Nikolic: There will be war if Kosovo joins Albania

Vice President of Serbian Radical Party, Tomislav Nikolic with a view that there will be war in Europe if Kosovo attempts to join Albania.

In an interview for Magazine Spiegel Online, Nikolic says that his view is not to argue, rather to converse with the European Union. To the question what he wished to speak to the EU about, Nikolic answered that the EU can no longer decide without Serbia's consent, reports Serbian paper "Blic".

"Why no one for Kosovo did not offer the Cyprus solution? Cyprus is recognized as a country, even though its North section doesn't exist, this is a fact. I feel like someone has raped me. Now the EU wishes to send its "Mission" as an occupator of Kosovo. Why no one discussed this with us? Maybe we would have accepted this mission based on resolution 1224." said Nikolic.
To a comment that Serbia's politics makes the position of Kosovo's Serbs more difficult and as a realist he should know Kosovo will never be a part of Serbia, Nikolic disagreed saying Serbia will prevent Kosovo from entering all world organizations.

If Kosovo, because of Serbia's politics will opt out for an option to join with Albania, so it could join world organizations, Tomislav Nikolic believes war is imminent.
"You can be assured there will be war in Europe. Or do you believe Bucharest will look with ease at its Hungarian population who will ask to join Hungary! Not us, rather Europe will finally have to accept reality. Many countries in Europe and world wide will not recognize Kosovo, because of this." says Nikolic.

MEETING TO THE REMEMBER THE ANIVERSARY OF “THE PROTOCOL OF CORFU 1914”.

In the presence of thousand persons coming not only by Greece but also from USA and Albania, the Metropolitan of Konica, Andreas spoke for more efforts for the rights of Hellenism about their Autonomy in Northern Epirus”.

In the event in Konitsa the municipality near albanbian border, held last Sunday was present the Prefect of Gjirokaster Spyros Xeras, the Provincial Region of Pogoni Takis Meintis, the President of the Federation of Associations of the Northern Epiriotes of Greece «Agios Kosmas of Aetolia» Spyros Zotos, a former president of «OMONOIAS» Gjirokaster Bezianis Theodoris, the former secretary Vangelis Papachristou, the representatives of the Himara Community, the Federation of Associations Dropolis in Northern Epirus, the Youth of Northern Epirus Federation and other.

Mr. Andreas said that «Northern epiriotes must claim a right to self determination and to defense of their national identity, to be gentlemen in their property, to have cultural autonomy, and to make investments and infrastructure in the territories” notes the Epirus newspaper “Proinos Logos”.

ALBANIAN PRESIDENT VISITS HIMARA REGION

For the first time that one Albanian President meets the head of Greek Community of Albania and the Mayor of Himara Region since 1991. The official visit previsted on Saturday May 24 in Himara Municipality by the Albanian President Bamir Topi became in a critic moment when against Vassilis Bollanos the mediatic opinion is using the “biggest Albanian national offensive” to attack until to the "penal accuses" the head of Greek Community of Albania.

The Albanian President during last visit in Athens in November 2007, promised to the Greek counter part Karolos Papulias and the Himara Community to come back the lands and proprieties of people of Himara Region, but until now nothing has made progress. On February 2008, the NGO of Himara Communities protested over the Albanian institutions for the “land propriety autonomy of the region” accusing the Albanian government as responsible of the dangerous situation of the human rights for proprieties which are stolen with decision of Albanian institutions including the tribunals.

Another critic moment is the atmosphere against Hellenism in Albania, when only in Himara Town has been some provocative demonstrations as the last killing when a native pensioner of Himara Region of Greek origin was killed extremity by an Albanian man, terrorizing other people.

Anyway the most important event by Himara, was the failed effort to arrest the Mayor of Himara and the Head of Greek Organization Vasilis Bollanos by Vlora`s Persecutor Office, after a “secret information” published about a possibility arrest of Mayor of Himara “under abusing public funds” which where motivated politically by Tirana national strategy, to send in isolation the Chairman of Greek Ethnic Minority of Albania.

At 10.00 AM, the Albanian President Bamir Topi will meet the Mayor of Himara Vassilis Bollanos and his staf, when at 11.00 AM, President Topi, will take part on Conference organized by Himara Municipality and Himara Community for the Development of the Region.

US EMBASSY MUST OBSERVER THE HUMAN RIGHTS TO THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA


Since the politic represent of US Embassy in Tirana Lisa Tepper who visited Himara on the end of 2000 after local violent elections to meet directly politically the people and the represent of “Omonia Organization”, other personalities of Washington in Albania did not made any official invited, even Himara has been “visited as tourists” by high represent including USAID General Director Andrew Athens, the special Ambassador Frowik, and other US ambassadors in Albania.

About Himara and the Greek Community often the Human Rights Reports of US Department has been mostly critic to the Albanian Government. Tirana does not know the existence of the Greek Community in Himara Region, a paradox very interesting when never in Albania has not made General Counting Population, even the “Protocol of Corfu” on 1914 gives total autonomy of the Himara Region. Also the massive corruption and abusive forms to stole lands and proprieties of Himara people and orthodox religion community, the “intransparence” of Albanian institutions about the individual and collective proprieties of Himara Region has been often requests to the US Embassy not only by the member of Himara people who live Albania but also from US citizen by himara`s origin.

The indifference of the US Ambassador in Tirana for the violence and dangerous events made in Himara Region against Hellenic people must take in consideration any escalation by US authority in Albania. The explosive blast to the Byzantine Churches, the incident of people of Himara with Police Department and the last terrorist act against a native of Himara are consegiuences of a tolerance by the Albanian authorities which do not have especially control to the extremist groups and nationalist rhetoric which often used against people of Himara.

The US Embassy has been suporter of the human ritghs in Albania particularly for the greek minority during the period after communist collapse.

Security News

Greek Military Acquisitions on the Rise

5/19/2008 (Balkanalysis.com)
By Ioannis Michaletos

Photo: FREMM vessel. The Greek Navy has ordered six frigates by autumn 2008

Greece and Turkey are historically known as traditional foes that accumulate vast military arsenals, preserving a delicate balance of power that breaks out occasionally with ‘hot’ incidents, inevitably involving the air force and the navy in the Eastern Aegean. Over the recent period, Greece has proceeded in acquiring new weaponry from international producers, while Turkey continues to pressure Greece on a variety of issues. One item of note is the heightened role being played by France as an arms-producing nation in equipping the Greek armed forces for their next-generation needs..

more: http://www.balkanalysis.com/2008/05/19/greek-military-acquisitions-on-the-rise/

The Chams issue in Hague

High International Tribunal of Hague has been visited by a team represent of Chameria Association, an Albanian organization.

According to reports in the Albanian press, the newspapers «Balkan» wrote about the intention to appeal from the organization «Chameria» to Hague. The publication referred to the represent of organization who met with Foreign Ministry represents of Netherlands, U.S., Britain, Italy and Greece

Among other they call for international conference the restoration of «Albanian minority» in Greece and the recognition of «Genocide of Cameria». They also call for «property of the chameria population, ecct, notes the Greek Daily “Elefteros Tipos”.

original see:

http://www.e-tipos.com/content/staticfiles/issues/2008/05/20/200508%207.pdf

ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΣ ΤΥΠΟΣ

Τρίτη 20 Mαΐου 2008 «Τσάμικο» στη Χάγη ......

Geopolitical News

Kosovo new party aiming ‘Greater Albania’ emerges

A new political party of Ethnic Albanians in Kosovo is created with its main goal of unification of “all Albanian regions” into one country known as ‘Greater Albania’ which the international community categorically rejects. The initiators of National Party for Greater Albania are public persons known with influence in USA and on the areas inhabited by Albanian in Balkan Region. The Chairman is Avni Kilnaku.

Last week in Tirana tow national parties proposed to Albanian Parliament to recognize the Diaspora Citizenship of Albanians who live by long time out of Albanian frontiers as opposite Communist System during Cold War of Stalinist regime of Albania.

According to information from Pristine, the new party will call to the referendum firstly, the Albanians in Albania, Kosovo and FYROM to vote for the unification of the “Albanian Nation”.
Tow important parties of Albanian State Democrats of PM Sali Berisha and opposition socialist of Edi Rama, are working intensively to penetrate to the Albanians of Kosovo and FYROM politically.

The strong influence of PM Sali Berisha to the northern Albanians known as Gehgh community with Albanians of Kosovo and FYROM has begun early. The Democratic Party of Berisha is much closed with LDK of ex President of Kosovo Ibrahim Rugova, while in FYROM Berisha has strong supporters by the premiers of Democratic Party, Arber Xhafferi and Mehdu Thaci.

A referendum requested by National Party of Kosovo brings geopolitically challengers in the area regions by Albanians which implies Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia. Firsts step for unification of Kosovo with Albania is claimed by Communication and Transport minister of Kosovo who declared for two citizenship of Kosovo Albanians in the end of June.

Albania's PM quizzed on crime, corruption, Kosovo and Russia

Sali Berisha is Albania's prime minister and former president who came to power by defeating the Communists. He was elected on a promise to take Albania into NATO and the EU, but Brussels is worried about the lack of progress in the fight against crime and corruption.

That is one reason why Albanians have not been granted visa facilitation and liberalisation rights, the first issue put to Sali Berisha by Sergio Cantone, EuroNews' Brussels Correspondent: "Prime Minister Berisha, welcome to EuroNews. Do you think that Albania is being discriminated against, from a visa facilitation point of view, compared with other western Balkan countries?

more: http://www.euronews.net/index.php?page=interview&article=487480&lng=1

"KATHIMERINI":
THE RISE OF ATIHELLENISM IN ALBANIA

by Stavros Tzimas
Photo: PM Berisha and the journalist Stavros Tzimas

About the killing of Pyrros Bollanos and the reaction of albanians claiming anti hellenism rethoric.

«We all have to kill a Greek», writes one of anonimous on albanian blog newspapers. Another, addressed to the offender, says that «if kills the Greek mayor of Himarras would you were the new Georg Kastriot» (NB: the national hero of the Albanians) and a third party stated that «good Greek is the Greek dead»

read more about the "Kathimerini" Comment (in greek):

http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_columns_1_16/05/2008_270111

Security News Albania.

VLORA`S PERSECUTOR "URGES TO ARREST" THE MAYOR OF HIMARA VASSILIS BOLLANOS

Against the Chairman of the Greek Ethnic Minority also the Mayor of Himara Vassilis Bollanos "are opened some accuses linked politically" particularly the last incident during a violence protest of people of Himara against Police Department and other with his presence as the head of Himara Region.

According to information from Attorney’s Office in Vlora, against Bollanos there are some of accuses which may be to go in arrest next days the Chairman of Omonia “The Greek Ethnic Minority”, motivated as a precedent very spoken by Albanian media.

In fact the tentative to “arrest Vassilis Bollanos is the extreme measure” of Albanian national strategy supported usually by Albanian media accused hem as “Greek Extremist who works against Albanian national interest, parallelizing the Kosovo Independence with Northern Epirus Issue”.

An initiative by attorney’s office against Chairman of Greek Community of Albania is more important to understand the strong pressing which is using by Albanian opinion, when Albania is going to make General Counting Population, which is requested by “Omonia”.

An effort to send in prison the Head of Greek Community and Mayor of Himara Municipality would rise the World Opinion, Hellenic Diaspora and Bruxelles for the Human Rights violated in Albania, remembering the Trial against five member of Omonia in 1994 and the clash between Greek Albanian relations.

The Attorney’s Office and the Tribunal of Vlora, four years ago denied five himara`s citizen with Greek origin under the accuse of violence against the “National Albanian symbols”.

Regarding the possible arrest of Mayor of Himara, Bollano there are some questions to make:

Which would be the reaction of Omonia and the Greek Minority?
Which would be the justification of Tirana regarding Human Rights of Greeks in Albania?
Which would be the reaction of Athens and international institutions including Bruxeles and Washington regarding the methods used by Albanian institutions against the universal human rights?

THE EVOLVING BALKAN SCENERY AND THE “GREEK CONNECTION”

Ioannis Michaletos(RIEAS Analyst)

Copyright: http://www.rieas.gr/

The Balkans Peninsula has claimed the fame numerously in history as the “Tinderbox of Europe”, the “Soft underbelly of Europe” and its inhabitants were accused that they “produce more history than they can consume”. The previous quotes are apt oral depictions of the significance of this Peninsula for the European affairs. The developments over the past period have proved once again that global players tend to filter their tactics in the Balkans and in the process gain or loose significantly.

The summer of 2007 witnessed the dynamic tour de force of President Bush in Albania and Bulgaria, claiming the forthcoming entrance of NATO well into the Western Balkans and the turn of the balance between USA and Russia. In parallel, Moscow prepared itself and retaliated with a series of transnational energy agreements that saw the commission of a 4 billion nuclear power plant by Sofia, the drafting of plans for a new “South Stream” gas pipeline and the imminent sale of the main state energy corporation of Serbia to Gazprom.

more: http://rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=638&Itemid=56

Ioannis Michaletos Editor South East EuropeCoordinator of Southeastern European OfficeWorld Security Network Foundation Ioannis Michaletos has been educated in the UK in the fields of Political Science (BA) and HRM (MSc). He is occupied as an indepedent journalist-analyst for Greek & international media.He is a Balkan security analyst for the RIEAS institute and a correspondent analyst for ISRIA a security assessment agency. He speaks Greek, English, and French and has a passive knowledge of Italian.

"in memorian"

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

Photo: January 1945, Volos Greece. Himariotes fighters jointed to the greek army to liberate Volos by nazifashists.

After escaped from Himara Region embarked on British Warships, the team composed by strong 22 men, all from Himara Region, left Albania to joint to the International Brigade “Rimini” in Italy.

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

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

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

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

Photo: British troops in Kakomea, Himara Region May 1944


Member of "himara fighters" on "Rimini Brigade"

Kimon Bollanos, Terkos Bollanos, Athanasios Bollanos, Damianos Beleris, Georgios Burbos, Spryros Buntinis, Miltiadis Goros, Petros Goros, Eriststeas Gkionis, Xristos Lazaris, Axilleas Milos, Kostas Kokavesis, Dimos Kokavesis, Alekos Karzis, Spiros Tsouras, Basileos Vitos, Pavlos Veizis, Georgos Zotos, Dimitreos Papos, Miltiadis Rondos, Kristos Dimas, Spyros Veizis.
Himariotes who fighted on the greek naval forces:

Nikolas Gionis, Aferinos Bontinis, Ilias Kolilas, Manolis Ramos, Kostas Rondos, Kostas Krekos, Jason Kutulas, Panos Lazaris, Viktor Brigos Kristos Likokas.

Albanian leader survives assassination in Macedonia

SKOPJE, May 12 (Reuters) - Shots were fired at a convoy in Macedonia carrying ethnic Albanian opposition leader Ali Ahmeti during election campaigning on Monday, but he was unhurt, police said.

The attack took place near the western town of Tetovo, as Ahmeti toured villages ahead of a June 1 parliamentary election. It followed a string of violent incidents linked to a fierce battle for the ethnic Albanian vote between Ahmeti's Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) and the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA).

"This was an assassination attempt," said senior DUI campaign official Izet Mexhiti. He blamed followers of the DPA. Police said they had detained one person suspected of involvement in the shooting. One person was slightly wounded. The DPA is part of the outgoing ruling coalition led by conservative Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of the VMRO-DPMNE. The government collapsed in April after Greece blocked the country's bid to join NATO in a years-long dispute over the name of the former Yugoslav republic.

Ahmeti led an insurgency against government forces in 2001, before Western powers mediated a peace accord offering the 25 percent Albanian minority greater rights. Having entered politics, Ahmeti was frozen out of government by Gruevski in 2006. The West is watching closely for any sign of renewed tension, having only just steered ethnic Albanians in neighbouring Kosovo to independence from Serbia.

Previous elections in Macedonia have been marred by campaign violence and voting irregularities, something the European Union says Skopje must stamp out in order to progress towards membership of the bloc. (Reporting by Kole Casule; writing by Matt Robinson)

Security News Albania.

EX MEMBER OF “SHIK” (ALBANIAN SECRET SERVICE) NOMINATED HIGH REPRESENT OF TAX ADMINISTRATION.

The Albanian newspaper “Shqip” writes as "head argoment" about the nomination actually in high Taxes Directorate Administration of Albania the ex officials of SHIK (Albanian Secret Service, during period 1992 – 1996). The newspaper accuses Prime Minister Sali Berisha who uses “mysterious methods” to oblige the Albanian “business to pay the taxes” controlling Albanian private economic initiative by ex his espionages administrate headed by Bashkim Gazidede.

The nomination of “Bashkim Gazidede`s Guard” as high represents of SHIK (Albanian Secret Service 1992 - 1996) to control the Albanian public finances has been observed strongly by foreign intelligences including CIA, M16 and EYP which operate in Albania based under antiterrorism operations in the area. Gazidede and his team in SHIK known not only for anti American tendencies but also linked with Islamic radical groups actually have penetrated supported by Prime Minister Berisha inside to important Albanian administration.

Gazidede is nominated as V/General Director of Albanian Priopriety Real Estate Administrate. On March 1997 in albanian parliament he accused Washington and CIA as protagonist which provocked the colaps pyramidal shemes and the "Civil War" between northern (Gheghs) and Southern (Tosks) in Albania. During his activity in head of SHIK he was elected as the President of Islamic Intelectual Community of Albania.

The bussines community and associations in Albania paticularly the Greek Investiments and the Greek Community has been target by administratores headed by "Gazidede Group" since the interference of greek government to Tirana was imediately.

Three days ago the head of Albania’s General Directorate of Taxes, Arben Sefgjini, who previously served as the head of Tirana’s Secret Service Office, SHIK, and three of his former colleagues Budion Mece, Avni Kolladashi and Ilir Kumbaro have been charged with the torture and murder of Macedonian-Albanian, Remzi Hoxha in 1995. The four former SHIK officers are accused of abducting Remzi Hoxha, Zizo Kristopoli and Avdyl Loshaj on October 21, 1995.

RADICAL ISLAMIC MAN MENACES HIGH REPRESENT OF ALBANIAN POLITIC OPOSIT

Photo: "Panorama Newspaper and the letter sent to "Vizion Plus TV"

The newspaper “Panorama” publics as sensational news a message by a radical Islamic man “anonym” addressed to important personalities of Albania.

The Member of Albanian Parliament Ben Blushi as author of the book “Living in Island” has been menaced by a letter sent to the author of best known emission “Zone e Lire” the journalist Arian Cani of “Vizion Plus” a TV Private station.

The author a radical Islamic menaces the journalist Cani to take in consideration the responsible of the offenses against “Allah” or to be died. The menaces also target the author of the book “Living in Islands” the politician Ben Blushi.

On the list of radical Islamic menaces have been also the publicist Piro Misha, the architect Piro Velo and other personalities of Albania, all of orthodox religion.

Albania, the country known by the most dictature regim of europe, is liveing a dangeros period not only to the politic stabillity, organized crime and corruption but more important is the pseudo "religios harmony" which never has not showed the reality of sentiments between muslym and christian population.

Security News Albania

CIA INQUIRES “HIMARA MONSTROUS CASE”

Photo: The monster Bledi Xhaferri

According to information, the Department Section of CIA in Albania is inquiring the “Himara Monstrous Case” when some days ago the “monster” named Bledi Xhaferri massacred the pensioner, 74 old Pyrros Bollanos.

The information taken from Vlora Police Department when is isolated the “monster” Bledi Xhaferri 24 old, said for a team composted by foreign experts of CIA anti terrorism group and other psychologist who met hem and actually are analyzing the raisons of killer to make the most horror killing of the country.

The team may investigate to the some directions, such are both Islamic and ethnic reasons, which should be provoked dangerous incidents between ethnic populations.

Intensively inquiring for specially “Himara Case” is making also the Greek antiterrorism section in Northern Greece Ioanina Prefecture for control of the borders with Southern Albania. Greece has expressed to the Albanian Government to have “under attention” paramilitaries groups and other extremist segments which provoked incidents to the Greek Ethnic Community, particularly in Himara Region.

PRESS CONFERENCE OF HIMARA COMMUNITY IN GREECE ABOUT THE KILLING OF PYRROS BOLANOS IN HIMARA

NEWS BULLETIN

ATHENS: On the morning of Tuesday 6 May 2008, compatriot our Pyrros Bolanos, was killed by an Albanian horror killer named Bledi Xhaferri.

The killer killed after a brutal manner, without any cause of the unfortunate himariotis Pyrros Bollanos, came on the road killing brutally hem the passers-by eventually be arrested by the police. The Union of Himariotes in Athens expresses its deepest condolences to the family and their relatives of victim. Following the incident express our concern about the dozens of Albanians who annually come to Himara with a reason to work.

The police authorities are obligated to inquire towards those dangerous incidents which happened in Himara periodically terrorizing the Hellenic population. So nobody is in a position to know some element of their origin, life and the reasons that led to their migration.

We believe that the murder of a Greek Himariotis by an Albanian worker, linked to the propaganda carried out by Albanian media against the Himara about the national identity, that the himariotes expressed particularly to the democratic institution to one country which hope to aspirate to EU.

The President Dionysius Beleris

The Secretary-General Spyros Koutoulas

STATEMENT OF HIMARA COMMUNITY OF ALBANIA

TIRANA: “We condemn the terrorist act against our compatriot Pyrros Bollanos killed by an Albanian killer extremity to terrorize also the Himara People of the Region.

We call Albanian government and International Security Observers NATO and Europol in Albania to inquire about the terrorist act made in Himara Town and to take in observer all the activity of Police Department in Himara Region which never until now has not take it responsibility to explore the criminal events made in our region and to have transparence with Hellenic community of Himara Region.

The Police Department according to us is the instrument to be protector of the contrabandist of lands and proprieties stolen by Albanian organized crime".

Chairman Theodoris Bollanos
Direct. Stavros Markos

Lightened Visa Regime between Bulgaria and Albania, Ukraine, Moldov

Author: Kristalina Ilieva

Bulgarian Government approved the changes in the agreement for traveling of citizens of Bulgaria to Albania, Ukraine and Moldova.

According to the new changes all Bulgarian citizen, who has valid document of traveling obtain the right to enter, pass through, stay temporary or leave the three countries Albania, Ukraine and Moldova without visas for a term of 90 days in the frames of 6 months.

The terms for Ukrainian and Moldavian citizens towards Bulgaria are the same.
The Albanian citizen can pass through or stay in Bulgaria for the term, defined in the visa.

SECURITY NEWS, HIMARA,

TERROR IN HIMARA TOWN, KILLED A PENSIONER

Pyrros Bollanos, 74 old, a Greek ethnic of Himara is massacred by Albanian killer, terrorizing other natives in center of the town near Police Department, with out any reason. The Albanian Press, according to police authorities, has justified the terrorist act as a “psychic trauma of killer”.

The terrorist act of Albanian boy against a Greek resident of Himara, which had came in Himara by other regions of Albania to work, has raised the tension of population. Is the second incident when died an ethnic Greek by Himara Region. Three years ago another native of Dhrimades has been killed by Albanian killer inside his house.

Meanwhile from Himara, is waiting for an official declaration of “Omonia” The Greek Ethnic Minority Organization of Albania, about terrorist horor act. According to security foreign specialists team estabilished in Tirana, which cooperate in Albania against terrorism and organizes crime, the terrorist action was a lot of hate, inspired by religion sentiments, could investigate by another directions, such are both Islamic and ethnic reasons, which should be provoked dangerous incidents between ethnic populations.

One month ago the Hellenic population of Himara was provoked by Police Department member creating a dangerous precedent confrontation against population and Albanian authorities.

ALBANIA STOPED TO MOVE TO EU..

Albania told to implement reforms before winning closer EU ties

BRUSSELS – The EU on Monday (5 May) said it was too early to set a date for the next step in Albania's EU integration process, demanding instead that promised reforms be implemented first.

"I do not think that we can take a precise engagement at this stage," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, referring to the formal step of giving Albania EU candidate status.

First, Tirana first needs to demonstrate it is implementing the reforms it has promised. It needs a "solid track record", Mr Barroso told journalists after meeting Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha in Brussels.

more:..http://euobserver.com/9/26085

Kosovo/Albania: Investigate Postwar Abductions, Transfers to Albania

05 May 2008 Human Rights Watch

New York, Additional information has emerged that bolsters allegations of abductions and cross-border transfers from Kosovo to Albania after the 1998-1999 Kosovo war, Human Rights Watch said today. The Kosovar and Albanian governments should open independent and transparent investigations to help resolve the fate of approximately 400 Serbs who went missing after the war.

""Serious and credible allegations have emerged about horrible abuses in Kosovo and Albania after the war," said Fred Abrahams, senior emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch, who investigated human rights violations in Kosovo and Albania for the organization from 1993-2000. "The Prishtina and Tirana governments can show their commitment to justice and the rule of law by conducting proper investigations."

more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/fb14fb6d0cb71b06cd8f73efbe2ba742.htm