Albania cancels national grid operator's license

 

The Associated Press

TIRANA, Albania -- Czech firm CEZ has lost its license to operate Albania's national grid following a dispute with the government that led to water supply cuts and daily rolling blackouts.
State regulator ERE announced Monday that electricity distribution would return to government control after the firm's subsidiary CEZ Shperndarje sh.a, which holds a 76-percent stake in the grid operator, saw its license revoked.
CEZ argued it was forced to introduce blackouts because of unpaid bills, while the government countered that the company had ignored its commitments for infrastructure investment.
The Czech company said it would seek compensation, arguing that the decision was in "in violation of the local legislation."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/21/3192947/albania-cancels-national-grid.html#storylink=cpy

Orthodox church frescoes vandalized in Albania

Jan 21, 2013 16:02 Moscow Time

The desecration of an ancient Orthodox church near Tirana is a crime against Albania’s cultural heritage, Director of International Relations and Projects at the Albanian Television Kleart Duraj said in an interview to the Voice of Russia.

Media said that vandals had cut out and made away with a part of a 16th -century fresco by a famous icon-painter, Onufry, in a small village of Vlash some 60 kilometers south of the Albanian capital.

According to Mr. Duraj, the thieves sneaked into the church during the New Year holiday, so the damage to the frescoes was noticed only a while after the break-in.

He waved off media reports that suggested this could have come as a response to Kosovo Serbs’ attempts to establish an Autonomous Province of Kosovo within Serbia.

Albania has no religious in-fighting, Kleart Duraj stressed in the interview. The country is populated by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians, and it has no history of religious wars, he added.

“I don’t believe some Kosovo Albanians would have travelled all this way to “take revenge” on local Orthodox Christians,” Mr. Duraj said. “Most probably, the thieves hoped to sell the relics off and get rich,” he said.

Voice of Russia

On the way, for unification of the Greater Albania

Berisha: What happened in Presevo shows that we must come together in a State

Berisha: Tirana will review relations with Serbia

During the meeting of the parliamentary group of DP, Berisha was stopped in the removal of the monument by the Serbs yesterday in Presevo.

He said that what happened yesterday shows the hatred that exists towards Albanians and for this reason, he said the only solution to the Albanians is to unite in a single state. According to Berisha, can not be admitted to such actions.

"Nations of the region should see the process of uniting the Albanians, as a peace process," said Berisha.

Berisha said that the international community should not hold dual positions with Serbia. He said that Albania, after yesterday's act, to rethink relations with Serbia.

Berisha's statement, confirms the analysis of the Western journalists, who see politicians nationalist propaganda in Tirana, not as an electoral phenomenon, but national strategy for Greater Albania.

PM: No reason for Albanians in south to protest

Source: Tanjug

MOKRA GORA -- The state acted according to the law when it removed a memorial in Preševo and there is no reason for any kind of protests in the south, says Ivica Dačić.

Ivica Dačić (Beta, file)

The Serbian prime minister spoke late on Sunday on Mt. Mokra Gora in western Serbia where he was a guest of a film festival.
His comments came after the memorial for the members of the ethnic Albanians UCMPB (OVMPB) was removed earlier in the day.

Dačić told reporters that "there was no reason for unrest or any kind of protest, because the monument was removed and not destroyed, nor was force used".

He also noted that "certain legal deadlines had been given" previously to remove the structure that was built without a permit.

The now disbanded ethnic Albanian group was considered terrorist by the authorities for launching attacks against Serbian soldiers, policemen, and civilians in the area in 2000 and 2001.

"Serbia will behave like any other country in the world - let's not have those who would have torn it down the first day lecture us," the premier said, and added that he "does not believe that in the U.S. Al Qaeda veterans, or those who carried out various terrorist attacks in London, Paris, would decide whether a memorial should be built".

"The fact that Serbia wishes to negotiate should not be understood as a weakness. We are firm in wanting a dialogue, and firm in defending our Serbia."

Dačić also stated that he "earlier suggested for some sort of agreement to be reached - but this story is over, and done."

"I certainly did not provoke this crisis, it has been provoked by the behavior of the Albanians in southern Serbia. They think they can do what they like," he said, and noted that their leaders announced "a continued struggle with the support of the international community".

The prime minister then wondered, "what international community, which international community".

He also observed that "he was the one talking with the international community", and that the Preševo controversy was, "according to what everyone has said", an internal matter for Serbia.

"(Hashim) Thaci can put his customs at administrative crossings and say that the laws of Kosovo must be respected, and now that the laws of Serbia must be respected - let's negotiate. There will be no negotiations with terrorists - that's what we've learned from the West."

According to Dačić, negotiations cannot be held with those who glorify terrorism, "but only with those who wish to be a part of our political and constitutional system".

Ethnic Albanians in southern Serbia on Sunday announced a gathering for Monday, in order to protests over the removal of the memorial.

No incidents have been reported from the area, but several incidents took place in Kosovo, as ethnic Albanians there also staged protests.

Bulgaria ethnic Turkish party wants to trace attack "mastermind"

Lyutvi Mestan, the newly elected leader of Bulgaria's etnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, at the emergency press conferance. Photo by BGNES  

Source: reuters // Reuters

SOFIA, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish party, whose leader escaped unhurt when a man pointed a gun to his head on stage at a party congress, said on Sunday it wanted police to investigate who was the "political mastermind" behind the attack.
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) accused the police and security services of failing to protect Ahmed Dogan from the man who tried on Saturday to shoot him twice before being wrestled to the ground by security guards.
"The main goal of the investigation would be to focus on finding out who was the political mastermind of this attack," said Lyutvi Mestan, who replaced Dogan as MRF party leader as previously expected on Saturday.
"The authorities are working on the lead that this was an individual action of a criminal .... this is a huge stain on Bulgaria's image," he told a news conference.
The party called for an international investigation into the assault by the 25-year-old man, who police identified as Oktay Enimehmedov, an ethnic Turk from the Black Sea town of Burgas.
Police said the gun used during the attack was a non-lethal gas pistol and deputy chief prosecutor Borislav Sarafov told reporters Enimehmedov faces up to five years in prison for hooliganism and up to six years for making a death threat.
Political parties in Bulgaria strongly condemned the attack against Dogan, one the most influential political figures in the European Union's poorest member.
"The attack against Dogan is not a hooliganism. This is an assault against the national security. I categorically reject any claims that the incident was staged," said Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Sergei Stanishev.
Prime Minister Boiko Borisov told reporters: "This is a very disturbing event and should not happen in today's Bulgaria."
The liberal MRF party represents ethnic Turks and other Muslims who make up about 12 percent of the Balkan country's population of 7.3 million. Dogan was named honorary chairman on Saturday of the party he has led for 23 years.
Most Muslims in Bulgaria are not recent immigrants but are a centuries-old community, mostly ethnic Turkish descendants of Ottoman rule.
The MRF was a junior partner in the previous Socialist-led cabinet in Bulgaria, which is due to hold parliamentary elections in July. (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Sophie Hares)

Ethnic Albanians announce protest over monument

Source: Beta

PREŠEVO -- Ethnic Albanians from southern Serbia will hold a protest over the removal of a monument in the town of Preševo on Monday.

(Tanjug)

Members of the Serbian police (MUP) Gendarmerie unit removed the monument honoring members of the so-called Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa, and Bujanovac (UCPMB) in downtown Preševo on Sunday morning.
Albanian political leaders from Bujanovac and Preševo told a press conference in the Preševo municipal assembly that the protest would be held at noon on Monday.

The only ethnic Albanian MP in the Serbian parliament Riza Halimi said that Serbia continued to solve issues with force instead of dialogue.

“Joint position of all political leaders is to persist in the achievement of legitimate individual and collective rights of Albanians in the Preševo Valley,” Halimi noted.

The press conference was also attended by Preševo Mayor Ragmi Mustafa, Bujanovac Mayor Nagip Arifi and Preševo assembly Speaker Skender Destani.

Destani said that the Serbian government had shown that it “does not want Albanians in the Preševo Valley”.

He said that the ethnic Albanians in the south would request, with the help of the international community, to have the same rights as Serbs in northern Kosovo.

Mustafa and Arifi spoke Albanian even though there were no translators.

Ethnic Albanians laid flowers and lit candles at the place where the memorial once stood.

All ethnic Albanian parties will hold emergency sessions today to discuss further steps.

Albanian Government reacts to the removal of the statue in Presevo

Tirana`s Government: Stop albanophobia of our neighborhoods
"Albania has supported and will support, without shaking, freedoms and human rights national and Albanians in the Presevo Valley, which may not, in any case, other standards than those required by Belgrade to the Serbs in northern Mitrovica"
 Albanian government condemns the act of removing the monument of martyrs UCPMB Serbian special forces in Presevo. In an official statement published on the website of the Albanian government said that the Albanian government condemns the act of leaving with armored vehicles, machine guns and terror, by the Belgrade authorities, the statue of the heroes of the Albanians in the Presevo Valley, which fell to be done immortalized in the struggle for freedom and human dignity and national level, against equally Milosevic regime.
Albanian government, such an act is "another testament of the albanofobia in Belgrade from  official authorities, which clearly demonstrates that the Albanian anti racist legacy of Slobodan Milosevic is alive and dominates Belgrade's official policy. With this serious act, the Belgrade authorities have openly violated laws and international conventions, such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Convention on the Rights of National Minorities of the Council of Europe, as well as the European Charter of the Congress of Local and Regional Autonomy Local Authorities of Europe, which Serbia has signed and is bound to apply. "
Further official statement said that the Albanian government appreciates and fully supports the cautious attitude of the local authorities and citizens of Presevo Valley Albanians against Serbian terror and assures them that Albania has supported and will support, without shaking, freedoms and human rights national and Albanians in the Presevo Valley, which may not, in any case, other standards than those required by Belgrade to the Serbs in northern Mitrovica.
Albanian government calls upon international institutions to stop the storm of albanofobia, emerging usually in the region, as a factor that threatens the peace and stability.

Gendarmes remove controversial monument

Source: B92, RTS, Tanjug

PREŠEVO -- Members of the Serbian police (MUP) Gendarmerie unit removed a controversial monument in downtown Preševo around 7:15 CET on Sunday.

(Tanjug)

According to reports, there were no incidents.
Around 200 Gendarmerie officers came to the southern town’s main square this morning with heavy machines. They used a bulldozer to dislodge the monument and then lifted it onto a truck.

Aside from the Gendarmerie officers, Gendarmerie Commander Bratislav Dikić, Vranje Police Administration Chief Slađan Velinović and Preševo police station commander Avdi Bajrami and his deputies were present during the removal.

Small number of citizens watched the operation from nearby buildings.

The square was completely cleaned after the Gendarmerie removed the monument.

Serbian Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić has said that the Gendarmerie officers removed the illegal monument on Justice Ministry’s order, bearing in mind that all legal deadlines for its removal have expired.

“Serbia has shown enough patience but it has also sent a clear and firm message that the law needs to be respected and that nobody is more powerful than the state,” he told Tanjug.

He added that the operation had been carried out “without any incidents and use of force”.

The monument honoring members of the so-called Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa, and Bujanovac (UCPMB) was erected in November 2012. Serbian top officials said it would have to be removed by January 17, when the fourth round of the Belgrade-Priština negotiations was scheduled.

The monument was not removed within the envisaged deadline and Preševo municipal councilors have adopted a decision aimed at legalizing the monument.

  Picture: AFP

AFP: Bulgarian Turkish party leader steps down after attack

 

19 January 2013 | 21:13 | FOCUS News Agency

 

Home / Politics

Sofia. Bulgaria's veteran Turkish minority party leader Ahmed Dogan tendered his resignation Saturday, hours after escaping a gas pistol attack while addressing his party's national conference in Sofia, AFP reported.
"This time my decision is categorical!" Dogan said, proposing that his deputy Lyutvi Mestan replace him as head of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) party.
The ethnic Turkish minority leader was addressing delegates at the conference earlier Saturday when a man carrying a gas pistol rushed up to his podium and pointed the non-lethal weapon at his head, video footage showed.
Dogan struck the attacker's arm away before he could fire a shot.
Delegates then wrestled the assailant -- a 25-year-old ethnic Turk from the eastern city of Burgas -- to the ground.
Police later arrested the man, who was also carrying two knives, a police statement said.
Dogan, 58, has led MRF since its formation 23 years ago.
Backed mainly by Bulgaria's 10 percent ethnic Turk minority, the controversial veteran politician has played a key role in Bulgaria's post-communist transition.
Dogan's ability to control his voters ensured the liberal MRF's participation in two successive coalition governments between 2001 and 2009.
The MRF is now in opposition to the right-wing government of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.
Dogan was largely expected to step down on Saturday even before the attack.
His interrupted address, read out later in his presence by another MRF member, claimed that a recent "demonisation" of his image was detrimental to the party ahead of general elections in July.
He urged delegates to support Mestan's candidacy and to make "a common effort to change public opinion about the MRF and its leader".
Dogan lashed out at the premier, accusing him of seeking to "replace democracy with dictature" by stifling the market economy and controlling the media.
Dogan has prided himself for his role in maintaining Bulgaria's ethnic peace while ethnic conflicts raged in the country's Balkan neighbours in the 1990s.
The Turkish minority, which was subjected to drastic assimilation policies under communism, won key rights under his leadership including free religious expression, political representation in parliament, Turkish classes in schools and Turkish-language news broadcasts on the state television.
Dogan's political versatility and diverse coalitions with conservatives, liberals and socialists (ex-communists) over the years however attracted criticism from all sides, mostly for his authoritarian ways, political arrogance and alleged corruption.
Revelations that he had collaborated with the communist police before turning against the political regime and being imprisoned in 1985 also alienated many of his supporters.

EPIKEIRA WEEKLY



Albania - Kosovo proceed for unification

Every day, is becoming more as possible an unification Albania and Kosovo. What will said the consolidation of the Greater Albania, for Greece and the other countries in the Balkans?


Taking all these into account, the Albanian question emerges as crucial to the Greek foreign policy, national security and stability throughout the region ...

By Sotiris SIDERI

The high mobility stated between Albania and Kosovo, to unify the two states are not firework for the elections of June in Athens as many appreciated the recent nationalist frenzy of political parties in Tirana. A reality, and every indication is a matter of time for a de facto consolidation that will change the balance in the Balkans, creating legitimate questions about stability in the region.

A series of moves towards unification of the two states shows that there is a strategic plan, which is naturally expressed through declarations, actions, steadily and strikes the apathy with which the European Union and the U.S. face the developments. After the crescendo last November when one of the events for the centenary of the founding of the Albanian state in the EU and the U.S. responded and urged Tirana to lower tones, many believed that the Albanian political system wraps. Denied, however, all these while, conversely, those who argue that confirmed the dynamic vision of "Greater Albania" remains strong, regardless of whether it may or may not become a reality in its entirety. The first steps, however, be a matter of time and cause reactions than other states in the region.  

The cooperation at the political level and the development of social relations between Albanians, is logic. But now, there is no such discussion, but promoted a new order, which dramatically affects the other countries that have Albanian communities in their territories.SpeculationIn particular are the problems for Greece is targeted not because of an insignificant minority as Chams, but because Tirana raise issues similar to those of Turkey on shelf / EEZ, while the anti-Greek is the most prevalent perception and will take a long time and attempt to reverse the image. The inability of the government to study the problem and move to prevent new fait accompli in the Balkans is given. It is given a new crisis in the region. Just a matter of time to break out.

The nationalist party Red and Black Alliance, filed days before application to the Central Election Commission, requesting a referendum on the unification of Albania with Kosovo a state entity. Do, ie, one step ahead. To place the referendum required 50,000 signatures, which, according to diplomatic sources, it is very easy to assemble. Whether or not to the referendum, as it is sure to engage the international community feared that would divert general, the dynamics and only the relevant discussion will fuel even more nationalism, will affect all Albanian communities in other Balkan countries such as Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. The leader of the Red and Black Alliance Kreshnik Spahiu said that "the two Albanian states should join the EU as a federation with two Albanian cantons, which," as stated, would "abolish the border, but to change."

Before fifteen days the Prime Minister of Albania, Sali Berisha, said it will conduct jointly promote football championship between Albania and Kosovo, which Albanian Prime Minister insists promote, despite the fact that this is not allowed by the Constitution nor the UEFA neither of FIFA.On 10 January, PM Sali Berisha, makes a new statement in the same direction, said "I am determined to unite the nation" in his meeting with the executives of "public broadcaster Kosovo» RTK. Kosovars thanked the Prime Minister of Albania on the idea of ​​establishing a common area of ​​broadcasting between Albania and Kosovo, which already promoted, as there is no legal impediment.

Competition for "Greater Albania"

The election campaign in Albania has taken the peculiar characteristics of a competition between the political parties over who will display more ideas for "Greater Albania" and who will look the most patriots. This development contradicts those both in Europe and particularly in Athens initially assessed that the nationalist rhetoric due to campaigning. Apparently the upcoming election in June increases the intensity of the debates, common, but denominator is unnecessary rhetoric, but concrete actions.

Thus, both the conservative party of Berisha and Rama's socialists, while initially thought to increase the nationalistic intensity in order not to have lost the red-Alliance, is now proving that this is not just rhetoric, but a plan. PM Sali Berisha loses large forces, but Rama appears high in the polls, over 40% - about the rate that was in 2009. Note that three years ago the red-right-wing Alliance and socialists allied lobbied the Constitutional Court to annul the 2009 agreement with Greece on the delimitation of maritime zones, including the EEZ.

The prospect of alliance or tolerance in a nationalistic policy towards Greece causing nightmares to those involved in Athens on the situation in Albania This is because the red-League, a few years ago started low, almost non-existent rates today has rocketed in the polls about 16%, which means that the nationalist and mainly anti-Greek positions will become systemic features, which will probably worsen a dangerous level of bilateral relations, if the socialists do not change their attitude, which is not in sight. This party, with striking kinematic characteristics, which moves the boundary of legality, with unrecorded financial resources, increasingly affect the political scene in Tirana. Parallel and influence the Movement "Self-Determination" of Kosovo-too-extreme nationalist, which in turn has already infiltrated organizations Albanians in Skopje. The Greek Government, having stagnated for years, now you have to anticipate the worst, though, of course, no plan and motivation, something that does not seem very likely. 

The mistake with Greece

On the subject of the agreement, eminent jurists circles indicate the "News" that until now Albania has not withdrawn its signature, that is, when the Law of Treaties, that the intention towards Greece is to hold open the prospect its entry into force. At the Convention on the Law of Treaties, has no obligation to ratify the agreement with Greece, but has "an obligation to up to validate refrain from actions that deprive the agreement of the object and purpose", ie not do something that would make it impossible to implement the Agreement enters into force.  

According to the same source, the Albanians "know that if you do not implement the agreement, they lose their ability to exploit the areas north of Corfu, as we do, failing agreement, will react; need to see their benefits in comparison to the low cost if you accept the agreement, and to understand their own goal to put constraints which make it difficult to go today. " This means that the Albanians, the appeal to the Constitutional Court and the "freezing" of the agreement, in Greece cause problems, obviously because of the involvement of Turkey, but also in their own country. Let alone that surveys of our country Ionian change the setting.

Taking all these into account, the Albanian question emerges as crucial to the Greek foreign policy, national security and stability throughout the region ...

http://www.newsnow.gr/article/337037/epikaira-alvania---kosovo-proxoroun-se-enosi.html

Christos Pappas of "Xrisy Avgy" debate with Greek foreign ministry about Albania

Christos Pappas in the Greek Parliament: 

Both The Prime Minister, Sali Berisha and the leader of Albanian Opposition, Edi Rama, are ultra nationalists, who wants the Chamuria questions, and menace the Greeks  in Northern Epirus.

Govt. vehicles blown up in Priština "in protest over north"

Source: Tanjug

PRIŠTINA -- Three official vehicles belonging to the government in Priština government were destroyed in three separate explosions.

According to reports quoting the Kosovo police, the incidents took place late on Thursday.
The three vehicles exploded at different locations almost simultaneously, KPS Spokesman Baki Kelani said, underscoring that no one was injured.

The blasts took place in the neighborhood of Lipljane, near the Lapska mosque, and in the neighborhood of Sunčani Breg.

More than two months ago, two vehicles belonging to the ministries of the Kosovo government were also destroyed in explosions.

A previously unknown organization calling itself "The Unsatisfied" sent a letter to the Priština's Albanian language daily Express, taking responsibility for the attacks.

The letter said that the group was spurred to action "because the traitors from the Kosovo government were handing over the north".

Northern Kosovo is majority inhabited by Serbs, who reject the authority of the government in Priština.

The incidents took place after the latest round of the Kosovo dialogue held in Brussels late on Thursday.

ISSUE OF THRACE - Foreign Ministry Slams Turkish Intervention In Greek Internal Affairs

ISSUE OF THRACE - Foreign Ministry Slams Turkish Intervention In Greek Internal Affairs

 (credit: Wikipedia)

Foreign Ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras stated the following in response to questions regarding a Turkish Foreign Ministry announcement on the legislative regulation of issues concerning Muslim preachers in Thrace:

“The Turkish Foreign Ministry announcement on an initiative that regulates issues concerning the status of Muslim preachers in Thrace in a manner that is positive for the Muslim minority itself – in light of information that has come out regarding the efforts of the Turkish Consulate in Komotini to impact the parliamentary process in Greece – is not consistent with the stated will of both countries to work to improve bilateral relations.

This announcement is another of the Turkish side’s familiar attempts to distort the reality of the Greek state’s treatment of the Muslim minority. It is a failed attempt, given that Greece – and Thrace, specifically – is a model of harmonious coexistence of citizens of different faiths, with one of the highest levels of protection of and respect for religious rights.

Greece is carefully monitoring the steps Turkey is taking to approach European standards in the sector of human and minority rights, which for Greece, as for the rest of the EU member states, are a given. And this is an important parameter for Turkey’s accession course, which, as is well known, Greece supports.

Information regarding the legislative regulation:

• The new provisions remedy weaknesses that the minority itself identified in the previous draft law.
• For the first time, provision is made for the teaching of the Quran in public schools in Thrace in which Muslim minority students are enrolled.
• This initiative is part of the serious efforts Greece is making towards the religious and intellectual nurturing of our Muslim minority fellow citizens.
• The potential for Muslim clergy, should they so wish, to attain public functionary status constitutes an upgrading.
• Greece proves daily and by its actions its full respect for the religious freedom of the Muslim minority, in total compliance with all international obligations and standards.

Please read the following story to familiarize yourself with the present situation in Thrace, and why Ankara is angry.

Bosniaks protest over Serbian WW1-era song

Source: B92, Tanjug

NEW YORK -- The UN secretary-general's spokesman on Friday responded to protests voiced by Bosniak (Muslim) associations over a Serbian song performed at the UNGA.

The UNGA event on Monday (FoNet)

Ban Ki-moon has expressed sincere regrets that certain people were offended by the performance of "March on the Drina" in the Plenary Hall of the UN General Assembly on Monday, Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
Answering questions of a Bosniak correspondent, who, Tanjug said, "voiced a very negative opinion of the song", Nesirky said at a regular press conference in the UN seat that Ban "obviously was not aware what the song was about or the use that has been made of it in the past".

The performance of the song on the Orthodox New Year in the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday was condemned by the Congress of North American Bosniaks, civil societies of refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina in the U.S., and the Association of the Mothers of Srebrenica.

The Bosniak associations said earlier in the week that the UNGA concert represented "a scandalous humiliation of the victims of genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina, because the band played a notorious, violent Serb nationalistic song, March on the Drina".

And while the Bosniak associations on Friday asked for UNGA President Vuke Jeremić to be sacked over the concert, Ban's spokesman Nesirsky reiterated that the UN chief "did not issue an apology", but expressed his regret if the inclusion of the song in the program offended anyone.

In response to this, the UNGA chairman's office stated earlier in the day - "with solemn respect for all the victims of the wars in former Yugoslavia" - that the protests amounted to "regrettable attempts to twist the meaning of the song".

"Written around a century ago, March on the Drina is a song that takes a central place in our memory of defending our freedom from aggressors in the First World War, during which Serbia lost a third of its male population in the many battles fought on the side of the Allies," the statement adds.

"We are very proud of that, and we wanted to share this song with the world, with a clearly stated accompanying message of reconciliation for present and future generations," Vuk Jeremić's office said.

At the beginning of the First World War, Austria-Hungary used its territory across the Drina River from Serbia - what it today Bosnia-Herzegovina - to stage an invasion and occupation of Serbia.

March on the Drina glorifies the sacrifice of the Serbian Kingdom soldiers who defended against the invasion along the area of the river - which resulted in the first Allied victory of the war when the Serbians won the Battle of Cer.

Berisha provokes conflict with USA




Berisha: Karaburun, Zvernetsi and Narta Bay, will be built for elite tourism, which will work thousands of citizens
 
But a decision by the Albanian government has announced Karaburun area, Sazan, protect natural resources

Pentagon, has signed agreements with the Ministry of Defense of Albania, the use the Karaburun Peninsula, and the island of Sazano, in the service of the Sixth Fleet of the U.S. Navy.


Prime Minister of Albania, Sali Berisha, said the meeting of the Council of Territorial Adjustment of Albania, "all privatized military facilities in areas of Karaburun Peninsula and Sazan Island Narta Bay, tourist villages will be built, where be employed thousands of citizens. "

The statement is not taken seriously, for that during 2001, when the Prime Minister of Albania, was Ilir Meta, he led the government took a decision, to be built in the island of Sazan, many casino and tourist villages, but this plan was not implemented, from diplomatic intervention of USA.

As can be seen even today, attempt to build tourist villages by the Albanian government, there is no end. According to diplomatic sources the USA in Tirana, was surprised by this statement of Berisha, after bilateral military agreements, have decided that the Karaburun Peninsula and Sazan Island, to remain in available for use by the Sixth U.S. Fleet,

During a statement to the Minister of Defense Arben Imami, in Albanian parliament, the Albanian government has increased funding for the creation during 2013, living conditions, to accommodate the Marines of the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy, to perform military missions virgin coast Albanian from Karaburun in Himara Region.

Greek Flag on Sale Outside Utrecht Theater

By Nicky Mariam Onti on January 18, 2013

 


A Greek flag seven meters long with the sale stamp on it, indicating Greece is sold out, was considered good advertising for the Dutch impresario who decided to display it outside his theater to attract the Greek audience.
Thirty Greeks from Utrecht had already warned the Dutch impresario that his act is a total insult to Greece, stressing that: “We love our flag but remove the word SALE from it”. The impresario responded by telling them: “Its cost is 2,000 euros. It is very expensive to ask me to remove it.”

The owner of the only Greek-Dutch website in the area(www.greekevents.nl), who also lives in Utrecht, John Garlemos, stated to the newspaper Protothema: “We even called a Turk who lives in Utrecht and asked him what he thinks at the sight of our flag and the man was literally disgusted, yelling that this in an actual humiliation of Greece.”
Some of the 30 Greeks who had gathered outside the theater undertook to tear down the word SALE from the flag while the Dutch impresario remained locked in his office, for fear of a serious outbreak outside the theater. “He didn’t even venture out even for one moment. He just called the police and when they came they arrested the children who had been tearing down the filthiness that was written on our flag,”explained Garlemos.
Three Greeks spent the night in jail and a trial date has been set for Jan. 24. The Greek Consulate of Utrecht showed interest mainly for those outside the theater on the night of Jan. 11, and invited them to the consulate to express their displeasure.

 

Bosnia Plans Postponing Census to October

The census planned for April looks likely to be postponed to October on the advice of the international advisory body.

Elvira M. Jukic

BIRN

Sarajevo

Bosnia's state government told the Statistics Agency on January 17 to prepare changes to the census law in line with the recommendations of the International Monitoring Operation, IMO, the body tasked with overseeing the census preparations, and which has suggested moving the count from April to October.

The Statistics Agency is tasked with drawing up an action plan for all activities and deadlines in connection with the historic census, the first since the 1992-95 war.

“The need to solve open questions over unharmonized laws, undetermined entity lines and lack of a unique register of census areas was emphasized,” the government said, referring to the IMO's advice, noting also that financing the census is another unsolved issue.

The IMO advised Bosnian authorities in December to postpone the headcount on the grounds that the country is insufficiently prepared.

The EU delegation to Bosnia has agreed that Bosnia needs more time to ensure proper preparation for the census, avoid unreliable figures and improve coordination between all statistical agencies in the country.

Bosnia held a test census in October last year and planned the landmark nationwide count for this spring.

The last census was in 1991, just before the outbreak of the 1992-5 war, and the upcoming census is seen as significant, as it will likely reveal major postwar demographic changes that have taken place as a result of the conflict.

The 1991 census recorded a population of 4.4 million people. Bosniaks [Muslims] made up 43.5 per cent, Serbs 31.2 per cent and Croats 17.4 per cent. Another 5.5 declared themselves as Yugoslavs.

The United Nations estimates that Bosnia and Herzegovina today is home to only 3.8 million people.

"Forest Mafia robs Gramoz"
17/01/2013 19:45

“Forest mafia robbing Gramoz”. This was the main title of the Greek daily newspaper, “Ta Nea”, reporting illegal deforestation in Greek land by Albanian organized groups.

According to this newspaper, the electric saws are heard each morning up to the Trilofo village, 1.5 km from the Albanian border, and the trees disappear each day.

Most of the trees are 30-year-old and were cut to the roots. The trunks are transported with animals in Albania, where there are sites that select the lumber.

The wood is then sent to Italy to build wine barrels, electricity poles and heating wood for Greece, where natural gas and oil prices skyrocketed recently.

According to the vicegovernor of Kostur, Dhimitris Savopulos, these mafia groups have deforested more than 300 hectares, which mounts up to 35.000 cubic meters of lumber.

“Ta Nea” also notes that the Greek and Albanian illegal merchants cooperate with each other and have even divided the working areas in the Gramoz Mountain.

According to the report, the main cause for this phenomenon is the absence of military bases that were shut down by the Greek government.

PM: Temporary agreement on customs reached

Source: B92, Beta, Tanjug

BRUSSELS -- Serbia's PM Ivica Dačić said in Brussels late on Thursday that a temporary solution regarding customs collection at administrative crossings had been reached.

Ivica Dačić, Catherine Ashton and Hashim Thaci (Maja Kocijančić, Twitter, @AshtonSpox_Maja)

Dačić added after a meeting with Kosovo's PM Hashim Thaci and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton that a topic about a special status for northern Kosovo had been started.
"We agreed that the money from customs would go to a special fund formed under the auspices of the EU, which would be used for the development of municipalities in northern Kosovo," he told reporters after a meeting with Ashton and Thaci that lasted over five hours.

“It is a temporary solution and some technical details have yet to be worked out, but the agreement is in accordance with the national interest and view of the Kosovo Serbs, who do not want to pay customs fees to Priština's institutions,” the prime minister stressed.

“The discussion was open and it was the first time the issue of parallel institutions and a special treatment for the Kosovo Serbs was addressed in a serious manner,” Dačić noted.

"It is a core issue that cannot be settled in one night, but the path to the solution lies open," he underscored, explaining that the solution was in forming new institutions in northern Kosovo that would be acceptable for both Priština and the Kosovo Serbs. He added that the subject would be discussed at future meetings as well.

Dačić explained that the topics would be discussed in future meetings and that the next one could be expected in the second half of February.

“It is important to make progress in dialogue by April, in accordance with the resolution and national interests,” he said and added that he was optimistic about Serbia’s chances to get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks by the beginning of July.

The PM said that yesterday’s talks with U.S. State Department official Philip Reeker and Ashton had been very positive.

On the other hand, Priština media reported after the meeting that Thaci had said that “an agreement was reached to collect customs in accordance with the Kosovo law”.

The media also said that Thaci had stated that they had discussed abolition of the so-called parallel institutions in the north.

The meeting started a little after 20:00 in Ashton’s cabinet.

“We had a long and constructive talk and agreed to work on intensifying the dialogue and to meet again in February when we are hoping to make significant progress in accordance with conclusions of the European Council from December 2012,” Ashton said in a release.

 





Vlora Prosecutor seeks arrest of Vasil Bollano

Prosecutor of Vlora, signed prosecutions for 6 employees of the Himara Municipality, including the president of Omonia, Vasil Bolanos

Suddenly, escalating to any Greek terminology, including the Himara Municipality, the political leadership of Albania, based from the office of the Attorney General, asked the prosecution and arrest for Omonia chairman and former Mayor of the Himara Municipality, Vasilis Bollano and 6 employees this Municipality.

Prosecution in a report, has "found data corruption" for the third time, for the leader of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania, Vasil Bolanos, and his 6 employees, who are charged with that state have abused task with public funds, in the Himara Municipality.

But the member of the Himara Community, believe that the charges against Vasil Bolanos, made ​​to any Greek sense in Himara region, a region historically independent, joined to Albania, with the force of great powers illegally after 1921.

As the President of Omonia, The greek Organization in Albania, Vasil Bolanos, after the declaration of independence of Kosovo in 2008, has called the right of self-determination, for the Greeks in the province of Northern Epirus, known Southern Albania.

Omonia, opposed the population census in Albania, in 2011, the data of which give opposite results from the Albanian government.To challenge the results of which indicate that the Greeks in Albania are 0.7%, Omonia has started registration for members of the community, the result is expected to be announced in early May.