NATO and the OSCE exchange views on situation in Ukraine

• The Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Ambassador Lamberto Zannier, visited NATO HQ on Wednesday 12 November. Ambassador Zannier met with NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg. He also addressed the North Atlantic Council, where he exchanged views with NATO Ambassadors on the situation in Ukraine and on the activities carried out by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.

During the discussions, the members of the North Atlantic Council praised the OSCE’s ongoing efforts to help defuse the crisis in Ukraine. The OSCE is key to the international efforts to address the biggest challenge to Euro-Atlantic security in decades, Mr. Stoltenberg said.

At the Wales Summit, NATO expressed full support for the actions of international organizations, in particular the OSCE, that are contributing to de-escalation and the pursue of a peaceful solution to the crisis in Ukraine. NATO welcomed the swift deployment of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, which makes a key contribution to providing unbiased monitoring of developments on the ground.
The NATO Secretary General stressed that the importance of the OSCE for NATO is broader, since both organizations are crucial parts of Europe’s security architecture.

 He said that the Alliance strives to further enhance cooperation with other international organisations, such as the OSCE, as part of NATO’s contribution to the comprehensive approach of the international community. NATO and the OSCE have a long standing cooperation, which covers a wide span of regional and thematic areas.

Both the Chairman-in-Office and the Secretary General of the OSCE attended the NATO Summit in Wales held in September 2014. At the Summit, NATO leaders pledged to strengthen the political dialogue and practical cooperation with partners, including the OSCE. They launched several initiatives, such as Defence Capability Building Initiative and the Interoperability Platform. The OSCE has been invited to cooperate with these initiatives and has expressed interest to join. Discussions on the practical implementation of this process have already started.

"West should condemn Rama's statement" - FM

Source: B92, Beta, Danas

BELGRADE -- The West should condemn the statement of Albanian PM Edi Rama made during his visit to Belgrade that Serbia "should recognize Kosovo", says Ivica Dačić.

(Tanjug, file)

"The West should condemn the rhetoric of the Albanian prime minister, but double standards are clearly present, because if Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić did something of the kind in Tirana, there would probably be condemnation," the foreign minister told the Belgrade-based daily Danas.
Asked whether if was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that had organized the visit and whether it was possible to avoid the news conference incident, Dačić said that the visit and the program were agreed on between the two prime ministers and their cabinets.

Dačić spoke to Rama on the first day of his visit to Belgrade, and also attended the joint press conference.

On Tuesday, Dačić spoke for B92 TV to day that the visit turned out to be "frivolous" and that the Albanian prime minister violated diplomatic protocol and an agreement on the topics that were to be talked about.

Kosovo Office Director Marko Đurić commented for B92 to say the visit could have achieved much, but failed to do so, and blamed the Albanian side. MP Riza Halimi, who represents ethnic Albanians from southern Serbia, disagreed with this, saying Rama's trip also produced positive results.

Rama salutes group displaying Greater Albania map

Source: B92, Tanjug

BELGRADE -- On his way back to Albania from southern Serbia, Albanian PM Edi Rama traveled through Kosovo where he stopped to salute a group carrying a Greater Albania map.

The Greater Albania map displayed near Končulj (RTS, image made from video)

It was a banner - depicting Albania expanded to include parts of four neighboring countries - identical to the one flown on a drone over the pitch in Belgrade on October 14, causing incidents and abandonment of a Serbia vs. Albania football game.
The ethnic Albanians that carried the banner, whom Rama greeted near the Končulj administrative line crossing, were also, according to the RTS, shouting "Greater Albania".

A day earlier, Rama spoke for B92 TV in Belgrade to say that the expansionist Albanian project was "an obsolete myth."

Several hours before leaving Preševo in southern Serbia, he said Albanians were not "dreaming about a Greater Albania but about a Greater Europe that will include all Albanian territories."

Greek and Turkish Jets in Dogfights over Mykonos

  

by Aggelos Skordas - Nov 12, 2014


Regardless of the upcoming annual Greek-Turkish High-Level Cooperation Council that is scheduled for December 5 and 6 in Athens, Greece, tension between the two countries remains high. Earlier today, two Turkish F-16 fighter jets unjustly chased a Greek Civil Aviation aircraft that was flying within Athens’ FIR over Psara island in the Eastern Aegean Sea. The chasing continued for several minutes until the Greek aircraft was driven over the island of Mykonos and ended with a dogfight after the intervention of two Greek F-16 jets that chased off the Turkish. The Greek jet pilots also transmitted to the flight control that they were put in risk due to dangerous maneuvers by the Turkish fighters.

At the time of the episode, Greek National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias was in a very small distance from the spot, as he was traveling from the nearby island of Chios to Psara and he confirmed the episode, revealing that the Greek civil aircraft was on a scheduled flight in order to test the radio transmitters of the Civil Aviation network. According to sources of the Turkish Air Force, the “warm” incident occurred due to a misunderstanding and the Turkish fighter pilot will be led to disciplinary proceedings.

Minutes after the incident, Tactical Air Force Commander, Air Marshal Christo
- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/11/12/greek-and-turkish-jets-in-dogfights-over-mykonos/#sthash.lmp76iFi.dpuf

Israel, Greece and Cyprus hold trilateral consultations

Nations discuss boosting economic relations and combating terrorism at regional and global levels

The Secretaries General of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Greece and Israel held political consultations on Wednesday in Athens, according to a ministry statement.
Greek Ambassador Anastassis Mitsialis and his counterpart Israeli Ambassador Nissim Ben Shitrit "reviewed progress achieved in their bilateral relations in various fields of cooperation since the 1st High Level Cooperation Council of 8 October 2013," and discussed the preparation of a summit.
During the meeting, officials also raised the possibility of cooperating in the Middle East against the "terrorist threat at regional and global levels."
The parties also "confirmed their willingness to promote their economic relations and to strengthen their cooperation in the field of energy," the statement said, stressing the need to encourage cooperation in the fields of energy, trade, tourism, research, industrial development, water technologies, environmental protection and agriculture.
Ambassador Alexandros Zenon, their Cypriot counterpart, joined the discussions, which focused on "concern for illegal actions and provocations in the sea waters of the Eastern Mediterranean in violation of international law."
Last week, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said that the right of Cyprus to exploit oil and gas off its shores should be respected by all countries, including Turkey, according to Israeli daily Haaretz.
Liberman made the comment following a meeting with his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides.
"All nations must respect the sovereignty of their neighbors and it is extremely necessary not to add tension to a strife-torn region, "he said.
Turkey does not recognize Cyprus and is the only country to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Amphipolis skeleton from Alexander's time found in Greece

By Giorgos Christides Thessaloniki

A wooden coffin was found inside a limestone tomb below the floor of the third chamber

Continue reading the main story

Related Stories

• Tomb mystery captivates Greece
• Ancient mosaic found at Greece tomb
• Alexander the not so Great

Archaeologists in northern Greece have found a skeleton inside a tomb from the time of Alexander the Great, during a dig that has enthralled the public.

The burial site at Amphipolis is the largest ever discovered in Greece.
The culture ministry said the almost intact skeleton belonged to a "distinguished public figure", given the tomb's dimensions and lavishness.
Chief archaeologist Katerina Peristeri said "the tomb in all probability belongs to a male and a general".
The excavation has fascinated Greeks ever since Prime Minister Antonis Samaras visited the site in August 2014 and announced it amounted to "an exceptionally important discovery".
The latest revelations have only added to Greek excitement about the identity of the person entombed at Amphipolis.
"It is an extremely expensive construction, one that no single private citizen could have funded," the ministry said at a briefing for reporters on Wednesday. "It is in all probability a monument to a mortal who was worshipped by his society at the time."
Speculation has been rife, with experts raising several possibilities including the deceased being a member of Alexander the Great of Macedon's family or one of his most senior officials.

A sketch of the tomb

The tomb dates from the late 4th Century BC when Amphipolis was a major city of the Macedonian Kingdom.
The site is located 100km (62 miles) east of Thessaloniki, Greece's second city.
Before the skeleton was found, some experts had suggested the site might be a cenotaph, built in honour of a major figure whose remains were elsewhere.
The limestone tomb was discovered 1.6m (5.2 ft) below the floor of the third chamber of the burial complex. It is 3.23m in length, 1.56m in width and 1.8m in height.
A wooden coffin was placed inside. Archaeologists discovered scattered bronze and iron nails, as well as bone and glass fragments - probably decorations from the casket.
The bone remains and any genetic material will be examined by specialists, the culture ministry said.
"The monument represents a unique and original synthesis," it added.
Earlier stages of the excavation brought to light a magnificent carved stone lion, two sphinxes, two caryatids and a floor mosaic depicting the abduction of Persephone by Hades.

Amphipolis site

• 437 BC Founded by Athenians near gold and silver mines of Pangaion hills
• 357 BC Conquered by Philip II of Macedon, Alexander the Great's father
• Under Alexander, served as major naval base, from which fleet sailed for Asia
• 1964 First official excavation began, led by Dimitris Lazaridis

Two sphinxes guard the entrance to the tomb at Amphipolis

A sketch of the tomb shows the two sphinxes at the front and the two caryatids guarding behind

A large mosaic was uncovered recently showing a man with a laurel wreath driving a chariot drawn by horses and led by the god Hermes

U.S. sailors attacked in Istanbul by Turkish mob

By Dan Lamothe November 12 at 12:11 PM

 

Anti-American protesters shouting "Yankee, go home!" attacked three U.S. Navy sailors on Wednesday in Istanbul near where their warship was docked on an inlet of the Bosphorus Strait in the Black Sea. (AP)

A group of about 20 nationalists attacked three U.S. sailors in Istanbul on Wednesday, hurling objects at them, chasing them and briefly putting a bag over one of the sailors’ heads.
The U.S. Navy acknowledged the incident, which was publicized in a video online. The attack underscores the volatility in Turkey, a longtime U.S. ally that increasingly is at odds with Washington on foreign policy, especially over how to handle the Islamic State militant group in neighboring Syria.
In the video, one of the Turks is seen saying the Americans looked like members of the U.S. Army. The Turks claimed to be members of the Turkey Youth Union, which is opposed to working with the United States and becoming members of the European Union.
“We define you as murderers, as killers… and we want you to get out of our land,” one man says, seconds before the attack ensues.
The Navy said the sailors were assigned to the USS Ross, a destroyer, and in Turkey for a scheduled port visit. They appeared to be in their late teens or early 20s. They were able to get away without suffering injuries and are back on the Ross, Navy officials said.
“The U.S. Navy is currently working with the Turkish National Police and U.S. Embassy staff to investigate this incident,” said a statement from U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa. “The U.S. Navy will continue to coordinate with Turkish authorities to review security procedures for future ship visits.”
In a series of tweets, the U.S. Embassy in Turkey blasted the attack, calling it appalling. The vast majority of Turks are against “an action that so disrespects Turkey’s reputation for hospitality.”

Sertic: Albania ignores protocols to stop importing Serbian drugs

Published: Nov 12, 2014 

BELGRADE – Serbian Economy Minister Zeljko Sertic said Wednesday that Albania had passed a law at the beginning of September limiting imports of drugs and medications of all types from Serbia into Albania, a move ignoring all protocols and agreements signed between the two countries.

 This means that our two biggest pharmaceutical companies, Galenika and Hemofarm, will no longer be able export a total of 110 products that have been registered or are pending registration for sale in their market, Sertic said at a panel on Serbian exports at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce. 

It is a huge financial minus for both companies and Serbia will not allow Albania to introduce rules aimed at destroying part of the Serbian economy, stressed Sertic. The economy minister said that he had brought up the issue during Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s visit to Belgrade a few days before.

Read More at inserbia.info/today/2014/11/sertic-albania-ignores-protocols-to-stop-importing-serbian-drugs/ © InSerbia News

Kammenos on 'Enikos': Karamanlis could be the new Greek president
 
 11 November 2014

Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos has said he would consider supporting former Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis for the role of President if his party participates in a coalition government with Syriza.

Speaking at Nikos Chatzinikolaou’s TV programme “Ston Eniko” on Monday night, the right-wing, anti-bailout party leader said that Independent Greeks “will not vote for anyone before a national election takes place”, but if the party participates in a coalition government – led by "Syriza or any other party the people will decide to vote", it will “discuss the presidency issue for Costas Karamanlis or any other political figure”.

Once leader of New Democracy, Karamanlis has been on the sidelines of politics since losing the elections to socialist Pasok in 2009.

Asked why his anti-bailout party would support pro-bailout Karamanlis, Kammenos said that “this is different to electing him as president”.

Speaking about a potential collaboration with left-wing Syriza in a coalition government, Kammenos said that the two parties have fundamental differences in terms of national issues, but might reach an agreement on other matters.

The right-wing leader also called on President Karolos Papoulias to step down in order for a snap election to take place in the coming months.

He said he was saddened that some Independent Greeks MPs had left the party, adding that he “never ousts anti-bailout MPs” and inviting them to come back.

The right-wing party currently holds 13 seats in parliament and is polling at around 3 percent.

Kammenos denied a claim by Independent Greeks MEP Notis Marias that the party “is drifting in favour of a bailout”, adding that Independent Greeks voted for a new government measure for the settlement of debts in 100 instalments “because we can’t say no to everything”.

Tirana: Can Serbia attack Kosovo?


In Albania, the National Security Center, through a voluminous study that makes escalation of the situation in Ukraine warns implications in the Balkans, especially given the alarm about the possibility of a military aggression against Kosovo Serbia, considering the Russian expansion in the Crimea.

Agency to the Ministry of Defence of the Government suggests that for this reason, Albania, as a NATO member, to come up with a clearer stance on the situation in Ukraine as well as its contribution to ensuring the territorial integrity of this state. But the 20-page report providing exclusively by "Gazeta Shqiptare", provided no concrete information if any concrete information from the Albanian intelligence regarding a possible Belgrade preparation for launching a military aggression against Kosovo. 

Simply the Official Tirana warned by the agency under the Ministry of Defense for the possibility of the existence of this scenario. This strategic analysis of circulating a few weeks in the offices of top leaders of the state constitutes simultaneously the harshest criticism official has articulated that Albania currently the to Moscow regarding the issue of Crimea.

In this paper explicitly compares Russia with Nazi Germany while not missing or epithets addressed to President Vladimir Putin, who is regarded as "pure", "paranoid" and "imperial mentality". "AI" publishes today the most critical parts of the report to the National Security Center entitled "Ukrainian scenario - Three points of view".

http://www.balkanweb.com/shqiperi/2685/precedenti-krimea-qendra-e-sigurise-kombetare-serbia-mund-te-sulmoje-kosoven-179512.html

http://almakos.com/lajme/kosove/46216-tirana-jep-alaramin-serbia-mund-ta-sulmoje-kosoven-video.html

Related: 

Himara Region: AIS Director, Visho Ajazi Lika, reports in the Parliamentary Security Commission of Albania

Ajazi: A new Separatist Movement of "Ukraine case", may constitute the Independence of The Himara Region, by the new territorial division

AIS Director: "In Himara, there are groups that not extremist, that may require separation from Albania"

Albanian secret service, looks like the Albanian separatist movement from the territory, the Himara Region, particularly their discontent for oligarchs looting of property, which may become due to revolts

Tirana. On Tuesday, the Albanian Secret Service chief AIS, Visho Ajazi Lika, spoken a reference for the members of the Parliamentary Security Commission of Albania, which was held behind closed doors.

In a delicate topics of security chief, has been an information about the Himara Region, in which AIS reports that Himara, could threat the national security of the country, because of recent developments in Ukraine, it can stimulate a separatist movement of the Himara Region, especially with the new territorial division of Albania, reports the daily newspaper "Mapo".
 
According to "Mapo" newspaper, MP Mesila Doda of Democratic Party, has insisted if Himara Region would stand alone in the new administrative division, will it risk of separatism, seeing "domino effect" in Ukraine, the AIS Director, replied that "In Himara, there are groups that  not extremist, that may require separation from Albania, for independence of Himara Region".

 Visho Ajazi Lika, said during the meeting that at the same time, problems of non return of property in Himara Region and its predation by Albanian oligarchy, may constitute an explosion of revolts, which seems to himariotas, which have a historical unity.

But in fact, the Albanian secret service analysts, and rank the Himara Region, a region full of surprises, not only as "a center of nationalism of Northern Epirus", but being stimulated looting property, they have overriding the reason for separatism, after 95 % of the population, have, European and US citizenship, reports the head of AIS.

Another risk factor breakaway from Himara is the domino effect of events from Ukraine, for whom , himariotas separatists, through the lobby from outside, can create problems for the political stability of Albania.

 The other problems has reported major production and distribution of drugs in Albania, for the which, the head of AIS, said that 337 cases have reported secret information for drugs, for the Albanian police 

Albanian Foreign Ministry: Greece is blocking us, in all fields

Great winter being prepared for the Greek - Albanian relations

Update....

After blocking reports to Committees in the European Union, this time Greece leads another report to OSCE

Greece releases another diplomatic offensive against Albania, country which does not respect human rights, freedoms on property, not recognize ethnic communities, the risk of extreme nationalism, security of state borders, and Increase of national iredentism as a destabilizing factor ...




Secret report to Prime Minister Edi Rama, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in which described a series of issues, be blocked for Albania.

The agreement of Territorial Waters, Himara, Greek community, school textbooks, extremist nationalist groups, Albanian Orthodox Church, Territorial Division, etc., as well as the entire framework of Freedoms and Human Rights, all congestion composts this process

SManalysis

Tirana: Greece has started a series of blockages in almost all areas that relate to the integration of Albania in the European Union. But this process is not made public, but through diplomatic channels, in which a secret report from Brussels, through the Albanian representatives, has alarmed Tirana.

Perhaps nothing appears in public, the message of Athens, led to Tirana, has been taken into account in full silence. The report stated that "recently, Athens has undertaken a secret attack, blocking all levels of negotiations between the European Union and Tirana, listing a series of issues, for which Greece has openly displayed discontent".

After blocking reports to Committees in the European Union, this time Greece leads another report to OSCE

Greece releases another diplomatic offensive against Albania, country which does not respect human rights, freedoms on property, not recognize ethnic communities, the risk of extreme nationalism, security of state borders, and Increase of national iredentism as a destabilizing factor ...

But in the Albanian public, nothing is said, as the media continues to be controlled by government institutions, which continues to keep open, a nationalist campaign, orchestrated by the political leadership itself.
 
Recent events in Serbia, in which during the football match of UEFA qualifiers, between Albania and Serbia, was provoked by the flag of Great Albania, brought the biggest reaction to Greece.that it considered the territory of Greece, as a part of Greater Albania.

The reaction of Greece, came through Foreign Minister Venizelos, who meanwhile, sent a protest note to Tirana, the fact that the Greek community, felt threatened by Albanian nationalist militias.

In October 28, Athens expected to respect the honor ceremony officially from Albania, Greek Independence Day known as OXI, but for Greek analysts, not honoring Greek soldiers, fallen in World War II, from the Albanian authorities, constitutes a great clash which took the dignity of Greece. as a political and historical process, between the two countries, although this Agreements, has been signed by the Ministry of Defense of Albania.

However, a series of issues, ranging from the failure of the Agreement of Marine Waters, Territorial Division and Himara threat to the Greek Community by Albanian nationalist groups, Orthodox churches, properties belonging to Greeks in Albania, etc. constitute areas of blockage that ruled Greece through veto.

Photos of the Day

Greek Interior Minister takes part in police anti-crime operation


 
 

Athens police have launched a crackdown on drugs, prostitution and contraband trade in the neighbourhood of Kypseli.

Public Order and Citizen Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias accompanied forces in their patrols through the neighbourhood, which has a large concentration of migrants.

"I had the chance to speak to residents and shopowners and listen to security issues they face everyday," Kikilias posted on his Twitter account, along with photos.

Rama says Albanians "won't be assimilated"

Source: B92, Beta

PREŠEVO -- Albanian PM Edi Rama said in Preševo that ethnic Albanians who live in municipalities in southern Serbia have less rights than Serbs in Kosovo.

(Beta)

"Albania will give its support to the solving of the problems in the Preševo valley being an essential question on Serbia's path towards the EU and will not allow the assimilation of Albanians in this area," said Rama.
Outside of Kosovo, the area of the municipalities of Bujanovac, Medveđa, and Preševo is home to the largest ethnic Albanian community in Serbia.

Several thousand people welcomed Rama today, while some were also able to attend his speech at the local culture center, where, according to reports, "neither the national insignia of Serbia nor Albania was on display."

According to Rama, the future of the whole region is in the EU, while "Albania and Kosovo represent a guarantee of stability and democracy." He also told those present that the Albanian people "are not dreaming about creating a Greater Albania but a Greater Europe that will include all Albanian territories."

Rama then added that "the historical moment had come to overcome the past filled with hatred and shortsightedness and open a wide road of cooperation of Serbia and Albania."

Rama said that he and Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade on Monday discussed "real problems faced by Albanians in Preševo and Bujanovac," adding that Albania "supports and pushes for a dialogue of Albanians from the region with the Serbian government about solving life problems primarily in areas of infrastructure and education."

He added to the University of Tirana had doubled enrollment quotas for students from the three municipalities in southern Serbia.

Rama earlier in the day held a meeting with political leaders of ethnic Albanians from Preševo and Bujanovac in the municipal building in Preševo, where he, during a joint session of all Albanian councilors from the three municipalities, received the title of honorary citizen of Preševo.

He was welcomed by presidents of the municipalities of Preševo and Bujanovac, Mustafa Fahmi and Nagip Arifi, leaders of Albanian political parties as well as two Albanian deputies in the Serbian parliament, Riza Halimi and Sajip Kamberi.

No representative of the Serbian authorities was present during Rama's visit to Preševo, nor was any of his speech translated to Serbian or English.

The joint session with Albanian politicians from Preševo and Bujanovac was closed to the public, and there were no statements for the media afterwards.

About 1,000 people welcomed Rama in Preševo with Albanian flags, standing ovations, applause and loud music.

Billboards were also put up in Preševo reading, in Albanian, "Welcome prime minister", while reports said that one of them was this morning hit with a sack of black paint.

Unprecedented security measures were also in place in the town, with police presence on all streets.

Guardian: Alexander the Great Caught in the Middle of the Macedonia Naming Dispute


by Aggelos Skordas - Nov 11, 2014
alexander_the_great_skopje

Nikola Gruevski’s love affair with statues began with Alexander the Great. In 2011, much to the consternation of Greece, FYROM’s Prime Minister had the world’s largest sulpture of the warrior king installed in Skopje’s central square. Now, after peppering the capital with grandiose bridges, a gargantuan triumphal arch, concert halls, theaters, new government buildings and artwork, the Premier has gone a step further, the British Guardian underlined, referring to Skopje’s lately applied controversial policy of installing new monuments with Macedonian symbols in FYROM’s capital in order to promote the country’s position over the 23-year-long naming dispute with Greece.

Upping the ante in what has become one of the West’s more unlikely disputes, Gruevski instructed that waxworks of Alexander, his father, Philip II of Macedon, and his mother, Olympias, be given pride of place in a new archaeological museum. “All these exhibits are of priceless value for our country and represent a part of our cultural heritage,” Gruevski pronounced as he opened the museum last month, provoking the Greek side. The controversial artwork, part of a lifting in the city’s post Communist-era profile, cost some 500 million euros to one of the poorest countries in Europe. Gruevski’s ambition was that these would lift the spirit of his fellow countrymen, 30% of whom suffer from unemployment.

But officials do not deny that the building project has another purpose: to score points in the long-running battle over the name of Macedonia. The Greeks have long argued that their neighbor’s desire to lay claim to the nomenclature – and use of symbols associated with it – implies territorial ambitions over their own adjacent province of Macedonia. True to Balkan form, the row has its roots in ancient history, the Guardian underlined.

In the 23 years since the landlocked state proclaimed independence, Alexander the Great has dominated the dispute. Athens says the Greek-born general is irrefutable proof of Macedonia’s Hellenic credentials; Skopje says he is an inherent part of local identity as the leader of an empire that incorporated the region and extended as far as India, the report continued.

As a result to FYROM’s claims, Athens has blocked its bids to join the NATO and the European Union, insisting that the country should remain under the acronym FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), the provisional name with which it was admitted to the United Nations, despite the fact that almost 130 states have already recognized it as the “Republic of Macedonia,” which is the country’s constitutional name.

At the same time, even Skopjans themselves are at odds over a scheme that many say not only smacks of megalomania but has turned the capital into a mini Las Vegas. “I don’t see why the Greeks should be offended. We are offended,” said Sasho Ordanoski, a political analyst and outspoken critic of Gruevski’s overtly nationalist policies. “Skopje has become the European capital of kitsch in architectural and political style. The whole thing reeks of bad taste and has been a huge financial disaster. We both share the same territory of Alexander the Great’s historic empire and we have built Alexander’s highest monument in the world. If anything, Athens should be pleased,” Ordanski concluded.

In Athens, politicians privately say the time is ripe to settle the dispute. A compromise solution of “Upper Macedonia” is among those thought to have been proposed by Greek officials. The UN has announced that envoys from the two states will meet in New York on Wednesday for a new round of negotiations. But, as the Guardian foresees, the omens do not look good, because Skopje’s Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki declared before the talks that the two countries “are further away from a solution than we were a few years ago.”
- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/11/11/guardian-alexander-the-great-caught-in-the-middle-of-the-macedonia-naming-dispute/#sthash.7ElVlKZS.dpuf

Greek organizations Omonia, in Himara Region with new leader

 

Fred Beleri, was elected to lead the Greek community in Himara, an eveniment which happens every four year.

After an election process in all sections of the Himara Region, finally the Greek Community of Himara, voted Fred Beleri, as its President.

Omonia appears that will change not only the concepts but also raports to the Albanian government after claim of the existence of the Greek Community, which is constantly ignored by the Albanian state.

Almost all Civil Society of Himara, Omonia and Political Parties, protested for the new territorial division, voted from the Albanian parliament, which was against the historic interest of the people of Himara, while the process of property registration has been blocked by the OSCE

Rama in Preshevo: It is the constitutional obligation of the Albanians to live equal among equals, wherever they live, based on this right .. they have the right of self determination, autonomy..
 
 Rama: Albania and Kosovo, has models of admirable how minorities are protected. And we have the right to ask models to others.

  Today we have a Greek minority, which is the model and we respect human rights, as if we have Macedonian and others ..

Turkish PM Davutoglu to Meet With Greek PM Samaras in Athens on December 5 and 6



by Aggelos Skordas - Nov 10, 2014

Samaras_Davutoglu

In a period when the bilateral relations of Greece and Turkey have reached their lowest point due to the Turkish actions in Block 3 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will visit Athens on December 5 and 6 in order to hold talks with his Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras, it was announced earlier today.

“On December 5 and 6, 2014, the 3rd annual Greek-Turkish High-Level Cooperation Council will convene in Athens between the governments of Greece and Turkey, under the chairmanship of Prime Ministers Antonis Samaras and Ahmet Davutoglu,” the Greek Foreign Ministry announced.

Greek Foreign Minister and number 2 in the cabinet Evangelos Venizelos informed President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias regarding the pact’s content, underlining that it is part of systematic efforts made by the Greek side to demarcate its maritime borders. “The major gain from the tripartite conference is the invitation that we have issued to all the countries in the region to accept the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and to operate within its framework,” Venizelos said. Turkey has not signed up the treaty while Athens, Nicosia and Cairo have called Ankara to stop harassing Cyprus’ sovereignty by its ongoing seismic research for hydrocarbons in the island’s EEZ.

The announcement of Turkish PM’s visit to Athens comes only 48 hours after Greece, Cyprus and Egypt signed a tripartite agreement in Cairo, defining the ways the three countries will cooperate in the future on a range of issues, including the energy field. The Cairo Declaration was received with a sense of distrust by the Turkish side, with its leading newspapers characterizing it as a “trilateral front against Turkey.”

Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister Ioannis Kasoulides declared earlier that his country “will continue its energy program as planned. Natural gas should be a motive for Turkey to change its stance,” while underlining that the recent trilateral summit between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt “does not turn against Turkey.”

Meanwhile, the chief of the Turkish Navy Staff, Admiral Bulent Bostancıoglu, revealed that “the Turkish Prime Minister’s Office handed rules of engagement to the general staff, and the general staff passed them to the navy,” adding that “if necessary, we will operate under the rules of engagement.”
- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/11/10/turkish-pm-davutoglu-to-meet-with-greek-pm-samaras-in-athens-on-december-5-and-6/#sthash.SMaN082g.dpuf

President says he refused to meet with Rama

Source: B92, Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić's office said late on Monday that he had refused to receive visiting Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

(Tanjug, file)

The reason is that "provocations were to be expected from him," a statement said.
"On the occasion of the provocations of Albanian Premier Edi Rama during his visit to Serbia, the Presidential Service for Media Cooperation is stressing that this kind of behavior was expected from him, which was the key reason why President Tomislav Nikolić refused to meet with him," a statement said.

It added that "Albania will find it difficult to join the family of modern European states until it gives up on its dream of a hydra called 'Greater Albania'."

"For two and a half years Serbia has been making an effort aimed at the Balkans becoming a safe and prosperous region in Europe - but as long as there are irresponsible politicians like Edi Rama, it is clear it will be a job filled with challenges," the statement said.
After the joint press conference incident, when Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić accused Rama of a breach of protocol for speaking about Kosovo as independent and inviting Serbia to recognize the territory it considers its own, Vučić posted, in English, the following message on Twitter:

"Today was a chance for us to turn a new page. We regret that Prime Minister Rama’s provocation has led to a missed opportunity, but we would still like to work together for the future of our region."

"Presumptuous provocation"

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama abused Serbian hospitality by the presumptuous provocation in Belgrade on Monday in the wish to humiliate Serbia, but he failed, Director of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Đurić has said said.

"The invitation voiced by Rama at the news conference following the talks with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, when Rama said that Serbia should recognize Kosovo's independence, is beyond doubt aimed at the Albanian public and its goal was to create a provocation and potentially cause trouble, Đurić said.

Serbia will not fall for such provocations, just like it did not fall for the provocation at the recently held football match between Serbia and Albania, because Serbia wants cooperation, peace and stability in the region, Đurić said.

Serbia will continue the path of cooperation and stability regardless of the provocations, he said.

Đurić added that he attended the plenary session of the delegations of Serbia and Albania on Monday and added that Kosovo-Metohija was never mentioned.

Not a single word was said by the Albanian prime minister concerning Kosovo, nor did he refer to it in the tete-a-tete talks with the Serbian prime minister, Đurić said.

He noted that the Serbian prime minister reacted with clarity and determination to the gross insults voiced by the Albanian prime minister and asked a simple question as to what the Kosovo-Metohija issue has to do with the improvement of Serbia-Albania relations, to which he received no answer.

update..

Rama: It is the constitutional obligation of the Albanians to live equal among equals, wherever they live, based on this right ..

Rama in Presevo: Albania in NATO will protect the interests of our brothers and sisters in these lands





Prime Rama arrived in the town of Presevo. At Front of City Hall and the Palace of Culture, where the meeting will be held with the Prime Minister elected officials with thousands of city dwellers in the Presevo Valley Albanians rallied with national flags red and black.

"I am aware of the situation, sacrifices and poverty. It will protect the interests of our brothers and sisters in these lands. Burden now feel more after this honor. Now I feel one of the citizens of these territories," Rama said in the meeting that was Municipal Council held in Presevo. Rama was given the title: Honorary Citizen "of Presevo.

More than 3,000 Turks in Thessaloniki to Commemorate Kemal Ataturk
 
by Aggelos Skordas - Nov 10, 2014


4Mustafa Kemal – who was granted the title “Ataturk,” father of the Turks – founder of modern Turkey, was commemorated today by Turks across the world. The Turkish leader of the early 20th century passed away at the age of 57 on November 10, 1938, of liver cirrhosis and today, more than 3,000 of his compatriots traveled to Thessaloniki, Greece, to visit his birthplace and the house in which he was born in 1881.

The Turkish visitors gathered at noon outside Ataturk’s house, on 24 Apostolou Pavlou Street, next to the Turkish Consulate, where they attended the commemoration ceremony held due to the 76th anniversary of his death. According to Turkish news, the majority of them were students from schools across Turkey. At around 1:30pm, Agiou Dimitriou street in downtown Thessaloniki was blocked as the ceremony started, while after its completion, the visitors toured the interior of his first residence, which today operates as the “Ataturk Museum.”

At the same day last year, the visiting Turks were no more than 2,500 and, according to local authorities, this increase is due to the fact that Ataturk’s death commemoration day is on a Monday this year, which helped many of them to spend the weekend in Thessaloniki and the surrounding areas, while today, they attended the ceremony, before their return to their country after a three-day holiday in Greece.

- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/11/10/more-than-3000-turks-in-thessaloniki-to-commemorate-kemal-ataturk/#sthash.wA319kfS.dpuf