‘Action vs. reaction,’ Russia responding to threats from the West, says Dr. Marcus Papadopoulos

Dr. Marcus Papadopoulos

On Tuesday 25th October, 2016, at the House of Lords, the second chamber of the UK Parliament in London, Dr. Marcus Papadopoulos gave a speech on the origins of the current tension between America and Russia.

Dr. Marcus Papadopoulos is the editor of Politics First (a non-partisan publication for the UK’s Houses of Parliament – a magazine written by politicians for politicians) and an expert on Russia.

In attendance were politicians, journalists, academics, priests and peace activists. The speech was overwhelmingly applauded and credited for having given an informative, accurate and well corroborated assessment of why the world today is witness to a serious standoff between America and Russia.
Below is a video and transcription of the speech:
Dr. Marcus Papadopoulos:

“Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen and can I first of all say thank you to Uniting for Peace for having organised and for having invited me to speak at this event – an event whose subject matter cannot be emphasised enough as it is of paramount importance to every single person in this world today. Indeed, the deterioration in relations between the United States and Russia is, in my estimation, the most dangerous reality facing the world at this moment in time. However, that deterioration is not a surprise – at least not a surprise for any objective and enlightened individual with empathy.
Now, the hook of my talk is “action, reaction”. Action on behalf of the West, reaction on behalf of Russia. When a country is sidelined, has its views and concerns discarded, has its national security threatened, and observes its allies in the world being undermined and/or militarily attacked, sooner or later that country is going to respond.
Indeed, that is human nature. The alarming degree of tension between the US and Russia is due to Moscow having had its face slapped over and over again by Washington since the 1990s. And the Russians are now responding. So in order to try and defuse the current standoff between the US and Russia, it is essential to learn about the Russian mindset and what has happened since the end of the Cold War.
The concept of national security resonates in a profoundly different way with a Russian as it does with an American or a Briton. Over a period of approximately 300 years, Russia was invaded by foreign armies on five occasions – and all five invasions came through Russian’s western borders. In 1605, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth invaded; in 1708, Sweden invaded; in 1812, France invaded; in 1918, Imperial Germany invaded; and in 1941, Nazi Germany invaded.
Those invasions – and in particular the Nazi one, which involved a racial war of extermination against the Soviet Union, resulting in the deaths of 27 million Soviet people – has had a profound, a manifestly huge effect on the Russian mindset, making Russians extremely sensitive and alert to any potential threat to their homeland.
If more people at the Houses of Parliament and in British mainstream media were aware of the unprecedented horrors which Russia endured and eventually prevailed over during the Great Patriotic War, which is the Russian name for the Second World War, then there might be more understanding shown to what the Kremlin is saying today about its security concerns in Europe and the wider world.
If we turn to the year 1992, we see that Russia, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, was in meltdown – politically, economically and militarily. The fabric of Russian society was torn to shreds. Russia had gone, overnight, from being a superpower to a country barely able to stand on its own two feet. For the US, which is the leader of the western world and of NATO, the Russian decline provided a golden opportunity to achieve American global hegemony.
The Pentagon’s Defence Planning Guidance of 1992, more commonly known as the Wolfowitz Doctrine, after its co-author Paul Wolfowitz, argued that: “Our first objective is to prevent the re-emergence of a new rival, either on the territory of the former Soviet Union or elsewhere, that poses a threat on the order of that posed formerly by the Soviet Union…We must maintain the mechanism for deterring potential competitors from even aspiring to a larger regional or global role.” On Russia, the document stated that: “Despite its current travails, Russia will remain the strongest military power in Eurasia and the only power in the world with the capability of destroying the United States.”
And so, to prevent “the re-emergence of a new rival”, and in light of the Russian nuclear arsenal, the US began advancing NATO eastwards, in 1999 and 2004, taking the alliance to Russia’s doorstep. That is something, which even the former Secretary of State James Baker acknowledged, was told to Mikhail Gorbachev, in 1990, by George H Bush, would not occur. American and British politicians rarely, if at all, consider how they would respond if a Russian-led military alliance was on their borders; for example, in Mexico, Canada or France.
Now, some of you in this room might be thinking: Yes but NATO is a defensive organisation. Well, in 1994 and 1995, NATO attacked the Bosnian Serbs, Russia’s allies; in 1999, NATO bombed Serbia, a historic Russian ally; in 2003, NATO spearheaded the invasion of Iraq, who Russia had close relations with; in 2011, NATO intervened in Libya, which was Russia’s eyes and ears in North Africa; and from 2011 to the present, the US, UK and France – all NATO members, of course – are attempting to overthrow the Syrian Government, which is Russia’s eyes and ears in the Middle East. In short, Moscow, rightly so, views NATO as an aggressive organisation – and one that is used by Washington to prevent a rival power from challenging its global dominance.
We then have two events which are inter-connected and have resulted in the Russian strategic nuclear deterrent being threatened. In late 2001, the US withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, a cornerstone agreement for reducing tension between the US and Russia. The American withdrawal led to the formation by Washington of the Missile Defence Agency, which this year activated a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe which is aimed at Russia. How would the US react to a Russian missile defence system in, say, Mexico or Canada? We all know how the Americans responded to the deployment of Soviet ICBMs to Cuba.
Another dimension to the cordon sanitaire being established by the US on Russia’s wester borders is the training of, and supporting of, pro-Western groups in former Soviet republics, in order to bring forth pro-Western governments in these places. Georgia and especially Ukraine are two major examples of that. In the case of the latter, many of the Maidan activists in Kiev were trained by the Americans in combat, and this training took place in western Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania.
While I have already referred to the former Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya and Syria, it is necessary to emphasise that these countries are all of geo-strategic importance, they have all been subjected to NATO intervention, and they all had/have close relations with the Russian Federation. From the Kremlin’s point of view, one after another of its allies have been targeted by the US, which the Americans are doing in order to weaken Russia abroad which will then help to weaken Russia at home.
However, in recent years, Russia has regained a lot of its lost superpower status and has begun to respond to the American threat. Action, reaction. And yes – let me make something very clear: Russia has a right to national security…something that many Western politicians and journalists seem to think that Russia is not entitled to. Russia has a right to be heard on the international stage, to not be encircled, to not have a missile defence shield on its borders and to not have its allies in the world targeted.
So the US’ action has been to try and encircle and weaken Russia, and Russia’s reaction has been to increase its defence spending, modernise its nuclear arsenal, carry out large-scale military manoeuvres, and fight for the survival of its allies in the world. Action, reaction.
Now, we hear the American and British governments say that Russia is responsible for the tension. Well, as I have demonstrated, the roots of that tension go back to the 1990s, when the Americans began taking steps to keep Russia down in the world and the US up in the world. Did the Americans believe that Russia would countenance their country being encircled and weakened? How on earth were the Russians supposed to respond? Empathy was, and remains, absent in many American and British politicians.
In concluding, action, reaction, explains why Europe finds itself at the heart of a renewed and dangerous standoff between America and Russia: aggressive and selfish actions by America, and defensive reactions by Russia. If the current confrontation between the two superpowers is to be reduced, then Washington and its allies need to examine the policies they have been pursuing in relation to Russia since the 1990s, and ask themselves how they would respond if roles were reversed.
Action, reaction is innate in all human beings. And unless the West starts to listen to and understand Russia’s perspective, then action, reaction will continue and could very well lead to a situation in which the future of the world is teetering on the edge of the abyss.
Thank you very much.”

Albanian government provokes Greece: 30 houses of Greeks in Himara, will be demolished

The Inspectorate of Territory, INUK, a Department with police state and bulldozers, is part of the Party of Chams, PDIU, which is in Coalition Government, with the Socialist Party of Prime Minister Edi Rama, will carry out the demolition of houses that belong to the Greeks, in Himara Region.

The Mayor of the Municipality George Goro, which has dual citizenship, Greek - Albanian, has signed the demolition of houses hundreds of years in Himara.

The Himara Community, during a meeting in August, warned President Bujar Nishani, that the Albanian Government, under the initiatives to demolish the houses in Himara Region, aims to commit genocide against the native inhabitants.

Himara. Almost every week, continuing protests in Himara Town, forcing the Mayor George Goro to be resigned, the Albanian government has decided to initiate the action of demolition of houses in Himara, mainly of the ethnic Greeks that live for thousands of years in theirs properties.The reason of the Albanian government, is a credit to Development Plan, financed by the European Bank of the Council of Europe, which aims political, to exercise the genocide against the Greek population by masked Development Plans of tourism in favor or the Albanian mafia and oligarchs .

But by the leaders of organizations that are leading the protests, Albanian politicians, especially the Albanian government, are seeing an expansion geopolitical dangerous, to create a climate of tension in the Balkan Region, primarily with its neighbors in north and south, in this case, Serbia and Greece.

The tension in Himare,has not intended development plans, but the resettlement of Greek population of Himara, and its replacement with the Albanian population, a practice known for Albanian national strategy in the District of Saranda.



The Himara Community, during a meeting in August, warned President Bujar Nishani, that the Albanian Government, under the initiatives to demolish the houses in Himara Region, aims to commit genocide against the native inhabitants.

This strategy becomes even stronger still, while Greece has warned Albania, for Veto to the EU, to prevent irredentist policies, supporting the Albanian nationalist ideas of the Cham Community. This will be, apparently, a strategy with geopolitical dimensions of Tirana against Greece, to create the premises of an ethnic clash and create scenarios for charging Greece for "supporting extremists in Himara"

..Whatever the situations arise and the Himariotes leaders, have informed during their meetings, the USA and Greek the governments, while they have called Himariotes in Diaspora and migration, to return and protect their homes by Albanian genocide.

Berisha urges Greece just in OXI Day to recognize Kosovo

Berisha receives the Ambassador of Greece in Tirana, seeking recognition of Kosovo


Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha had a meeting the Ambassador of Greece in Tirana, Eleni Sourani. The meeting was held in the office of former Prime Minister, and discussed relations between the two countries.

Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha on his profile on Facebook, writes that he asked Greece to recognize Kosovo as a state.



(However, when Berisha was prime minister in 2012, he has made a strong statement from Vlora, during the feast for the 100th anniversary of Albania. He said that Albania's borders, starting from Preveza and end up in Presevo. Greece reacted tomorrow reversing visit of the Minister of Defence in Tirana ..)

Albania's position for Chameria


According to PM Tahir Muhedini, the chams count actually about 360 thousand people, about of 12% of the Albanian Popullation (according to UNRA in Albania has been came from Greece 18 thousand people of Chams in 1944).

Albanian government, through the National Strategy of Albania, including all political parties, has included Chameria as national issues, raising as territorial claims (ownership and nationals) in the European Union.

While the Albanian government systematically requires that Greece should recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

Referrals come step by step by Tirana, when the Protocol of friendship between Albania and Greece, has expired.

European Union (part of which is the Veto of Greece to Albania), it is standing on the side of Albania totally, ignoring the rights of self-determination of the population of Northen Epirotes.

(According to the State Departament and CIA in 1989, the Greek population in Albania was 285 thousand people. According to Pan Epirotic Federation of USA in 1989, the population of Northern Epirotes was 400 thousand. Actually there are about 760 thousand Northern Epiriotes with Greek Nationality, who live between Greece and Southern Albania).

Meanwhile, Greece is waiting for a plan B, for national issues ..

OXI: How Greece Delayed the German Attack on Russia Contributing to the Allies Victory

By
Philip Chrysopoulos -
Oct 28, 2016
Greek Reporter

Greece’s contribution to World War II was far greater than simply defeating the Italian army and shaming fascist leader Benito Mussolini. The Greek army fought bravely against the invading Germans too, in the spring of 1941. And by doing so, they significantly delayed the massive German attack against Russia, thus playing a role in the victory of the allied forces.

It was October 1940, when Adolf Hitler‘s old friend and chief ally, Mussolini, had foolishly tried to imitate the Führer and achieve battlefield glory for himself by launching a surprise invasion of Greece.

However, the Greek army fought with bravery and resolve and managed not only to defend their homeland, but also pushed the Italians back regaining Greek regions in northern Epirus and Albania as well.

Knowing that British troops were in the Balkans and in Greece, and especially on Crete, Hitler decided to make a detour before launching the attack on Russia.

The invasion plan for Russia was named Operation “Barbarossa” (Red Beard) by Hitler in honor of German ruler Frederick I, nicknamed Red Beard, who had orchestrated a ruthless attack on the Slavic peoples of today’s Balkans about eight centuries earlier.

“Barbarossa” would be Blitzkrieg but on a continental scale, as Hitler boasted to his generals, “When Barbarossa commences the world will hold its breath and make no comment!” Set to begin on May 15, 1941, three million soldiers totaling 160 divisions would plunge deep into Russia in three massive army groups, reaching the Volga River, east of Moscow, by the end of summer, thus achieving victory.

Beginning on Sunday, April 6, 1941, the Wehrmacht poured 29 divisions into the region, taking Yugoslavia by storm. However, it took five weeks and caused a lot of wear and tear on tanks and other armored equipment needed for the Russian campaign.

The Nazi forces employed armored divisions and the 8th Air Corps to take over Greece and get rid of the British troops in the country. The occupation of Greece, and especially Crete, where the British Royal Air Force was operating heavily, was a prerequisite for the safe implementation of “Barbarossa.”

At that time the German army had 19 armored divisions, of which six were used against Greece. Also, 1,200 tank chariots were used against Greece, when a total of 3,200 tanks would be used against Russia.

But, in the war in Greece, and much more so in the battle of Crete, the 8th Air Corps of the Luftwaffe was engaged, a force crucial for the implementation of the “Barbarossa” plan. The 8th Air Corps represented 35% of all air forces of “Barbarossa” and of course it was essential for the attack against Russia. Eventually, the involvement of the Luftwaffe on Crete, fatally delayed the “Barbarossa” attack.

The new launch date for “Barbarossa” was Sunday, June 22, 1941. Historians argue that the delay forced the German army to fight through the bitter winter on a snowy terrain that helped the Russians fight better. It was also the vastness of the land that created logistical problems including worn out foot soldiers and dangerously overstretched supply lines.

The rest is history, as they say. But Greece’s contribution in Nazi Germany’s defeat is much more than a mere footnote in World War II history.

Himariotes fighters who fought for Greek Army

In memorian OXI, 28 Octobber 1940: himariotas fought for Greece and western progressive forces and not for Albania of the fascist axis

We are himariotas, fighting and stand devout, history, family, church and our freedom

If the Greek army liberated Himara in 22 December 1940 Himariotas company in Italy fought for the liberation of Rimini, not involved in the fascist army as did the Albanians but in the Greek Army, the western axis.

Himariotas fighters against fascism who fought in the Battle of Rimini, Italy 1944, ignored by historians of Tirana, while collaboratores of fascism, on the one hand and on the other hand, the communist dictatorship, continue today to remember two of Albania's civil war,, 1940 - 44 and 1997.

The only fighters who fought abroad in the Second World War but which represented Himara and the Greek Army, were himariotas. While Albanians, have prefered to march in Rome with Mussolini's fascist uniform, to prepare the invasion against Greece, while the fighters of Himara, as victorious march alongside US, British and Greeks in Italy ..

  Campagna di Grecia ed Albania

Galeazzo Ciano inspects the Royal Albanian Guard (1938)

Anniversary of the Battle of Rimini, 21 September 1944

Battle of Rimini

   


Just south of Rimini, attached to 1st Canadian Division, was 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade (Greek: ΙΙΙ Ελληνική Ορεινή Ταξιαρχία, ΙΙΙ Ε.Ο.Τ.), a unit of mountain infantry formed by the Greek government in exile on 1 July 1944 in Lebanon under the command of Colonel Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos. Near the village of Cattolica they pushed back two strong German attacks on 8 and 10 September. On 13 September the brigade, supported by the combined armour and infantry of B squadron, 20th New Zealand Armoured Regiment and 22 New Zealand Motor Battalion from 2nd New Zealand Division, launched a counter attack to take Rimini. Also supporting the brigade were infantry, mortars and machine guns from the Canadian Saskatoon Light Infantry (SLI) and New Zealand 33 Anti-tank battery fielding 17pdr guns.

"in memorian"



HIMARIOTES FIGHTERS JOINT TO THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST AXIS FORCES, ITALY 1944.

Photo: January 1945, Volos Greece. Himariotes fighters jointed to the greek army to liberate Volos by nazifashists.
After escaped from Himara Region embarked on British Warships, the team composed by strong 22 men, all from Himara Region, left Albania to joint to the International Brigade “Rimini” in Italy.

This document is a historically moment when a small group men from the Himara Region known as one of the Greek Minority Group of Balkan who collaborated with international forces against Axis taken part of International Brigade inside Greek Company for the liberation of Italian city “Rimini” by Axis forces.

After Rimini, the Himara`s Team contributed fighting to liberate the Southern Italian city of Taranto and after in Greece participated to liberate the Greek city of Volos.

The photo is an authentic historic document which the Albanian Government since 1944 never has been liked to know the honorific contribut of the hellenic community of Himara, the only represent of Albania to fight togather with wester international forces. This is a historical manifest which tells for the collaboration together with American and British troops during WWS of a group represent of the region most persecuted by Albanian Dictature such as Himara and the Hellenic population.

The photo is published to remember the anniversary of British troops to fights against fascists of Axis in Albania during the summer of 1944 in Himara Region.

Photo: British troops in Kakomea, Himara Region May 1944


Member of "himara fighters" on "Rimini Brigade"
Kimon Bollanos, Terkos Bollanos, Athanasios Bollanos, Damianos Beleris, Georgios Burbos, Spryros Buntinis, Miltiadis Goros, Petros Goros, Eriststeas Gkionis, Xristos Lazaris, Axilleas Milos, Kostas Kokavesis, Dimos Kokavesis, Alekos Karzis, Spiros Tsouras, Basileos Vitos, Pavlos Veizis, Georgos Zotos, Dimitreos Papos, Miltiadis Rondos, Kristos Dimas, Spyros Veizis.
Himariotes who fighted on the greek naval forces:
Nikolas Gionis, Aferinos Bontinis, Ilias Kolilas, Manolis Ramos, Kostas Rondos, Kostas Krekos, Jason Kutulas, Panos Lazaris, Viktor Brigos Kristos Likokas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rimini_%281944%29

Rama: Albanians have won the war and Serbia has lost it

Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, has given an interview in Kosovo, and for Albanian relations whith Serbia. Among other what attracted attention was the fact that for the Serbs, he said that the Albanians have lost their battles.

"Albanians have won the war and Serbia has lost it". Thus stated Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, in the area of debate on Klan Kosova in dealing with analysts.

  Serbia (former Yugoslavia) emerged the winner of two World Wars, for which Rama did not speak, but that he was referring to NATO's air campaign against the former Yugoslavia in 1999, for which Kosovo was liberated by NATO troops ..

Ρ.Τ.Ερντογάν: «Θα προστατεύσουμε τους ομοεθνείς μας στην Ελλάδα»! - Δημιουργεί υπόβαθρο για εισβολή

27/10/2016

 

Σοβαρή ανησυχία προκαλούν οι νέες δηλώσεις του ασυγκράτητου πλέον Τούρκου προέδρου Ρ.Τ.Ερντογάν ο οποίος αυτή τη φορά δεν δίστασε να απειλήσει πρακτικά με εισβολή -στο πρότυπο της Κύπρου το 1974- λέγοντας ότι «θα υπερασπιστούμε και θα προστατέψουμε τους ομοεθνείς μας στην Ελλάδα» κατά τη διάρκεια δημόσιας ομιλίας του. «Οτιδήποτε συμβαίνει στη περιοχή έχει άμεση σχέση με την Τουρκία. Γυρίσαμε ποτέ στο παρελθόν την πλάτη μας όταν αντιμετώπισαν δυσκολίες οι ομοεθνείς μας στην Βουλγαρία, στην Ελλάδα, στα Σκόπια, τα αδέλφια μας στην Βοσνία, στην Αλβανία και στο Κόσοβο;» δήλωσε ο Ερντογάν.
«Είπαμε ποτέ πως οι υποθέσεις αυτές είναι εσωτερικές; Μπορούμε να γυρίσουμε την πλάτη μας; Όπως έχω αναφέρει, άλλα είναι τα φυσικά μας σύνορα και εντελώς διαφορετικά είναι τα σύνορα της καρδιάς μας» σημείωσε ο Τούρκος Πρόεδρος για να προσθέσει
«Τα αδέρφια μας, που βρίσκονται από την Ευρώπη μέχρι και την Αφρική, από τη Μεσόγειο μέχρι και τις ατελείωτες στέπες της Κεντρικής Ασίας βρίσκονται στα σύνορα της καρδιάς μας. Για εμάς τα Βαλκάνια είναι το ένα μέρος της καρδιάς μας και ο Καύκασος το άλλο μέρος»  είπε ακόμη ο Τούρκος πρόεδρος για να καταλήξει:
«Η έχθρα προς τους ξένους στην Ευρώπη αυξάνεται και εμείς είμαστε οι πρώτοι που αντιδρούμε. Γιατί; Διότι εκεί ζουν 5 εκατομμύρια μας που έχουν τις ρίζες τους στην Τουρκία.
Επιπλέον πρέπει να προσθέσουμε και τα αδέλφια μας από το Τουρκιστάν, το Αφγανιστάν και την Κεντρική Ασία που εγκαταστάθηκαν στην Ευρώπη. Είναι ηθική μας υποχρέωση να υπερασπιστούμε τα δικαιώματα τους και να βρούμε λύσεις στα προβλήματα τους».
Με αυτές τις δηλώσεις του ο Τούρκος πρόεδρος, εκτός από τα «καρδιακά» του προβλήματα, επιχειρεί να αναγορευθεί σε «επίσημο νταβατζή» της περιοχής των Βαλκανίων ενώ η αναφορά του την Ελλάδα μόνο τυχαία δεν ήταν.
Άλλωστε δεν μπορούσε να γίνει πιο ευθύς. Τι άλλο να έλεγε; Το είπε όσο γινόταν ξεκάθαρα: Εάν δημιουργηθούν προβλήματα με την μουσουλμανική μειονότητα της δυτικής Θράκης, αλλά το σημαντικότερο ή θέματα που «εμείς» ως Τουρκία θα εκλάβουμε  ως προβλήματα, τότε θα επέμβουμε και δη στρατιωτικά.
Ουσιαστικά οι θέσεις αυτές του Ερντογάν επιβεβαιώνουν και τη ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΙΚΗ που κυκλοφορεί στην οποία αναφέρεται το θέμα τόσο των σχεδίων της τουρκικής εισβολής στον Έβρο όσο και της ελληνικής απάντησης με την αποκάλυψη του απόρρητου σχεδίου του Γενικού Επιτελείου Στρατού για διαταγή επίθεσης και προέλασης στην Α. Θράκη.
Ένα σχέδιο που έρχεται για πρώτη φορά στο φως της δημοσιότητας, και σε αυτό αποκαλύπτεται το σχέδιο επίθεσης και απελευθέρωσης της Ανατολικής Θράκης  ή μέρους της Ανατολικής Θράκης, από τον Ελληνικό Στρατό, μια περιοχή η οποία άλλωστε δόθηκε στην Ελλάδα με την Συνθήκη των Σεβρών το 1920.

October 1940 : Eternal memory

Defence Ministers take forward NATO-EU cooperation

NATO

  27 Oct. 2016

Allied Defence Ministers discussed practical steps to take forward NATO’s cooperation with the European Union on Thursday (27 October 2016). Ministers were joined by the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, as well as the Defence Ministers of Finland and Sweden.
Opening remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

Briefing the media, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted the benefits of closer NATO-EU cooperation. He noted that, in the Aegean Sea, NATO’s deployment supports Greece, Turkey and the EU’s border agency Frontex in breaking the lines of human trafficking. “That is why last night we decided to continue our Aegean deployment,” said Mr. Stoltenberg.

Allies also decided last night that NATO’s new Operation Sea Guardian will support the EU’s Operation Sophia. Within two weeks, NATO ships and planes will be in the Central Mediterranean, ready to help increase the EU’s situational awareness and provide logistical support.
Today, ministers addressed ways to deepen NATO-EU cooperation in the areas of countering hybrid threats, cyber defence, coordinated exercises and supporting partners. Ministers also discussed recent initiatives to strengthen European defence. The Secretary General underlined that a strong Europe will make NATO stronger, especially by delivering more capabilities and by increasing defence spending among European Allies.

Pavlopoulos Message to Albania ecct: Greece Pledges to Defend Its Rights

By
Mary Harris -
Oct 26, 2016

Greek Reporter

"Greece will defend its rights as a nation, without retreating or making concessions"

President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos said in Thessaloniki on Wednesday, in a message aimed at Greece’s neighbors but also the European Union and the international community".

Speaking at a dinner given in his honor at the Thessaloniki Officers’ Mess by Lieutenant General Alkiviadis Stefanis, Commanding General, C Army Corps/NRDC-GR, Pavlopoulos made clear that the crisis will not affect the way Greece defends its rights and territory.

“We say to our neighbors and to everyone, that in spite of the crisis for us Greeks there can be no concessions when it comes to defending our history, our present and our future. We claim nothing that does not belong to us but we also do not intend to give away the things that do belong to us, based on our history and the legal order that governs the global community and the EU,” he said.

Anyone imagining that the crisis would undermine the morale of the Greeks and the Greek armed forces would be making a great mistake, as others had done in the past, he added.

In a message to Skopje, Pavlopoulos underlined that “Macedonia is one and it is Greek,” and that history was based on facts, not fantasies. “Claims on territories and names violate European law. As long as they continue to make such claims, they will never join the EU and other international organizations,” he said.

Addressing Ankara, he noted that the Lausanne Treaty was similarly part of international law and that there were sanctions for any failure to implement and adhere to it. “Greece will not tolerate either direct or indirect disputes of its national sovereignty,” Pavlopoulos said.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, the president said that the continued presence of Turkish occupation troops on Cyprus was a source of shame for the EU and international community.

“Cyprus and Greece will not allow a repetition of the adventure with the Annan plan…. they say no to the solution of a confederation, because a confederation within the EU is inconceivable. The Cyprus issue can only be solved on the following terms: a single international personality, single nationality, full sovereignty, no occupation armies and no guarantees,” Pavlopoulos said.
(Source: ANA-MPA)

Serbia remains Russia's "rare ally" in Europe - AP

The U.S. agency Associated Press is reporting this Wednesday about the visit of Security Council of the Russian Federation head Nikolai Patrushev to Serbia.

Source: AP, Tanjug Wednesday, October 26, 2016 | 17:02
 

Nebojsa Stefanovic and Nikolai Patrushev bow in front of the Serbian flag in Belgrade (Tanjug)

The report stresses that Serbia "remains a rare Russian ally in Europe."
According to the report - "Russia's top security official urged closer cooperation from Serbia, part of Moscow's efforts to boost its influence in the Balkan country that wants to become an EU member."

The agency further notes that Serbia, an EU hopeful, nevertheless "refused to impose West-backed sanctions on Russia" - a country described as "a historic Slavic and Orthodox Christian friend."

Patrushev, meanwhile, is said to be "secretary of President Vladimir Putin's Security Council" - and a man "believed to be one of Putin's most influential allies."

The news agency further reported that in his meeting with Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic, Patrushev called on Serbia to sign "a memorandum of understanding" in 2017, and stressed that Russia already signed such documents with its "most trusted partners."

According to the AP, Stefanovic for his part said there was "room for improvement in security ties between the two countries."

Pristina sees "Greater Serbia" in Belgrade's dialogue bid

Edita Tahiri says Belgrade's call for Serbs and Albanians to engage in a comprehensive dialogue in order to achieve peace is "fake."
Source: B92, Tanjug Wednesday, October 26, 2016 | 12:02

(Beta, file)

This has been reported by the Pristina-based Albanian language daily Epoka e Re.
According to Tahiri, who serves as a minister without portfolio in the Kosovo government in charge of the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations, Belgrade is in this way "revealing the hegemonistic Greater Serbia project."

She also believes that the Serbian government is "not interested in good relations between the two peoples."

"(Serbia) recognizing Kosovo," Tahiri continued, "is the essential condition to open a new chapter of peaceful relations between Serbs and Albanians."

Kosovo is Serbia's southern province where ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence in 2008. Serbia considers this a violation of its territorial integrity.

Ο Ομπάμα στην Ελλάδα

Πρώτη καταχώρηση: Τρίτη, 25 Οκτωβρίου 2016,

Ο Πρόεδρος των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών της Αμερικής, Μπαράκ Ομπάμα, θα πραγματοποιήσει επίσημη επίσκεψη στην Αθήνα στα μέσα Νοεμβρίου, ανακοινώθηκε επίσημα από τον Λευκό Οίκο.

Σύμφωνα με την αμερικανική προεδρία, ο Ομπάμα θα συναντηθεί με τον πρόεδρο της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας, Προκόπη Παυλόπουλο και με τον πρωθυπουργό Αλέξη Τσίπρα στις 15 Νοεμβρίου για να συζητήσουν την προσφυγική κρίση και τις μεταρρυθμίσεις στην οικονομία.

Στο επίκεντρο της συνάντησης του Αμερικανού προέδρου με τον Αλέξη Τσίπρα θα τεθεί το χρέος αλλά και  το προσφυγικό, καθώς οι ΗΠΑ βλέπουν την Ελλάδα ως «προπύργιο σταθερότητας» σε ένα δύσκολο περιβάλλον, ενώ, όπως τονίζεται, η διαχείρισή του απειλεί την σταθερότητα όλης της Ευρώπης.

Επίσης, θα συζητηθούν η ελάφρυνση του ελληνικού χρέους, το εύφλεκτο σκηνικό στη Νοτιοανατολική Μεσόγειο αλλά και οι προοπτικές επίλυσης του Κυπριακού.

Μετά την Αθήνα, ο Oμπάμα θα μεταβεί στο Βερολίνο.

Οι επιδιώξεις της ελληνικής κυβέρνησης

Σύμφωνα με πηγές προσκείμενες στο Μαξίμου, η προσπάθεια της ελληνικής κυβέρνησης για την πραγματοποίηση αυτής της επίσκεψης συνδέεται και με το ζήτημα του ελληνικού χρέους. Στην κυβέρνηση πιστεύουν πως μια στήριξη της Ελλάδας από την πλευρά των ΗΠΑ για την μείωση του χρέους μπορεί να παίξει καταλυτικό ρόλο στις εξελίξεις.

Επίσης, σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες, η επίσκεψη του Νίκου Παππά στην Ουάσιγκτον περιλάμβανε και κινήσεις για το συγκεκριμένο ζήτημα.

Αναλυτές εκτιμούν πως η επίσκεψη Ομπάμα στην Ελλάδα ενδέχεται να αποτελέσει ένα από τα πιο ισχυρά χαρτιά στην προσπάθεια της Αθήνας για μείωση του ελληνικού χρέους, διότι οι ΗΠΑ είναι από τους βασικούς μετόχους του ΔΝΤ.

Μισή ώρα είχε διαρκέσει η συνάντηση του πρωθυπουργού Αλέξη Τσίπρα με τον Αμερικανό πρόεδρο Μπαράκ Ομπάμα, στο περιθώριο της Συνόδου Κορυφής του ΝΑΤΟ, στη Βαρσοβία, την 9η Ιουλίου 2016

Την ευκαιρία για ένα σύντομο τετ α τετ με τον Μπαράκ Ομπάμα είχε στις 30 Σεπτεμβρίου 2015 ο Αλέξης Τσίπρας στο επίσημο δείπνο που δόθηκε από τον Αμερικανό πρόεδρο στον Λευκό Οίκο προς τιμήν των αρχηγών κρατών των 193 χωρών που μετέχουν στη Γενική Συνέλευση του ΟΗΕ

Πιέσεις για την επίλυση του Κυπριακού

Η επίσκεψη του Ομπάμα έχει ως στόχο και την άσκηση πιέσεων προς όλες τις εμπλεκόμενες πλευρές για την εξεύρεση λύσης στο Κυπριακό.

Ο  Αμερικανός πρόεδρος αλλά και ο Γενικός Γραμματέας των Ηνωμένων Εθνών Μπαν Κι Μουν, του οποίου η θητεία επίσης τερματίζεται στο τέλος του έτους επιδιώκουν να συνδέσουν το όνομά τους με την επίλυση του Κυπριακού και γι’ αυτό θα πιέσουν προς αυτή την κατεύθυνση τόσο την Αθήνα, όσο και την Λευκωσία και την Άγκυρα.

Greece - Turkey: Γιατί πρέπει να προετοιμαζόμαστε για πιθανή δραματική επιδείνωση των τουρκικών προκλήσεων

25/10/2016

 Tου Δρ Κωνσταντίνου Γρίβα*
 

Ίσως η πιο επικίνδυνη παγίδα στην οποία μπορεί να πέσει η ελληνική εξωτερική πολιτική είναι να θεωρήσει ότι οι διαρκείς αμφισβητήσεις της ελληνικής κυριαρχίας στο Αιγαίο είναι κάτι που οφείλεται στον Ερντογάν και αν ήταν κάποιος πιο «μετριοπαθής» στη θέση του τότε τα πράγματα θα ήταν καλύτερα. Εξίσου επικίνδυνη είναι η άποψη ότι όλα αυτά γίνονται για «εσωτερική κατανάλωση». 

 

Κατά την άποψη του γράφοντος, ο επιθετικός αναθεωρητισμός της Τουρκίας  αποτελεί περίπου αυτόματο προϊόν της μετατροπής του διεθνούς συστήματος σε πολυπολικό και της ανάδυσης της Τουρκίας ως υποψήφιας δύναμης ευρασιατικού βεληνεκούς, δηλαδή ως ενός από τους πόλους ισχύος αυτού του νέου παγκόσμιου συστήματος.

 

Κατά συνέπεια, ακόμη και αν το Αιγαίο δεν είχε τη σημασία που έχει στον παγκόσμιο γεωπολιτικό χάρτη, πάλι για λόγους γοήτρου η Τουρκία θα προσπαθούσε να το ελέγξει, δεδομένου ότι δεν μπορεί μια μεγάλη δύναμη να μην έχει υπό την κυριαρχία της μια αλυσίδα νησιών που βρίσκονται τόσο «προκλητικά» κοντά στις ακτές της. 

 

Ωστόσο, το Αιγαίο δεν έχει μόνο συμβολική σημασία για την Τουρκία. Είναι μια περιοχή κρίσιμης σημασίας για την τουρκική στρατηγική αλλά και την παγκόσμια γεωπολιτική αρχιτεκτονική γενικότερα.

 

Με τον έλεγχο του Αιγαίου, η Τουρκία θα εξασφαλίσει ένα αντίβαρο απέναντι στην πρωτοκαθεδρία του Ιράν στο Ιράκ και τη Συρία και θα αποκτήσει ένα κρίσιμο πλεονέκτημα έναντι της Αιγύπτου, η οποία αποτελεί το μεγάλο της ανταγωνιστή στην Ανατολική Μεσόγειο.

 

Κυρίως όμως, η κυριαρχία στο Αιγαίο θα προσφέρει στην Τουρκία τη δυνατότητα να διατηρήσει την επισφαλή ισορροπία της ανάμεσα στις ΗΠΑ και τη Ρωσία και να εξελίξει περαιτέρω την στρατηγική αυτονόμησής της από τους ισχυρούς δρώντες του πλανήτη και μετατροπής της σε αυτόνομο ευρασιατικό πόλο ισχύος.

 

Δεν είναι λοιπόν ο Ερντογάν το πρόβλημα. Βαθιές δομικές αλλαγές στη γεωπολιτική ταυτότητα της Τουρκίας και του ίδιου του διεθνούς συστήματος είναι οι παράγοντες που την ωθούν προς αυτήν την κατεύθυνση. Ακόμη και μια γνησίως και ειλικρινώς ειρηνόφιλη κυβέρνηση στην Άγκυρα, αργά ή γρήγορα θα κατέληγε σε αυτήν την στρατηγική επιθετικού αναθεωρητισμού.

 

Με άλλα λόγια, θα πρέπει να προετοιμαζόμαστε για πιθανή δραματική επιδείνωση των τουρκικών προκλήσεων σε βάθος χρόνου.

 

* Ο Δρ Κωνσταντίνος Γρίβας είναι Αν. Καθηγητής  Γεωπολιτικής στην Στρατιωτική Σχολή Ευελπίδων(ΣΣΕ)  και διδάσκει Γεωγραφία της Ασφάλειας και των Αφοπλισμών στο Τμήμα Τουρκικών και Σύγχρονων Ασιατικών Σπουδών του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών

Albanian FM Bushati and Idrizi of PDIU invited by Erdogan

According to sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania, Bushati and Idrizi will visit Ankara and will be expected by Erdogan, a serious provocation against Athens.

Some day ago, the "Kathimerini" newspaper wrote: "Tirana knows very well if The Cham issue becomes a problem between Albania and Greece, then Athens will raise the issue of Northern Epirus".

SManalysis

Tirana. The dangerous confrontation, Greece - Albania is likely to end up relations which soured diplomatic row between Tirana and Athens, especially after Greek Foreign Minister Kotsias, reminded Tirana that "in addition to blocking the EU in Albania through Veto, the military option between two countries may be "legitimate" as long as the "Law of War" for the collaborators of fascism, remains in force."

Tirana sees this threat in a hidden way but with the help of Ankara, will know to do to provoke Athens, by negotiating for an official visit of Foreign Minister Bushati in Ankara, and together with the Chairman of the Party PDIU, Shpetim Idrizi.

According to sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania, Bushati and Idrizi will visit Ankara and will be expected by Erdogan, a serious provocation against Athens. Sources from the Albanian media, noted that even Greece is a strategic partner of Albania, Turkey is like to see as historical brothers which back the Albanian National Strategy and helping military assistance of the country. .

Only a few days ago, the Greek newspaper "Kathimerini", recalled in an analysis of the most important relationship soured Greece Albania, after the nationalist irredentist demands of the Cham Community, supported by the Albanian government and financed by Turkey.

But according to "Kathimerini", Athens, in to the President Kostis Stephanopoulos, has "suggested" his Albanian counterpart, Alfred Moisiu in Tirana in 2004 that if Tirana will raise the "Cham Issue", then Athens will activate The Northern Epirus Autonomy ", a statement that is kept diplomatically in total Secret, but that Tirana, does not seem to have taken seriously, even for the fact that Turkey, finances, the Cham Community nationalist party, PDIU in Albania.

The Relation between Greece - Albania, entered in a new phase of tension, especially after the expiry of the Protocol of Friendship 20 years between the two countries, of which Albania, benefited from Athens, membership in NATO and the opening of negotiations as a candidate country to the EU.

However, according to Prime Minister Rama, Albania, does not have to fears from Greece, as long it is a member of NATO, for which, it seems history repeats, with Albania, whenever makes alliances in favor of irredentism and threats Greece, as during the World War II.

Albania's constitutional court suspends law key to EU hopes

Published October 25, 2016 Associated Press
Link

TIRANA, Albania –  Albania's Constitutional Court has suspended a law that requires the vetting of the personal and professional backgrounds of judges and prosecutors, key to judicial reforms needed to convince the European Union to launch membership negotiations.

The court suspended the law to seek the opinion of the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, which already has reviewed the reform package prepared with help from EU and U.S. experts. The suspension was sought by the opposition Democratic party, which opposed the vetting law.

That suspension, however, will only temporarily block the launch of a legal overhaul meant to restructure the justice system to ensure that judges and prosecutors are independent from politics, and to root out bribery.

Albania was granted EU candidate status in 2014 and hopes to launch negotiations this year.

President: We'll never accept Kosovo's independence

Serbia wants to continue on the path of European integration, President Tomislav Nikolic has said.
Source: Beta Monday, October 24, 2016 

However, "it would not be good anyone to condition Serbia with the recognition of Kosovo," Beta reported him as noting on Monday in Belgrade.
According to a statement issued by the president's office, "that will never be accepted."

Nikolic's remarks came during a meeting with the new head of the OSCE mission in Serbia, Andrea Orizio. The president said he hoped for a quick normalization of relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation - "as it would be unthinkable for Serbia to give up the strong ties with Russia that it traditionally nurtures."

Speaking about the migrant crisis, Nikolic said that his country "thinks it has not disgraced itself there, and that it behaved more in line with European standards than many members of the European Union."

He also said that cooperation between Serbia and the OSCE was "impeccable."

Andrea Orizio noted that Serbia has shown great maturity during the migrant crisis last year, and praised the activities during its presidency of the OSCE.

Orizio added that the OSCE "believes in Serbia's role in the region and throughout Europe."

"The OSCE will be very useful to Serbia, neutral, but very concrete," he said.

US Ambassador Christopher Hill: Albania Doesn’t Want to Become One With Kosovo

By Mehdi Hyseni Ph.D. - 

 

Fri October 7, 2016

Link

 

Serbia and Russia are intensively preparing to re-invade Kosovo like in 1912, if Albania still refuses reunion with Kosovo, as soon as possible. This is the main reason why Belgrade or Moscow did not recognize the Republic of Kosovo. However this serbo-russian potential peril are not being seen in Tirana nor Pristina. Unfortunately they are waiting until it is too late and even worse for them.
Viewed historically and legally under international law, such a long rejection about a century, Albania didn’t want to be reunited with Kosovo. Its very wrong national politics and diplomacy there was only in favor of Serbia’s political, economic, territorial and state interests (1912-1999). Albania lost its indigenous territory of Kosovo with 10.877 km2 and over 2 million and half Albanian population.
Besides their great loss and unrequited, such Albania’s wrong policy and diplomacy leads to loss for ever historical right on its autochthonous territory known as Ethnic Albania.
Whereas, Albania must take account the fact that the state who loose its territories isn’t any kind of the integrated national and European state, but a weak and quasi-state that not deserve to be part of the today’s the European Union (EU) because one still has unresolved territorial problems with neighbor Slav countries as Serbia, Montenegro, Greece and Macedonia.

Honored Ambassador Chris Hill is Right

In an interview with the “Voice of America” (October 3, 2016) U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill, speaking about relations between Albania and Kosovo, i.e. Balkans , said: “I worked in Albania and later when I was talking with Kosovo negotiators, one thing I realized better than others; Albania did not want to become a country with Kosovo; I understood that there were two countries with their own future. I never was worried as other foreigners on the creation of the Greater Albania.” [zeriamerikes.com].

Ambassador Chris Hill. Photo:State Department.

This truth has been proven not only during the past period of 25 years of Albania (1991-2016), but a long historic, political and diplomatic period of Albania (1913- 2016). As a member of the League of Nations (1920-1939) and of the United Nations (1955-2016), Albania has not raised the demand for the return of its lost territories as a cause and consequence of the colonial conquest and annexation from neighboring Balkans states (Serbia, Montenegro, Greece and Macedonia).
Until now (XXI Century, 2016), this main problem has remained (in limbo) unresolved not only between Ethnic Albania and the mentioned Slavic colonialist countries of the Balkans, but for European and international diplomacy entirely.

This is one of the most painful and tragic problems for the Albanian nation in the Balkans, because “London Albania” (1913-2016), has never raised his voice, that will reunite with its fragmented parts, dismembered and colonized by Balkan Slavic neighbors.
However, despite this absurd and painful tragedy for the Albanian nation, colonized Albanians should not lose their hope, that a day will come out of the colonial tyranny of the Balkan Slavic countries, not that they would have the support of “London Albania, 1913,” but probably from America and its Western European Allies like Kosovo that had liberated and make it independent from Serbia in 1999. So, thanks only to America and NATO, Kosovo becomes an independent and sovereign state, not thanks to Albania at all because one failed in the defense and liberation of Kosovo from Serbia (1912-1999).

Not only Kosovo, but and the whole Balkans is still an “unfinished project,” Christopher Hill said!
Despite this bitter centennial truth with historic, political and diplomatic background (1912-2016) dealing with relationships and conflicts of the Balkan countries ( Albania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Greece), the observation of the US Ambassador Christopher Hill on the Balkans’ future ( Albanians still gives hope that will solve their contested territorial disputes with their Slavic neighbors), given that according to the realistic political assessment of Christopher Hill: “The Balkans is an unfinished process. This is a difficult process, but above all in the Balkans left aside violence and wars. The region has challenges, but I think that the Balkans is an unfinished project and as such there is a need for more attention not only from the people of the region, but also from the US and EU. This is part of Europe, it cannot be left out of it, but should be included in it. More progress was made, but it is incomplete.” [zeriamerikes.com].

The colonized and separated Albanians in the Balkans should not abandon their hope, because as the honored American Ambassador has drawn the right conclusion “Balkans is an unfinished process.” It is still awaiting its final and fair resolution by the European Union and the United States of America.
It means that it’s necessary to hold a new international conference about the Balkans issue to finished the job i.e. to peacefully and democratically start the European project on Balkans.

International Conference on Balkans Needed

First of all, a such an international conference on Balkans should be sought by Albania and the other Balkans Slavic countries who have unresolved territorial disputes between each other, especially with Albania which is harmed and shrunk for hundreds and thousands km2 of its territory as a consequence of the neighbor Slavic countries in course of the Balkan Wars (1912-1913).
It would be in the favor of reconciliation, integration, cooperation and peace of the Balkan states, because this way it would have ended hostilities, wars, disasters and hostile relationships of the all Balkan countries (1878-2016).
Therefore, this historic and political opportunity, Albania and Kosovo should not lose like 100 hundred years ago (1912-2016), but must do strong work and cooperation with the United States, the European Union and NATO if they want to bring together all Albanians and their lost territories.
Without the right solution of the Albanian colonial problem, the Balkans still will live into the “fever” of the possible break out of the armed conflicts and wars like in its past bloody history (1912-1945) and as in the end of the XX (1990-1999).
Moreover, the reunion of the Albanians would be the main guarantee for calm and peace among all peoples and the Balkan countries.
Otherwise Kosovo would be reoccupied again from Serbia, which will never recognize the Republic of Kosovo.
To avoid permanently colonial and genocidal Serbia, Kosovo has only these two solutions:
1) Prompt announcing its referendum to rejoin Albania, or
2) Accepting permanent protectorate under the United States.
A “third option” would be to continue armed conflicts and bloody wars between Kosovo and Serbia until the final occupation of Kosovo by Serbia and Russia and their traditional allies like in 1912, which, they have already prepared their strategic scenario how to invade Kosovo as Russia invaded Crimea in 2014.

Προς «Μεγάλη Αλβανία»: Το ΝΑΤΟ στοχοποίησε επίσημα την Σερβία απειλώντας την και πάλι με πόλεμο! – Βελιγράδι: «Μας απειλούν ξανά»

Ο επικεφαλής της στρατιωτικής επιτροπής του ΝΑΤΟ, Τσέχος στρατηγός Petr Pavel ξεστόμισε επαναλαμβανόμενες απειλές για την Σερβία , τονίζοντας ότι η...
  
pentapostagma.gr

24 Οκτωβρίου 2016, 7:51 μμ

Ο επικεφαλής της στρατιωτικής επιτροπής του ΝΑΤΟ, Τσέχος στρατηγός Petr Pavel ξεστόμισε επαναλαμβανόμενες απειλές για την Σερβία , τονίζοντας ότι η χώρα αυτή είναι η μόνη σύμμαχος της Ρωσίας,  τοποθετώντας την στο στόχαστρο των όπλων της συμμαχίας.

«Στην  Ευρώπη και  τα Βαλκάνια, οι μόνοι δυνητικοί σύμμαχοι της Μόσχας είναι μόνο οι Σέρβοι … Έτσι οι Ρώσοι  συχνά απειλούν να χρησιμοποιήσουν  πυρηνικά όπλα  για να καλύψουν  τις αδυναμίες τους στον τομέα των συμβατικών δυνάμεων», δήλωσε ο νατοϊκός στρατηγός ο οποίος γνωρίζει πολύ καλά τι δηλώνει.

 Ο σερβικός τύπος με έκτακτο δημοσίευμα αναφέρει ότι «το ΝΑΤΟ απειλεί και πάλι, χωρίς ιδιαίτερο λόγο και  αιτία την Σερβία απειλώντας την ακόμη και με πόλεμο!

Ο Τσέχος στρατηγός  Petr Pavel, πρόεδρος της Στρατιωτικής Επιτροπής του ΝΑΤΟ, χθες στην Πράγα σε ένα συνέδριο με τίτλο «Υβριδική επιχείρηση εναντίον της προπαγάνδας του ΝΑΤΟ και της παραπληροφόρησης», δήλωσε πως η Ρωσία δεν θα πρέπει να επιχειρήσει πόλεμο με τη Δύση, επειδή διαθέτει  πολύ ασθενέστερο στρατό, αλλά και γιατί στην Ευρώπη υπάρχουν  μόνο οι Σέρβοι  ως σύμμαχοι της !

Ο ίδιος τόνισε μάλιστα ότι «οι Ρώσοι έχουν επίγνωση της στρατιωτικής τους  ανικανότητας, και ως εκ τούτου απειλούν  διαρκώς με την χρήση πυρηνικών όπλων τον εχθρό τους που είναι η  ΕΕ και οι  ΗΠΑ!

Συνεχίζοντας το κρεσέντο της δικής του προπαγάνδας ο Pavel τόνισε  ότι, «ο Ρώσος Πρόεδρος Βλαντιμίρ Πούτιν  «επιβιώνει στην εξουσία» με την κατασκευή ενός εξωτερικού αντιπάλου δημιουργώντας συνεχώς μια  πολεμική ατμόσφαιρα.

« Παρά το γεγονός ότι έχει έναν ικανό στρατό σε σχέση με πριν 15 χρόνια, η Ρωσία δεν είναι σε θέση να είναι ανταγωνιστική ως προς την δύση, την οποία η ρωσική ηγεσία συνειδητά στοχοποιεί συνεχώς», δήλωσε ο επικεφαλής της πιο σημαντικής από άποψης αρμοδιοτήτων επιτροπής της συμμαχίας.

Κανείς στην κυβέρνηση της Σερβίας δεν έχει σχολιάσει επίσημα μέχρι τώρα τις δηλώσεις  του στρατιωτικού ηγέτη του ΝΑΤΟ.

Σέρβοι αναλυτές εκτιμούν ότι το ΝΑΤΟ κλιμακώνει σε επίπεδο λεκτικών απειλών  κατά της Σερβίας σε ένα ριμέικ του 1999 και του πολέμου του Κοσσυφοπεδίου.

Ο έτερος Σέρβος αναλυτής γεωπολιτικών θεμάτων  Boško Jakšić τονίζει ότι  η Ρωσία και το ΝΑΤΟ λόγω της κρίσης στις σχέσεις τους αναφέρονται όλο και περισσότερο σε έναν  πόλεμο πλέον και στα Βαλκάνια  .

Ο Petr Pavel τον Σεπτέμβριο σε συνέδριο της Στρατιωτικής Επιτροπής του ΝΑΤΟ στο Σπλιτ δήλωσε και πάλι  για έναν νέο πόλεμο στα Βαλκάνια, απειλώντας άμεσα την Δημοκρατία της Σερβίας στην Βοσνία  και την Σερβία.

Ο λόγος για τον πόλεμο αυτόν είναι η « ενίσχυση της ρωσικής επιρροής στην περιοχή αυτή », η οποία αποτελεί μια αυξανόμενη απειλή για την ασφάλεια των κρατών-μελών του ΝΑΤΟ.

Ο κίνδυνος  σύγκρουσης στα Βαλκάνια εξακολουθεί να είναι πολύ μεγάλος. Τα Βαλκάνια σήμερα απειλούνται  από την ισλαμική τρομοκρατία, και από την στάση των ΗΠΑ-ΝΑΤΟ και ΕΕ, αυτό είναι το μόνο σίγουρο στην προκειμένη περίπτωση .

Εμείς υπενθυμίζουμε το άρθρο στο pentapostagma.gr με τίτλο (ΕΚΤΑΚΤΟ! Η Ρωσία είναι έτοιμη να ανοίξει μια δεύτερη στρατιωτική βάση στην Σερβία), όπου αναφέραμε ότι  η Ρωσία  σχεδιάζει να κατασκευάσει μια νέα στρατιωτική βάση στη Σερβία «καμουφλαρισμένη» στο  όνομα «κέντρο ανθρωπιστικής βοήθειας».

Πριν λίγες ώρες η φράση του ειδικού απεσταλμένου στα Τίρανα Chris Hill «η περιοχή των Βαλκανίων βρίσκεται σε μια διαδικασία που ακόμα δεν έχει ολοκληρωθεί» τα λέει όλα…

Dhjetë pika për normalizimin Kosovë-Shqipëri

 Veton Suroi

Meqë Kosova ka kapacitet të krijojë më shumë telashe se ç'mund të zgjidhen gjatë një jete njerëzore dhe pamë se si degjeneroi debati në Kosovë e Shqipëri pas vizitës së kryeministrit Rama në Beograd, ja dhjetë pika që mund të ndihmojnë në diçka që dukej se ishte e panevojshme para pak kohësh, normalizimit të marrëdhënieve Kosovë-Shqipëri.

1. Kryeministri i Shqipërisë, sikur ai i Kosta-Rikës, Ganës dhe Malajzisë, kanë të drejtë të flasin për çdo gjë, përfshirë edhe Kosovën. Dhe nuk kanë përgjegjësi ndaj qytetarëve të Kosovës, sepse nuk janë zgjedhur nga ta. Të thuash në Kosovë se Edi Rama guxon ta thotë këtë apo nuk guxon ta bëjë atë, e vë qytetarin e Kosovës në dy pozita eventuale. Një, të tifozit para ekranit televiziv, që i tregon trajnerit të një skuadre ndërkombëtare (a kombëtare, krejt njëjtë) se çka duhet të bëjë apo nuk mund të bëjë. Dy, të konsideruarit se kryeministri i Shqipërisë është një anëtar i familjes në tryezën e madhe, në të cilën mund t'i thuash gjithçka, përfshirë edhe se çka do të flasë apo të mos flasë në Beograd.

2. Kryeministri Rama nuk është anëtar i familjes kosovare. Nuk është vëlla i shqiptarëve të Kosovës. As shqiptarët e Shqipërisë, me një përjashtim, s’e kanë vëlla.

Edi Rama e ka vëlla Olsin. Dhe ky është vëllai i tij i vetëm. Edi Rama nuk e ka vëlla askënd tjetër brenda Shqipërisë dhe jashtë saj.

Ky është parim i rëndësishëm, sepse komunikimi me të nuk mund të bëhet si me një vëlla.

Dhe ky është parim i rëndësishëm, sepse për analizë racionale është e nevojshme të konstatohet se shqiptarët e Kosovës nuk janë vëllezër me shqiptarët e Shqipërisë. Racionalisht, me përjashtim të atyre biologjikë, shqiptarët e Kosovës nuk janë vëllezër mes vete, siç nuk janë shqiptarët e Shqipërisë.

Marrëdhëniet mes Shqipërisë dhe Kosovës janë për nga natyra e tyre juridike marrëdhënie mes dy shteteve sovrane. Qytetarët e Kosovës kanë, juridikisht, aq të drejtë që ta udhëzojnë se çka të flasë kryeministri i Shqipërisë sa kanë për kryetarin e Ganës dhe kryeministrin e Malajzisë.

Zyrtarët kosovarë, përfshirë edhe ministrin e Jashtëm, kur i thonë se nuk u nevojiten shërbimet e Edi Ramës, nuk i flasin vëllait. I flasin shtetit të Shqipërisë.

3. Tejkalimi i kornizës familjare është thelbësor edhe në një çështje kritike, mëmësia. Shqipëria nuk është nënë e Kosovës. Kosova nuk e ka nënë Shqipërinë. Shqipëria nuk është nënë e asgjëje. Kosova nuk është e bija e askujt. Shtetet nuk janë nëna. As janë bij.

Shqipëria është shtet i qytetarëve të saj me shumicë shqiptarë. Shqipëria nuk ka mbërritur, për shkaqe historike, të bëhet shtet i shqiptarëve.

Kosova është shtet i qytetarëve të vet, në shumicë shqiptarë. Në pamundësi që Shqipëria, për shkaqe historike, të bëhet shtet i shqiptarëve, shqiptarët e Kosovës e kanë ndërtuar shtetin e vet.

4. Kombi shqiptar nuk ka një qendër. Pamundësia e ndërtimit të një shteti kombëtar ka krijuar tashmë dy shtete dhe shumë shoqëri autoktone shqiptare.

Kombi shqiptar është policentrik, shumëqendrash. Kjo do të thotë se nuk ekziston një autoritet i vetëm (shtetëror, kulturor) që përcakton shqiptarizmin, shqiptaren.

Kjo do të thotë se ndërtimi i identitetit kombëtar është një proces i gjallë, që është i ndërlidhur edhe me shtetndërtimin e shoqërive shqiptare.

Shqipëria dhe Kosova, si shtete, për nga natyra institucionale, marrin obligim për zhvillimin e identitetit kombëtar, ashtu siç bëjnë në nivele të ndryshme institucionale shoqëritë shqiptare në Maqedoni, Mal të Zi dhe Luginë të Preshevës.

5. Shqipëria dhe Kosova, dy shtete të kombit shqiptar, nuk mund të jenë fqinjë të rëndomtë. Shkalla e interaksionit dhe integrimit mes tyre domosdoshmërisht është më e madhe se mes shteteve të tjera. Shkalla e integrimit dhe interaksionit kërkon racionalizim të politikave, të formave të bashkëvendimmarrjes për sektorët që identifikohen si pjesë të zhvillimit të identitetit kombëtar. Racionalizimi i politikave nënkupton që ministri i Jashtëm i Kosovës të mos komunikojë me anë të intervistës televizive me kryeministrin e Shqipërisë. Dhe anasjelltas.

6. Kryeministri Rama ka mbrojtur interesin shtetëror të Shqipërisë në Beograd. Interesi shtetëror i Shqipërisë është vendosja e marrëdhënieve sa më të mira me të gjitha shtetet, veçanërisht me ato me të cilat ekzistojnë problemet e hapura, sikur është rasti me Serbinë.

Kryeministri Rama, për më tepër, nuk ka bërë gjë më shumë se ç'kanë deklaruar udhëheqësit e Kosovës: edhe ata janë deklaruar se është interes shtetëror i Kosovës normalizimi i marrëdhënieve me Serbinë.

Rrjedhimisht, kryeministri Rama, duke mbrojtur interesin shtetëror të Shqipërisë, paska mbrojtur edhe atë që udhëheqësit e Kosovës e quajnë interes shtetëror të vendit.

7. Avancimi i interesit shtetëror të Shqipërisë i kryeministrit Rama në Beograd nuk qe në dëm të interesit të Kosovës. Në fakt, qe më i favorshëm për interesat e Kosovës se ç'kanë bërë udhëheqësit e Kosovës.

Në Beograd kryeministri Rama theksoi dy pika. Një, pengesë e marrëdhënieve mes dy vendeve është refuzimi i Serbisë që të njohë realitetin e Kosovës si shtet të pavarur. Dy, një kësi mohimi çon në situata absurde sikurse ajo e "Trepçës", simbolika e një resursi të Kosovës, që po kontestohet nga Serbia.

Përderisa për kryeministrin Rama refuzimi i njohjes së shtetit të pavarur është pengesë në marrëdhëniet Shqipëri-Serbi, për ish-kryeministrin Thaçi edhe shpallja e Pavarësisë së Kosovës mund të negociohet. Ai dhe vartësit e tij pranuan, me vullnet të tyre, që Kosova, edhe pas shpalljes së Pavarësisë të përfaqësohet me një asterisk që e përshkruan si vend nën administrim të Rezolutës 1244 të OKB-së dhe Mendimit të GJND-së. Ish-kryeministri Thaçi dhe vartësit e tij pranuan se çështja e Pavarësisë së Kosovës është e kontestueshme, ndryshe nga kryeministri Rama.

Dhe, përderisa kryeministri i Shqipërisë deklaroi se resurset kosovare, sikurse është rasti me "Trepçën" janë të Kosovës, e njëjta gjë nuk ndodhi me kolegët e tij kosovarë. Në procesin negociator të Brukselit, ish-kryeministri Thaçi dhe vartësit e pasuesit e tij kanë pranuar se resurset kosovare mund të bashkadministrohen. I tillë është rasti me Marrëveshjen e telekomunikacionit, me të cilën pyetet Serbia se a do të ketë apo jo Kosova kod telefonik, një resurs i pastër ekonomik i shtetit të Kosovës.

8. Në avancimin e interesit shtetëror kryeministri Rama nënshkroi marrëveshje ndërshtetërore komunikacioni me Serbinë, një për rrugën, tjetrën për hekurudhë. Që të dyja do të lidhin Nishin me Durrësin.

Akuza që i është bërë është se ka bërë hesap pa hanxhiun, gjegjësisht ka nënshkruar një marrëveshje që detyrimisht përfshin edhe territorin e Kosovës, por duke mos i përfshirë zyrtarët kosovarë në marrëveshje.

Por, marrëveshja nuk ka të bëjë fare me Kosovën. Ka të bëjë me Berlinin. Kryeministrat e Shqipërisë dhe Serbisë nënshkruan marrëveshje që të ndërtojnë autostradë deri te kufiri i Kosovës, çdonjëri nga ana e vet. Dhe, që këtë ta bëjnë me paratë e BE-së, gjegjësisht të "Procesit të Berlinit". Kosova, e cila tashmë e ka të ndërtuar (deri diku) autostradën me paratë e veta ndoshta nuk ka pritur, sikur Serbia, që ta ndërtojë aksesin e vet në Durrës me para evropiane, sepse paratë evropiane nuk do të mund të shpenzoheshin pa mbikëqyrje sikur u bë me paratë e taksapaguesve kosovarë.

Marrëveshja e Ramës për autostradë nuk shkon në dëm të interesit të Kosovës. Përkundrazi , e valorizon atë, sepse e rrit mundësinë e qarkullimit, qoftë edhe transitor, prej Nishit në Durrës dhe anasjelltas.

9. Kryeministri i Shqipërisë ka më shumë elokuencë, paraqitje karizmatike dhe kapacitet provokues për debat intelektual dhe artistik se ç'kanë kolegët e tij kosovarë.

Kjo asimetri mund të korrigjohet në dy mënyra. Ose të ndalohet paraqitja e mëtejme publike e kryeministrit Rama. Ose që kolegët e tij kosovarë të avancojnë drejt më shumë elokuence, karizme dhe thellësie intelektuale.

Është e qartë se situatat e këtilla asimetrike nuk zhbëhen me një vendim, qoftë ndalimi, qoftë avancimi.

Asimetria, herë në favor e herë në disfavor të njërës a tjetrës shoqëri shqiptare, është tipar evident, dhe do të jetë një konstantë e procesit të ndërtimit të mëtejmë të kombit.

E ndërtimi kërkon më shumë komunikim, jo përjashtim nga ai. Kërkon më shumë Edi Ramë, jo më pak.

10. Kryeministri i Shqipërisë shprehu ambicien e tij që shqiptarët dhe serbët të pajtohen sikur bënë francezët dhe gjermanët.

Tingëllon bukur, është në interesin shtetëror të Shqipërisë, por nuk është e përsëritshme. Pajtimi historik franko-gjerman qe i mundur vetëm me okupimin e Gjermanisë, ndërtimin e një shoqërie demokratike gjermane nën institucionet e okupacionit dhe një katarsis kombëtar që mori përgjegjësinë kolektive për nazizmin dhe politikën e gjenocidit.

Pajtimi i këtillë mes shqiptarëve dhe serbëve nuk po pengohet prej shqiptarëve. Ai do të vijë kur Serbia të jetë një shtet demokratik, i cili duke u ballafaquar me të kaluarën e vet pranon përgjegjësinë kolektive të përndjekjes së shqiptarëve të Kosovës dhe me dorë të shtrirë e njeh Pavarësinë e Kosovës.

*Themelues i Koha Ditore

Albanian Asylum-Seeker Numbers in Germany Rise Again

More Albanians are again seeking aslyum in Germany, a year after Berlin listed Albania as a 'safe country of origin', though overall numbers have fallen since 2015.

Fatjona Mejdini, Vincent Triest

BIRN

Tirana

A refugees camp in Germany. Photo: BIRN

The number of Albanians requesting asylum spiked once again in September, after numbers fell in the first part of 2016.
A year exactly after Berlin acted to curb the numbers, by declaring Albania a safe country, the phenomenon of thousands people seeking asylum each month has started to emerge again.
According to the EU statistics agency Eurostat, in September 2016, the number of Albanians seeking asylum to Germany rose to 2,250, the highest monthly figure this year.
The number of Albanians seeking asylum in January 2016 was only 1,200. It dropped further in March to only 825.
But numbers started to rise again in summer, hitting 1,390 in July, 1,635 in August and then 2,250 in September.
The total number seeking asylum in Germany from January to September was 11,895. However, during the same period of time in 2015, the number seeking asylum was 44,325, almost four times higher - which shows a sharp decline, year on year.
Referring to the same Eurostat data, 890 citizens of Macedonia sought asylum in Germany in September for the first time, while 565 people from Kosovo did so.
Roland Lami, a sociologist, and professor at the European University of Tirana, told BIRN that the difficult economic situation in Albanian was again driving people to go abroad at any cost, even if their chances of success in claiming asylum were near zero.
"The instinct for survival is stronger than the power of reason. A large number of people in Albania live below the minimum conditions they need survive, so what is more important for them is to survive than calculate the chances of winning asylum rights in Germany," he said.
"Escaping from misery is their main aim despite the costs and the risks that this journey has for them," he added.
One year ago, on October 24, 2015, Germany listed Albania as a safe country of origin, which meant that from then on it would refuse almost all asylum requests from that country. It has since returned tens of thousands of asylum-seekers to Albania.
The German embassy in Tirana announced that 820 Albanian citizens were sent home only during June 2016, while the repatriation process continues.
The Netherlands is the now second most popular country for Albanians seeking asylum. In the first nine months of 2016, according to Eurostat date, 1,360 Albanian citizens asked for asylum in Holland.
The Dutch government is due to launch an awareness campaign in Albania to remind people that they cannot gain asylum in this country on economic or other invalid grounds.
During 2016, according to the same data, the UK emerged as the third country of choice for Albanians.
During the nine first months of this year, 985 Albanians sought asylum in the UK. Most entered the country illegally, mainly through ports in France and The Netherlands.
Iceland also emerged in 2016 as a destination for asylum-seekers from the Balkan countries. Some 140 citizens from Albania did so in the nine first months of this year, as did 45 Macedonians.
Albanians started leaving the country en masse to ask for asylum in the second half of 2014, when the international crisis over migrants from the Middle East also began reaching its peak.
Brussels has repeatedly told Kosovo and Albania to stop their nationals from heading into the EU for the purpose of lodging pointless asylum claims.
However, while the issue is an irritant, it is dwarfed by the far bigger problem of mass migration from the Middle East and Africa. More than a million refugees entered Germany last year alone.

Καθημερίνη: Ενα μικρό κόμμα και από... πίσω ο Ερντογάν

 

Το 2004 ο Κωστής Στεφανόπουλος, όταν ο ομόλογός του Μοϊσίου επιχείρησε να εντάξει στη συζήτηση «τσάμικο ζήτημα», του είπε ευθέως πως «εάν επιμένετε τότε θα βάλουμε και εμείς θέμα Βορείου Ηπείρου»

Κυριακή 23 Οκτωβρίου 2016, 21:39

ΤΙΡΑΝΑ - ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΗ. Η συζήτηση στην αλβανική Βουλή, την επομένη της επίσκεψης του προέδρου της Ιλίρ Μέτα στην Αθήνα, ήταν κυριολεκτικά θυελλώδης. Πρωταγωνιστής, το κόμμα των Τσάμηδων (PDIU) με προεξάρχοντες τον πρόεδρό του Σπετίμ Ιντρίζι και τον βουλευτή Ταχίρ Μουχεντίν να κραυγάζουν ανθελληνικούς σκοπούς και τα κόμματα –τα δυο μεγάλα, κυρίως– να επιχαίρουν. Οι κατηγορίες εναντίον του Μέτα και της αλβανικής αντιπροσωπείας που τον συνόδευε ήταν η εξής μία: εθνικό ξεπούλημα. Οτι, δηλαδή, πήγαν στην Αθήνα και δεν προώθησαν το ζήτημα των Τσάμηδων.
Ο Ιντρίζι κουνούσε το δάχτυλο απειλώντας Θεούς και δαίμονες. Εκτόξευε φοβέρες εναντίον όσων, κατά την εκτίμησή, του επιχειρούν να αφαιρέσουν από τις κορυφαίες προτεραιότητες της αλβανικής εξωτερικής πολιτικής το καλούμενο και ως «τσάμικο». Απειλούσε ότι όσο αυτός είναι ζωντανός δεν θα επιτρέψει να «μπει ούτε ένα λιθαράκι» για την ανέγερση, όπως έχει συμφωνηθεί ανάμεσα στις δύο χώρες, νεκροταφείων για τους Ελληνες στρατιώτες που έπεσαν πολεμώντας τους Ιταλούς. Και βέβαια έσταζε δηλητήριο κατά της Ελλάδας.
Τον ακολουθούσε ο υπουργός Εξωτερικών, Ντιτμίρ Μπουσάτι, διακηρύσσοντας πως ήταν και παραμένει υψηλά το θέμα αυτό στη λίστα των αλβανικών διεκδικήσεων από την Ελλάδα που προωθεί ο ίδιος – και συνεπίκουρός του ο Σαλί Μπερίσα, με τις δικές του πατριωτικές και αντιπολιτευτικές κορώνες.
Ελάχιστοι ήταν οι βουλευτές, όπως η πρόεδρος της επιτροπής Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων Αρτα Ντάντε, ο βουλευτής και πρόεδρος του Κόμματος Eνωσης Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων Βαγγέλης Ντούλες και φυσικά ο
Μέτα που πάσχιζαν να πείσουν το κοινοβούλιο πως το θέμα πρέπει να προσεγγίζεται υπό το πρίσμα της βελτίωσης των ελληνοαλβανικών σχέσεων, που έχει ανάγκη η χώρα στην ευρωπαϊκή της διαδρομή...
Ομως η προσοχή των δύο μεγάλων κομμάτων και ειδικά του πρωθυπουργού Εντι Ράμα ήταν στραμμένη στην «πολύφερνη νύφη», το κόμμα των Τσάμηδων δηλαδή, καθώς έπονται δύο εκλογές, η μία για εκλογή Προέδρου Δημοκρατίας και η άλλη, το καλοκαίρι, για το κοινοβούλιο, ενώ οι διεργασίες και τα παζάρια έχουν αρχίσει ήδη.
Οσο κι αν ηχεί παράδοξο, τον τόνο στις ελληνοαλβανικές σχέσεις τα τελευταία χρόνια δίνει ένα μικρό κόμμα, αυτό των Τσάμηδων, με τους πέντε βουλευτές του, αλλά... πίσω από την κουρτίνα βρίσκεται ο Ερντογάν.
Ο Ιντρίζι γνωρίζει καλά ότι τον έχουν ανάγκη τα κόμματα εξουσίας για τη διαμόρφωση κυβερνητικών πλειοψηφιών και τα «χορεύει στο ταψί».
Αξιώνει την εγγραφή και παραμονή του ζητήματος στις υψηλές προτεραιότητες της εξωτερικής πολιτικής της εκάστοτε κυβέρνησης και διεκδικεί ταυτόχρονα νευραλγικά πόστα στον κρατικό μηχανισμό, με προτίμηση ευαίσθητες και προσοδοφόρες θέσεις, σε μια χώρα που κολυμπάει στη διαφθορά.
Και μέχρι στιγμής δείχνει να πετυχαίνει τους στόχους του αφού και στις δύο τελευταίες κυβερνήσεις, του Μπερίσα και του Ράμα, ζήτησε και «έλαβε» υφυπουργούς και διευθυντές σε κρατικούς τομείς, έχει πλέον και μία θέση αντιπροέδρου στη Βουλή, ενώ με τη συμμετοχή του στον κυβερνητικό συνασπισμό ώθησε σε αποχώρηση από αυτόν το κόμμα που στηρίζει η ελληνική μειονότητα, το ΚΕΑΔ.
Παράλληλα, σε εξέλιξη βρίσκεται τόσο από τις οργανώσεις των Τσάμηδων όσο και από την επίσημη κυβέρνηση η προβολή του ζητήματος στο εξωτερικό, με τη γνωστή δήλωση του επιτρόπου Χαν να πανηγυρίζεται στα Τίρανα ως «ιστορική νίκη» αφού «καταχωρίστηκε επιτέλους και στην ατζέντα της Ε.Ε». Εχουν άραγε τόση δύναμη οι Τσάμηδες στην Αλβανία, ώστε να μπορούν να επιβάλουν την ατζέντα τους στα κόμματα εξουσίας και να απειλούν να τινάξουν στον αέρα τις σχέσεις της Αλβανίας με την Ελλάδα και από πού την αντλούν;
«Διαθέτουν χρήμα, εξαγοράζουν ψήφους και βέβαια έχουν τη στήριξη της Τουρκίας. Μην ξεχνάτε ότι ο Ερντογάν κατά την επίσκεψή του στα Τίρανα, πέρα από την κυβερνητική και πολιτειακή ηγεσία, τον μόνο ηγέτη κόμματος που είδε ήταν ο Ιντρίζι», λέει στην «Κ» με νόημα ο Βαγγέλης Ντούλες επισημαίνοντας, όσον αφορά τον ρόλο της Τουρκίας στις χειμαζόμενες ελληνοαλβανικές σχέσεις, την καταγγελία πριν από λίγες μέρες του τέως πρωθυπουργού Σαλί Μπερίσα, ότι μια τρίτη ξένη δύναμη ήταν αυτή που τορπίλισε τη συμφωνία για την ΑΟΖ. Απλώς φωτογράφιζε τον Ερντογάν.
Πώς οι 20.000... βαπτίστηκαν 320.000!
Ο Ταχίρ Μουχεντίν είναι ένας από τους βουλευτές του PDIU, του κόμματος των Τσάμηδων και –όπως μας είπε ο ίδιος– ήταν αυτός που πρωτοστάτησε αμέσως μετά την κατάρρευση του καθεστώτος Χότζα στην οργανωτική συγκρότηση και κινητοποίηση των Τσάμηδων και την προβολή των αιτημάτων τους τόσο στο εσωτερικό της Αλβανίας όσο και στο εξωτερικό.
Συναντηθήκαμε αμέσως μετά τη συνεδρίαση της Βουλής όπου εκφώνησε το δικό του «κατηγορώ» εναντίον της αντιπροσωπείας που επισκέφθηκε την Αθήνα.
Μιλούσε «λίγα» ελληνικά, μου είπε ότι κατάγεται από την Παραμυθιά της Θεσπρωτίας, τον παππού του «τον έσφαξε ο Ζέρβας» και πως ο πατέρας του γλίτωσε γιατί απουσίαζε στα Γιάννενα. Ο λόγος του ξεχείλιζε μίσος για τους «σφαγείς των προγόνων» του. «Το ελληνικό κράτος φέρθηκε με τον πιο πρόστυχο τρόπο στου Τσάμηδες. Δολοφόνησαν, βίασαν, έκοψαν μύτες, αυτιά σε ανθρώπους, αυτοί που το έκαναν δεν ήταν ντόπιοι Ελληνες αλλά αντάρτες που ο Ζέρβας είχε φέρει από αλλού, εμείς οι Τσάμηδες είχαμε άριστες σχέσεις με τους ντόπιους χριστιανούς», λέει στην «Κ» χαρακτηρίζοντας «κάλπικες και όχι παστρικές» τις σχέσεις Ελλάδας - Αλβανίας εξαιτίας του «τσάμικου» και της εμπολέμου. Μου έδειξε μάλιστα και κάποιες φωτογραφίες από το σπίτι «του» που το «πήραν οι Ελληνες», τις οποίες έβγαλε κρυφά σε μία από τις επισκέψεις του στην Ελλάδα, όπου όπως ισχυρίστηκε τον παρακολουθούσαν οι μυστικές υπηρεσίες.
Η συζήτηση μαζί του ανέδειξε την εικόνα των Τσάμηδων σήμερα στην Αλβανία και τους τρόπους που απεργάζονται για την επίτευξη του στόχου τους. «Είμαστε συνολικά 320.000 σ’ όλη την Αλβανία», απάντησε όταν τον ρώτησα σχετικά και στην παρατήρησή μου ότι μου φαίνεται υπερβολικός ο αριθμός, αφού αν υποθέσουμε ότι το 1944 πέρασαν στην Αλβανία και οι 20.000 που ζούσαν στην Ηπειρο, θα ήταν μαθηματικά αδύνατο να δεκαπενταπλασιαστούν μέχρι σήμερα.
«Εμείς οι Τσάμηδες κάνουμε πολλά παιδιά. Στην οικογένειά μου είμαστε επτά αδέρφια, ξέρω άλλη με δεκατρία…», απάντησε.
Με τη φραγή των συνόρων το 1945, ο Χότζα διέσπειρε τους εξ Ελλάδος προερχόμενους Τσάμηδες σε περιοχές όπως το Φίερ, η Καβάγια, το Δυρράχιο, η Αυλώνα, το Ελμπασάν, το Μπεράτι όπου ζουν και σήμερα οι περισσότεροι, ενώ ένας αριθμός ντόπιων Τσάμηδων καταγράφεται στα περίχωρα των Αγίων Σαράντα κοντά στα σύνορα. «Οι Τσάμηδες από την Παραμυθιά και το Μαργαρίτι εγκαταστάθηκαν στα Τίρανα», λέει ο Μουχεντίν.
Με την πτώση της κομμουνιστικής δικτατορίας και με πρωτοβουλία του Μουχεντίν, όπως μου εξηγεί, ιδρύθηκε στα Τίρανα η «Πατριωτική Οργάνωση Τσαμουριά», ένας σύλλογος που ως στόχο του είχε να κάνει γνωστή τη «γενοκτονία των Τσάμηδων από τους Ελληνες», να διεκδικήσει αποζημιώσεις, την επιστροφή περιουσιών και των σημερινών απογόνων στα σπίτια τους στην Τσαμουριά αλλά και τα «απολεσθέντα εδάφη»· οι ίδιοι θεωρούν –το διδάσκονται από παιδιά και στα σχολικά εγχειρίδια– ότι η Ηπειρος έως και την Πρέβεζα αλλά και η Δυτική Μακεδονία ήταν αλβανικές περιοχές που τις αφαίρεσαν οι Ελληνες στους πολέμους.
Οι Αλβανοί «αξιοποιούν» την Ελλάδα
Αν ρίξει κανείς μια ματιά στο πρόγραμμα του PDIU θα δει ότι αυτό το κόμμα υπάρχει μόνο για να συντηρεί και να προωθεί το «τσάμικο» θέμα. «Το τσάμικο είναι το μεγάλο θέμα στην ατζέντα μας, αλλά είναι δύσκολο να λυθεί γιατί έχουμε να κάνουμε με μια χώρα όπως η Ελλάδα που έχει τη στήριξη της Ε.Ε. Οι δικοί μας πολιτικοί δεν ενδιαφέρονται, το βάζουν στην ατζέντα για να πάρουν ψήφους», λέει στην «Κ» ο Μουχεντίν.
«Δεν έχουν πολιτική πρόταση για τίποτα άλλο», τονίζει ο Ντούλες και στην ερώτησή μου πώς εξηγεί ότι τα μεγάλα αλβανικά κόμματα επιλέγουν το ρίσκο της υπονόμευσης των σχέσεων με την Ελλάδα στο όνομα ενός ζητήματος που παραπέμπει στον Β΄ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο, απαντά: «Αυτό συμβαίνει διότι ουδέποτε η Αλβανία στερήθηκε την ελληνική στήριξη και αρωγή στη διαδρομή της προς την ενσωμάτωσή της στις ευρωατλαντικές δομές. Η Ελλάδα υπήρξε πάντοτε ειλικρινής συνήγορος της Αλβανίας σ’ αυτές τις προσπάθειες. Αποδεικνύεται όμως ότι αυτό το εκμεταλλεύονται οι Αλβανοί. Αν περιοριστούμε στην τελευταία τριετία, ήταν στην διάρκεια της ελληνικής προεδρίας της Ε.Ε. που η Αλβανία απέκτησε καθεστώς υποψηφίας προς ένταξη χώρας.
Πώς, αλήθεια, συμπεριφέρθηκε όλα αυτά τα χρόνια η Αλβανία εις βάρος της Ελλάδας; Υφίσταται μια ελεγχόμενη ένταση στις σχέσεις των δύο χωρών, με τα σκαμπανεβάσματα να υποκινούνται από τον ίδιο τον Αλβανό πρωθυπουργό και παράλληλα, από την άλλη πλευρά, στα δικαιώματα της ελληνικής μειονότητας έχουμε βήματα προς τα πίσω, με τη διοικητική μεταρρύθμιση να είναι ένα σοβαρότατο πλήγμα κυρίως στην περιοχή της Χειμάρρας».
Ενταση από τις αρχές της δεκαετίας του ’90
Η πρώτη δυναμική εμφάνιση των οργανωμένων Τσάμηδων θα γίνει με συγκεντρώσεις κατά την επίσκεψη του πρωθυπουργού Κωνσταντίνου Μητσοτάκη το 1991 στα Τίρανα και ήταν τότε που ετέθη επίσημα ζήτημα Τσάμηδων από τον πρόεδρο Αλία, εξοργίζοντας τον Ελληνα πρωθυπουργό, που απείλησε με διακοπή της επίσκεψής του. Η ένταση στις ελληνοαλβανικές σχέσεις στις αρχές της δεκαετίας του ’90 γύρω από την ελληνική μειονότητα στην Αλβανία δημιούργησε πρόσφορο έδαφος για την προώθηση θέματος Τσάμηδων, καθώς ενίσχυε το ανθελληνικό οπλοστάσιο του αλβανικού εθνικισμού...
Σ’ ένα τέτοιο «θερμοκήπιο» οι Τσάμηδες ανέπτυξαν έντονη δραστηριότητα με στόχο να καταστήσουν στο εσωτερικό ως πανεθνικό αίτημα το όλο ζήτημα, με πρώτο βήμα τη συμπερίληψή του στην ατζέντα, ενώ επιδόθηκαν και σε εκστρατεία για την «αφύπνιση» της διεθνούς κοινότητας. Εκτοτε κάθε φορά που Ελληνας επίσημος επισκεπτόταν τα Τίρανα στηνόταν το ίδιο σκηνικό: Ομάδες Τσάμηδων υπό την ανοχή, αν όχι την υποκίνηση, της κυβέρνησης οργάνωναν διαδηλώσεις, και στις συζητήσεις οι Αλβανοί επιχειρούσαν να θέσουν στο τραπέζι... από το παράθυρο θέμα «τσάμικου», ώστε να ικανοποιήσουν αυτούς που φώναζαν απ’ έξω.
Το 2004 ο Κωστής Στεφανόπουλος, όταν ο ομόλογός του Μοϊσίου επιχείρησε να εντάξει στη συζήτηση «τσάμικο ζήτημα», του είπε ευθέως πως «εάν επιμένετε τότε θα βάλουμε και εμείς θέμα Βορείου Ηπείρου», ενώ το 2008 ο Κάρολος Παπούλιας ακύρωσε τη συνάντησή του στους Αγίους Σαράντα και επέστρεψε από το Αργυρόκαστρο όταν πληροφορήθηκε ότι το ξενοδοχείο, όπου επρόκειτο να συναντηθεί με τον ομόλογο του Μοϊσίου, είχε περικυκλωθεί από ομάδες Τσάμηδων τις οποίες η αλβανική αστυνομία αρνείτο να απομακρύνει στο όνομα της Δημοκρατίας!
Το 2004 η αλβανική Βουλή υπό την πίεση των Τσάμηδων θα εγκρίνει ψήφισμα υιοθετώντας και επισήμως «θέμα τσάμικου», στη συνέχεια θα εκλεγούν δύο βουλευτές Τσάμηδες με τα ψηφοδέλτια του Σοσιαλιστικού και του Δημοκρατικού Κόμματος και το 2011 θα ιδρύσουν το κόμμα τους PDIU, το οποίο συμμαχούσε, ανάλογα με τις επιδιώξεις και τα διαπραγματευτικά ανταλλάγματα, τη μία με τους σοσιαλιστές, την άλλη με τον Μπερίσα και σήμερα συμμετέχει στην κυβέρνηση Ράμα.
Το αλβανικό κοινοβούλιο, παράλληλα, κατοχύρωσε την 27η Ιουνίου ως ημέρα εθνικής μνήμης για τη «γενοκτονία των Τσάμηδων» και έκτοτε γιορτάζεται με επίκεντρο ένα μνημείο που έχει ανεγερθεί σε λόφο κοντά στην Κονίσπολη, μιαν ανάσα από τα ελληνοαλβανικά σύνορα, παρουσία κυβερνητικών αξιωματούχων.
«Εχουμε πλέον γραφεία σ’ όλη την Αλβανία, εκλεγμένους δημοτικούς συμβούλους σε περιοχές όπως η Κορυτσά, η Τροπόγια και αλλού όπου δεν υπάρχουν τσάμικοι πληθυσμοί, το θέμα μας έχει γίνει πανεθνικό, το υιοθετούν οι απανταχού Αλβανοί», λέει ο Μουχεντίν και στην ερώτησή μου πού βρίσκουν χρήματα για να υποστηρίζουν τις πλούσιες διεθνείς και εσωτερικές δραστηριότητες, απαντά πως «μας στηρίζουν πλούσιοι επιχειρηματίες».
πηγή:kathimerini.gr
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