Continues the nationalist protest for the trial in Tepelena district. The protesters burned the greek flag

On the way of "multi ethno culturalism of Albania". How in albania the greeks and albanian live in peace?

A new protest is organized in front of the Distinct Court of Tepelena as the trial against Orgen Hasanbegaj and Luan Halili. The latter were arrested because they organized a civil protest in Toc, Tepelena against Vasil Bollano and Spiro Ksera’s anti-Albanian actions.

Vasil Bollano is the mayor of Himara and Spiro Ksera is the Prefect of Gjirokastra. This trial which has been going on for months in the District Court of Tepelena against two defendants Orgen Hasanbegaj and Luan Halili is absurd by "democratic standards" albanian media said.

According to media this process has been imposed by Prefect Ksera and the leader of "Omonia" Bollano, against whom the protesters have protested. "This is a flagrant violation of the human rights and freedom of thought. Their protest was in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Albania” the protesters said.

These two youngsters are now in the quality of the defendant because they organized a protest against anti-Albanian claims of Bollano and Ksera, according to whom, the South of Albania is Vorio-Epir territory. The police declared the protest anti-Albanian and arrested the youngsters with the excuse that protest was illegal.

The protest was suported by the "Mjaft" Moviment (The Soros Fondation) and the PM Spartak Ngjela came especialy from Tirana.

see video: http://www.top-channel.tv/new/artikull.php?id=141587

USA must change the policy in Balkan

Robert Gelbart to the "Voice of America "

I was the past few years, very upset because the administration policy toward the Balkans and other regions that Bush completely ignored, at least the first four years, while the next four attention concentrated almost exclusively on Kosovo. The Balkans is a very important region. The United States should closely cooperate with the European Union, Russia and other countries, in order to maintain profit from the past decade.

Many times I observed that Serbia is a central country in the Balkans and must help it to progress and to consolidate democracy and stability. If it does not, the whole region will suffer negative consequences. I think that now in Serbia we have a very good government headed by President Boris Tadic. Serbia, as the whole world, affected the global economic crisis.

The United States should closely cooperate with the European Union and Russia, to the Balkans remained positive on the course, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo and relations with Serbia. In regard to Russia, the United States need a new beginning, despite the recent rhetoric, given that both countries have an important role and the need to find a model of constructive cooperation.

New container port to be built in Albania

Albania awarded a 35-year concession to the British-Swiss Zumax AG group Wednesday for a euro1.18 billion ($1.55 billion) container terminal for ships in southwestern Albania. The Transport Ministry said St. Gallen, Switzerland-based Zumax AG will build the terminal at the Vlora port, 85 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of capital, Tirana, with a three-million container annual capacity.

Its construction is expected to start in April or May this year and to be completed in four years, according to Kevin Paja, the group's representative in Tirana. The group also has asked the government to create a free-trade zone where the terminal is to be located and to build an airport in the Vlora area. The group expects more than 4,000 companies to exploit the container terminal in a free-trade zone.

"NATO increasingly confronts an existential crisis, reflected by three mutually reinforcing trends – inconsistent and fast-paced enlargement policy, problematic internal cohesion and inadequate military spending. Researcher Alexander Melikishvili offers cases that point to the challenges NATO faces: The separate quests by Albania and Georgia for NATO admission reveal inconsistent admission standards on democratic governance and rule of law; ...

NATO’s Double Standards Make for a Hollow Alliance

The military alliance is only as strong and effective as its weakest links

Alexander Melikishvili
YaleGlobal, 26 January 2009
"Russians are coming: Russian invasion of Georgia may threaten Europe, but does not increase its eligibility for NATO membership"

WASHINGTON: As events of the past year demonstrate, NATO faces an existential crisis, reflected in the three aspects underpinning its operations – an inconsistent enlargement policy, diminished internal cohesion and inadequate military planning. Unless NATO can overcome these weaknesses, excitement in Europe about a new era of cooperation with an Obama-led United States may turn out to be premature and groundless.

see more: http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=11868

SAE USA Coordinator Theodore G. Spyropoulos today appealed to new President Barack Obama to review all U.S. policies and practices relating to Hellenic issues.

Mr. Spyropoulos stated that America’s Hellenic community looks forward to a change in US policies involving issues of interest to Americans of Hellenic heritage, “a review by your administration of the U.S. foreign policy that has demonstrated ignorance of history, has continued to fan the fires of conflict in the Balkans and is destabilizing Southeastern Europe”.

Specifically, the Coordinator of SAE USA highlighted the Greek National Issues of the conflict on Cyprus, the violation of Greek airspace by Turkish Fighter planes, the blatant issues of human and religious rights in connection with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the continued violation of human rights affecting Greeks in Northern Epirus (Albania), and last but not least the outstanding issue of agreeing upon the name for FYROM acceptable to Hellenes which would be a positive reversal of existing U.S. policy.

The entire text of Mr. Spyropoulos’s letter follows:“Americans of Hellenic heritage, and SAE USA Region and myself, proudly congratulate you on the solemn occasion of your inauguration as the 44th President of this great country, the United States of America.
“We listened to your inspiring inaugural speech with renewed hope for our nation and a strengthened resolution about the principled role America should play internationally as it follows the rule of law and seeks justice when conflicts rise.

“We have also been following with awe the positive response your election and speeches have drawn in Greece and in Europe in general. We have been very pleased and honored on your behalf to receive praising remarks about our new President from sources that have been critical in the past. It is obvious that the world is ready to embrace American leadership with admiration and hope.

“Therefore, even at this early date in your consideration of international issues, we, Americans of Hellenic descent, wish to bring to you a number of issues in American foreign policy that are of interest to us as a community: “The island of Cyprus remains largely occupied by Turkish invasion armies while Turkish fighter planes routinely violate the Aegean airspace of Greece, a member of ΝΑΤΟ and of the European Union. At the same time, basic religious and human rights are violated constantly as in the paradigmatic case of the Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople accentuated by the continued forcible closure of the Theological School of Halki.

“Under previous and in fact the most recent administrations, American foreign policy has sidestepped the issues of human and minority rights for Greeks in Northern Epirus in Albania, and has “jumped the gun” as it ignored history and dismissed Greek peaceful attempts to resolve differences with the government of FYROM.

The U.S. administration, by acting unilaterally and in a very undeserved way against Greece and in opposition to the practice of almost every other nation in Europe officially recognized a new FYROM name that is the basis for indefinite conflict.

“Mr. President, as America’s Hellenic community we look forward to a review by your administration of the U.S. foreign policy that has demonstrated ignorance of history, has continued to fan the fires of conflict in the Balkans and is destabilizing Southeastern Europe.
“With much anticipation for new beginnings that will be based on the principles of truth and understanding, I am,

Respectfully Yours,Theodore G. Spyropoulos Coordinator SAE USA”

Karatzaferis`s accuse addressed to George Papandreou

During the parliamentary session on January 23, the President of LAOS Party George Karatzaferis, accused the leader of PASOK Georges Papandreou as responsible of blocking the Northern Epirus issue.

"As also listened to Mr. Papandreou mentioned, and actually moved, because the makes rare occasions, the grandfather of the George Papandreou. You know, I greatly appreciate the history and work of George Papandreou. It should not think George Papandreou today. To appreciate him for his work of this I believe the name. Rigth we want long way to appreciate for his work. But there is a difference. I know the grandfather George Papandreou agree at least 90-95%. I am not sure that the PASOK today agrees. First, the first had some specific positions with partners Left. I do not know whether to apply today you. Second was for specific positions Northern Epirus you do not have never" Karatzaferis said.

PASOK and ND where tow politic parties group that voted the SAA agreement with Albania.

Albania to allow headscarf ID photos

Authorities in Albania have decided to allow Muslim women to wear headscarves while being photographed for ID cards. Albania began issuing new identity cards this month, but Muslim community leaders to complained that the government's passport agency was not allowing headscarf photos.

Interior Ministry spokesman Fatmir Konja said Friday that such photos will be accepted as long at the headscarves do not obscure a person's facial features. Albania is mostly Muslim with large Orthodox Christian and Roman Catholic minorities. Practicing religion was banned until Communism fell in 1990.

Albania has begun issuing new IDs and biometric passports and hopes to adopt international standards for identity documents.

THINKING DEFENSE, THINKING SECURITY

By Special Correspondent
Copyright: http://www.rieas.gr/

In times of dire economic straits, thinking and talking defense and security is an unpopular subject given the economic outlays and the implied sense of risk involved. Greece is in such straits and voters are in foul mood. Hit by the world economic slump, and paying the price of years of mismanagement and corruption, Greece is on the receiving end of a huge double whammy: the cash box is empty, save the last usurious-interest foreign loan, and prospects of a genuine rebound, in the middle of an unprecedented global crunch, are extremely slim.

Nevertheless, Greece needs to, and must, think defense and security urgently. Here’s why.
On the outside:

Turkey grows more menacing by the day. Turkish warplanes fly as if Aegean skies are theirs to enjoy and keep. Turkish sea-air exercises bracket Greek islands, large and small, and simulate various pre-invasion tactics. Turkish warships make “honest” navigation “mistakes” and appear near the shores of Athens --unmolested. Turkish ground forces along the eastern frontier remain at battle strength.

The rest of the Balkans is in slow boil. Kosovar Albanians, emboldened by Kosovo’s “independence” by Caesarian section courtesy of the US, haven’t given up the dream of a “greater Albania.” FYR Macedonia, for all of Skopje’s macho-man antics in connection to the lingering name dispute with Athens, has little to celebrate over its “multicultural” synthesis comprising a strong Albanian minority permanently unhappy with the posture of the Slav majority. A splendid, little war is not entirely impossible right at Greece’s northern doorstep as it nearly happened in 2001, when irregular “Macedonian” Albanians nearly tore the Slav-dominated Skopje government to pieces.

more see: http://rieas.gr/images/RIEASEDIT.pdf

Albania’s New Identity Documents to Ease EU Visa Regime

21 January 2009 | The Albanian government has started issuing new and improved identity cards and passports, seen as a key requirement for the liberalization of the visa regime with the EU and the implementation of European election standards.

The new biometric passports, which will cost 60 euro each, were hailed by Prime Minister Sali Berisha as “first-class documents” that would enable Albanians to “travel more freely abroad,” the Southeast European Times reported recently.

Issuing reliable, high-security personal identification documents and stepping up of the fight against organized crime are the two main conditions Albania has to fulfill before the EU could ease its visa requirements for the country’s citizens, as BalkanTravellers.com reported last October. see more..http://www.balkantravellers.com/en/read/article/984

The resignation of Vice/Chairman of UHRP Thomas Mitsos going to establish a new party

Following the elections in 28 June, Mr Mitsos proposed change of statutes UHRP and converted into the National Ethnic Party that is only the Greek National minority. Mr Mitsos aims at a party acting in Gjirokaster, Saranda, Delvina and Himara and the creation of an Annex resident in Greece where are more 70% of northern epiriotean.

The imediate was responded the secretary general of the UHRP Leonard Solis, who urged to M. Mitsou to establish his own small party. Mr. Solis sais that; ''throughout the KEAD is panalbanian party and the conversion of the party in the Greek national minority is a wrong idea against the albanian costotution. We are here to solve the problems and not to create artificial tension ...''

The Greek minority in Albania and its rights: Theory and practice

by Fanis Malkidis*

On 15 January ratified by the Parliament (with the votes of party New Democracy and PASOK), the Stabilization and Association Agreement Albania-EU. The issue of integration of Albania in the EU, which is directly linked to the respect and the existence of the Greek minority in Albania, which for years despite contrary comments prosecuted, launched in 2003.

The meeting of the Ministerial Troika of the EU in Albania (Tirana, 13.1.2003), confirmed the EU commitment to the European perspective of Albania calling on both to take the responsibility to fulfill all the conditions of conditionality of the Stabilization and Association Process, which includes the full respect and protection of the rights of the Greek national minority. This confirmed the «Agenda for the Western Balkans: moving towards European Integration» which was adopted during the EU Summit in Thessaloniki (19-20.6.2003).

In June 2006, Albania, with the consent of Greece had signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU agreement which includes issues of minorities, the elimination of discrimination against them. To join an EU candidate country must meet all the requirements set, namely Albania minority state with serious problems obliged to adapt its legislation and administrative or other practices of the acquis communautaire, ensuring the identity of these groups. ¨ We believe that this has not happened so far. Since 2003 the EU has urged Albania to take responsibility to fulfill all terms of the agreement between conditionality which include full respect and protection of the rights of the ethnic Greek minority, stressing that progress in the negotiations and the approach of Albania the EU will depend solely on its ability to meet its commitments.

Greece was brought to the Agreement between Albania and the EU parliament for ratification. There, from government side stated that the agreement marks the start of the accession process in Albania, thus the neighboring country is committed to radical cuts in the economy, justice, law and human rights. It also reported that «as a Greek state, standing next to minority practice, the concern is ongoing. Distributed free text books for the Greek language. The property, firmly and consistently highlight the minority side and we are in direct contact with representatives of the minority to a fair resolution of cases involving their properties ».

On the side of PASOK, by the rapporteur said that «the agreement with the Albanian put over their heads a council that will monitor the protection of minorities, we deny it;». The fact is that despite the theoretical approaches and the occasional free content, substance and effect positions in Greece and Albania, protection and enforcement of the Greek minority in Albania does not exist. The minority continues to be prosecuted, while on the other hand is quite a lot from the Albanian side, even with non-akompso and diplomatic way, the issue of Tsamis and Albanian immigrants in Greece. Major problems such as education of members of the Greek minority, religious freedom, return to the beneficiaries of private, community and church property, the non-implementation by the Albanian side of the commitments on human and minority rights, terrorism, and still worse .

In the nationalist climate in Albania is developing a series of actions by the Albanian government turned against the Greek minority to definitive removal of the Greek population. Today, apart from theory, the main objective should be the respect and full enjoyment of rights of the Greek minority. If this happens, we can proceed further cooperation and bilateral relations, otherwise should the policy of Greece towards Albania to be reviewed and epanacharachthei, with the interests of the Greek minority and not others.

*: http://www.malkidis.info/en/

Posters call for dismissal of ethnic Greek mayor in southern Albania

Posters calling for dismissal of ethnic Greek Vasil Bollano, mayor of the southern town of Himara, appeared in Tepeleni town. The posters urged residents to oppose Bollano's attempts to "detach" the Himara region from Albania.

Bollano has urged Greece not to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Albania unless Tirana grants full property rights to the ethnic Greek minority living in the Himara region. Many Albanians perceive it as a first step towards seeking autonomy for the region.

The Tribunal of Tepelena is going to denied tow Albanian boys as organisators of illegitimate national meeting in Tepelena last month against the president of Omonia Bollano and Prefect of Gjirokaster Ksera.

Getting Chummy Over Chameria (Northern Epirus - Southern Albania)

by Dean Kalimniou
Australian Macedonian Advisory Council
January 16, 2009

"It does not seem to be a good year for Greece. Greece seems to be losing ground on the Macedonian issue, it seems to have lost any sort of edge it ever may have had over Turkey and sits idly by as the Ecumenical Patriarchate is threatened by the Grey Wolves, with the tacit approval of the powers that be. Now Albania is repeating its irredentist claims and insulting the highest officer of Greece".

When the Greek Consul-General was asked why he has never deigned to respond to the invitation of the Panepirotic Federation of Australia's invitation to him to attend the annual doxology celebrating the liberation of Ioannina and the declaration of the autonomy of Northern Epirus in 1914, he smugly retorted: "Well, what do you want me to do? Invade Albania and kill all the Albanians so that you can all go and live there?" On another occasioned, he warned darkly: "Stop referring to Northern Epirus and then we will talk."Indeed, right up until the end of the Cold War.

Greeks who dared to voice concern over human rights abuses against Greeks in Albania were generally referred to as hyper-nationalistic, ultra-right wing radicals by certain sections of the Greek community and the press. Even after the fall of Communism, when it was apparent to all that the 'paradise' that Hoxha's Stalinist regime was supposed to be, was nothing more than hell on earth, those persons who had built their reputation and pride upon the maintenance of their particular ideology, found it hard to sympathise with the hapless Northern Epirots who have been persecuted for well on a hundred years now.

In scenes reminiscent of 1923, when Asia Minor refugees fled genocide to re-settle in Greece and were called Turks, the Northern Epirots who fled poverty and persecution to settled in Greece after 1992, were called Albanians and treated as objects of derision. Further, despite the fact that the various Epirot organizations that exist throughout the world have consistently striven to showcase human rights abuses in Albania, their task is Herculean. For they do not have to convince world opinion alone.

Firstly, they have to convince a doubting or contemptuous Greek world that is totally ignorant of what lies beyond its front fence and which, in its smug bourgeois comfort, still persists in labeling people who are only interested in the human rights of the Greek minority in Albania as fascists, that a sizeable minority just to the north of them is being harried out of its ancestral home and that further, its persecutors are making demands on Greek territory.

more see analyse: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/88045

EX FM THEODOROS PANGALOS ON THE CENTER OF THE GREEK NATIONALISTS STORM

According to weekly newspaper "Elefteros Kosmos" Pangalos during the debate in occasion to be voted the agreement of SAA with Albania by the Greek parliament, other all sad that: "Northern Epiriotes, those that do not stay in this country (Greece), are not considered part of the Greek nation. Others who live here, must be respect according to Greek constitution and laws".

The declarate has inspired the Greek nationalist organisation, which urge the former FM of Greece Theodoros Pangalos to ask for pardon for Norther Epirus people that have suffered systematically by the Albanian state.

Similar accuses addressed to Pangalos are made by the president of LAOS Party Georges Karatzaferis and other member of the Greek parliament during the seance debate.

see more: http://elkosmos.gr/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1861&Itemid=1

Macedonia Protests Over Greek Minister Comments

Skopje has officially protested at the European Commission in Brussels over comments by the Greek Culture Minister that Macedonia will soon dissolve and be carved up between a 'Greater Albania' and a 'Greater Bulgaria'.

Macedonia’s mission in Brussels condemned the statements by Antonis Samaras as “counterproductive” for bilateral relations, and expressed concern that no one in Athens had denounced them yet, local A1 TV said.

Skopje and Athens have been locked in a dispute over Macedonia’s name for 18 years. In April last year Greece blocked Macedonia’s NATO invitation arguing that use of the name implies territorial claims over its own northern province that is also called Macedonia.

more see: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/15990/

Albania Club Med construction starts after protest

By Benet Koleka
TIRANA (Reuters) - Construction work has begun on Albania's first Club Med seaside resort village, but only after police cleared away a roadblock set up by protesting villagers and made several arrests, officials said on Thursday.

Four years after the government gave the go-ahead, television pictures showed building equipment and heavy machines digging near the beach on the bay of Kakome, facing Greece's holiday island of Corfu.

Angry villagers say the developers have not obtained the correct building permit and the authorities had no right to let work begin before the appeals court has ruled on who owns the land -- the government or 129 local families.
more see: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50E68U20090115

THE PROTEST OF NORTHERN EPIROTEAN ASSOCIATIONS IN GREECE AT FRONT OF THE GREEK PARLIAMENT

more see video: http://www.zougla.gr/news.php?id=20011

Greece ratifies the SAA between Albania and EU

Albanian Foreign Ministry,

Press Release

The Greek Parliament considered and voted the law passed by the Greek government for the Agreement of the Stabilization and Association between the European Communities and member states, on one side, and the Republic of Albania, on the other side. The ratification of this agreement is a real testimony of the fully support of Greece, as a neighboring country, as well as that of the other friendly community countries give to the reforms undertaken at home, as a strong encouragement for their deepening in the future.

We express our belief that the spirit of cooperation, in framework of the common European family, will contribute to the further intensification of the Albanian- Greek relations, towards the strengthening of the friendship between our two peoples, to the benefit of peace, security and prosperity in the region.

With the ratification of the SAA by the Helen state, conclude all the procedures of ratification by the member countries, by paving the way now to entering into force of the SAA. Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes this opportunity to express its gratitude to all the member countries for the ratification of SAA and expresses its belief that these countries will provide their support to the sooner integration of Albania into European family.

GREEK PARLIAMENT RATIFED THE AGREEMENT FOR STABILISATION ASSOCIATION PROCESS OF ALBANIA TO EU

Photo: Protesters out of the Greek parliament

Under strong debate, mostly by the LAOS Party, the Greek parliament, approved the EU-Albania Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA).

Meanwhile, out of the Greek Parliament, the Northern Epirotean Associations in Greece, where protesting for the violation of the human rights in Albania by the government.

Greece was the last country that had not ratified the SAA with Albania by 26 states of EU.

Albania to hold parliamentary elections June 28

Albanian President Bamir Topi announced Wednesday that the country would hold parliamentary elections in late June. The elections will be held on June 28.

The Albanian parliament has 140 seats and a four-year term. The last parliamentary elections held in July 2005 were marred by irregularities and violence.

Former president Sali Berisha's Democratic Party won the majority in the elections but had to form a coalition government with other parties.

Greece:Dangerous lack of security

Kathimerini

Greece is in great need of a professional and well-organized police force that will dismantle the new terrorist groups, that will free Athens from the fear of anti-establishment youths and which will effectively tackle the new and extremely dangerous forms of crime.

Public safety has become a top priority for this country. The kidnapping of Greek shipping magnate Pericles Panagopoulos at gunpoint in an Athens suburb yesterday morning underscores the alarming lack of security. After all, the incident is only the latest in a long series of deeply disconcerting events.

Most certainly, the state has an obligation to protect its citizens against these three threats.
But there is no doubt that the state must also take great care to enforce the law without violating individual rights and freedoms.

The police must avoid going to extremes. In addition, critics must stop their groundless charges of a “police state.” This country is mature enough to have a strong democracy and at the same time a strong state.

Media Watchdogs Pan Albania Government

Reporters Without Borders has criticized Albania's government over allegations that is trying to close down a Tirana daily newspaper because of its critical coverage of corruption and scandals.

The daily Tema newspaper has focused on investigative reporting, many of its stories attacking officials for alleged graft and corruption. Last Friday, police evicted it from its offices in a government building, despite a court order blocking the eviction.

more see: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/15956/

TOP SECRET

THE AGREEMENT VENIZELOS- HRUSHOV FOR NORTHERN EPIRUS AUTONOMY IN JUNE 1960

TIME AGO, DURING AN INTERVIEW FOR THE ALBANIAN PRESS, THE LAST REGIME PRESIDENT RAMIZ ALIA, DECLARED ABOUT A SECRET PLAIN OF HRUSHOV, AGAINST THE NATIONAL INTEREST OF ALBANIA, TO GIVE AUTONOMY OF NORTHERN EPIRUS THE GREEKS OF ALBANIA.

http://www.proboli.tk/

NGO, ACCUSES ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT FOR GENOCIDE

The Berisha Plan to Seize Greek Minority Properties,
Ethnic Cleansing under the Cover of Development,
and Albania’s European Course.

Albania’s Berisha Government appears to be demonstrating in word and deed that it is not ready to join the European Union family of nations as it violates not only foundational property and minority rights, but also basic legal principles.

Early Friday morning 9 January, about 200 riot units of the Albanian police raided Kakomaia (Alb. Kakome, in the province of Cheimarra [Alb. Himare] on the Ionian Sea) with a view to assisting Riviera Sh.P.K., a private company, forcibly to seize the land properties claimed by local residents, who happen to be ethnic Greeks.

The land in question totals about 70 hectares, the ownership titles of which belonged for centuries and until 1945 to residents of the nearby village of Nivitsa, and were expropriated by the Communist regime of Enver Hoxha. After the collapse of the Hoxha regime in 1990 the successor Albanian government did not return the land to its rightful owners, as it did in most other parts of the country.

more see: http://www.himaraunion.com/

Albania Issues New IDs, Biometric Passports

UK passport in the burgundy EU colourAlbanians rushed to apply for new identity cards and biometric passports, a key requirement for future visa-free travel to the EU.

The new documents are seen as crucial to avert election fraud in the upcoming parliamentary election in June. They have also been one of the conditions of the European Union before it will include Albanian in its 'White Schengen List' that allows visa-free travel to and within the bloc.

“Albanian citizens are getting now first-class documents, allowing them to travel more freely abroad,” Prime Minister Sali Berisha said on Monday, when officially oping the application process.

Northern Epirus (Southern Albania) - Between a rock and a hard place

Australian Macedonian Advisory Council
January 12, 2009

Elections in Albania over the past years have been treated with foreboding by the Greeks of Northern Epirus, especially given that all polls gave the notorious Dr Sali Berisha a clear lead. Sali Berisha, the leader of the Democratic Party was Prime Minister during the infamous pyramid scandal of 1997 that wiped out the life savings of a much of the population. His term in office was also characterized by anti-Greek sentiment, stemming from the bi-polarity of Albania, divided as it is, culturally and linguistically into north and south.

The southerners, Tosks by race are generally left-leaning and culturally close to Greece, while several hundred of thousand of them are also Orthodox Christians. They form the core support of the Socialist party which until recently, most Greeks have supported or at least sympathized with. The north, the heartland of Berisha country is conservative, anti-Greek and for the most part anti-Orthodox, as it is feared that the Orthodox Church within Albania is nothing but a front for Greek irredentist designs there.Indeed, as Prime Minister, Sali Berisha presided over one of the worst periods of Graeco-Albanian relations.

In 1991, Greek shops were attacked in the Northern Epirot town of Agioi Saranda while in 1994, Sali Berisha proposed an amendment to the Albanian Constitution, requiring that all heads of religious groups be Albanian born.
more see: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/87539

Events for the 18th anniversary of "Omonia"

The 18th anniversary of its founding yesterday celebrated the political organization of the Greeks of Albania "Omonia". The events held in Dervitsiani, head of the Greek minority in the prefecture of Gjirokaster, where the leaders of 18 years ago found "illegality" from persecution for the structures of the communist regime and decided it was founded.

The events honored by the presence of the Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Kassimis, members of the Greek parliament and the Greek origin of the Albanian parliament members, representatives of the diplomatic corps in Greece to Albania, member of "Omonia" and the Human Rights Union Party ( KEAD), which represents the political "collaboration" in the Albanian parliament and other guests.

Referring to 18c yaers course of "Omonia", the speakers highlighted the historic importance of its establishment, the successes, but also its weaknesses, stressed the need to play the "Omonia" to developments in the country and the region and welcomed the support organization on the European course of Albania.

TURKEY ESCALATES IN AEGEAN, SEEKS CONFLICT TO VALIDATE CLAIMS

By Special Correspondent
Copyright: http://www.rieas.gr/

Thirteen years ago this month, during a freezing, stormy night at the end of January 1996, Turkey sent its commandos to occupy one of the Imia rocks near the Greek Dodecanese island of Kalymnos.

Imia, a pair of uninhabited rocky outcrops like so many other similar ones in the Aegean clustering around larger Greek islands, had been chosen by the Turkish military establishment as the testing ground of Greek reactions in Ankara’s Aegean play of threats of the use of force, ongoing and unbroken since the invasion of Cyprus in 1974.

The Imia crisis had been carefully choreographed; the commando landings came last in a string of actions that included the refusal of a stranded Turkish merchant captain to accept Greek SAR assistance, thus demonstrating the Turkish non-recognition of Greek SAR jurisdiction nearer the Asia Minor coast, and the arrival of Turkish heliborne “reporters” on Imia to hoist a Turkish flag, which was pulled down by the Greek military.

more see: http://www.rieas.gr/images/AEGEAN.pdf

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.