Croatian fury as Slovenian referendum petition launched

20 February 2009 12:25 Source: B92
LJUBLJANA -- A petition has begun to circulate in Slovenia calling for a referendum on Croatian and Albania accession to NATO, that has Croatian politicians up in arms.

There is a deadline of 35 days to collect the 40,000 signatures needed for calling a referendum on Croatian NATO membership. Slovenian Parliamentary Speaker Pavel Gantar was forced to set the deadline after talks between Prime Minister Borut Pahor and the referendum initiators failed to fully resolve the matter.

Though the June 25 Institute has pulled out of the initiative, Pahor was unable to persuade the non-parliamentary Slovenian People’s Party (SSN) to do likewise.

more see: http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php

The greek weekly "TO PARON"

The bulldozers expelled the Greeks in Nivitsa

What the Greek government must know more about Jala and Nivitsa in Himara Region? ...

Do they know for the "son in law" of Sali Berisha called Jamarber Maltesi and is representative of the World Bank in Albania!

Do the greek parliament members know about the bulldozers-there, to build a tourist resort to cleansing of the Greek ethnic people?.

more in greek newspaper: http://www.paron.gr/v3/new.php?id=37971&colid=&catid=40&dt=2009-02-15%200:0:0

Greek PM meets with Senator Durbin, Giannoulias

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis receives US Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), second from left, on Wed. 18 February 2009 at the Maximos Mansion.

Durbin, the second-highest ranking Democrat in the US Senate, was accompanied on his trip by Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (third from left), a Greek-American, rumored to be running for US Senator in 2010

World Bank and The Albanian Goverment destroit a Greek village in Himara, northern Epirus

STATE DEPARTAMENT

Gordon Duguid

Acting Deputy Department SpokesmanDaily Press Briefing
February 18, 2009

.......

Yes, Mr. Lambros.

QUESTION: On Albania, the World Bank acknowledged yesterday serious errors by the Albanian Government against a Greek village in northern Epirus and presented an action plan for addressing this issue to a panel. I am wondering what is the U.S. position, since the European Union is involved, too.

MR. DUGUID: I would refer you to the World Bank for their action, and I believe that the – this matter is before the courts in Albania, so that would be – those would be the proper places to go for an opinion on this. It’s a court matter. The World Bank, I understand from press reports, has launched its own investigation. They would have many more details than I would be able to give you.

QUESTION: One more question. Any response by Mark Toner to my pending question of last week on the Sali Berisha supreme court in Albania regarding the sentence of five Greeks in Himara of northern Epirus for political reasons 25 years in prison who simply raised a Greek flag?

MR. DUGUID: I believe that the matter is a court matter for the Albanians, and they do have an independent judiciary that has worked through this.

QUESTION: Thank you.

see more: http://www.state.gov/video/?videoid=13463880001

Berisha attacks panel inspection of World Bank

There are links with "mafia" to robber the Albanian Coast Line. The albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, speaking for the project of World Bank for destruction of Jali has sharply attacked the inspection panel of the World Bank stating that it is linked to the mafia.

Berisha said that the World Bank will require investigation for this panel. Berisha stressed that the project is implemented with complete transparency from our government, and everything else is a problem of the World Bank.

Anyway, speaking to the Voice of America, Albanian section, the World Bank Project Coordinator Jamarber Maltezi (Son in law of PM Sali Berisha) he replaces the accuses against hem, saying that: the government and police authorities have been decided in accordance with the laws, to operate against abusive buildings and constructions without permission while speculation has named as his charges falls by the other interest group including the politic opposite.

see more: http://www.balkanweb.com/sitev4/lajme.php?id=33882

World Bank Board of Executive Directors Reviews Independent Inspection Panel Report on Coastal Zone Management Project in Albania

"The Chair of the Inspection Panel, Werner Kiene, stated, “While the Bank’s non-compliance with its policies in the present case is extremely troubling, the Panel applauds the leadership of the President and Senior Management in acknowledging errors and in initiating corrective measures once the Panel issued its Report.”

WASHINGTON, February 17, 2009—The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today considered a Management Report and Action Plan that responds to an independent Inspection Panel investigation of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Clean-Up Project in Albania, which was requested by families harmed by the April 2007 demolition of buildings in the Albanian coastal village of Jale. The Management Report acknowledges serious errors in project preparation and supervision, along with errors in communication with the Board of the World Bank, and presents an Action Plan for addressing those issues identified by the Panel.

Under the Action Plan, a series of measures will be undertaken with support by the Bank, including: a case-by-case legal review of the April 2007 demolitions in the project area, the appointment of an Independent Observer to monitor the legal review and report back to the Bank, and the payment of legal aid for the review of each of the Requesters’ claims. Bank Management will also supervise completion of a social and vulnerability assessment, and the retroactive application of the resulting assistance packages for the poor and/or vulnerable affected by the demolitions. Management will report back to the Board in three months on progress.
MORE SEE: http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/ALBANIAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:22072678~menuPK:301417~pagePK:2865066~piPK:2865079~theSitePK:301412,00.html

Albania, Croatia's NATO Accession Ratified by Greece

Greece became the last NATO member state to ratify Albania and Croatia's accession protocols with the Alliance. The Greek parliament where waiting under strong debate to complete the ratification procedures for the two Balkan nations to join NATO in April.

Albania and Croatia moved a step closer towards full-fledged NATO membership on Thursday(February 17-Th) after the Greek parliament ratified the two countries' accession protocols with the Alliance.

The process where voted by tow important parties DP and PASOK, while LAOS, KKE and SIRIZA voted against.

STATE DEPARTMENT REGULAR BRIEFING

WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17,

Acting Deputy Spokesman Gordon Duguid

......Question: Lambros Papantoniou

One more question. Albania is supporting the so-calledindependence of Kosovo on the basis of geography, not ethnicity. Seein gthat Kosovars are Albanians, why does your government support the creation of a second Albania in the Balkan Peninsula with different name, instead of asking a union? May we assume that Secretary Clintonis going to change this policy?

MR. DUGUID: Mr. Lambros, I disagree with the premise of thequestion, and therefore I will not answer that at this particulartime.

I don't think it's factually accurate.

Mr. Lambros Papantoniou.

Question: Yes, on Kosovo, two questions. Mr. Duguid, since you created Kosovo, why does the U.S.government oppose the same right for the Greeks in Northern Epirus, which after all has its own autonomy recognized by the League of Nations as precondition for admission of Albania into its ranks became a state. May we assume that Secretary Clinton is going to help the Greeks of Northern Epirus?

MR. DUGUID: Mr. Lambros, again, I don't agree with the premise of the question. Therefore I'm not prepared to answer it.

Question: I have another one. Today at the World Bank, there is a special meeting about the false information provided, by its managers, to the agency's board of directors, for $39 million dollars politically connected, quote, "coastalcleanup," unquote, project that led to the destruction and thedestitution of a powerless Greek village close to Himare, NorthernEpirus, in Albania, in 2007, in full cooperation with Sali Berishagovernment. I'm wondering if you aware about that from the human rights pointof view.

MR. DUGUID: I don't have any information on that. If I can findanything, I will get back to you. Thank you.

see more video: http://www.state.gov/video/?videoid=13349516001

Greece, debates on national issues requested by LAOS

Conducting pre-agenda debate on the Greek national issues sent in a letter of request to the chairman of the Greek Parliament, Demetrios Sioufas by the chairman of LAOS Georgeos Karatzaferis.

"There are new developments of our national issues, creating the impression that the government passively monitor the events, just the government is trying to manage the intern problems of the country forgetting the national interests of the Greek policy" notes in his letter Mr Karatzaferis.

Among other things, the President of LAOS refers to pressures for the reintroduction of the Annan plan in Cyprus for evacuation of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants "official with responsibility of Turkey", issue for the name of Skopje, to remove property homogeneous of Greeks in Albania, etc. says Mr. Karatzaferis.

more see: http://www.kathimerini.gr/

THE ALBANIAN NATIONALIST TRIAL

Gjirokaster, the protest anti-Bollanos & Kseras, two Albanian boys free

The Regional Court of Gjiroksater dismissed today the case in charge of two young men from Tepelena, who were arrested months ago because of patriotic protest against the mayor of Himara and president of Omonia Vasilis Bollanos and Spyros Kseras. Orgen Hasanbegaj and Luan Halili, are declared innocent by the court, and dismissed the case.

The protest of the young is supported by political parties and members of the Albanian Parliament. They were arrested because they staged a “peaceful protest blocking the national road” against Vasil Bollanos and Spyros Kseras, known for their “anti-Albanian sentiments”.

Members of the “Chameria” Community also backed the protest of young Albanian people, urging the Court to declare them innocent.

A 28-year-old Greek found executed on the Greek Albanian border

Unknown still now, many mysterious circumstances which has caused the deaths of Greek citizen from Thesprotia, northern Greece.

Gaxellos Vasillos body was found near the pyramid 54, in the village Janjar, near the border with the Greece, about 65 km from the city of Saranda today Albanian media reported.

more see: http://www.panorama.com.al/index.php?id=24781

The Northern Epirus not forget

Athens, 15.02.09

With a solemn celebrated yesterday the anniversary of 95 years after the proclamation of the autonomous state of Northern Epirus in 1914. The event, which is celebrated every year, the Association of Northern Epirus Forums started to the Church in St. George Karytsi and followed of the Unknown Soldier.

As is known, in February 1914 the Northern Epirus, refusing to qualify for the newly Albanian government, revolted, declared in Gjirokaster the Independent State of Northern Epirus and formed a government under President George Zografos and members Metropolitans Dryinoupoleos and Koritsas Konitsa Spiridon proclaimed the autonomy.

As the result of the efforts brings the Protocol of Corfu (17-5-1914), signed by the governments of the Great Powers, Albania and Northern Epirus and the status of autonomy provided to prefectures Koritsas, Gjirokaster and Himara.

more see: http://www.elora.gr/portal/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1225&Itemid=1

Albania urged to return seized religious property

Europe's biggest grouping of Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant churches has called on Albania to return all sacred property seized from religious communities during 46 years of communist rule that followed the Second World War.

"Much of the property confiscated under communism, after 18 years of democracy, has still to be returned to the churches and other religious communities," the Conference of European Churches said in a statement released on 11 February during a meeting of its 10-member presidium in Tirana and Durrës, the country's second-largest city.

Albania Muslims to urge Arabs to recognise Kosovo

Albania's Muslims will send a petition with more than 50,000 signatures to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on Sunday to urge its members to recognise Kosovo.

Their appeal will come two days before Kosovo celebrates the first anniversary of its independence from Serbia. The U.S. and many European countries have recognised the mainly Albanian nation of Muslim heritage, but most Arab countries have not.

"To us as Muslims, it came as a surprise that the Arab world did not recognise Kosovo. We thought of appealing to the countries that helped the Kosovo people with humanitarian aid in 1999," said Agim Baci, one of the organisers.

When Kosovo refugees streamed into Albania proper to escape ethnic cleansing by Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, Arab countries set up camps to feed and shelter them.
NATO forces and the United Nations ran Kosovo from 1999 until independence.

Ex-ruler Serbia sees Kosovo as the cradle of its Orthodox faith and has vowed never to recognise Kosovo. Baci, a journalist and Muslim scholar, said Christian Orthodox and Catholic believers also signed the petition.

The Saudi Arabia-based 57-member OIC represents 1.5 billion Muslims. Prime Minister Sali Berisha made Albania a member of the OIC in December 1992.

THE ETHNIC TRIAL IN ALBANIA AGAINST FIVE HIMARIOTES

State Department: Question about the rights of the properties of Northern Epiriotes in Albania and about the trial against five himariotes who raised the greek flag in Himara Municipality

STATE DEPARTMENT REGULAR BRIEFING BRIEFER:
ROBERT WOOD, DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN WASHINGTON,
D.C.11:40 P.M. EST,
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009

…
Let me go to Lambros.

Question: On the Balkans, Mr. Wood, Albania must solve the huge problem of unclear and disputed property titles, that means of the Greeks in Northern Epirus, in order to attract foreign investments and meet the new criteria for eventual membership to the European Union, Helmuth Lohan, the EU's ambassador to Tirana, stated the other day.
What is the U.S. position on the property rights of the Greeks in Northern Epirus?

MR. WOOD: Mr. Lambros, we have spoken to that issue quite often from the podium. I don't have anything more to give you than what we have said previously.

Question: The supreme court of Sali Berisha in Albania sentenced, before yesterday, five Greeks in Himare, in Northern Epirus, simply raising the Greek flag. May we have your reaction from the human rights point of view?

MR. WOOD: First I've heard of it, Mr. Lambros. We'll look into it and see if I can get you an answer.

Question: One more: Why Mr. Mark Turner of your European desk never prepares you with a press guidance pertaining Greece, Cyprus, Balkan states and Turkey? Is there any particular reason?

MR. WOOD: No. (Inaudible) -- takes good care of me.
Question: Excuse me.
MR. WOOD: (Inaudible) -- takes good care of me, providing what I need.

Question: In answering my pending questions the other day, your press officer Laura Tishler told me that Secretary Clinton never had a meeting or an official call with the prime minister of FYROM, Nikola Gruevski. How do you accept, Mr. Wood, that Mr. Gruevski attributed to Secretary Clinton a statement? Do you allow that?

MR. WOOD: Mr. Lambros, I think I've answered enough of your questions.
Question: Excuse me.

MR. WOOD: I've given you the answers that I can give you.

Question: Okay.

THE POPULATION OF ALBANIA GOES TO 4.2 million!!!
How is actually the Greek minority population? 1%? or 480 000???

According to new general registering of Albanian Government, the population of Albania has gone 4.2 million inhabitants. While the ethnic Greek minority size is 42 000 according to Statistic Institute of Albania INSTAT.

But noting the increase of the Albanian population in four times to 4.2 milion, also the population of the Greek minority is raised fourfold in the 480.000 inhabitants!

Again another regress to the democratic standard of Albania. Especially the Greek ethnic minority numbers are reduced by new census of Albania in 2009, when the Albanian population is fourfold since first census of 1929.

Unfortunately there are no reliable statistics on the actual size of the minority, since no official census with ethnic criteria has been conducted to date, although this is one of the commitments to the European Union.

According to data presented at the 1919 Paris Conference, the ethnic Greek minority numbered 120.000. The last census under the Communist regime in 1989 cites only 60.000, although the total population of Albania had fourfold in the meantime. Both 2001 and 2009 census did not cover the ethnic Greek minority as there was no question on ethnic origin.

According to CIA estimates in 1989, the Greek ethnic minority of Albania numbered 280.000 inhabitants in a total Albanian population of 3.100.000 . Which we believe, Albania, Greece or CIA sources?

Five himariotes send Albania to the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg

Statement made by Freddy Beleri, President of the Himara Union

The decisions of Albanian tribunals which have condemned five himariotes during the local elections in Albania 2003. This is another approach to the Albanian authorities in the plan prepared long time ago for the recent expulsion of the Greeks that living historically in Northern Epirus.

The Greek government generously helping Albania to integrate in Euro-Atlantic structures, while the position of Albania continues systematically to violate the human rights of the Greeks of Himara Region.

We, the five defendants would appeal to European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for justice here, because we believe that the charges are unfounded and unacceptable for a modern European state such is Albania which wants for it aspiration in Europe.

Greek Government for the vote of northern epiriotes

The general Secretary of ND, Lefteris Zagoritis had invited opposition parties to respect and responsible to the voting law for northern epiriotes in Greek parliament.

On the emigrant vote focused and Mr Karamanlis meeting with Dora Bakoyannis. The Foreign Minister Bakogiannis has set a goal to apply the arrangement for the emigrant vote as soon as possible, in the next parliament. To do this, the regulation requires the support of 2 / 3 of the Greek parliament.

World Bank President Orders Investigation of Project That Destroyed Powerless Albanian Village

Wednesday, February 11, 2009 By Richard Behar

The president of the World Bank has ordered investigators to find out who was responsible for the cover-up of a $39 million World Bank sponsored development project that led to the razing of an Albanian coastal village in 2007.

Robert Zoellick made the decision to probe the scandal — the World Bank management's third attempt to get to the bottom of the Albanian debacle — last December, but only went public with his decision on Feb. 9, hours after a FOX News story on the subject appeared.

In the story, FOX revealed that managers at the World Bank, the world's largest and most influential anti-poverty agency, had provided false information in order to get a go-ahead for financing of the project from the bank's board of directors in 2005 — and then spent additional years trying to cover up its actions.

see more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,491006,00.html

Cosmote buys Albania telecom unit stake for 48.2 mln euro

Greece's Cosmote bought 12.6 percent of the state-owned shares of its Albanian Mobile Communication (AMC) subsidiary for 48.2 million euros The purchase brings Cosmote's stake in AMC to 97.6 percent.

Deputy Economy Minister Enno Bozdo said Cosmote, the mobile arm of Greece's main telecom group OTE had outbid rivals Nexus Private Equity Partners, Bedminster Capital Management and Axos Capital GmbH.

"We consider this as a very successful sale and another vote of confidence of foreign investors in Albania. Its value is all the more as we see the European economy and some Balkan countries showing signs of recession," Bozdo told reporters.

Cosmote bought 85 percent of AMC's shares in July 2000 for $85.6 million, more than twice as much as the nearest rival, a venture of Greece's Panafon and Britain's Vodafone Airtouch.

In the third quarter of 2008, AMC had a revenue of 144.7 million euros and operating income 76.3 from its 1.31 million subscribers in a country of 3.2 million. It faces competition from Vodafone Albania and Turkey's Eagle Mobile.