Διεθνοποιείται η υφαρπαγή των περιουσιών Ελλήνων στους Δρυμάδες

ON 05 ΜΑΙΟΣ 2016.
DRYMADES

• Η υφαρπαγή των περιουσιών των κατοίκων των Δρυμάδων, του Βούνου και της ευρύτερης περιοχής της Χιμάρας, προκαλεί έντονες αντιδράσεις στο χώρο της Ελληνικής Μειονότητας της Αλβανίας, αλλά και το ενδιαφέρον ξένων παρατηρητών.
Καθολική είναι η εκτίμηση, ότι πίσω από το σχέδιο που υλοποιεί η Κυβέρνηση Ράμα, κρύβονται επιχειρηματικά συμφέροντα που θέλουν με κάθε τρόπο να αποκτήσουν τις ελληνικές περιουσίες για να «επενδύσουν» στην περιοχή. Παράλληλα όμως εξυπηρετούνται και οι ανθελληνικές επιδιώξεις των γνωστών εθνικιστικών κύκλων, εκτίμηση που ενισχύεται από το γεγονός ότι ενώ επιχειρείται η αφαίρεση των τίτλων ιδιοκτησίας από Έλληνες και Ορθόδοξους πολίτες, δεν συμβαίνει το ίδιο και για όσους τίτλους αποκτήθηκαν από καταπατητές με πλαστά έγγραφα.
Τη Δευτέρα του Πάσχα – και με δεδομένο ότι στην περιοχή της Χιμάρας εγκαταστάθηκαν μηχανήματα του Στρατού για κατεδαφίσεις, αλλά και το κλίμα εκφοβισμού που προκαλείται- στους Δρυμάδες, με πρωτοβουλία της  Ένωσης Χιμαριωτών Αμερικής και σε συνεργασία με την «ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ» πραγματοποιήθηκε ανοιχτή διαβούλευση, τόσο για το φλέγον ιδιοκτησιακό ζήτημα, όσο και για άλλα θέματα που απασχολούν τους γηγενείς κατοίκους.  Ακολουθεί αναλυτικό ρεπορτάζ και σχολιασμός του συνεργάτη μας Βαγγέλη Παπαχρήστου.
***
Δε λένε να πάψουν οι εντάσεις στα χωριά των παραθαλασσίων. Δικαιολογημένα. Εδώ υπάρχουν οι παρθένες παραλίες και τα μοσχομυρωδάτα μέρη. Οι παμπάλαιες εκκλησίες, μοναστήρια και τα αρχοντικά σπίτια. Οι θαρραλέοι κάτοικοι που αντιστάθηκαν σε κάθε σύστημα και σε κάθε κατακτητή.
Αυτό πρέπει ν’ αλλάξει. Πρέπει να δαμαστούν και να υποκύψουν στις ορέξεις των εκάστοτε αλβανικών κυβερνήσεων. Πρέπει να καταβροχθίσουν και να χειριστούν αυτά τα μέρη οι κυβερνητικοί μεγαλοκαρχαρίες. Ή καλύτερα όπως τα είπε ένας Δρυμαδιώτης στην ανοιχτή συνέλευση: «Θέλουν να σβήσουν την καταγωγή μας, τα ήθη και έθιμα, την θρησκεία. Θέλουν να μας αφανίσουν και να μας διώξουν…»
Τι συνέβη στις Δρυμάδες
Σαν δεν έφθανε που «οι βρικόλακες της νύχτας», όπως τους χαρακτήρισε ένας νέος,  κατεδάφισαν τον Άγιο Αθανάσιο, ξανά οι κάτοικοι της κοινότητας και της ευρύτερης περιοχής της Χιμάρας, βρέθηκαν αντιμέτωποι με άλλη μία βάρβαρη επιχείρηση. Θέλουν να υφαρπάξουν τις περιουσίες τους.  Η κυβερνητική υπηρεσία Task-Force, που συστήθηκε για τον έλεγχο τίτλων ιδιοκτησίας, που αποκτήθηκαν μετά την πτώση του κομουνιστικού καθεστώτος με το νόμο 7501, βρήκε ως παράνομους μόνο τους 123 τίτλους ιδιοκτησίας των Δρυμαδιωτών και κανέναν από τους καταπατητές της περιοχής που με πλαστά έγγραφα και άλλες πολιτικές μεθοδεύσεις υφαρπάζουν τις περιουσίες του γηγενούς πληθυσμού.
Την ίδια στιγμή μηχανήματα του στρατού εγκαταστάθηκαν στην περιοχή και η αρμόδια κρατική υπηρεσία για την κατεδάφιση παράνομων κτηρίων, τρομοκρατεί τους κατοίκους με επιλεκτικές αποφάσεις για κατεδαφίσεις κτηρίων.
Ανοιχτή διαβούλευση
Την ημέρα του Αγίου Γεωργίου, οι Δρυμαδιώτες που ζουν στο χωριό και στον ελλαδικό χώρο, εκπρόσωποι από την ευρύτερη περιοχή της Χιμάρας, εκπρόσωποι της Ένωσης Χιμαριωτών των ΗΠΑ από Ουάσιγκτον, Νέα Υόρκη και Βοστώνη, (μέσω  skype) οργάνωσαν ανοιχτή διαβούλευση για τα φλέγοντα ζητήματα που αφορούν την κοινότητα και όλη την περιοχή.
Στην συνάντηση αυτή, η Ομόνοια εκπροσωπήθηκε από το Γενικό Πρόεδρο  Λεωνίδα Παππά, τον πρώην Πρόεδρο και δήμαρχο Βασίλη Μπολάνο και τον Πρόεδρο του Παραρτήματος Χιμάρας  Φρέντη Μπελέρη.  Προσκλήθηκαν και εκπρόσωποι πολιτικών φορέων και μεταξύ άλλων παρευρέθηκαν  ο βουλευτής της περιοχής και Γ. Γραμματέας του Δημοκρατικού Κόμματος Αλβανίας  A. Ristani, ο βουλευτής και αντιπρόεδρος του Ρεπουμπλικανικού Κόμματος  A, Madhi.   Με διαδικτυακή σύνδεση συμμετείχαν ο  Πρόεδρος της Ένωσης Χιμαριωτών Αμερικής πάτερ Κοσμάς Καραβέλας, εκπρόσωποι από Νέα Υόρκη και Βοστώνη, ο Πρόεδρος του ΚΕΑΔ   Ευάγγελος Ντούλες και ο εκπρόσωπος της Αμερικανικής Πρεσβείας στα Τίρανα για θέματα Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων Geoff Parker.
Η οργή των κατοίκων
«Έχουν από το 1993 που μας λένε και ξαναλένε ότι θα μας διώξουν. Πέρασαν 25 χρόνια και το περιουσιακό δε λύθηκε. Οι Δρυμάδες είναι ένας ΝΑΟΣ.  Δεν είχαμε ψωμί και χτίζαμε εκκλησίες. Κάθε μαχαλάς έχει και τη δική του εκκλησία. Αυτά δεν μπορούν να τα χωνέψουν. Να τα καταπιούν… Και βρίσκουν τον τρόπο να μας πολεμήσουν… Εμείς δεν φοβούμαστε..»
Αυτά ήταν τα λόγια των εξοργισμένων κατοίκων των Δρυμάδων, που είναι και λόγια όλων των κατοίκων της περιοχής.
Τοποθετήσεις
Ο  Πρόεδρος της Ένωσης Χιμαριωτών Αμερικής π. Κοσμάς Καραβέλας, δήλωσε πως θα αξιοποιήσει όλα τα δημοκρατικά μέσα και συμμαχίες που διαθέτει στην Αλβανία,  Αμερική και Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση για την ευαισθητοποίηση του θέματος και  απηύθυνε έκκληση ενότητας σε όλους τους Χιμαριώτες γιατί, όπως είπε, μόνο έτσι θα μπορέσουν να διεκδικήσουν τα αιτήματά τους.
«Είμαστε αντιμέτωποι με ένα καθεστώς άνευ προηγουμένου, το καθεστώς της εξουσίας του δίδυμου Ράμα – Κοκδήμα  το οποίο δεν σέβεται ούτε τα ιερά του τόπου μας και θέλει να επαναφέρει στους πολίτες το φόβο», ανάφερε ο Γ. Πρόεδρος της Ομόνοιας Λεωνίδας Παπάς. «Το περιουσιακό δεν αφορά μόνο τη Χιμάρα αλλά όλες τις περιοχές της Ελληνικής Μειονότητας, ένα πρόβλημα που αν και πέρασαν 25 χρόνια όχι μόνον δε βρήκε λύση, αλλά κάθε μέρα με τον έναν ή τον άλλο τρόπο, με πλαστά έγγραφα, αρπάζουν τις περιουσίες των δικών μας κοινοτήτων».
Ο Πρόεδρος έκανε έκκληση σε όλους τους συμπολίτες, ανεξαρτήτου ιδεολογίας και εθνικότητας, να αντισταθούνε στην αλαζονική συμπεριφορά αυτής της εξουσίας. Στους  μεν συμπολίτες  που στηρίζουν το Σ.Κ., να διώξουν το φόβο και ν’ αντιδράσουν, στα είδους Χοτζίστικα τερτίπια της κυβέρνησης, αν θέλουν να συμβάλουν στον εκδημοκρατισμό της χώρας. Έκκληση απεύθυνε και στη διεθνή κοινότητα ν’ ακούσει την κραυγή αγωνίας αυτού του λαού για όλες τις παραβιάσεις που γίνονται.
Ο Πρόεδρος του ΚΕΑΔ, Ευάγγελος Ντούλες έκανε έκκληση να σταματήσει σήμερα αυτή η τρελή επιχείρηση, γιατί αύριο θα είναι αργά. Να φύγει ο φόβος και να  υψώσουμε τη φωνή μας, να αποδειχτεί νομικά κάθε παραβίασή και οι υγιείς πολιτικές δυνάμεις της χώρας να βγουν σε κοινή δήλωση, αν θέλουμε τον εκδημοκρατισμό αυτής της χώρας.
Για την διεθνοποίηση του ζητήματος και την επίλυση του, συμφωνήθηκε να συνταχθεί κοινό ψήφισμα όλων των φορέων.

Βαγγέλης Παπαχρήστος

Russian Foreign Minister: Turkish Expansionism Toward Greece Not Good

By Philip Chrysopoulos -
May 6, 2016

Greek Reporter

russian-foreign-minister-sergei-lavrov-1480478-2442014-ukraineThe Turkish expansionist tendencies and continued violations of Greek air space in conjunction with NATO’s tolerance are not good, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The Russian official gave an interview to Ria Novosti news agency where he spoke, inter alia, about the recent Turkish activity in the Aegean.

Lavrov said that Turkey shows “neo-Ottoman aspirations” and tries to channel their influence everywhere. Also, the tendencies to acquire new territories are particularly strong lately.

“Do you know how many times last year they violated the airspace of Greece? About 1,800 times!,” he told the Ria Novosti reporter. “And just in April 2016, over 200!” he added.

The Russian Foreign Minister also criticized NATO for not interfering, as both countries are members of the alliance. “In any case, neither Brussels, nor any of the NATO chief generals said a word; how is it that a member of the North Atlantic Alliance continually violates the air space of another member of the same coalition?” he said.

“Such tolerance in such an apparent expansionist behavior can not lead to anything good…” Lavrov stated.

ASYLUM IN ALBANIA? NO THANKS! SYRIAN REFUGES REFUSE ALBANIA OFFER

MAY 5, 2016


About 16 Syrian refugees caught by Albania police on Wednesday near the border with Greece, had refused the offer to apply for political asylum in Albania, local media announced.

The refugees, part of the group that was blocked in the border between Greece and Macedonia near the village of Idomeni, apparently aimed to use Albania as a transit point, hopping to bypass Macedonia and to reach Serbia through Kosovo.



Albania formally offers asylum for refugees caught in its territory, but very few are those who accept the offer.

Usually in the past, Albania police issued “voluntarily repatriation orders” for migrants and refugees caught in its territory but this time, it announced that the refugees had to return to Greece, apparently in order to discourage others.

Although it borders Greece, Albania has not been affected by the refugee crisis.to-their-native-countries-from-greece-in-april.

US Secretary of State Launches Attack Against Trump's Foreign Policy Views

 

© AP Photo/ Ronald Zak
US
20:52 06.05.2016
US Secretary of State John Kerry targeted the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday during a commencement speech at Northeastern University in the US state of Massachusetts.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — While Kerry did not mention Trump again by name in his speech, he did go after Trump’s foreign policy statements on immigration, national security and foreign trade.

"Classmates of every race, religion, gender, shape, size, 85 countries represented and dozens of languages spoken; you are the most diverse class in Northeastern’s history. In other words, you are Donald Trump’s worst nightmare," Kerry stated.

During the presidential campaign, Trump has proposed stopping illegal immigration by building a wall on the US-Mexico border, and banning Muslims from entering the United States until their identity are confirmed.

Moreover, Trump has called current free trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, disastrous to the interests of the American people and pledged to renegotiate them.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Indiana Theater Sunday, May 1, 2016, in Terre Haute, Ind
© AP PHOTO/ SETH PERLMAN
Trump Has Long Record That Needs to Be Examined - Obama
"The desire to turn inward and shut out the world may be especially seductive in an era as complicated as this, but it is not a responsible choice for the most prosperous and powerful nation on the planet," Kerry claimed.
The secretary noted that the leading US corporations and industries are "going global."

"[Y]ou don’t have to be great at math to understand that our economy can’t grow if we don’t sell things to the 95 percent of the world’s customers who live in other countries."

Kerry also said there are no walls that can stop people who are determined to take their own lives and those of others.

Nearly 1,700 Returned to Their Native Countries from Greece in April

By A. Makris -
May 6, 2016

Greek Reporter

The greatest number of returns were to Albania (852)

A total of 1,694 third-country nationals were deported or returned to their native countries from across Greece in April, under operational planning to combat irregular migration, Greek Police announced on Thursday.

These were based either on return and deportation orders for illegal entry into Greece, the voluntary repatriation programs operated by the International Organization for Migration, or the forced returns and voluntary departures overseen by Greek Police services.

The greatest number of returns were to Albania (852), followed by Pakistan (157), Morocco (107), Iran (61), Georgia (51), Afghanistan (45) and Bangladesh (29). A total of 6,427 third-country nationals have been returned to their country of origin since the beginning of the year, Greek Police said.
- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/05/06/nearly-1700-returned-to-their-native-countries-from-greece-in-april/#sthash.BWI7Sz0P.dpuf

US, EU Warn Albania Against Judicial Reform Delay

In strongly-worded remarks, the US and EU ambassadors to Tirana said constitutional changes to reform Albania's flawed justice system must be adopted quickly and a failure to act would have consequences.
Gjergj Erebara
BIRN
Tirana
EU ambassador Romana Vlahutin and US ambassador Donald Lu in Tirana. Photo: Malton Dibra/LSA

The US and EU ambassadors to Tirana delivered an ultimatum to the leaders of Albania’s political parties on Wednesday, demanding quick approval of the constitutional changes needed to enable an overhaul of the country’s corruption-riddled justice system.

Speaking to the parliamentary committee for justice reform, US ambassador Donald Lu said that Albania risked losing support from its Western allies if politicians did not act quickly.

“If this reform fails, you, the members of this committee, will dishonour the people who elected you. And you will dishonor your relationship with the United States and the European Union,” Lu said.

Lu said that the German chancellor, the EU’s foreign policy chief and enlargement commissioner, and the US secretary of state and president had all appealed for the reform to be enacted.

“Over this past year, I have seen Mrs. [Angela] Merkel, Mrs. [Federica] Mogherini, Mr. [Johannes] Hahn, Mr.[John] Kerry and Mr. [Barack] Obama ask Albania to pass this reform. I have never seen such support from your closest allies on any other subject. We all recognise how important this is to Albania’s future,” he said.

Albania’s Western allies hope that the judicial reform will raise the rate of serious crime prosecution and reduce political influence on the judiciary.

The head of EU delegation in Tirana, Romana Vlahutin, said that Albania’s progress towards EU membership would be seriously delayed if the reform is not approved.

“By approving this reform before summer recess and by starting its implementation next autumn, Albania will have the chance to receive a positive recommendation from the EU Commission for the opening of negotiations for membership,” Vlahutin said.

“If this momentum is lost, this country will lose not only one, but several years,” she added.

Reform of Albania’s justice system has been under discussion since 2014 but the process has been dragged out by political leaders who believe that they could lose control over key positions in the judiciary.

Currently, the Constitutional Court, the High Court and a part of the High Court of Justice, the judicial system’s main supervisory body, as well as the General Prosecutor, are politically appointments.

The justice system is widely perceived as corrupt and unnprofessional.

The High Court, for example, whose members currently are appointed by the president with the approval of parliament, has the exclusive right to judge cases against MPs. So far, it has found every accused politician not guilty

Parliamentary control over the General Prosecutor also means a lack of investigations into high-level corruption, it is alleged.

The reform requires as a first step changes in about a third of the country’s constitution, followed by a long process that requires about 40 new laws to be written and approved. The reform is expected to take several years to be implemented.

The main concern among foreign diplomats in Albania is that if the constitutional changes are not approved before the summer recess, parliament will not be able to do it afterwards because 2017 is an election year, meaning that it could be postponed for several more years.

But Lu warned political leaders that if they fail to take action, the public will judge them harshly at the polls.

“I pity the blind political party or deaf political leader who blocks this reform,” he said.

“First, you will fail if you seek to block this reform. Second, you will face the anger of the Albanian public next year in the parliamentary elections if you think you can protect corrupt judges and prosecutors by blocking this reform,” he added.

The governing Socialist Party and the Socialist Movement for Integration said after Lu’s statement that they are ready to approve the reform, and blamed the opposition Democratic Party for the delay.

The Democratic Party claimed that the government was lying but did not say if it would vote for the reform or not.

U.S. State Department Urges Greece and Turkey to Show Restraint in the Aegean

By Philip Chrysopoulos -
May 4, 2016
Greek Reporter

2300022The U.S. State Department advised Greece and Turkey to show restraint in the Aegean Sea after the tension near Inousses, a cluster of islands.

On Friday, a Turkish Navy boat harassed a Greek fisherman near Inousses. At the same time, a CN-235 aircraft flew above the island at a very low altitude (up to 200 feet), violating Greek airspace.

The Greek defense ministry has answered by placing a small army unit on the nearby Passas islet.

Similar violations and provocations have been very frequent in the area after the European Union-Turkey agreement that was signed in March for stemming migrant flows from Turkey to Greece.

Ankara makes territorial claims in the area and tries to include the Inousses island cluster in the grey zones.

In light of the violations, the U.S. State Department called on Greece and Turkey – both NATO allies – to resolve their differences and cooperate in order to maintain stability in the wider region.

Albania Jails Nine Jihadi Recruiters

Nine Albanians were convicted of inciting terrorism and recruiting people to fight in Syria and sentenced to a total of 126 years in prison.

Gjergj Erebara BIRN Tiranë
Photo: reporter.al

The First Instance Court of Serious Crimes in Tirana found the nine men guilty on Tuesday evening of recruiting some 70 Albanians to fight in the conflict in Syria.

They were convicted of “inciting terrorism” and “recruiting people to carry out terrorist acts”.

Bujar Hysa, the alleged leader of the group, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, while Genci Balla and Gerti Pashja got 17 years each.

Three other defendants, Verdi Morava, Orion Reci and Edmond Balla were sentenced to 13 years, while Zeqir Imeri got 16 years and Fadil Muslimani 12 years.

But Reci’s lawyer Roland Islami said the verdict was an example of religious persecution and promised to appeal.

“This is discrimination from the beginning to the end of the process,” Islami said.

“This decision is shameful for Albania, the defendants have been convicted for what they believe,” he added.

Armand Ali, an imam at one of the mosques in Tirana that work outside of the control of the officially-sanctioned Muslim Community of Albania, also alleged religious discrimination.

“These [people] were convicted by the same judges that left Arben Frroku free,” he said, referring to a former politician who was found not guilty at the same court of murdering a police officer, but had the verdict overturned on appeals.

“This decision is aimed at silencing imams who are outside [prison] more than convicting those who are inside,” he added.

The nine defendants were arrested on March 2014 after Albania passed new laws to criminalise participation in foreign conflicts.

The authorities estimate that more than 100 Albanians, among them women and children, went to Syria from 2012-14.

About 18 Albanians are confirmed to have died while fighting.

Kasich Dropping Out of Presidential Race, Leaving Trump Only GOP Candidate

© AP Photo/ John Bazemore

US

19:00 04.05.2016

Ohio Governor John Kasich has decided to suspend his bid for the White House, leaving Donald Trump the only Republican candidate.

© AP Photo/ Andrew Harnik

Donald Trump’s Popularity Hits 56% Throughout US - Poll

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — A senior Kasich campaign manager confirmed the Republican candidate’s intention to terminate his presidential campaign, NBC News reported. The announcement is expected at 5 p.m. ET (9 p.m. GMT).
On Tuesday, Texas Senator Ted Cruz decided to drop out the presidential race after suffering heavy losses in Indiana during primary. Trailing Republican front-runner Donald Trump in the delegate count, Cruz has admitted defeat after winning only three counties in Indiana.

All polls

According to a CNN poll released on Wednesday, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump began a two-person faceoff for the US presidency trailing his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Both candidates enter the final leg of the presidential race with historically high levels of distrust among likely US voters, analysts say.
Some 49 percent view Clinton unfavorably, while Trump garners an even higher level of distrust, 54 percent, the poll explained.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/us/20160504/1039079944/kasich-trump-gop.html#ixzz47hrom7Bb

Turkey to Abolish Visa for Greek Cypriots

Greek Reporter
By Philip Chrysopoulos -
May 3, 2016

cyprus-passport_473_355In a decision that analysts call “historical”, Ankara will no longer require a visa for Greek Cypriots who wish to visit Turkey.

The visa liberalization does not amount to Turkish recognition of Cyprus, a Turkish official told Reuters on Tuesday.

The visa waiving for Greek Cypriots who want to visit Turkey is tied to the recent European Union-Turkey agreement on stemming migrant flows. As part of Ankara’s demands, the EU will relax visa requirements for Turkish citizens who wish to visit Europe.

According to Reuters, Turkey’s cabinet has approved waiving visas for EU citizens once Europe relaxes its own visa requirements for Turks, The decision is published in Turkey’s Official Gazette.

Visa liberalization for Greek Cypriots is one of the 72 criteria required by Brussels for Turkey to win visa waiving for Turks.

One of the biggest obstacles in Turkey’s accession to the EU is Ankara’s refusal to recognize Cyprus. However, Cyprus has international recognition, while the island’s north part that is occupied by the Turks since 1974 is recognized only by Ankara.

According to the Reuters report, the Turkish official confirmed Ankara’s relaxation of visa requirements for EU citizens would also apply to Greek Cypriots.

“This doesn’t mean the recognition of Cyprus. If the EU abolishes visas for Turkish citizens, then we will also abolish visas for the remaining EU countries,” the official said.

“Right now, Greek Cypriots can already travel to Turkey, but we are issuing their visa on a separate paper. With this new arrangement they won’t need a visa,” he added.

Royal Navy officer who seized Enigma machine from a raided German U-Boat has died aged 95

• FEATURED
• NEWS

Apr 30, 2016

 

 

A Royal Navy veteran and hero has died aged 95. Lieutenant Commander David Balme led the team who stole the Nazis’ infamous Enigma machine after capturing and boarding a German U-Boat in 1941.
Lieutenant Commander Balme died earlier this month, but his memory will live on in World War Two history as it is the capture of the Enigma machine that is lauded as a turning point in the battle for the Atlantic.
When Balme and his men raided the German U-Boat in 1941 off the coast of Greenland, they had no idea what they would find. Even when they came across the Enigma machine, they didn’t know what it was, but decided to send the machine and code books that were found with it back to England for analysis and investigation.

It was this discovery that ensured British intelligence experts were able to eventually pick up secret coded messages that the Nazis were sending to instruct its submarine fleet around the world.
The British Government had set up a huge code-breaking team based at Bletchley Park in England where records show that around 6000 German coded messages were being cracked every day.
Balme’s mission was not made public until decades after World War Two ended since it was highly classified.
David was born in Kensington, west London, in October 1920. When he was 14, he joined Dartmouth Naval College and served in the Royal Navy during the Spanish Civil War. Just as World War Two began, he was assigned to HMS Ivanhoe in 1939. By the 1940s, David had been reassigned to HMS Bulldog as a navigator, and it was during this time that they raided the German U-Boat that contained the Enigma machine.
They were ordered to retrieve as much as they could from the U-110, which they got to by row boat from their ship. David recalled how he had been a prime target for any Nazi troops in the submarine as he had to climb down three shafts of ladders to reach the main control room.
The U-Boat was empty, so the Raiders spent about six hours searching the vessel and taking anything that they thought was important.
U-110 was taken in tow back toward Britain but sank en route to Scapa Flow.
Once the war had ended, David got married, had a family and became a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
In 1999 he condemned a Hollywood attempt to re-write history after it was revealed that a major film was going to tell the story that the Enigma device was captured by an American destroyer in the Mediterranean.
He said to the Daily Mail  ‘Rome and Malta make for better scenery than Greenland and Scapa Flow but Enigma was among the greatest British triumphs of the war.
‘It’s wrong to pretend the Americans were responsible. People don’t like that sort of thing.’

Donald Trump becomes presumptive Republican nominee

Path clear for controversial billionaire as main rival Ted Cruz bows out of race for presidential nomination.

04 May 2016 05:45 GMT | Politics, US Election 2016, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz

 Donald Trump has gone from long-shot contender to the Republican party's presumptive nominee for president with a crushing win in Indiana that forced his main rival Ted Cruz out of the race.

Addressing jubilant supporters at Trump Tower in New York after romping to his seventh straight state-wide victory, the real estate mogul promised them: "We're going to win in November, and we're going to win big, and it's going to be America first."
Trump won at least 51 of 57 possible delegates awarded in Indiana, according to the Associated Press news agency delegate tracker. His victory in the state pushed him to 1,047 delegates of the 1,237 needed to clinch the nomination, compared with 153 for Kasich.
Cruz had 565 delegates before suspending his campaign.
"This phenomenon is just amazing," Peter Mathews, a political analyst, told Al Jazeera. "Trump seems to have got free television time. He got an estimated $1bn of free time during the election."

---

READ MORE: Passionate and odd - the end of Ted Cruz

---

Trump's immediate challenge is to unite deep fissures within the Republican Party as many party loyalists are appalled at his bullying style, his treatment of women and his signature proposals to build a wall on the border with Mexico and deport 11 million illegal immigrants.

Latinos in US seek citizenship to vote against Trump

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus called Trump the party's presumptive nominee in a tweet and said, "We all need to unite and focus" on defeating Clinton.
The former reality TV star himself called for unity in a speech at a victory rally that was free of his usual bombast and flamboyance.
Calling Indiana a "tremendous victory", he immediately directed fire at Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
"We're going after Hillary Clinton," he said. "She will not be a great president, she will not be a good president, she will be a poor president. She doesn't understand trade."

Clinton upset

Clinton on Tuesday suffered an upset in Indiana as her rival Bernie Sanders mounted a come-from-behind victory, denying the former secretary of state a feather in her cap as she seeks their party's presidential nomination.

Sanders, a self-declared socialist, beat Clinton by 53.2 percent to 46.8 percent with about three quarters of precincts reporting - although Clinton remained well ahead in the overall delegate battle for the nomination.
"Bernie Sanders was behind several points just a few weeks ago. Thousands were turning to his rallies even in thunderstorms to hear what he had to say," Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher, reporting from Indianapolis, said.
"A narrow victory in Indiana is enough to re-inject his campaign with momentum and for him to say that he is going to take it all the way to Democratic convention in Philadelphia in the summer."

Inside Story - What does Donald Trump stand for?

As the race was called overwhelmingly in Trump's favour, Cruz conceded to supporters in Indianapolis that he no longer had a viable path forwards.
"We left it all on the field in Indiana," Cruz said. "We gave it everything we've got, but the voters chose another path.

"And so with a heavy heart, but with boundless optimism for the long-term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign."
Al Jazeera's Fisher said that Indiana had become a pivotal point in the race.
"On the Republican side, Cruz lost the primary by a significant margin. His appeal to voters simply did not work," he said.
Trump, who has never held public office, is likely to formally wrap up the nomination on June 7 when California votes, although Ohio Governor John Kasich vowed to stay in the race as his last challenger.

Cruz conceded to supporters in Indianapolis that he no longer had a viable path forwards [AP]

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Photo of The Day: Archibishop of USA Demetrios, during the visit in the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St Sava

.

Orthodox Easter in Albania, opens Territorial issues and the New population count debate

 


It seemed that finally the 2011 Census, conducted with EU funding, has been a sham by the Albanian Orthodox, draw strong with low numbers 6.7% of Population.

Based in this Census of 2011, it was conducted the Territorial Division reform,which brought together more municipalities dominated by Orthodoxes and Greeks, especially in the South of Albania, bringing together unjustly with Muslims of Albanian.

Easter of this year, once passed in Albania, they have shocked Albanian politicians and international observers in Tirana. With tens of thousands of Orthodox believers starting from Tirana, Korca, Vlora, Elbasan and up Drymades of Himara Region, they have filled the streets of the cities churches and centers.

Orthodox community has organized itself throughout the system, adding three metropolis in Elbasan, Fier and Durres, raising claims of believers, to organize a new Census, to correct counting of the Orthodox Church together with the respective nationalities.

While territorial division based in Census 2011, failed in whole, it has created inequality between religious communities, which were dominated by the municipal mergers involuntary, dictated for electoral interests.

Hellenic Coast Guard Sa'ar4 intercept Turkish Navy Tuzla class.

smanalysis

Visa-Free EU Travel for Turkish Citizens More Possible Than Ever

© AFP 2016/ Adem Altan

Europe

18:25 03.05.2016

On Wednesday (May 4), the European Commission will reach a decision on whether Turkish citizens should be granted visa-free travel within the EU's Schengen area.

© AP Photo/

Thirty Dollar Discount: Turkey Offers Visa-Free Travel to EU Citizens

The move — considered extremely likely to go ahead — is essentially in exchange for Turkey's migration deal with the European Union, accepting large numbers of failed asylum seekers upon deportation from neighboring Greece. This, despite Turkey failing to meet a number of conditions set by the EU. The change in visa regulations will still need to be passed by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, and despite fears that it could lead to a surge in migrant workers throughout Europe, the rules will only apply to tourist visas.
The anticipated visa liberalization will not permit Turkish citizens to work or seek benefits in the EU.
Nevertheless, the proposed changes have been met with skepticism from right-wing political groups, during what is a sensitive time for the European Union.
Anti-EU campaigners in the UK for example, have been critical of the proposals for some time — suggesting that they are open to abuse. The UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader, Nigel Farage said last month: "The EU is negotiating visa free access for all Turks, all 77 million… But the reality is that a lot of people will disappear or when they get to Germany claim their rights of family reunion.

"The real problem isn't people trying to get to Britain illegally; the real problem is that in a few short years all of the people that came will have German passports, Dutch or Belgium passports."

​Human rights organizations have raised concerns over the proposals too, given Turkey's recent record on press freedom, and general freedom of speech under President Erdogan.
Approximately 2000 instances of legal cases have been triggered in response to "insulting the President," including the recent case of German satirist Jan Böhmermann.  Turkey ranks at 151 in the Reporters Without Border press freedom index.

​Opponents of President Erdogan argue that further integration by the European Union could send the wrong message, effectively endorsing a regressive regime in exchange for the easing of immigration numbers in the rest of the EU.
The granting of visa-free travel to Turkey is part of a wider move by the EU which could see controls eased with the likes of Kosovo, Georgia and Ukraine. Given that those countries are not even candidates for EU membership at the moment, it would undoubtedly be politically difficult to exclude Turkey.

Orthodox "fear coordinated attack on their religion"

The New York Post writes about "fears of a coordinated attack on the religion" in the wake of the fires in four Orthodox temples on Orthodox Easter Sunday.
Source: Tanjug Tuesday, May 3, 2016 | 10:05

(Image made from video)

The fires affected and to various degrees damaged a Macedonian and a Greek church in Australia, a monastery in Russia, and the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Sava in Manhattan, New York City.
According to the New York tabloid, the city's fire department (FDNY) said the blaze on West 25th Street "does not appear suspicious" - however "members of the Orthodox community have doubts."

The article said they are worried that the fire was started intentionally "in retaliation for the religion’s role in blocking the canonization of Croatian Nazi supporter (Catholic) Cardinal Aloysius (Alojzije) Stepinac."

Dusan Batakovic, former Serbian Ambassador to France, now director of the Institute for Balkan Studies said that "too many churches have burned to call it an accident,” and added:

“It is very strange that it happened, that the fires all took place on Easter, the greatest Christian Orthodox holiday. Some kind of terrorist action can not be excluded.”

“Within the last six months, the Serbian church was urging Pope Francis not to canonize into a saint, Cardinal Stepinac, for his complicity in the large-scale massacres and genocide against the Serbs, Jews and Roma (Gypsies),” Batakovic said.

According to Batakovic, the pope postponed the decision on Stepinac despite protests from the Croatian Catholic Church - "and there is a lot of anger, because he is considered as one of the key church members in the Croatian history.”

The newspaper also quoted a letter Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irinej sent to the pope, which said there were "too many open questions and wounds which Cardinal Stepinac symbolizes," and that "his canonization, to our great regret, would return the relations between Serbs and Croats, as well as between Catholics and Orthodox faithful, back to their tragic history.”

Executive Director of the Brooklyn-based Jasenovac Research Institute Barry Lituchy also spoke for the daily to say he had been "bombarded with calls from worried Orthodox community members."

“This is a terrible tragedy, and the thought that this is an attack has not escaped us. This deeply affects everyone in the Serbian community," he said, and advised investigators "to take a close look at the recent Catholic-Orthodox relations when trying to determine what may have caused the fires in Australia and Russia."

Lituchy noted that during the 1990s wars in Yugoslavia the Serbian church in New York received threats.

According to the New York Post, the church now had "deep financial troubles" as it is "battling a major Manhattan developer over a USD 100 million project that fell through two years ago."

Belgrade to take UEFA's Kosovo decision to arbitration court

Serbia will turn to the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sports in the wake of UEFA's decision on Tuesday to allow Kosovo to join its ranks.
Source: Tanjug Tuesday, May 3, 2016 | 16:54

(Tanjug)

UEFA's move means that sport has been put in the service of politics, Serbian Government Office for Kosovo Director Marko Djuric and Sports and Youth Minister Vanja Udovicic told a joint news conference in Belgrade.
The state will help the Football Association of Serbia (FSS), "so that the decision does not go smoothly, and as the separatists imagined."

Udovicic and Djuric also said that the UEFA congress in Budapest trampled on the organization's own statute and rights, and put sports in the service of politics.

Djuric added that the decision could turn out to be a path toward new divisions in the house of European football, "and bring up many other issues, considering that associations from other territories have already expressed an interest in membership in this organization."

"This opens Pandora's box," said Djuric, noting that Serbia has 24 UEFA members on its side - those who voted against Kosovo's admission - "and two more who have abstained."

This official remarked that the fact 11 countries which have recognized Kosovo are among them "speaks to the awareness of athletes and sports associations being on a high level."

Djuric also said that "the opponent side has lost because it failed in its attempts to change the UEFA statute, which still stipulates that only UN members can join the organization."

That is the main argument, he said, in favor of a final decision being made in Lausanne.

Djuric also said that "all our clubs" from Kosovo and Metohija will continue to compete within the FSS, and that the state will continue to assist them.

"Those who think we will stop fighting nurture illusions. We will never lose, as long as we keep fighting," Djuric stressed.

Vanja Udovicic also described UEFA's vote as "the opening of Pandora's box" paving the way toward "some new appetites," while "bringing down all the principles that UEFA stood for."

"We will use all our contacts, including personal, in order to overturn this decision," said the minister, adding that "high level negotiations on this issue are now expected."

Udovicic said UEFA's move today meant that "sport was on the losing end," and that it sent "a concrete message that politics exists in sport on the international level."

Asked whether Serbia now planned to boycott competitions, he said it was "neither the time nor the place to prejudice such decisions."

Udovicic also thinks the fact UEFA did not change its statute "means that Serbia is on the good path and is supported," and described it as "the start of further struggle."

"In the jaws of politics"

Kosovo's admission to UEFA membership is a political decision and a defeat for football, which could face unforeseeable consequences as a result, Football Association of Serbia (FSS) President Tomislav Karadzic said on Tuesday.

"Football has found itself in the jaws of politics and this is a UEFA move that could have unforeseeable consequences. For four years, the FSS fought and repelled all attempts by the self-proclaimed state (Kosovo) and then we suffered the biggest blow at the hands of the International Olympic Committee, whose admission of Kosovo was particularly highlighted by the Kosovo delegation. The FSS and our struggle became an obstacle to many, but we were unable to prevent a political abuse of football," Karadzic told the FSS website.

The governments of 38 UEFA member states have recognised Kosovo's independence and their football associations had to follow instructions from politicians, Karadzic said, adding that European football's governing body should not have yielded to political pressure.

EU organised crime fears after Albanian who came to UK illegally is nabbed in £1.5million coke bust

EXCLUSIVE: Brexit campaigners warn numbers of gangsters in Britain will go up as countries like Albania join European Union

By MIKE SULLIVAN, Crime Editor:  

EXCLUSIVE

04:40, 2 May 2016

 

The Home Secretary said Albania had 'serious problems with organised crime, corruption, and sometimes even terrorism' EPA

AN Albanian refused entry to Britain six weeks ago was under arrest last night after £1.5million of cocaine was seized by cops.
The suspect, 21, was held with another Albanian when the National Crime Agency busted a drugs ring on Friday.
The arrests came as Cabinet heavyweights Theresa May and Michael Gove issued warnings about the threat to the UK from gangsters from Albania, currently bidding to join the EU.
The Sun can reveal how the 21-year-old attempted to enter Britain at Stanstead Airport, Essex, six weeks ago but was turned away.

The National Crime Agency busted the drugs ring, swooping on a handover in North West London PRESS ASSOCIATION

He is thought to have sneaked into the UK a fortnight ago with false identity documents.
The man was arrested following an investigation into an organised crime network involved in the large-scale supply of Class A drugs in London.
He was nabbed in Stanmore, North West London, where police seized 3kg of cocaine at a handover and 10kg at a nearby address.
Once cut, the high-purity cocaine would be worth around £1.5million on the streets.
One source said: “One of the two men arrested is a 21-year-old Albanian who tried to come into Britain six weeks ago but was turned back at Stanstead.
“Within a matter of a just a few weeks he was able to come into the country illegally and arrested over a big drug job.
“It begs the question over how he was able to get into the UK so soon afterwards.”

---

READ MORE:
Migrants down VODKA outside 5-star hotel The Ritz in broad daylight
‘I just came out of emergency heart surgery and I’m back on it again’: Gazza’s druggie nephew dies aged 22
14-year-old boy dies after a suspected firearms incident in Suffolk

---

Last week Home Secretary Theresa May – who supports staying in the EU – warned of the dangers of gangsters arriving from countries currently applying for membership of the European Union.
Mrs May said Albania, Serbia and Turkey had “poor populations and serious problems with organised crime, corruption, and sometimes even terrorism”.
She added: “We have to ask ourselves, is it really right that the EU should just continue to expand, conferring upon all new member states all the rights of membership?”
Ten per cent of European prisoners in UK jails are said to come from Albania.
And leading Brexit campaigner Michael Gove suggested the ranks of Albanian gangsters already in Britain will only expand once the country joins the EU.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Gove said: “The Home Secretary knows the problem is very far from diminishing.”
The NCA confirmed two Albanian nationals were arrested on Friday night.
— PASHK Kolicaj, 21, and Ened Molla, 27, will appear at Hendon magistrates’ court this morning charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Drymades, Himara Region: Talk about negative developments on the properties

On Monday, May 2, held in Dhermi the meeting by The Chimarioton of Community of America on the occasion of the latest developments in Himara.

The organization is very active in the US on concerning Himara issues and has organized many meetings with foreign local politicians and diplomats, invited the people of Himara and political actors to participate in this meeting and actively support local community in difficult moments passing lately because of the actions of the Albanian Government.

The meeting took place in a live connection (via Skype) with community representatives to Chimarioton and representative of the American Embassy in Tirana.

The meeting discussed the recent negative developments in Himara regarding the violation of the constitutional right to property and the actions of the muni

Football: Kosovo joins UEFA, has sights on FIFA vote

Football Federation of Kosovo becomes 55th UEFA member eight years after independence

03.05.2016 Ankara world

related news

Deputy PM praises Turkish-Kosovar relations

Turkey urges Muslim countries to recognize Kosovo

Macedonia, Kosovo ease border crossing

Sevilla to face Ukranian club in Europa semifinals

Football: Man City to face Real Madrid in UEFA semis

By Fatjon Prroni

ANKARA

Eight years after declaring independence, Kosovo on Tuesday became the newest member of UEFA, the governing body of European football.

The vote paves the way for FIFA membership later this month.

Acting UEFA President Angel Maria Villar, speaking at a UEFA congress streamed live from Budapest, Hungary, said Kosovo’s application was accepted by 28 votes to 24 and two abstentions.

The vote allows the Kosovan national team to compete for the European Championships and for Kosovan clubs to participate in UEFA competitions such as the Europa and Champions leagues.

It also raises hopes that a similar vote at the FIFA Congress on May 13 will allow Kosovo to participate in the qualifying rounds of the 2018 World Cup this autumn.

Fadil Vokrri, president of the Football Federation of Kosovo, described the vote as an “historical moment” and said: “It is a great emotion… I extend my gratitude to all of you.”

The President of the Serbian Football Association Tomislav Karadzic strongly opposed the move, citing Kosovo’s lack of UN membership. Kosovo was previously governed by Serbia.

A number of national teams, including Albania, Switzerland and Belgium, have players who trace their roots to Kosovo and who could switch their allegiance now the country is recognized by UEFA.

Despite this, the president of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka, strongly supported the bid.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognized by more than 110 UN members, including the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany and Turkey. Serbia and its allies have lobbied against Kosovan bids to join international organizations and Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has threatened to veto any UN membership bid.

Kosovo is due to compete in this year’s Olympic Games, having gained International Olympic Committee membership in December 2014.

UEFA also elected Florence Hardouin of France as the first female member of the UEFA Executive Committee on Tuesday.

A Vote to Remain In The European Union is a Vote for Open Borders with Turkey, Albania, Gove Warns

European Union
PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images

by Donna Rachel Edmunds1 May 2016488
The Justice Secretary Michael Gove has warned of the dangers of staying in an ever expanding European Union (EU). Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey joining the EU over the next few years would open the door to 88 million people, all eligible to come to the UK for treatment on the NHS and for a British education for their children, he said.

On January 1, 2014, 27 million Romanians and Bulgarians gained the right to live and work freely in Britain. Those warning that tens of thousands would come were accused of “inflammatory rhetoric”, yet their predictions proved correct. Today, the Government has no clear figures on how many people are coming to the UK from Europe as the official figure is an estimate, but what is clear is that immigration is at an all time high.

But far from dealing with the problem of unregulated immigration, membership of the EU guarantees that over the next few years, Britain will be opened up to the citizens of at least five more countries: Turkey and the Baltic nations.

“When Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey join the EU, another 88 million people will soon be eligible for NHS care and school places for their children,” Mr Gove has written in an article for the Daily Mail.

“And what will even more immigration from the EU mean for access to housing across the UK? How many more homes will we need and how many more green acres will go? What will it mean for jobs and wages?

“Can we maintain the apprenticeships we need, safeguard the jobs of the future and ensure people can maintain a decent standard of living, when up to 88 million people from nations much poorer than our own will have the right to live and work here?

“As we introduce the National Living Wage, the pull of the UK could prove irresistible.

“Even for those with jobs in Albania, average incomes are just one seventh of those in the UK. The figure for Serbia is less than one fifth.”

And there are further problems with the accession of the Balkan countries that go beyond merely numbers. The EU’s free movement policy assumes that all European member states enjoy parity not only economically, but socially too. But as Gove points out, criminality and corruption are rife in Eastern Europe in a way that Western Europe just doesn’t yet experience.

He cites Home Secretary Theresa May, who backs the remain campaign but nevertheless warned this week: “The states now negotiating to join the EU include Albania, Serbia and Turkey — countries with poor populations and serious problems with organised crime, corruption, and sometimes even terrorism.

‘We have to ask ourselves, is it really right that the EU should just continue to expand, conferring upon all new member states all the rights of membership?

“Do we really think now is the time to contemplate a land border between the EU and countries like Iran, Iraq and Syria?”

Mr. Gove agrees: “The Home Secretary’s worries are spot on. As Justice Secretary, I am well aware that there are around 10,000 foreign criminals in our jails — and one in 20 of those is Albanian.

“Of all the prisoners in our jails who come from European countries, 10 per cent come from Albania — yet Albania comprises less than half of one per cent of the overall population of Europe.

“Those prisoners currently cost the British taxpayer almost £18 million a year to keep in custody. And that’s before Albanian citizens even have the right to move to the UK!

“The Home Secretary knows the problem is very far from diminishing. Already this year we’ve seen 20 gangsters from Albania convicted of running a brutal drugs ring in Manchester.”

He added: “They are serious criminals who came here on forged Italian and Greek documents. European laws allow anyone with ID cards from EU countries — not even full passports — to enter the UK.

“Italy’s cardboard documents are a particular favourite with criminals because they can be so easily forged.

“Last year, there was a 70 per cent increase in the number of people trying to get into Britain with fraudulent European papers.

“And in the vanguard were Albanian criminals using fake Greek and Italian ID papers.”

And he concurs with May on Turkey, saying: “How can it possibly be sensible to allow Turkey, in its current straits, and with Islamic State on its border, to become a full member of the EU?

“There has to be a better way for Britain to protect our vital interests.

Gove, a self-proclaimed “internationalist” is keen to stress that his arguments are not isolationist — he is not proposing to stop immigration altogether and pull up the drawbridge.

“I support controlled migration — I believe Britain is strengthened by new people, new ideas and new cultures. But you can have too much of a good thing.”

Ultimately, his arguments are about British sovereignty: “The truth is that we cannot rely on the European Union to operate in our interests,” he says.

“The failure of the Government’s recent renegotiation of our membership to bring back any powers over immigration demonstrated that other EU nations and the Brussels elite just aren’t interested in reforming Europe.

“What they are determined to do is deepen and widen their political union. And because our veto was watered down in the recent negotiations, the countries of the eurozone now have the power to get their way, unimpeded, on a slew of European issues.

“We can no longer prevent them imposing their will on us.

“The only way we can be certain to prevent a future UK government agreeing to the Albanian Option, and stop our borders being lowered to allow millions more to be admitted, is to take back control and leave the European Union.”

Albania parades nuclear bunkers for tourism and to preserve Communist history

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sunday, May 1, 2016,

Gent Shkullaku/AP

Former Albanian politician prisoner Besim Ndregjoni walks outside a formerly top-secret installation meant to keep Albania running after a nuclear attack.

TIRANA, Albania — Who doesn't want to see a formerly top-secret Communist nuclear bunker?
A facility that was designed to keep Albania running after a nuclear attack is the latest relic of the country's dark Communist past that is being reinvented as a modern tourist attraction.
In its swords-to-ploughshares drive, the Socialist government has already announced plans to open an island fortress to tourists and auction off the country's decrepit Soviet and Chinese fighter jets.
The small Balkan nation has no end of useless military installations and weaponry, a legacy of the paranoid, isolationist regime that ruled it with an iron fist for about 50 years after the end of World War II.

Gent Shkullaku/AP

A stone hallway leads through the Tirana bunker.

Fearing invasion by a host of imaginary enemies — imperialists, social-imperialists (as other Communist countries deemed ideologically unsound were termed) or restless, land-hungry neighbors — Albania's regime had about 700,000 concrete bunkers of all sizes built across the country.
A quarter-century after the Communists' fall, most are still there, the bigger ones serving as sheep barns, bars, restaurants, public toilets, love nests for furtive couples or even as homes.
The queen of them all — a secret five-story underground extravaganza on the outskirts of the capital Tirana to protect Albania's army command from nuclear attack — opened to the public two years ago. It has since closed due to funding shortages. Authorities are planning to reopen it this summer.

Gent Shkullaku/AP

Tables and chairs are the only furniture in a wood-paneled room in the underground bunker in Tirana.

Now, its smaller sibling in downtown Tirana is tapped to become a museum of the Communist era, sparking complaints from Albania's conservative opposition party that the governing Socialists are trying to glorify the country's dark past.
Located under the Interior Ministry, the secret nuclear bunker was built in the early 1980s to shelter ministry staff. Auron Tare, who heads a government tourism agency, says opening the former bunker as a museum will help preserve the country's history.
"Twenty-five years after the fall of communism, the younger generations have no idea of what that regime was (like)," he told The Associated Press. "The collective memories of the communist regime, which had so much impact on the country's life, are being wiped out fast."

Gent Shkullaku/AP

The bunker also has toilets and urinals.

The 1,000-square-meter bunker has thick reinforced concrete walls to withstand nuclear attack. Machinery kept the air fresh from radioactive pollution, generators provided electricity, and water came from a well inside the structure. Its old East German-made air conditioning system is still functioning.
Staff offices doubled as dormitories and were equipped with iron tables and beds. The minister had a small, wood-paneled suite to himself, which included a small room for his secretary, a bedroom and bathroom, and a hotline to the party's leadership.
Authorities hope to open it to the public later this year.

Gent Shkullaku/AP

A wood-paneled office has been refurbished inside the old bunker in Tirana being reinvented as a modern tourist attraction.

The structure has already triggered controversy. An anti-government rally by the conservative Democratic Party late last year ended with a riot at the Interior Ministry, with protesters trying to destroy a small replica bunker that will provide access to the shelter.
Architect Artan Shkreli, who is involved in the bunker project, says the criticism is "absurd," but was pleased that the new entrance weathered the attack.
"Hundreds of thousands of bunkers built by the communist regime were never tested," he said. "That fake bunker ... passed the test!"