THE KAKOMEA ISSUE

The Himara Union
Athens

Press Release


On Wednesday, January 14 at 5 pm The Himara Union, will organize protest gathering in front of the Greek Parliament to inform the Greek parliamentarians and the Hellenic people for the enormous injustice that occurs from the Albanian state to crash the Greeks in Northern Epirus, while the Greek parliament will discuss the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Albania and the EU.

www.proboli.tk

Albania Floats Idea Of Balkan SchengenPristina

Fatmir SejdiuKosovo and Albania said they will soon sign an agreement creating a 'mini-Schengen' zone allowing free movement across their borders, a deal that could lead to a wider no-border zone in the region.

Travel between Albania and Kosovo is currently possible by showing one's passport or driver's license.“The agreement will enable citizens to move freely and ease the administrative procedures”, Albanian President Bamir Topi said during his visit in Kosovo.

He dismissed any possibility of uniting Kosovo and Albania, saying "the unification will happen in Brussels, in the European family."

see more: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/15913/

Albania disposes of 104,000 tons of ammunitions

Up to present, Albania disposes of 104,000 tons of ammunitions. The greater part of the arms and weapons are dangerous and need to be destroyed by 2010, Albanian Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa announced, Macedonian Dnevnik newspaper reports.

“We inherited 194,000 tons of ammunitions from 1992. Now, we have 104,000 tons, as some 84,000 tons of them are dangerous and need to be neutralized by 2010”, the minister reported.

KAKOMIA, SOUTHERN ALBANIA

ALBANIA BLOCKS MASMEDIA INFORMATION FOR THE KAKOMEA REVOLT

While the villagers continue to confront in Koakomea with police special forces, the Albanian mas media ordinated by the government has blocked the information that what happened in Kakomea.

About 200 special forces armed from Tirana and others from Vlora and Saranda have enclosed the terror to Kakomea. Many others villagers has made a protest in Saranda Town a front of Tribunal for the arrest of about 20 persons from the village of Nivitsa.

In the village of Nivista lives a large old Greek community of Himara Region which protests for the right of property in Kakomea Gulf, while the Albanian government support an Albanian company to invest on the common property of villagers from Nivitsa.

The incident shout make in dangerous crise the Greek Albanian relations seeing the presidential of Greek diplomacy to head the OSCE for 2009.

Albania, Security News

Albanian special forces entered brutally to Kakomea

About 20 villagers from Nivitsa are under arrest from crash with police special forces

Kakomea, Southern Albania. About 200 special forces came from Tirana, are confronted last Friday night with villagers of Nivitsa, Himara Region in Southern Albania. The crash bring the open of the way to Kakomea for the trallers of "Riviera Company" which where blocked since November 2008 by inhabitants of Nivitsa.

The situation is very dangerous after the declarate which the Mayor of Lukovo Vladimir Kumi called the International Institutions that observer the Albanian government including OSCE.

Tirana: Serb "ultra-nationalists" to blame

Albanian President Bamir Topi said in Priština today that Serb “ultra-nationalists” were to blame for the recent incidents and clashes in Kosovo.

Bamir Topi, left, "It is clear where the incidents are coming from. The investigation should continue and it is very important in these situations to analyze where all of this is coming from,” Topi told journalists, commending the posture and reactions of the Kosovo institutions and Albanians in Kosovo".

Albania will be among those who will show that this conduct and these negative acts come from ultra-nationalist Serb circles,” he said.

more see: http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=01&dd=08&nav_id=56270

Albanian president visiting Kosovo

8 January 2009

PRIŠTINA -- Albanian President Bamir Topi has begun a two-day visit to Kosovo to meet with representatives from the temporary institutions and the international community.
Bamir Topi, left (FoNet, archive)Topi was welcomed at Priština airport by Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuqi and other Kosovo government officials.

The formal part of the visit will begin with a reception at the provincial assembly building, which also houses the cabinet of Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, and where the two presidents will inspect the ceremonial Kosovo Guards battalion.

more see: http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=01&dd=08&nav_id=56270

GREEK TURKISH TENSIONS ON AEGEAN

Greece to lodge demarches over harassment of gunboat, helicopter during operation by Turkish patrol boat, jetfighters

A Greek gunboat and military helicopter were harassed by a Turkish patrol boat and a pair of Turkish F-16 jetfighters near the islands of Farmakonissi and Agathonissi in the Aegean on Wednesday morning, and foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis immediately gave instructions for the relevant demarches to be lodged with the neighboring country.

In a statement, Bakoyannis called the Turkish actions "unacceptable", stressing that they were in "blatant violation of International Law" while they also hampered the efforts being made for improvement of Greek-Turkish relations.

According to the Greek National Defence General Staff (GEETHA), during a search and rescue operation underway around Farmakonissi to locate illegal immigrants, in which the gunboat "Nikiforos" and a Super Puma helicopter were taking part, at 9:15 a.m. the gunboat was harassed by the Turkish patrol boat and the helicopter by the pair of F-16s, "despite the fact that the area had been engaged since Tuesday for the execution of this operation, with a NOTAM issued by the Merchant Marine Ministry via the Search and Rescue Coordination Center".

More see: http://www.ana-mpa.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=7186401&service=142

ALBANIAN EMIGRANT ARRESTED UNDER ACCUSE OF TERRORISM IN GREECE

The Greek Newspaper "Ta Nea" investigates about the last attack against police team in Athens.

more in greek: http://www.tanea.gr/default.asp?pid=2&ct=1&artid=4495343

Bouthrotum (Butrint) (Northern Epirus - Albania)

Australian Macedonian Advisory Council
January 06, 2009

The sun had already began to hang low in the sky, like a tantalizingly overripe peach provocatively flaunting its immanent fall, by the time we finished our most excellent fish soup, at Agioi Saranda, the port city of Northern Epirus and took the winding road down the rocky Northern Epirot coast, to Bouthrotum, the ancient capital of the Epirot kings.

Northern Epirots seem to have inherited their southern cousins´ driving skills. After the relative order and overabundance of caution in Australia, seeing manic Northern Epirots racing around blind corners, switching to the lane of oncoming traffic and overtaking at over 100km per hour on steep mountain bends in a race to get to Bouthrotum by sunset tends to have the effect of appreciating the harshness of the terrain, as well as lodging one´s hand in the handrail of the car door and clinging, for life´s sake.

more see: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/86949

Blast at Albania munitions disposal plant kills 1

The Associated Press

TIRANA, Albania: An explosion at an Albanian ammunition disposal plant killed one worker Tuesday after employees went outdoors to build a fire to keep themselves warm, the Defense Ministry said. The ministry said the blast occurred in Polican, 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of the capital, Tirana. The cause of the blast remained under investigation, but the ministry said the use of munitions packaging as fuel for the fire may have set off an ignition device that contained gunpowder.

Many workplaces in Albania are unheated, and the incident appeared to be unrelated to the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute. There have been subfreezing temperatures in Albania over the past several days. The victim was identified as worker Suzana Kapxhiu, 45, who died of head injuries. Five other workers at the plant were unharmed.
Today in Europe

The plant is one of the Albanian army's factories used to dispose of ammunition kept in storage across the Balkan country since the communist regime fell in 1990.
Last year, 26 people died and around 300 others were injured from a huge blast at a private disposal factory near Tirana.

Albanians protesting in Preševo

6 January 2009 PREŠEVO -- Preševo Valley Albanians are calling for the release of the members of the Gnjilane Group of the Kosovo Liberation Army arrested on suspicion of war crimes. The mayors of Bujanovac and Preševo meet with ministers in the wake of the arrest of the Gnjilane Group (FoNet, archive)The protests will last until every single Albanian arrested on the orders of the War Crimes Prosecution on December 26 is released from custody, says Memet Azizi, one of the protest organizers.

“We want the authorities in Belgrade to release all the suspects on bail because they did not commit the war crimes that the prosecution has accused them of,” says Azizi. The protest will serve to send a message to the public and condemn members of the police and Gendarmerie for their heavy-handed and “spectacular” arrest operation, during which Albanian property was destroyed, the protestors say. The atmosphere has been further charged by an appeal sent to civil rights organizations yesterday.

The appeal was signed by MP Riza Halimi and Preševo and Bujanovac Municipal Presidents Nader Sadiku and Šaip Kamberi. The signatories have called on the organizations to send their representatives to visit the imprisoned Albanians to hear from them how they were physically and mentally abused during the arrests, thus breaching international conventions on human rights and freedoms.

Security increased after Kosovo blasts

NEBI QENA /API
PRISTINA, Kosovo-Serbs set fire to two ethnic Albanian-owned shops in the tense town of Mitrovica on Saturday and six firefighters were injured by an explosion while fighting the blaze. NATO and the European Union responded by ordering more troops to the area of northern Kosovo. It was the second such deployment order this week regarding Mitrovica, and it highlighted the challenge that security forces face in preventing ethnic violence in the new country of Kosovo, where ethnic Albanians are a majority and Serbs a minority.

Kosovo's international observers hope to prevent such violence from escalating as the EU begins supervising police operations in Kosovo. French Brig. Gen. Michel Yakovleff, who supervises Mitrovica, said earlier this month that NATO's Kosovo force would not hesitate to act if the EU mission is challenged.

The EU police mission said in a statement Saturday that the latest deployment order was designed to "show its determination" to quell any violence in Kosovo. It began in Mitrovia early Saturday when a mob of angry Serbs gathered following an explosion that damaged eight cars there. The two shops were then set on fire, leading to another explosion. The causes of both blasts were being investigated, police said. President Fatmir Sejdiu condemned the violence and said Kosovo's institutions will "not allow such acts to endanger" the country's future.

Just days ago NATO sent troops to Mitrovica to end riots that followed the arrest of two ethnic Albanians suspected of stabbing a Serb man. Mitrovica has often been the scene of clashes between ethnic Albanians and Serbs. In a separate incident, Kosovo's police said Saturday they were searching for an unidentified gunmen who fired 11 rounds at a Serb's house in eastern Kosovo. Many Serbs bitterly reject Kosovo's declaration of independence, which was issued in February.

Some Albanians fear concessions made to Kosovo's Serbs, such as giving control over police, customs and justice matters, will lead to the country's split along ethnic lines. Serbs treat the EU mission with suspicion since most countries in the EU have recognized Kosovo as an independent state.

Top secret meeting of Bollanos with Greek FM in Athens

Contacts at the Foreign Ministry had these days the chairman of «Omonoias» and Mayor Himaras B. Bolanos, who "was found in the eye of the cyclone" in Albanian Opinion because of the defense the greek minority, which asked the Greek parliament to approve conditioned the Association Agreement between Albania and the EU, if there are no commitments to resolve the politic requests of the Greek minority.

Clearly and must be taken into consideration by the Greek Parliament the memorandum submitted by the «Omonia», but holds great debate what is happening in the internal affairs of minority and because «Omonia» continues through HRUP to participate in the Berisha government, which complains simultaneously in Athens that does not respect minority rights.

The secret probably lies in the forthcoming elections in Albania and balances that would keep the leadership of the minority, if it has a minimum satisfactory election results. Omonia called Tirana for the electoral law, which is disapproved by the the Greek minority as antidemocratic law against democracy and prosperity of Albania.

However Albania claimed as first diplomatic priority the joint NATO alliance leaving the efforts hopes by Greece for agreement with EU.

Just on January 1, 2009, Greece holds the Presidency of OSCE, one very difficult year for Albania which will hold the politic elections under unaccepted strategy for free elections process.

more see: http://www.ethnos.gr/

Adminral Kuznetsov. A Russian giant in the Aegean Sea

ATHENS, January 2.-Deck-based aviation of Russia's heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov will hold exercises in the Greek airspace in January, the Greek National Defense General Staff said on Friday. "The exercises will take place on January 3-4 and on January 8-10 southeast of Rhodes Island and on January 11 south of Crete," the General Staff said.

The exercises will be held in international waters but the aircraft will fly in the Athens airspace, the General Staff said. Russia announced in 2007 that its Navy had resumed and would build up a constant presence in different regions of the world's oceans.This move of Russia motivated the interest of many western embassies in Athens and especially the American.

The Russian presence in many places on the international theatre is rising. One of the exercise areas is adjacent to Attalla and east of Tarsus of Syria. An area that Turkey is disputing Cyprus rights of oil drilling. According to government circles, that wished to remain anonymous, the permission for the military exercises is a "Double Message" to Russian and the USA.The time frame of the exercises is on a peculiar coincidence of increased Turkish violations of Greece FIR.

According to Russian officials admiral Kuznetsov and the escort ships departed from the navy base at Severomorsk, and have been cruising outside the strip of Gaza, monitoring hostile Israeli Air Force operations. The Russian media include many reports about the exercises in the Aegean and they characterise them as of very "High importance and symbolism".It is very interesting the probable reactions of the Turkish Air Force in the reserved regions as the may complicate ever more the already tense situation in the Greek Archipelagos of the Aegean

Rights Group Seeks Impeachment for Albania Ethnic Greek Mayor

Tirana -The Albanian Human Rights Group, AHRG, asked on Sunday the government and parliament to impeach the ethnic Greek mayor of the town of Himara in Southern Albania, who asked Greece not to back a key deal seen as a vital step in Albania’s EU bid.

“The request by Bollano for Greece no to ratify Albania’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, is in breach is breach of Albania’s constitutional order in which are sanctioned the notions of indivisibility, unity and sovereignty of the country,” reads the statement from the Tirana based NGO.

more see: http://www.albanianeconomy.com/news/2008/12/22/rights-group-seeks-impeachment-for-albania-ethnic-greek-mayor/

ALBANIA, VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PRESS

The private car of editor Mero Baze is burned after a terrorist attack during the night

Photo: The editor of "TEMA" Mero Baze

The car of the editor of "TEMA NEWSPAPER" Mero Baze is burned totally even the Albanian authorities continue to inquiring the terrorist attack against most investigative journalist in Albania to explore the corruption of Berisha`s government and the links with Balkan mafia connection.

Mero Baze who has been the closer friend of PM Berisha for several years, has denounced the corruption of the family of PM Berisha linked with "Gerdeci blast", "The Fasllic issue", 'The ARMO privatisation corrupted process" and other important massive corruption in Albania during the governance of PM Sali Berisha.

Socialist Party of Albania and the union of Journalists, have condemned the terrorist attack against Base and call the government to inquire the attack against the press.

The police authority declared for the inquiring of the act that "the car is burned after an electric contact inside the car".

more see: http://www.top-channel.tv/new/video.php?id=2636

BUSH ADMINISTRATION, PLAN AGAINST GREECE
The President elected Barak Obama must stop the Bush strategy to destabilize Greece.

by Lambros Papantoniou
Washington D.C.

http://www.noiazomai.net/

ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: "FOR ALBANIA MORE IMPORTANT NATO THAN EU"

Tirana changes diplomacy, Jozefina Topalli Speaker of Albanian Parliament declared: "Greece is the only country that we are waiting to ratify the agreement with EU, but NATO is more imporant".

The Albanian parliament speaker Jozefina Toppali, declared for "ORA NEWS TV" an independent media in Tirana, that the integration of albania to NATO and EU is inevitable under a process in which Albania is realizing all the reforms to joint the euro Atlantic structures".

Anyway Topalli said also for the moment the goals of albanian diplomacy, is to realize successfully the joint of Albania to NATO alliance, even there are until now about 16 countries of alliance that have ratified the welcome of Albania to the next meeting of NATO in April 2009."

Asked why Greece continues to "hold in obstacle" the agreement of the stabilisation process of Albania with EU previsted to ratify by the Greek parliament, Toppali said that: "Greece is only country from 26 that has not still now ratified the agreement to joint Albania in EU, justifying the last violent protests in Greece, but is important to understand the goal of the Albanian diplomacy to have now as important priority the joint to NATO alliance, and we hope that Greece will have important role to help Albania joint the alliance".

One month ago, the Greek politic organisation in Albania "Omonia" sent strong message to Athens to stop any agreement with Albania, particularly to joint EU, if Albania does not regonize the southern Albania as autonomous region of Northern Epirus respecting the politically and civil human rights of the Greeks of Albania.

In addition, Albania passed the electoral law last day by parliament, but "Omonia" has declared to abandone the next politic elections if the electoral code shoud be voted.

Albania, Security News

Burned Byzantine church in Narta, Vlora`s Region, unknown the vandals

Photo: Orthodoxe Monastir of Zvernetsi, Narte.

According to “News 24 TV” an old Byzantine Church has burned in Narta, center of the Greek Community area, 10 km in northern Vlora town.

The church is burned totally even the inhabitants helped by authorities make every efforts to stop the fires.

This case is unique regarding the systematically attacks against orthodox churches in Southern Albania particularly Christian Byzantines more of 800 year existence. The Byzantine church of Narta is one of important cult of the Greek Ethnic Community area between Aulona and Apollonia old Byzantine centers of the region a front of Adriatic Sea.

Unknown the vandals but the event has happened during the period of Christmas day, when the region is populated by thousand inhabitants most of them are emigrant in Greece.

OMONIA CALLS TIRANA FOR ELECTORAL CODE

Tow big parties in Albania have changed the law in their favor voting, while the Greek minority threatens to abandon next politic elections of 2009

"The Greek minority may abandon the politic elections of 2009 threatening to the statements of the Mayor and Chairman of Himara and "Omonoia" Vasilis Bolanos, if Tirana does not change the electoral law passed recently in the Albanian parliament next days".

Mr. Bolanos noted that the law have caused disappointment to the Greeks of Albania, the latest developments with regard to the electoral law and especially in those articles which directly affect the transparency of the electoral process and affects the credibility of the elections.

The President of "Omonoia" expressed the concern at "the real objectives of the new electoral law, which does not pave new roads to the democratization in the country". The new electoral law submitted, said Mr. Bolanos, further conditions of equality, transparency and credibility of the electoral process, since the committees will be involved only the two major parties.

Mr. Bolanos urged that "it is reasonable outside the Greek Community and historically significant numbers living in certain areas, to refrain from electoral management where there is majority". It also noted that «the Greek minority in all post-elections has been target of the manipulation of the verdict of the electorate».

Alongside Mr Bolanos said the electoral code missed the opportunity "to finally open the way for the participation in elections of all those citizens who are in emigration particularly the coting process of Northern Epiriotes who live in Greeece.

more see: http://www.proinoslogos.gr/pn/

Former KLA members arrested in Preševo

26 December 2008

The Interior Ministry (MUP) has begun an operation to arrest former KLA members in Preševo on charges of war crimes committed against civilians in Gnjilane. Interior Minister Ivica Dačić and the War Crimes Prosecution confirmed for B92 that the operation began early this morning and is related to crimes against Serb and non-Albanian civilians in Gnjilane in 1999.

According to B92’s sources, 11 people have been arrested thus far and 17 locations have been searched. Dačić is at the scene and says that the operation is progressing smoothly.

more see: http://www.b92.net/eng/news/in_focus.php?id=91

Albania Seeks New Loan for Kosovo Highway

Tirana 24 December 2008

The Rreshen-Kalimash HighwayAlbania will seek a new €250 million commercial loan to finance the construction of a highway connecting its Adriatic coastline with newly independent Kosovo, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday . The170-kilometre highway, which will link the port of Durres with Albanian-majority Kosovo, is the country’s biggest public works project in decades. Albania has spent €328 million already this year on the road, some 89 percent of its capital expenditure budget.

“The Albanian Government represented by the Ministry of Finance is requesting an offer for financing of various capital expenditure needs for the year 2009,” the ministry said in a statement. “Proceeds... will be used in accordance with the priorities defined in the National Strategy for Development and Integration.”Albania had originally sought to finance the road with revenues from the privatization of public companies, but negotiations for the sale of Albanian Power utility, valued at around €102 million, have stalled.

Almost 200 million of the cost has been raised as syndicated commercial loans at high interest rates, attracting criticism from international financial bodies concerned about the country's monetary stability.There is no clear estimate of the total cost of the road, which opponents have slammed as a white elephant that will fail to return on the huge investment. Experts think Albania will need to invest another €250 million to complete the project, due to be finalised in the summer of 2009.

The project has already been tainted by a corruption scandal involving former Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha, who is charged with abuse of power and breaking tender rules relating to the project. The charges filed against Basha indicate that one particular 60-kilometer section of the highway will cost Albania over €1 billion.

USA, NEW DELICATE RELATIONS WITH BERISHA

Statement from the U.S. Embassy (December 23, 2008)

The U.S. Embassy closely followed last night’s vote in the Albanian Parliament that passed the Lustration Law by a simple majority. We are deeply concerned.

This law has raised serious legal, governmental, and constitutional questions among Albania's international partners, including the United States.

We call on the Government of Albania to take immediate steps in consultation with national and international experts to ensure that this law would meet international standards.

see: http://tirana.usembassy.gov/

ALBANIA, SECURITY NEWS

ALBANIAN EXTREMIST PLAN TO KILL THE PRESIDENT OF "OMONIA"

"Red Alarm" for the Greek FM and other security authorities including foreign intelligences in Albania.

http://www.zougla.gr/"

Strong meassures takeen by the Foreign Greek Ministry moves to the extreme elements in Southern Albania, on the «targeting» to the Chairman of «Omonoias» (The Greek Ethnic Minority of Albania) Vassilis Bollanos, reported sources from Greek Security authorities underliandenig informations by Albanian Masmedia in which member of albanian parliament are preparing to hold an extremist meeting in Himara, the Municipality when Vassilis Bolanos is Mayor of the Region.

"Greece is preocuped to monitor what is happening in Albania, in connection with the Party of the Greek national minority and its chairman, Vassilis Bolano", said for Zougla.gr a partner of Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who wished to remain anonymous. In recent days, President of «Omonoias» accepts direct threats to his life, according to secure information zougla.gr, planned to rally against Himara people in the presence of parliamentarians and Albanians ... «charging» Albanian extremist citizens, which will be transferred to Himara by bus from Tepeleni.

The interest in this case, is that serious Albanian politicians are concerned about the actions against the Greek minority. The concern relates, in fact, in the same continued even after 'obstacles, the process for future integration of Albania into the EU In this climate, known Albanian politician in a recent in private conversation with Western diplomats in Tirana, expressed his concern for the activity of extreme nationalist circles in Himara Region, not excluding even the possibility of provocation by some violence.

Athens «Red Alarme» for the defense the greek minority.

The memorandum of «Omonia» Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs of the Greek Parliament, which sought to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Albania and the European Union, where the neighborhood country must respect the rights of the Greek minority, based from international treaties and conventions. «Albania if it wants to integrate into the EU should understand the obligation it has towards minorities and specifically against the Greek national minority », said the chairman of «Omonoias », reiterating its full support to the European perspective of the country.

Albanian newspapers accuse the president of «Omonoias» for ... «separatist» and enemy of Albania. Feature is the front page of «Gazeta Shqiptare» to «see» request for autonomy in Northern Epirus, as requests Bolanos recognition of Northern Epirus», the title of the publication.

In addition some popular Albanian face book created exclusively to urging to kill Bollano, the chairman of the «Omonoias» and mayor of Himara seeking the head of Bolanou «on the table» The «head on the table» of the President of «Omonoias», requested member of the Albanian parliament, MPs of all parties, following the statements of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who described «extremists» the "Omonia".

Some Members asked directly to be prosecuted Vassilis Bolanou and dismissed from the post of mayor Himara. Others, undertones to be accused under process penal as enemy of Albania.

"For Bolanos is obligation to anyone Albanian who wants, to target hem. If the state does not take action against Bollanos, who has no link with the history and our state, citizens should be put into place", said Spartak Ngjela MP.

MP of Vlora Bujar Leskaj from the Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, called «dirt» the chairman of «Omonoias», which seeks to disrupt the «friendly» relations between Greece and Albania. «My personal view is that is a dirt, remnant of the past, the Greek extremist nationalist circles, who finds no ground in Albania, in this climate of very good friendly relations», he said.

For its part, Members of the Christian Democratic Party, Frrok Gjini, once characterized Himara as a «symbol of Albanian resistance» made known to be held protest demonstration in front of the town hall of Himara against Chairman Vassilis Bollanos.

The President of the «KEAD» Vangjelis Doules turned against the Albanian media, which, as noted, «misinforms the public» in the way they presented and continue to present its defense of «Omonoias» to the Greek parliament. «The pressures and threats of Vassilis Bolanou, is expected to peak as we approach the municipal elections said Doule.

The Greek FM and security authorities including the foreign intelligences NATO and Europol that are installed in Albania are observing any escalation against the Greek minority taking in consideration the "Red Alarm" of ethnic confrontation in Southern Albania

The "zougla.gr" contacted the Ambassador of Albania in Athens, Mr. Vili Minaroli, who calls the albanian authorities imediately to take in high consideration the threats to his life against the president of "Omonia" Mr. Bolanos, claiming that enjoys the protection of the Albanian state.

Replying to a question whether the violation of human rights in his country Albania, might be an obstacle towards accession of Albania into the European Union or other international organizations, Mr. Vili said he sees not an obstacle, indeed, recalled that the Greek Government and Tirana are goof relations in this process.

See: Albanian media TV appeals to "condemn Bollano"...

http://www.top-channel.tv/new/artikull.php?id=138131

http://www.top-channel.tv/new/video.php?id=2422

Albanian`s Berisha passes law on former secret police "SIGURIMI"

The US, British Embassies and OSCE, EU Missions called Berisha to stop the voting.

TIRANA, Albania — Albania on Monday passed a law removing from public posts people linked with the feared former Communist secret police, despite criticism from opposition parties and concerns within the international community. Lawmakers voted 74-2 for the law, while one abstained. The remaining 63 deputies in the 140-seat Parliament boycotted the vote. Prime Minister Sali Berisha said Albania needed "to cleanse itself from the communist calamity."

The law applies to all former members and associates of the Sigurimi secret police, from November 1944 when Albania was liberated from Nazi occupiers until the collapse of Communism in December 1990. The opposition Socialists and other smaller parties boycotted, saying they feared the law would be exploited by Berisha's Democrats to hit at political opponents.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged a postponement of the debate.
"The law has serious constitutional and political implications, and postponing the vote to allow for wider consultation and public debate would be welcome," the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights said in a statement.

The United States and Britain also urged postponement. For more than four decades, Albania was a xenophobic Communist dictatorship in which the secret services wielded vast power.

Vlachs in Albania demand their language to be official

Photo: Greek Orthodoxe Churche in Voskopolis, Albania

The Vlachs in Albania have demanded from the state authorities to introduce Vlach-language classes in schools and to make it the second official language in the municipalities where they are present.

Thanas Poci, the head of the Associations of the Vlach minority in Albania, said this at the annual assembly of the Associations that was held in Tirana."The right of education in mother tongue has to be respected and the authorities have to allow introduction of the Vlach as the second official language in the municipalities where there are inhabitants of Vlach nationality," Poci said.

Prior to this demand, the Greek minorities in Albania requested conducting a new census. Albanian PM Berisha said recently that his government is fully committed to observing of the minority rights. Some time ago, Berisha pledged to allow the respondents to declare their ethnic belonging at the next census.

Over 60% of 200.000 vllachs of Albania live in Greece Poci said. During the meeting was assisted the Charmain of UHRP Vangjelos Doules.

Epirotic Newsletter

Attached you will find the "December Panepirotic Messenger"

http://www.scribd.com/doc/9297617/EpiroticNewsletter

Albania, Security News

BEGINS THE "COLD WINTER" BEETWEEN ATHENS AND TIRANA

Processs penal for the president of "Omonia" Bollanos urge member of albanian parliament,when the President of HRUP Evangelos Doules sends message to Tirana: "DON`T TUCH THE GREEK MINORITY"

Tirana. Members of albanian parliament particolarly part of minorance groups called yesterday the albanian authority to take under arrest the President of the Greek Politic Organisation "Omonia" Vassilis Bollanos.

According to geopolitic analists the clima after the declaration of Omonia for six point conditions to the greek parliament for agreement stabilisation process of Albania to joint to EU, is becoming one of most national albanian rethoric since the agravation of the relations of 1994 beetwen Athens and Tirana.

The orientation of the albanian media to the albanian nationalism began with the declaration of PM Sali Berisha who called the requests of Omonia as "Extremism rethoric" which composes the consecuenses of a situation instabille regarding the relations between greeks and albanian.

MP Spartak Ngjela called the albanian authorities to arest the mayor of Himara and president of the greeks of albania Vassilis Bollanos when spoken for individual attacks against Bollanos noting: "if the government does not make the costitutional obligations against Bollano, I call every albanian to make any duty towars national interests to Bollano and others" said Ngjela.

Imediate has been the reaction of the HRUP Evangelos Doules, which called the albanian politic "to have attention" their declarates accussing the albanian extremist as "very dangerous for the relations between Athens and Tirana".

THE DEMONISATION OF THE GREEK FACTOR

For the analists its very interesing the "albanian pragmatism" but also very dangerous to understand the apmlification of albanian propaganda against the greek minority and the human rights to the demonisation of the greek factor in Albania. The foreign obsservers are investigating a similar proces both in FYROM, but in Albania the agressive national rethoric and hate is target no to the greek investiments but to the leader the Greek Ethnic Minority.

The target adreesed to Vassilis Bollanos and the demonisation of the greek factor is linked geopoliticaly firstly for the riots and protests in Greece, which is considering as "Albania of 1997 by albanian media" and second for the "albanian national cause" to protect every efforts to divide albanian territory by anemies serbs and greeks.

Annyway Tirana is waiting for ratification from the greek parliament tow mostly important decision of the modern history , joint to NATO and the agreement stabilisation process with EU, when the albanian economy is totalny linked with greek investiments and albanian emigrants in greece.

Fears of New Ethnic Conflict in Bosnia

The New York Times

By DAN BILEFSKY
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina — Thirteen years after the United States brokered the Dayton peace agreement to end the ferocious ethnic war in the former Yugoslavia, fears are mounting that Bosnia, poor and divided, is again teetering toward crisis.

On the surface, this haunted capital, its ancient mosques and Orthodox churches still pocked by mortar fire, appears to be enjoying a renaissance. Young professionals throng to stylish cafes and gleaming new shopping malls while the muezzin heralds the morning prayer.

The ghosts of Srebrenica linger — recalling the worst massacre in Europe since World War II — but Sarajevans prefer to talk about President-elect Barack Obama or the global financial crisis.

more see "New York Times": http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/world/europe/14bosnia.html?_r=1&ref=europe

Albania now pulling its 218 troops out of Iraq

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania's Defense Ministry says the country is pulling its 218 troops out of Iraq. Albanian troops have been serving in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul since 2003.

Defense Ministry spokeswoman Albana Mustafaraj said Thursday the unit has ended its mission and will return home. She said Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa participated in a ceremony in Mosul where the Albanian flag was lowered.

Albania also has small army units in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Chad. The predominantly Muslim nation was invited to join NATO in April and expects to become a full member next year.

Himara - Χειμάρρα - Chimera: In www.himaraunion.com: Video from ERT 3#links#links#links

Himara - Χειμάρρα - Chimera: In www.himaraunion.com: Video from ERT

ALBANIAN TRIBUNAL SCANDAL

The "Kakomea Issue"

The villagers of Nivitsa, Lukovo Municipality, lost the "Tribunal Battle" with Government, based under the falls history of Albanian State.

The most important chapter of the Tribunal Decision of Tirana to favorise the Government was the historic issue and the origin of documents of villagers.

The Tribunal of Tirana, considers Albanian State before invasion of Ottoman Empire, after the Nivitsa community presented the old origin document of Ottoman Period as owners of Kakomea before the Independence of Albanian State of 1912.

See more original text in Albania.

The Newspaper "ETHNOS"

A DANGEROUS GAME FOR BERISHA

Not only on the national road Himara - Saranda, but also on the Christian Churches of the region of Himara are written national slogans against the religion sentiments of the population of the zone.

"A dangerous-climate is created in Southern Albania, (Northern Epirus) and especially in Himara. Last week, the Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha condemned as «extremist rhetoric» the declaration of the Mayor Himara (and chairman of the "Omonoia", the Greek politic organization in Albania) Vassilis Bolanos, to the Albanian media, which asked the Greek government not to approve the Agreement Association of Albania with the EU", notet the greek newspaper "ETHNOS".

According to Albanian press referring to the Omonias six points, Mr. Bolanos as president of the Greek Organisation addressed Tirana the constitutional requirement to recognize the Autonomy of Northern Epirus, including a large territory in southern Albania where the Greeks are in majority.

The national rhetoric started by MP Berisha calling as extremist the President of the Greeks of Albania Vassilis Bollanos, has raised continuing a national campain movement in Albania firstly from the media, which is observing by geopolitics experts as critic faze very dangerous to inspire paramilitary groups such happened in Kakomea last month, to confront seriously with the population of the area inhabited in majority from Greeks.

One year ago a christian orthodox Church in Himara called "Saint Pandelimon" has been destructed with explosive by persons unknown from Albanian authorities, when the most dangerous incident is signed month ago in Himara Town known by experts as terrorist act killing a resident with Greek origin.

see more: www.ethnos.gr

Vote on Albania Lustration Bill Postponed

Tirana 16 December 2008

Sali BerishaAlbania’s parliament has postponed a vote on a lustration bill on senior administration figures, which has come under harsh criticism by the US, the opposition and interest groups.

The voting of the bill was postponed by the majority on Monday to make way for the new amendments. The United States embassy in Tirana criticised the bill on Tuesday and ask for more debate with the assistance of international experts.

more see: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/15581/

"CHICAGO SUN-TIMES"

Obama's basketball pal for governor?

2010 Close ties could give Giannoulias an edge

BY ABDON M PALLASCH

Photo: State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (left) was with President-elect Barack Obama on Election Day. They got acquainted while shooting hoops at the University of Chicago. Obama backed his primary bid for treasurer.

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, a protege of President-elect Barack Obama, is gearing up to run for governor in 2010, sources close to Giannoulias say.

Giannoulias has stepped up fund-raising and hopes support from the African-American community will give him an advantage over the other big-name candidate angling to run in the Democratic primary: Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

more see: http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/1319056,CST-NWS-gov08.article

NO COMMENT!

CAROLOS PAPULIAS, A STRONG MESSAGE


While Greece is passing a hard period by strikes and riots, the Greek President Carolos Papulias sends strong message to the Greek people. "The time in Balkan Region is to be united for Greek national interests".

Meeting in Athens with Bolano - Ntoule

With lot of interest and a good patriotic climate held the open debate organized by the Northern epiriotic Associations in Athens with the President of OMONOIAS, Vassilis Bolanos and chairman of HRUP, Evangelos Ntoules.

The discussion was moderated by journalist and former MP Sophia Voultepsi. Members also attended the PASOK MP Michalis Pantoulas, Athanasios Plevrios of MP LAOS and who always honored such events. The northern epiriotes associations in Athens through their representatives stressed once again their full support to the twin-OMONIA KEAD.

Proposal to create common agenda and more frequent contact with the presidency of OMONOAS-KEAD made by the chairman of Ne.V, Efi Seliou. During the meeting where present member of the greek parliament from ND, PASOK and LAOS.

NO COMMENT, DECEMBER 2008

KAKOMEA, SOUTHERN ALBANIA


See video by investigative TV Channel in Greece:

http://www.zougla.gr/news.php?id=16669

THE PRESIDENT OF "OMONOIAS" VASILIS BOLANOS IN ATHENS

The Northern Epiriotic Associations and Clubs of Greece will organize an open debate for the matter on the Northern Epirus future, with the participation of the President of «Omonoias» Vassilis Bolanou and the president of HURP, (the Party which supports politically the Greek Minority in Albania) Evangelos Ntoules.

The meeting will take place on Sunday December 14 at 11.00 am in Hotel «Park» on Alexandras Avenue 10, Athens.

All northern epiriotes are invited to participate. In the meeting will be take part many Greek politics and represents of Greek diaspora in USA , Europe and Australia.

"POLICA DERRA VRASES"

According to the greek newspaper "Elefterotipia" unknown origin of slogans written in Albanian were lying around in places around the Polytechnicum near the center of Athens. On the one hand, saying «POLICA DERRA VRASES» and other «HAKMARJE PER DREJTESI».

As resulted, after sufficient reflection, all Albanians who did the translation, the closest version of «HAKMARJE» in Greek is the "Vendeta". So the «HAKMARJE PER DREJTESI» means: «Vendeta for justice».

While the version translated to «POLICA DERRA VRASES» was direct to: «Pig killer police».

Anyway, even the inquiring of violented protests are clouse for the greek media, until now does not result any implication of albanian emigrants.

http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=112,id=66892340

ALBANIAN NEWSPAPER "PANORAMA"

GREEK FM SPOKESMAN KOMOUTSAKOS AGAINST OMONIA`S PRESIDENT BOLLANOS: "ABSURD PRETENTION OF BOLLANOS TO THE NORTHERN EPIRUS AUTONOMY"

According to albanian newspaper "PANORAMA" the Greek FM spokesman Georges Komoutsakos expressed his opinion about the seven points of the Greek organization of Albania "Omonia" adressed to Albanian government.

Komoutsakos said that: "the pretention of the president of "Omonia" Vassilis Biollanos is absurde and the greek parliament will vote very soon the agreemnet with Albania".

The response of Komoutsakos is considering from Greek annalists who live in Albania as iresponssibile and call the Greek Government to verify any declaration from Foreign Ministry spokesman to the Albanian Newspaper "Panorama".

The Greeks of Albania has been often shocked by some irresponsible declarations of closer collaborator of Foreign Minister Dora Bakogianis about the Greek minority of Albania.

more in albanian: http://www.panorama.com.al/panoramapdf.pdf

Youths firebomb Athens courthouse as riots enter fifth night

Greece's center-right government struggles to survive violence. A previously scheduled general strike shuts down most transportation.

By Maria Mikalef and Sebastian Rotella December 11, 2008
Reporting from Athens and Madrid -- Hooded youths attacked the Athens courthouse with firebombs Wednesday and a general strike by labor unions shut down most of the country as nationwide urban unrest entered its fifth night.

The worst riots in years, sparked by the fatal shooting by police of a 15-year-old boy Saturday, have left Greece's fragile center-right government fighting for survival. The strike by about 100,000 workers shut down most transportation as well as banks and hospitals.

more see: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-greekriots11-2008dec11,0,3671340.story

THE PRESENT SITUATION IN BERISHA’s ALBANIA

Aristide D. Caratzas
(Historian)

Copyright: Aristide D. Caratzas on line
Note: Visit also http://www.caratzas.com/

Rule of Law, Private Property and Minority Rights
A recent flare up near Loukovo, one of the towns in the predominantly ethnic Greek province of Cheimarra (Albanian, Himara) over questions of property rights suddenly raises questions about the nature and extent to which the Albanian government, headed by Prime Minister Sali Berisha, has accepted basic democratic values such as the primacy of the rule of law, property rights and the basic human rights of ethnic minorities.

Indeed there is a clear sense that economic development (which ironically also was a major priority for the late and unlamented Communist regimes, their failures in this field notwithstanding) is used as a cover for organized violation of property rights and illegal seizures of property (even by Albanian law), which in turn are used to pressure the ethnic Greek minority.

more se: http://rieas.gr/images/KARATZAS.pdf

Albania condemns Omonia's memorandum

Albanian government denounced the Memorandum of Omonia - Association of Greek minority in Albania - Makfax correspondent said on Thursday.

The memo calls on Greece not to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Albania and the European Union as long as Albania grants administrative autonomy to Greek minority in Vorio Epi, southern Albania.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha labeled the memorandum "extremist outburst" and urged the Greek government not to cave in to Omonia's demands."Greek minority in Albania enjoys all rights it has been entitled to, and these rights will be expanded if it is necessary," Berisha said.

Some lawmakers in Albanian parliament called for indictment against Omonia leader Vasil Bolano, who is also a mayor of Himara. //12.11.08

Ill. Gov. arrested in Obama successor probe

CHICAGO – Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on Tuesday on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.

Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field, according to a federal criminal complaint. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

more see: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081209/ap_on_re_us/blagojevich_corruption_probe

"GAZETA SHQIPTARE"

OMONIA TO GREECE: NO AGREEMENT WITH ALBANIA TO EU WITHOUT RESPECT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS

Tow week after the declaration, the Albanian press informs the opinion for the decision of Omonia into a memorandum to stop from the Greek parliament the SAA with Albania.

Considering the violence protest in Greece as Albanian of 1997, the Albanian press has forged that an political decision of Omonia tow weeks ago addressed to the Greek parliament about the agreement which will vote for the joint Albania to EU.

According to "Gazeta Shqiptare" the seven points of Omonia (The Greek ethnic organisation of Albania) addressed to the Greek parliament are the condition of Albania to acept the civil and politically rights of Greeks to live under a Territorial autonomy known as Northern Epirus in Southern Albania.

Athens, Rioting after teenager shot by police

Rioting broke out in Athens and other Greek cities in the early hours of Sunday, after news began to spread of a teenager's death at the hands of police in the Athens district of Exarhia the previous night. The 15-year-old boy was shot in the chest and died of his injuries shortly after being taken to hospital. The incident occurred shortly after 9:00 on Saturday night when a police patrol car responding to a call in the Exarhia district was surrounded by a gang of 30 youths belonging to leftist, anti-establishment groups that started throwing stones and bits of wood.

The two special guards in the patrol decided to pursue the youths and, in the ensuing fracas, one of them fired his service revolver to disperse them, injuring the 15-year-old highschool student. The officer who fired claims he shot twice in the air and once at the ground and that the bullet that injured the boy must have ricocheted.

The two officers have been placed under arrest, while Deputy Interior Minister for public order issues, Panagiotis Hinofotis, immediately initiated action to place the pair on suspension, as well as their supervisor at the Exarhia police station. Police headquarters said that an investigation was underway to determine whether the events had occurred in the way described by the two officers, while an autopsy has been order to confirm their claim that they did not shoot directly at the victim.