Μήνυμα Αμερικανών στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο: Κόβεται η βοήθεια αν δεν καταργήσετε τα τέλη

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Μάρτιος 6, 2020. Ech

Απέρριψε ως ανακριβείς τις δημοσιεύσεις ότι οι Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες θα συνεχίσουν να προσφέρουν στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο οικονομική βοήθεια, εάν παραμείνει η υπέρογκη φορολόγηση των σερβικών προϊόντων.



Αυτό έγραψε ο ειδικός απεσταλμένος του προέδρου των ΗΠΑ, Ρίτσαρντ Γκρένελ για το διάλογο μεταξύ Βελιγραδίου και Πρίστινα.




Συγκεκριμένα ο Γκρένελ απάντησε στις αναφορές του διευθυντή της Gazeta Express Μπεράτ Μπουζάλ,  που επικαλέστηκε τους ισχυρισμούς ενός συνεργάτη του πρωθυπουργού του Κοσσυφοπεδίου, Αλμπίν Κούρτι.


Ο Μπουζάλ έγραψε ότι «Ο Ρίτσαρντ Γκρένελ επιβεβαίωσε σε τηλεφωνική συνομιλία, ότι οι Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες δεν θα σταματήσουν να στέλνουν οικονομική βοήθεια σε οποιαδήποτε περιοχή στη χώρα μας».


Ο Αλμπίν Κούρτι είχε δηλώσει ότι οι δύο πλευρές συμφώνησαν να συνεχίσουν τη συνεργασία.


Σύμφωνα με τον διευθυντή της Gazeta Exrpess στο όλο ζήτημα υπάρχει μια γενική σύγχυση.


Οι Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες επιζητούν το διάλογο μεταξύ Βελιγραδίου και Πρίστινα, αλλά η Σερβία θεωρεί ότι για να γίνει οποιασδήποτε διάλογος πρέπει πρώτα να καταργηθούν τα τέλη στα σερβικά προϊόντα τα οποία είναι 100% επί της αξίας τους και εξαιτίας αυτών δεινοπαθεί ο σερβικό πληθυσμός στο Κόσοβο.
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Bild : Η Ελλάδα στέλνει 50 πολεμικά πλοία στα ελληνικά νησιά για να προστατεύσει τα σύνορά της

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28 Φεβρουαρίου, 2020

Μετά τη στρατιωτική κλιμάκωση μεταξύ της Συρίας του Άσαντ και της Τουρκίας, η Ελλάδα σφραγίζει τα σύνορά της, γράφει η γερμανική εφημερίδα Bild.

Σύμφωνα με αποκλειστικές πληροφορίες της εφημερίδας, η ελληνική κυβέρνηση στέλνει 50 πολεμικά πλοία στα ελληνικά νησιά για να προστατεύσει τα εξωτερικά σύνορα της ΕΕ.


Στον τίτλο του επίμαχου άρθρου, η εφημερίδα αναφέρει:

«Οι Έλληνες απομονώνονται πλήρως από τους πρόσφυγες με αφορμή την κλιμάκωση της έντασης Τουρκίας- Συρίας» και η ελληνική κυβέρνηση στέλνει 50 πολεμικά πλοία στη Μεσόγειο».

Η εφημερίδα Bild επικαλείται υψηλόβαθμο κυβερνητικό εκπρόσωπο που δεν θέλησε να κατονομαστεί.

«Το απόγευμα της Παρασκευής, η Ελλάδα έκλεισε τα σύνορά της με την Τουρκία: όχι μόνο για τους πρόσφυγες, αλλά και για όλους», επισημαίνει το σχετικό δημοσίευμα.

Syrian refugees in Greek-populated territory? The Albanian government is preparing two reception centers in the Saranda area

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In 1999, Former Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu had blocked an attempt by the Albanian government to shelter refugees from Kosovo, forcing VETO. But this alarming situation, which has deeply affected Greece, whose attention is at zero level, seems negligible by the Greeks of North Epirus to protect their territory from disrupting ethnic equilibrium ...

This may be the fatal blow to the Greek population after the adoption of the Property Registration Law, which cuts half of the ethnic and historical territory.

03/05/2020

After the crisis in Europe with refugees from Syria, Albania is preparing to be ready to face such an emergency. Reliable sources suggest that four institutions in the country are discussing taking responsibility in such a situation, and it is planned to have about 6 reception centers beforehand, which may be located in the south of the country bordering Greece.
Two of these centers will be in the Saranda area and specifically in Qafe Bota and Rips.

It has been estimated beforehand that the host capacity at the six centers will be about 30,000 refugees. in such a case of refugee influx the initial prediction of the relevant institutions is the opening of settlements prior to the distribution of refugees to the centers. one source is thought to have these hosts at the Kakavija, Rips, Qafe i Bots, 3 bridges and Kapshtica border crossings.

In other words, at all border crossings that connect Albania with Greece. this plan of measures under discussion includes both the involvement of doctors and the logistics of other institutions. Such a debate on whether or not Albania would accommodate Syrian refugees was also opened during 2015, when it was called for the establishment of a mechanism to take action in case of need. the refugee crisis reopened a few days ago when Turkey opened the door to allow Syrian refugees to travel to EU countries, while shortly thereafter Greece and Bulgaria declared they had stepped up measures at the border.

Vucic and Thaci were presented with the draft of final agreement in the White House

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Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic were presented with a draft final agreement at the White House, Kosovo media reported.

SOURCE: RTS, KOSOVO ONLINE THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020 | 10:07

According to media reports, the agreement has two options, border correction or Community Plus, with Serbia's specific demands - an option that, according to their sources, is favored by US intermediaries, "Bota Sot" stated.

The media said that other details from the Washington meeting say that this negotiation phase will be dynamic, similar to Rambouillet, where the parties will only be offered two options, with "take it or leave it" note, which is contrary to the Vienna negotiations, which lasted for around two years.

"Bota Sot" writes that Border Correction or Community Plus presented the two options offered at the first meeting held two days ago in Washington DC, attended by Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

According to them, it is not required from Serbia to stop the campaign of Kosovo derecognition by June this year. Also, June 2020 is the deadline for reaching an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.

The format for discussing the final agreement will be realized with the participation of the Presidents, with the teams of their choice. The parties were also offered the opportunity to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, but this has been delayed for later stage, when the parties will be closer to reaching an agreement, "Bota Sot" reports.

Pristina based daily states that Thaci and Vucic were told on the meeting that "United States will impose multiple sanctions to the parties that refuse to sign the agreement."

"Bota Sot" said that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci told a Washington press conference today that "the White House meeting presents a dramatic turn".

He said that "America has finally taken over the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia" and that "it wants to end it in the short term", Bota Sot recalls.

Η Μέρκελ στέλνει στον Ερντογάν 6 επιθετικά υποβρύχια -Σχεδόν τέλεια όπλα

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ΚΟΣΜΟΣ08|05|2018 | 10:17

Υποβρύχια κλάσης 214 (Φωτογραφία: ΑΡ)
NEWSROOM IEFIMERIDA.GR

Έξι υποβρύχια ετοιμάζεται να παραδώσει στην Τουρκία η γερμανική ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (ΤΚΜS) όπως αποκαλύπτει το ARD, εκφράζοντας την έκπληξή του για τη χρονική συγκυρία της κίνησης αυτής.

«Τον Φεβρουάριο ένα περιστατικό στη Μεσόγειο κατέστησε γι’ άλλη μια φορά σαφές πόσο τεταμένη είναι η κατάσταση εκεί: ένα πλοίο της τουρκικής ακτοφυλακής εμβόλισε ελληνικό περιπολικό σκάφος», σημειώνει το γερμανικό δίκτυο, προσθέτοντας: «Σε αυτή την περιοχή της έντασης παραδίδει η γερμανική επιχείρηση TKMS υποβρύχια στο τουρκικό Πολεμικό Ναυτικό. Έξι υποβρύχια συμπαραγωγής με τουρκική επιχείρηση».

Επικαλούμενο την απάντηση σε επερώτηση της ΚΟ του Αριστερού Κόμματος (die Linke) το ARD αναφέρει ότι η κυβέρνηση μεγάλου συνασπισμού είχε δώσει την έγκρισή της για τη ναυπήγηση των υποβρυχίων κλάσης 214 και ότι το 2011 το γερμανικό κράτος έλαβε εγγυήσεις εξαγωγής ύψους σχεδόν 2,5 δισ ευρώ.
Ανά τον κόσμο υπηρετούν 4 υποβρύχια τύπου 214 στην Ελλάδα (τύπου «Παπανικολής»), 7 στη Νότια Κορέα και 2 στην Πορτογαλία.



Σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες του ARD, τα έτη 2015, 2016 και 2017 -δηλαδή και μετά το πογκρόμ διώξεων που εξαπέλυσε η κυβέρνηση Ερντογάν κατά αντιφρονούντων στον απόηχο της απόπειρας πραξικοπήματος- ξεκίνησε η ναυπήγηση τριών υποβρυχίων.

«Τα υποβρύχια που εξάγονται από τη Γερμανία και συναρμολογούνται στην Τουρκία είναι σχεδόν τέλεια επιθετικά όπλα για την τουρκική επιθετική πολιτική στη Μεσόγειο», επισημαίνει η αναπληρώτρια επικεφαλής της Κ.Ο. του Αριστερού Κόμματος Σεβίμ Ντάγκντελεν, υπογραμμίζοντας ότι η κίνηση αυτή συνδέεται και με μεταφορά τεχνογνωσίας από τη Γερμανία στην Τουρκία.

Πρόσθεσε δε ότι η Τουρκία σχεδιάζει να χρησιμοποιήσει τα υποβρύχια «εναντίον της Ελλάδας ή και της Κύπρου».

«Είναι ξεκάθαρο ότι η Τουρκία σχεδιάζει να χρησιμοποιήσει αυτό το επιθετικό όπλο κατά παράβαση του διεθνούς δικαίου εναντίον της Ελλάδας ή και της Κύπρου», δήλωσε επισημαίνοντας ότι «δεν μπορεί να κατανοήσει κανείς πώς ενώ ο εξοπλισμός των τεθωρακισμένων ανεστάλη προσωρινά, η εξαγωγή των καταδιωκτικών υποβρυχίων προχωρά κανονικά», αναφερόμενη στο συμβόλαιο αναβάθμισης αρμάτων μάχης Leopard το οποίο «πάγωσε» όταν ήρθαν στην δημοσιότητα φωτογραφίες που εμφάνιζαν τα γερμανικής κατασκευής άρματα να χρησιμοποιούνται κατά την τουρκική επίθεση στην βόρεια Συρία.

Οι εξαγωγές όπλων προς την Τουρκία προκάλεσαν έντονες συζητήσεις μετά τη δημοσίευση φωτογραφιών με τανκς Leopard γερμανικής παραγωγής κατά την επίθεση εναντίον κουρδικών στρατιωτικών ομάδων στη Συρία. Στη συνέχεια, ο τότε υπουργός Εξωτερικών Ζίγκμαρ Γκάμπριελ απέσυρε την προσφορά του για αναβάθμιση των τουρκικών τανκς τύπου Leopard. Ήδη το περασμένο καλοκαίρι είχε υποσχεθεί μια περιοριστική πολιτική εξαγωγών όπλων.

Σύμφωνα με διάφορα ρεπορτάζ  η TKMS σχεδιάζει την ναυπήγηση υποβρυχίων μαζί με τουρκική επιχείρηση για το Πολεμικό Ναυτικό της Ινδονησίας. H ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems δεν επιβεβαιώνει την πληροφορία τονίζοντας διά εκπροσώπου της ότι αυτή τη στιγμή δεν υπάρχει τέτοιο αίτημα ούτε από την Τουρκία, ούτε από την Ινδονησία.

Στην απάντηση της γερμανικής κυβέρνησης υπογραμμίζεται ότι η Άγκυρα επιδιώκει μακροπρόθεσμα μια «αυτονομία στην εξοπλιστική τεχνολογία». Εδώ και δεκαετίες η στρατηγική της Τουρκίας στις διεθνείς συνεργασίες είναι να επιδιώκει τη μέγιστη δυνατή μεταφορά τεχνογνωσίας.

Το γερμανικό υπουργείο Εξωτερικών, πάντως, προσπαθεί να ρίξει τους τόνους. Εκπρόσωπός του είπε ότι «η γερμανική κυβέρνηση περιμένει από τους δύο Νατοϊκούς εταίρους, Ελλάδα και Τουρκία, να διατηρήσουν μια εποικοδομητική συνεργασία στο πνεύμα των σχέσεων καλής γειτονίας και με σεβασμό του Διεθνούς Δικαίου».

Μόλις πριν από μερικούς μήνες έγινε γνωστό ότι η ομοσπονδιακή κυβέρνηση της Γερμανίας είχε εγκρίνει σημαντικές εξαγωγές όπλων προς την Τουρκία ήδη στις αρχές του έτους. Σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες του «Spiegel», το Βερολίνο είχε εγκρίνει μεταξύ της 31ης Ιουλίου του περασμένου έτους και της 15ης Ιανουαρίου του τρέχοντος έτους, εξαγωγές στρατιωτικού εξοπλισμού συνολικής αξίας περίπου 14 εκατομμυρίων ευρώ.
Πηγή: iefimerida.gr Link

Albania offers amnesty to curb shadow economy, revive growth

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Benet Koleka
2 MIN READ

TIRANA, March 3 (Reuters) - Albania’s government plans to offer an amnesty to businesses that have failed to disclose funds or made illegal gains for a fee, in an effort to formalise and revive the economy, open firms’ access to capital markets, and plug a budget shortfall.

Business association Konfindustria estimated on Tuesday that Albania’s informal economy equals 50% of Albania’s gross domestic product, adding one million Albanians live abroad and $30 billion had been taken out of the Balkan country illegally.

Finance Minister Anilaj Denaj said the draft law would comply with international standards.

The country of 2.8 million, which borders European Union member state Greece, is pushing to start entry talks with the bloc.

Last year the state earned 26.3 billion leke ($240 million) less than planned and a European body fighting money-laundering is monitoring Albania for compliance on 17 issues.

“Formalising the informal economy is a priority for the Albanian government,” Denaj said.

She said the amnesty and the level of fee would distinguish between those who had gaps on their books and those who had dealt in illegal activities.

“For us this difference is very clear and should be clearly marked, with special tools, and I think this will also help the process of public consultation,” Denaj added.

“We cannot give details on the level of fees, we are still discussing figures. It will be a low level and it would make possible the declaration of assets and stimulate businesses to get formalised, especially the mid-sized and big ones to access capital markets.”

Prime Minister Edi Rama said on the weekend the amnesty would not apply to convicted criminals, politicians, judges and prosecutors.

Denaj said that since Albania toppled communism 30 years ago businesses had often operated with inaccurate financial statements, hurting their chances of getting loans.

“The banking sector feels this the most... That is why we think it (the amnesty) will also stimulate lending,” Denaj said.

Russia-Turkey agreement dead?

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Outcome of the Sochi Agreement after a year and a half of its implementation is that the positions of terrorists and Turkish observatories in Idlib have merged

SOURCE: SPUTNIK WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2020 | 09:34

This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov, Sputnik reports.

According to him, the situation in the Idlib security zone, where the Syrian army has pushed terrorists of the Hayat Tahrir Ash Sham group to a safe distance from Aleppo after attacking its positions, "represents another moment of truth."

He stressed that not only Western states but also the UN welcomed the signing of the Sochi Idlib Province 2018 Memorandum.

Russian proposals implied Turkish control of a strip of the Idlib de-escalation zone, 15 kilometers wide, along the Syrian-Turkish border, where Syrian refugee camps could be located. Currently, Turkish troops are positioned 20-35 kilometers from the border. The proposals also suggested deployment of Russian checkpoints between the Turkish-controlled part of the Idlib de-escalation zone and the areas of operation. Finally, the deal proposed that the M4 and M5 routes be open for traffic under joint Russian-Turkish control.

"No one in the West notices the actions of the Turkish side, which, in violation of international law, has deployed a strike force the size of mechanized division to Syria's Idlib in order to 'enforce the Sochi agreement at any cost'", Konashenkov said in a statement.

He also stressed that public threats to destroy all units of the Syrian government forces and return the M5 highway to terrorist control are viewed by the United States and Europe as "Ankara's legitimate right to defence".

Meanwhile, Damascus has been unfairly accused by the West of alleged "war crimes", "humanitarian catastrophe", and "flows of millions of refugees" in Idlib, Konashenkov added.

"Amid the total cynicism and the West's fake concerns over the humanitarian situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone, only the Russian center for reconciliation of the opposing sides and the legitimate Syrian government deliver to the liberated areas all the needed assistance for local residents daily", Konashenkov said.

Konashenkov added that tormented by terrorists, "Syrians were not even aware of the existence of numerous pseudo-protectors in Europe and the United States, and of the prodigal humanitarian assistance, which was allegedly delivered over the past years".

The Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman also slammed Western nations' claims about their concerns over the humanitarian situation in the Syrian province of Idlib as "total cynicism".

In any case, Moscow and Ankara do not seek to sever ties and are likely to continue to seek solutions to the Idlib equation.

Greek minority in Albania against government plan to seize properties in Himara

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TornosNews.gr


Most of the coastal land in the region of Himara, considered to be of great real estate value, to be taken over by the Albanian state, which continues its velvet ethnic cleansing against the indigenous Greeks of Northern Epirus

The Albanian government’s plan for the property registration procedures in Himara has caused unrest and major reactions in the Ethnic Greek Minority in Albania, protothema.gr reports.The announcement by the representatives of the Greek minority stresses that the Albanian government, with its draft law, is creating more problems for Greek legal owners, who are in danger of losing their property permanently.

At the same time, it is pointed out that the goal of Tirana is that most of the coastal land in the region of Himara, considered to be of great real estate value, to be taken over by the Albanian state, which continues its velvet ethnic cleansing against the indigenous Greeks of Northern Epirus at the southern part of Albania.

Οι Ευρωπαίοι με τον πρωθυπουργό πετούν με Chinook στον Έβρο

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Ήρθαν οι Ευρωπαίοι στον Έβρο! Ο πρωθυπουργός Κυριάκος Μητσοτάκης υποδέχτηκε στο αεροδρόμιο της Αλεξανδρούπολης τον πρόεδρο του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου Charles Michel, την πρόεδρο της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής Ursula von der Leyen και τον πρόεδρο του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου David Sassoli, τον Μαργαρίτη Σχοινά, αντιπρόεδρο της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής αρμόδιο για την Προώθηση του Ευρωπαϊκού Τρόπου Ζωής, τον πρωθυπουργό της Κροατίας Andrej Plenković και τον αναπληρωτή πρωθυπουργό και υπουργό Εσωτερικών της Κροατίας, Davor Božinović.


Η φωτογραφία μέσα από το CHINOOK όπου όλοι βλέπουν από ψηλά ότι κόσμος δεν είναι πάντα μια ζωγραφιά, όπως λέει το τραγούδι του Κώστα Χατζή.

Albania Opposition Rallies to Stop 'Coup D'etat' Over Reforms

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By Reuters
March 2, 2020

TIRANA — Thousands of opposition supporters denounced Albania's government at a protest rally on Monday in a move likely to deepen a row between the country's president and the socialist administration over judicial reforms sought by the West.

Some 8,000 supporters cheered President Ilir Meta when he accused Prime Minister Edi Rama's government of enacting a "coup d'etat" against the constitution and of having ties to organized crime.

In a process monitored by European and U.S. experts, Albania is vetting 850 judges and prosecutors to try to identify and kick out corrupt members of the judiciary.

The European Union has told Albania the reforms must remain a top priority if it wants to join the bloc and the judiciary should have teeth in the fight against corruption and crime.


So far, most Supreme and Constitutional Court judges have been fired, prompting many Albanians to say they were right to view the judiciary as corrupt. However, the opposition says the government is trying to exert undue control over the reformed judicial system.

While filling vacancies for the Constitutional Court, the Socialist-dominated assembly and Meta clashed late last year over the nomination of a judge, with Meta arguing that a body nominating judges had tricked him out of his right also to make nominations.


"To defend democracy, my first duty is to lead the fight against the coup d'etat...," Meta told the crowd.

"Death to the coup d'etat, long live the rule of law, long live the Republic."

When Meta in mid-November refused to swear-in a candidate proposed by parliament, the Socialists went on to pass a bill saying a judge could take the oath at a notary public if the president did not receive him or her.

Justice Minister Etilda Gjonaj has said they had followed the procedure to the letter and the "president had created a fictitious cause to serve his own battles".



After reviewing the rule of law reforms by Albania and North Macedonia, the EU's executive said both countries "have delivered further tangible and sustainable results..."

"..and therefore the Commission’s recommendation to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia remains valid," the European Commission said in a statement.

At the rally, Meta signed an official order repealing the bill, although the move appeared to be symbolic, since the proposed legislation now returns to parliament for further consideration.

A parliamentary committee convened by the Socialists has met several times in recent months to discuss the possibility of sacking Meta for cancelling local elections last June after the opposition parties refused to take part. The poll went ahead.

(Reporting by Benet Koleka; Editing by William Maclean and Lisa Shumaker)

Commission reports on progress made by Albania and North Macedonia

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Today, the Commission presented updates on the progress made by Albania and North Macedonia in further addressing rule of law related reforms, in particular in the areas set by the Council in June 2018. Both countries have delivered further tangible and sustainable results and therefore the Commission's recommendation to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia remains valid.

Upon the presentation of the reports Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi commented: “After the February adoption of the revised methodology for the accession process, we are today presenting our updates on Albania and North Macedonia. They show that the countries stepped up their work and delivered further tangible and sustainable results in the key areas identified in the Council Conclusions of June 2018. The Commission stands firmly by its recommendations to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia and I hope that the Member States will take a positive decision in the coming weeks.”

2020 – working on a three-track approach

The Western Balkans are a priority for the Commission, which is following a three-track approach in 2020. On 5 February, the Commission has set out its proposal to drive forward the EU accession process by making it more credible, more dynamic, more predictable and give it a stronger political steer. In parallel, the Commission stands firmly by its recommendations to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, as both continue to deliver on the reforms. Thirdly, in preparation of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb on 6 and 7 May, the Commission will come forward with an economic development and investment plan for the region.

In today's updates, the Commission factually and objectively describes the progress of both countries from June 2018 to today in the areas highlighted by the Council.

In the case of Albania, the update outlines progress in the implementation of justice reform and the vetting process of judges and prosecutors, on the track record demonstrated in the fight against corruption and organised crime, including when it comes to cannabis cultivation and hard drugs trafficking. It also points to other relevant issues, such as agreement on the way forward to electoral reform and efforts to tackle unfounded asylum claims.

In the case of North Macedonia, the update covers significant steps taken to strengthen independence of judiciary, including the recent adoption of the revised law on the Public Prosecutor's Office. It shows an improved track record in the fight against corruption and organised crime as well as progress in the reform of intelligence services and public administration.

Background

In April 2018, the European Commission recommended to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. In June 2018, the Council acknowledged progress and set out the path towards opening accession negotiations, depending on progress made in certain key areas.

Following further positive recommendations by the Commission in May 2019, the Council postponed its decision to June and then October 2019 before deciding to revert to the issue of enlargement before the Zagreb Summit in May 2020.

The General Affairs Council in March 2020 is expected to discuss the way ahead for enlargement policy, based on the revised methodology, as well as progress made by North Macedonia and Albania, with a view to opening accession talks. The European Commission will present in a few months a more detailed assessment of the general state of play in all the enlargement partners in its annual enlargement package. LINK

Vucic and Thaci met at the White House; "I only asked Albanians one thing"

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his counterpart Hashim Thaci met at the White House, as Voice of America in Albanian reports

SOURCE: TANJUG, VOICE OF AMERICA TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020 | 00:14

It is not yet clear in what format they met, but earlier it was announced that the President of Serbia would be hosted by the U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien.

The two presidents are in the United States on separate visits.

On separate occasions, Vucic and Thaci met with senior US officials, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer in Washington on separate occasions.

The President of the so-called Kosovo and the President of Serbia are major negotiators of the two sides of the EU-led dialogue that has been frozen since November 2018, when former Kosovo authorities led by then Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj imposed 100 percent tariffs on imported products from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Friday announced a proposal to gradually abolish the 100% tariffs introduced in November 2018 on products from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a countermeasure on Serbia's campaign to withdraw recognition of Kosovo's independence.

US officials, however, urges the so-called Kosovo to unconditionally abolish customs duties introduced in November 2018 on Serbian goods, while Belgrade is urged to end its campaign of derecognition of Kosovo's independence.

In less than a month, the United States secured two agreements between the parties to establish an airline, a railroad, and build a highway between the two countries.

According to Tanjug news agency, besides Vucic and Thaci, the meeting was attended by the US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Belgrade and Pristina Richard Grenell and Trump's security advisor Robert O'Brien.

The agency said all four agreed on the necessity of the removal of taxes and said they wished that Belgrade – Pristina dialogue on the normalisation of relations resumed immediately after the tariffs were revoked.

Earlier on Monday Vucic said his meeting with the State Secretary Mike Pompeo was sincere and meaningful and that he was grateful to the US officials for listening to Belgrade and understanding its problems, the Beta news agency reported.

“I’m grateful to all American officials for their clear view. I have said several times that with some in the international community, you never know what they think, while with the Americans, you know everything. I’m aware that we have a different opinion about Kosovo, but thank them for listening to Serbia and understanding our problems,” Vucic told reporters after the talks with Pompeo.

"Then I listened on the other side about how important it was. I said no problem, but for that, all the time I asked the Albanians only one thing, and I said it 500 times in Brussels: 'People, you don't run for different international organizations and institutions, do not force us to engage all our capacities, let us not, as we speak, go for additional recognitions and additional nominations to Interpol, UNESCO, to all other international organizations and institutions, so to agree on we will stop it, at least temporarily", Vucic said.

But, he stated, they never wanted it because they would immediately ask "who are we to prevent the meaning of their existence from lobbying for these international organizations and institutions". "They never wanted an agreement on the matter. That is the essence, that without such an agreement Serbia cannot agree to it," Vucic said.

"I've highly appreciated Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. However, he is a big liar"

SManalysis

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama says that thanks to former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, Kosovo still has not achieved visa liberalization.

SOURCE: KOSOVO ONLINE TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020 | 10:09

According to the writing of Pristina based "Gazeta Express", as Kosovo online reports, Rama stated for "Pressing" TV show, aired on T7, that he had advised Haradinaj to suspend the 100 percent tariffs on Serbian products, after French President Emmanuel Macron promised visa liberalization to Kosovo citizens.

"You would not have had a visa regime now if Haradinaj had suspended the taxes ... But he does not understand it. They would have been without a visa for over a year now," the Albanian Prime Minister said.

According to him, Haradinaj did all this because of the votes. "Ramush sacrificed Kosovo for his votes. However, he did not win elections," Rama said, adding that because of Haradinaj, "Kosovo has lost its international reputation."

Referring to Haradinaj's statement that he did not take Rana as a point of reference on major topics, Rama emphasized that he did not even classify him as a person who counts as a reference for major topics at all.

"What had Ramush Haradinaj done for Kosovo's sake - excluding imposing fees? I highly respected Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. However, he proved to be such a big liar when appearing in public. He addressed the public by lying in the most scandalous way, saying that I allegedly pressured him to suspend the tax. He made the most harmful decision for Kosovo", Rama underlined.

According to him, Haradinaj is a folklore politician.

"I sued him in Kosovo, not in front of the Tribunal. What do I get from Kosovo? I get nothing, not even in election-wise, but I have to talk about Kosovo because I have an obligation to do so. Because Kosovo interests me. Whether you want to or not. I get nothing either way", Rama concluded.

Συνάντηση της Πανηπειρωτικής με τη νέα πρέσβη των ΗΠΑ στην Αλβανία

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«Εθνικός Κήρυξ» 28 Φεβρουαρίου, 2020

Από αριστερά: ο αντιπρόεδρος Γιάννης Κατσιμπάρης, ο πρόεδρος Νικόλαος Κέιτζ, η γενική γραμματέας Αλέκα Καλουδέλη, η πρέσβης Γιούρι Κιμ και ο πρώην πρόεδρος Μενέλαος Τζέλιος

ΟΥΑΣΙΓΚΤΟΝ. Οι επικεφαλής της Πανηπειρωτικής Ομοσπονδίας Αμερικής συναντήθηκαν στο Στέιτ Ντιπάρτμεντ, την Παρασκευή, 28 Φεβρουαρίου, με τη νέα πρέσβη των ΗΠΑ στην Αλβανία, Γιούρι Κιμ (Yuri Kim), και συζήτησαν για την ενίσχυση των δικαιωμάτων των Ελλήνων στην Βόρεια Ηπειρο και σε όλη την Αλβανία.







Ο Πρέσβης ΗΠΑ στα Τίρανα Donald Lu, με Χιμαριωτών Κοινοτητα, ΗΠΑ, 2016


Σημείωση SManalysis: Από τις πηγές μας, η Ομοσπονδία των Πανεπιστημίων των ΗΠΑ έχει εγείρει το γεωπολιτικό ζήτημα της κατάστασης στη Βόρεια Ήπειρο, Χιμάρας, και τα μέτρα που λαμβάνει το αμερικανικό υπουργείο σε ένα κλίμα αλλαγής στα νοτιοδυτικά Βαλκάνια.

Αλλά ταυτόχρονα, πρέπει να τηρήσουμε την εμπειρία ορισμένων πρεσβευτών των ΗΠΑ στα Τίρανα που υποστήριξαν την εξουσία των Τιράνων, εις βάρος του λαού της Χιμάρας, στο θέμα της περιουσίας και της επικράτειας.

Ελπίζουμε ότι η θέση του Πρέσβη Κίμ θα είναι στο πλαίσιο των συμφερόντων του λαού της Χειμάρας και όλης της Βορείου Ηπείρου για το δικαίωμά τους στην αυτοδιάθεση στην ιστορική τους επικράτεια.

Η μετανάστευση και η δημογραφική παρακμή στην Αλβανία

SManalysis


Φεβρουάριος 29, 2020. Echedoros

Υπάρχει μια συνεχής συζήτηση στην Αλβανία για τη δημογραφική συρρίκνωση του πληθυσμού που παρατηρείται εδώ και τρεις δεκαετίες.


Σύμφωνα με στοιχεία της αλβανικής στατιστικής υπηρεσίας, ο πληθυσμός στη χώρα σήμερα είναι λίγο πάνω από τα 2.850.000. Έχουν μεταναστεύσει περίπου 1.112.000 άτομα που είναι το 38% του σημερινού πληθυσμού.



Από την αρχή της δεκαετίας του '90,  μετά την πτώση του κομμουνισμού στη χώρα, καταγράφηκε μια τεράστια αύξηση της μετανάστευσης, ενώ συγχρόνως υπάρχει σοβαρή μείωση της γονιμότητας που υπολογίζεται στο 65%.


Έκθεση του ΟΗΕ που δημοσιεύθηκε πρόσφατα αναφέρει ότι με την πιο απαισιόδοξη πρόβλεψη, μέχρι το 2100 η Αλβανία θα έχει  το 18% του σημερινού πληθυσμού και το 66% με τις πιο αισιόδοξες προβλέψεις.




Στη δεκαετία του 1970-80 η Αλβανία είχε την υψηλότερη πληθυσμιακή ανάπτυξη στην Ευρώπη, με 2% ετησίως, σήμερα η βρίσκεται σε μια αρνητική εξέλιξη με – 0,35%.


Σήμερα, σύμφωνα με τις στατιστικές η Αλβανία κατέχει την πρώτη θέση στην Ευρώπη στη μαζική μετανάστευση.


Ο διευθυντής του Κέντρου Οικονομικών και Κοινωνικών Σπουδών, Ιλίρ Γκεντέσι λέει ότι υπάρχει μια έντονη τάση των νέων ανθρώπων καθώς και των ειδικευμένων να μεταναστεύσουν για την εξεύρεση εργασίας στην αλλοδαπή.


«Η μελέτη μας έδειξε ότι θέλουν να μεταναστεύσουν από την Αλβανία, τα άτομα με ανώτατη εκπαίδευση και με υψηλά προσόντα. Ενώ μέχρι το 2007 ήθελαν να μεταναστεύσουν άνεργοι, φτωχοί, ανειδίκευτοι και γενικά αμόρφωτοι».




Σύμφωνα, εξάλλου, με την παρακολούθηση του Κέντρου Οικονομικών και Κοινωνικών Σπουδών, παρατηρείται ότι η πιθανή μετανάστευση των νέων είναι υψηλή.


«Η πιθανή μετανάστευση φοιτητών σε δημόσια και ιδιωτικά πανεπιστήμια στην Αλβανία είναι αρκετά υψηλή, περίπου το 79%. Αν κοιτάξουμε τους Αλβανούς φοιτητές που σπουδάζουν στο εξωτερικό, το 94% δεν θέλει να επιστρέψει στη χώρα», λέει ο Ιλίρ Γκεντέσι.


Μερικοί μαθητές δήλωσαν στην VOA (σημ. Φωνή της Αμερικής) ότι η ώθηση τους στη Δύση είναι εξαιτίας της έλλειψης αγοράς εργασίας κυρίως στους νέους κλάδους καθώς και η μεγάλη διαφθορά στη χώρα.


«Ζούμε σε μια χώρα όπου υπάρχει μεγάλη διαφθορά, δεν νομίζω ότι το μέλλον για εμάς τους φοιτητές είναι ευοίωνο εδώ» λέει η φοιτήτρια Ζεραλντίνα Αλίου.


«Ο κλάδος που σπουδάζω στην Οικονομική Μηχανική είναι καινούριος και δεν νομίζω ότι μπορεί να υπάρξουν ευκαιρίες απασχόλησης μόλις τελειώσω τις σπουδές μου», δήλωσε ο Μάριο Σπάνο, φοιτητής στο Πολυτεχνείο των Τιράνων.



Κύρια, εξάλλου, ανησυχία των εμπειρογνωμόνων αφορά τις γεννήσεις στην Αλβανία, που έχουν μειωθεί κατά 65% από το 1990, όταν υπήρχαν 82.000 γεννήσεις το χρόνο.


Τα κυβερνητικά μέτρα για την τόνωση των γεννήσεων μέσω ενός μπόνους σε κάθε γέννηση θεωρούνται από τους ειδικούς ανεπαρκή.


«Οι πολιτικές ανάπτυξης του πληθυσμού θα πρέπει να επικεντρωθούν κυρίως στη βελτίωση της χειραφέτησης των γυναικών στην Αλβανία, στη βελτίωση των συνθηκών εργασίας, στις πολιτικές που σχετίζονται με την ισότητα στο χώρο εργασίας και την οικογένεια», αναφέρει ο  Αριάν Γκιονσάι, καθηγητής στην Σχολή Οικονομικών Επιστημών του Λονδίνου στην Αγγλία.


Η μείωση της γονιμότητας είναι ανησυχητική σε όλες τις χώρες της ΕΕ και της περιοχής των Βαλκανίων, καθώς βρίσκεται κάτω από το επίπεδο ανάκτησης των 2,1.

Η Αλβανία είναι κάτω από τον μέσο όρο της ΕΕ 1,55%.

Greece vetoes NATO statement supporting Turkey in Syria

SManalysis

By News Desk -2020-02-290


The Permanent Mission of Greece to NATO on Friday evening vetoed a statement that the alliance was preparing to make in support of Ankara, following the recent killing of 33 Turkish troops, Greek newspaper Vima reported, citing information from Greek sources.

According to the newspaper, the foreign minister of Greece, Nikos Dendias, issued direct instructions to representatives to use a veto if the text of the joint statement does not include a Greek proposal to refer to compliance with the March 2016 EU-Turkey declaration on refugees and migrants.

The Greek demand was reportedly met with resistance by a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and France.

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu demanded to begin political consultations provided for in Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, which allows a member country to ask for the organization’s assistance if it considers that its security, territorial integrity or political independence are threatened.

Ankara also requested that its allies assist on air defense and intelligence in connection with the situation in Idlib, but no agreements have been reached on the issue, according to the publication.

The report comes as 33 Turkish troops were killed by a Syrian airstrike in the Idlib Governorate on Thursday. The Russian military later explained that the Syrian army targeted Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorists operating in the province, adding that Syrian government forces were not informed about the Turkish presence in the area.

The latest spike in fatal skirmishes follows several weeks of tensions triggered by attacks from Turkish-backed militants against the Syrian army.

Greek Army On Alert as Hundreds of Migrants Converge on Turkey Border

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By Tasos Kokkinidis -Feb 28, 2020



Greek-Turkish borders at Evros. File photo
Greek defense forces have increased their patrols on Friday at the land border with Turkey on Evros River as hundreds of migrants and refugees have camped on the Turkish side waiting for an opportunity to cross.

The mass move towards Greece follows a decision taken at an emergency meeting chaired by President Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday which orders the Turkish police, coast guard and border security officials to stand down and let the refugees pass through to Europe.

The Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Konstantinos Floros, is due to arrive at Evros later in the day to coordinate the border units ensuring that no illegal crossings would take place. A government official told Athens Macedonia News Agency that Greece is in constant contact with the European Union and NATO on the migration issue.

According to Turkish media reports, around 300 migrants, including women and children, have marched from Turkey to the Greek border after Turkey announced it will no longer stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe. Syrians, Iranians and Iraqis were among those in the group.



Defense sources say that the large group has broken down to smaller groups that have camped at various vantage points across the river. They are closely monitored by Greek soldiers from the opposite side. Army helicopters are also flying over the area.

According to other Turkish media reports hundreds of migrants have also converged at the Turkish coast, near Smyrna, waiting to cross to the Greek islands.

Kosovo lifts tax on Serbian imports

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Posted on 27 Shkurt, 2020


The 100 percent tax which has been applied up until now on goods coming from Serbia will be scrapped on 1 April 2020. This was declared today by Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti.
“Recognition of Kosovo’s independence and the removal of non-tariff trade barriers on Kosovo. If Serbia shows its committiment in putting an end on hostile campaigns and pledges to lift non-tariff barriers on Kosovo, then, starting from 1 April 2020, the government of Kosovo will scrap the tax on imports coming from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina for a period of 90 days” , Kosovo’s PM announced.
The tax was introduced back in November 2018 by the then PM, Ramush Haradinaj in response to Serbia’s diplomatic efforts against the recognition of Kosovo’s independence by other countries. TemA.

“Στ’ άρματα, στ’ άρματα, εμπρός στον αγώνα” – Ο παπάς του Μανταμάδου πάνω σε μπουλντόζα υπό τους ήχους αντάρτικων

SManalysis

27-02-2020
Σε μια εικόνα υψηλού συμβολισμού, ο ιερέας βρέθηκε ανυψωμένος σε μπουλντόζα, υπό τους ήχους του διαχρονικού αντάρτικου.


Μπορεί τα ΜΑΤ να αναχώρησαν κακήν κακώς από τη Λέσβο και τη Χίο, ωστόσο ο αγώνας συνεχίζεται ενάντια στην κατασκευή νέων κλειστών στρατοπέδων συγκέντρωσης για τη διαιώνιση του εγκλωβισμού των ξεριζωμένων από τα νησιά.

Από τα πιο δυνατά στιγμιότυπα της σημερινής μέρας στη βόρεια Λέσβο, ο παπα – Χρήστος, που βρέθηκε στο πλευρό των άλλων κατοίκων σε συγκέντρωση διαμαρτυρίας ενάντια στις κλειστές δομές. Σε μια εικόνα υψηλού συμβολισμού, ο ιερέας βρέθηκε ανυψωμένος σε μπουλντόζα, υπό τους ήχους του διαχρονικού αντάρτικου.


“Στ’ άρματα, στ’ άρματα” και της “Ρωμιοσύνης”. Οι συνειρμοί για “σύγχρονο Παπαφλέσσα” ή ακόμα και για “παπα – Ανυπόμονο” στο πλάι του Άρη είναι αναπόφευκτοι, παρότι προφανώς οι συνθήκες δεν είναι ίδιες και σίγουρα δεν μπορούν να αποδοθούν επαναστατικές ή κομμουνιστικές συμπάθειες στον ιερέα, ο οποίος έχει δοκιμάσει και προσωπικά στο πετσί του την κρατική καταστολή, τρώγοντας χημικά. Link

NATO assurances about the Mitrovitsa Region, had require Serbia

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February 27, 2020

In front of the EU Foreign Office headquarters in Brussels, a group of journalists was waiting to become the President, when we will be unofficially informed that this is the first historic settlement between Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and Serbian Serbs, Ivica Dacic.

But by accident we received news that there was a need to wait if the Belgrade delegation would be required to consult NATO first.

They wanted to get guarantees from NATO. The study did not show us that you could ask Belgrade for NATO. It was just one thing that might come as a big surprise to Western diplomats. Because NATO directed more negative organizations for Serbia, better for personal ones, to be in Brussels for a day to get to know the "Pristina delegation", as they and the EU called it, writes today. " Daily Time ”.

Ivica Dacic, the prime minister in this look, and Aleksandar Vucic, the deputy prime minister, but as the most powerful man in Serbia, went to NATO headquarters. In this way, the then Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, and the representative of the EU series, Catherine Ashton, is also possible in NATO. In this case, unexpectedly, it was only announced that NATO would retain service in implementing "some parts of the Brussels Agreement".

It was later understood that Belgrade may request NATO not to divert units of the Kosovo Security Force to the north. They were reasoned that "this would interest the local population". NATO should have an oral guarantee that tire search will be required.