Αλβανία: Με εθνική γενοκτονία απειλείται ο ελληνικός πληθυσμός στη Χιμάρα

Απρίλιος 15, 2017

Echedoros


Τα πρότυπα στην ΕΕ και στον ΟΗΕ ισχύουν στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο, Βοσνία, FYROM, όπως στην Ευρώπη, και φυσικά στην Αλβανία.

  Σε μήνυμα του Επιτρόπου της Διεύρυνσης, Γιόχαννες Χαν, κατόπιν αιτήματος  του αντιπροέδρου του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου, Δημήτρη Παπαδημούλη, για το νόμο των Μειονοτήτων στην Αλβανία, δήλωσε ότι « η κατάσταση της ακίνητης περιουσίας που ανήκουν στις εθνοτικές κοινότητες στην Αλβανία, επιδεινώνεται, μαζί με τα δικαιώματά τους».

Αυτό το σχέδιο νόμου θα πρέπει να περάσει από το Κοινοβούλιο της Αλβανίας, σύμφωνα με την ΕΕ, αλλά η αλβανική κυβέρνηση αρνείται να προβεί σε ουσιαστικές αλλαγές, παραβιάζοντας τα δικαιώματα των Ελλήνων στην περιοχή της Χιμάρας.

Η Αθήνα χάνει χρόνο, θέτοντας όρους της ΕΕ για την Αλβανία, τους οποίους δεν εφαρμόζουν τα Τίρανα. Ο Νόμος για τις Εθνικές Μειονότητες στην Αλβανία, ακολουθεί τις βάσεις που είχε θέσει η Κομμουνιστική Δικτατορία για τις μειονοτικές περιοχές.

Η Κοινότητα της Χιμάρας, αναφέρει ότι τα απαιτούμενα πρότυπα της ΕΕ βασίζονται στον Χάρτη των Ηνωμένων Εθνών για τις μειονότητες και το δικαίωμά τους στην αυτοδιάθεση. Ο νόμος για τις εθνικές μειονότητες, πάνω απ’ όλα, απαιτεί τον έλεγχο της περιοχής, όπου ζουν εδώ και αιώνες, ακριβώς όπως τα Τίρανα πράττουν  για τους Αλβανούς που βρίσκονται εκτός των συνόρων τους, αναζητώντας μορφές αυτοδιάθεσης χαρακτηριζόμενες ως συνομοσπονδία ή αυτόνομη δημοκρατία.

Κατά τη διάρκεια της κομμουνιστικής δικτατορίας, το αλβανικό δικαστήριο καταδίκασε και εκτέλεσε δεκάδες Έλληνες από την περιφέρεια της  Χιμάρας, με την αιτιολογία ότι ήταν Έλληνες σωβινιστές, για το οποίο θέμα ποτέ τα Τίρανα δεν ζήτησαν συγνώμη.

Σήμερα, η κατάσταση των Ελλήνων στην περιοχή της Χιμάρας παρουσιάζει μια επικίνδυνη κλιμάκωση από το αλβανικό κράτος, με τη μορφή της εθνικής γενοκτονίας, για να αλλάξει τον ελληνικό  εθνοτικό πληθυσμό με αλβανικό.

Ωστόσο, παρά τις πρόσφατες προσπάθειες από την Αθήνα και τις Βρυξέλλες, για την έγκριση ενός νόμου για τις εθνικές μειονότητες και τα δικαιώματα στην περιφέρεια της Χιμάρας, φαίνεται ότι η Αλβανία παραμένει μια χώρα στην οποία η Δυτική Συμμαχία έχει ανεχθεί την έλλειψη δημοκρατικών προτύπων στην λειτουργία της πιο προβληματικής για τη σταθερότητα χώρας της Ευρώπης.


(Mεταφορά  από το δημοσίευμα στην αγγλική, της ιστοσελίδας  SManalysis : «The Himara Community of Albania, does not accept the Draft of Tirana, for Ethnic Minorities»

Ilir Meta, faktori kryesor në nxitjen e mëtejshme të krizës

Respublica 

Takimi i drejtuesve të koalicionit qeverisës ka përfunduar ashtu siç dinë të përfundojnë punët personat Edi Rama dhe Ilir Meta: përgjysmë. Pa një qëndrim për konfirmimin ose jo të koalicionit, kreu i LSI-së ka dalë nga takimi me oksigjenin e nevojshëm për të vijuar të minojë stabilitetin politik në emër të ambicies së tij që është e qartë: marrjen e karriges së kryeministrit. Ai ka deklaruar se çështja e koalicionit nuk është më e rëndësishmja, por në kuadër të nevojës për dialog, drejtuesit e mazhorancës kanë rënë dakord siç th ai për:

“...të nisur një dialog pa kushte, që tani me opozitën dhe drejtuesit e saj legjitimë.

Vazhdimi i procedurave kushtetuese për zgjedhjen e presidentit të ri por pa paraqitur asnjë emër, apo pa mbështetur asnjë kandidaturë pa dialoguar për të arritur konsensusin me opozitën edhe pse kjo mazhorancë ka gati 90 vota.

Së treti kemi vendosur që t’i drejtohem zyrtarisht Partive Popullore Evropiane ku dhe PD është anëtare, që të asistojë sa më shpejtë të jetë e mundur në këtë dialog në mënyrë që ky ngërç të marrë fund sa më shpejt dhe vendi të shkojë drejt zgjedhjeve të lira, të qeta e të ndershme”.

Kësaj deklarate kreu zyrtar i PD-së, Lulzim Basha i ëhstë përgjigjur me përsëritjen e kërkesës për “qeveri teknike” si kushti i vetëm për opozitën. Është e qartë tanimë se shmangia e Metës nga firmosja e dokumentit për vijimin e koalicionit, hapja e procedurave për presidentin e ri pa një emër të përbashkët por në kërkim të një konsensusi thuajse të pamundur me palë që janë kategorike, janë prova të faktit se Ilir Meta është nxitës i krizës. Ai ka në objektivin e vet largimin e Edi Ramës nga detyra e kryeministrit dhe në këtë drejtim po i shërben edhe Çadra e PD-së e cila pa të nuk ka realisht asnjë forcë. Por LSI-ja e ka thuajse të pamundur të mos marrë pjesë në zgjedhjet parlamentare, sepse është pjesë e kësaj qeverie në katër vjet.

Mospjesëmarrja e saj në proces, apo deklarimi për mospjesëmarrje do të shënonte një pikë kritike pa sens politik pozitiv, por vetëm një vijë destruktive ku axhendat dhe frika personale dominon mbi interesat e përgjithshme. LSI-ja nuk ka sot një përgjigje pse mban këtë qëndrim për koalicionin, pse rri në qeveri dhe vazhdon të sabotojë atë. Pse Ilir Meta nuk është në gjendje të marrë një qëndrim të prerë për krizën politik në të cilën PD-ja e sheh veten si përçuese e saj por pa u kuptuar se çfarë fiton vetë.

Në këto kushte është mirë që secili të dilte më vete në zgjedhje, në mënyrë që ky negociim nga pozitat e një force virtuale të merrte fund dhe marrëveshja politike të imponohej në një tryezë PS-PD, pa nevojën e një “kingmaker” që ka marrë mandate në kurriz të pushtet

Pristina wants UN mission in Kosovo shut down

The Kosovo government is demanding from the international community to change the mandate of UNMIK, UN's mission in Kosovo.

SOURCE: B92, TANJUG FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2017

Pristina wants UNMIM to be given the role of a political mission, "so that Kosovo can start negotiations to join the UN."

But the message from UNMIK has been that they will continue within their current mandate, "as the mission was reconfigured" after ethnic Albanians in Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008.

"Only the UN Security Council can make decisions about the mandate of UNMIK," mission head Zahir Tanin said following media reports about a request by the Kosovo Foreign Ministry to close the mission, Tanjug said.

The agency quoted Albanian language Pristina daily Kosova Sot that said Tanin made this statement "at Wednesday's closed-door meeting with the foreign affairs committee of the Kosovo assembly."

Pristina officials say that the mission's work is "not productive," and that "some UN Security Council members" are in favor of "cutting its budget and shutting it down."

After the Kosovo UDI, some of UNMIK's powers were taken over by EU's rule of law mission, EULEX. UNMIK's staff went down to 350 from 15,000, while its budged

NATO, EU Tightening Grip on Serbia to Cap Russia's Influence in the Balkans

 

© AP Photo/ Darko Vojinovic
POLITICS

13:16 14.04.2017

Shortly after Serbia held the presidential election the first high-profile visitors from the West have visited the country, including United States Sen. John McCain and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel.


While Washington acts on behalf of NATO Berlin promotes the interests of European integration. At the same time, a common interest of restricting Russia’s influence in the Balkans is also visible.
In Belgrade, McCain met with Serbian Prime Minister and President-elect Aleksandar Vucic and assured of Washington’s support for Serbia.

Moreover, the US senator said he was optimistic about Serbia’s future as an EU member, but also expressed concern over "Russia's behavior in the region and the attempt to overthrow the government in neighboring Montenegro."

Gabriel underscored that Germany supports dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo. He added that for the EU it is important that the talks on Serbia’s accession to the bloc are parallel to normalization talks with Kosovo.

In turn, Vucic said that Belgrade will further adhere to its military neutral status and its goal is to join the EU and continue talks with Kosovo.


Dusan Prorokovic, an expert at the Center for Strategic Alternatives, noted that Western officials and politicians visit Serbia more often than neighboring countries, and the reason is not only Brussels’ and NATO’s integrations expectations towards Belgrade.

"Serbia’s foreign policy is distinguished from that of its neighbors by the fact that Serbia is the only European nation maintaining close cooperation with Russia. Belgrade is also a strategy ally for Beijing. In this context, visits by Western politicians can be interpreted as an attempt to turn Belgrade’s foreign policy into an instrument serving EU’s and NATO’s interests," Prorokovic told Sputnik Serbia.

During the meeting with Gabriel, Vucic underscored that dialogue with Russia does not contradict with Serbia’s policy aimed at becoming an EU member.

In Moscow we say that we are moving toward Europe, while here, in front of Gabriel, and in Washington and in any other place we say that Serbia wants to have good relations with Russia and it will have them," Vucic said.

He stressed that Serbia’s strategic goal was to join the European Union maintaining relations with Russia and China.
Prorokovic suggested that there are political capabilities to unite around Belgrade certain forces, including in Montenegro, Republika Srpska and Macedonia, and with support from Russia boost cooperation with Bulgaria. This could derail NATO’s influence plans in this European region.

"Despite what has happened in the last 20 years, Serbia is not broken and the Serbian question has not been resolved in the manner NATO wanted it to be resolved. This is especially important in the new environment, taking into account Russia as one of the main centers of a multipolar world. This is why Serbia is under pressure," the expert pointed out.


He added that on the one hand the West wants Serbia to recognize Kosovo to legitimize the 1999 NATO intervention and, on the other hand, there is an attempt to distance Belgrade from Moscow.
Meanwhile, political analyst Dragan Djukanovic told Sputnik Serbia that the visits by McCain and Gabriel are a result of Serbia’s multi-vector foreign policy, which relies on Washington, Brussels and Moscow.

"After Donald Trump became US President Washington’s policy in the Balkans has been changing. For the US, the priority goal is the accession of certain nations to NATO, but now Washington is focused on Montenegro. I can’t see any significant pressure against Belgrade on its neutrality status," Djukanovic said.

 dent, with a fi

Albania Parliament to elect new president April 19

Associated Press  APRIL 13, 2017

TIRANA, Albania — The speaker of Albania's parliament has said that lawmakers will vote to elect the country's new president on April 19.

Ilir Meta said Thursday the first round of voting for the new president will be held next week, following a request from the governing Socialist Party's parliamentary group.

Albania's 140-seat parliament votes in five rounds. In the first three rounds the winner should secure at least three-fifth of the vote, or 84 backers, and at least 71 votes in in the last two rounds.

Candidates have to be proposed by a group of at least 20 lawmakers, though no name has emerged so far.

The president, with a five-year mandate and a maximum of two terms, has a largely ceremonial role.

Δρυμαδεσ, Χειμαρρα: Καλή ανάσταση και χρόνια πολλά

The Himara Community of Albania, does not accept the Draft of Tirana, for Ethnic Minorities

EU and UN standards, are equal as in Kosovo, Bosnia, FYROM ,, as well as in Europe even for Albania

In a message of Commissioner of Enlargement, Hahn, on request, to the Minority Law in Albania, by Demetrios Papadimoulis, V/President of the European Parliament, he said that "properties belonging to ethnic communities in Albania, are deteriorating the along with their rights. "


This draft law should be passed by the Parliament of Albania, the EU asked the European Community, but the Albanian government refuses substantial changes, violating the rights of ethnic Greeks of Himara Region.

Athens is losing time by setting conditions by the EU for Albania, which are not realized by Tirana. Law on National Minorities of Albania, being developed in the basis of the Law of Communist dictatorship for minority areas.

The Himara Community, states that the required EU standards are based on the UN Charter for minorities and their right to self-determination. The law on ethnic minorities, above all, requires the control of the territory where they live for centuries, just as Tirana, requests for Albanians outside its borders, seeking self-determination forms qualified as confederation or autonomous republic.

As has become known from the international media, in the summer of last year, The Himara Community and the Democratic Organization of Greeks of Albania "Omonia", initiated Demonstrations series, in defense of property and territory of the Himara Region, the population of whose consists of 95% ethnic Greeks, who are not officially recognized by Albania.

Chairman of The Himara Community, Stavri Marko, believes this situation has come about as a result of an undemocratic series of developments in the country, ranging from the 2011 Census, the territorial division in 2014 and laws that favor the oligarchs to grab assets, for which, the Greeks of Himara Region, did not recognized ethnic rights, since 1946, when dictator Hoxha time, created his communist government.

The Himara Region, had won two battles with the Albanian government, in World rank. First it was part of the agreement that the Corfu Protocol, which is recognized by the great powers of the time, for the establishment of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus in 1914 and The Hague in the League of Nations in 1935, for rights self-determination of the Greeks and the official language.

During the communist dictatorship, the Albanian court, sentenced and executed dozens grekes from Himara Region, motivated as Greek chauvinist, for which, never Tirana, not apologized. Today, the situation of Greeks in Himara Region, is a dangerous escalation towards an Albanian state, in the form of ethnic genocide, to exchange the ethnic Greek population, with Albanian.

However, despite recent efforts by Athens and Brussels, for the adoption of a law on ethnic minorities and the rights of the Himara Region, it seems that Albania remains a country to which Western Alliance, has tolerated the lack of democratic standards in feature of the country's more problematic stability of Europe.

Russian Embassy denies scenario of the newspaper "Shekulli", for the assassination by Russian intelligence, to the Albanian opposition leader Lulzim Basha.

Albanian media followed news yesterday that the chairman of the Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha could become the target of an assassination attempt organized abroad, in order to destabilize the situation in Albania.

According this scenario, the National Intelligence Service SHISH, has informed Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and the National Guard, to have stepped up security measures for the opposition leader. "Shekulli" newspaper went even further, accusing Russia that behind this scenario. But the Russian Embassy in Tirana has reacted, calling the news published in the newspaper as a defamation hose does not help relations between the two countries.

In addition the Reaction of Russian Embassy in Tirana

"The Embassy, ​​with all due respect that the newspaper "Shekulli" and its staff, notes with regret that this newspaper in this case has become similar to Western media, which are blowing selflessly myth about the so-called "Russian threat" and they prefer to see the "hand of Moscow" in the events and phenomena of the surprising. In our judgment, this article of Newspaper Shekulli, is a lack of professionalism, is an example of manipulation of public opinion, as well as a lack of respect to readers."

"The fabrications of this kind we see as unacceptable and not conducive to the development of Russia-Albanian relations.  We hope a reaction of the newspaper "Shekulli" to make an objective analysis of the situation, and formulate an appropriate response to this comment", noted the Russian Embassy in Tirana..

Πρεσβεία των ΗΠΑ: Προειδοποιεί για τρομοκρατικές επιθέσεις στην Αλβανία και Κοσοβο

Συναγερμός από την Πρεσβεία των ΗΠΑ.. Προειδοποιεί για τρομοκρατικές επιθέσεις στην Αλβανία και Κοσοβο το Πάσχα


Συναγερμό προκαλεί η ανακοίνωση που εξέδωσε η Πρεσβεία των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών στα Τίρανα, και Πρηστινα η οποία προειδοποιεί για τρομοκρατικές επιθέσεις σε εκκλησίες και σε άλλους χώρους, τις ημέρες του Πάσχα.

Η ανακοίνωση εκδόθηκε αργά το βράδυ της Μεγάλης Πέμπτης και μονοπωλεί τα πρωτοσέλιδα του Αλβανικού και Κοσοβο τύπου, ενώ έχει προκαλέσει και την κινητοποίηση των αρχών της γείτονος χώρας, οι οποίες εντείνουν τους ελέγχους σε όλες τις συνοριακές διαβάσεις.

Η ανακοίνωση εκδόθηκε στην αγγλική γλώσσα και απευθύνεται κυρίως σε Αμερικανούς πολίτες, τους οποίους παροτρύνει να αποφύγουν το ταξίδι στην Αλβανία, ενώ αν το πραγματοποιήσουν θα πρέπει να λαμβάνουν συγκεκριμένα μέτρα.

Η Πρεσβείεσ στα Τιρανα και Πριστινα, καλεί τους πολίτες να προσέρχονται με μεγάλη προσοχή στις εκκλησίες για τις γιορτές και τις άλλες εκδηλώσεις. Θεωρεί ως τους πλέον πιθανούς στόχους τις εκκλησίες, τους χώρους λατρείας, τα εμπορικά κέντρα, τους αθλητικούς χώρους και τους χώρους πολιτιστικών εκδηλώσεων.

«Θα πρέπει να διατηρηθεί ένα υψηλό επίπεδο επαγρύπνησης και να ληφθούν μέτρα για την ενίσχυση της προσωπικής ασφάλειας», σημειώνει χαρακτηριστικά και στην συνέχεια παραθέτει οδηγίες για την περίπτωση όπου εκδηλωθεί τρομοκρατική επίθεση.

Μετά την ανακοίνωση της Πρεσβείας, η κρατική αστυνομία έκανε γνωστό ότι λαμβάνει πρόσθετα μέτρα για την ασφάλεια των πολιτών τις ημέρες του Πάσχα ενώ παράλληλα εντείνει τους ελέγχους στο αεροδρόμιο των Τιράνων αλλά και σε όλες τις συνοριακές διαβάσεις.

McCain: Kosovo is rapidly emerging as strong, democratic, multi-ethnic nation

By InSerbia with agencies - Apr 14, 2017


US Senator John McCain has hailed former Yugoslavia’s republic of Kosovo as a developing democracy that the United Stats had been supporting “from the very beginning” in its attempts to gain independence from Serbia.



Kosovo is rapidly emerging as a strong, democratic, multi-ethnic nation that will continue to receive enthusiastic support from the United States, McCain said in a speech to the nation’s parliament on Thursday.

“I want you to know that Members of the United States Congress in both political parties are fully committed to working with you to support peace and prosperity in Kosovo and throughout the wider region,” McCain stated. “Indeed the United States’ commitment to Kosovo has been bipartisan from the very beginning.”

McCain praised Europe’s newest nation for having adopted a constitution, built a government from the ground up and having joined international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Ultimately, McCain added, Kosovo’s long-term security is rooted in its political and security relationships with the United States, NATO and other international partners with shared values.
Despite McCain’s optimism, Kosovo is beset with corruption, organized crime and Islamic extremists, according to published reports. Since declaring independence in 2008, Kosovo has also served as a staging ground for attacks on neighboring Balkan nations such as Macedonia.

Reports also detail plans by Albanian radicals in Kosovo and elsewhere in the region to form a “Greater Albania,” by carving out territory from neighboring states.

US embassies in Tirana and Pristina issue "security message"

US embassies in Tirana and Pristina have issued "a security message" to US citizens, urging "heightened caution during religious holidays."

SOURCE: B92, TANJUG FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2017
 

According to the warning, US citizens should exercise "particular caution during upcoming religious holidays and at large festivals or events."

"Terrorists in the region have previously sought to attack soft targets, to include churches and other places of worship, pedestrian malls, sports arenas, concert halls, and public gatherings," the message said, adding:

"Review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local news stations for updates. Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security."

The message, posted on the websites of the embassies, also instructs US citizens what to do if a terrorist attack occurs.

Deputy Kosovo Interior Minister Milan Radojevic told Tanjug that the police there were implementing "a special operative plan" during the holiday.

He specified that all members of the Kosovo police who were on vacation have been ordered to return to work, and that all officers now work 12 instead of 8 hour shifts.

Members of the police in Kosovo are also banned from going on vacation until further notice, Radojevic said.

He neither denied nor confirmed that the reason was either the possibility of terrorist attacks in Kosovo, or of protests organized by opposition parties unhappy that an agreement on demarcation with Montenegro was back on the agenda of the Assembly.

The police in Albania also announced that they stepped up security ahead of Easter.

Additional police will be deployed in front of churches and other shrines, in the streets and at border crossings in order to prevent "criminal events... and events of terrorist character."

It is not clear why security has been increased or if there has been any warning, AP said in its report.

Serbian president-elect receives message from Trump

Aleksandar Vucic received on Thursday US Ambassador to Serbia Kyle Scott, who delivered the congratulatory message from US President Donald Trump.

SOURCE: TANJUG THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2017

The message concerned Vucic's victory in Serbia’s presidential election, and read as follows - according to the Serbian government:

“Please accept my warmest congratulations on your election as president of Serbia. Your election comes at a crucial moment for Serbia, and I look forward to further enhancing the partnership between our countries."

"I am pleased that we will have the opportunity to work together on our shared priorities, in particular to further strengthen our bilateral and economic ties, as well as to advance Serbia’s European integration, normalization of relations with Kosovo, and regional reconciliation," the message continued, and added:

"We continue to support Serbia’s efforts to strengthen the rule of law, modernize its economy, and serve as a pillar of stability in the Western Balkans region. There are also outstanding issues in our bilateral relationship that can only be resolved through the sustained engagement of Serbia’s leaders at the highest level."

"The future holds both challenges and opportunities. As we celebrate the 135th anniversary of our bilateral diplomatic relations, let us work together to advance shared goals, promote global stability, and achieve peace and prosperity," Trump's message, as delivered to Vucic on Thursday by Scott, said.

«Ταρακουνήθηκαν» οι Σκοπιανοί από τις δηλώσεις Κοτζιά: Η επιμονή στο όνομα «Μακεδονία» είναι αλυτρωτισμός

12 Απριλίου 2017| Tribune

«Ταρακουνήθηκαν» οι Σκοπιανοί από τις δηλώσεις Κοτζιά: Η επιμονή στο όνομα «Μακεδονία» είναι αλυτρωτισμός

Διαβάστε σχετικά για Βαλκάνια, Κίνηση ΠΡΑΤΤΩ, Νίκος Κοτζιάς, Σκόπια, Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών,
Μεγάλο θέμα στα σκοπιανά Μέσα Ενημέρωσης έγιναν όσα είπε σχετικά με τα Σκόπια ο Έλληνας υπουργός Εξωτερικών Νίκος Κοτζιάς στην εκδήλωση της Κίνησης ΠΡΑΤΤΩ τη Δευτέρα στο ΕΒΕΑ.



Υπό τον τίτλο «Κοτζιάς: Αυτοί που αρνούνται να διαπραγματευτούν για το όνομα, τώρα δεν επιτρέπουν τον σχηματισμό κυβέρνησης», το σκοπιανό πρακτορείο ειδήσεων META μετέδωσε πως ο Έλληνας ΥΠΕΞ έστειλε αυστηρό μήνυμα στα Σκόπια ότι ο αλυτρωτισμός έναντι της Ελλάδας επιβραδύνει την ευρωπαϊκή προοπτική της χώρας.

Σύμφωνα με το πρακτορείο, ο Έλληνας υπουργός Εξωτερικών τόνισε ότι στο θέμα του ονόματος το πρόβλημα βρίσκεται στις αλυτρωτικές διαθέσεις που δείχνει η επιμονή στο όνομα «Μακεδονία».

«Το θέμα του ονόματος δεν είναι ότι έχουμε έναν καυγά για τα βαφτίσια κάποιου, αλλά ότι συνδέεται με αλυτρωτισμό και ο αλυτρωτισμός σημαίνει αμφισβήτηση των συνόρων μίας περιοχής. Δεν μπορεί στη σύγχρονη Ευρώπη να ενταχθεί ένα κράτος ως μέλος της ΕΕ έχοντας τέτοιους αλυτρωτισμούς», σημείωσε ο Έλληνας ΥΠΕΞ, σύμφωνα με το META.

Επίσης, σύμφωνα με το πρακτορείο, ο Έλληνας ΥΠΕΞ επισήμανε ότι το πρόβλημα των Σκοπίων κι άλλων χωρών των Βαλκανίων είναι η έλλειψη μίας κουλτούρας συμβιβασμού τόσο στην εξωτερική πολιτική, όσο και στο εσωτερικό τους, καθώς και η απουσία κατανόησης για την ουσία της δημοκρατίας και τον κανόνα ότι η μειοψηφία μπορεί να γίνει πλειοψηφία.

Παράλληλα, σύμφωνα με το META, ο Έλληνας ΥΠΕΞ σημείωσε ότι αυτοί που αρνούνται να συνομιλήσουν με την Ελλάδα για μία ουσιαστική λύση του θέματος του ονόματος, είναι οι ίδιοι που δεν θέλουν να επιτρέψουν στην πλειοψηφία της σκοπιανής Βουλής να σχηματίσει κυβέρνηση.

«Η δημοκρατία δεν είναι μόνο η δημοκρατία της πλειοψηφίας. Στην αρχαία Ελλάδα υπήρχε συχνά ο προβληματισμός ότι μία πλειοψηφία, που δημιουργεί έναν μηχανισμό για να μείνει μονίμως ως πλειοψηφία, χωρίς να είναι πραγματικά πλειοψηφία, μπορεί να οδηγήσει στην τυραννία της πλειοψηφίας», ανέφερε, σύμφωνα με το πρακτορείο.

Τέλος, το META σημειώνει ότι ο Έλληνας ΥΠΕΞ επισήμανε, εντούτοις, ότι χάρις στα μέτρα οικοδόμησης εμπιστοσύνης, οι σχέσεις μεταξύ των δύο χωρών έχουν εντατικοποιηθεί.

Με τίτλο «Παλιά-νέα μηνύματα του Κοτζιά προς την «Μακεδονία, ο σκοπιανός τηλεοπτικός σταθμός KANAL 5 στην ιστοσελίδα του μεταδίδει ανταπόκριση της Σάνια Ρίστοφσκα από την Αθήνα, η οποία σημειώνει ότι τα βασικά μηνύματα που έστειλε ο Έλληνας ΥΠΕΞ προς την πΓΔΜ κατά την ομιλία του στην εκδήλωση της Κίνησης Ιδεών και Δράσης ΠΡΑΤΤΩ είναι ότι το θέμα του ονόματος συνδέεται με τον αλυτρωτισμό, ότι με τον αλυτρωτισμό δεν μπορεί κανείς να ενταχθεί στην ΕΕ, ότι υπάρχει απουσία κουλτούρας συμβιβασμού και συναίνεσης και ότι αυτός που δεν επιτρέπει τον σχηματισμό κυβέρνησης στην πΓΔΜ είναι ο ίδιος που δεν θέλει να συνομιλήσει με την Ελλάδα για μία ουσιαστική λύση στο θέμα του ονόματος.

«Σ’ αυτή τη χώρα το μεγάλο πρόβλημα που υπάρχει, όπως και σε άλλα κράτη των Βαλκανίων, είναι αυτό που στην εξωτερική μας πολιτική ονομάζουμε κουλτούρα συμβιβασμών και συναίνεσης.

»Ότι, δηλαδή, αυτές οι χώρες συχνά δεν ακολουθούν κουλτούρα συνεννόησης και συναίνεσης με τους γείτονές τους και το αποτέλεσμα είναι κακομαθημένα να ακολουθούν και στο εσωτερικό τους μία πολιτική χωρίς συμβιβασμούς και χωρίς συναινέσεις.

Albanian Defense Minister, sees Greece as a "hostile country" for Albania

Kodheli to Kammenos: "Relax sir",,, about your military statements for Albania

Kodheli referred to the Albanian Military as "brave", but she, did not explained to the reporter that in which the battle or war, the Albanian military, fought!

Kodheli, has spoken for Albanian TV News 24, for relations with NATO, Greece, in the eve of leaving for the Ministry of Defense of Albania

For Kammenon: "It is intolerable that a NATO Minister, to wear military uniform and threaten an ally and neighbor." In a NATO Meeting, I told Kammenos , to be relaxed ..... No any comment about the visit of Kammenos in Kosovo, and because it did not meet with government member of Kosovo.

For Greece: "Russia and Greece, are two countries that attempting to receive classified information from the Ministry of Defense of Albania. This has happened in the past, but in my mandate, I have not been allowed to leak this information."

For NATO: "Albania is a member of NATO and has to increase 2% of the its finances, to be ranked with fifth states that have paid fees for financial NATO". But Kodheli did not mention Greece as the main country that pays obligations to NATO, replacing Greece, with Turkey, in this case.

For NATO in Balkans: "We will support Montenegro to joint NATO, to create a total coperture in Balkan Region. Albania will continue also to support the rights of the Albanian in the Region. Kodheli referred to the Albanian Military as "brave", but she, did not explained to the reporter, that in which the battle or war, the Albanian military, fought!

In addition, Minister Kodheli has spoken also for the Albanian Military Forces as contributor to the NATO in Afganistan Irak and Greece (Aegean Sea) and the special relations between USA and Albania.


Anyway, Albania, is the first NATO country to police forces, cross double in number, by the armed forces. Albania has 16 thousand policemen, while only 9 thousand active military armed forces. And yet, it is the place, No: One, in Europe, cannabis that produces and traffics in all of Europe.

In the meeting of National Security of the Albanian Parliament, Kodheli stated that: "The protection of Albania, is in Alert, due to an attack from Greece" ..

Σκόπια: Ο UCK απειλεί με επιθέσεις στο Τέτοβο

«Επιστολή προς το δικαστήριο του Τέτοβο από τον UCK»

Απρίλιος 12, 2017. Echedoros

Ο  (αλβανικός) Εθνικός Απελευθερωτικός Στρατός- UCK, απείλησε το δικαστήριο του Τέτοβο με επίθεση  εκρηκτικών. Αυτό αναφέρει η αστυνομία του Τέτοβο σύμφωνα με ένα μήνυμα που άφησε η αλβανική ομάδα στην πόρτα της δικηγόρου Νατάσα Γιανέφσκα, μετά από δίκη στο Τέτοβο, όπως σημειώνει η αλβανική ‘TvKoha’.

Η επιστολή που συντάχθηκε στην κυριλλική γραφή λέει ότι το δικαστήριο του Τέτοβο θα ανατιναχθεί αύριο. «Στις 13 Απριλίου θα τοποθετηθεί βόμβα μέσα στο Δικαστήριο του Τέτοβο με μεγάλη ποσότητα εκρηκτικών υλών, αρκετή για να χτυπήσει τους ανθρώπους», γράφει η ανακοίνωση του UCK.

Η επιστολή αυτή ανακοινώθηκε από τον εκπρόσωπο του υπουργείου Εσωτερικών στο Τέτοβο, Μαριάν Γιοσιφόφσκι.

Το δημοσίευμα σημειώνει ότι η αστυνομία έχει λάβει όλα τα απαραίτητα μέτρα, ενώ έχει κληθεί η μονάδα αντιτρομοκρατίας του υπουργείου Εσωτερικών προκειμένου να διερευνήσει τους χώρους του δικαστικού κτηρίου και γύρω από αυτό για εκρηκτικό μηχανισμό.

Η εν λόγω δικηγόρος δεν ανέφερε για το περιστατικό λέγοντας ότι δεν ήθελε να δημιουργήσει πανικό μεταξύ των πολιτών. Γενικά, στο Τέτοβο επικρατεί κλίμα ανασφάλειας μετά και αυτό το περιστατικό.

(tvkoha.tv)

Στο περιστατικό αναφέρεται και το σλαβικό 'Kanal 5', που  σημειώνει ότι το επαρχιακό δικαστικό κτήριο του Τέτοβο εκκενώθηκε για λόγους ασφαλείας.

Στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο ο Πάνος Καμμένος -«Δεν θα αφήσουμε αναπάντητη καμία πρόκληση»

«Θα εφαρμοστούν οι εθνικοί σχεδιασμοί αν οποιοσδήποτε προσπαθήσει να προσβάλει την εθνική κυριαρχία ή την εδαφική ακεραιότητα της πατρίδος μας. Δεν πρόκειται να υποχωρήσουμε και δεν πρόκειται να αφήσουμε αναπάντητη καμία πρόκληση».

Αυτά διεμήνυσε προς πάσα κατεύθυνση ο υπουργός Εθνικής “Αμυνας Πάνος Καμμένος, από την Πρίστινα, όπου επισκέφθηκε την έδρα της ελληνικής δύναμης Κοσσυφοπεδίου προκειμένου να ανταλλάξει ευχές με το προσωπικό ενόψει του Πάσχα.

Η ΕΛΔΥΚΟ βρίσκεται στον Κοσσυφοπέδιο από τον Ιούνιο του 1999 και της επιχείρησης ηγείται το ΝΑΤΟ. Η αποστολή της είναι η δημιουργία ασφαλούς περιβάλλοντος για τους κατοίκους του Κοσσυφοπεδίου και η ασφαλής επιστροφή των προσφύγων και των εκτοπισμένων, ενώ παρέχει 24ωρη προστασία σε Χριστιανικές εκκλησίες.

«Η προάσπιση των κυριαρχικών δικαιωμάτων του Ελληνικού Έθνους αποτελεί αδιαπραγμάτευτη θέση μας. Αυτό το εγγυώνται οι ισχυρές Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις μας, με το υψηλού επιπέδου ανθρώπινο δυναμικό τους, που είναι έτοιμο και αποφασισμένο να φέρει σε πέρας την υψηλή και δύσκολη αποστολή του» συνέχισε ο ίδιος και πρόσθεσε.

«Η Ελλάδα δεν έχει πλέον ρόλο κομπάρσου, αλλά μετά από πολλά χρόνια επανακτά σιγά – σιγά έναν πρωταγωνιστικό ρόλο στη δημιουργία ενός μεγάλου άξονα σταθερότητας απέναντι στην ισλαμική τρομοκρατία, απέναντι στο φονταμενταλισμό και απέναντι σε νέα φαινόμενα που βλέπουμε να αναπτύσσονται και στην ευρύτερη περιοχή των Βαλκανίων».

Επίσης ανέφερε ότι «Η Ελλάδα έχει αναγνωρισθεί ως ο κύριος πυλώνας σταθερότητας στην ευρύτερη περιοχή των Βαλκανίων και της νοτιοανατολικής Μεσογείου. Συμβάλλει δε ουσιαστικά στην προώθηση της συνεργασίας μεταξύ των κρατών και αποβλέπει στην ειρήνη και την παγίωση της Δημοκρατίας και της ασφάλειας της ευρύτερης περιοχής.

Κοινός στόχος με τους συμμάχους μας είναι η συνεργασία, η ανάπτυξη και η δημιουργία ενός σταθερού Βαλκανικού περιβάλλοντος, προσηλωμένου στην ειρήνη, τη σταθερότητα, τη Δημοκρατία, το σεβασμό του Διεθνούς Δικαίου και των σχέσεων καλής γειτονίας».


 «Η αναβάθμιση του ρόλου της Σούδας, η προετοιμασία για την υπογραφή μιας πολύ σημαντικής επέκτασης αμυντικής συμφωνίας με τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες Αμερικής από ένα σε πέντε έτη, οι διμερείς πρωτοβουλίες που έχουμε αναλάβει στην ευρύτερη περιοχή της Μεσογείου, ιδιαίτερα με την υπογραφή της συμφωνίας με το Ισραήλ, τις συμφωνίες με την Ιορδανία, τις συμφωνίες με την Αίγυπτο και με τις moderate χώρες της Μέσης Ανατολής, καθιστούν την Ελλάδα μία γεωπολιτική δύναμη, γεγονός που συνδέεται άμεσα και με την ενεργειακή πολιτική που χαράσσεται πλέον στην περιοχή της Μεσογείου», επεσήμανε ο ίδιος.

Παράλληλα, ο υπουργός Εθνικής “Αμυνας αναφέρθηκε στις ενέργειες του υπουργείου λέγοντας χαρακτηριστικά ότι «προκειμένου να αποκαταστήσουμε τα μεγάλα πλήγματα που έχει επιφέρει η οικονομική κρίση στο προσωπικό των Ενόπλων Δυνάμεων».

Όπως είπε:
-Μέχρι τώρα, ο δικός μας προϋπολογισμός δεν έχει μειωθεί ούτε ένα ευρώ παρότι αποτελούσε και στόχο των δανειστών.
-Τα έσοδα από την εκμετάλλευση της περιουσίας των Ενόπλων Δυνάμεων μέσω ενοικίασης των χώρων αυτών θα αποδοθούν στο σύνολό τους στο προσωπικό.
-Η διάθεση παλιού μη επιχειρησιακού αλλά ενεργού υλικού, όπως παλιά πυρομαχικά, έχει αρχίσει να φέρνει έσοδα στον προϋπολογισμό του υπουργείου Εθνικής “Αμυνας. Μόνο τις τελευταίες μέρες, μετά από πρόταση του ΣΑΓΕ και έγκριση της Βουλής και του ΚΥΣΕΑ, έχουμε υπογράψει συμφωνίες της τάξης περίπου των 80 εκατομμυρίων ευρώ. Αυτά τα χρήματα διατίθενται για τη δημιουργία υποδομών- οικήματα- που θα ενισχύσουν το προσωπικό. Εξέφρασε δε την ευχή τον επόμενο χρόνο μετά από τις συμφωνίες οι οποίες θα έχουν επιτευχθεί, να ξεπεράσουμε το στόχο των 1000 σπιτιών που θα δίνονται κάθε χρόνο στο προσωπικό.

Ο κ. Καμμένος επισήμανε περαιτέρω ότι «η απόφαση και δέσμευση της κυβέρνησης ότι θα αποκαταστήσουμε μέσω των αποφάσεων του Συμβουλίου της Επικρατείας τις μισθολογικές αδικίες υλοποιείται όσον αφορά τον προϋπολογισμό του υπουργείου Εθνικής “Αμυνας, κρατώντας αυτά τα χρήματα» και εξέφρασε την ελπίδα ότι «μετά από την υπογραφή της τελικής συμφωνίας με τους δανειστές και την έξοδο της χώρας μας από την εποχή των μνημονίων θα μπορέσουμε να την εφαρμόσουμε το συντομότερο δυνατό».


Ο κ. Καμμένος εξήρε το πολύ σημαντικό έργο που επιτελούν τα στελέχη της ΕΛΔΥΚΟ με το οποίο προβάλλετε το ρόλο και το ενδιαφέρον της χώρας μας για την ευρύτερη περιοχή των Βαλκανίων. Παράλληλα, χαρακτήρισε ουσιαστικότατο στοιχείο διατήρησης ηρεμίας και ασφάλειας τη συνεχιζόμενη παρουσία του διεθνούς παράγοντα.

«Να είστε απόλυτα σίγουροι ότι όλος ο ελληνικός λαός αντιλαμβάνεται τι σημαίνουν οι ελληνικές Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις, όχι μόνο για την ασφάλειά του αλλά και για την ενίσχυση του γεωπολιτικού ρόλου της πατρίδας μας, δίνοντας λύση και στην οικονομική κρίση» κατέληξε.


Τον υπουργό Εθνικής “Αμυνας συνόδευε ο αρχηγός ΓΕΕΘΑ ναύαρχος Ευάγγελος Αποστολάκης.
Link

«Στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο κρύβονται τζιχαντιστές»

Από τη συνάντηση του Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας με την πρόεδρο της Εθνοσυνέλευσης της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας, στο Προεδρικό Μέγαρο

ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ

Ορέστης Παναγιώτου

Την αποκάλυψη ότι «στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο κρύβονται τζιχαντιστές», έκανε  η πρόεδρος της Εθνοσυνέλευσης της Σερβίας Μάγια Γκοΐκοβιτς, κατά τη διάρκεια συνάντησής της με τον Πρόεδρο της Δημοκρατίας Προκόπη Παυλόπουλο. «Τον τελευταίο καιρό υπάρχουν προσπάθειες βεβήλωσης και καταστροφής αυτών των μνημείων με έναν καινούριο τρόπο, ο οποίος δείχνει ότι στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο υπάρχουν μαχητές του ISIS. Στις εκκλησίες και τα μοναστήρια μας εμφανίζονται γκράφιτι του ISIS.

»Ξέρω ότι η Ελλάδα θα αξιολογήσει αυτά τα γεγονότα και ότι θα τα έχει υπόψη και στα διεθνή φόρα στα οποία βρίσκεται και θα αναφερθεί στο ζήτημα των μνημείων Πολιτισμού», τόνισε η Γκοΐκοβιτς.

Από την πλευρά του, ο Προκόπης Παυλόπουλος ανέφερε πως «η Ελλάδα ανήκει στις χώρες εκείνες που επιδιώκουν πραγματικά την συντομότερη ολοκλήρωση αυτής της διαδικασίας και την ένταξη της Σερβίας στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση».

Η πρόεδρος της Εθνοσυνέλευσης της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας ευχαρίστησε την Ελλάδα για τη στήριξη, σημειώνοντας: «Είναι προτεραιότητα της εξωτερικής μας πολιτικής σε σύντομο χρονικό διάστημα να γίνουμε πλήρες μέλος της ΕΕ.  Εμείς ξέρουμε ότι είναι μεγάλη τιμή να είναι κάποιος μέλος της ΕΕ, ξέρουμε ότι ο δρόμος αυτός δεν είναι εύκολος, αλλά είμαστε έτοιμοι γι’ αυτό.  Οι στόχοι μας είναι να τελειώσουμε τις διαπραγματεύσεις μέχρι το 2020.»

Archbishop Ieronymos: There is a War Against the Church of Greece

By Philip Chrysopoulos

Greek Reporter

There is a war against the Church of Greece, said Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos, criticizing the government for interfering with the workings of the Church.

“In terms of the Church, there is no separation with the State. We want clear, distinct roles. Once we have distinct roles, how can they interfere whenever they want? Why do you intervene in the life of the Church when you are a State that claims it is leftist?”

The Archbishop gave an interview to Sunday newspaper Proto Thema. He spoke, inter alia, of his relation with leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, that has been the subject of discussion.

Ieronymos said that he has a special relationship with the prime minister and they often chat, not only politics but other things as well, and that their relation is exaggerated by the press.

“I feel sorry for Tsipras, for all the things he is going through. He has the intentions to do things, but…,” the Archbishop said, leaving the reader to fill in the blanks.

He stressed, however, that he also talks with ANEL leader and junior coalition partner Panos Kammenos and main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Speaking of his confrontation with former education minister Nikos Filis over religious lessons in schools and the implications that Tsipras removed him from office because of that, Ieronymos said that, “Mr. Filis is very clever and he knows the state of things. He invested in that (confrontation) and the future will show what the outcome will be.”

Regarding religious classes in schools, the Archbishop said: “Can you imagine the minister telling Greek Muslims that the Koran should not be taught the way you teach it but you should teach it the way I tell you?”

Speaking about politics in Greece, Archbishop Ieronymos said: “I started to not believe in parties; I believe in people, and there are good people in all parties and bad people in all parties.”

For the mosque in Athens, the Archbishop said: “I’m skeptical. These people must learn that we love them, we are hospitable, but this is not their place. Their aim should be to go home.”

Finally, on same-sex marriages, Ieronymos said: “This should not be called marriage, it is an aberration. Don’t children have rights too? Let’s take the subject of adoption. There’s always mom and dad. Not two dads or two moms.”

Great footage of Hellenic CG showing helicopter & fast boats firing at drug dealers

Warning shots were fired

Greek helicopter on hot pursuit of drugs traffickers! 

A hot pursuit took place at the Ionian Sea in Greece. In the very impressive footage that was released by the Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG) it can be seen the HCG Dauphin helicopter and the HCG fast assault crafts pursuing a fast boat with drug dealers that attempted to enter the Italian waters.

When they were located by the Italian Coast Guards they entered the Greek waters where the HCG took over the pursuit.

At some point the HCG operatives fire warning shots which can be clearly seen.

Haradinaj's brother threatens Serbs; Vucic wants dialogue

Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday urged representatives of the EU and Pristina to resume the Brussels dialogue in order to reduce tensions.

SOURCE: B92, BETA MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2017
 

According to Beta, the Serbian prime minister and president-elect said that "one warrant for arrest, issued for the most severe crime, could not be a reason to threaten the survival of a people."

He in this was reacted to a statement made by Daut Haradinaj, a member of the Kosovo Assembly, said that if France extradited his brother Ramush Haradinaj to Serbia "not a single Serb would remain in Kosovo."

"Daut Haradinaj is not a naive man. Nor are his threats," Vucic said, according to Beta, noting that "at this point the Serbs in Kosovo could feel safe, while the situation would be monitored closely, and the public informed."

Vucic, who addressed a news conference in Belgrade after receiving a group of children from Kosovo and Metohija, "reiterated that it is important to calm tensions and not to provoke new tensions, not to threaten anyone and expel people from their homes, and it is important to avoid any incident," the Serbian government said in a statement.

"For me it would be easier today to respond to offenses and threats, but it is more important to do something to stabilize the situation, keep peace and talk about everything that are our crucial problems," he is quoted as saying.

"That is inadmissible. The state of Serbia or any other country in the world cannot understand that and those threats deserve the greatest and the harshest condemnation," Vucic said of Daut Haradinaj's statement, made during an interview with TV Dukagjini.

In an apparent reference to this, the US ambassador in Pristina posted the following tweet on Saturday:

Amb. Greg Delawie ✔ @AmbDelawie
On the day we celebrated #Kosovo's constitution, a politician threatens ethnic cleansing. Such dangerous language has no place in Europe

McCain worried by Russia; says "two world wars started here"

US Senator John McCain says he and Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic on Monday spoke about two world wars starting "in the region of Eastern Europe."

SOURCE: B92 MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2017 | 16:11
 

Addressing a news conference after the meeting in Belgrade, McCain said that peace in Europe means stability in the US, and assured of his country's firm support.

He said that upon returning to the US, he would tell his colleagues in the Senat, "the president, and the American people" that everything happening in Eastern Europe is "of vital importance for US national security."

He congratulated Vucic on his recent victory in Serbia's presidential elections, and on "economic reforms and progress on the path toward the EU," saying that he looks forward to working with Vucic in order to make progress andd enable Serbia to join the EU, because Serbia is a force for reconciliation in Eastern Europe."

McCain said he was optimistic about the importance of Serbia's integration into the EU becoming "crystallized" over time, but added that he was "worried because of Russia's behavior in the region and the attempt to overthrow the government in neighboring Montenegro."

Another place where the US senator sees Russia's "clear involvement" is the conflict in Syria, adding that he hoped "this kind" of behavior by Syria would stop - "and it's clear that it happed in cooperation with Russia."

McCain said he and Vucic also spoke about the importance of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue under EU's auspices, where progress has ben made "thanks to President Tomislav Nikolic and PM Aleksandar Vucic," and added that the US was "Serbia's most active military partner" taking up about 90 percent of such activities.

McCain also thanked Serbia for participating in the "anti-IS coalition," and for being "one of America's most active partners in joint exercises."

As a former pilot, the US official took the opportunity to offer his condolences to the families of two Serbian pilots who died on Friday when a military jet trainer crashed.

While in Belgrade today, McCain, who chairs the US Senate Committee on Armed Services, attended a training between Serbia's elite SAJ police unit, a detachment of the U.S. Special Operations Command and a military unit from Slovenia, Reuters reported.

Asked to comment on the recent alleged chemical attack in Syria, he said that he "believes" the Russians knew about chemical weapons in Syria, and that his country will show them that "this kind of war crimes is unacceptable."

"We will train those who are fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. First, the Russians should be banned from taking off from the areas from which these attacks were carried out, then it is necessary to hold peace talks so that Assad and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin understand that they cannot win in this battlefield," McCain has been quoted as saying.

The US senator's trip to Belgrade is part of his tour of the Western Balkans.

South Ossetia wants to join Russia like Crimea

Source: Pravda


Anatoliy Bibilov AP Photo

Presidential elections took place yesterday in South Ossetia. The turnout made up more than 80%. About 58% voted for Anatloliy Bibilov, current Chairman of the Parliament.

Future president of the Republic claimed that he intended to build-up relations with Russia.
Moreover, according to him, people of South Ossetia want to be part of Russia. As he said, talks on conduct of a referendum on the issue are being carried out with Moscow. Bibilov noted, that 'people of South Ossetia have had this wish to return into the Russian Federation since 1920s, when the Ossetian people were divided'.

Azhdar Kurtov, political scientist, Director of the Moscow Public Law Centre, has told Pravda.Ru whether Crimea scenario is possible for South Ossetia.

There are different options for joining Russia. First, is establishing of a new entity of the South Ossetia Republic. It is possible practically, and the referendum was directed at this, when the name of state was changed into Alania.

The Republic of North Ossetia is also called as Alania. So, they may unite into one entity of the Russian Federation. However, less citizens of South Ossetia favour this option.
The problem is whether Russia will agree upon the Crimean scenario.

The question has really been raised several times. Just after the USSR collapsed, such mood has been already in the air. And South Ossetia had a status of an autonomous region within the USSR. That means its opinion should have been taken in to account. Unless people of South Ossetia wanted to exit, they would have right to define their fate given the Soviet legislation by themselves. Namely negligence of this right generated conflict between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali apart from other reasons. But that was in the 1990s. A lot of things took place then not under a legitimate scenario. And Ossetia had more abilities at the time to join Russia. Because all the neighbouring countries would recognize it de facto, and even de jure.

And now when Russia faced acute reaction from a whole range of states regarding Crimea and future sanctions, which certainly damaged to some extent economy of our country, it has to consider these circumstances. And I believe that the Russian political elite does not want to repeat the Crimean experience regarding South Ossetia. Otherwise, it would have been already applied regarding the South-East of Ukraine, Transnistria and South Ossetia.

And Russia does not recognize such possibility as a real in the nearest future. Having recognized independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia though, the Russian political authorities believe that they have done maximum possible to provide security for people who live in these republics. The issue has been discussed at the highest political level though.

Step-up is connected with elections campaigns. All the latest campaigns have been carried out within acute political fight of different forces. But it related to the inner political situation only. While regarding foreign policy, people of South Ossetia have always been unanimous. Population of some dozens of people would not be able to oppose such a serious southern neighbour as Georgia. Thus, they want to unite.

It would be possible when Russia successfully copes with the current economic crisis and depends on outer creditors and investments no more.

From cannabis to corruption in Albania

EPA/ARMANDO BABANI

Albanian police patrolling in downtown Tirana, Albania.

New Europe
By Beata Stur

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Apr 10, 2017

PUBLISHED 16:40 APRIL 10, 2017UPDATED 16:40 APRIL 10, 2017
From cannabis to corruption in Albania

By Beata Stur
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For a tiny country in South Eastern Europe, Albania has one of the biggest reputations for corruption and is widely known as a major drug trafficker.  

According to the 2017 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report by the US State Department, Albania is a significant source country for marijuana, as well as a transit route for cocaine and heroin destined for European markets.

Commenting on the report, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama said it proves “how much Albania had done in the fight against cannabis” and how much more remains to be done.

Albania’s neighbour, Italy, is anxious. According to Italy’s national Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terror Prosecutor Franco Roberti, a recent surge in drug trafficking from Albania to Italy is “very worrying”. On March 27, he said: “We have recently been to Albania with colleagues from Bari and Catanzaro and we hope to sign a deal with the Albanian government”.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to Tirana, he said: “We needed to understand together with our Albanian colleagues what produced the multiplication of drug trafficking between Albania and Italy, and in the same time, what we can do to improve our strategies in enhancing joint cooperation.

“Italy has confirmed its interest to work together with Albania through the appointment of an Italian connection Prosecutor here in Tirana, our colleague Francesco Ciardi,” added Roberti. He also stressed that corruption is a “privileged instrument of organised crime to penetrate the public administration institutions and the formal economy”.

“We are convinced that there can be no effective fight against organised crime, if corruption is not fought effectively and simultaneously, and this what we say also in Italy, by insisting for more effective instruments against corruption,” he said.

As the links between cannabis and corruption unfold, the crisis has taken a political turn. In January, Rama sacked his justice minister, Ylli Manjani, saying he wanted to cooperate better with parliament to push through judicial reforms.

But Manjani has a different view. He accused Rama of sacking him in revenge for speaking out about cannabis growing and alleged corruption, although his own party said it had not opposed the move.

Manjani, whose dismissal has been interpreted as a sign of the growing dispute between Rama’s Socialists and their junior coalition partners, the Socialist Integration Party (SIP), said the pressure for him to go began after he said the army should go after cannabis growers.

“The pressure for my dismissal was intensified on the day that I made the statement I made on cannabis,” he told reporters shortly after his dismissal.

“Rama’s government had managed to eradicate the large-scale cultivation of cannabis in the southern village of Lazarat in 2014,” Manjani explained. “But in the following two years cannabis growing spread to an area five times that size in the Balkan state, and police have been unable to catch known cannabis trafficker Klement Balili, wanted by neighboring Greece since last May.”

Balili is a fugitive suspected of having significant ties with a widespread drug organisation. According to Manjani, he was the only official to systematically call for Balili’s arrest. “When I called for his arrest, policemen ate and drank at Santa Quaranta,” Manjani said, referring to a hotel run by Balili’s family.

CNN has dubbed Balili as the Escobar of the Balkans – a reference to his alleged role as head of a heroin trafficking network. Albanian police, however, have reportedly refused to execute a warrant against him that was issued by the Greece. Balili remains at large.

Meanwhile, Albania’s drug situation is receiving plenty of international media attention. For instance, BBC World Service reported that the annual value of drugs produced in Albania is estimated at €5bn. Rai 1, Deutsche Welle, Corriere della Sera, CNN Greece, Frontex, La Republica and the Huffington Post have also reported on the cultivation of cannabis in Albania.

Recent media allege that billions of euros generated by trafficking will fund the upcoming June parliamentary elections. Worse still are reports that exponents of organised crime groups have strong political ties with the government and have received assurances that their activities will not be targeted – in exchange for election campaign funding.

Another factor to consider is poverty, which some argue is the reason so many Albanian farmers and the unemployed grow cannabis.

“Thousands of Albanians have no alternative because social and economic measures to help rural regions are lacking,” says Lulzim Basha, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Albania. “People are faced with the choice to either have no bread for their children or to work on cannabis farms. Many have chosen the second option.”

Research conducted earlier this year by Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s international broadcaster, suggests that a cannabis farm in Albania can earn €200 for 1kg of cannabis.

Cannabis is often planted on “wild” plots of land and areas that are hard to reach. Some cannabis farmers have even developed irrigation systems and they protect their fields with weapons, according to DW.

Politico Called Anti-Semitic For Accusing Chabad In Trump’s Russia Scandal

April 9, 2017 By Dave Goldiner
Politiko

It Belongs Here: Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with chief rabbi Berel Lazar, left, and Alexander Boroda at a new Jewish museum in Moscow.

A tangled web of relationships ties Donald Trump and his associates to Vladimir Putin’s Russia — and Chabad appears to be right in the middle of them.

The Hasidic movement forged an unlikely alliance with the Russian strongman two decades ago just as Trump and others close to him were pursuing a series of lucrative real-estate and other business deals in Russia, Politico reported in a lengthy magazine piece.

The convoluted tale connects Putin’s elevation of Chabad’s Rabbi Berel Lazar as one of the most powerful Jewish figures in the country and his alliance with a handful of Jewish oligarchs.

Many of those oligarchs went on to forge multimillion dollar business deals with Trump and his associates like longtime lawyer Michael Cohen, along with Jared Kushner, who went on to marry Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump.

Does any of this provide reasonable suspicions about Trump and his inner circle’s ties to Russia during the presidential election? Maybe. But others shrug it all off.

“The interconnectedness of the Jewish world through Chabad is not surprising insofar as it’s one of the main Jewish players,” Rabbi Shmuley Boteach told the news site. “I would assume that the world of New York real estate isn’t that huge either.”

And Jonathan Greenblatt of the ADL was among many in the Jewish community who saw the Politico article as a calumny, evoking “age old myths about Jews.”

Why is Moses heading back to Egypt for Passover?

This is the question visitors to the Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund of San Francisco, The Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties center and webpage are asking after seeing the JCF Passover message.

Maybe he had enough of freedom, maybe the Children of Israel were just too stiff-necked to bear or maybe Moshe rabeinu is wearing an NSFW T-shirt under his robe that flips the bird to Pharaoh.

We will never know. Though I shall ask the wonderful people at JCF if they have a comment in the few scarce hours before the festival starts.

Dan Friedman is the executive editor of the Forward. Follow him on Twitter at @danfriedmanme

Η εβραϊκή αυτοκρατορία Χαμπάντ δεσμεύει Πούτιν και Τραμπ

Ο Μπέρλ Λαζάρ με τον Πούτιν στο Κρεμλίνο


Απρίλιος 10, 2017. 20:46


Ο Αμερικανός πολιτικός επιστήμονας Μπεν Σρεκίνγκερ, πιστεύει ότι η συντομότερη οδός μεταξύ του Ντόναλντ Τραμπ και του Βλαντίμιρ Πούτιν είναι μέσα από το κατάστημα του χαμηλού προφίλ της Νέας Υόρκης της Χαμπάντ (ХАБАД) [σημ. Χασιδικό κίνημα Ορθόδοξων Εβραίων, που δεν  αυτοδιαφημίζεται αλλά πραγματικά ελέγχει την παγκόσμια πολιτική].

«Πριν από δύο δεκαετίες, όταν ο Ρώσος πρόεδρος ξεκίνησε τη διαδικασία της ενοποίησης της εξουσίας στο Κρεμλίνο, είχε προβεί στην αντικατάσταση της υπάρχουσας εβραϊκής κοινωνίας των πολιτών στη χώρα, με μια παράλληλη δομή, πιστή σε αυτόν από όλες τις απόψεις», γράφει ο Σρεκίνγκερ σε άρθρο που δημοσιεύθηκε στις 9 Απριλίου στην εφημερίδα ‘ Politico’  και συνεχίζει:

«Στην άλλη άκρη του  επιχειρηματικού κόσμου, ο επιχειρηματίας από το Μανχάταν, Ντόναλντ Τραμπ,  εργαζότανε παράλληλα να πάρει ένα κομμάτι των τεράστιων ροών κεφαλαίων που δραπέτευσαν από την πρώην Σοβιετική Ένωση στην αναζήτηση σταθερών επενδυτικών στοιχείων στη Δύση ( ιδιαίτερα σε ακίνητη περιουσία) αναζητώντας έναν εταίρο στη Νέα Υόρκη».

Επιπλέον, ο συντάκτης υπενθυμίζει ότι το 1999 ο Πούτιν προσέλκυσε στο στρατόπεδό του, δύο Εβραίους ολιγάρχες τον Λεβ Λεβίεφ και τον Ρομάν Αμπράμοβιτς, οι οποίοι αργότερα έγιναν μεγάλοι χρηματοδότες  της Χαμπάντ σε όλο τον κόσμο.

Αυτοί οι ολιγάρχες δημιούργησαν μια θυγατρική δομή, που βρίσκονταν σε άμεση σχέση με την  χασιδισμική ομάδα Λουμπάβιτς.

Μιλάμε για την Ομοσπονδία των Εβραϊκών Κοινοτήτων της Ρωσίας με επικεφαλής τον Μπέρλ Λαζάρ, ο οποίος έχει τον τίτλο «ραβίνος του Πούτιν».

Ενέκρινε όλες τις πολιτικές του Κρεμλίνου, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της προσάρτησης της Κριμαίας και του πολέμου στο ανατολικό τμήμα της Ουκρανίας, καθώς κάνει τα ‘στραβά μάτια’ στις διώξεις της δημοκρατικής αντιπολίτευσης στη Ρωσία.

Οι δεσμοί του Τραμπ με την Χαμπάντ είναι παλιές και ενισχύθηκαν από το 2007, όταν το Τραμπ ήταν στο γάμο της κόρης του μεγάλου επιχειρηματία, Ρώσου μετανάστη, Ταμίρ Σαπίρ- δεξί χέρι του Λεβ Λεβίεφ- στο θέρετρο Palm Beach.

Λίγους μήνες μετά την τελετή του γάμου, ο Λεβίεφ συναντήθηκε με τον Τραμπ, να συζητήσουν πιθανές ευκαιρίες στη Μόσχα και στη συνέχεια προσκλήθηκε σε εκδήλωση περιτομής στο ίδρυμα Χαμπάντ.

Ο Τράμπ επισκέφθηκε την τελετή περιτομής, μαζί με τον  Τζάρεντ Κούσνερ,  ο οποίος αγόρασε και μια οικοδομή από τον Λεβίεφ έναντι $ 300 εκατομμυρίων και παντρεύτηκε την Ιβάνκα Τραμπ.

Οι σχέσεις Τραμπ με το εβραϊκό στοιχείο είναι μεγάλες.

Ο Τραμπ έχει διακηρύξει την επιθυμία του να επικεντρώσει εκ νέου την παγκόσμια τάξη υπό το φως της βελτίωσης των  σχέσεων των ΗΠΑ με την κυβέρνηση του Πούτιν, ωστόσο το FBI ερευνά το ενδεχόμενο αμφισβητήσιμων δεσμών μεταξύ των συναδέλφων του Τραμπ και του Κρεμλίνου», γράφει ο αμερικανός σχολιαστής.

Θα πρέπει να σημειωθεί ότι το άρθρο για το θέμα αυτό δεν αναφέρεται στην τρέχουσα κρίση των αμερικανο-ρωσικών σχέσεων, μετά την πυραυλική επίθεση  των ΗΠΑ εναντίον στρατιωτικής βάσης του Μπασάρ αλ Άσαντ στη Συρία.

Ωστόσο, αν κρίνουμε από το γεγονός ότι η αντίδραση του Κρεμλίνου στην επίθεση αυτή ήταν σχετικά χαμηλών τόνων και σε γενικές γραμμές, δηλωτική, και υπό το φως της επικείμενης επίσκεψης του Ρεξ Τίλερσον στη Μόσχα, μπορεί να υποτεθεί ότι αυτή τη στιγμή η «αυτοκρατορία Χαμπάντ»,  με τη συμμετοχή Πούτιν και Τραμπ θα προβεί σε μια δοκιμή της αντοχής της. Echedoros

Steinmeier: Important for Europe to Provide Real Answers to People’s Problems

By A. Makris - Apr 7, 2017

Greek Reporter

Europe is dealing with an unusual crisis which goes beyond Britain’s planned exit from the European Union and will not blow over in a few months or years, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in joint press conference with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in Athens on Friday. The remaining 27 member-states should strive to keep Europe united as “what we considered self-evident may not be so self-evident,” he said.

Steinmeier is on a two-day visit to the Greek capital to open the international contemporary art exhibition, documenta14, following an invitation by Pavlopoulos. One way of overcoming people’s indifference for politics is by finding answers to problems which have not been answered yet, he said, noting there is much more activity and discussion in the EU today than 2-3 years ago.

“It’s important to provide real answers on questions that have not been answered yet. There are issues of domestic and external security. People are ready for consultations and we have to provide answers on migration, growth and employment,” he continued. “The limited consultations between us are no longer enough. We have to provide real solutions to problems and answers that our people so far haven’t heard from us,” he added.

On the economic crisis, the German president said the completion of the review must not monopolize Greek-German relations adding he’s pleased with today’s news of a deal between the Greek government and its creditors. “I hope there will be a comprehensive conclusion of the review to end uncertainty,” he said.

Following the press conference, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also received the German President at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, greeting him as a politician that is fighting for Europe’s unity and a good friend of Greece. He noted that art and culture were a bridge that could help unite the Greek and German people, overcoming the recent years’ disruption in Greek-German relations.

Steinmeier, on his part, referred to a need to once again “start talking positively about Europe and not consider that Europe is responsible for everything,” especially in the wake of Brexit.
(source: ana-mpa)

Kosovo MP with the highest salary in the Region!

Strangely, Kosovo, under the Resolute of 1244 of the UN, and that has itself declared independence, with a weak economy, but that the Western alliance, NATO, EU, OSCE and UN, spend about 500 million euros, to ensure "Peace" and stability, makes this place even more mysterious, to be held at the "foot".

Kosovo Assembly have the highest salary in the region. Up to two thousand euro reaches their monthly salary. The basic salary of MPs Kosovo is over 1,400 euros, but when this are added other benefits, it amounts to about 2000 euros.

After Kosovo MPs second highest paid, according to regional media reports, are those of Montenegro, the basic salary of which is 1200 euro, then are members of Albania 1080 euros and Macedonia and Serbia to 1000 euro.

Kosovo, is in extreme radicalized by Islam, according to the Washington Post, about 37% of the population, is very sensitive to Islam, while there were about 500 fighters of Issis, participants in the war in Syria, dozens of them were killed ..

Blast Hits Church in Egypt, Casualties Reported

Daesh Claims Responsibility for Attack on Cairo's Coptic Cathedral

© REUTERS/ Amr Abdallah Dalsh

MIDDLE EAST

Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for an attack on Cairo Coptic Church Complex that killed dozens of people, Al Arabiya TV channel reported on Tuesday.

CAIRO (Sputnik) — A strong blast hit the Coptic Christian cathedral complex in Cairo on Sunday, killing 25 people and wounding 49. This is the worst attack on Coptic Christian community since 2011, when a suicide bomber killed 23 people outside a church in Alexandria.

On Monday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi said that the deadly attack in a Coptic cathedral complex in Cairo was staged by a 22-year-old suicide bomber, wearing a suicide vest. The president said four people — three men and a woman — had been detained in connection with the attack, while police were searching for two more suspects.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Egyptian Ministry of Interior said it suspected members of the Muslim Brotherhood who fled to Qatar of involvement in the terror attack.

Another explosion took place in Cairo on December 9, killing at least six police officers and injuring six other people. A source said that a terrorist group affiliated with Daesh jihadist organization might have been behind the deadly explosion.