Alexis Giannoulias Interest In The U.S. Senate Seat
The State Treasurer spent some time in Rockford today and talked to 23News about him considering a run for a U.S. Senate seat in 2010. The Chicago democrat has formed an exploratory committee, and he says during this time of perceived corruption in politics he feel it's even more important for young leaders to step up and answer the call to service.

"The people of Illinois need and deserve a Senator who's going to bring integrity back to the process. Who's going to stand up and effectively lead so we can focus on topics like fixing the economy, unfreezing the credit markets, getting people back to work, helping businesses come back to Illinois and deliver on the change that Barack Obama has promised to this nation," said Ginnoulias.

Giannoulias, who turns 33 this month would look to claim the senate seat currently occupied by fellow Democrat Roland Burris.

see video: http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/40753357.html

After the writer Petro Marko another northern epiriote Panajot Pano became "The Honor of Albania"

The Albanian President Bamir Topi honored yesterday Panajot Pano, an ex famos socker of albanian national team as the "Honor of Albania". Pano ex famous socker of Albanian national team and "Partizani" of Tirana, is became the second greek Albanian personality that has contributed historicly for the Albanian state.

Panajot Pano an Albanian citizen with Greek nationality becomes honored after another famous northern epiriot the writer from Himara region Petro Marko.

Often Albanian media opinion like to convert the Greek origin of the great writer Petro Marko from Drimades village of Himara region as Albanian.

The albanian government has financed a monument sculprure of the writer Petro Marko to put in Drimades without autorisation of the greek community of the area. The declaration has been held by PM Sali Berisha during a visit in Drimades on June 2008.

Albania borrows €250M from banks to fund deficit

The Associated Press

Albania's Finance Ministry said Thursday it would borrow €250 million ($313.6 million) from Deutsche Bank and Greece's Alpha Bank to fund its budget deficit. The two banks were selected after an international tender with seven bidders, the ministry said in a statement.

It gave no details for the loan, which is expected to fund the budget deficit and the construction of a new highway to neighboring Kosovo. Albania's 2009 budget deficit is projected at 4.2 percent of gross domestic product.

Last year, the government also took a €230 million loan to cover its budget deficit

Albania Torurism Minster Sacked Over Sex Scandal

THE "STATE ADVOCATE" OF KAKOMEA AND JALA OF HIMARA REGION AT THE CENTER OF THE STORM OF SEX SCANDAL

Ylli Pango Albania’s Minister of Torurism and Culture Ylli Pango was fired on Wednesday, after a video showing him allegedly asking sexual favours from young women applying for a job in his ministry was broadcast on TV.

The video and audio broadcast on the investigative program Fisk Fare on Top Channel TV shows Pango setting private meetings with two job applicants. One of these meetings was set in his private villa in Tirana, in which the sacked minister asks a girl to strip her clothes off.In the recording Pango is overhead repeatedly asking the girl to take her shirt off and come out in a bikini so that he can assess whether she is the right person for the job.

Thirty minutes after the broadcast Prime Minister Sali Berisha issued a statement sacking Pango as culture minister. “The Prime Minister Berisha has told the minister of culture, youth and sports that he is dismissed since the episode that appeared in the media is unacceptable for the morality and standards of his government," said a statement from the premier's office. Pango was not reachable for a comment; however in a statement to Berisha he claimed that the video is a “a fabrication by the media”.

PANGO WAS THE "ADVOCATE OF PM SALI BERISHA" TO SUPPORT THE ALBANIAN MAFIA IMPLICATING THE WORLD BANK TO DESTRUCT PROPERTY BUILDINGS AND TO ROBBER THE LANDS AND PROPERTIES OF THE GREEK POPULATION IN JALA AND KAKOMEA OF HIMARA REGION.

BOSNIA MAY SPLIT?

Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski, left, warned against Bosnia's "disintegration" after calls by a Serb leader said "that Bosnia be transformed into a federation in which the federal units shall have the right to self-determination".

Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue 'Key To Balkan Stability'Pristina

Dialogue between officials in Pristina and Belgrade is key to the stability of the Balkan region, International Civilian Office chief Pieter Feith . Serbia has vowed to never recognize Kosovo’s seccession and relations between Kosovo Serbs and Kosovo Albanians are tense and occasionaly hostile.

Serbia has blocked imports coming in from Kosovo and Serb officials have not been shy about flaunting Belgrade's reach in Serb-populated parts of north Kosovo, often coming into north Kosovo on 'official visits'. Kosovo officials have in turn threatened to arrest Serb officials entering unannounced for trying to breach Kosovo's territorial integrity.

“Good neighbourly relations and Pristina-Belgrade contact on practical issues are useful for regional stability”, Feith told Serbian daily “Dnevnik”. He said the EU was committed to regional stability and was prepared to mediate between Pristina and Belgrade. “The EU has to play a useful role in easing such a process

The Ionian Coastal Association accuses PM Berisha for the Jali Project

According to the newspaper of Socialist Party “Zeri i Popullit” the Ionian Coastal Association during a press declaration, has accused the Albanian PM Sali Berisha and other politicians for the destruction of Jali Village in collaboration with member of the World Bank Project.

The association before starting the project tow years ago, has opposed the World Bank Director mission in Tirana, declaring the property issue most important than the project proposed.

The project over alls has favorized the Albanian mafia with the support of Albanian authority segments and Tribunals to robbery lands and properties of the population who lives historically in Ionian Coast zone.

Albania and Croatia's accession to NATO can be postponed

FOCUS News Agency

Skopje. Macedonia’s accession to NATO is very significant. Likewise it is very important for the regional security Croatia and Albania to access NATO at the meeting at high level in April, Spic informs.

Croatian and Albanian media warns that Albania and Croatia accession on NATO can be postponed until the Croatian- Slovenian dispute is solved.

“Expansion of the Alliance is solemn act but if just one country accesses it not three there will be something not right and the process will be stopped,” unknown diplomatic source told Croatian Agency HINA.

Kosovo issue not finished yet, Bolton said

March 2, 2009
Former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton said that is not finished yet and will remain so until an agreement acceptable to all sides has been reached. “I think it’s positive there is no violence and ethnic conflict, but there is tension and it will remain a source of tensions until agreement is reached that all sides will accept.” Bolton told the Serbian service of the Voice of America.

Serbia has urged new status talks on Kosovo to commence but the separatists in the province have rejected the initiative. Bolton noted that the Barack Obama’s policy for the Balkans is still unclear but warned that just because the current situation in Kosovo is stable it does not mean that the problem has been solved.

“It is still unclear what the Obama administration policy in the Balkans will be, although the new state of Kosovo has been relatively stable since the independence declaration, this issue is not closed, nor have other issues that are the consequence of the disintegration of former Yugoslavia,” Bolton said.

IMF Warns Albania on Pre-Election SpendingTirana

02 March 2009
Premier Berisha inspecting the Kosovo highwayThe International Monetary Fund, IMF, warned Albania on Saturday it should be prudent in its spending ahead of its general election on June 28 or risk possible threats to its macroeconomic stability.

In its final report on Albania-IMF relations, the Fund warned that “without its program support—which has served as a policy anchor since the early 1990s—added prudence of policy makers is called for when, at the same time, upcoming elections may tilt political instincts in the opposite direction”. Albania ended its final supervisory agreement with IMF on Jan. 31, despite warnings from experts advising that it be extended to avoid the risks of a populist spending spree in an election year.

The centre-right government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha has already declared it intends to increase salaries and pensions as of May 1, two months before the elections. “The end of the program falls in challenging times. The external environment is deteriorating sharply and previously high inflows into the banking system have slumped,” the IMF said.

“Remaining structural problems in the utility sector, and elevated public debt aggravate vulnerabilities, meanwhile, the upcoming elections risk diverting policy makers’ attention from stability-oriented policies”, the fund added..

The veteran journalist of State Departament and Elefteros Tipos Lambros Papantoniou about a strategic annalisy on Albanian Press

more see: http://print.gazetalibertas.com/pdf/20090301.pdf

World Bank Probe “Damaged” Albania RelationsTirana

27 February 2009
The village of Jale Albania’s Minister of Finance accused the World Bank on Friday of damaging their excellent relations with a probe by an independent investigative panel on a coastal management project that has embarrassed the conservative government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha.

“We regret to note that Bank’s internal issues are being transposed as problems of the Bank with the Albanian government,” Minister of Finance Ridvan Bode told a press conference. “This is not in the interest of the Government and would be damaging at this stage of our excellent cooperation and joint efforts,” Bode added.

The World Bank chief of mission in Albania, Camille Nuamah, on Wednesday presented the bank’s report on the controversial demolition of a village in southern Albania, which blames the government in Tirana as well as the project coordinator, Berisha's the son-in-law .

more see: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/17060/

Note to the readers: There are many articles about the scandal of World Bank and Albanian Government by Albanian journalists, but never they not refereed exactly the position of the village of Jali. The village of Jali is part of Himara Municipality, exactly 3 miles in north of Himara`s Harbor. The ihnabitatnes most part are with old greek origin.

Guilty as charged

Feb 26th 2009

A flawed project in Albania has highlighted some broader concerns
ReutersA large, embarrassing footprint on Albania's sands
WHEN Robert Zoellick took over the World Bank in 2007—after months of bitter wrangling over professional favours done by its former president, Paul Wolfowitz, for his girlfriend—many people hoped that happier times lay head for the institution.

So it was a shock to hear Mr Zoellick describe as “appalling” the bank’s behaviour over a bungled project to develop the coast of Albania. He was responding to the findings of a bank-appointed panel which found a clear link between the wrongful demolition of 16 homes in the coastal town of Jale and the project, to which the bank had pledged $17.5m. ....

Go directly to Jale
Indeed, the demolitions were carried out by the Albanian construction police, not the bank. But the panel found that the aerial photographs which identified the targets for demolition were provided by staff in the project co-ordination unit, and that they used World Bank funds to get them taken. These photographs were then sent to the construction police, along with a letter from the project co-ordinator asking for action to be taken “as fast as possible”.

The construction police responded to the project co-ordinator’s request with alacrity, arriving in the hamlet of Jale to demolish the “illegal” houses in the early hours of the morning. This eagerness to please was probably not entirely out of respect for the World Bank: the project co-ordinator was the son-in-law of Albania’s prime minister, Sali Berisha, who has recently turned his ire on the bank.

more see: http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13185165

The Economist

Time for a change?

Feb 26th 2009

The forthcoming election looks like being a close contest
THE general election is four months off, but it feels closer. Every day Albania’s politicians are on the stump, addressing packed town halls and assembling campaign teams. Edi Rama, the colourful leader of the opposition Socialists, is underlining phrases in a book of Barack Obama’s speeches.

For change will be Mr Rama’s mantra as he challenges Sali Berisha, prime minister and leader of the Democratic Party. Mr Berisha has been at the heart of Albanian politics since the collapse of communism in 1991. Those born that year will be voting for the first time. They have no memory of communism, but also none of a time before Mr Berisha. Mr Rama thinks this is to his advantage.

Yet Mr Rama is not quite a new figure on the political landscape. The 44-year-old has been mayor of Tirana since 2000. He has transformed the city. Illegal buildings that scarred its centre have been bulldozed, grey blocks painted in colourful designs and plans are afoot to transform Skanderbeg Square into a pedestrian zone. Tirana is no longer the chaotic, declining city of the 1990s.

more see: http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13184997

These documents are presented from Albanian Journalist by "KLAN TV" television station in Tirana.

QUESTION TO THE GREEK PARLIAMENT.....

According to a publication of the newspaper "Elefteros Tipos"(10/2/09), the document contained an internal report of the Hellenic Research Center ELIAMEP, adopted by the rating «top secret» and was drafted in 2001 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the Northern Epirus issue, presented on 5/2/09 by Albanian National television "KLAN TV" during te emission "Opinion"

Specifically, the journalist Mentor Nazarko, , said that holding the disputed document contains analysis of the top secret information to the foreign ministry of Greece to protect the Greek minority in relation to the Northern Epirus issue, and generally relations between the two states.

SMANALYSIS which the newspaper "Elefteros Tipos" refereed, has inquiring about the scandal of foreign Greek policies noted on: February 6, 2009..more see:

Scandal, a document of the National Hellenic Policy in the hand of the Albanian journalist!

Photo: The Journalist Mentor Nazarko

The document which contains an internal study of Institute "ELIAMEP" and the Greek Foreign Ministry about the future of Northern Epirus, is known by journalist Mentor Nazarko been declared. The statement was made on "Opinion", of KLAN TV, during a debate concerning the Greek Albanian relations.

It is very surprising that an Albanian journalist known for anti Hellenic positions had the opportunity to have read a top secret material which contains a study of Greek diplomacy and the prestigious institute "ELIAMEP" during the years 2000 - 2001 in Albania.

A group of journalists and experts financed by the Greek Foreign Ministry, under the accompaniment of the former Greek ambassador Alexandros Mallias conducted closely investigation team to study relationship that will be deployed consistently between Albania and Greece regarding the Greek minority in Albania and the future of autonomy Northern Epirus.

Document which is called "Top Secret" seen by the Albanian journalist, is classified for national strategy and Greek diplomacy but no for the public opinion. The journalist Nazarko is very known as author of a book about "Chameria" Issue.

http://smarkos.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

Albania criticizes Inspection Panel report

The Government of Albania has requested a revision or retraction of an Inspection Panel Report implicating the country's government in corruption.In response to the report produced by the Inspection Panel of the World Bank, the Government of Albania has issued a response (PDF, 163KB) which claims that implications of corruption on the part of the Government of Albania in the Jale case are unsubstantiated and that the scope and nature of the Government’s involvement has been exaggerated by the Inspection Panel Report.

The Albanian Government has urged the management of the World Bank to reconsider the Panel Report and has requested its quashing or rewriting “to be more objective” towards the Government’s position. Albania has also asked for an official inquiry on the part of the Bank into the reasons for the Inspection Panel’s involvement with the Jale incident.


Resources
World Bank Board of Executive Directors Reviews Independent Inspection Panel Report on Coastal Zone Management Project in Albania, World Bank press release, February 17, 2009 (World Bank website)
Original text of the Albanian Government response (in Albanian), February 14, 2009 (Gazeta Standard website).
Inspection Panel, (World Bank website)
World Bank violated policies and misinformed Board in Albania project, February 18, 2009 (BIC website)
Albanian Government response to Inspection Panel report (PDF, 163KB)

Albanian Security News

ITALIAN SOLDERS LEFT SASAN ISLAND

Photo: Vlora`s Gulf

The Italian military mission in Albania DIA ordains to leave from Sasani Island the Italian naval forces. Making a ceremony in Sasani Island, 10 miles a front of Vlora city, the experts of Italian military forces in Albania known as DIA, reported the accomplished mission in Vlora Gulf.

The mission was installed after the "ALBA" operation in1997 during the "Civil War in Albania". The 28 district naval forces, Guardia Finanzza" and Italian Coast Guard mission united forces, where installed in Sasani island, to fight the clandestine traffics between Italian and Albania on Otranto corridor in Adriatic Sea.

Photo: The "Alba" operation of italian forces in Vlora 1997

Reports by Vlora insists other news about the Turkish naval forces to prepare to leave also the Vlora Gulf. The Turkish naval forces where installed in Orikus Naval Base, since 1998 to help the Albanian forces to construct the Albanian base after destrutcion of Albanian army in 1997.

THE FIANTIAL TIMES

Families oppose €40m scheme for Albanian resort
By Kerin Hope

Arben Leka carefully unfolds a document brown with age and runs a finger down a handwritten list of landholdings that was drawn up in 1937.

The Lekas are one of 129 families fighting the construction of Albania’s first five-star tourist resort.The Tirana-based Riviera group wants to build an 800-bed resort at Kakome bay, an arc of white pebbles backed by olive trees, a swath of evergreen forest and the 13th-century convent of St Maria.

The company has fenced off the bay and blocked access to the convent.
“We all have title deeds, we’re defending our ownership in the courts, yet bulldozers have moved in and we’ve lost access to our property,” says Mr Leka, a civil engineer.

Dritan Celaj, Riviera’s chairman, says Kakome is public land. His company was granted a 99-year lease in 2004 to develop the bay but the €40m ($51m, £35m) project was put on hold after protests by residents and a change of government.

Vladimir Kumi, mayor of Nivice village, 6km from Kakome, where most of the protesters live, says most families have three titles to their land. One dates from the 1870s when Albania was part of the Ottoman Empire, another was issued by the land registry set up by King Zog in the 1930s and a third covers the 1994 restitution of land collectivised under Communism.

Land-ownership disputes are rife along Albania’s mountainous southern coast, mainly because of its potential for development as one of the last unspoilt stretches of the Mediterranean. The restitution of land to pre-communist owners remains a thorny issue, with many claims still outstanding. A new land registry set up with the assistance of foreign experts has a long backlog of title deed applications.

Albania’s judicial system has been criticised by the European Commission as weak and open to influence, adding to the difficulties of settling a property dispute through the courts.
The protesters, who refer to themselves as “Club 129,” say they have no objection to the development of “soft” tourism at Kakome – small independent guesthouses or hotels – provided their ownership claims are recognised and they have a stake in the project.

The right-of-centre government of Sali Berisha, the prime minister, opposed the project while in opposition. Now it backs Mr Celaj,.

more see: http://www.ft.com/home/europe

FIRST STEP OF UNIFICATION OF "GREATER ALBANIA"

Albania to open its port to Kosovo

Albania is ready to open its northern port of Shengjin on the Adriatic Sea for the use of the landlocked Kosovo, Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha said on Monday. "Albania is ready to provide Kosovo with a port, which would meet its needs," a press release on the government's website quoted Berisha as saying.

Berisha made the announcement in his meeting with a group of representatives from Kosovo, who are in Albania to open talks on using the Shengjin port. The two sides agreed to study the possibility of enlarging the port which is about 90 kilometers north of capital Tirana and about 100 kilometers west of Kosovo.

Kovoso, an ethnic Albanian-dominated province of Serbia, unilaterally declared independence in February in 2008. Its independence has been vehemently opposed by Serbia. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci sent a letter to Berisha earlier this month, asking him to allow Kosovo to use the seaport.

Albania is currently building a highway to link the central Albanian port of Durres with Kukes and beyond to Pristina, the capital city of Kosovo.

ALFRED MOISIU: IF ALBANIA DOES NOT HOLD FREE ELECTIONS, THE COUNTRY RISCK TO COME BACK TO THE 1997

Former Albanian President Alfred Moisiu calls politic parties to hold free elections on the next politic elections in 22 June 2009. The declaration was made during exclusively interviewe on "News 24 TV".

Regarding the standards of Albanian next elections, Moisiu stated about the necessary to hold free elections that never Albania historically has held, but noted Moisiu, is Albania does not hold free elections, the country risk to come back to the 1997, on the civil war.

Speaking for the "Gerdeci Blust" and the inquiring process, he said as principal responsible are the member of the government and not the officers of Albanian army.