Clach between Albania and Serbia to the UN General Assemble

Serbia mocked Albania's statements about progress in Kosovo and the return of Serbian families there. To the contrary, the Serbian representative said, the Serbians in the "province of Kosovo" at the most endangered people in Europe, in what has become a crime haven.

President Boris Tadic of Serbia on Friday reiterated Belgrade’s condemnation of the independence bid of its Kosovo province, describing it as “an attempt to impose a 19th-century outcome to a 21st century challenge.”

Albania replied that Serbia's rhetoric was "old fashioned," of the type that led to "the worst war since World War Two." The Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha declared that the Independence of Kosovo is changing the efforts for peace in Balkan Region.

He stressed that the establishment of the independent state of Kosova, although only a small period of time had passed since its declaration of independence, had turned into an important factor of peace and stability in the Balkan peninsula.

Macedonian encyclopedia sparks Balkan ethnic row

REUTERS, BALKAN Thu Sep 24, 2009

"Macedonia to revise controversial encylopedia after row"

Albania, Kosovo complained about bias* Row highlights continued ethnic tensions in BalkansBy Kole CasuleSKOPJE, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Macedonia's leading academic institution said on Thursday it would revise a new encyclopedia after protests by the Balkan country's Albanian minority as well as in neighbouring Kosovo and Albania.

The row has highlighted the still fragile ethnic balance which led to fighting in Macedonia in 2001 and wars during the 1990s elsewhere in the former Yugoslavia.The encyclopedia sparked outrage by saying ethnic Albanians settled the region in 16th century. Albanians say they were present long before Slavic tribes arrived centuries ago.

It also refers to Ali Ahmeti, leader of country's 2001 ethnic Albanian insurgency, as a war crimes suspect. Ahmeti now heads the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, which is a junior partner in the government. The Netherlands-based UN war crimes court has investigated atrocities in the conflict but never implicated Ahmeti.

"While (the encyclopedia) will be partly rewritten, the edition will not be withdrawn," Georgi Stardelov, head of the editorial committee of Macedonia's Academy of Sciences and Arts, said in a statement.The book was first promoted last week as a key national document at an event attended by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

Albanian media quoted Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha as saying the encyclopedia was "absurd and unacceptable" and said he warned Macedonian President Georgi Ivanov that no one can build "identity based on the forgery of history."In Kosovo, which has unresolved border issues with Macedonia, parliament president Jakup Krasniqi said that Skopje was "isolating itself and making enemies.

"Ethnic Albanians account for a quarter of the population in the nation of two million which peacefully seceded from Yugoslavia in 1992.In 2001 ethnic Albanians launched an insurgency which ended after a Western-brokered peace deal disarmed rebels in exchange for broader Albanian rights and their inclusion in the society, something which riles many Macedonians who are Slavs.Some Macedonian academics criticised the book as hastily prepared and politically motivated.

"Any encyclopedia cannot be written under the influence of politicians," said Milan Gjurcinov, an Academy of Arts and Sciences member. "It is a book teeming with politics and that's not good."Gjurcinov warned that a similar dispute between Serb and Croat academics in the 1980s contributed to the rise of nationalism that led to the bloody breakup of former Yugoslavia.

Writing by Aleksandar Vasovic; additional reporting by Benet Koleka in Tirana and Fatos Bytyci in Pristina, editing by Adam Tanner and Dominic Evans)

The new web site of the Northern Epirus News Agency

http://www.nenanews.eu

Tirana, about the collapse history of 1997

The history of education system of Albania for the year of 1997, shows as a rebellion led by Albanian opposite (Socialist Party) , while in fact are killed about 6 thousand people by the "Civil War" after the collapse of pyramidal schemes

PHOTO: THE ALBANIAN REBELLION 1997

Socialist Party has accused the Prime Minister Sali Berisha as author of text history that are learning in Albanian. The period of the year 1997, by historians of Albania Academy shows as a rebellion led by the Socialist Party against Sali Berisha's Democratic state.

Accdording to CNN, the year of 1997 was a "Civil War" in Albania, which was result of the collapse by the pyramid schemes and the main responsibility at that time was Sali Berisha, the president at that time. In the Civil War in Albania, were killed about 6 thousand people, mostly fought against each other between the North (Gegh population near Albanians of Kosovo) and
South (Tosk population near Greek epirots).

Meanwhile, the Albanian press writes today about the reactions for Macedonian Encyclopedia in which Albanians are shown as people come from north (Albanian Gegh tribe) in the 16th century. Apparently the silence of Tirana itself shows that it is involved in this chaos, since geghe from northern Albania since 1991, have occupied lands of southern people.

PHOTO: THE SARANDA CATASTROPHE, 2009

The biggest cities of the country, Tirana, Durres, Korce, Vlore even to Saranda. The result of "occupation" at the time of modern Albania is clear: 300 thousand houses built on robbery land.

more see: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19194511.html

http://images.cnn.com/WORLD/9703/14/albania/links.html


http://www.helleniccomserve.com/thegreatriskb.html

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/albania.htm

BIRN Probe Triggers World Bank Reforms

In the January report, Balkan Insight published details of an internal investigation by the Bank’s own Inspection Panel, which accused the Bank's management of using the Albanian coastal zones management project to selectively demolish parts of the village in April 2007, leaving many families homeless. The panel also noted corruption allegations in relation to the project and efforts by World Bank officials to cover up events.

by Besar Likmeta

Demolished house in JaleThe World Bank has instituted a comprehensive review after Balkan Insight lifted the lid on “appalling mistakes” made in a project to protect coastal zones project, in which an Albanian village was demolished

After the investigative report, published on January 31, revealed that the World Bank project, had contributed to the demolition of Jale village, on the country's southern coast, contravening the institution's policies on forced displacement, a Bank-wide review was triggered of projects that involve land use planning.

The review, launched by the Operational Police Country Services Vice-Presidency and the Legal Vice Presidency of the World Bank, involved the identification and examination of safeguard mechanisms for over 130 projects that were either in preparation or under supervision.

more seehttp://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/22338/:

MANU's Encyclopedia causes stir

Macedonian Encyclopedia, presented Thursday at MANU's premises caused a stirr among the Albanian community and the US/UK Embassies. Daily paper Koha writes that the encyclopedia contains numerous "inaccuracies".

Two are mentioned as the most contradictory, the alleged training by U.S. and British specialists of the KLA members in the 2001 conflict, which caused a reaction of the US Embassies and UK Embassies in Skopje, both claiming the information is 'false' and 'ridiculous'.

Lets review this. This alleged training according to several British papers (Sunday Times, The Guardian, etc) did take place and at the time was a widely acknowledged fact in army circles and Balkan media.

Does anyone remember Aracinovo? Flashpoint: Over 200 Albanian terrorists were surrounded by the Macedonian Army. The Albanians laid down their weapons and put their underwear on sticks to give a sign of their surrendering (captured by TV crews). NATO prevented the Macedonian army from entering Aracinovo, went into the village utilizing 12 busses to transport the terrorists (who had previously threathen to bomb the Airport) back to safety in Kosovo (2).
The following day, Deutche Welle claimed there were 19 NATO 'advisors' among the Albanians transported to Kosovo.

According to DW, NATO had panicked that the Macedonian army would capture their commanders/advisors. Later the Macedonian police entered Aracinovo and found numerous sophisticated satellite phones and equipment left behind. Though today Macedonia enjoys terrific relations with the US and the UK, facts shouldn't ashame anyone.

The second "scandal" is the text which tells the story of the Albanians in Macedonia, where they are named as "shiptari" that settled in Macedonia in the 16th century.

The Albanian term for an 'Albanian' is "Shqiptar". I might have missed the "scandal" here.

The Macedonian Academy of Arts and Sciences stands behind their Encyclopedia saying it is a collective effort of numerous historians, scientists that took years to complete in which all data had been synthesized with facts and arguments that have been checked and re-checked by numerous relevant individuals and organizations. //Gorazd V.

1 United Press International (UPI), 15 September 2001.2 The Guardian, London, 15 September 2001.

Albanian cabinet wants to hold open meetings

The new government intends to hold open cabinet meetings to boost transparency, but needs the votes of the opposition Socialist Party (SP) to adopt such a law, Prime Minister Sali Berisha said on Thursday (September 17th).

Earlier in the day, his government was sworn in. Berisha chaired the first cabinet meeting, where he again urged the SP-led opposition to stop its boycott and return to parliament.

The SP insists the June 28th general election was manipulated and refuses to back down, despite calls from Brussels that such political debate should take place in parliament.

Kakome, explosives in the "touristic village"

18 September 2009

According to "Shekulli" newspaper quantity of explosive matter has blow up the gate of
touristic village of Kakomea, near Saranda town. Police sources from the Commissariat of Saranda, confirmed that the outbreak of explosive matter occurred after 01:30 on Thursday.

In addition the Criminal experts who have gone immediately the scene, have determined that the explosive action has been located only 1.5 meters from entry to the Ports of cantier of tourist village, which is being raised by "Riviera" Company in the Gulf of Kakomea.

The explosion is felt strong, and shocked the administration and staff specialists who were sleeping in the buildings of administrative center company.

The blast has preceded the court session that is held yesterday in the Court of Saranda when
five persons from Kakomea accused by several months for "Destruction of property to another", after they attacked vehicles and machinery of the company "Riviera", last March.

Πολλοί φοιτητές από τη Βόρεια Ήπειρο, εγκαταλείπουν το σχολείο "Αρσακείου" των Τιράνων

Ανάγκασαν υψηλή φορολογία από την κυβέρνηση Μπερίσα, διαχειριστές τους φόρους καινοτομία για τα ελληνικά παιδιά.

Σύμφωνα με τις πληροφορίες που πραγματοποιούνται από τους γονείς του σχολείου "Αρσάκειο" πολλά από τα παιδιά έχουν απομακρυνθεί από αυτό το σχολείο ως αποτέλεσμα της αύξησης των φόρων στο 20% για το τρέχον έτος.

Η διαχείρισή του σχολείου αναγκάστηκε να τους γονείς
εξηγώντας ότι η απόφαση της κυβέρνησης να επιβάλει φόρους σε
"Αρσακείου Ίδρυμα" έχει θέσει σε μεγάλες δυσκολίες
Ελληνική Ακαδημία των υψηλών αξιωματούχων.

Αλλά τίποτα δεν θα μπορούσε να δικαιολογήσει τη στάση της ελληνικής
Υπουργείο Παιδείας, η οποία σύμφωνα με το Ελληνικό Σύνταγμα
πρέπει να εγγυάται όλα τα παιδιά, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των παιδιών των Ελλήνων από τη Βόρεια Ήπειρο για να μάθουν δωρεάν την ελληνική γλώσσα.

The Greek school in Himara opens for children

In the presence of Greek Ambassador in Tirana Nikos Paziou, the Mayor of Himara Municipality Vasilis Bolanos and President of HRUP Vangelis Doules is opened the ceremony of the first day of the Greek school in Himara Region.

Mr. Pazios promised support from the Greek state, while the pupils have shown, after the blessing, a short program that included dances and recited poems in mother greek language.

Himara Region has the mostly compact Greek community of Albania, with about 95% of total population of the Region. The community has dual citizenship both Albanian and Greek.

ΗΠΑ υποστηρίζει επικριτές του ΟΑΣΕ στις αλβανικές εκλογές, ενώ η ΕΕ είναι αναποφάσιστοι σημαντικόi παράγοντα για τον τρόπο της Αλβανίας στην ΕΕ

SManalysis

Βρυξέλλες πρέπει να δηλώσει σαφώς ότι, εάν η Αλβανία έχει δυνατότητες για να κάνει ή να μην κάνει ελεύθερες εκλογές, ενώ η αλβανική αντιπολίτευση, διαφωνεί με την πλήρη νομιμοποίηση το δικαίωμα ότι η Αλβανία δεν έχει προδιαγραφές για τις εκλογές.

Όταν η Αλβανία παρουσίασε το αίτημα να γίνει δεκτή στην ΕΕ τον περασμένο Απρίλιο, η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση μετεγκατασταθεί σαφείς: πρώτον, να κάνει ελεύθερες εκλογές με το πρότυπο. Σήμερα έχουμε μια άλλη πραγματικότητα: δεν πρότυπο εκλογές για μια ακόμη φορά .....

Σε αντίθετη περίπτωση, η πολιτική κατάχρηση της κυβέρνησης Μπερίσα 2, η Αλβανία θα μπορούσε να μετατραπεί σε ένα ολοκληρωτικό κράτος. Το γεγονός αυτό, η Αλβανία δεν είναι διατεθειμένη να αναπτύξει πρόωρες εκλογές που θα μπορούσε να φέρει τα λαϊκές διαμαρτυρίες, αν η κυβέρνηση πρέπει να έρθει σε μια ενδεχόμενη οικονομική κρίση.

Εκτός από την πρεσβεία των ΗΠΑ στα Τίρανα εξέδωσε δήλωση την Τετάρτη την υποστήριξη τελική έκθεση του ΟΑΣΕ για τις 28 Ιουνίου γενικές εκλογές. «Χαιρετίζουμε τις βελτιώσεις από τις προηγούμενες εκλογές που περιγράφεται στην έκθεση, όπως της βελτίωσης του νομικού πλαισίου και η διαδικασία εγγραφής των ψηφοφόρων. Οι περιοχές αυτές σημειώνονται την απτή πρόοδο σε σχέση με προηγούμενες εκλογές," η πρεσβεία ανέφερε σε δήλωση.

Ωστόσο, ανέφερε, επίσης, ορισμένες αδυναμίες. "Υπήρχαν θέματα που σημειώνεται στην ψηφοφορία καταμέτρηση και καταγραφή των ψήφων, καθώς και στα μέσα μαζικής ενημέρωσης προκατάληψη για τα κύρια πολιτικά κόμματα." Η δήλωση ανέφερε επίσης αμφίβολο ενέργειες και πιέσεις από τα πολιτικά κόμματα και την κυβέρνηση κατά τη διάρκεια της εκστρατείας

US supports OSCE critics on Albanian elections, while EU undecided to be important factor about Albania way to EU

SManalysis

Brussels must declare clearly that if Albania has capacity to make or not free elections, while the Albanian opposition, opposes with full legitimacy the right that Albania does not have standards for elections.

When Albania presented the request to be admitted to EU last April, the European Union relocated clear: firstly, make free elections with standard. Today we have another reality: without standard elections once again .....

Otherwise, the political abuse of government Berisha 2, could turn Albania into a totalitarian state. This fact, Albania is not prepared to develop early elections that could bring the popular protests if the government must come to a possible economic crisis.

In addition the US Embassy in Tirana issued a statement Wednesday supporting the OSCE's final report on the June 28th general elections. "We welcome the improvements from previous elections described in the report, such as an improved legal framework and voter registration process. These areas marked tangible progress over previous elections," the embassy said in a statement.

However, it also mentioned some shortcomings. "There were issues noted in vote counting and tabulation, as well as in media bias for the main political parties." The statement also cited questionable actions and pressure by political parties and the government during the campaign

Many greek students, leave the school "Arsakeio" of Tirana

High taxes by the Berisha Government, have forced administrators to innovation taxes for Greek children.

According to information made by parents of school "Arsakeio" many of children are removed from this school as a result of increasing the taxes to 20% for this year.

The administrate of the school was forced to parents explaining that a government decision to impose taxes to "Arsakeio Foundation" has set in great difficulties of Greek College the high officials.

But nothing could justify the attitude of the Greek Ministry of Education, which under the Greek Constitution must guarantees all children including children of Greek Diaspora from North Epirus to learn free the mother Greek language.

Dule: "Albania, no democratic standards last elections"

The Chairman of HRUP Vangjel Dule speaking in the Albanian parliament declared that "Albania has no democratic standard elections"

"Berisha government program was not provided voting emigrants and a specific completion of the requirements of the Council of Europe Convention on Minorities" said the Chairman HRUP, Vangjel Dule.

During his speech, Dule declared also for the representing of Greek minority inside the Albanian government as a demagogy noted that "the only a Greek represent party such as HRUP which is in political opposition, represent officially all minorities".

In addition, Dule critics the Berisha government's efforts to robber lands in the Ionian coastal area, Himare and Lukova regions. Dule also stressed that the Albanian government had not new project for emigrants. Dule once expressed his position that minorities do not enjoy any right provided by the Framework Convention of the Council of Europe and that there is no official representation of the Greek minority.

Η ''Αναγέννηση'' για τις βουλευτικές εκλογές

στην Αλβανία

Τετάρτη, Σεπτέμβριος 16, 2009,

by PERDIKIS

Στις 28 Ιουνίου πραγματοποιήθηκαν οι βουλευτικές εκλογές στην Αλβανία. Παρά τις όποιες ελπίδες πως επιτέλους η χώρα αυτή θα μπορέσει να πραγματοποιήσει σωστές και τίμιες εκλογές, η εκλογική διαδικασία ήταν επιεικώς απαράδεκτη. Αυτό εξάλλου επισημαίνουν στις εκθέσεις τους και οι διεθνείς παρατηρητές που την παρακολούθησαν.

Η Αλβανία λοιπόν απέτυχε για μια ακόμα φορά. Απέτυχε όμως και ο Βορειοηπειρωτικός Ελληνισμός να συσπειρώσει τις δυνάμεις του και να αναδειχθεί σαν μια σημαντική πολιτική δύναμη στο αλβανικό κοινοβούλιο.Πρώτο ανεδείχθη το Δημοκρατικό κόμμα του Σαλί Μπερίσα που σχηματίζει κυβέρνηση σε συνεργασία με μερικά μικρότερα κόμματα. Το Σοσιαλιστικό κόμμα του Έντι Ράμα ήλθε δεύτερο με πολύ μικρή διαφορά από το πρώτο. Όλα τα άλλα κόμματα πήραν πολύ μικρά ποσοστά. Το Κ.Ε.Α.Δ. - Ομόνοια έλαβε μόλις 1.19% (είχε λάβει το 4.13% το 2005) και εκλέγει έναν βουλευτή. Το Κ.Α.Δ.Ε. του Κορυτσαίου Γρηγόρη Καραμέλου έλαβε το 0.19%. Άλλα κόμματα που παρουσιάζουν ενδιαφέρον για την Ελλάδα: Το κόμμα των Τσάμηδων (PDI) με 0.95%, θα εκπροσωπηθεί στο κοινοβούλιο με δύο βουλευτές.

Τέλος το Σλαβομακεδονικό κόμμα (ΑΜΙΕ) έλαβε μόλις 0.07%.Η αποτυχία της «Ομόνοιας»- ΚΕΑΔ να συσπειρώσει τον ΒΗπειρωτικό Ελληνισμό, παρότι αυτός ήταν ο στόχος, θα πρέπει κυρίως να αποδοθεί σε μία σειρά από γεγονότα που προηγήθηκαν των εκλογών. Ο νέος εκλογικός νόμος που έφερε η αλβανική κυβέρνηση εξασφάλιζε την σίγουρη επικράτηση των δυο μεγάλων κομμάτων.

Τα μικρά κόμματα είχαν ελάχιστες πιθανότητες να εισέλθουν στο κοινοβούλιο, εκτός εάν συνέπρατταν σε μία εκλογική συνεργασία με τα μεγάλα κόμματα. Το ΚΕΑΔ απεχώρησε από την συνεργασία με το Δημοκρατικό κόμμα, όταν αυτό περιέλαβε στον συνασπισμό του το κόμμα των Τσάμηδων. Όπως είχε δηλώσει τότε ο πρόεδρός του Βαγγέλης Ντούλες «Δεν μπορούμε να συνυπάρξουμε με ένα κόμμα που έχει αλυτρωτικές θέσεις απέναντι στην Ελλάδα».

more see: http://chaonia.blogspot.com/

EXAMINER

Berisha: No place in the Albanian government for Catholics

September 16, Albania Headlines Examiner

by Pjerin Lumaj

On September 11, 2009, Albanian’s PM, Salih Berisha, formed the new government consisting 14 ministers. One thing cannot escape the eyes and minds of Albanians, though: None of Mr. Berisha’s ministers are of the Catholic faith. Is it because Berisha is not well informed about the contribution and sacrifices that Catholics have made to politics, arts, culture, science, etc., in Albania, or is it because he knows their exceptional ability to lead Albania out of the status qua, but he does not wish for such a thing to transpire yet?

Even if Albanians believe that Berisha is not well informed about the contributions made by Catholics, his advisors, argue Albanians, could have reminded him of Gjon Buzuku, Pjeter Bogdani, Pjeter Budi, Gjergj Fisha, Gjergj Kastrioti, Nre Mjeda, Mother Theresa, to mention a few. But Albanians appear not to believe this argument. They know better.

.........more see togather with opinions: http://www.examiner.com/x-23467-Albania-Headlines-Examiner

Greek-albanian under NATO exercise in Sarande Harbor

September 16, 2009 Greek-performance of the Coast Guard held at the port of Sarande in the presence of NATO military delegation in Tirana.

The purpose of the exercise was to examine existing plans for incidents search and rescue, both illegal immigrants and potential marine accidents.

The exercise was organized by the International Development Cooperation of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The exercise was successful and confirmed the readiness of the Coast Guard

Στρατηγικό Σχέδιο, "Διασπορά" για την αφομοίωση της γης των Ελλήνων στην Βόρειο Ήπειρο

SManalysis

Σύμφωνα με το BBC Radio στην αλβανική γλώσσα, ο Αλβανός πρωθυπουργός Σαλί Μπερίσα έχει εκπονήσει ένα νομοσχέδιο που ανοίγει τη δυνατότητα των εταιρειών από την αλβανική διασπορά και κυρίως από το Κοσσυφοπέδιο να επενδύσουν σε γη ακτές του Ιονίου.

Πριν από λίγες ημέρες, ο Αλβανός πρωθυπουργός Σαλί Μπερίσα, δήλωσε κατά τη διάρκεια μιας τηλεοπτική Κοσσυφοπεδίου Ρωτημένος από δημοσιογράφους σχετικά με τις επενδύσεις στη γη της νότιας ακτής του Ιονίου. Το ερώτημα tου ένα δημοσιογράφος από το Κοσσυφοπέδιο, πολλοί κάτοικοι του Κοσσυφοπεδίου ακόμη και Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες, προσπάθησαν να επενδύσουν στη δημιουργία συνθηκών για την νότια ακτή της Αλβανίας.

Μπερίσα απάντησε ότι η περίπτωση αυτή «η κυβέρνηση που θα οδηγήσει, έχει εκπονήσει ένα σχέδιο νόμου, έτσι ώστε όλοι οι επενδυτές από τη διασπορά και το Κοσσυφοπέδιο να επενδύσουν στην Αλβανία, στην ακτή του με όμορφο, Ιόνιο Πέλαγος”. Οι δηλώσεις του Μπερίσα γίνεται στα ίδια μήκη κύματος, εις βάρος των συμφερόντων της ελληνικής μειονότητας που ζουν στην ακτή του Ιονίου Πελάγους.

Εν τω μεταξύ, η ελληνική κυβέρνηση Καραμανλή εμφανίζεται πιο αδιάφοροι για το τι συμβαίνει με τις ιδιότητες των εθνοτικών Ελλήνων στην Βόρειο Ήπειρο, που βασίζεται σε στρατηγικό σχέδιο εθνικιστής "Διασπορά" του Σαλί Μπερίσα έστειλε μηνύματα προς τη δημιουργία της νέας κυβέρνησης.

Σχέδιο «Διασπορά» του Πρωθυπουργού Σαλί Μπερίσα, έχει μακρά ανάλυση από Έλληνες δημοσιογράφους, οι οποίοι θεωρούν ότι η αδιαφορία της Αθήνας ειδικά σε αυτή την προεκλογική εκστρατεία δεν επηρεάζει τα εθνικά θέματα της Ελλάδα.

Albanian blast case dropped against ex-minister

Associated Press 2009-09-14

Albania's Supreme Court has dismissed a criminal case against former Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu over a massive blast at a munitions disposal factory that killed 26 people.

Mediu had been stripped of his parliamentary immunity and charged with breach of duty. But the case against him was dropped Monday after he was re-elected to parliament in a June 28 general election and his immunity was restored.

The series of explosions at the munitions site on March 15, 2008, also left 300 people injured and damaged 5,500 houses outside the capital Tirana.
Mediu has been nominated to become environment minister in the re-elected conservative government.

ORGANIZED CRIME

Italian police seize Albanian marijuana

ROME, Italy

Italian police announced on Friday (September 11th) they have seized 145kg of marijuana produced in Albania. Two Albanian nationals were arrested in the operation, carried out 20km south of the coastal town of Lecce.

Another person involved in the group has managed to escape. Italian police have warned of a recent surge in cases involving Albanian drug smugglers.

On Thursday, police in Albania seized 80kg of marijuana hidden in a car travelling from Kruje to Fushe Kruje. An automatic rifle was also found. The drugs were en route to Drac, and from there slated to be smuggled into Italy. Two people were arrested in the sting.