"Nobody's asking Serbia to recognize Kosovo"

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic told reporters in Belgrade on Tuesday that "nobody is asking Serbia to recognize Kosovo."

(Beta, file)

Commenting on media reports that Germany delivered "11 conditions" that Serbia must fulfill to open chapters in the EU membership negotiations, the prime minister "underlined that it doesn't say anywhere Serbia must recognize Kosovo."
"Serbia is looking for the most rational solutions to all questions, without for a second jeopardizing its territorial integrity, and at the same time preserving stability in the region," he said.

According to Tanjug, Vucic "did not wish to comment on media reports about the 11 conditions" and "underlined only that Serbia will not recognize Kosovo."

Ethnic Albanians in the province in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence - a proclamation Serbia considers a violation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"I cannot comment on that and I cannot comment on what is acceptable to us. I don't think that some would like to force us to trample on ourselves in order to prove they are stronger - instead I think they want Serbia as an EU member," he said.

Vucic added that "some EU members" wish the financial control chapter (32) to be tied to chapter 35 ("other issues and Kosovo") - "which would mean undertaking some more unilateral or joint activities with the Pristina government on the issue of Kosovo."

"This is no revelation. We have known this before and we have been doing our job. It's up to others to make the assessment," he told reporters at the Palace of Serbia.

Vucic added that citizens from Kosovo "must have an additional paper, and not only a passport" at the crossings.

Asked how they would cross the border at the Belgrade airport, Vucic said he would "like it very much" if Air Serbia flew to Pristina, and added that he "approved the idea."

 

Greece gets two-month extension to bailout

Impasse between Troika officials and Greek government ongoing

Euro group chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said it was vital that Greece ensures a “rapid and full implementation of all the reform measures necessary to conclude the fifth review”.

First published: Mon, Dec 8, 2014, 19:47

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Suzanne Lynch in Brussels

Greece was given a two-month extension to its bailout on Monday, as Athens announced it will hold presidential elections this month, three months earlier than had been expected.

Euro group finance ministers meeting in Brussels yesterday agreed to extend the terms of the Greek bailout to February, with the hope of resolving the impasse between Troika officials and the Greek government over the terms of the fifth bailout review.

While a six-month extension had been considered, it is understood that Athens was resistant to such a long extension, amid continuing public resentment at the terms of the bailout programme.

Following the agreement in Brussels yesterday, the government in Athens announced it was bringing forward presidential elections which will now take place on December 17th, December 22nd and December 27th.

Speaking after yesterday’s meeting, euro group chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said it was vital that Greece ensures a “rapid and full implementation of all the reform measures necessary to conclude the fifth review”.

“On the basis of the work done it is impossible to positively conclude the fifth review this year. On that basis we need an extension,” he said, noting that a month-long extension would have been too short and may have necessitated a further extension.

Greece will officially table a request for extension on Tuesday, and the decision will have to be approved by a number of national parliaments.

Mr Dijsselbloem added that the euro group was still in favour of a precautionary credit line for Greece when it exits the programme, but this would only be decided when the fifth review mission was successfully completed.

“A political decision on the ECCL (enhanced conditions credit line) and the conditions that go with that will be for another date,” he said.

Speaking after the meeting Irish Minister for State Simon Harris said finance ministers had also tasked the EU institutions with compiling a report assessing the progress made between the troika and the Greek government to date.

He said that while Ireland could relate to Greece’s situation as a programme country, Ireland was also “aware of the challenges” of programme countries, and was “very eager that the structural reforms that Greece needs to undertake are carried out”.

On Sunday the Greek parliament passed the country’s 2015 budget amid clashes between political leaders and protests outside the Greek parliament.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras hailed the budget as a sign that Greece was approaching the end of “an era of forced bailouts”.

Having avoided early elections earlier this year, elections are now scheduled in Greece for March, with left-wing party Syriza, led by Alexis Tspiras, expected to perform strongly.

Speaking yesterday in Brussels, EU economics commissioner Pierre Moscovici said it was important to stress that the EU did not want to “punish” Greece.

However, he said it was crucial that “root and branch reforms are made so that we have the real modernisation of Greece’s economy so that we can have jobs and growth.”

Greece is still waiting the final disbursement of €1.8 billion under the EU portion of its bailout, though the IMF part of its bailout technically runs until the second quarter of 2016.

In total, Greece received €240 billion in bailout funds from its lenders in two bailouts, when its spiralling bond yields forced the country out of the bond markets.

Troika inspectors will return to Greece today, but Mr Dijsselbloem dismissed suggestions that the review could be completed before the end of this year.

Euro zone finance ministers also agreed yesterday to endorse the European Commission’s plan to reassess the budgets of France, Italy and Belgium in March, after the Commission approved the budgets of all euro zone countries, except Greece and Cyprus, last month.

In their review of the 2015 budgetary plans for member states, ministers stressed the need to continue fiscal reforms. 

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/greece-gets-two-month-extension-to-bailout-1.2030350

Nishani proposes Genti Sejko as the new Governor of Bank of Albania

President of the Republic, Bujar Nishani has proposed to the Assembly the name of Genti Sejko to become the new Governor of Bank of Albania.

The decree of the president, who is expected to pass a vote in the Assembly, is justified by experience in management, professionalism, educational and moral integrity of Genti Sejko.

"His experience of over 20 years in various positions in the banking system has given Mr. Sejko recognition and high expertise of the Albanian banking system and international system. Likewise, his education in Albania and in developed countries, and the high moral integrity he has shown over the years, in my estimation, make Mr. Sejko a serious candidate who achieves the highest standards required for the function of the Governor of the Bank of Albania ", says President Nishani.

The Albanian Government orders permission to build tourist villages in Himara Region

 But the Supreme State Audit SAI, claims those decisions as violation of the constitution, without registering property titles

 Recent relations between Albanian Government and The Himara Community in all diaspora, have aggravated after the socialist government of Tirana, with decisions being takes in the name of tourism development, has goals to break the nationalist ethnic and territorial balance, especially after the vote to the New Territorial division, from the Albanian Parliament.

 State Supreme Audit has found violations in 10 cases, but political intervention, makes "exception" to the Himara Region

Tirana. The Albanian government has approved building permit directly from Tirana, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Coastal Agency, excluding any constitutional right of the Administrative Authority of the Municipality of Himara.

In the list appear oligarchs, owner of the most powerful media in Albania, close to the expansionist policies of the Albania Government.

The government of Albania, has blocked by a special law, issuing licenses of building up in 2015, after the Municipal elections in Albania, but nevertheless, Tirana has decided to grant a long time, permission for tourist villages in the Himara Region, by favorizing the legal side oligarch clients themselves.

Meanwhile, the Supreme State of Audit has found violations in 10 cases, mainly with deficient documentation property after property titles in Himara Region, are not registered yet, but political intervention, makes "exception" to the Himara Region.

 Recent relations between Albanian Government and The Himara Community in all diaspora, have aggravated after the socialist government of Tirana, with decisions being takes in the name of tourism development, has goals to break the nationalist ethnic and territorial balance, especially after the vote to the New Territorial division, from the Albanian Parliament, which unites The Municipalities of Himara with Vranishti.

Related: 

SManalysis

Monday, September 22, 2014

Starts Occupation "de facto" of Himara Region

Albanian Government provides building permits, starts works on three tourist villages of Himara Region, Draleo
Approval was made by the National Council of Territorial Adjustment of Albania KKRRT, in contrast to the Regional Development Plan of Himara, without ownership titles.............................................
 more see: http://smarkos.blogspot.com/2014/09/starts-occupation-de-facto-of-himara.html 

Edi Rama pakt me klientin e Sali Berishës, Samir Manen, i jep fshat turistik në Dhërmi

Kryeministri Edi Rama shpërdoron dhe hedh në erë besimin e 1 milion shqiptarëve, për llogari dhe interesa të klaneve të Sali Berishës. Kthesë e befasishme në marrëdhëniet midis qeverisë së rilindjes dhe klientit të parë të Sali Berishës, Samir Mane. Pas takimeve dhe flirtimeve intensive me disa ministra të kabinetit qeveritar, njeriu i monopoleve, Samir Mane, ka ndryshuar “pllakën” me kryeministrin Edi Rama, duke marrë garanci jo vetëm për paprekshmërinë e koncesioneve korruptive që i dha Sali Berisha, por po merr benefite të tjera nga pushteti i ri.

- See more at: http://www.sot.com.al/politike/edi-rama-pakt-me-klientin-e-sali-berish%C3%ABs-samir-manen-i-jep-fshat-turistik-n%C3%AB-dh%C3%ABrmi#sthash.M2v5uRVg.dpuf

Edi Rama pakt me klientin e Sali Berishës, Samir Manen, i jep fshat turistik në Dhërmi

Kryeministri Edi Rama shpërdoron dhe hedh në erë besimin e 1 milion shqiptarëve, për llogari dhe interesa të klaneve të Sali Berishës. Kthesë e befasishme në marrëdhëniet midis qeverisë së rilindjes dhe klientit të parë të Sali Berishës, Samir Mane. Pas takimeve dhe flirtimeve intensive me disa ministra të kabinetit qeveritar, njeriu i monopoleve, Samir Mane, ka ndryshuar “pllakën” me kryeministrin Edi Rama, duke marrë garanci jo vetëm për paprekshmërinë e koncesioneve korruptive që i dha Sali Berisha, por po merr benefite të tjera nga pushteti i ri.

- See more at: http://www.sot.com.al/politike/edi-rama-pakt-me-klientin-e-sali-berish%C3%ABs-samir-manen-i-jep-fshat-turistik-n%C3%AB-dh%C3%ABrmi#sthash.M2v5uRVg.dpuf

Edi Rama pakt me klientin e Sali Berishës, Samir Manen, i jep fshat turistik në Dhërmi

Kryeministri Edi Rama shpërdoron dhe hedh në erë besimin e 1 milion shqiptarëve, për llogari dhe interesa të klaneve të Sali Berishës. Kthesë e befasishme në marrëdhëniet midis qeverisë së rilindjes dhe klientit të parë të Sali Berishës, Samir Mane. Pas takimeve dhe flirtimeve intensive me disa ministra të kabinetit qeveritar, njeriu i monopoleve, Samir Mane, ka ndryshuar “pllakën” me kryeministrin Edi Rama, duke marrë garanci jo vetëm për paprekshmërinë e koncesioneve korruptive që i dha Sali Berisha, por po merr benefite të tjera nga pushteti i ri.

- See more at: http://www.sot.com.al/politike/edi-rama-pakt-me-klientin-e-sali-berish%C3%ABs-samir-manen-i-jep-fshat-turistik-n%C3%AB-dh%C3%ABrmi#sthash.M2v5uRVg.dpuf

Edi Rama pakt me klientet e Sali Berishes
 

http://www.sot.com.al/politike/edi-rama-pakt-me-klientin-e-sali-berish%C3%ABs-samir-manen-i-jep-fshat-turistik-n%C3%AB-dh%C3%ABrmi 

SManalysis

Sunday, September 16, 2012

"SOT" Newspaper

Berisha gives Dhermi beaches concession, partners connected with his familyImplicated "The Municipality Coucil of Himara, who have approved the decision, given the concession for 25 years the assets of the people of the Himara Region

http://smarkos.blogspot.com/2012/09/sot-newspaper-berisha-gives-dhermi.html

Greek Technical Institute builds new "smart" torpedo called ST14


    December 7 2014, 2:28 PM

The Engineering Department Informatics of TEI AMTH namely student group consisting of Panagiotis Rizos, Nikoleta Michailidou and supervisor Dr. Dimitri Pogaridi developed a clever and innovative anti-submarine torpedo type weapon called ST14 (Smart Torpedo 2014), which carries a smaller torpedo capable of disorient and hit on enemy defense systems.

More specifically, the newest type of smart choice torpedo has wired and automatic guidance with acoustic mode, and the ability to launch a smaller torpedo.

In the case of wireline steering, handling the torpedo is from a control center in which are mounted special system activation switches, self firing of the torpedo, lens, selection mode of Function and Joysticks.

The second smaller torpedo is launched following the command of the operator, after having an actual sound (sonar) of the target. The small torpedo carries audio transmitter and static magnetic field to be detected incorrectly by the opponent.

In the case of automatic guidance with Arduino the propeller is automatically activated when the program is able to control four audio sensors wherein depending on the sound source of the target point, the wings or the rudder of the torpedo are activated such that it can be rotated to the corresponding direction .

The Smart torpedo except that it is possible to produce and exploited in the defense industry, it also generates demand in the global arms market as it offers inexpensive functional and structural innovation. How could an economic idea of military sector not be adopted for inclusion in the defense mechanism of a country or at least be checked?

The Smart torpedo will be presented in the coming Industrial Informatics Festival i2fest 2014, while the public will have the opportunity to admire and learn from the team members.

Source
http://www.zougla.gr/technology/article/fitites-kataskevasan-tin-eksipni-torpili

 

Crafting a win-win-win for Russia, Ukraine and the West

An Armoured Presonnel Carrier of the Ukrainian forces rolls in the village of Pisky, close to the airport of eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on December 3, 2014. (Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty Images)

By Michael O'Hanlon and Jeremy Shapiro December 7 at 7:31 AM

The writers are fellows in the foreign policy program of the Brookings Institution.

Recent reports of more troop and equipment movements into the separatist-held regions of Ukraine suggest that Russia is once again seeking to stir up trouble. The natural Western reaction has been to respond with firmness. Sanctions may be tightened; defensive weaponry may be provided to Ukraine’s underequipped and overmatched military. Given such bullying Russian tactics, this reaction is not only natural but perhaps inevitable.

Yet the Western policy response is half-wrong, and the incorrect part of it risks making 2015 just as bad a year for Ukrainian security and East-West relations as was 2014. Western policymakers do not deserve blame for the unconscionable tactics that Russian President Vladi­mir Putin has employed in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. But their actions risk reinforcing an action-reaction dynamic that will quite probably make the No. 1 victim of this crisis to date — the people of Ukraine — worse off than before.

This is not a moral question. It is entirely justifiable to provide weapons to a sovereign nation seeing its territory assaulted by a much more powerful neighbor. But regardless of right and wrong, the result of providing weapons will not be a robust self-defense capability for Ukraine. The Ukrainian military faces Russian armed forces more than five times as large and perhaps 10 to 20 times as powerful. Indeed, should such arms encourage Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to directly challenge Russian forces on his territory, the most likely outcome is escalation of the military crisis and a dramatic increase in death and destruction in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian propaganda would continue to vilify the West and sow the seeds of future crises elsewhere in Russia’s neighborhood. 

continues:......................http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/crafting-a-win-win-win-for-russia-ukraine-and-the-west/2014/12/05/727d6c92-7be1-11e4-9a27-6fdbc612bff8_story.html

Ron Paul: ‘US provoking war with Russia, could result in total destruction’

Published time: December 05, 2014 16:58
Edited time: December 06, 2014 10:35

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Former US Representative Ron Paul (AFP Photo / Brendan Smialowski)

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Conflict, Military, Politics, Russia, Sanctions, Scandal, USA, War

Former congressman Ron Paul has lashed out at the resolution the House passed against Russia, branding it “one of the worst pieces of legislation ever.” It could even pave the way for a potential war with Russia, as it was with Iraq, he warns.
Resolution 758 strongly condemns the actions of Russia under Vladimir Putin, for what it describes as a policy of “aggression against neighboring countries,” in a motion that describes Moscow’s political and economic domination in the region.
However, Ron Paul says the bill was nothing but “16 pages of war propaganda that should have made even neocons blush.”
Speaking to RT, Paul added that the resolution was "part of the war propaganda machine."
"It’s this kind of stuff that stirs up trouble. I’d rather dissipate the problems and have our government tone the rhetoric down a little bit. This was terrible; this was just a very provocative resolution," he said.

Most worryingly for the once-presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party is the statement that “military intervention” by Russia in Ukraine “poses a threat to international peace and security.” In his Facebook blog, Paul says it is not an accident that such wording was used as it will allow more aggressive resolutions to follow and this is merely sowing the seeds for this.
“If we accept that Russia is posing a ‘threat’ to international peace, how can such a thing be ignored? These are the slippery slopes that lead to war,” Paul says.
READ MORE: House of Representatives passes resolution against Russia
Paragraph 45 of the resolution gives the green light to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to restart Kiev’s military campaign against anti-government militias in the southeast of the country, which would be contradicting the Minsk Agreement signed in Belarus on September 5 to end hostilities in Ukraine, Paul said.

He believes this will potentially lead to the deaths of thousands more civilians, while the bill also calls on President Barack Obama to “provide the government of Ukraine with lethal and non-lethal defense articles, services, and training required to effectively defend its territory and sovereignty.” The 79-year-old politician questions the sanity of putting US weapons in the hands of US-trained troops, who would be “engaged in a hot war on Russia’s border.”

Cotric: Albania has no law to regulate status of Serbs

Published: Dec 6, 2014 

   

BELGRADE – Albania does not have a law on national minorities and this is why Serbs and other minorities in the country are not recognised as a national minority, Aleksandar Cotric of the Serbian parliament Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region said on Friday.

This is the reason why all minorities in Albania are experiencing major problems with realisation of their rights, said Cotric who recently visited Albania as a member of the Serbian parliament delegation.
He noted that members of national minorities in Albania cannot attend schools and get information in their mother tongue, nor are they able to establish institutional cooperation with their mother country.
If the Tirana government adopted a law on national minorities, it would make it possible for Serbia to close an intergovernmental agreement on national minority protection with Albania, Cotric said.
He noted that Serbs in Albania are facing major problems, and noted that the Tirana government has even banned the course of the Serbian language which was organised in Fiera, central Albania, for the past five years, as the Albanian authorities decided that the course does not meet certain requirements envisaged in the law.
Cotric noted that during their stay in Tirana, the three-member delegation of the Serbian parliament Committee on the Diaspora had a chance to meet with the Albanian minister of education and sport and discuss the search for a solution to this problem.
We asked for the school in Fiera to be allowed to organise the course of the Serbian language after regular classes and for the students to be allowed to attend the lessons of Serbian in the school instead of having to meet in a private house as was the case so far, he said.
Cotric also pointed to the problem of changes in Serb names and surnames which were albanised during the mandate of communist dictator Enver Hoxha.
Until now, complicated and expensive procedures posed the main problem because changing a family name back to Serbian involved around EUR 1,000 of costs, Cotric said and added that this problem has now been resolved, but another issue appeared as only people below the age of 19 are allowed to change their names back to Serbian.
Cotric also said that the latest census of the population in Albania was undemocratic and discriminatory as it did not make room for freedom of national and religious expression and the citizens were demanded to list their nationality as Albanian, just as they were listed in the birth register.
These are major problems which Serbs in Albania are facing, he noted and added that according to some estimates, around 30,000 Serbs are currently living in Albania and they do not even have a permanent priest in the only Serbian church in Vraki near Skadar.
We hope this problem will be solved in cooperation between the Orthodox Churches of Serbia and Albania, he noted.
The delegation of the Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, comprising Cotric, committee chair Janko Veselinovic and committee member Milan Djurica, visited Albania from November 30 to December 4.
During the visit, the delegation had a chance to learn more about the position of the Serb minority in the country and the problems the community in facing. The Serbian parliament delegation also met with Albanian parliament Deputy Speaker Vangjel Dule, Minister of Education and Sport Lindita Nikolla and chair of the parliamentary group of friendship with Serbia, Ombudsman Igli Totozani.

Protests in Greece on Police Shooting Anniversary

ATHENS, Greece — Dec 6, 2014

Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Athens on Saturday to mark the sixth anniversary of the fatal police shooting of an unarmed teenager in the Greek capital that led to widespread rioting, while clashes have broken out between demonstrators and police in the northern city of Thessaloniki.

Alexandros Grigoropoulos, 15, had been out with friends in a central Athens neighborhood when he was shot on Dec. 6, 2008 following a verbal altercation with police. His death led to two weeks of the most violent rioting Greece had seen in decades.

This year's anniversary marches come at a time when nearly nightly violent protests are being held by supporters of one of Grigoropoulos' friends, jailed anarchist and convicted bank robber Nikos Romanos, 21. He was present when Grigoropoulos was killed, is on a hunger strike, demanding prison leave to attend lectures after he passed university entrance exams.

Romanos, currently hospitalised under police guard, has been on the hunger strike since last month and doctors have said his health is failing. He was jailed with another three young men following a February 2013 bank robbery in which they took a hostage as they tried to escape. Police released doctored mugshots of the four at the time to remove signs of severe facial bruising caused during the arrest, leading to an outcry at the time.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will meet with Romanos' parents on Monday morning, following a request made through their lawyer on Saturday, the government said.

Protesters during Saturday's demonstration chanted slogans in support of Romanos as well as in memory of Grigoropoulos. Several thousand people, many wearing motorcycle helmets and gas masks, marched through central Athens in a demonstration that ended peacefully. More protests were planned for later in the evening.

In Thessaloniki, groups of youths broke off from a march of about 6,000 people, throwing Molotov cocktails and scuffling with police who responded with tear gas and stun grenades.

Basha: Oil price scandal
05/12/2014

The opposition leader, Lulzim Basha, accused the government for not allowing a price drop of the oil price in Albania, when it has dropped with 40% in the international markets.

“The government has allowed their clients in this business, so that they can buy oil 40% cheaper and sell it with the same price as before, and the money doesn’t go at the state’s budget”, Basha declared.

“There is only one country in Europe and in our planet where the oil price has not dropped with 40%. This country is the Albania of Rama and Meta. Why didn’t Albania reflect the 40% price drop? One of the reasons is the high taxes imposed by this government, the highest in the region. The other one is smuggling, informality and tax evasion that is allowed, encouraged and coordinated by the mafia government and their clients who operate in the production, import and trade of fuels. The government has let these clients buy it 40% cheaper and sell it to the people 40% higher. This money is paid by the Albanian tax payers who are being stolen. This mega-corruption in Albania was established with the arrival of the Rama-Meta duo, who are the merciless burden on the pockets of the personal economy of every Albanian. Albania must protest. Protest is the only answer to oligarchs”, Basha declared.

Tony Blair in Tirana. Former British PM consulting government
04/12/2014

The former British Prime Minister, tony Blair, has visited Tirana this Thursday for the second time since the left-centered coalition came to power.

Different from his first visit on March 2013, when he held a press release with Prime Minister Rama, this time he stayed away from the media attention.

It might have been Blair who didn’t want to make this second visit public, and the Prime Minister’s press office has not given any detail about it.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Niko Peleshi, published a photo with Blair on Facebook, describing it: “An interesting and fruitful cooperation of our cabinet with Tony Blair. Albania of the new generation through government reforms”.

This second visit of Tony Blair will not go unseen by the British media, especially the conservatory one, regarding his payment for his consulting services.

The British media have raised the question of who and how much pays Blair for his services, although Prime Minister Edi Rama declared that Blair is helping Albanian voluntarily.

Albanian weightlifting shocked as Romela Begaj resulted positive for doping
05/12/2014

The Albanian weightlifter resulted positive for anti-doping right after the World Weightlifting Championship in Kazakhstan was over, and when she was declared world champion.

The news was made official after some weeks by the World Agency of Antidoping VADA, which says that Romela has resulted positive.

The Albanian Weightlifting Federation confirmed for Top Channel that before the championship Romela has resulted negative in many tests.

However, players sign an agreement before every important activity and they are held responsible for any further result.

The Albanian Football Federation declared that Romela Begaj was ready to make test B, feeling certain that she hasn’t used any substance.

If test B will be positive, Begaj and her coach might be suspended forever from the weightlifting sport, official sources say for Top Channel.

The Federation will hold a declaration only after test B.

Turkish PM Davutoglu in Greece for 2-Day Visit

ATHENS, Greece — Dec 5, 2014, 12:41 PM ET

By ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday stressed the importance of improving ties with neighboring Greece and taking steps to turn the Aegean Sea between them into a "sea of peace," as he began a two-day visit to Athens.

Davutoglu was heading a large delegation of businessmen and nine ministers, including those of foreign affairs, economy, energy, interior and customs. The visit will include a joint Cabinet meeting ? a system begun several years ago as a means of improving the often testy ties between the two neighbors.

Speaking just before leaving Istanbul, Davutoglu said the two sides would discuss "steps that we can take in the eastern Mediterranean, in the Middle East ? and as two neighboring countries we shall discuss steps that we can take to turn the Aegean into a sea of peace."

Greece and Turkey have historically had strained ties, and continue to be at odds over several disputes, including territorial issues in the Aegean Sea and the ethnically divided island of Cyprus.

"We will discuss, face to face, the importance that Turkish-Greek cooperation carries toward peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans as well as the opportunities," Davutoglu said.

"We shall take up steps that Turkey and Greece can take jointly in Cyprus and the Aegean."

Talks between Davutoglu and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, attended by the two foreign ministers, covered the entire range of bilateral issues, including Aegean disputes and Cyprus, Greece's foreign ministry spokesman said.

Tension increased recently over oil and gas exploration rights off the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, divided since 1974 into a Turkish-occupied north and a Greek Cypriot south.

Cyprus is looking to tap energy reserves to help recover from a financial crisis. It touts itself as a new energy source for a Europe trying to lessen its dependence on Russian imports.

But Turkey opposes the gas search, insisting the internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government cannot unilaterally exploit the country's resources.

In the visit's first meeting, both Papoulias and Davutoglu stressed the importance of good relations.

"We are neighbors, Mr. Prime Minister, and we will remain neighbors. So we must be good neighbors," Papoulias said.

"You are absolutely right, Mr. President. You can change everything except geographical location," Davutoglu responded according to a transcript from the Greek presidency, adding that Greece and Turkey have shared cultural characteristics.

Although often at odds over national issues, the two NATO allies have enjoyed strengthening business ties.

Bilateral trade has nearly doubled, growing from 2.2 billion euros in 2010 to 4.3 billion in 2013, Development Minister Costas Skrekas said during a speech at the Greek-Turkish business forum the two premiers were to speak at.

Turkey has become the largest market for Greek products over the past two years, Skrekas said.

"Good neighborly relations go through the expansion of economic ties," Skrekas said.

Greece Considers Bringing Forward Presidential Elections in 2015

Vote Could Take Place in New Year if Unable to Overcome Deadlock With International Creditors

ENLARGE

Students protest over cuts to education budgets at the Greek parliament in central Athens on Nov 6. Greece’s international creditors are now urging the government to implement more austerity measures. Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

By

Nektaria Stamouli and

Stelios Bouras

Dec. 5, 2014 11:03 a.m. ET

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ATHENS—Greece is considering bringing forward its presidential elections next year by more than a month in a bid to ease concerns among international creditors over political uncertainty facing the country, two party officials said Friday.
The officials, from the two parties forming the coalition government, said the vote could be held straight after the Christmas break if Greece is unable to overcome a deadlock with international creditors over reforms needed to secure future funding.
“We are considering carrying out the presidential elections after Christmas,” a senior official from the ruling New Democracy party said. “We are in a vicious circle. As long as there is political uncertainty, our lenders are going to demand even harsher measures; the harsher the measures are, the bigger the political uncertainty will be.”
By March, the Greek parliament needs to elect a new president by a majority of at least 180 votes, out of a total of 300.

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The coalition, however, doesn’t have those votes and if it fails to garner the support of smaller parties and independent lawmakers, it will be forced into early elections.
The government said in October that it would begin the process of electing the new president just before the term of the current president Karolos Papoulias ends in early March, which means the vote would be held around late February.
But since then negotiations with the troika—made up of representatives from the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund—have been stuttering, prompting Greece to consider a change in its game plan.
The latest round of talks between the two sides ended in Paris last week without an agreement being reached, meaning that the country’s final review may not be completed in time for Greece to switch to a new credit line and that it may need to extend its current €240 billion ($188.8 billion) program. Negotiations are continuing with the Greek government proposing additional tax hikes and spending cuts to complete the review although troika officials are calling for more austerity measures. According to several eurozone officials the country’s creditors are looking at extending the country’s bailout program by up to six months.
Government officials suspect the creditors may be deliberately making big demands to extend its program well past March and the uncertainty posed by the coming presidential election.
“Earlier presidential elections would help ease this process. It would provide markets and investors with more clarity,” said the second official from junior coalition party Pasok.
Write to Nektaria Stamouli at nektaria.stamouli@wsj.com and Stelios Bouras at stelios.bouras@wsj.com

Turkish premier to visit Greece amid tensions over energy deposits

First entry: 4 December 2014 - 10:20 Athens, 08:20 GMT

Last update: 10:20 Athens, 08:20 GMTPolitics

Turkish premier to visit Greece amid tensions over energy deposits
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will visit Greece for two days beginning Friday amid tensions over energy deposits in the eastern Mediterranean.
The two-day talks between Turkey and Greece are part of confidence-building measures launched in 2010 to improve relations between the Aegean neighbours.
So far, the talks have resulted in the signing of around 50 accords on immigration, disaster response, tourism, health, transport, agriculture, immigration, culture and sport.
A Greek foreign ministry source said Wednesday that several of these accords will be "re-evaluated" during Davutoglu's visit.
The visit has been clouded by Turkey's intervention in the energy exploration race in the eastern Mediterranean.
Ankara is determined to search for oil and gas in the same area where the internationally recognised Cyprus government has licensed exploratory drilling in its exclusive economic zone.
Last month, Nicosia said a Turkish survey vessel had encroached on Cyprus's exclusive economic zone off its south coast.
The Greek foreign ministry source said Turkey's actions were a "brutal violation" of sovereign rights.
Turkish troops invaded and occupied the northern third of Cyprus in 1974 following an Athens-engineered coup aimed at uniting it with Greece. The peace talks are aimed at reunifying the island.
Ankara opposes the Cyprus government's exploitation of offshore energy reserves before agreement is reached on solving the decades-long division of the east Mediterranean island.
Davutoglu will be accompanied by at least seven ministers and a large business delegation.
The last round of Greek-Turkish talks had been held in Istanbul in March last year.
Greece and Turkey remain divided over territorial issues despite a rapprochement in 1999 that followed back-to-back earthquakes.
The soaring of undocumented migration via Turkey towards Greece over the past decade has further strained relations.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/

U.S. Calls FYROM ‘Macedonia’ in International Summit, Greek Govt VP Walks Out

Greek government Vice President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos walked out during a 60-country summit when the United States accepted the name “Macedonia” instead of FYROM on the list of countries that pledged to fight against the Islamic State.

After the summit, the Greek Foreign Ministry issued an official announcement, complaining to the U.S. side. The announcement explained that Venizelos left the summit in protest, since the name of Greece’s northern neighbor, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, has not been established yet and the two countries are still in the process of negotiations. Furthermore, according to a decision by the United Nations Security Council, the name of FYROM has not been decided until the two countries agree.

Ministers from 60 countries met in Brussels yesterday after a U.S. initiative to form an official coalition against the Islamic State. According to Greece, the U.S. did not follow the formal procedure of the United Nations to call each country under its official name. FYROM went to the meeting under its present name, but in the joint 60-country statement, it signed as “Macedonia.” FYROM officials said that “Macedonia” is the country’s constitutional name.

After Venizelos left in protest, Greece was represented by NATO representative in Brussels Michalis Diamesis.

After the 60 countries signed the treaty, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pledged to continue the campaign against the Islamic State “as long as it takes.”
- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/12/04/u-s-calls-fyrom-macedonia-in-international-summit-greek-govt-vp-walks-out/#sthash.Y9mLAp6E.dpuf

Albanian PM: Himara is not a matter for discussion, is as everyone else, Tropoje, Kukes Poliçan etc...

 

Doules: We would resolve the Himara Issue according to the International Conventions for Human Rights

Rama: Census 2011, mistaken, we will find the opportunity to make again

Tirana: During a parliamentary debate today, requested by Vangelis Doules, Chairman of HRUP, the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has asked that the "issue of Himara Regin, is closed once and forever and is one of the municipalities usually as they are in the north of Albania or between its ".

The response of the Prime Minister Rama, was stiff, and indisputable, but the President of HRUP, Doules, called the Albanian government, to refer that Albania has signed by the International Agreements and Conventions for Ethnic Minorities.

"We have no hope from Tirana, said Doules because Himara as issues of freedom and human rights, shall be settled by international conventions of the Council of Europe, and the European Union, but we remind you that in Himara Region lives concentrated and very ancient, a Greek community, not known by the Albanian Governments since the second World War. "

"For the Territorial Division and the Himara issue, the Albanian government has violated Article 16 of the Convention of the Council of Europe, and we will solve the issue, without the help of Tirana, but we do not know yet, also, your position about the Census of 2011, the by government Berisha "said Doules.
 
Prime Minister Rama,. replied by stating that "Census 2011 is not conducted in a democratic way and we will develop again."

Photo of the Day

Himarioton Lobby after the meeting in US Capitol Hill with Congressman Gus Bilirakis

Greek Navy, tests new submarines


Testing maximum dive depth in the area south of Hydra was the submarine PIPINOS type "214" like Papanikolis.

According to reliable sources of the Navy, the results were excellent while and so far test results submerged, performed by the renovated and modernized submarine OKEANOS is very encouraging.

Always according to these sources "generally the evolution of sea trials of the two submarines is such that it gives very optimistic signs for the successful completion of all testing schedule, which has been put".

Respectively, the program of the other two Type 214 submarines in HSY Scaramanga is progressing and is expected in January 2015 the launch of the submarine MATROZOS.

Source
http://www.onalert.gr/stories/ypovrxyia-epithesi-o-pipinos-se-megala-vathi/39010

Italy seen as corrupt as Greece, Romania and Bulgaria

BRUSSELS - Italy, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria are seen as equally corrupt among EU countries, while Denmark is the least graft-prone country, according to the yearly corruption perception index published by Transparency International on Wednesday (3 December).
The index scores and ranks countries around the world based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be.
Finland and Sweden also score well, coming in directly after Denmark, according to the index which relies on a combination of surveys and assessments.
Even as EU countries have higher scores than countries like Russia, Ukraine or Turkey, Transparency International notes that in 2014 there were numerous scandals in "old Europe".

In France, Spain and Italy they included a former president, a current regional president and members of the royal family, "not to mention dozens of politicians and influential business people".
EU citizens also protested against corruption in Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Corruption Perceptions Index scores in many EU countries remain unchanged or have improved slightly.
"In part, this is because the economic situation has stabilised, at least at present, and in some cases, governments are starting to tackle endemic corruption," TI explains.
It cites Greece as an example where recent reforms have moved the country up by three points - even as it still has the lowest score in the EU, together with Italy, Romania and Bulgaria.
"We also welcome the gradual progress made by the UK in the last few years, which saw its score increase by two points, indicating the effectiveness of the Bribery Act on the UK’s international reputation," TI writes.
Tax-dodging is also an issue for the EU as a whole.
“We know that any effort to stop corruption in one country is undermined as long as corrupt officials are allowed to hide their money in another. That is why the EU must act in the next few weeks to prevent money laundering and clamp down on the secret companies that mask corruption,” said Carl Dolan, head of the Transparency International EU office.
TI notes that two months ago, a money laundering investigation was launched involving 19 UK companies in an alleged conspiracy to launder €15.7 billion of dirty money.
The funds are suspected of coming from “major criminals and corrupt officials around the world”, channelled from Russia with the involvement of Latvian and Moldovan banks.
Other examples involving shell companies and opaque ownership structures in the EU include: stolen assets from the former regime in Ukraine, Europe’s horsemeat scandal, and Italian mafia groups such as Cosa Nostra and Camorra.