Daily Press BriefingTom Casey, Deputy SpokesmanWashington, DCJanuary 11, 2008


KOSOVO AND NORTHERN EPIRUS ISSUES....



Tom Casey...Okay, Mr. Lambros. We're back to you.

Question: On Kosovo, Mr. Casey, according to The New York Times and to International Herald Tribune, the U.S. government is going to recognize the illegal entity of Kosovo immediately after the elections
in Serbia.

MR. CASEY: (Laughs.)

Question: And I'm wondering why. Under which legal basis?

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, first of all, the United States position
with respect to Kosovo remains clear and consistent. You've heard it
from us before. We believe that, in keeping with U.N. Resolution
1244, it's time to resolve Kosovo's final status. That, for us and
for the broad cross-section of the international community, means
proceeding with implementation of the Ahtisaari plan, and that's what
we'll be working for in the coming days and weeks.

QUESTION: A follow-up. If the Greeks of Northern Epirus in Albania
will elect their own prime minister, like the Kosovar Albanians in
Serbia, I'm wondering, Mr. Casey, if Undersecretary Nicholas Burns,
with the same token, will congratulate such a Greek prime minister as
he did yesterday for Hashim Thaqi?

MR. CASEY: Oh, Mr. Lambros, what an unfair question! Mr.
Lambros, as you know and as everyone well knows, Kosovo is a very
unique situation, and it -- (audio break) -- and settlements are not a
precedent for any other region.And as you know, that's long been a consistent part of U.S. policy.

more: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2008/jan/99231.htm

THE ALBANIAN PRESIDENT TOPI ENCOURAGES CHAMERIA COMMUNITY FOR PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION
Photo: the Asspirated map of Greater Albania

The Albanian president Bamir Topi met some days ago a delegation of Association “Chameria”. During the meeting, the delegates of “Chameria Community” asked the President Topi about last visit in Greece and talks about the Chameria Issue.

To the Albanian President the “Chameria Community” expressed some questions for the future of Albanian leadership regarding the “Cham Issue”. Particularly the member of delegation asked the Albanian president for a “New Resolute of Chameria Issue” from Albanian Parliament as soon as possible seeing an initiative of Albanian Opposite Coalition addressed the Prime Minister Sali Berisha for collaboration with out politic reserves for Albanian National Issues Reforms” to Joint to NATO and EU.

“The Chameria Community” has intensified their efforts to International Community addressing to the International factors under slogans “Albania is incomprehensible with out Chameria and Kosovo” addressed they to the President Topi.

Some day ago the leader of politic opposition Edi Rama asked to Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha “if he is ready to collaborate for the future reforms of Albania under strategic objectives regarding national issue Kosovo and others …. for the Integration of Albania to the Euro Atlantic Institutions. According to Albanian Media is possible a Resolution during the period of self declaration of the Independence of Kosovo by Albanian parliament when would be voted other alls the “Chameria Resolute.

According to “Albanian Daily News” the Chairman of Chameria Association Adrian Tana called on the Albanian Parliament to adopt a resolution which would unify the stance of the Albanian politics on the Chams Isue. “The cam question should be part of the official agenda of meetings between Albania and Greece” said Tana.

On June 2004 the Albanian Parliament refused to vote a Resolution for “Chameria Issue” even the Foreign Parliamentary Commission had voted in favor of request firmed by ex Prime Minister Fatos Nano.

This initiative makeit in a critic moment when the Balkan situation is under strong observation of Great Powers particularly waiting the self independence proclamation by Kosovo`s Parliament and the diplomatic pressing used to Greece to recognize the Independence of Kosovo and support Albania to NATO and EU.

VIOLATED THE BYZANTINE CHURCH OF LABOVAS

Photo: The newspaper "Pamorama" about Labova`s vandalism.
Argirokaster, January 7, 2008

The Byzantine Church of Labovas (Argirokastro Region) has been stolen by unknown persons. The vandals have stolen 18 old icons of Byzantine period and funds of the church.

The Byzantine Church of Labovas is known in Argirokaster as important center of orthodoxy of the region, serving to the Greek community. Labovas is the village of Zapas the Great Benefactor of Hellenic Culture.

Photo: The Labova`s church

According to Orthodox Church, during 2007 period over 100 Orthodox Church are violated or destroyed lot of them are Byzantine. One month ago, the Byzantine Church of San. Pandelimonas of Drimades in Himara Regiom, destructed by explosion material, considered as a terrorist act against community and orthodoxy.

During the summer 2007 many Archeological and Byzantine centers in Southern Albania has been under attacks of vandals, making fires such are Apollonias and Buthrintos the oldest Hellenic centers of the region.

Is a paradox for Albanian State when is preparing to advertising on CNN this year claiming the oldest values of Albania beginning from Apollonia, Buthrintos, Byllis, Antigonea, Berat, Argirokastro, Orikum all the part of Hellenic heritage of Northern Epirus, to Byzantine churches which continue to violate with out limit.

Pope warns diplomats that conflicts in Balkan must respects the rights of all peoples.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Addressing diplomats from around the world, Pope Benedict XVI warned that numerous armed conflicts and social disorders have left global stability in a fragile situation.

In Europe, he said, a definitive status for Kosovo needs to be determined in a way that respects the rights of all the inhabitants and avoids a return to "the specter of violence" in the Balkans

In a passage that hinted at a potential theme for his planned U.N. visit in April, the pope noted that 60 years ago the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrined human dignity.

"In every continent the Catholic Church strives to ensure that human rights are not only proclaimed but put into practice," he said.

Albanian Government wants more control to the Local Autonomy

The Abanian Premier, Sali Berisha, decided to give more copetences to the Legalisation Agency. Yesterday the government decited to send to parliament a project law which give more copetences for zones under legalisation proces in touristic areas.

According to the latest changes, the Agency of Legalisatiion should report to the Premier on the suggestions they have in regard to the contradict with Municipalities.

Anyway the control of prime minister to Municipalities is against any decision of the Charter of European Council for the Rights of Local Autonomy particularly for the Albanian Coast Line Areas. The must important contradict will be between the Albanian government and Himara`s Municipality when the community has opposed a Master Plan of World Bank, conditioned by the problems of proprieties. According to information the government wants to have more competences to the rights of tourist areas but the inhabitants considers as continuing efforts for assimilysation process.

Security News on the Region
Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov in Montenegro?

STATE DEPARTMENT REGULAR BRIEFING BRIEFER: SEAN MCCORMACK, WASHINGTON, D.C. TIME:
12:32 P.M. EST DATE: FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2008

Lambros (Papantoniou), happy new year to you.

Q: Happy new year to all of you. Thank you very much. In the Balkans, any readout of the today’s meeting between
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ivailo Kalfin?
minister?

MR. MCCORMACK: Right. Well, you heard from them. They talked a
little bit upstairs about some of their discussions, but they talked
about Kosovo, they talked about the Balkans, they talked about U.S.-
Bulgarian ties. They talked a little bit about Iraq and Afghanistan
and the efforts that the Bulgarians have under way in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The secretary thanked them for that. Talked a little
bit about the upcoming NATO ministerial as well as the NATO summit in which they will address issues related to NATO's future as well as
NATO membership. And that's really sort of the long and short of it.

Q: Can you be more specific on Kosovo? What did they say
approximately?

MR. MCCORMACK: Approximately, they talked about the state of
play and the way forward.

Q: Okay. The next question is, according to reports, Russian
fleet including one aircraft carrier will be off the coast of
Montenegro this coming Sunday, January 6th, in order, as they say, to
face any Kosovo crisis using 57 war planes via the Montenegro air
space. Any comment, Mr. McCormack, since there are in Kosovo 1,600 U.S. troops and 17.000 NATO troops?

MR. MCCORMACK: I'm not aware of those reports, Lambros.

The Albanian Government uses KESH as pressing against the Press.

Since one month ago, the must problematic of economy of the country the Albanian Electro-Energetic Corporate “KESH” continues to interrupt systematically the energy to Television A1, as a part of Media Group Company 2K. According to “Shekulli” newspaper, KESH is continuing to violate the liberty of Media in Albania, using as pressing instrument of Government Berisha against critically and opposition alternative.

A1 is only TV channel which informs the public opinion about the escalation of the violence of aalbanian authorities in Vlora`s Region against "The Alliance for Protection of Vlora`s Gulf", a NGO which has requested to Election Central Commission by Vlora`s Community a referendum to stop the build of Energetic Park by “Petroliffera” Company.

10 years ago the PM Berisha was claimed as “enemy of freedom and the press” by International Media Organizations. “The most recent case has been the flagrant and unjustifiable attack against the fourth power, whose freedom is severely endangered” expressed the exponents of Mjaft Movement last April in a meeting in center of Tirana.

The albanian police special forces used violance aganist green peace protest of "Vlora` Goulf"

Photo" The albanian special forces bring from Tirana using violence against peace protesters of Vlora`s people.

Dramatic situation in Vlora Region. Violance and terror against hunderts member of "The Alleance for Protection of Vlora`s Goulf" where are confronting with police forces sent by prime minister Sali Berisha.

In adittion the Aleance for Protection "The Goulf of Vlora" has proclamed a protest in the place of the Vlora`s Municipality. The situation according to regonal journalists could provoceate big protests of Vloras` people next days. The Municipality of Vlora and the Community united has requested referendum for the buld of the energitic projets such are AMBO and Petrolifera Rafinery including decines of Thermocentrals. Last year, the Central Election Commission has voted against a referendum firmd by 14 thousands firms of Vlora`s citisens about the future energitic Park Construction.

According to daily "Shekulli" The Energitic Park is building near regional northern borders with Municipality of Narta an old region populated by greek community, known for great resouces of Narta`s Lake which have been against togather with people of Vlora for the construcion of the Energitic Parc by albanian and foreign investitores including AMBO Pipeline and Petrolifera Company..

In a Press Conference togather with the "MJAFT Moviment" The Alliance urges to make a big pacific protest on Sunday near of the building of Special Police Forces, supporting by vlora`s people.

VASSILIS BOLANOS PERSON OF THE YEAR, 2007

The Mayer of Himara Municipality wins the "Person of the year 2007" voted by the World Hellenic Organization:”NOIAZOMAI”. According to greek media, Hellenes Abroad and in Grece have voted Vassilis Bollanos for great effors to protect hellenic values in Northern Epirus and for his declaration on TV Albanian Station “Top Channel” saying” “KOSOVO AND NORTHERN EPIRUS ARE SIMILAR QUESTIONS”

http://www.noiazomai.net/

For the declaration of Bollanos reacted not only the Albanian politic opinion but also Athens has been against any alternative solution reacting: “The Kosovo matter is not analog with Northern Epirus Issue”. But actually regarding the possibility “Macedonian Veto” of Athens by Greek polling opinions, the Northern Epirus or “Hellenic Kosovo” claimed by Hellenic Federation of the World is considered as more important national Greek Issue, which must resolve before Kosovo Status for Independence in condition that Greece must help Albania to joint to NATO and EU. Greece is the only NATO`s and EU country which could make veto to Macedonia name both for Kosovo Independence, if Skopie does not change the Constitutional Name as “Macedonia” while Tirana to begin for solution the Northern Epirus Issue before Kosovo decision.

In June 2007, the Pan Epirotic Federation of America, a strong brunch of Greek American Lobby in USA, urges to call Washington, EU and Athens to take extreme measures to Tirana including the stopping process of Albania to EU and NATO.

see" THE NORTHERN EPIRUS..... THE HELLENIC`S KOSOVO",

http://www.noiazomai.net/Boreiohpeirotiko.html

Albania's foreign minister stripped of immunity, faces charges of corruption

The Associated Press
Photo: Basha and Raice in Washington D.C.
TIRANA, Albania:

Albania's parliament stripped the foreign minister of immunity Thursday, paving the way for the public prosecutor to charge him with corruption and abuse of power.
The lawmakers voted 107-12 in favor of investigating Lulzim Basha over allegations of improperly favoring a U.S.-Turkish joint venture in the awarding of a highway construction contract while he was transport minister.

Basha, who has not yet been charged, denies the accusations and says he is willing to answer any questions about his handling of the highway project, which he said was proud to have been part of.Addressing the parliament before the vote, Basha urged the lawmakers to remove his immunity, saying the move would be a break with the country's past of shielding officials.
Basha, who was transport minister from September 2005 until becoming foreign minister in April of this year, could be tried for abuse of power, corruption and causing the budget to swell by some €385 million (US$548 million).

The allegations against Basha are related to an October 2006 deal the state signed with the Bechtel-Enka consortium, made up of San Francisco, California-based Bechtel International Inc. and Istanbul-based Enka. The consortium was awarded a €418 million (US$595 million) contract to build a 65-kilometer (40-mile) section of road.

The highway, to be completed in 2009, will link Albania's isolated north to neighboring ethnic-Albanian-dominated Kosovo. Organized crime and corruption are major issues in Albania, one of Europe's poorest countries, which is struggling to integrate with international institutions.

THE NEW BALKAN MAP .....http://www.noiazomai.net/41.html

FROM... NOIAZOMAI .........THE PAN HELLENIC SITE OF THE WORLD

http://www.noiazomai.net/

"THE PANDORA`S BOX"

RELATED WITH THE NATIONAL GEORRAPHIC 1912 - 1913 http://www.nationalgeographic.gr/extra/1912/

ΠΡΟΗΓΕΙΤΑΙ ΣΤΑ ΒΑΛΚΑΝΙΑ Η ΛΥΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΔΙΕΘΝΩΣ ΕΚΚΡΕΜΟΥΣ ΖΗΤΗΜΑΤΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΒΟΡΕΙΟΥ ΗΠΕΙΡΟΥ

ΑΝΟΙΓΕΙ Ο ΦΑΚΕΛΟΣ ΒΟΡΕΙΟΗΠΕΙΡΩΤΙΚΟ

SPECIAL NEW SECTION: NORTHERN EPIRUS

http://www.noiazomai.net/Boreiohpeirotiko.html

PYRROS DIMAS, THE "LION" OF HIMARA

Born October 13, 1971 is a Greek weightlifter and three-time Olympic champion. Dimas was born in Himara, Albania, to parents of Greek origin, and emigrated to Greece in 1991. He first competed for Greece in the 1992 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal in the 82.5 kg class. At a time when Greek success at the Olympics was limited, he and Voula Patoulidou (who won the gold at the 100m hurdles) became instant national heroes. They were greeted as such on their return to Greece at a grand ceremony attended by more than 100.000 people at the Panathinaikon Stadium in Athens. His birthplace gave rise to his nickname "The Greek Lion of Himara". His outstanding number of Olympic Gold Medals created another nickname "Midas".

With the 1993 and 1995 World titles under his belt, Dimas was heavily favoured for the 83 kg class at the 1996 Summer Olympics, where he was the flagbearer of the Greek Olympic team. He won the event with two new World Records.

At the 2000 Summer Olympics, he won yet another gold medal, this time in the 85 kg class. This made him one of just three weightlifters at that time to have won three Olympic gold medals, the others being Naim Süleymanoğlu (Turkey, but born in Bulgaria) and Kakhi Kakhiashvili (Greece, but born in Georgia). Halil Mutlu (like Süleymanoğlu, a Bulgaria-bo Turk) would become the fourth in 2004.

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, Dimas was again chosen as Greek flagbearer for both the opening and closing ceremonies. Dimas was recovering from knee surgery and a hurt wrist and was not expected to compete in these Olympics, but he came away with a bronze medal in the 85 kg class, becoming only the fourth weightlifter in history to win a medal at four different Olympic Games and only the third to win them successively four times, thus cementing his status as a national hero in Greece - a hero indeed who helped the obscure Greek weightlifting sport reach world records.

State Departament: Importance of Minority Rights and Religious Freedom in Albania (Northern Epirus)

Daily Press BriefingTom Casey, Deputy SpokesmanWashington, DCDecember 18, 2007

Mr. Lambros Papantoniou?

Q: On Albania, Mr. Casey, what is the U.S. policy vis-a-vis to the Greek minority of Northern Epirus in Albania, since in the most recent days the entire Himare area is under attack by Albanian mob,destroying 35 Greek churches and terrorizing the Greeks?

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, I don't have anything new to offer you in terms of the issues related to the territorial integrity of any ofthe countries in the region.

Certainly we believe it's important for all the countries in the Balkans to ensure protection of minority rights and religious freedoms. That's a general principle that we certainly adhere to and promote. I don't have anything specific for you, though, on any of these individual incidents.

Q: One more, on Kosovo. Tomorrow is the discussion at the
U.N. on the final status of Kosovo, and I'm wondering, Mr. Casey, if you'd care to make any statement.

MR. CASEY: Well, Mr. Lambros, you know our position on Kosovo, and I fully expect that you will hear that from Ambassador Khalilzad and other officials there. Certainly we all believe that the time has come to deal with the final status of Kosovo. And as you know, we strongly believe that the way forward lies with implementation of the basic outlines of the Ahtisaari plan, including, in the short term,supervised independence for Kosovo.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2007/dec/97782.htm

Greek chambers' president gives address in Albania

The president of Greece's Central Union of Chambers of Commerce (KEEE) George Kassimatis carried out a visit to neighbouring Albania recently at the invitation of his counterpart Ilir Zhilla.

According to a press release issued by the group on Monday, Kassimatis outlined the problems and obstacles faced by Greek businesses active in the sectors of trade and investments in Albania, as he cited an unstable institutional framework, particularly in the taxation and the customs regime, insufficient implementation of legislation and the lack of consistency of public services, which he said translates into negative repercussions for entrepreneurial activities.

Kassimatis also referred to outstanding debts by Albanian agencies to private enterprises and the Greek state. During his visit, the Greek business official met with Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Economy Minister Gene Ruli and the members of the Albanian Parliament's Economic Committee.

EXPLOSION AGAINST BYZANTINE CHURCH IN HIMARA REGION

Photo: BYZANTINE MONASTER OF PANAGIAS - DRYMADON This monastery is a pure white building; located on the peak over the village of Drymades has distinctive architecture.

The explosion blast against Byzantine church "Agia Pandelimonis" was happened in Drimades (Dhermi) one of more important tourist center of Southern Albania (Northern Epirus in Himara Region) where lives a large old presence of Hellenic Community.

According to Albanian Daily Newspaper “Shekulli” the Police authority which made the investigation process, after declared that “is not a blast explosive but has been made from thunder – struck destroying the Byzantine church”.

But the community has been against version of police declaration. According them: “the blast is explosive against the Orthodox Church and it is a terrorist act”. Some of other churches has been stolen many days before the blast in the village Drimades.

Drimades with it beautiful paradises beaches in Ionian Coast is one important culture center particularly for foreign tourists for the rich values of Byzantine churches. There are about 35 churches (10 of them are Byzantine period) and three orthodox Monasteries are visiting by thousand foreign tourists on the last year.

Anyway in Southern Albania decides of Orthodox Churches has been violated or stolen by vandals particularly in Korca, Argjirokaster, Fieri and the Himara Region.

see more:

"Shekulli" http://www.shekulli.com.al/news/45/ARTICLE/19127/2007-12-15.html

Himara Tourist Guide: http://www.himara.eu/sights/index-en.html

Albania destroys munitions surplus

December 13, 2007

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- In what U.S. State Department officials say eliminates a potential terrorist threat, Albania has destroyed its largest stockpile of surplus munitions.

The U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Albania announced the destruction of nearly 40,000 surplus munitions including anti-ship naval mines and aircraft bombs among others, the State Department reported.

"The destruction of these weapons eliminated a potential source of materiel that could have been used by terrorists or illegally sold to state sponsors of terror and other states of concern. As the majority of these weapons were stored in a dozen sites throughout Albania, most of which were in close proximity to homes and schools, they also posed a serious threat to public safety," the release said.

Implemented by the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund, the Albanian Armed Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams eliminated the munitions after the training of Albanian EOD teams.
Using approved Albania Ministry of Defense procedures, teams destroyed the munitions on designated military installations in what officials call an ecologically responsible way.

BERISHA CALLS TO CHANGE NATIONAL FLAG IN INTEREST OF "THE GRATER ALBANIA” ......

........PRISTINA TAKES ENERGY FROM TIRANA

Photo: PM Berisha and FM Basha

Tirana, December 10, 2007

“If we need to have one symbol national flag for all Albanians, our officially flag could change”, declares, Berisha during the emission “Opinion” of National TV Station “KLAN”.

During politic debate of “Opinion” the must important program in the country of TV “KLAN”, where was invited together with Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, The Albanian Prime Minister declares about the future symbols of Kosovo after the independence and the Albanians role for unification saying: “If we need to have the national flag for all Albanians, sure our national flag could change".

We must have for all Albanians in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia one united symbol flag, even Tirana has officially and Kosovo des not have too”. During the politic debate which was concerning for the Independence of Kosovo and after, Berisha and Thaci have been united for any developments between Kosovo and Albania, even an economic blockade from Serbia would isolate the Kosovo.

Berisha also said that: “to see as immediately moment any possibility occasion to help with our Port Harbowrs and Roads which links Kosovo and Albania and my government will be ready to collaborate as national obligation for future economy of Kosovo particularly after the Independence”.

ALBANIA GIVES 1.2 MILLION kvh ENERGY TO KOSOVO

The Albanian Governament has decided to help Kosovo economy giving about 1.2 million kvh in the day, sorces said from albanian press. Not only aero ports offers of Tirana for Kosovo for any escalation of Serbian economic blockade but also under a "patriotic decision to help kosovo albanians with electric energy in a critique moment when Albania is including a total "black out" of it teritor and the economy is raising to 8% of inflation in January, said sources of Albanian Central Bank.

KESH the albanian Corporate Energy said that "the Albania economy needs for about 12 million kvh energy for the day but only 8 kvh is producting from interior hidro energitic sistem. The rest energy by import is unsufficent to help the economy of the country. Only Tirana has interroction with about 6 hours in the day, while in other territores it goes to 10 hours in the day.

Waiting Kosovo Indipendence, Tirana and Pristina have intesifed their bilateral relations from politically to full economic aid to integrate Kosovo economy inside "albanian national strategy". Thousand albanian of kosovo have albanian passport particularly for students, bussinesmen linked with economic interests as "Real Estate" to buy albanian propreties, while the moviments between Kosovo and Albanian borders are "inexistent" out of the taxes. Last year, thousand albanians of Kosovo have been principal tourists of albania, contributing to raise the finances of Albanian Government.

Prodi talks energy, Kosovo, during Albania visit

Photo : Prodi Berisha in Tirana Monday, 4 December 2007

4 December 2007 13:49 Source: B92, BIRN

TIRANA -- Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and his Albanian counterpart, Sali Berisha, met Monday in Tirana

The pair vowed to increase cooperation over energy issues between their respective governments, BIRN reports.The Italian premier stressed the need for new energy sources to ensure the economic growth of both countries. “Albania cannot enjoy economic growth without addressing the lack of energy sources. Italy is also interested in new sources of

energy for its own needs,” Prodi said at a joint newsconference. During the meeting a memorandum of cooperation was signed by Albania’s Minister of Economy and Energy, Genc Ruli, and the head of the Italian power company Enel, Fulvio Conti.

Berisha welcomed the move to strengthen economic cooperation. “We have worked [as a government] to create an attractive climate for Italian investors in Albania,” Berisha said. Italy is Albania’s biggest trading partner. Albanian exports to Italy amounted to USD 574mn in 2006, and its imports were valued at USD 883mn. In a speech to Albania’s parliament, Prodi called on Albania’s politicians to step up the reforms necessary for their country’s integration into the EU.

“Justice reform, the fight against criminal elements and a modern electoral system should be at the top of the agenda,” the Italian Prime Minister said while addressing Albanian MPs. In a meeting with the Speaker of parliament, Jozefina Topalli, Prodi promised that Albania’s Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU - a key step towards eventual EU membership - would ratified by the Italian parliament during the coming week. At his earlier news conference Prodi had a message of restraint for Kosovo’s

independence-seeking leaders, saying that determining the UN-administered territory’s future status needs more time. “That process would be destroyed in an irreversible way, if a hurried decision was taken after December 10,” Prodi said.

The Italian premier was referring to the call made by several Kosovo Albanian leaders for independence to be declared after the Troika of international mediators, presents its report on the talks to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a week’s time. Prodi restated his government’s position that Kosovo’s status should be based on the plan for internationally-supervised independence, proposed by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari, which was subsequently rejected by Serbia and blocked by Russia in the Security Council. He added that Kosovo's leaders should take their decisions in coordination with the EU.

10 years ago........Prodi visited Vlora.......

VLORA, Albania (AP) — Italy’s premier met with rebel leadersSunday and promised Albanians they will see a markedimprovement in their chaotic country once a multinational force isfully deployed to ensure safe delivery of food.

Despite strong anti-Italian sentiment, Premier Romano Prodi andhis Albanian counterpart, Bashkim Fino, were greetedenthusiastically by some 10,000 people during a two-hour visit.Animosity toward Italy has surged here since a Vlora boat filledwith Albanian refugees collided with an Italian vessel last monthand up to 80 people perished. Eight European nations have pledged troops for a 6,000-membermultinational force — to be fully operational by the last week ofApril — that will secure the ports of Vlora and Durres and Tiranaairport. “The situation will really change for the better next week whenmost of the force is deployed,” Prodi told the packed crowd in thesunny city square.

Photo: Prodi accompagnated from rebels in Vlora city on April 12, 1997
Prodi, speaking from a balcony after his meetings with Fino andlocal rebel leaders, Prodi said the multinational force was coming“to help the Albanian people in this difficult situation and will notinterfere in the internal politics of the country.” The crowd, cheering and waving flags, demanded the resignationof Albanian President Sali Berisha, whom they blame forinvestment schemes that collapsed and cost tens of thousands ofAlbanians their life savings.

Vlora, 50 miles southwest of the capital Tirana, is the birthplace ofthe insurgency that has swept Albania in the past three months. Albanians took to the streets to protest the shady schemes, andmany overran army bases, stealing weapons and ammunition.More than 360 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in theensuing violence, and 13,000 Albanians have fled to Italy. Italian soldiers and rebels armed with Kalashnikovs escortedProdi and Fino through the streets before they boarded ahelicopter for Tirana.

Prodi called for a moment of silence in memory of the Albanianrefugees who drowned last month. He said Italian authoritieswould try to raise the sunken Albanian vessel.
Earlier Sunday, 40 French soldiers arrived in the western port ofDurres, 22 miles from the capital, joining 120 Italian paratroopers. Prodi said the Italian-led force will stay one month after electionsare held in Albania. “It is important to prepare for rapid, democratic and properelections,” Prodi said. “Speed is essential.”

The caretaker government is planning to hold elections and areferendum on the form of government in June, but politicaldifferences may delay the process.Berisha has not ventured from the capital in three months andopposes any deals with rebels.

He is opposed by the southern insurgents, has dwindling supportin the caretaker government and also is facing dissent within his own Democratic Party. More than 40 party leaders have criticizedhis authoritarian rule. The party met behind closed doors Sunday to discuss calls forBerisha’s ouster from the party leadership.

Antidote to nationalism

To avoid war in Europe we must give the Balkans hope, rather than hold the ring with troops

By Peter Preston

Monday December 3, 2007The Guardian
Here is a sad little tale with a big, sad conclusion. It begins a decade ago, when I did some Guardian Foundation work with the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe (Bacee) and joined its governing body. It organised seminars all over the newly free countries of Europe, brought study groups to Britain, and helped train politicians, judges and journalists in the rhythms of democracy. When central Europe was EU-embraced, it moved on to the parts that Brussels hadn't reached yet: the Balkans and beyond.

But then, suddenly, a minor mandarin arrived announcing that priorities had changed, that the Foreign Office grant that helped make Bacee possible was going, gone. Europe didn't matter any longer, it seemed. Only the Middle East counted when disposable funds had to be disposed of. And that, after many gallant efforts, turns out to be the end of active life. Bacee goes into indefinite hibernation next year. The Balkan problem - unlike the West Lothian problem - is deemed "solved" for all relevant financing and face-saving purposes.

Except that that's rubbish. Except that, in a few days' time, Kosovo will bubble over the brink again. Except that more war, in our own continent, seems bleakly imminent. Except that Britain's foreign policy "priorities", as detailed in rolling spending reviews, were bunk.
You learn many things when you hit the seminar trail in the Balkans, but first you learn that the fragments of old Yugoslavia see their future inside the union we regard with a curl of the lips. Slovenia joined in the last wave but one. Croatia, accession treaty drafted, stands on the edge of membership. Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro and - yes! - Kosovo, are further down the queue but near the top of an urgent agenda. Serbia is key to everything and split: but the forces of relative rationality and reform define themselves by the European issue, too.
And, if you head south, there's the free nation we prefer not to think about - Albania: too much crime, too many problems. But that's not what EU diplomats say when they go to Tirana. They say that Albania, too, waits in union line.

So the links are clear, and so are our defences against anarchy. The Balkans belong to our Europe. They want it, and the chance of prosperity it offers. We want it and have told them as much. The policies we're pursuing in the region only make sense if that's true. Membership is our patent antidote to narrow nationalism. The EU that helped bring peace to western Europe long ago still has much work to do.

But then, as with the fate of Bacee, note how nothing connects. Political Europe is stalled over immigration, Turkey, reform treaties, economic lethargy. Croatia is pending because the European commission needs its structural reforms first. The FO is more interested in exporting balm to Basra or jets to Saudi. The Balkans have been left to drift and fester. Guess what that means today as Serbia fumes and Russia turns unhelpful? The only solid answer to the Balkan question is a European one.

But mumbling and grumbling far away - in France, the Netherlands, the UK - has utterly lost that plot. Our interminable domestic squabbles over reform don't stretch to Dover, let alone to the Danube. We are the authors of our own misfortune. Would Bacee, carrying on, have been able to make a difference? Probably not. But the association's biggest coup was starting a New Serbia Forum that brought together future movers and shakers as Milosevic fell. Bacee opened some Belgrade windows to a wider, more peaceful world. But who needs expertise or contacts when interest dies?

And thus that fateful old question is asked again: how to put a region - part inside our house, part waiting on the doorstep - together. By giving it cohesion and hope. By promising and delivering. By knowing what's important and what's blah. The lesson of Kosovo is clear enough and an eerie replica of crises the world never solves - Kashmir, say, or Cyprus - because troops just holding the ring are of no account. Take them away and you're back to square one. What you have to put in their place is a sense of direction: but that, when the chap from the FO with his closed cheque book and closed mind comes calling, is precisely what we've lost.

THE ALBANIAN NATO`S LONG WAY

By Stavros Markos*

Photo: U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Justin Rhodes, right, allows an Albanian boy to listen to a compact disc player at an elementary school in Fier, Albania, on June 12, 1999.

“Albania has made insufficient progress on the political reforms signed with the Euro-Atlantic alliances namely NATO and the European Union”. Those are the findings of the special report from Brussels and in relation to the pending application by Tirana.

Last week, the Chairman of NATO, Jap De hop Shaffer, met with the Albanian President Bamir Topi. Sheffer declared during the press conference that; “Albania has made progress so as to enjoy a NATO inclusion, but unfortunately the politically reforms are insufficient for a conclusive “YES” in order to be accepted in the military alliance”. Even though the critical comments by the NATO Head where seriously considered by the Albanian opposition, the Albanian government, remains indifferent and continues its rhetoric that it maintains cozy relations with Washington and that it supports with peacekeeping forces the Alliance in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Tirana there was another upturn, concerning the visit of the US Permanent Ambassador in NATO, Victoria Nuland that also stated against the accession of Albania. More specifically she said that "NATO Membership requires 26 votes”, implying a stall in the process by some of the other countries, as the President Topi and Prime minister Berisha found out.

On the Kosovo issue, the Albanian Administration summoned all its diplomatic corps in the World on a meeting organized in Tirana, so as to raise the efforts of the rights of Kosovo Albanian People for “the process towards independence”. The Kosovo issue is actually the primal aim of the government and it has launched an impressive international trial in order to succeed, over the coming weeks and before the end of the negotiations that will last up to the 10th of December.

The Prime Minister Sali Berisha met in Egypt with the High Representative of the Islamic Conference looking for his support for an independence of Kosovo. Albania continues to be a member of the Islamic Conference since 1992, a decision that was taken by the former President Sali Berisha (1992–1996) but was never ratified by the Albanian Parliament. The political opposition in Albania expressed its concern around the visit of Berisha to the Islamic Conference and categorized it as a negative outcome for the Kosovo negotiations.

The European Community expressed its worry around the incapability of Tirana to fulfill its obligations for political reforms of the Stabilization Association Process with the EU. Last week the Head of the Unit for Albania of the European Commission, Helmud Lohan, during his meeting with Prime Minister Berisha mentioned the critical points for Albania's path towards the EU, mainly the lack of electoral and judicial reforms. One day before the High Commissioner for enlargement of the EU Oli Rehn commented for the low probability of both Albania and FYROM to be accepted into the Union over the coming years.

On the developments regarding stability and security, Albania is confronting a number of problematic sectors such as Corruption, Organized Crime prevalence, and the energy problem. The criminal groups and the corruption of the Albanian administration has become a widespread custom for the majority of the public officials. The Albanian Judicial faces the problem of accommodating an extremely large number of prisoners whilst the security authorities often provoke violation of basic human rights. The regressive institutional confrontation between the General Attorney Theodori Sollaku and the Prime Minister Sali Berisha concerning issues of Organized Crime and Corruption has been an indicator towards the risk of a new destabilization phase in Albania. The political opposition accuses the Foreign Minister Lulezim Basha as corrupted because of the 350 million Euro contract of the Tirana - Pristina Motorway (The Greatest Albanian Investment ever).This particular project is constructed by a Turkish-American consortium “Bechtel Company”, and continues to be financed from the public funds but the Attorney has filed an inquiry and accuses Minister Basha of corruption and demands the termination of his ministerial immunity by the Parliament.

Currently some 80% of the total budget concerning public investment in Albania is being spent on the High Way Tirana-Prishina. Thus the Southern Albanian infrastructure programs have been halted despite the fact that there are allocated funds for this region by the EU and the EBRD. According to the Albanian press half of the Albanian population in Northern Albania does not pay energy and water rates since 1991, while in the Southern part of the country the population is obligated to pay a high price, amid electricity and water shortages that are quite often.

The problems accumulate also in the economic sphere, by examining the inflation of the Albanian economy. According to the Albanian statistic service for October 2007 the index price was at 4.5% but in reality the analysts stated it exceeded the 8% mark. The International Monetary Fund has claimed that inflation would increase more in the country and in parallel the power-cuts have reached on average 10 hours per day, creating an unbearable situation for the local industry and the household consumers.

The Human Rights United Party (HRUP), which represents parts of the Greek Minority urges for the formation of a new governmental coalition. Political analysts in Albania are experiencing the dangerous power that the Prime Minister Sali Berisha is enjoying, and especially his endeavors to fill the vacant post of the General Attorney, after a decision by the Parliament to discharge Theodhori Sollaku as the “Top Albanian Persecutor”.

In Albania, the Organized Crime is listed as a host state on “money laundering”, particularly from Islamic Investments. The Italian RAI TV transmitted a “Special Dossier” about Albania discussing the dangerous perspective of Albania into the EU as Muslim country and the empowerment of the Islamic influence in a societal level, particularly after 2001.

The Albanian stability is associated directly with the developments in Kosovo and in FYROM. The clashes between Albanian paramilitaries in the Kosovo-FYROM borderline are getting pace over the past month and Tirana is accused by Skopje that they turn a blind eye on the illegal importation of weaponry by the Albanian minority in FYROM. By December the 10th when the negotiations for Kosovo will be officially over, there is a real danger of a serious attack by Albanian paramilitaries against the security forces of FYROM and that will surely inflame tension between the two states and beyond.

Stavros Markos (Journalist and Member of the World Security Network Foundation Southeastern Europe Office)
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