Balkans are no longer a hotbed of crime, UN report says

"Albania has the worst crime problem in the region and remains the "soft underbelly" of the Balkans for organized crime", Costa said.

Published: May 29, 2008
BELGRADE: The Balkans, once known as a hotbed of crime and violence amid wars in Yugoslavia and the transition from communism, have become one of the safest areas in Europe, a United Nations report said Thursday.

But organized crime and its links to politicians and business continue to pose serious challenges in several Balkan countries, said Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which compiled the report.

more: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/29/europe/balkans.php

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)
NEW YORK,
Greeks in Albania: Language Issues Land Mayor In Trouble

Saturday, 31 May 2008


The actions of a mayor attempting to highlight the marginalization of Greek language by removing Albanian road signs has landed him in trouble with Tirana. Below is an article published by BalkanInsight:
An ethnic Greek mayor in Albania has been indicted after he ordered the destruction of road signs because they were not bilingual. Mayor Vasil Bollano from the town of Himara on Albania’s coast, ordered the removal of the signs in December 2007 arguing that the signs should have also been in Greek, because he considers the area a Greek minority zone.


The removal of the signs caused road chaos because they were along a section of Albania’s coast which is very popular with tourists. Prosecutors have filed charges against Bollano for abuse of power, arguing that his actions were against the law and cost Albanian taxpayers roughly €170,000.


Bollano’s statements have got him in hot water before. He previously declared large swathes of southern Albania are Greek land and claimed autonomy for the area. Estimates of the Greek minority in Albania range from three to seven percent of the total population.

Ethnic Greek mayor charged over removing road signs

Thu 29 May 2008, 15:34 GMT

By Benet Koleka
TIRANA (Reuters) - An ethnic Greek mayor in Albania has been charged for removing road signs in his area and demanding they include Greek place names, officials said on Thursday. Sokol Malaj, the lead regional prosecutor, said Vasil Bollano had overstepped his authority and his actions disrupted traffic on a roughly 60-km (40-mile) stretch of road.

"Mr. Bollano has the right to manage the road inside his municipality, but not beyond. He issued an illegal order and damaged the signs," Malaj told Reuters by phone. The signs were written in English. "My witnesses say he told them the signs would be put back only if they are written in Greek," Malaj added. "Someone visiting the area for the first time wouldn't know where to go."
The indictment issued by the prosecutor requested for the mayor to be tried on charges of abuse of office.

Bollano is on his third term as mayor of the western Himara region, an ethnically mixed area stretching over the southern half of Albania's coastline across from the Greek island of Corfu.
Bollano has come to symbolize the push for more rights for Albania's ethnic Greeks, especially the use of their language. The large Himara region is mixed, with Albanian and Greek-speaking villages next to each other among rolling hills and olive groves.

Bollano told Reuters the signs bearing the words "Himara Municipality" and the emblems of the European Union and Albania, had been put up without his knowledge and in breach of the law.
"The language was not the issue, the official rules and competences were the issue," he said. "The signs were also written in English, and they could well be written in Greek. It is the municipality council that has to decide about it."

REGIONAL NEWS, ALBANIA

Albania warming to nuclear power

By Svetlana Kovalyova - Reuters
MILAN - Albania wants to develop nuclear power generation and is ready to invite Italians to build a nuclear plant on its soil, Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. «Our country is open to atomic energy. It is open to everyone,» Berisha said in an interview published yesterday. Berisha said Albania was still working with the International Atomic Energy Agency on the necessary regulatory work to start nuclear power generation.

«As soon as we are ready, it would be ideal to reach an agreement with neighboring countries, first of all with Italy,» Berisha said. Tirana would offer Italy a deal to build a nuclear plant in Albania financed by the two governments. If state funds were not to be available, Tirana would turn to private investors, he said. Berisha said his government has yet to contact Rome, but an Italian group which he did not name had already visited Albania to discuss building a nuclear plant there. The site is yet to be determined, he added.

Italy is the only Group of Eight industrialized nation without nuclear power after rejecting it in a 1987 referendum in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster. But calls for a nuclear revival have intensified under the new government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as oil prices soared to record highs. «I have not yet talked to the Italian government, because the previous one was against nuclear power. But with Berlusconi everything changes,» Berisha said.

Albania to Open Embassies in Estonia, Norway and PortugalBalkan Travellers

29 May 2008 The Albanian government has said it intends to open three new diplomatic missions in Estonia, Norway and Portugal, national media reported today. The need for opening the new embassies stems from the improvement of Albania’s relations and the intensification of its economic ties with the three countries, as well as the support they gave to Albania in its European integration, Lulzim Basha, Albania’s Foreign Minister explained.

His decision has been opposed by the Finance Mininster, Ridvan Bode, who suggested that embassies in neighboring countries continue to share the workload, in order not to increase public spending.According to the official website of Albania’s Foreign Ministry, the country currently has a total of 46 diplomatic missions in states and international organizations around the world. Albania has embassies and consulates in all the Balkan countries, except for Bosnia and Herzgovina, and in 14 Western and Central European states.

DEBATE IN ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT FOR THE “PROTOCOL OF CORFU”

Photo: Greek American Boston Parade 2008.

The Parliament calls PM Berisha to resign Bollano and Ksera.

Some member of Albanian Parliament denounced today the “anti Albanian rhetoric” used not only by Mayor of Himara Vassilis Bollanos but also Argjirokastra Prefect Spiro Ksera.

The rise of attacks targets to the tow important high represent of Greek Ethnic Minority of Albania, the Chairman Bollanos and V/Chairman Ksera, under accuse of penal arrest against Albanian Constitution, understands the beginning start to the last politically offensive to block any geopolitically request based to the Human Rights of Greek Minority. The parliamentary member Arta Dade former F/Minister of Socialist Party, Pellumb Xhufi former V/Minister and represent of Movement Integration Socialist Group and Blerim Cela high represent of Democratic Party of Sali Berisha, called to arrest all persons beginning from Bollano to Ksera and others.

The member of Albanian parliament accused high represents of Hellenism in Albania as protagonists who want to create geopoliticaly problems between Albania and Greece for “Protocol of Corfu of 1914”. This protocol is firmed in May 17, 1914 in Island Corfu, under the represent of great powers with participation of Albanian, who decided to give large autonomy the Greeks of Albania.

According to “Gazeta Shqiptare” an Italian independent media very aggressive against Hellenism in Albania, in the anti Albanian rhetoric figures with authority, includes the Mayor of Argirocaster and chairman of Socialist Party Flamur Bine, who accuses by the newspaper as linked with northern epiriotes represent in Greece.

In addition the newspaper “Shekulli” writes for the decision of Vlora`s Persecutor to arrest Vassilis Bollanos. The offensive of Albanian media supported by Albanian institutions is accompanying as “last final act of strategy goals” to attack the Greek Minority by Albanian nationalist segments, obligating the high represent of Albanian State, to take strong measures shutting firstly politically represent of Hellenism in Albania, Himara and Argjirokaster.

According to publicist Fatos Lubonja one of tentative to arrest Vassilis Bollanos is the objective to conquest Ionian Coast territories by Albanian Mafia linked politically by Tirana.

ALBANIAN PUBLICIST FATOS LUBONJA CALLS ALBANIAN POLITIC MAFIA TO STOP OFFENSSIVE AGAINST HIMARA PROPRIETES

The most known publicist of Albania Fatos Lubonja, ex politic prisoner during Dictator Regime, under the title “The last massacre against Southern” comments on “Korrieri” Newspaper for e mafia plan against Himara Region and Ionian Coast line, to conquest land and proprieties of Himara people under the “Macro Developments Projects of Albania Tourism Strategy”.

Lubonja refers a TV debate with presence of Tourism Minister of Albania Ylli Pango and the Director of World Bank Project for Ionian Coast Jamarber Maltezi (son in law of Prime Minister Berisha) who declared for developments of Ionian Coast constructing “Tourist Villages” on the lands of Himara peoples.

Lubonja comments that the attacks against the Mayor of Himara Vassilis Bollanos and the Greek minority of this zone made by Albanian media linked with politic mafia which are exactly the idea to ocupet lands and to construct “tourist perandory” under the developing tourist villages such are Kakomea and Draleas..

Lubonja comments also the last visit of the Albanian president Bamir Topi in Himara who expressed his opinion to develop the Himara Region which “has remained backwardness since 1950” but in fact according to Lubonja tell us a strategy to change the vaw from ethnic historic characteristic villages with beautiful beaches of Himara Region to the massive building construction such is the Durresi, Saranda and Shengini Region.

“It is the conflict of the owner properties and panic of (Greek) minority to be occupied from incoming from all the other regions (of Albania) together with the small dangerous street that which have saved from (ecologic) massacre the rest virgin region of South Albania. I’m afraid the (whispering) campaign, even the attacks against the “Greek Bollano” could be effort to bear down the last obstacles for beginning of the massacre” notes Fatos Lubonja on his comment.

original in albanian: http://www.korrieri.com/index.php?news=300

Albania Insists on EU Visa Regime Liberalisation

27 May 2008 The speaker of the Albanian Parliament, Jozefina Topalli, insisted that the EU liberalise its visa requirements towards Albanian citizens at a conference on the perspectives before South-eastern Europe that took place in Brussels recently, national media reported today.

The Albanian government is aware of its commitments, Topalli said at the conference, according to the daily Albanian newspaper Koha Jone, but using double standards towards various countries regarding the visa regime is not right. Topalli also claimed that the inability of Albanian citizens to move freely around the EU is causing them serious problems, which is why Albania will continue to negotiate the full liberalisation of the visa regime.

EU in an initiative to ease the visa restrictions for the Western Balkan countries, the EU has already started a dialogue with Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania. Though all the countries are expected to fulfil certain criteria, such as document security and tackling organised crime and corruption before the restrictions are completely dropped, some benefits have been enjoyed by Albanian citizens since the beginning of the year: Some categories of visa applicants, such as students, cultural workers and journalists now go through a facilitated process and the fee to obtain the travel permit was lowered.

Greek FM criticises 'baseless irredentism'

Greece reacted immediately on Sunday to the latest provocation emanating from a high-profile official from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), with the foreign minister referring directly to "outdated and historically baseless irredentism", in reference to statements in Rome by the head of the unrecognised so-called "Macedonian Orthodox Church".

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said such irredentist statements are dangerous for "regional cooperation and stability in the fragile region of the Balkans".

more: http://www.ana-mpa.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=6468003&maindocimg=6425949&service=94

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)