million refugees
among the 508 million citizens of 28 EU countries, we would have coped
with this problem," Schulz said.
On the resumption of negotiations with Turkey on its accession to the
EU, Schulz stressed the necessity of openly discussing difficult issues
on the matter, such as freedom of the press and the ongoing conflict
between the Turkish government and the country's Kurdish minority.
In
connection with UK Prime Minister Cameron's proposals to reform the EU,
Schulz said that the best choice both for Brussels and London would be
for the UK to remain a full-fledged member of the European Union.
"Some of the requirements of the British Prime Minister David Cameron
are very difficult to implement as they relate to the basic freedoms
of the internal market," Schultz said, warning against restricting
freedom of citizens' movement.
At the same time, he underscored the importance of British proposals
aimed at transforming the EU into a more dynamic project, something that
he said will hopefully lead to a mutually advantageous agreement.
Για
υφαρπαγή τουριστικών φιλέτων στις παραθαλάσσιες περιοχές του Ιονίου,
στο Νότο της Αλβανίας, από Αλβανούς του Βορρά -και πίσω απ' αυτούς το
περιβάλλον του πρώην πρωθυπουργού Σαλί Μπερίσα- έκανε λόγο σε δηλώσεις
του από τους Αγίους Σαράντα ο πρωθυπουργός της Αλβανίας Έντι Ράμα.
«Πεντακόσιες χιλιάδες στρέμματα γης»
είπε χαρακτηριστικά ο κ. Ράμα, μιλώντας σε στελέχη του κόμματός του,
«έχουν υφαρπάξει άτομα που προέκυψαν αίφνης ως ιδιοκτήτες, αλλά
αντίκρισαν για πρώτη φορά το Ιόνιο, για πρώτη φορά στην ιστορία της
φυλής τους, όταν ήρθε στην εξουσία ο Σαλί Μπερίσα».
Ο κ. Ράμα επεκτάθηκε, λέγοντας ότι σε
όλη την ακτή του Ιονίου, από την Αυλώνα μέχρι τα σύνορα με την Ελλάδα,
τα άτομα αυτά που «εισήγαγε εδώ από τις Άλπεις ο πρώην πρωθυπουργός της
Αλβανίας Σαλί Μπερίσα, έχτισαν παράνομα κτίρια και ταυτόχρονα κακόγουστα
σε τέτοιο σημείο που δεν μπορεί να χαρακτηριστούν».
Άμεση ήταν η αντίδραση του πρώην
πρωθυπουργού της χώρας Σαλί Μπερίσα. Σε ανάρτησή του, την ίδια μέρα, στο
facebook κατηγόρησε τον Αλβανό πρωθυπουργό για «εθνική διάσπαση» και
ότι «ξέσπασε σε πρωτάκουστο αντεθνικό ρατσισμό κατά των πολιτών βόρειας
καταγωγής, από την εποχή του κακόφημου Ζωγράφου, οι φάλαγγες ανταρτών
του οποίου πολεμούσαν κατά των βορείων καθοδηγούμενων από τους Ισά
Μπουλετίνι και Ριζά Κρυεζίου».
Σε ρεπορτάζ και άρθρα, αλβανικά ΜΜΕ
αποκαλύπτουν ότι Αλβανοί του Βορρά εμφανίζονται ως ιδιοκτήτες σε
περιουσίες που άνηκαν σε ντόπιους κατοίκους στην περιοχή του Ιονίου.
Υποστηρίζουν, δε, ότι «οι νεόκοποι ιδιοκτήτες από τον βορρά, των
τουριστικών φιλέτων στο Ιόνιο, ανήκουν στο περιβάλλον της οικογένειας
του πρώην πρωθυπουργού Σαλί Μπερίσα και ότι οι αντιδράσεις τελευταίου
έχουν ως στόχο "να συγκαλύψουν τα οικογενειακά του συμφέροντα».
Στην ηλεκτρονική της έκδοση, η εφημερίδα
Τema, αναφέρει χαρακτηριστικά ότι «γίνεται λόγος για άτομα του
περιβάλλοντος της οικογένειας Μπερίσα, που έχουν ιδιωτικοποιήσει
εκατοντάδες στρέμματα στις ακροθαλάσσιες περιοχές από την Αυλώνα, το
Ωρικό και μέχρι τους Δρυμάδες και τα Εξαμήλια». Η εφημερίδα προβαίνει
μάλιστα σε αποκαλύψεις συγκεκριμένων ονομάτων.
Υπενθυμίζεται ότι η μαζική κάθοδος
Αλβανών προς το Νότο, κυρίως στις παράλια του Ιονίου άρχισε από το 1994,
μετά από δημόσια έκκληση που ο τότε πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας Σαλί
Μπερίσα απηύθυνε προς τους κάτοικους του Βορρά, να κατακτήσουν το Νότο
και τα παράλια.
Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has confirmed that Syria talks will
resume in New York City on Friday, adding that he and US Secretary of
State John Kerry are finding common ground.
The
New York talks had previously been up in the air, as it was unclear
whether Washington would meet Moscow's preconditions over the role
of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the list of participating
opposition groups.
During talks in Moscow between Lavrov, Kerry, and Russian President
Vladimir Putin, Kerry said that the two nations could work together
effectively on combating terrorism in Syria. The meeting was scheduled
to last only one hour, but lasted for more than three.
Kerry also announced that Russia and the US had discussed exchanging
data on the locations of anti-terrorist operations, and that Washington
is not pursuing a policy of isolating Russia.
"Today we focused not on our differences, and not on what can be done
immediately in terms of Assad, but we focused on the political process,
in the frame of which Syrians themselves can decide the future of their
country," Kerry said, according to RIA Novosti.
After talks with Putin and Lavrov, Kerry also agreed that neither
al-Nusra Front nor Daesh, also known as ISIL/the Islamic State, will be
part of the Syrian opposition talks.
"Islamic State, Nusra Front and other terrorist groups pose common
threat to us, and we reaffirmed today our mutual determination to root
out this evil," Lavrov said.
Lavrov also said that both parties agreed that the Vienna Accords
on Syria must be backed a United Nations Security Council resolution,
adding that Washington and Moscow have agreed on the next steps
for effectively coordinating anti-terror efforts.
"We met today not as Russia and the US alone, behind the backs of the
other participants in the support group for Syria," Lavrov said
according to RIA Novosti. "We met as co-chairs of the group, which do
not do anything in secret and do not keep anything from the other
members of that group, which was created as a result of the Vienna
process."
"We approved agreements that have been reached
between the militaries of the Russian Federation and the United States,
and agreements that apply to the US-led coalition, which works
against ISIL," Lavrov added. "And in practical terms we agreed on some
further steps that will help make our parallel work more coordinated and
more effective."
The meeting between Syria's opposition groups in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
seeks to establish a agreement by which the opposition can enter
negotiations with the Syrian government.
"It does not represent all opposition groups, but this, again, was
one step in the process, which is coordinated by the United Nations,"
Lavrov said.
Russia favors a collective, all-inclusive format of an international
anti-terrorist coalition in Syria, which has been formed at Vienna talks
and approved by the UN Security Council, Lavrov added.
"We certainly agree that everybody must contribute to the fight
against terrorism and to the political process [in Syria]," Lavrov said
at a joint press conference with Kerry after talks.
"We prefer doing it in a collective format,
which has been formed in Vienna, and which includes all key players that
influence one way or another on warring sides in Syria; the format that
was approved by the UN Security Council in a recent resolution," Lavrov
said, adding that this format covers the preparation of a list
of terrorist groups in Syria.
Lavrov also pointed out that the UN Secretariat was unable to provide
Russia with any proof that its Syrian operations have had a negative
impact on the humanitarian situation there.
He referred to a recent UN report alleging the Russian operation was killing civilians in Syria.
"The statements contained no references to factual information. We
requested the UN Secretariat to provide such facts but they failed to do
so and we asked the Secretariat to be more careful about their
statements in the future and give assessments based on precise data
with references to sources," Lavrov said.
"Since then we have heard no more accusations against us," the Russian foreign minister added.
Hitherto,
Albanian officials previously and currently in government offices have
been seen taking advantage of the underdeveloped and dilapidated
conditions throughout the country to line their own pockets and to
gather large tracts of property
unbeknownst to many Albanians; as a Himariot, I see the Albanian
Southern Coast being slowly taken over by these individuals in the
government, even though many residents cannot even build on their own
properties. The self-aggrandizing usurpation of our country by a
Neo-Communist regime continues now in spirit with an unrelenting avarice
and its Machiavellian arbiters who thwart all rightful owners' claims
to their property - and we who have lost our land because of our
country's shameful history must now undertake a daily struggle to
reclaim what has always been ours. For instance, it has been apparent
that the Albanian government has been reluctant to relinquish property
to its citizens and it has been especially difficult for Albanian
citizens to engage in equitable legal disputes due to the preponderating
corruption at various levels of judicial office. The Criminal Law 7501
is now being used to create touristic villages and to acquire large
swaths of real estate by members of the Albanian government as well as
their close friends and partners all the while denying those who ought
to have been provided with what was theirs before it was taken away from
them.
What can the US Embassy do to help Albanians
understand the nature and extent of the corruption that exists within
their own government? Can the US Embassy provide guidance as well as a
safety net for Albanians who feel at risk in making motions to change or
overturn certain unethical laws that have been put forward to undermine
Albanians and their rights?
It is my sincere hope,
Ambassador Lu, that the American Embassy will take steps with the U.S.
and Albanian governments to help Albanians reclaim their country.
Sincerely, Sabina Koka Marsh Kansas, USA
US Ambassador Donald Lu, backs Himara Community efforts for their Constitutional Rights.
U.S. Embassy-TiranaHi
Sabina, I had the opportunity to visit Himara in July and meet with
several leaders of the ethnic Greek Albanian community. I heard from
them all about the illegal seizure of property and the denial of rights.
We follow the issues of this community
very closely. We do so during elections and whenever there is a
crisis. We also have staff members who visit the region regularly. If
Albanians have individual concerns about human rights, they can raise
them to the U.S. Embassy and the office of the People’s Advocate of
Albania.
The text stresses that "this first set of interim
benchmarks will be updated" and that "if progress in the normalization
of relations with Kosovo significantly lags behind progress in the
negotiations overall" the opening of other chapters could be frozen.
The EU notes that Serbia in its position stated that
"fully understanding that the EU accession process and normalization
process should run parallel and support one another," and that Serbia
"will remain entirely committed to the continuation of the normalization
process and its dialogue with Pristina."
The document adds
that chapter 35 "does not replace the dialogue between Belgrade and
Pristina conducted under the auspices of the (EU) high representative,"
and that Serbia's progress in the process of EU accession will take
place in line with "improvement of relations with Kosovo, and other
requirements from negotiating frameworks."
In the part relating to energy, it is stated that Serbia ould establish the supply company ElektroSever in Kosovo, and "solve the issue of the Serbian-appointed management of the Gazivode (hydro-power plant)."
"Serbia should ensure that it completes its part of the work on
implementation of August 25, 2015 agreements, in particular on the
establishment of the Association/Community of Serb majority
municipalities in Kosovo as well as the other elements of the First
Agreement of April 2013 (police, justice, civil protection). In
addition, Serbia will complete its residual commitments under the
previous Technical Agreements," the EU common position on chapter 35
reads, and adds:
"Finally, Serbia should engage in reaching
further agreements, furthering the normalization in good faith, with a
view to gradually lead to the comprehensive normalization of relations
between Serbia and Kosovo, in line with the negotiating framework. In
line with the negotiating framework, the Commission and the High
Representative will monitor closely and continuously Serbia's
fulfillment of the following first set of interim benchmarks and report
"at least twice yearly', on this issue, to the (European) Council."
Other key points stated relate to elections, the Community of Serb
Municipalities (ZSO), civil defense, police, and telecommunications.
The part that relates to freedom of movement says Serbia must "allow
third states' nationals entry into Serbia from Kosovo" and "implement
the license plates' arrangements in northern Kosovo for Kosovo
residents."
As for regional cooperation, the EU expects Serbia
to "enable, from their side, Kosovo's effective participation in
remaining regional initiatives, in line with the jointly agreed terms,"
while when it comes to "customs issues" Serbia should "cease the
issuance of documentation or affixing of stamps with denominations that
contravenes Serbian obligations under the January 17, 2013 agreement."
Συγγενής πρώην πρωθυπουργού της Αλβανίας, ιδιοκτήτης σε παραθαλάσσιο κτήμα στις Δρυμάδες.
Μετά τον εργολάβο του Ραμά, τον συνέταιρο του Μέτα και τον μεγάλο
χορηγό του Μπερίσα, τώρα και συγγενής του Φάτος Νάνο (πρώην
πρωθυπουργός της Αλβανίας) διεκδικεί παραθαλάσσιο κτήμα στις Δρυμάδες.
Πριν μερικές ημέρες έγινε μια μικρή σύγκρουση στο Δραλαίο στις Δρυμάδες
όπου ο Φάτος Πουστίνα προσπάθησε να κάνει έξωση στην οικογένεια Λάτη
από Δρυμάδες από το κτήμα που έχει κληρονομήσει από τον παππού του μαζί
με αλλά μέλη της οικογένειας Λάτη. Η τοποθεσία όπου βρίσκετε το κτήμα
λέγετε "Η αλέα του Σίμο Λάτη", που είναι το όνομα του παππού τους.
Ο Φάτος Πουστίνα είναι ο αδερφός της πρώην συζύγου του Φάτο Νάνο και
έχει ακόμη άριστες σχέσεις με τον πρώην γαμπρό του ο όποιος, όταν
συγκυβερνούσε με τον Ιλίρ Μετά το Μάρτιο του 2000, τον προίκισε με ένα
κτήμα 20.000τμ στο Δραλαίο, εκεί που έχει μεγάλο κτήμα και ο συνεταίρος
του, ο Ιλίρ Μετά.
Ο Πουστίνα ισχυρίζεται ότι ιδιωτικοποίησε το κτήμα το οποίο με μια
Κυβερνητική απόφαση είχε δώσει για ιδιωτικοποίηση ως κτήμα που άνηκε
στην εταιρία πυραμίδα Kamberi.
Όμως η απόφαση του Μέτα του Μαρτίου 2000 έχει ακυρωθεί με απόφαση του
Σάλι Μπερίσα το 2008 μετά από αίτημα του τότε Δημάρχου Χιμάρας Βασίλη
Μπολάνου και την στήριξη κώματος ΚΕΑΔ που ήταν τότε στο υπουργικό
Συμβούλιο του Μπερίσα. Όμως, ο συγγενής του Φάτος Νάνο ισχυρίζεται ότι
η απόφαση δεν τον αφορά και προσπαθεί να εκδιώξει την οικογένεια Λάτη
από το κτήμα για να μπορέσει να κάνει την εγγραφή στο κτηματολόγιο
Αυλώνας.
Ο συγγενής του πρώην Πρωθυπουργού της Αλβανίας, αποχώρησε από το
Δραλαίο με την υπόσχεση ότι θα ξαναγυρίσει για να ολοκληρώσει την
αρπαγή.
Μπροστά του βρίσκετε μόνο ένας άνθρωπος γιατί η υπόλοιπη Χιμάρα σιωπά
και δεν αντιδρά με την ελπίδα ότι θα τους λυπηθούν και δεν θα τους
πάρουν τα κτήματα τους αν κάτσουν φρόνημα. Σύντομα, θα έρθει και η σειρά
σας.
Ο Εκσκαφέας Πηγή: http://www.himara.gr
Για υφαρπαγή τουριστικών φιλέτων στις παραθαλάσσιες περιοχές του
Ιονίου, στο Νότο της Αλβανίας, από Αλβανούς του Βορρά -και πίσω απ'
αυτούς το περιβάλλον του πρώην πρωθυπουργού Σαλί Μπερίσα- έκανε λόγο σε
δηλώσεις του από τους Αγίους Σαράντα ο πρωθυπουργός της Αλβανίας Έντι
Ράμα.
«Πεντακόσιες χιλιάδες στρέμματα γης» είπε χαρακτηριστικά ο κ. Ράμα,
μιλώντας σε στελέχη του κόμματός του, «έχουν υφαρπάξει άτομα που
προέκυψαν αίφνης ως ιδιοκτήτες, αλλά αντίκρισαν για πρώτη φορά το Ιόνιο,
για πρώτη φορά στην ιστορία της φυλής τους, όταν ήρθε στην εξουσία ο
Σαλί Μπερίσα».
Ο κ. Ράμα επεκτάθηκε, λέγοντας ότι σε όλη την ακτή του Ιονίου, από
την Αυλώνα μέχρι τα σύνορα με την Ελλάδα, τα άτομα αυτά που «εισήγαγε
εδώ από τις Άλπεις ο πρώην πρωθυπουργός της Αλβανίας Σαλί Μπερίσα,
έχτισαν παράνομα κτίρια και ταυτόχρονα κακόγουστα σε τέτοιο σημείο που
δεν μπορεί να χαρακτηριστούν».
Άμεση ήταν η αντίδραση του πρώην πρωθυπουργού της χώρας Σαλί Μπερίσα.
Σε ανάρτησή του, την ίδια μέρα, στο facebook κατηγόρησε τον Αλβανό
πρωθυπουργό για «εθνική διάσπαση» και ότι «ξέσπασε σε πρωτάκουστο
αντεθνικό ρατσισμό κατά των πολιτών βόρειας καταγωγής, από την εποχή του
κακόφημου Ζωγράφου, οι φάλαγγες ανταρτών του οποίου πολεμούσαν κατά των
βορείων καθοδηγούμενων από τους Ισά Μπουλετίνι και Ριζά Κρυεζίου».
Σε ρεπορτάζ και άρθρα, αλβανικά ΜΜΕ αποκαλύπτουν ότι Αλβανοί του
Βορρά εμφανίζονται ως ιδιοκτήτες σε περιουσίες που άνηκαν σε ντόπιους
κατοίκους στην περιοχή του Ιονίου. Υποστηρίζουν, δε, ότι "οι νεόκοποι
ιδιοκτήτες από τον βορρά, των τουριστικών φιλέτων στο Ιόνιο, ανήκουν στο
περιβάλλον της οικογένειας του πρώην πρωθυπουργού Σαλί Μπερίσα και ότι
οι αντιδράσεις τελευταίου έχουν ως στόχο "να συγκαλύψουν τα οικογενειακά
του συμφέροντα".
Στην ηλεκτρονική της έκδοση, η εφημερίδα Τema, αναφέρει
χαρακτηριστικά ότι «γίνεται λόγος για άτομα του περιβάλλοντος της
οικογένειας Μπερίσα, που έχουν ιδιωτικοποιήσει εκατοντάδες στρέμματα
στις ακροθαλάσσιες περιοχές από την Αυλώνα, το Ωρικό και μέχρι τους
Δρυμάδες και τα Εξαμήλια». Η εφημερίδα προβαίνει μάλιστα σε αποκαλύψεις
συγκεκριμένων ονομάτων.
Υπενθυμίζεται ότι η μαζική κάθοδος Αλβανών προς το Νότο, κυρίως στις
παράλια του Ιονίου άρχισε από το 1994, μετά από δημόσια έκκληση που ο
τότε πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας Σαλί Μπερίσα απηύθυνε προς τους κάτοικους
του Βορρά, να κατακτήσουν το Νότο και τα παράλια.
Tear gas has once again been thrown in the hall of the Kosovo assembly in Pristina. Source: Beta, Tanjug
(Tanjug, file)
The opposition Self-Determination party and the assembly
security also clashed in the foyer this Monday, resulting in the arrest
of one MP.
These incidents occurred half an hour into a sitting on
the formation in Kosovo of the community of municipalities with a Serb
majority (ZSO) - a part of the Brussels agreement.
Later on
Monday, the chaos from the assembly building spilled over into the
streets where demonstrators threw rocks and clashed with the police.
The opposition has been blocking the work of parliament for four months
now, by firing tear gas and interrupting sittings, in protest of this
agreement that has been suspended by the Pristina authorities and should be ruled on by the Constitutional Court.
Beta is reporting that Self-Determination representatives today said
the government was "trying to pressure the opposition," while "citizens
gathered in front of the building were shouting, 'The Community and the
demarcation won't pass" - the latter a reference to an agreement with
Montenegro, also rejected by the opposition.
Before the meeting
was interrupted today, deputies from Self-Determination Fisnik Ismaili
and Faton Topali, whom a court ordered under house arrests, were seen in
the assembly.
The pair are suspected of committing the
criminal act of causing general danger and activating tear gas, which is
considered a weapon in Kosovo.
The Beta agency is reporting that the Basic Pristina Court's reaction to the violation of its order "is expected."
Gauk Konjufca and Time Kadriraj of the Self-Determination fired the tear gas today, while Ismail Kurteshi was arrested.
This party and the Initiative for Kosovo have been disrupting the work
of the assembly for months, which has resulted in the detention of
several of their MPs, including Self-Determination founder Albin Kurti.
Montenegro
should build up cooperation with Russia and adhere to military
neutrality in its foreign policy, Montenegrin politician Andrija Mandic
said.
On
December 2, Montenegro received an official invitation from NATO
to join the alliance. While the government praised the initiative many
in the country have strongly opposed it. A surge of anti-NATO protests
has been held across the country since then.
"The invitation from NATO to Montenegro was a big mistake," Andrija
Mandic, leader of the New Serb Democracy party, said in an interview
with News Front.
"The alliance knows that over 60 percent of the people in Montenegro
are against the country joining the military bloc. Unfortunately, we
have a government of puppets controlled by the West," he added.
According to the politician, the current
situation is dangerous for Montenegro because the decision to join NATO
will be passed by the parliament, without taking into account the will
of the people.
"Our party stands for a referendum in following all the necessary
legal procedures. This is the only way to resolve the crisis," Mandic
pointed out.
There
are some people in Montenegro who support joining NATO and they are
outnumbered, Mandic said. At the same time, there are those who want the
country to form a military alliance with Russia, the politician said.
"However, the majority support Montenegro being neutral. But we are
an Orthodox people, and Russia protected us from the Ottoman Empire
for 300 years. So, first of all, we want our neutrality to be guaranteed
and supported by Russia," he explained.
The politician stressed that Montenegro should try to build friendly
relations with Russia. The Montenegrin economy relies heavily on Russian
tourists and investments from Russia. The government should keep this
in mind and look to strengthen ties with Moscow, Mandic said.
"Currently, the policy of our government is
controlled by the West. Our authorities have repeatedly committed
mistakes and made anti-Russian and anti-Serbian statements. But Russia
has always been friendly in response," the politician said. "I believe
that after the first legal snap elections the situation would change and
Montenegro will not go with Albania and Turkey against Russia and
Serbia."
Unresponsive ship came within 600 metres of Russian destroyer before it opened fire with small arms: defence ministry.
Warning shots with small arms were fired at the Turkish ship after it failed to respond [AP]Russia's
defence ministry says one of its warships fired warning shots at a
Turkish vessel in Aegean Sea on Sunday to avoid a collision.
A ministry statement says the destroyer Smetlivy was unable to
establish radio contact with the approaching Turkish ship, which also
failed to respond to visual signals and flares.
When the vessel was 600 metres away, the destroyer fired with small arms and the Turkish vessel quickly changed course.
"The crew of the Russian patrol ship Smetlivy - which was located
22km from the Greek island of Lemnos in the northern part of the Aegean
Sea - avoided collision with a Turkish seiner," the defence ministry
told the AFP news agency.
Turkey's military attache in Moscow has been summoned by the defence ministry over the incident.
Tensions between Moscow and Ankara have been heightened since a
Turkish jet downed a Russian bomber along the Syrian border last month,
killing one of the two pilots.
Moscow has imposed a series of economic sanctions against
Ankara after the incident, sparking the biggest crisis between the two
countries since the Cold War. Holiday ban
Meanwhile, the Turkish army on Sunday banned staff from taking holidays in Russia, state-run media reported.
The prohibition, which applies to both personnel and military academy
students, was described as a "precautionary measure after the Russian
warplane, which violated (Turkey's) borders, was downed in accordance
with the rules of engagement," Anatolia news agency said.
Army personnel are expected to behave in a way that is "worthy" of the Turkish military while on vacation, Anatolia added.
Following the incident, a military attache at Turkish embassy in Moscow
has been urgently summoned to the Russian Defense Ministry by Deputy
Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov.
The incident comes amid Russian-Turkish tensions following the downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber by the Turkish Air Force over Syria on November 24.
Ankara claimed that the aircraft had violated its airspace, however,
Russian defense officials provided evidence that the aircraft had not
crossed into Turkey. The pilot, who survived the crash, also confirmed
that the alleged violation did not take place. Moreover, the crew,
according to the pilot, did not receive any warning prior to the attack.
![AFP]({"default":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB74fLk.img?h=50&w=50&m=6&q=60&u=t&o=t&l=f&f=png"})
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