"Negotiations on Greater Albania"

"The Albanian question in the Balkans should be resolved by the end of 2013, creating a country that embraces all areas where Albanians live. The above is based on a platform developed by Koço Danay, former cabinet director of the Albanian Prime Minister, published yesterday in the Journal of Montenegro "Vijesti", as stated by the Serbian newspaper Politika.

Koco Danay says that the new Albanian state would cover the territories of neighboring countries, which will not happen with bloodshed Albanians.

According to former Albanian PM Adviser "The Natural Greater Albania includes the Kosovo part of Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Greece, where many Albanian communities live." As stated in 200 pages 'piece' of Danay, representatives of the Albanians in neighboring countries must have the right to vote in any vote if they want to be part of the new state. Also, that the strategy set up a new state would be based on dialogue with everyone, without bias and past decisions.

In the publication noted that the Koço Danay is Orthodox Christian, and originated from the southern part of Albania and worked two years in the Albanian Government as an advisor to former Prime Minister Fatos Nano and Panteli Majko, also was indeed, consultant of Foreign Minister Ilir Meta.

Albania unlikely to make EU visa-free list by summer

AUGUSTIN PALOKAJ

Promises by the Albanian government to its citizens that they will be able from this summer onward to travel to most EU countries without a visa are increasingly unlikely to be kept.

The European Commission has not yet presented its report about the fulfilment of benchmarks for visa liberalisation by Albania and Bosnia. People from the two Western Balkan countries still need a visa to visit countries in the Schengen area after the EU last year lifted visas for Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Kosovo has not been not included in the process.

Tirana apartment block: Bosnia is likely to get an EU visa-free deal before Albania (Photo: David Dufresne)

According to EU sources, the commission report will be drawn up during the course of this month and a possible recommendation will not be presented before June.

Under the EU's Lisbon Treaty, approval by the European Parliament is also needed to lift the visa regime for the two Balkan countries. The EP is clearly inclined to do so but will need at least two months to take the necessary formal steps. At the end of the procedure, it will be up to EU member states to take the final decision.

EU diplomats expect the commission experts in their report in April to confirm that Albania and Bosnia made progress in meeting conditions required for visa liberalisation. But they will probably stop short of saying that both countries fully meet all criteria......

more see:

http://waz.euobserver.com/887/29816

Albanian opposition calls for anti-gov't protests

Albania's opposition Socialist Party has called for daily anti-government protests over alleged vote rigging in last year's election and "bad governing" by Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democratic Party.

Socialist leader Edi Rama urged Albanians Monday to protest over "stolen votes" and the "ruining of the country's and each family's economy."The Socialists are planning a big rally in the capital, Tirana, for April 30.The opposition's call for a partial recount of votes cast in general elections in June has been rejected by Berisha.

The Socialists hold 65 seats in the 140-member parliament. Berisha and his allies hold 75.The European Union has warned the political crisis could hurt Albania's EU membership bid.

The Kosovo Stability process

KFOR will be leaving the majority Serb Kosovo municipality of Štrpce

Štrpce Municipal President Zvonko Mihajlović told the Beta news agency that KFOR will we patrolling the municipality, but said that this is not enough because the situation in the municipality is far from normal.

He said that the decision to remove the KFOR troops from Štrpce is a farce that wants to show that the rule of law exists in Kosovo, that security is up to par, and that Serbs can move freely.

“The whole story regarding the transfer of authority from UNMIK to the temporary institutions and the exiting of KFOR from Štrpce and the closing of check points, has the goal of showing the situation the way it is not in reality, that everything is under control, that rule of law exists and rights exist, that Serbs can move freely, but that is not the truth,” Mihajlović said.

He said that Serbs cannot do anything to change the decision, because it was made by the American KFOR officials.

“It is not a move in a good direction, because Serbs still have limited freedom of movement,” he said, reminding that KFOR’s presence offered the residents security.

Mihajlović said that the Polish-Ukrainian KFOR contingent had a large role in the region and was a factor of stability and a guarantee that there will not be any escalations in the conflicts.

He said that KFOR’s role cannot be taken over by police because it is not capable of dealing with the greater challenges.

There are 16 villages in the municipality of Štrpce in which about 12,00 Serbs and 3,500 Albanians live.

The municipality has parallel governments—the one elected according to Serbian elections is headed by Mihajlović, while the municipal administration that recognizes the Kosovo government-organized elections is headed by Bratislav Nikolić.

Over 1 tone of marihuana seized in Albania, Italy

The Italian police seized over 900kg of marihuana from Albania in the region of the Italian town of Lece; over 200kg of marihuana were seized in Albania, Albanian media reported. The director of the Italian police Hisni Burgai announced at news conference the Albanian police had given information about a motor boat, which was transporting marihuana from Albania to Italy.

Three Albanians were detained.
The Albanian police had seized about 1 tone of marihuana for about a month, Burgai said. On Friday morning, the police seized 280kg of the drug at the exit of the village of Lazaret, in the region of the town of Girokastro. Four Albanians were arrested.

The agency recalls the Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisa insisted recently the police to take serious actions against drug producers in the country. He said further the drug smuggling influences negatively the European integration of the country and the process of visa liberalization, which can be seen from the numerous reactions of Brussels an the international organizations.

Albania struggles to deal with Communist past

Since the collapse of Communist rule in Eastern Europe in 1989, the countries involved have explored different ways of dealing with the past. Albania took a different path to many, something which is still affecting it today, says the BBC's Iain MacInnes.

Jani Plaku says he is not concerned with revenge

"All my life, since I was a child I have been searching for information about my father. I wanted to know who my father was."

We met Jani Plaku on the outskirts of Tirana, where he led us to a site, surrounded by police tape.

It was the latest part of his search for information about his father - the bodies of 19 people, buried where barracks once stood.

Barracks 313, which had once been a communications post during communist rule in Albania, is now revealing the secrets of its past.

Mr Plaku's father had been an expert in oil exploration, but the communist authorities believed he was working against the government, and charged him with sabotage.

Following a trial, where he protested his innocence, he was executed in 1976....

more see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8599574.stm

"DEMOCRATIC UNION OF GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA “OMONOIA"

Omonia condemns the participation of 2 members of the Albanian Parliament in anti Hellenic events in Albania

PRESS RELEASE


The desecration of the Greek flag and anti-Hellenic slogans were heard outside the Greek Embassy in Tirana and other Albanian cities are operations both absurd and obscurantist, and racist slogans were heard from individuals during the celebrations of the National Anniversary in Athens, are actions that cause the feelings of all soundly thinking citizens, Greeks and Albanians. It's irresponsible actions by people seeking to destabilize.

We also condemn the participation of 2 members of the Albanian Parliament on the these events. While Greece racist slogans condemned all united by politics and the perpetrators of the incident and apologize to the relevant state institutions in Albania, racist, anti-Hellenic events organized by members of the Albanian parliament.

The symbols of all nations are sacred and no one can defile. We urge the Albanian courts to show similar sensitivity also implies that the constitution and laws to ensure that the culprits be brought to justice.

DM Venizelos visiting Russia

MOSCOW (ANA-MPA/Th. Avgerinos) - Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos held talks in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov and other Russian leadership representatives focusing on the promotion of Greek-Russian defence cooperation, as well as international agenda issues and the regrettable affairs being created by the terrorist attacks.

The defence minister reassured that the Greek people share the sadness and indignation of the Russian people and expressed his absolute solidarity for the struggle against terrorism and every act of violence directed at innocent citizens. He also laid flowers at the Lublianka metro station, where 24 citizens were killed during Monday's suicide attack.

FYROM - Albania

FYROM President Reacts to Greek Racist Chants

Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Georgi Ivanov

Greece should change its general attitude towards its neighbours to prove its good intentions, FYROM President Georgi Ivanov said on Tuesday, reacting to the recent racist chants heard at a Greek military parade. “Unfortunately this is not the first time that Greek security forces practice hate speech in front of state leadership. We are concerned that this time both FYROM and Albanians were hurt,” Ivanov told media.

He noted that suspension of the officer in charge of the parade was not sufficient and that the general attitude that Greek officials have toward their neighbors should shift.

Ivanov had a telephone conversation with his Albanian counterpart Bamir Topi and they both expressed concern over the recent happening, the president said.

Albania and FYROM officially protested to Greece after a video footage taken on Thursday in Athens at the military parade appeared on the internet. The video showed members of the Greek security forces shouting racist slogans against Greece’s neighbours: Albanians and sllavo Macedonians.

“They are Skopians, they are Albanians, we will make new clothes out of their skins,” and “You do not become a Greek, you are born one,” and “We’re going to spill your blood, Albanian pig” were some of the chants that could be heard from the footage.

Athens apologized for the incident, saying that it was an isolated case that did not reflect the opinion of the Greeks. The authorities said that they are probing the case to determine who is responsible for the chanting.

US 'supportive' of Europe's measures on Greece

The US is supportive of the EU's recent decisions regarding Greece and does not believe that other troubled euro countries will line up for the financial rescue mechanism now in place, an American official told this website.

"The US clearly has a very strong interest in the success of the European Union and we were very supportive in the efforts by the EU to work out an agreement with Greece," Robert Hormats, undersecretary of state for economic affairs said in an interview with the "EUobserver".

EU leaders last week agreed to set up a financial rescue mechanism together with the International Monetary Fund which would help out Athens if necessary, while strongly watching over the Greeks' spending cuts and economic reforms.

Washington is very impressed with the reform pledges made by the Greek government, the US official said, while admitting that "obviously reforms are unpopular in some quarters." Athens has already seen a series of strikes and protests turning violent amid rising popular discontent over the governments' economic policies.

Greek special forces released officer, honored for difficult missions by Americans

Photo: The Officer released for "racist song" in the parade of independence of Greece, with former U.S. President George Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell

The incident, is become very complex issue of officer's elite special forces of the Greek navy, who chanted racist appeal to the Albanian and Slavic neighbors in the holiday parade of Greek independence, March 25, in Athens.

The Photography has made running of the all Greek media, shows Greek officer released for military mission, after parade. You can see the Greek officer commando with high representatives of SUSA, former US President George Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Greek media, simultaneously align all operations and intervention medals obtained from elite commando officer, as the interventions on behalf of NATO, the U.S. (CIA), EU and against mafia of all those kinds.. including Albanians, etc..

Annyway Athens has released the negrborders FYROM and Albania with an "official Pardon", releasing from the Greek army the officers of the incident.


This particular officer and according to the reports of years of " unbound form , is one of the best commando available to the Coast and the Greek army. Take bravery medal after the successful operation which led in July 2000 when a fully armed Czech villain seized aboard a sailing ship in which a 5 Swiss and Greek. "Plow" to deserving colleagues, the Ionian and Aegean arresting drug dealers and preserving hundreds of illegal migrants. Found in the "front line" in the evening of Imia, conducting patrols within 50 meters of the islet. On Big Wednesday in 1996 - off the Gulf of Mary, in Thesprotia, where Albanian drug dealers, who were on a raft, opened fire on the Greek boat, drops dead the 25 year old the Greek commando Marino Zampatis. And do so without consideration and bribes, but only to ensure the safety and maintaining the integrity of the country ...

EP rapporteur expects visa-free travel for Albania

30/03/2010

TIRANA, Albania -- The rapporteur for Albania in the European Parliament's (EP) Foreign Affairs Commission, Nikolaos Chountis, said on Monday (March 29th) that there are no barriers preventing the country from EU visa liberalisation. During a visit to Tirana, officials briefed Chountis on progress made on basic criteria, such as guaranteeing border security, personal ID documents, fighting crime and illegal trafficking.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sali Berisha announced on Monday that Albania has completed the questionnaire required to receive EU candidate status, answering nearly 2,300 questions in three months. About 1,200 officials participated in the process, including 28 foreign experts. The questionnaire will be delivered to the European Commission in early April.

Füle: 'I'm enjoying every minute of my work as commissioner'

Published: 30 March 2010

By the end of his term in 2014, Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Štefan Füle hopes to have achieved enough to end talk of "enlargement fatigue" and help EU citizens to see more clearly the benefits of an enlarged Europe.

You were in the region recently and visited Albania, a country that is somewhat invisible in mainstream international news. Since political elections last June, the opposition has boycotted parliament – something that does not augur well for the country's SAP. Albania has applied for EU membership but there are clearly problems. What is your message to Tirana?

My messages to Tirana were rather clear. Firstly, I expressed appreciation for the progress that has been made: Albania has become a member of NATO and the European Council has asked the Commission to prepare an opinion on the country.

But I also stressed the importance of the political Copenhagen criteria. I expressed concern about the stability of democratic institutions and the lack of political dialogue in the parliament. I stressed the importance of this: of course, all laws are adopted here, and there would be no reforms without appropriate legislation.

It is very much in the hands of the Albanians and I hope very much that they will make progress and show that they have a mature democracy. Responsibility lies with both political parties – both the ruling group and the opposition.

Albania has changed enormously: it was an autarchy during the communist period and was in a much worse situation than any other country. Can you evaluate the evolution of Albania in those twenty or so years? Yugoslavia was a very successful country at that time – its citizens enjoyed free movement and millions worked in the West, while no Albanian could imagine even leaving the country…

Obviously every country has its own history and the Western Balkan countries carry a lot of historical baggage. Conflict prevailed too often in the region and Albania in particular has a lot of baggage. So I agree – it is remarkable to see the progress they have made in the last twenty years.

The fact that the European Council asked the Commission to prepare an opinion is proof of the progress made in Albania. That does not mean, however, that the work is done and I think this is the most important message to all the Balkan countries – including Croatia, which still needs to open negotiating chapter 23 on the judiciary and fundamental freedoms.

This is one of the lessons to be learned from the previous enlargement: to put particular importance on the Copenhagen criteria – especially the political criteria – from the very beginning of the accession process until the very end. We need to ensure that countries not only have the legislation and institutions, but also a track record of implementation.

"W. Balkans can't join EU in 2014"

30 March 2010 | 14:57 | Source: Beta

BUDAPEST -- Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs said that the Greek proposal for getting all Western Balkans countries into the EU by 2014 is unrealistic. Jadronković, Balazs, Jeremić in Budapest today (Beta) However, he said that Hungary is ready to help in that goal. Balazs met on Monday in Budapest with his Serbia and Croatian counterparts Vuk Jeremić and Gordan Jandroković, and Deputy Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas. Balazs said that the ratification of the accession agreement with Croatia can begin in 2011, and that negotiations with Serbia and Montenegro will need several years. Greece proposed that all Western Balkans countries should join the EU in 2014, symbolically on the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. Balazs said that Croatia would be the only country that will definitely be able to enter the EU by then. “We can strongly support this, because the EU cannot forget about the Balkans. If the Balkans lags behind, the region will become a destabilizing factor and then negative trends can begin. But, if the region catches a step towards the EU, then it will become a region for investments,” Balazs said. He said that it is important to abolish travel visas for Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, since this has already been done for Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Jeremić, Jandroković and Balazs will hold a joint press conference on Tuesday, after which they will be meeting with Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom.

Albania Press Review - March 30, 2010

Tirana | 30 March 2010 |

Albanian newspapers

SHQIP

A former Austrian Supreme Court judge is to supervise the cases of the World Bank project demolitions in Jale.

KOHA JONE

The European Parliament rapporteur for Albania says that there are no technical obstacles remaining for the EU to lift its visa regime on Albania.

KORRIERI

Albanian President Bamir Topi welcomes the construction of cemeteries for Greek soldiers who died in Albania, but says Greece must recognise the plight of the Albanian Cham minority expelled at the end of World War Two.

"The General of Civil War of 197" Agim Shehu rewarded with 100.000 euro by Albanian court

TIRANA, The Court of First Instance in the capital, three years after returning to the rank of "General" of former Director General of the State Police during 1992-'97 Agim Shehu, actually in the post of director of the investigation to the Directorate General of Taxation, decides to give the benefit of the missed salary for 11 years "asylum" of his in Germany with 100.000 euro.

The decision was issued on the basis of his salary of 1997 with the rank of general, as well as all missing gains made by banking interests after 30 June 1997, when it is away from work until mid in 2008 when it began work at the Directorate General of Taxation.

General Shehu returned to Albania from asylum 9 years in Germany where he was sheltered after the escape from Albania on 30 June 1997. General Agim Shehu was one of the alleged figures for events in 1997 and one person on the curve in the political arena as a violator of human rights and for very similar charges.

Report: Saudis Fund Radical Islam In Balkans

Skopje | 29 March 2010 | Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Newly built mosque near Skopje

Hundreds millions of pounds, mostly from Saudi Arabia, are being poured into radical Islam groups in the Balkans, British newspaper Sunday Times has reported, citing unnamed Macedonian officials.

The groups are taught to hate the West and some of them recruit fighters for the jihad in Afghanistan, the Sunday Times writes.

“Hundreds of millions have been poured into Macedonia alone in the past decade and most of it comes from Saudi Arabia,” said a Macedonian government source quoted by the paper. “The Saudis’ main export seems to be ideology, not oil.”

According to a classified document seen by the Sunday Times, Macedonia is currently investigating a number of Islamic charities, some in Saudi Arabia, which are active throughout the Balkans and are suspected of spreading extremism and laundering money for terrorist organisations.

Some 50 persons suspected of being Al-Qaeda volunteers recruited to fight in Afghanistan are also being followed by the Macedonian authorities, the newspaper reported.

Fundamentalists, like some strict Wahhabi and Salafi factions funded by Saudi organisations, are clashing with traditionally moderate local Muslim communities in the Balkans, the head of the Macedonian Islamic Religious Community, Sulejman Rexhepi; told the Sunday Times.

He explained that a number of mosques had been forcibly taken over by such groups. Four in central Skopje are no longer under the control of the official Islamic authorities he said, adding that the new imams claim they have been “spontaneously” installed by the “people”.

“Their so-called Wahhabi teachings are completely alien to our traditions and to the essence of Islam, which is a tolerant and inclusive religion,” said Rexhepi.

In some mosques believers are being told that Macedonia, which sent 200 soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan, as part of the NATO missions there, has been tricked into supporting a crusade against Islam spearheaded by Britain and America, the daily claims.

Some of the radical groups have up to £225 a month to spare on each of their followers, sources say. In return the followers are expected to grow beards and to persuade their wives to wear the niqab, or face veil, a custom virtually unknown in the liberal Islamic tradition of the Balkans.

Macedonia is a predominantly Orthodox Christian country, while roughly one quarter of its population is Muslim.

Bomb Blast In Athens: One child (15 years) Killed

A bomb has exploded in a residential district of central Athens, killing one child (15 years) and wounding a girl, authorities said.
The bomb exploded shortly before midnight Sunday in the central district of Patissia, and had not been preceded by any warning call, police said.
One child (15 years) was killed in the blast, while a girl aged about 10 who had been passing by with her mother was lightly wounded.
The girl was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, while her mother (from Afghanistan) was slightly injured, local reports said.
The bomb, which exploded outside a civil service school, also damaged nearby cars and adjacent buildings

Albanians protest Greek racist chants during National Holiday

The Greek national flag was set on fire in the Albanian city of Shkoder by students as a sign of revolt regarding the anti-Albanian conduct of Greek soldiers, local media reports from Tirana. - Our patriotic soul called us to unite at a protest organised by us, students. We don't allow racist chants against Albanians. Our people has been humiliated several times in Greece. We need to react, protesters say. Greece's flag was also ignited last night in Burrel at a protest staged over anti-Albanian slogans shouted by members of the coast guard unit at a parade celebrating country's independence day. Protesters manifested their discontent with the "inadequate reactions by the state of Albania in relation to insulting provocations that occur in continuity". In the meantime, Greek ambassador to Tirana Nicolaos Pazios has apologized for the racist chants by members of the Greek coastal guard. The ambassador confirmed the Greek Government's readiness to investigate the case and undertake appropriate actions. Ambassador Pazios expressed regret over the incident during a meeting with Albanian Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Ilir Meta. FM Meta branded the actions as "scandalous", saluting the swift reaction by the Greek Government, adding relations between two countries would continue to develop.

Albania raises cash to destroy old ammunition

Albania's Defense Ministry says it has been promised $10 million ((EURO)7.4 million) from the United States as part of donations from NATO countries to destroy its massive Communist-era ammunition stockpiles by 2013.

The donation will help fund a (EURO)35.5 million ($47.6 million) project to dispose of about 90,000 tons of excess ammunition that are stored in old army depots and are seen as posing a risk to public safety.

A huge blast in 2008 at a munitions disposal factory near the capital, Tirana, killed 26 people and injured 300.Formerly communist Albania joined NATO last year.

Greek flag burned in Tirana

Only a month ago, the Albanian Parliament voted the discrimination law, for which nobody should feel discriminated, including national minorities.

But in this picture, shown clearly that racist feelings affect hundreds of young Albanian, who show with their nationalist hysteria to Omonia President name Vassilios Bollanos, same symptoms as before in the case of a group of young people from Tepelena, similar a year ago.

In addition, many nationalist sporadic protests against Greece are held in Tirana, Durres, Shkoder and Northern Albania. Its very interesting the fact that the protests where held without authorization of the police authorities, but "accompanied from them".

According to Albanian press, not only Greece's Interior Minister Hristohoidis has requested to be punished the authors, but also the Greek ambassador in Tirana has voiced his forgiveness to Albanian Foreign Ministry.

see video: http://bw.balkanweb.com/TV/index.php?id_categoria=17&id_ansalive=2876

Imer Selmani: The non-implementation of the Ohrid Agreement raises question on FYROM’s structure

Leader of the New Democracy party in FYROM Imer Selmani thinks that if the non-observation and non-implementation of the Ohrid Agreement continues “issues on the redefinition of the relations between slavo Macedonians and Albanians as well as about the structure of the country rises legally,” FYROM Makfax agency reported. According to Selmani the relations between slavo Macedonians and Albanians will be reconsidered not “because the Albanians wants it but due to the fact it will be necessary”.

The party leader thinks that in this case none of the issues should be taboo, including the structure of the country “under the form of cannons as it is in Switzerland or like Belgium’s structure”. According to Selmani the Albanians believe in the Ohrid Framework Agreement but do not believe in the will of Skopian political parties to fulfill the agreement, required not only by this document but also by the Constitutions.

On Saturday, during the meeting with supporters of the party in Debar, Selmani accused VMRO-DPMNE of causing religious and ethnical intolerance and of defining FYROM as Orthodox country to the detriment of the followers of the Islam. The Albanian Democratic Union for Integration was accused of “non taking actions on stopping its coalitional partner to violate the rights of Albanians”.

Greek Financial Crisis: Balkan Aftershocks?

James Pettifer, April 2010

The World Today, Volume 66, Number 4

The Greek financial shock has rippled across its hinterland. Solutions for Balkan states may be unappetising: crime and corruption are rampant. And once again, ethnic politics are returning to centre stage.

Balkan neighbours are looking southwards to sunny Greece after the hardest winter for many years with a mixture of schadenfreude and anxiety. The sight of the big neighbour economy reeling under the impact of the debt crisis is refreshing for some after so many years when this NATO and European Union (EU) member was held up an example of European development, as opposed to the messy and sometimes violent post-communist years in the Balkans.

As in late Ottoman times, Greek capital exports have been a main motor of economic development. Some neighbours - Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria - have swathes of local financial capital under Greek influence and control. Greece has also been an important source of funds for post-Slobodan Milosevic Serbia and has stakes in major enterprises in Romania, Moldova and Russia itself.

Although local financial regulators in say, Albania - where approcahing half the banks are Greek controlled - claim they are independent and not vulnerable to capital withdrawal to prop-up Athens-based parents, the reality is more complex. All anecdotal evidence suggests that bank lending slowed to a snail's pace last year and almost stopped altogether in many institutions. The construction industry, the main motor of economic development, has been hardest hit, small local enterprise less so.

Balkan banks did not get involved in complex debt instruments and most banking is simple and traditional, but it has been the main instrument of modernity, just as Greek banks were in Ottoman times. There are also disturbing resemblances to the post-Wall Street Crash period. Then the crisis was slow to hit the nations of southeast Europe but when it did, post-autumn 1930, the force was very severe.

In most countries now, there is strong and continuing input by the international financial institutions, for obvious reasons. This applies particularly to Albania which experienced an armed uprising in 1997. It has been most evident in Macedonia which, almost alone in the region, has for some years held a fixed currency peg between the dinar and the Euro.....

http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/2015/

Albania to continue cooperation with Serbia

Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta said that Albania will continue to cooperate with Serbia for the sake of the Albanians in the Preševo Valley.

He said that Tirana will cooperate with Belgrade to improve on the rights and integration of Albanians in southern Serbia.

Meta said that policies of good neighborly relations and regional cooperation play a constructive role in the efforts of the Balkans towards becoming part of the “European family,” the Albanian ATA agency stated.

Meta met with a group of Albanians from the Preševo Valley that study at Albanian universities.

Reminding of his recent visit to Serbia, during which he visited Preševo, Meta said that Serbian officials showed understanding for the concerns of the Preševo Valley residents, and that Belgrade promised to invest efforts in improving their standard of living and their rights through investments in the region.

SP Assembly decides: The protests in all Albania

UPDATE-SP National Assembly has decided that the launch of protests of opposition throughout the country for transparency of elections and the general crisis along with people, and 30 April will collect all the protesters in Tirana

The head of the Assembly, Gramoz Ruci said at the end of works that opposition in the Assembly will be required only for transparency and for nothing else.
"Each session has space to seek redress for our cause. There is no normality of the activity of committees without solving the political crisis and transparency of elections" - said Ruchi.

"Socialists urge that international will continue to provide support and make their efforts to solve the crisis" - he said, reading points approved by the Assembly.
According to him, on April 18 will take place the Socialist Party congress.

Cham community and nationalist organizations, "Mjaft" Protest in Tirana

Tirana. By calling: "O how good Albanian Being" and slogans "Greece, the shame of Europe" at around 11:00 protesters are placed in front of the Greek Embassy.

The protest was organized by the Movement "Mjaft", the association Cameria and some other NGOs. "Greek state to distance itself from these acts that do not go to a state of EU members" they call Greek authorities.

Protesters before the Greek Embassy in Tirana, denounced the song of the Greek soldiers, having joined the two deputies of the ruling Justice and Unity Party, PDU, Dashamir Tahiri and Shpetim Idrizi.

see more: http://bw.balkanweb.com/TV/index.php?id_categoria=17&id_ansalive=2876

Tensions of Albanian nationalist against the Greek national parade

Albanian Media publishes video of the parade, urging the Albanian nationalists against Greeks

An artificial irritation that has as protagonist Greek national parade, where a group of Greek special forces sang nationalist songs against Albanians, has brought an increase in the perception of tensions anti Greek in Albania.

Although Greek authorities apologized for the incident, called the Albanian nationalist constantly becoming a serious threat for the Greek factor living in Albania.

The protagonist this time seems to be the adoption by the Albanian Parliament of the cemetery of the fallen Greek soldiers during the Second World War.

Politicians and press in Albania, specify the fallen Greek soldiers have been as "invaders Albanian land", which may bring tension touching Greek patriotic feeling, while tension can increase without end against to the Greek community in Albania.

However, it seems that the Albanian diplomacy and nationalist politics can find common points to bring in a new relationship conflict Albania and Greece, which can be used by the extreme violent segments on both sides.

Meanwhile Albanian media, except the argument of the cemetery says it is disappointed with the treatment that the Greek government makes Albanian emigrants, although few weeks ago the Greek Parliament adopted the law that grants citizenship to Albanian immigrants.

Athens has ratified tow important agreements with Albania to joint NATO, EU. But even the official relations between Athens and Tirana are seen as the "good level", the rights of the Greek Ethnic Community is until unsolved, particularly the issue of the rights property, education and cultural system, the local autonomy and the enlargement of minority zones, continues to be obstacel of the future relations of Greek Albanian relations.

Protest at front of the Greek Embassy urged by NGO

Meanwhile, a series of non-governmental organizations have urged protest in Tirana as a reaction against the "Greek army song" who issued calls during the National Day parade of Greece, in the presence the President Papoulias.

The protest will begin at 11:00 this morning before the Greek embassy in Tirana and "will denounce the racist and xenophobic terms of Greek soldiers". The incident raised and the response of Albanian government, notes the Albanian media.

Admiral Stavridis visited Visoki Decani Monastery

March 26, 2010 In talks with the Commander of NATO forces in Europe, Admiral James Stavridis, Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan underlined the importance of the presence of international peacekeeping forces in Kosovo and noted that it is particularly important for the Serbian Orthodox Church that KFOR continue to secure the eight most important holy sites in the Serbian Province. The Eparchy of Raska and Prizren communicated that during talks in the Visoki Decani Monastery, Stavridis assured Bishop Teodosije that NATO will not take any further steps concerning the protection of Serbian holy sites without a dialogue with the Serbian Orthodox Church and that the concerns of the Serbian Church pertaining to security issues will be seriously taken into account. Also NATO supreme commander in Europe, met with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu.

France, Germany agree on plan to help Greece

France and Germany agreed on a standby aid plan for heavily indebted Greece on Thursday that would involve money from European Union member states and the International Monetary Fund, the French president’s office said.
French officials said President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had explained their agreement to EU President Herman Van Rompuy, and countries that use the euro would discuss it later on Thursday. A French official said the deal, agreed in Brussels shortly before an EU summit, opened the way for bilateral loans to be made available under a system mainly involving the euro zone but also using money from the Washington-based IMF.
“There is agreement on the idea of a European framework. This European framework will be made up of coordinated bilateral loans,” a French official said.
“This European framework would be complemented by IMF loans with clear mention of the fact that the financing would mainly be European.”
The money would be used only if there were “very serious difficulties and there was no other solution,” he said.
A German official said euro zone states would have to agree to activate the plan, giving Berlin a veto.
The borrowing rate would not be subsidised but would take into account the economic state of the country using the loans.
“This is the framework set out to help countries that could be under very strong market stress,” the French official said.
Greece has not asked for money to help service its debts but has said it favours a standby package being made available to reassure investors without Athens having to use the money.
Merkel and Sarkozy also said the Greek debt and deficit crisis showed the need to strengthen economic governance in the euro zone — meaning closer coordination of policy — to deal with any threats like those in Greece.
An EU official said any agreement would include increased budgetary surveillance of euro zone countries.
“The IMF is a key part of it,” the EU official said. “There are two parts. There is a part on bilateral loans and there is a part on … surveillance.”
Paris and Berlin called for Van Rompuy to draw up a report before the end of this year laying out all the options for strengthening preventive mechanisms and sanctions.

The Albanian Parliament ratified the agreement on military Cemeteries

The Albanian Parliament decided to give the right of the Greek state to build in Albania for two cemeteries, the Greeks perished during the Second World War.


This is the ratification of the agreement between the two governments for research, exhumation, identification and burial of the fallen Greek soldiers in Albania during the Second World War.

Under this agreement there will be two cemeteries in Gjirokastra and Klisoura. The agreement provides that there will be experts in forensic examination of the bones. There will be a joint committee with equal number of members from both countries.

Part of the military will be even historians, who will jointly examine the resolution and detail the issues and need to know the historical facts. The skeletons will be photographed and all data will be stored in number and will be available to both sides.The ceremonies in memory of the fallen will be held by representatives of the Greek Republic and the Republic of Albania every year on 28 October.

Against this agreement where tow parliament member, represent of Cham Community,while the opposition socialist party, had abandoned the session parliamentary.

Statement by U.S. Ambassador John L. Withers, II (March 25, 2010) We have been carefully following the discussions in parliament on the Albanian political situation. We regret that, to date, no solution to the current crisis has been reached. We urge all parties to continue to work within the parliament to resolve their differences through dialogue and compromise. The tone of discussion must focus on finding common ground and not on achieving partisan advantage. We share the concerns of our OSCE and EU colleagues that the March 18-19 plenary session was unhelpful. Unilateral actions by any party cannot resolve the current stalemate, nor advance this nation’s Euro-Atlantic agenda.

Anniversary of March 25, 1821 Revolution celebrated throughout Greece

The March 25th national anniversary, marking the commencement of the 1821 Revolution against Ottoman rule, was celebrated throughout Greece on Thursday, with the main military parade in central Athens and local school parades in all parts of the country. "As in 1821, the wave of Philhellenes hastened to manifest their solidarity to Greece, so today in Brussels a tough battle is being waged, and we ask the solidarity of the Europeans," President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias said after the parade.

Albania: Opposition to stage protest over early elections

Leader of the Albanian opposition Edi Rama said the opposition will stage protests in the whole country after the government did not vote the whole draft bills on investigation of the general elections, the Albanian press reported.

According to Rama the protests will continue until the government is not overthrown and early elections are not held.

“The refusal to make full investigation of the general elections held last year together with the opening of the ballot boxes is the main reason for the discontent of the opposition,” Rama noted.

Analyzers commented that after the unsuccessful attempt to overcome the political crisis in the Parliament, the tension in political plan is tangibly rising in the country.

Omonia against any politic manipulation of the Greek community interests by Albanian factors

Announcement of "Omonia" initiative to establish a new party within the Greek minority

Athens Press Agency

A Communication, which refers to the initiative for establishing a new party within the Greek minority in Albania, which saw the light of publicity in recent days, issued by the National Democratic Union Greek minority "Omonia".

The Communication states that "this effort has nothing to do with the Democratic Union of National Minority Greek, Omonia `` `` or in respect of the political line, no less institutional activity of administrative organs.

The "Omonia", stressing, "insists that the fragmentation of the electoral behavior of members of the National Greek community in the major political parties equally, an internal division does not serve the cause of improving the position of the municipality in the Albanian reality.

The communication, dated that day, also stresses that "acts of this kind of political disorientation of the National Greek minority, Omonia has denounced the `` at times, especially the last few months, just before, during and after the parliamentary elections last summer.

Omonia further indicates that "as far, is as essential factor is the political partnership and a common path to political, electoral and organizational level of the Union for Human Rights" and concludes: "We found no qualitative change that revised effective this experience. "

Eleftherotypia: EU divided in two camps on aid for Greece

The EU member states are divided in two on financial aid for Greece, Greek Eleftherotypia newspaper writes. Marathon negotiations are expected to be held at today’s EU Summit on the “rescue net” for Athens concerning the debt and crediting needed for its paying off.

On Wednesday, the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso called on again to the countries from the Euro area to establish a rescue net for Greece in case and only if all funds to avid the crisis are depleted. French President Nikolas Sarkozy and the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy support the reaching of agreement on practical support for Greece.

However, German Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schäuble announced that strict rules for budget discipline should be introduced before taking a decision to provide financial aid for EU member state like Greece.

Sir Alex Ferguson has “lucky charm” from Epirus

Sir Alex Ferguson, with Sotiris Hasiakos

The most trusted man of Manchester United coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, is Epirot Sotiris Hasiakos, the manager of an exclusive London club in Park Lane. The two men communicate frequently every day by telephone and share their interest in horses and horse racing. Recently, they became co-owners of two horses, to which they have given Greek names – Aetos and Pausanias – as Sir Alex wanted to please his close friend, Sotiris.

Hasiakos comes from the village of Katarraktis in Arta region, where his brother is mayor. He studied business at Manchester University and later took an executive position at a large leisure complex, where he met Ferguson.

Dule-Bolanos Meeting with high officials of the U.S. embassy in Tirana

The persecution of the Greek Minority, proprieties and political justice by Berisha, where in focus of debate

Photo: Paol Poletes, Acting Deputy Chief of US Mission Tirana

The whole problem of the political institutions of the Ethnic Greek Minority od "Omonia" and HURP, made known by Evangelos Doules and Vassilios Bolanos to the political secretary of the American Embassy in Tirana, Mr. Paul Politis.

The meeting of the Presidents of Omonia and HURP where part of the upcoming they visit, which is expected to perform in Washington next days.

In the meeting was a discussion, informed the American factor in Albania, the current state of the Ethnic Greek Minority in the level of respect for human and minority rights.

Both Doules and Bolanos, thanked the American Embassy for what they say and take note of the State Department in the annual report of 2009 for Albania, informed the American political secretary for the property wrights and continuous violations made against property of citizens of Greek origin, against Community and church property.

Particular reference was made during the debate on whether legal proceedings against the mayor Himara Mr. B. Bolanos, from the Atorney of Vlora District, the politic Trial of the Greeks in Himara, ecct. While in the attitude of the government Berisha highlighted the persecution suffered by the EU minority government from unwarranted dismissals of people and officials after the elections last June.

Finally Mst. Doules and Bolanos said the link to an absence of policy pursued by the Government with regard the cultural and historical values of our community and the general difficulties of access in the media.

Greek - Albanian Relations

Risopoulos: "Greece supports the liberalization of visas but considers that there is much to be done to complete this process".

The Greek community living in Albania, has abandoned obtaining identity cards, after the Albanian authorities have seen all citizens as Albanian nationality

Declaration of the Greek consul in Gjirokaster to Albanian journalists.

The statement was consul during the celebrations held to mark the anniversary of the independence of Greece in the city of Gjirokastra.

The consul John Rizopoulos in Albanian media said that Albania would be able to exploit the abolition of visas to European Union countries, where they met the required international conditions. He recalled that the same team had identified and the European Union visited Albania last week.

Due to the large volume of Albanian immigrants in Greece, the l iberalization of visas between the two countries is one of the main challenges of Albania.

But the biggest problem lies in the fact that the Greek community living in Albania, has abandoned obtaining identity cards, after the Albanian authorities have seen all citizens as albanian nationality, without previously stated that every citizen living in Albania.

This poses greater risk for failure process of identity cards and biometric passport, a technical condition that claims it has fulfilled Tirana.

MEGA party for the Greek National Minority!

The Initiative Committee for the Establishment of the Party "National Minority of Greeks for the Future" - MEGA held on Saturday March 20, 2010 in the tourist center "Foinikaion" Phoinike the Province to approve the Plan, the Statute, the name, office, emblem, flag and the Administrative Commission.

At this meeting, the presence of a notary, unanimously adopted the necessary legal documents, and signed by the members of the Initiative.According to the albanian press, the period from the first move was systematic work involving many intellectuals and other personalities of the National Greek minority, whose proposals were included in all papers.

The signatories of the Founding Act of the Party "National Minority of Greeks for the Future" is 27 people, all young people, intellectuals and businessmen who are successful in their careers while enjoying the appreciation of all the members of the minority.

The Initiative Committee emphasized that the Party has opened new doors for all the Greeks of Albania and their friends and sympathizers.

According to founders, the new political entity would be the natural continuation of the Organization "Omonia" and is now a higher organizational level political representation in the National Greek minority.

Multiple entry in Greece and long duration visas for Russian citizen

Greece has decided to be present with all its force in Russia’s tourist exhibitions and activerly promote its decision to facilitate as much as possible the issuing of multiple entry and long duration visas for Russian citizens, according to Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos (foto), who visited Moscow’s MITT-2010 tourist exhibition on Friday.

“More and more Russian tourists are deciding to combine their holidays with cultural events and visits to monuments and archaeological sites, a fact that serves our strategy and the combination of our ministry’s two directions, that must not only be achieved at leadership level, but in the entire pyramid of actions,” Geroulanos told Greek correspondents in Moscow, summing up his initial assessments on his contacts with tourist agencies.

Earlier, Geroulanos met with his Russian counterpart, Aleksandr Avdeyev, who showed special interest in the European Europeana digitalisation programmes, in which Greece leads in experiences, planning the extension of relevant cooperation with Microsoft as well.
Gereoulanos said that the Russian side also found interesting the carrying out of the merger between the culture and tourism ministries, as well as the possibility of developing cooperation between the two countries in the sector of sport and the hosting of Russian teams during the period of their preparation.

The Culture and Tourism minister also visited the famous Puskin Visual Arts Museum and met with its director Irina Antonova who, among other things, remembered with emotion her cooperation and meetings with late actress Melina Merkouri and expressed the desire to host some exhibition or even some excellent examples of classical sculpture art.

Berlusconi 'absolutely in favour' of giving aid to Greece

Italy has long been considered one of the weak links in the euro zone but Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told Reuters at an election rally in Bologna on Sunday that he was "absolutely in favour" of the EU providing aid to Greece.

He later hardened his stance, saying the European Union had "no reason to exist" if its members were not ready to help a crisis-hit eurozone country.

Italy's debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to hit 117% this year, compared to 120% forecast for Greece, though Rome has kept a lid on its budget deficit and has weathered the financial crisis better than others in Europe.

Uncertainty over European support for Greece pushed the euro as low as $1.3502 on Friday, its weakest level in more than two weeks. The spread between Greek and benchmark German bond yields ended the week at 325 basis points, the highest level in nearly three weeks.

Albania, Security News

USS John L. Hall frigate (FFG32) in Vlora Bay

In a long political crisis in Albania, which was increased after the opposition decided to topple the government Berisha through massive popular protests, in the Bay of Vlora, for the first arrived the U.S. Perry Class frigate FFG32 .

We have no data on that NATO frigate that belongs to the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, to be case relates to the beginning of mass protests against the Berisha government. But However, reliable sources indicate that an escalation of the protests could lead to a situation of uncertain stability in Albania.

US Frigate Class Perry

2750 tons (std), 3605 tons (full) Dimensions: 453' (oa) x 45' x 14' 9" 24="" 6=

Armament: 1 OTO Melara 3"/62 cal. Mk 75, 1 Vulcan Phalanx CIS, 4-.50 cal. MGs,1 Mk 13 Mod 4 launcher,

4 SSM McDonnell-Douglas Harpoon missiles, 36 GDC-Pomona Standard SM-1MR missiles,
6-324mm Mk 32 (2 triple) tubes / Mk 46 torpedoes, 2 hangars / 2 SH-60B Seahawk LAMPS MkIII helos

Machinery:2 GE LM 2500 gas turbine engines; 41,000 shp; 1 shaft, cp propeller, 325 hp retractable propeller pods
Speed: 29 Knots Crew: 13/206 (includes 19 air detachment)
Radars: AN/SPS-55 (surface), AN/SPS-49 (air)
Sonars: AN/SQS-56, AN/SQR-19 TACTAS (towed array)

"Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Me. on 5 January 1981
Launched 24 July 1981, Commissioned 26 June 1982

EU says political deadlock could hurt Albania bid

A senior European Union official is warning Albania that the country's political crisis could hurt its EU membership bid.

Albanian opposition Socialists say they will resume street protests unless parliament investigates allegations of fraud in general elections last June, and orders a partial re-count if required.

Conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha has ruled out a re-count.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele urged Albanian political leaders Friday to resolve the stalemate swiftly. Albania has applied for the EU candidate status. It joined NATO last year.

FYROM Press: Absence of Boris Tadic and Herman Van Rompuy casts gloom on conference in Slovenia

The summit in Brdo near Kranj, which was to show that the Balkan nations would finally overcome their conflicts, has confirmed the opposite, Skopian Utrinski Vesnik daily writes, summing up the assessment of most news agencies after the Balkan conference in Slovenia.

The newspaper focuses on the absence of Serbian President Boris Tadic and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, which, the daily writes, diminished the importance of the forum, the first informal EU summit on the Western Balkans.

The newspaper tells about the main moments in the conference, such as the statement of the European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule and major issues on the agenda.
Regarding the FYROM participation in the conference, Utrinski Vesnik notes Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski does not rule out the possibility for FYROM to hold a similar forum in the future.

Albania: Opposition to stage protest over early elections

Leader of the Albanian opposition Edi Rama said Saturday night the opposition will stage protests in the whole country after the government did not vote the whole draft bills on investigation of the general elections, Albanian press reported.

According to Rama the protests will continue until the government is not overthrown and early elections are not held. “The refusal to make full investigation of the general elections held last year together with the opening of the ballot boxes is the main reason for the discontent of the opposition,” Rama noted.

Analyzers commented that after the unsuccessful attempt to overcome the political crisis in the Parliament, the tension in political plan is tangibly rising in the country.