Turkey, Bosnia, Serbia start trilateral summit

Apr 24, 2010

Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia started a trilateral summit in Ciragan Palace, Istanbul on Saturday.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Haris Silajdzic and Serbian President Boris Tadic attended the summit.

In a statement, the Turkish Presidency underlined that Turkey paid high attention to permanent peace and stability in the Balkans.

During the Summit, leaders will discuss new steps to be taken for regional peace and stability, the Turkish Presidency said.

After the summit, participants of the gathering are expected to hold a joint press conference.

LAOS MP, Johanis Corantis requires explanations for burning the flag of Greece, in Tirana

LAOS MP, Johanis Corantis, requires the Government of George Papandreou, explanations for the burning of the Greek flag at a nationalist demonstration in Tirana, during the month of March.

Among others, he stresses that this protest has been organized with participation of two members of the PDU (the party that supports the aspirations of the Community Cham.

Meanwhile, in a closed session on national issues, the LAOS leader George Karatzaferis, has asked the Greek Parliament, holding a public senace for the rights of the Greek minority in Northern Epirus and Relations of Greece with Albania in this context.

Dashnor Dervishi in the Albanian embassy in Athens

The cousin of Foreign Minister Ilir Meta, new Ambassador in Greece

Sure is, after today's hearing by the Foreign Policy Committee of the Albanian parliament, the installation of Dashnor Dervishi as head the Albanian embassy in Athens. First embassy which is headed to Mexico and is currently Ambassador of Albania in Bucharest. Dervisi, presented the committee with the goals and priorities of the mission:

Ntervisi, described his appointment as an important task for expanding cooperation and strengthening of bridges linking the two countries. Mr. Dervisi said that his position as a diplomatic representative of Albania in Athens is very important, since Greece is a strategic political and economic partner in the cooperation on bilateral, European and other issues.

"Greece is a strategic partner for Albania in a political and economic issues, European cooperation and beyond. One of the main tasks will be upgrading contacts at presidential and parliamentary level to deepen cooperation to increase across visits and strengthening existing bridges of communication, "said Mr.. Dervisi upon presentation of the Foreign Affairs Committee as proposed in the Albanian Foreign Ministry for the post of ambassador of Albania to Greece.

Dashnor Dervishi is the first cousin of Foreign Minister Ilir Meta. Derrvishi also was served as ambassador in Tel Avin and Italy.

Serbia: Cables of Serbian mobile operators in Kosovo severed

The Kosovo Serbs do not have a connection with the world after the authorities in Pristina cut off the cables of the Serbian mobile operators in Kosovo, "Glas Javnosti" daily reports.

The newspaper comments that 40,000 Serbs in Kosovo do not have mobile connection and EULEX is silent about everything.“The latest move prepares a new displacement of Kosovo Serbs,” writes Glas Javnosti. The telecommunications regulator in Kosovo in cooperation with the police severed the cables of the Serbian mobile operators in Badovac, Gracanice, Gusterici and Babin Most.

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic described the events as a new attempt to isolate the Kosovo Serbs and called on the international peacekeeping missions to foil the incidents.The residents of the Serbian enclaves in Kosovo cannot communicate with the world – they cannot call a doctor or an ambulance, the newspaper writes.

K. Albanians disable phone networks in Serb areas

Source: B92, Tanjug

PRIŠTINA -- The Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština removed the equipment of all Belgrade-based mobile and landline operators this morning. This happened in central Kosovo, reports said. Eyewitnesses, who secured the premises, said that “special police” broke into Telekom, Telenor and VIP structures to help cut off cables and take down equipment, at around 05:00 CET. Eyewitnesses said that workers of a "telecommunications regulatory body" from Priština removed transmitters and randomly severed cables. As a consequence, 40,000 Serbs are either left without mobile service in that part of the province, or have very poor reception. In all, some 80,000 people have their phones cut off, reports said. Telekom Srbija said they would issue a statement once they have learned about what exactly happened and who was responsible for what they called an act of vandalism. Telekom workers are currently working to enable landline telephony in the villages surrounding the Serb enclave of Gračanica. The enclave's small base transmitter has not been destroyed, so the 064 network has weak reception there. Meanwhile, a body dubbed the Kosovo Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said this Friday that it had taken action to "put an end to the illegal operation of unlicensed and unauthorized providers" that have “built networks in Kosovo”, Tanjug reports. http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=04&dd=23&nav_id=66665

The President of Albania gave amnesty to 367 prisoners

Among thieves, murderers and slave traders .. 140 of them won their freedom and for the rest of the sentence was reduced to less time than what was ordered.

For some up to 10 years less in the odd case is that among people who gained their freedom, but also those who reduced the sentences are murderers, thieves, pimps, who had been declared dangerous by Interpol and also people who were accused of pyramids (the fake companies) in 1997 brought the civil war in Albania.

Question: The European Union says something about this scandal?

We speak Griko!

Calimera (meaning “good morning”) is a small town in the “Grecìa Salentina,” or Greek Salento, at Italy’s Southern Apulia. Besides Italian, the inhabitants of Calimera also speak Griko, a linguistic amalgam comprising ancient Greek, Byzantine Greek and Italian elements.

In an effort to promote the dialect of Griko – also spelled Grico, a form of the Greek language spoken by people in the Magna Graecia region in southern Italy – the Organisation for the promotion of the Greek Language hosts an annual essay contest for pupils attending schools in Apulia on “The presence of Greeks in Southern Italy.”
Every year, the winners are invited to Greece for an educational trip during summer.
Magna Græcia (Latin meaning Greater Greece), is the name of the coastal areas on the Tarentine Gulf that was extensively colonized by Greek settlers.

The colonisers, who started arriving in the 8th century BC, brought with them their Hellenic civilization, which was to leave a lasting imprint in the Italian peninsula.
Grecia Salentina: Official Website & Grika milume: www.grikamilume.com

Greece: Papandreou announces use of EU-IMF aid


Prime minister George Papandreou on Friday announced that Greece is formally asking for activation of the EU support mechanism for the Greek economy.

“The time has come for the decision the leaders of the European member countries to support Greece to give us the time that the markets are not giving us. It is a national and pressing need to formally ask of our EU partners the activation of the support mechanism that we jointly created, Papandreou said in a televised statement from the island the southeastern island of Kastelorizo (foto), where he is on a visit.

Papandreou added that he has instructed finance minister George Papaconstantinou to make the necessary actions. The premier said that the revised figures of the true size of the Greek fiscal deficit for 2009 released on Thursday (by Eurostat) “reminded all of us of the “unfathomable mistakes, omissions and criminal choices and the storm of problems legated to us by the previous government”.

“We all — the present government and the Greek people — inherited a boat ready to sink, a country without prestige and credibility that had lost the respect of even its friends and partners, an economy exposed to the mercy of doubt and the appetites of speculation,” he said.
From the very first day the PASOK government rolled up its sleeves and went to work to reverse this negative climate, set out a plan, took tough measures that many times hurt, but regained the country’s credibility and created new alliances, Papandreou continued.

EU: Bosnia, Albania Need to Work More for Visa Free Travel

Brussels 23 April 2010 By Gjeraqina Tuhina


European CommissionBalkan Insight has obtained a copy of an EU assessment of the progress made by Albania and Bosnia in the implementation of the roadmap for visa liberalisation, which indicates that whilst both countries have made progress in meeting benchmarks, more effort is needed.

Although there is a chance that Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina might receive a positive recommendation from Brussels on the implementation of a visa free travel regime, Tirana and Sarajevo should not rest on their laurels as more work is needed before agreement is reached.

Without further progress, the two countries may well have to wait longer and will probably not enjoy visa free travel in time for the summer holidays, as they had initially hoped. The report, prepared by EU experts, guages the level of progress of both Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in meeting the necessary requirements for the visa liberalisation process.

The European Commission was expected to deliver a positive recommendation at the end of May or the beginning of June but according to the experts’ report, further conditions will need to be met before such approval can be given.

The report was sent to EU member states last Friday and it underlines that both countries have met the “majority of benchmarks from the roadmap” that would enable them to be put on the “White Schengen” list - countries whose citizens do not require a visa to travel within the zone.

Last year, both countries were judged to have failed to meet the necessary conditions and were excluded from first wave countries in the region, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia which were added to the “White Schengen” list. ....

more see;

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/analysis/27572/

TERRORISTS, "OLD" AND "NEW"

Greek authorities, benefiting from an incident similar to the one that led police to discover the 17 November terrorist gang in 2002, have swiftly rounded up six suspects who belong, police say, to the "new generation" of Greek terrorists. The arrests came in the wake of a shootout in early March which resulted in the killing by police of a suspected terrorist, Lambros Foundas. An investigation of Foundas's unobtrusive but, as it turned out, quite busy underground past and present did yield enough leads to guide the anti-terrorist squad, authorities claim, directly to 17 November's successor terror gang, Revolutionary Struggle. Active since 2003, Revolutionary Struggle moved quickly beyond what "old" Greek terrorist were able or willing to do. For the first time in Greek domestic terrorism annals, large ANFO bombs exploded in the middle of Athens causing serious damage but thankfully no casualties. Revolutionary Struggle fired military rifles at police with complete abandon. In January 2007, a Revolutionary Struggle "stick" launched an anti-tank rocket at the American embassy in Athens -- causing little damage but establishing strong symbolic credentials with Greek and foreign security and intelligence agencies..... more see: www.rieas.gr

Albanian PM: Kosovo factor of stability

TIRANA - Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that “independent Kosovo has become an essential factor for stability and peace in the Balkans”

He said that the participation of Serbs in the last Kosovo elections is further proof of a high level of democratic standards achieved in Kosovo.

According to his cabinet, “during a meeting with Kosovo Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni in Tirana the two officials talked about expanding and deepening the already excellent relations between Albania and Kosovo in all fields, especially in economy, trade, culture and Euro-Atlantic integrations”.

Berisha proposed that a feasibility study should begin for a large national project of building a railway between “the two countries”.

Hyseni informed Berisha of the activities and measures of the Kosovo government and all other institutions in Priština, said reports.

Greece, ready to recognize minorities!

In recognition of dangerous roads or even Turkish Macedonians minority in Greece, leading a curious correspondence between the Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe Thomas Hamarmpergk and ministers Mich. Christohoides. The Commissioner says that we should resolve the matter of the citizens it claims live in Greece and abroad have been deprived of Greek citizenship under Article 19 of the same name code.

In the same letter, the Commissioner stated that a discussion he had with George Papandreou on the issue of recognition of minorities in Greece and the necessity of signing the Convention of the Council of State for Minorities, Papandreou replied that it is consistent that the signature This contract is a "positive tool"!

Chrisochoïdis and C. Kastanidis is anything but prevent its minorities. They say, however, that the only recognized under international treaties minority in Greece is the Muslim minority in Thrace, but add: It is ongoing processes of the decision of the ECHR on the "Turkish Union of Xanthi" and pending further consideration to applications for recognition of three Muslim groups in the region of Komotini.

Recalled that the same commissioner during the three years 2006 - 2009 had sent similar letters to the then Minister Pr. Pavlopoulos, who refused to answer, just anticipating the risk if such an open dialogue with him ...

more see: http://www.paron.gr/v3/new.php?id=53134&colid=&catid=42&dt=2010-04-18%200:0:0

Kosovo police to patrol border with Albania

KFOR commander Markus Bentler says international peacekeeping forces would cede control over the Albanian border to the Kosovo police, KPS, late in April.

After meeting with U.S. Adm. Mark Fitzgerald, chief of NATO's Joint Forces Command Naples, Bentler said KFOR would continue to transfer responsibilities to the Kosovo police as part of the withdrawal of KFOR from the border area.

Bentler said this would be performed soon with the border zone toward Albania, and added that KFOR believed the Kosovo police to be increasingly prepared, professional and efficient.

He went on to say that the full transfer of authority would take place on April 28.

The KFOR commander stated that the transfer of border control competency to the Kosovo police would continue in other areas, but that there were no deadlines and that each country would be considered as a separate case. He did not comment on the possibility for the Kosovo police to soon take control over the administrative line with Serbia proper.

We are cooperating with Serbia on preserving security in that area of the border zone, Bentler said.

Adm. Fitzgerald stated that the transfer of authority to Kosovo institutions was an indication of progress in Kosovo. “We do not want to wait until the last moment to transfer the competencies, but to do it while KFOR still has a strong presence, so that we can supervise, assist and advise,” he said.

Fitzgerald arrived in Kosovo on April 19. A visit by members of the NATO Military Committee, scheduled for the same day, was canceled due to air traffic problems.

Albania's SP decides to ramp up protests

19/04/2010

TIRANA, Albania -- The main opposition Socialist Party (SP) says it plans to hold more protests against the government and in support of "revealing the truth about the 2009 general elections".

The decision, backed on Sunday (April 18th) at the party's congress, came less than two months after the SP ended a complete boycott of parliament staged for months over the government's refusal to open ballot boxes and investigate the June 2009 elections.

"We will continue to protests to give freedom to the people, not tyranny," SP leader Edi Rama said on Sunday. They will start on April 30th. The SP also presented a strategy to strengthen the economy.

Kosovo: Kurti Doesn't Show, Trial Postponed Again

Pristina | 16 April 2010 | Petrit Collaku

Albin Kurti, leader of Vetevendosje, says his movement could take part in elections

Kosovo police failed to bring Vetevendosje [Self-determination] leader Albin Kurti to the District Court of Pristina today. As a result Kurti's trial was postponed yet again; it scheduled to resume Monday, April 19.

EULEX, the EU rule-of-law mission, also said that the appointed ex officio lawyers did not show up at the courthouse, thereby violating their official duties.

“The court will issue a new order to compel Albin Kurti to be present for the next hearing,” the EULEX press release reads.

“The court will send the papers to the Kosovo Bar Association for the necessary steps to be taken in order to address the disciplinary infringements which were committed during the hearing.”

The trial has already been postponed on a number of occasions. Kurti was not present at yesterday’s hearing either, and the trial was pushed to today.

Vetevendosje activists claim that Kurti is not hiding and that he is continuing to work normally. This was the seventh attempt of the court to bring Kurti to trial.

The Prosecution is represented by a prosecutor from the Special Prosecution Office.

Three of the top ranking EU officials in Kosovo, Pieter Feith, the EU Special Representative in Kosovo; Yves de Kermabon, the Head of Mission EULEX Kosovo; and Renzo Daviddi, the Head of EC Liasion Office to Kosovo, issued a statement today condemning the attack on Kurti's former defence attorney, who was egged while entering the courtroom yesterday to tender his resignation.

In the statement: the three officials said: “We strongly condemn the attack yesterday on the lawyer in the Albin Kurti case, Mr. Avni Gjakova.

“It is vitally important for the rule of law that institutions and those who have the duty to work within them are able to work without political interference, disruption or violence. Respect for institutions and those who serve in them is a fundamental principle of the rule of law in a democratic society and a core European value.

“We call upon local authorities to protect the independence of the judiciary as part of the consolidation of the rule of law and advancing Kosovo’s progress toward a European future.”

Police finds on terrorist group

A car whose luggage compartment contained weapons, hard electronic computer discs, forged identity cards and many thousands of euros in cash, as well as two apartments that were possibly safehouses of the terrorist organisation "Revolutionary Struggle" are the new findings of the Greek police in investigations being carried out on the specific case.

Police chief Eleftherios Economou made relevant announcements on the findings on Thursday evening, beginning his briefing by referring to the vehicle found and which belongs to one of the defendants.

Greeks in New York Ready for Sunday’s Big Parade

Greek News

Philip Christopher, Ernie Anastos, Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, along with Boy & Girl Scouts of America the Grand Marshals.

New York.- The 2010 Greek Independence Day Parade will be held Sunday April 18, 2010. This is the 72nd annual parade celebration of Hellenic heritage and freedom, commemorating the 189th anniversary of the Greek declaration of independence, March 25, 1821.

The Parade has become a New York City tradition since 1938, and attracts a vast number of New York marchers and participants. It is a culmination of a month long celebration of Greek heritage are hosted and organized by the Federation of Hellenic Society of Greater New York. Dinners, a White House gathering, a beauty pageant, City Hall celebrations, a ceremonial flag raising and numerous other activities all lead up to the Parade on Fifth Ave, commencing from the Pierre Hotel.

The Greek government will be represented by vice minister of Foreign Affairs Spyros Kouvelis, while it is expected the Cypriot government to be represented by a cabinet member. In addition 8 members of the Greek Parliament are expected to attend.

Kadare Cancels Greek Visit Following Racist Chants

Tirana | 16 April 2010 |

Ismail Kadare

Renowned Albanian writer Ismail Kadare has canceled a visit to Greece in the wake of racist chants against Albanians sung during a military parade in Athens at the end of March, local media reported on Thursday. Kadare was scheduled to hold a speech on April 19 at the Megaro Mousikis University in Athens. In a letter to the university Kadare wrote that, although he was a great admirer of Greek literature and culture, he does not find any trace of such culture in the recent military parade.

“Being aware of the recent events in Athens expressing racism against Albanians I am canceling my visit to your country,” Kadare is cited as writing by local broadcaster Top-Channel TV. “You know very well my admiration for Greek literature and culture, but I believe that in this climate that lacks civility, my visit would be premature,” Kadare adds.

Albania pushes for EU talks despite political deadlock at home

AUGUSTIN PALOKAJ AND SVETLANA JOVANOVSKA

Albania, whose Socialist opposition has been boycotting parliament for a year now, is pressing ahead with efforts to eventually secure EU membership.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha on Wednesday (14 April) submitted answers to a questionnaire that will enable the European Commission to issue to member states an opinion on the Western Balkan country's application to join the EU.

Tirana is pursuing EU membership

EU enlargement chief Stefan Füle told Mr Berisha that "the timing of the opinion will largely depend on the quality and completeness of the information". He told journalists that before the next local elections in Albania, due next spring, the Commission would deliver a "balanced and fair assessment"of the situation, paying particular attention to the country's fulfillment of the political criteria for admission.

International observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe have concluded that general elections in June 2009 "did not fully realise Albania's potential to adhere to the highest standards for democratic elections".

In an interview with WAZ before meeting Mr Berisha, Mr Füle made it clear that the country needs to improve the functioning of its political system.He suggested that the commission might have additional questions once it studies the current answers.

"There are issues- and one particular - that makes the whole process more difficult and it is the stability of political institutions in Albania," Mr Fule said."I visited recently Albania and expressed deep concerns about the parliament still not being able to play fully its role."

The centerpiece of the commission's opinion will be Albania's compliance with the so-called Copenhagen criteria, which make a country eligible to join the EU. These criteria include having institutions to preserve democratic governance and human rights, a functioning market economy, and readiness to meet the obligations of EU membership. Member states, which have the final say on the issue, differ on the Albania's readiness.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy tried to reassure Mr Berisha calling his government's answers to the commission questionnaire a "historical document". But he warned that the EU is following domestic political developments with "interest and attention."

The commission is also studying answers by Montenegro, which, according to diplomats, stands a good chance of winning a positive opinion and possibly candidate status this year.

Member states are still expected to start the same procedure with Serbia, which applied for EU

membership last year. The application was not dealt with yet because of its failure to fully cooperate with The Hague war crimes tribunal.

Sllavo Macedonians want Bulgarian passports before visa liberalization out of pragmatism, says Branko Crvenkovski

The same request, they made the Albanian politicians in Tirana: Before the liberalized visa, then become Population Count.

Branko Crvenkovski, FYROM president between 2004 and 2009, thinks the Slavo Macedonians who want to get a Bulgarian passport after the visa liberalization has sharply dropped, FYROM media reported.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Bulgarian Socialist Party Chairman Sergey Stanishev, Branko Crvenkovski said: “I cite your question and I do not agree with it: ‘Many citizens returned to their roots after Bulgaria joined the EU.’ Why did not they return before Bulgaria’s joining the EU?

Why in other cases in the region when a country joins the EU, do citizens of other countries want to have a passport to travel freely? Why after the visa liberalization, which was adopted as a measure in reference to FYROM, Serbia and Montenegro, did suddenly this process decrease radically? The people are pragmatic; they want to travel, get educated, trained, have business relations,” said Crvenkovski.

The same request, they made the Albanian politicians in Tirana: Before the liberalized visa, then become Population Count.

Tirana believes that the Albanians will be "sold" to the Greek passport if the General Population Count will be done before Europe offers to Albania for visa liberalization.