Albania in nuclear export scheme John Hooper in Rome

Saturday November 10, 2007
The Guardian

It is one of the poorest countries in Europe, which still endures acute electricity shortages and almost daily blackouts, even in the capital.

Still, Albania is undaunted. In a proposal that has alarmed neighbouring Greece but elicited interest from Italy, the country is proposing to host nuclear plants that would supply electricity across the Adriatic by way of an underwater cable.

The news emerged at an Italo-Albanian business conference in Tirana, where the prime minister, Sali Berisha, said he aimed to turn Albania into a regional energy superpower - a glorified socket on the Adriatic capable of supplying cheap electricity to Balkan neighbours and Italy.

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He said the government was consulting contractors such as Westinghouse. Zana Gonxholi, an economic adviser to the Albanian government, said a Franco-Swiss consortium had prepared a plan for a nuclear plant at Drac on the north coast.

An Albanian civil nuclear programme could not only help the country fill its own gaping power shortfalls, but get around popular resistance in Italy to nuclear generation. A referendum there in 1987 led to a five-year moratorium on nuclear power, and no government has since dared reopen the issue. But the idea has prompted alarm in neighbouring Greece.

The daily La Stampa yesterday reported that talks had been held with the Italian grid operator, Terna, on linking the Italian and Albanian electricity networks. Pier Ferdinando Casini, a leading candidate to take over from Silvio Berlusconi as leader of the Italian right, said the chance "must not be allowed to slip".

The prime minister, Romano Prodi, is due to visit Albania for talks early next month.

THE MAJER OF HIMARA VASSILIS BOLLANO VISITS THE STATE DEPARTAMENT

The Head of Municipality of Himara Vassilis Bollano had a tour and meetings in USA. He met with US Orthodox Archibishop Demetrius and some other high functionaries of Greek American Lobby of America including Father Kosmas Karavellas from Himara his origin.

Also Vassilis Bollano met with high represents of State Department during his tour in Washington. Bollano had special meeting with Member of US Congress as Congressmen’s Bilarakis and Sarbannas.

In the end of his tour in USA Bollano met with represent of Pan Epiriotic Federation of USA. For Bollano`s visit, the Greek Ambassador in Washington Alexandros Mallias, who is "Citizen Honore of Himara" made a Diner.

Albania's parliament votes to oust top prosecutor
The Associated PressPublished: November 5, 2007

PRISTINA, Serbia: Parliament voted Monday to oust Albania's top prosecutor for allegedly violating the country's constitution and failing to fight organized crime.

Lawmakers voted 77-37 to dismiss Prosecutor-General Theodhori Sollaku — a decision that must be ratified by President Bamir Topi in order to take effect.

Opposition parties had boycotted most of the impeachment process, accusing Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democratic Party of trying to seize control of the judicial system.

In Monday's vote, lawmakers backed the findings of an investigation by a parliamentary committee. It found Sollaku had failed to cooperate international law enforcement agencies, approved the release of 22 convicted criminals without proper cause, and failed to act in serious criminal cases.

Sollaku, who was once Berisha's legal adviser, rejected the allegations and called the effort to oust him "a subversive act and an institutional coup."

Corruption and organized crime are rife in Albania, one of Europe's poorest countries. President Topi, who took office in July, is likely to back the top prosecutor's removal.

The Northern Epirus Forum and Himara Community protests in front of Albanian Embassy in Greece at November 5, 2007


The violation of Human Rights, the assimilisation process of lands and proprieties of Greek Community occupied from Albanian Mafia, the abusive decisions of fascist Albanian tribunals against the interest of Greek Community, the vandalism against Orthodox Churches, the prohibition of Greek Masmedia and TV stations for Greek Community who lives in Northern Epirus (Southern Albania) are the must important issues of massive protest against the Albanian government.

Violence possible after Kosovo talks, intelligence
Thursday, November 01, 2007 12:32 PM

AP. BELGRADE, Serbia-Serbia's intelligence agency warned Thursday of possible unrest in Kosovo when talks end in December about the separatist province's future status.

Rade Bulatovic, the head of Serbia's Security Information Agency, told a parliamentary committee that "protests, unrest and even Serb-Albanian conflicts are possible" in the U.N.-run region.

Bulatovic said the instability was "particularly expected" if Kosovo declares independence from Serbia following a Dec. 10 deadline set by international mediators in the negotiations.

Kosovo is formally part of Serbia, but its majority ethnic Albanian population are seeking independence. Belgrade strongly opposes the idea.

Internationally-brokered negotiations on the province's status have produced no agreement so far. The U.S., Russian and EU mediators have set the Dec. 10 deadline for any deal to be reached.

Ethnic Albanians in Kosovo have threatened to unilaterally declare independence if the negotiations fail to produce a result. Serbia has said it would never recognize Kosovo's independence.

There was no immediate comment from the U.N. authorities in Kosovo to Bulatovic's statement. U.N. and NATO officials have pledged to maintain peace and stability.

A 1998-99 war between ethnic Albanian rebels and Serbian security forces in Kosovo left thousands dead and ended when NATO air attacks forced Belgrade to pull out of the province.

The Southeast Europe Project
invites you to a forum as part of the
Tsakopoulos - Kounalakis Lecture Series

Enlightenment from Athens to America :
Reason and Religion in Democratic Society

with

Dr. Jennifer Hockenbery, Assistant Professor, Philosophy Department, Mount Mary College ( Wisconsin )

Thursday, November 8, 2007
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
5th Floor Conference Room


RSVP acceptances only sep@wilsoncenter.org
For directions visit www.wilsoncenter.org/directions
All events, unless otherwise noted, are held at the:

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1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20004

Albania Lobbies Islamic Conference over Kosovo

29 10 2007 Tirana _ Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has called on Egypt to persuade the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, OIC, member-states to recognize en bloc a possible declaration of independence by Kosovo.

While presenting Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit with an overview of the situation in UN-administered Kosovo, Berisha asked his host to use Egypt’s considerable influence with the other Arab states.

“After December 10, Kosovo must declare independence in coordination with the USA and the EU. It can’t be a part of Serbia because historically it has not been a part of Serbia,” Berisha said during the meeting in Cairo on Sunday, media reported.

Although administered by the UN since the war of 1999, Kosovo formally belongs to Serbia which does not want to concede the Kosovo Albanians’ demand for independence.

Gheit promised the Albanian prime minister that his country would make a substantial effort to make Kosovo a priority issue at the next OIC Islamic Summit Conference, due in Senegal in March 2008.

Kosovo Albanian leaders have slammed the latest round of talks in Vienna on their homeland’s status as unproductive.

The current phase of talks since August has been overseen by a “Troika” of international mediators.

Several Kosovar leaders have declared that if the ongoing negotiations fail to produce agreement, Kosovo should press ahead with a unilateral declaration of independence.

Albania announced it was joining the OIC in 1992, a few months after the collapse of its hardline communist regime.

It is the only country in Europe where the majority of the population have a Muslim cultural background.

Prime Minister Berisha met with Commissioner of Human Rights of EU Hammarberg:

Albania is under observation of High Commissioner of Human Rigths of EU, who arrived in Tirana last Sunday. During meeting between the Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the EU commissioner Hammarberg the epicenter of the debate was over alls the situation of greek minority, which claimed from prime minister as "good and normal Relations". Particlularly the Prime Minister Berisha declares in the end of meeting with EU Commissioner Hammarberg that: "The greek Minority and HRUP is part of my governament coalition"

But the paradoxes about "existence" of Greek Minority continue often to presente to the high european representatives on "tow standarts"; The first; as a greek minority represent inside HRUP (Human Rights Union Party) as coalition member of government "privileged as good relations between Athens and Tirana" and The second; The reality of another antagonism showed, the realy discrimination situation against the Greek Community.....the continuing of violation of human rights from vandalism to the greek orthodox churches, the land assimilisation proces, the greek schools prohibites, the total block of greek media, the counting general popullation, the decisions of albanian tribunals to conquiste proprieties, to the massive escape of the greek popullation obligated to leave their mother lands to go in greece, etcc..


Commissioner Hammarberg to assess human rights situation in Albania.

Strasbourg, 26.10.2007 – Starting Monday 29 October, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, will pay a five-day high-level official visit to Albania to assess the overall human rights situation in the country.

Mr Hammarberg’s agenda focuses on a broad range of issues including the functioning of the judiciary, conditions of detention, torture and ill-treatment, trafficking in human beings, gender equality, Roma and minority rights as well as social and economic rights. Accompanied by three members of his Office, Commissioner Hammarberg will also visit various institutions such as a police station, detention centre, shelter and psychiatric establishment in Tirana, Shkodra, Vlorë and Elbasan.

During the visit, the Commissioner will meet with top State authorities including the President, Mr Bamir Topi, the Prime Minister, Mr Sali Berisha, and the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Jozefina Topalli. Further talks will be held with ministers and parliamentarians, the Presidents of the Constitutional Court and High Council of Justice, the Prosecutor General, the Ombudsman and local authorities. Moreover, Mr Hammarberg’s agenda includes meetings with representatives of the civil society and international organisations.

The Commissioner will present his preliminary observations on Friday 2 November at 11h00 during a press conference organised in the Council of Europe’s Information Office in Tirana (Sheshi Skenderbej, Palatti i Kultures, Kati I pare).

The visit is part of the activities carried out in accordance with the Commissioner’s mandate to assess the implementation of human rights obligations by all Council of Europe’s member States. An assessment report with relevant recommendations will be presented and published within three months after the visit.

The Vlora Region against Investment Pipeline Burgas Vlora. But the Central Election Commission does not aprove the referendum for Thermo Central Electric which will be instald in Vlora Region. The albanian oposition supports the rights of people of Vlora`s Region.

“Referendum or Protests”: This is the ultimatum made by Vloras`s Region represent in the end of decision of Central Election Commission of Albania.
The Berisha`s Government is raising the tenssion against people of Vlora. The Burgas Vlore is a Pipeline Transporter, which financed from Company associated by V/American President Dick Chaney, but is under volation of population of region of Vlora Bay.

AMBO pipeline is a planned oil pipeline from Bulgarian Black Sea port Burgas via Macedonia to Albanian Adriatic port Vlore. The aim of the 894 kilometer long trans-Balkan pipeline is to bypass Turkish straits in transportation of Russian and Caspian oil. The pipeline is expected to cost about 1.5 billion USD and it will transport 750,000 barrels of oil per day.[1] There will be four pump stations, two in Bulgaria and one each in Macedonia and Albania, constructed along the route.

The pipeline is planned to be built and operated by the US-registered Albanian Macedonian Bulgarian Oil Corporation (AMBO). The project is backed by the US government, who financed a feasibility study of pipeline.[2]

Burgas Vlora is linked with V/American President Dick Chaney, which is not favorite alternative from peoples of the area of Vlora Region which have requested referendum for the future of the Region.

The only alternative energy of AMBO pipeline of Balkan Region is Burgas Alexandropoulos, which has begun the start project much of it financed from “Latsis Group” a multi millioner from Northern Epirus (Old Epirus Province separated from Greece).

Anyway, the albanian oposition (Left Coalition headed from Socialist Party) expresed it politicaly suport to people of Vlora`s Region for the democratic rights about the referendum.

Greek revival: High style in Athens

Ochre & Brown Boutique Hotel has a prime location in the Psyrri district
The clothing boutique Bettina carries haute designers and edgier labels
Head to Pasaji for a mix of traditional and modern Mediterranean cuisine


By Eleni N. Gage


CNN -- Since the 2004 Olympics, Greece's ancient capital, Athens, has undergone a much-needed face-lift. And with a new look drawing international attention, the city is hitting its stride. Athens has a thriving contemporary art scene that contrasts with its ancient landmarks.
Stay
True to the hotel's name, the 11 modern rooms at the new Ochre & Brown Boutique Hotel (7 Leokoriou St.; 30-210/331-2950; ochreandbrown.com; doubles from $230) are swathed in earthy colors and brightened with accents of bright red, orange and pink. The hotel's best asset: a prime location in the up-and-coming Psyrri district, bridging old and new Athens. Stroll the nearby pedestrian walkway that encircles the Acropolis, or spend time in the modern art galleries and hub of Athens's thriving nightlife.

If you prefer Neoclassical opulence to boutique flair, check into the 1877 Hotel Grande Bretagne (Syndagma Square; 30-210/333-0000; grandebretagne.gr; doubles from $781). The ground floor holds a 12,000-square-foot spa with six thermal suites. Even more impressive is the rooftop restaurant, which has floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the Acropolis.

The affordable gray and blue Periscope (22 Haritos St.; 30-210/729-7200; periscope.gr; doubles from $200) pays homage to modern-day Athens. Twelve of the hotel's 21 guest-room ceilings are papered with aerial photos of the city.

Set in the fashionable Kolonaki neighborhood, the clothing boutique Bettina (29 Anagnostopoulou St. and 40 Pindarou; 30-210/339-2094) carries haute designers such as Superfine on the ground floor and edgier labels --ThreeAsFour and Greek newcomer Angelos Frentzos -- on the top two.

Around the corner, the tiny jewelry shop Apriati (29 Pindarou; 30-210/360-7878) sells whimsical baubles. Most noteworthy are the 18-karat-gold necklaces that come with your choice of pendants: a hotel-room key or a pig (in honor of the current Chinese year).

Greece's hottest export these days? Mastiha, or mastic, a pungent resin from a tree that grows only on the island of Chios and is known for its therapeutic properties (a mastiha spa just opened in New York City). At the Mastiha Shop (6 Panepistimiou Sudagma; 30-210/363-2750), you'll find flavored sweets as well as beauty products from the coveted Greek naturopathic line, Korres.

The Center of Hellenic Tradition (36 Pandrossou St.; 30-210/321-3023), arguably the prettiest store in Plaka, the city's tourist hotbed, forgoes kitschy souvenirs for ceramic plates from the island of Rhodes and intricately carved wooden frames and trays from Epiros.

Do . Athenian heritage is visible at every turn, from the sculptures at the National Archaeological Museum (44 Patission; 30-210/821-7717; culture.gr) to the collection of Cypriot antiquities at the Museum of Cycladic Art (4 Neophytou Douka St.; 30-210/722-8321; cycladic-m.gr). But over the past several years, the city's contemporary art scene has evolved, with museums such as the Herakleidon Experience in Visual Arts (16 Thissio; 30-210/346-1981; herakleidon-art.gr) and the new three-story Pireos Street Annexe (138 Pireos St.; 30-210/345-3111; benaki.gr) staging rotating exhibitions of recent art and photography.

After dark, bypass the touts trying to lure you into Plaka's mediocre night spots and head to Brettos Bar (41 Kydathineon St.; 30-210/323-2110). This narrow hideaway has 28 different liqueurs, all distilled in-house. Flavors range from amaretto to the surprisingly subtle rose petal. To hear live traditional Greek music, swing by the spacious, low-lit restaurant lounge Hrisomilo (12 Agatharchou; 30-210/331-7061), in the Psyrri district.

Eat. French food with a Greek twist earned Spondi (5 Pyrronos St.; 30-210/752-0658; dinner for two $200) a Michelin star in 2003. The three-story Neoclassical restaurant serves dishes such as roast lamb with candied lemon, pineapple, and coriander -- and, for dessert, a velvety chocolate ganache cake with tonka-bean ice cream.

At Cretan-inspired Alatsi (13 Vrasida; 30-210/721-0501; dinner for two $116), writers and artists gather for fresh stamangathi greens drizzled in lemon and olive oil -- the secret to long life, according to the locals -- and stewed chicken with noodles.

For a mix of traditional and modern Mediterranean cuisine, head to Pasaji (Stoa Spiromilou, CityLink; 30-210/322-0714; dinner for two $77). Don't miss the addictive Anatolian phyllo -- wrapped rolls stuffed with graviera cheese.

The low-key taverna Filoistron (23 Apostolou Pavlou; 30-210/342-2897; dinner for two $45) sticks to delicious basics such as rollakia -- braised suckling pig wrapped in eggplant. Snag a table on the roof deck for a spectacular nighttime view of Mount Lycabettus.

FIRE INSIDE ORTHODOX CATEDRAL OF KORICA

Photo:The Orthosox Cathedral of Korica

“Unknown persons” burned some objects inside cathedral but many people who where walking near cathedral at the moment, reacted immediately stopping the fires.

After a meeting a front of Orthodox Cathedral of Korca by Romes Community, means that during the night “unknown persons” have burned some objects inside Cathedral, stimulated also with super carburant explosive. The reaction of orthodox community of Korca has been admired which together with police forces made under control the fires.

Is the firs time that failed a tentative to burn the must Orthodox Cathedral of Albania, in Korca Rergion, constructed after 1997. In Albanian opinion this tragic eveniment has been not evidenced as the bad precedent to destruct the religions harmony of Albania, even according to orthodox community, the vandalism against Byzantine Churches of Albania, have been target to violate existing.

Brutal incident against the represent of Greek Minority in Albanian Parliament

Photo: Vangjel Tavos

On Wednesday night the private house of Parliament Member of Albania (Socialist Party) in Argirokaster Region, Jorgutsati village, Vangjel Tavos has been violated from polices authority. According to “News 24 TV” an independent broadcaster media in Tirana, Tavos also a represent of Greek Minority in Albanian Parliament, has denounced the arrogance used from security authorities during a control with out persecutor office mandate.

Tavos accuses police Albanian authority for brutal violation of civil rights on press conference made after incident. Tavos who in this time was in Tirana, was informed from his parents in Jorgutsati for brutal intervention inside his private house from police uniform. “Is absurd this eveniment to control a member of Albanian parliament having also “special mandate”. “For what raisons makes ..said Tavos.

This is the second time that the Albanian authority has "violated" the Greek represent in Albanian Parliament. Tow years ago in an incident near village Nepravista, Argirokaster Region, Tavos has been target from Special Forces of Albanian authority violating him during a demonstration of his electorate minority zone.

Macedonian policeman killed in ambush near Kosovo

Wed Oct 24, 2007 11:58am EDT

SKOPJE, Oct 24 (Reuters) - A Macedonian policeman was killed and two were injured when their patrol car was ambushed by armed men in a volatile region near the border with the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo, officials said on Wednesday."

A police team patrolling the area near the Macedonia-Kosovo border was ambushed and shot at with automatic rifles," a police spokesman told Reuters."They lost control and their vehicle crashed."The incident took place near the border post of Kodra Fura. The area is not far from the village of Tanusevci, an ethnic Albanian enclave that was at the centre of a 2001 separatist insurgency that was resolved by NATO and EU diplomacy.

Armed gangs and smugglers have carved out a police no-go area around Tanusevci, heightening fears of regional unrest if ethnic Albanians in Kosovo lose patience with the West's stalled efforts to grant them independence from Serbia.

Albania Lobbies for a NATO Seat

Albania's parliamentary speaker says with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, her nation is keen to align itself with the West, and wants Canada's support for an independent Kosovo.

By Jeff DavisIn advance of the 2008 NATO meeting in Bucharest where her country's entry into the security partnership will be decided, Jozefina Topalli, the speaker of the Albanian parliament was in Ottawa last week lobbying the Canadian government for its support. Ms. Topalli met with Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier, the speakers of both the House and Senate, as well as senators serving on the defence and immigration committees. She says that Albania has the support of the United States as well as "the main important countries of Europe," in its accession bid. She said that Canada's support is also very important and that she was "very satisfied" with the meetings she had. Ms. Topalli says her country has long desired closer ties with the West through NATO and the European Union. Membership in NATO, she says, would make the international community see her country as part of Europe and would be a step towards entry into the European Union. Despite not being a NATO member, she says, Albania has pulled its weight on peacekeeping missions and in the American war on terror. Albania currently has troops in Iraq and Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as 200 in Afghanistan. While these numbers may be small on the grander scale, she says, it is a significant contribution for a country of only 3.6 million. She adds that for years her country has spent two per cent of its budget on the military–something many NATO members fail to do. The NATO memberships of Macedonia and Croatia will also be decided at Bucharest. Ms. Topalli also lobbied for Canadian support of the Ahtissari Package that would allow the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo to transfer its responsibilities to Kosovo's government. The Ahtisaari Package, which must be adopted by the UN Security Council to take effect, would be a seminal step towards an independent Kosovo. Currently, Kosovo remains a province of Serbia although Serbia has not governed the country in any meaningful way since 1999 when the UNMIK took over after a war between NATO and Serb forces. Over 90 per cent of Kosovo's population is ethnic Albanian. The International Crisis Group, among others, says that Russia is using its power in the Security Council to limit Kosovo's independence. Russia has so far been successful, using its influence to have a draft resolution of the Ahtissari proposal formally discarded after it withheld support. Russia is using the Kosovo issue, Ms. Topalli says, as an instrument to pressure Western countries. "They are using Kosovo and they are blocking...the Ahtisaari Package because they want to demonstrate with this that they are an important factor on the global scene," she says. Her country is concerned with Russian actions, she says, because the region is not within Russia's sphere of influence and the resolution of Kosovo's status "is not a Russian issue." Delaying a final decision on Kosovo's status, she says, could destabilize the region. "I'm very concerned that if they're going to postpone and postpone the independence of Kosovo, the situation can be more risky," Ms. Topalli says. Piotr Dutkiewicz, director of Carleton University's Institute of European and Russian Studies, says he understands Russia's interest in Kosovo. The Balkan region, which is home to many Slavs and Orthodox Christians, bears many similarities to Russia and has traditionally had good relations with Russia. As a result, he says, the Russians see it as an area of interest to them and are resisting its drift into the Western sphere of influence. Furthermore, he says, "the way the Kosovo issue will be solved or unsolved will give Russia a good indicator how the international community will interpret some other frozen conflicts in which Russia is deeply involved." The term 'frozen conflicts' refers to a number of ongoing sovereignty disputes that followed the fall of the Soviet Union. These conflicts are transpiring in areas such as Transnistria, South Ossetia and Abkhazia –regions close to Russian borders. He says that statehood for Kosovo would inspire these areas to pursue a similar path. "This will trigger a process that will have major international implications," he says

ALBANIAN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

The Research Institute for European and American Studies, Athens

By Stavros Markos

(Member of the World Security Network, Southeastern European Office)
Copyright: Stavros Markos on line

The Albanian Parliament prohibits the Hellenic Beneficences Activities in Albania

The Albanian Parliament approved the discontinuation (by law) of the activities of foundations operating in the country. The decision affected quite a few organizations but the most important ones where the Greek investments. The Diagnostic Orthodox Center, the Greek School “Arsakeio” in Tirana and some other benefactor activities of the Orthodox community are obligated to close down or would have to continue their activity in “accordance to their financial obligations to Albanian authority”.

The HRU Party has been against the government on this, even though it is a coalition member of Berisha`s cabinet. Vangjel Dule and two other MP's have voted against the decision requesting also the resignation of the Finance Minister Ridvan Bode and the reformation of the Albanian Government. Dule said that any new position of the government has to be particularly transparent in relation to the public finances.

The Diagnostic Orthodox Center has the most Modern Medical Scanner in Albania which was provided by an initiative of the Archbishop Anastasios and with the cooperation of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, and 2 Greek NGO’s: The Orthodox Center “Poreuthentes” in Athens, and the Human European Network of Human Development in Ioannina.

Medical clinics of the Orthodox Church also exist in other parts of Albania (Korça, Kavaja, Lushnja, Gjergucati, Gjirokaster), and a mobile dental clinic provides free dental care to young and old people in different parts of the country.

According to political observers and domestic analysts, the anti-Hellenic rhetoric continues to rise in Albania particularly because of the Kosovo status final negotiations; “Chameria issue" and the status of Albanian emigrants in Greece. In addition, last week in Southern Albania the community of Himara Region has demonstrated in the center of Himara Municipality against the land and proprieties assimilation process ordered by the Albanian tribunals and the government, which uses any “administrative measure” to change the property identity with false documents. The protesters sent an ultimatum to the Prime Minister Berisha to consider their requests before violent protests enacts against the local Albanian authorities.

ALI AHMETI: "One day Albanians of FYROM will unite with Albania"

Ali Ahmeti has declared to the Newspaper "SHQIP" the unification of the Albanians in FYROM with Albania and Kosovo. Ahmeti, who is the ex-political leader of UCK in FYROM on 2001; currently he is the leader of the Union Democratic Integration Party of FYROM (BDI, the most important Albanian Party in Parliament, now in opposition). The politician stated for an eventual union with Albania not only for the Kosovo Albanians but also for the ones residing in Western FYROM.

The declaration of Ali Ahmeti has shocked the foreign diplomats and institutions in Tirana, especially since another Albanian Kosovo politician, Rexhep Qosja, made similar remarks. Qosja in an interview on "SHQIP" newspaper called towards the Albanians of Kosovo to energize themselves for an eventual unification between Tirana and Prishtina. "The Greater Albania must become a reality" said Qosja on "SHQIP" newspaper.

One month ago, the former Prime Minister of FYROM Lupco Georgjewski declared around the very real probability of a division of the country in two parts between Albanians and the rest of the population. The Former Prime Minister also has declared himself a Bulgarian national in front of the country's parliament, thus socking the public and the opinion makers of that state.
Tirana is already "de facto" united with Kosovo, since the Kosovo Albanian frontier line is accessible for all Kosovo citizens with UNMIK document who travel en masse without border restrictions. Tirana provides Albanian passports to any Albanian of Kosovo who works or is student, while it prepares the provision of Albanian citizenship for all their ethnic compatriots across the neighboring states.

A week ago, BDI (The Democratic United for Integration Party), who is a non parliamentary member Party, but a strong supporter of the so-called "chameria community" urged the Albanian government to support their efforts against Greece in relation to the "chameria issue". The Chameria Community has members in the Albanian Parliament and in some Municipalities such are Vlora, Delvina, and Saranda.

During his speech last month in the United Nations, the Prime Minister of Albania Sali Berisha declared that: "We do not support any rhetoric declaration for Greater Albania that it is being made by the Albanian nationalists. The Albanian Government is making every effort to join the NATO Alliance and the EU".

Ali Ahmeti has also visited Tirana last week ago and met the Albanian leaders including the President Bamir Topi. There are various political developments that are being surfacing lately in Albania and most certainly they are all related to the Kosovo resolution and the dynamics of the nationalism in the mainstream Albanian society.

http://rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=445&Itemid=42

The Northern Epirus Forum and Himara Community will protest a front of Albanian Embassy in Greece at November 5, 2007.


The violation of Human Rights, the assimilisation process of lands and proprieties of Greek Community occupied from Albanian Mafia, the abusive decisions of fascist Albanian tribunals against the interest of Greek Community, the vandalism against Orthodox Churches, the prohibition of Greek Masmedia and TV stations for Greek Community who lives in Northern Epirus (Southern Albania) are the must important issues of massive protest against the Albanian government.

Tom Hanks helping Greece get back on Hollywood's radar

Photo: Rita Wilson, right, director of the short film 'The Trap,' arrives with her husband Tom Hanks for the premiere of 'Glamour Reel Moments,' a trio of short films directed by women and based on true stories written by Glamour magazine readers, in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

by John Hadoulis Fri Oct 19, 2007

ATHENS (AFP) - Decades after serving as the setting for hit films like "The Guns of Navarone" and "The Big Blue", Greece has elicited help from Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks to get back on Hollywood's radar.

The Hollywood star, whose wife Rita Wilson is of Greek descent, is helping bankroll two movies which officials here hope will translate into extra tourist arrivals at the country's archaeological sites and island holiday spots. One production stars Nia Vardalos, the Greek-Canadian writer and star of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", the 2002 romantic comedy that became one of the most successful independent US box office productions of all time.
Titled "My Life in Ruins", the new comedy centres on a tour guide played by Vardalos and was given rare permission to shoot in key Greek archaeological sites, including the Acropolis in Athens, Delphi and Ancient Olympia. The second production is a film version of the hit Broadway musical "Mamma Mia", starring Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep, and was shot on the Aegean islands of Skiathos and Skopelos in August.

The back-to-back Hanks projects are a welcome boon to a Greek state eager for a fresh start after decades of scaring away big-name productions with a combination of nightmarish bureaucracy, poor organisation and sheer ineptitude. "In the 1980's, the word in Hollywood was that Greece was an unwelcoming place to shoot a film," acknowledged Markos Holevas, director of the Hellenic Film Commission set up in May to facilitate foreign productions in the country.
"Now there is a desire to change things ... the Greek state has realised (the benefits) and wants to promote Greece through film ... and Tom Hanks with Rita Wilson were the first to respond to this policy."

"The message is: forget the past, let's make a new start," Holevas said.
Greece's picturesque islands, many of them major tourist destinations, have provided the backdrop for scenes in recent films, but have not served as major movie locations.
The Ionian island of Cephalonia was in 2001 the site of "Captain's Corelli's Mandolin" starring Nicholas Cage, while the Aegean island of Santorini had a scene in "Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life" with Angelina Jolie two years later.
Greece also apparently had a chance to host Oliver Stone's 2004 blockbuster "Alexander" but the government failed to pursue the offer, Holevas said. The country boasts impressive archaeological sites that have long been in demand for both television commercials and films, but projects have routinely run afoul of strict regulations laid out by Greek archaeologists. And amid price hikes following its adoption of the euro, Greece has had a hard time competing with neighbouring Balkan and eastern European countries which can combine lower production costs with similar landscapes for location shots.
"Foreign productions have a tendency to get ripped off here," noted producer Christina Aspropotamiti, who worked on an American documentary shot in Athens last year.
She said she was stunned when she sought permission to film long-range shots of the Parthenon, the classical temple atop the city's famed Acropolis citadel.
"The local archaeological office asked us for 1,500 euros (2,120 dollars) per square metre (per 10 square feet) of the entire Acropolis site ... at those rates it would have made better sense to just buy the place," she said.
Political sensitivities have also complicated film plans, as in the case of the 1984 production of "Eleni" -- an American film starring John Malkovich on the thorny topic of the 1944-1949 Greek Civil War. "The film showed the communists brutalising the areas they occupied during the Civil War," said the film's co-producer Nick Gage, a Greek-American journalist whose biography on his mother's execution by the communists was the basis of "Eleni".
"We had trouble with the film unions, which were communist-dominated at the time," Gage told AFP. "There was sabotage overnight as we began the shooting in Athens ... equipment was broken, you'd find your lights busted."
When the production company decided to relocate to southern Spain, Gage's home region of Epirus lost millions of dollars, he said.
"It was very unfortunate, we spent the equivalent of 50 million dollars in today's figures that could have been spent in Epirus, one of the poorest areas in Greece. It would have benefited the area considerably," he added.

NATO cautious on Albania's membership hopes
Published: October 19, 2007
BRUSSELS, Belgium: NATO warned Albania on Friday that it must push through more reforms of its justice and political system to win early membership in the Western military alliance.

"The invitation tickets are not punched yet; further reform is necessary," NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said after a meeting with Albanian's president Bamir Topi. "A lot of work will still have to be done and no guarantees can be given." Albania, along with Macedonia and Croatia, hopes to be invited to join NATO at a meeting of allied leaders next April in Bucharest, Romania.

Topi pledged that Albania would carry through the reforms and stressed the high level of support for membership among political parties and the Albanian public. "This is a very significant moment for Albania," Topi said. "I guarantee that we will deepen the reforms of the justice and electoral system, and focus attention on the fight against organized crime and corruption."


De Hoop Scheffer praised Albania's participation in NATO's military mission in Afghanistan and its "moderating voice" in the Balkans amid growing tension over the final status of Kosovo.
However, he said it was too early to judge if Albania would receive its membership invitation in Bucharest.
NATO officials say Croatia is expected to receive an invite in April, but doubts remain about the prospects for Albania and Macedonia.

Albania is one of Europe's poorest nations. Since the collapse of communist rule in 1991, it has sought to join NATO and the European Union, but its progress has been slowed by political instability and corruption.
However, Albania has developed military cooperation with the 26-nation NATO alliance and currently has 138 soldiers serving alongside NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Terms of Use

The Greek Journalist Llambros Papantoniu asks about ulterior develompents in Albania.

ALBANIA; Importance of Freedom of the Press, Monitoring by US Embassy

Daily Press Briefing Oct. 18, 2007

U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing by Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey

The Greek Journalist Llambros Papantoniu asks about ulterior develompents in Albania.

Q.... On Albania, Mr. Casey, the Greeks in Northern Epirus, otherwise the Kosovo of Albania, protested yesterday against banning of Greek TV stations in Albania. Since the Albanian move against the freedom of the press, I'm wondering if you could any comment.

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, I'm not familiar with the individual incident. Obviously we support freedom of the press and freedom of expression, whether that's in Albania or Greece or any other country. We believe it's important for you and your colleagues and others in the news media to be able to operate freely, to report on individual policies and ideas and events as they see fit. So again I'm not familiar with this specific incident. But again we would encourage all countries to exercise tolerance and make sure that they are doing nothing that would inhibit freedom of the press.

Q....Mr. Casey, is your embassy in Tirana watching carefully the systematic destruction of the Greek Byzantine church in Northern Epirus by the Albanian authorities, as it was reported extensively? Any comment?

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, I'd refer you to the embassy in terms of what they are following or not. Certainly any issues related to religious freedom as well as freedom of the press are things that our embassies all throughout the world routinely monitor and cover. Okay, Mr. Lambros. Now is the last --

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2007/oct/93662.htm

The Foreign Minster of Greece Dora Bakogianis met with the Director of Minorities Agency of Albania Kostandina Bezanis

Photo: Bakogianis and Bezanis

During the meeting in Athens, tow personalities spoken about Greek Albanian relations and particularly for the Greek Ethnic Minority which lives Albania.

Bezanis expressed Ms. Bakogianis the efforts of Minorities Agency of Albania to be implemented with European standards by Albanian state. Ms. Bakogianis who met Ms. Bezanis for the second time inside six months said for Albanian Greek relations and particularly the efforts of Greece to help Albanian`s integration to Nato and European Union.

Ms. Bezanis is also an American Citizen and member General Council of Pan Epiriotic Federation of the World. His father Theodoris Bezanis has been member of Trial hold against five Omonia`s represent in 1994.

Nevertheless the HRUP (The Party which supports politically the Greek Minority of Albania) has been against continuing of Albanian Government, proposing the new composition of Albanian Government headed from Sali Berisha. The Chairman of HRUP Evangelos Doules is counter balance to any pressing regarding the polemics about the General Attorney Theodoris Solaku.

HRUP is member of Berisha`s government coalition holding the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues since last parliamentary elections of 2005. HRUP Has three represent of Albanian parliament in total 140 posts. HRUP has been also member of government coalition headed from Fatos Nano from 1997 to 2005, declaring as “Indipendent Party, which support Minorities in Albania, particularly the Greek Minority.