MICHAEL MONTGOMERY

Arrest in Kosovo points to secret camps

International police in Kosovo have arrested a former guerrilla commander suspected of war crimes in a widening investigation that was spurred by our exposé of secret detention camps run by the Kosovo Liberation Army during and after the 1999 war.

Local media reported European Union police detained Sabit Geci on Thursday following a raid on his home in Pristina.

Witnesses have linked Geci and other KLA commanders to the torture and murder of prisoners at an operations base in the Albanian border town of Kukes.

A series of joint reports last year by CIR, the BBC and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network detailed evidence of the abuses and killings following a multi-year investigation.

A wide range of sources—from survivors to former KLA soldiers—spoke of a network of secret camps scattered throughout Kosovo and Albania where civilians and POWs were held, tortured and sometimes killed.

In some cases the abuses allegedly occurred under the noses of UN officials and NATO troops, who arrived in Kosovo in June 1999.

We reviewed internal documents that showed United Nations officials knew about the allegations as early as 2002 but failed to launch a serious investigation. What’s more, officials at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague destroyed physical evidence that related to some of the allegations.

This is the first case of possible war crimes on Albanian soil and it could lift the lid on Albania’s covert support of the KLA and links to wartime abuses.

Sources close to the investigation say the government of Albania refused to cooperate with EU prosecutors despite an earlier pledge to help international investigators looking into the allegations.

There’s been no reaction from Kosovo’s current leadership, which is dominated by former KLA commanders. But here’s what Kosovo’s prime minister and former KLA political director Hashim Thaci told us last year when pressed about the Kukes allegations.

"It just didn't happen," Thaci said. "At any time, in any case, in any place, any space —this has nothing to do with the Kosovo Liberation Army."

I spoke about these developments today with Marco Werman on PRI's The World.

A dangerous nationalism


by Stavros Tzimas

In the West, had believed that the independence of Kosovo, the Albanian question in the Balkans ended finally maybe we should think again. Broadcast news lately for mobility and activities of the Albanian nationalist circles, which can not be ignored.In FYROM, where Albanians and sllavo Macedonian relations in society by balancing, made recently the resurgence of the so-called Albanian National Army (ASK) in an armed clash with Macedonian police.

Which in another case, a few days in the country's borders with Kosovo, found caches with large quantities of weapons guarded by masked men, who fled Kosovo. In Pristina one of the scenarios under the leadership of the newly established on the table in any discussion, in response to the possible secession of serbs northern Kosovo, the secession of the Presevo Valley or eastern Kosovo, as Albanians consider.

Albania has begun to incalculable nationalists thrive the fruit of the "Natural Albania". This launched from the former adviser to Foreign Minister Ilir Meta, Koco Danaj and enjoy a portion of the intellectuals, media and politics, which feeds on irredentism.

The presentation of the book in Tirana, rushed known Albanian nationalists from FYROM and Kosovo, with the first military leader of the UCK and later Prime Minister Agim Ceku. The platform of Danaj "places-probably because the superiority of the Balkans causes shudder to those who know little history, the" Natural Albania", which is otherwise identical to the "Greater Albania", which extends from Montenegro to Preveza, Tetovo and the Presevo Valley.

Simultaneously recorded in a rapidly growing anti-Hellenic climate, movements and initiatives for getting officially Chameria issue, which becomes a national issue.

In Himare dominated by the Greek element, met secretly last week the "Front for the National Union", which issued notice to the Union of Albanians in the Balkans in one state. Furthermore, these days there is no wall rock and the Albanian south that do not bear slogans such as "I love you, Tsamouria" etc., and the result is the atmosphere of nationalism and Tirana, the annulment by the Constitutional Court by the Greek-Albanian Agreement, the establishment of maritime zones.

The Albanian irredentism has not ceased to believe that historical laws are not met. If you remember what preceded the uprising in Kosovo and Macedonia, probably should be worry.

www.kathimerini.gr

Note.

Regarding the article published in Kathimerini, notes that, on the Ionian coastal road Vlore - Himare - Sarande, have been added the Albanian police special forces.

According to sources from Himara, in this situation of political crisis in Albania, the Albanian paramilitary extremist elements equipped with suspicious car license plates, move, especially at night.

Albanian Police, is concerned by any attack that may have consequences for the indigenous people of Greek origin in Himare, provoking in this case an ethnic conflict with great consequences.

Declaration adopted at Ancona meeting

ANCONA -- The future of Southeastern Europe is in the EU, the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative Council concluded in a declaration adopted at its 12th meeting held in Italy. The document adopted on Wednesday stressed the need to speed up the process through concrete steps such as visa liberalization for Albanian and Bosnian citizens. One of the Initiative's main goals is creating political and institutional conditions for the successful realization of EU accession projects for countries which are already close to Europe, like Croatia, and those which still have a ways to go, like Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, it is said in the declaration. The Council meeting was presided by Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and attended by Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić and Albanian, Bosnian, Montenegrin, Greek, Croatian and Slovenian foreign ministers. The Adriatic-Ionian Initiative was founded in Ancona on May 20, 2000, and comprises the seven countries on the Adriatic and Ionian seas - Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia and, by succession, Serbia. The aim of the Initiative is to promote development, security and cooperation in the Adriatic-Ionian region and to support countries in transition in the process of EU integration.

EU police arrest Kosovo Albanian commander for war crimes

Sabit Geci, the former commander of the military police of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was arrested in Pristina, Kosovo on Thursday, charged with war crimes committed in 1999, reported the Serbian news agency Tanjug.

Geci was arrested in mid-day raid on his house in Pristina conducted by a police force belonging to the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). The EU mission works in conjunction with UNMIK, the United Nations mission which officially administers the Serbian province according to UN resolution 1244. Although Kosovo declared independence in 2008, Serbia is challenging the legality of its declaration before the International Court of Justice.

"The executive branch of the EULEX police department, in accordance with an order issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor of Kosovo (KSTK), today conducted a search of a house and arrested a male suspect in connection with war crimes allegedly committed between April and June 1999," according to a brief official statement released by EULEX.

Geci was one of several high ranking Kosovo Albanian military officials named in the UNMIK report, 2003-00063, who may have direct knowledge of the kidnapping and disappearance of Serbian civilians from Kosovo and of mass graves in northern Albania. According to Radio Television Serbia, Geci who goes by the pseudonym 'Big Boss,' was one of the most influential members of the intelligence unit of the KLA, and is also allegedly connected to "politically motivated murders."

Greek Parliament Passes Austerity Measures

The crucial Greek austerity bill has been passed by parliament.
The cuts it will bring are needed to release funds in 110 billion euro (£94 billion) three-year rescue package of loans from the other 15 euro-zone countries and the International Monetary Fund.
The vote was carried out by roll call, and reached the simple majority of 151 votes in favour in the 300-member parliament to pass.
The governing Socialists have 160 seats but three of their deputies abstained.
Greeks have been outraged by the measures, which slash salaries and pensions for civil servants and raise consumer taxes.
Thousands of people gathered outside parliament to protest at the measures.
The bill passed with 172 votes in favour and 121 against. Prime Minister George Papandreou expelled the three deputies (Sakorafa, Ikonomou, Dimaras) who abstained and did not vote in favour, kicking them out of his Socialist party’s parliamentary group. The move leaves him with 157 deputies, still a comfortable majority.
Conservative opposition leader Andonis Samaras kicked out former foreign minister Dora Bakoyiannis who broke party ranks voted in favour of the bill. The main opposition party now holds just 90 seats.
Mr Papandreou and his finance minister insisted the austerity measures and the rescue package they are linked to were the only hope for the country to avoid bankruptcy.
The rescue loans are aimed at containing the debt crisis and keeping Greece’s troubles from spreading to other countries with vulnerable state finances such as Portugal and Spain. The money will come from the International Monetary Fund and the 15 other governments whose countries use the euro.

Survey: Corruption in Albania Remains High

Tirana | 06 May 2010 |

The Albanian public's experience and perception of corruption remains extremely high, a study funded by the United States has found. Roughly 91.8 per cent of the respondents in the survey think that corruption among public officials is either “widespread” or “somewhat widespread”.

The study was conducted by the Institute for Development and Research Alternatives, IDRA, funded by USAID, the United States Agency for International Development.

According to the poll, out of 20 institutions rated by the general public in the 2010 survey, religious leaders, the president, media, military, public school teachers and NGO leaders are perceived as the least corrupt, while custom officials, tax officials, ministers, parliamentarians and doctors, on the other hand, are perceived as the most corrupt.

The survey found that overall, the Albanian public thinks that institutions are not doing enough to fight corruption.

Of the nine institutions evaluated in the survey only the media is seen as contributing to the fight against corruption, with 62.4 points on a scale of zero to 100, while all other institutions are given less than 50 points on the scale.

Religious leaders, the High Inspectorate for the Declaration and Audit of Assets, and the courts are seen as the least helpful in the fight against corruption, while overall trust in public institutions remains very low.

Only the military receive a passing grade as trustworthy out of twenty institutions rated by the repondents in the survey, while political parties were the least trusted institution.

Trust in the judicial system has declined from 2009, after having increased steadily from 2005.

In this year’s survey, only 35.9 per cent of respondents said that they trust the judicial system either “a lot” or to “some” degree, 10.7 percentage points lower than in 2009. The proportion of respondents who trust the judiciary “a little” or “not at all” remains high at 64.1 per cent.

The courts' treatment of citizens has also deteriorated from 2009 figures, with 38 per cent of those surveyed who dealt with the courts responded that they were treated “poorly” or “very poorly”.

This is 11.3 percentage points worse than in 2009. 79.7 per cent of respondents declare that it is difficult to get information from the courts; a slide of 10.2 points from 2009.

In 2010, those surveyed report to have been victimized on average in 1.31 out of 10 possible ways.

The corruption victimization index has not changed from 2009; however it is still lower than in 2005, when the reported direct experience with corruption was 1.7 ways out of 10.

The health sector still remains the most often cited for bribery. In 2010, 33.5 per cent of respondents said they had offered a bribe to a doctor or a nurse.

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Parts of the anti-missile defence shield will be situated on Albanian territory

NATO experts are to pay an official visit to Albania in order to inspect the possibilities for installation of parts of the anti-missile defence shield on Albanian territory, Sllavo Macedonian newspaper 'Nova Makedonija' reports.

The Chief of Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces Gen Maksim Malaj has confirmed the information.

“The NATO experts will make a thorough analysis of the geo-strategic factors in our country. If they decide to install elements of the anti-missile defence shield, we will give our permission,” Gen Malaj explained.

US support for Greek measures

WASHINGTON (ANA-MPA) -- US President Barack Obama expressed his satisfaction to Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Sunday over what he termed the "ambitious" reforms and restructuring package announced by the Greek government the same day.

According to a White House press release here, Obama spoke by phone with Papandreou, with both leaders reportedly agreeing over the need for the urgent implementation of economic reforms.

Additionally, the US president -- who enjoys very high popularity ratings amongst the Greek public -- expressed satisfaction over the significant support, as he said, announced by Greece's fellow eurozone partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Skopie: Ali Ahmeti calls Albanians not to give in to provocations

Leader of the Democratic Union for Intergration (DSI) Ali Ahmeti declared that he does not support any scenarios that will lead to FYROM’s disintegration, the online edition of Skopian "Spic" daily reports.

In interview to BBC in Albanian, Ahmeti called the Albanians in FYROM not to give in to such provocations.

We are against any kind of violence and provocations and we call the Albanians not to give in to them, Ali Ahmeti remarked.

3 dead during Greek riots at general strike

A group of protesters tried to storm the Greek parliament

Three people died in a fire set by Greek protesters in central Athens in Marfin Popular Bank during a protest march against government austerity measures, the fire brigade said. (see the video)
“We have found three dead people in the building that is on fire,” it said in a statement.
Masked youths threw petrol bombs that set a commercial building on fire, and shouted “Murderers” and “Burn the parliament,” as the public anger overflowed at the government’s plans for painful wage and pension cutbacks.
A giant plume of dark grey smoke rose over the central Stadiou Avenue, where the bank building was burning. The fire brigade was evacuating people trapped on balconies.
Police used stun grenades and tear gas in clashes with protesters Wednesday as tens of thousands of outraged Greeks took to the streets against harsh new spending cuts aimed at saving their country from bankruptcy.
Running street battles broke out in the Greek capital, where demonstrators chanting “thieves, thieves” attempted to break through a riot police cordon guarding Parliament and chased the ceremonial guards away from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the building.

The demonstrations in Athens were some of the largest in recent years, with some estimates putting the crowd at about 60,000 people. Government officials put the number at above 25,000. Violence also broke out in the northern city of Thessaloniki, where another 20,000 people marched through the city centre, with youths smashing windows of stores and fast food restaurants.

The marches came amid a 24-hour nationwide general strike that grounded all flights to and from Greece, shut down ports, schools and government services and left hospitals working with emergency medical staff. The Acropolis and all other ancient sites were closed, while journalists also walked off the job, suspending television and radio news broadcasts. Prime Minister George Papandreou on Sunday announced draconian austerity measures, including cuts in salaries and pensions for civil servants.

K. Albanian analyst expects “new talks”

Source: FoNet, KIM radio

PRIŠTINA -- The international community is preparing for new talks “between Kosovo and Serbia”, says Veton Surroi. Veton Surroi (FoNet, file) The Kosovo Albanian journalist and analyst believes that the Western Balkans region still faces instability, and says it is Serbia who is “destabilizing Kosovo and the whole region with its policies”. “It must be emphasized that greater influence and pressure from the EU and the United States is expected, in order to open a process of secret negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia on the normalization of relations,” said Surroi. He believes that there is “no real possibility at this moment for the Western Balkans countries to join the EU before 2020, so the next ten years should be used to regulate the situation in this part of Europe”. Surroi was also quoted as saying that he believed the “catastrophic economic situation and poverty” were the main factors behind what he described as the “fragile situation in the Western Balkans countries”.

Election row spills into Albania's streets

Albania is gripped by a stand-off between the opposition Socialists (left) and Democratic Party

Thousands of opposition Socialist activists have rallied in the Albanian capital Tirana, demanding transparency in last year's general election.

The political turmoil is threatening Albania's bid to join the European Union, as the BBC's Mark Lowen reports.

Arben Ahmetaj perches on his temporary bed. With a collapsible base and thin mattress, it stands next to some 200 others, affording him little privacy. His only nourishment is bottled water; his entertainment a backgammon set.

Arben Ahmetaj is among the protesters camping in central Tirana

It is not quite the usual level of comfort enjoyed by this Socialist Party MP but, he admits, these are "drastic times".

He is one of those now on hunger strike in the centre of Tirana, camped out directly beneath the office window of Albania's Prime Minister, Sali Berisha.

The Socialist-led opposition are protesting at what they say was a stolen general election last June, when the governing Democrats, led by Mr Berisha, were returned to office with a slim majority.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8658279.stm

Macedonia Uncovers Additional Weapons Stash

Some of the seized weapons, Photo by FoNet

Macedonian police on Thursday seized a large stash of personal firearms and explosives hidden in several bunkers in the mountainous terrain near the border with Kosovo. On Friday, the police reported that they had found an additional large cache of weapons, including sniper rifles, mortars, and missiles, in the same area, as their search continues.

Unofficially local media reported that several armed and uniformed men who were guarding the weapons on Thursday opened fire on the special police forces after which they fled to Kosovo. Local A1 TV reported at least one armed man was wounded by police.

The arsenal of arms found yesterday reportedly contained many weapons, including machine guns, manual missile launchers, anti-tank mines, explosives, and detonators.

Interior Ministry spokesman Ivo Kotevski said the police unit "Tigers" launched the operation on early Thursday following intelligence reports on stored weapons several kilometers northeast of Blace village near the Blace border crossing.

He informed that none of the police officers were injured during the action and that they are still on the ground searching for other bunkers that could possibly be hiding weapons.

A1 TV reported that the stash was hidden in a difficult to access densely forested mountain area and guarded by several armed men who were apparently camping there.

The television also reported that one man suffering from gunshot wounds yesterday asked for medical help in the Kosovo border village of Kacanik. Due to the seriousness of his wounds he was to be transported to Pristina but he fled after hearing the news.

According to unnamed police experts from the unit for illegal firearms trade, the seized arsenal in Macedonia does not date back to the 2001 Macedonia armed conflict. The number of weapons and their origin are still to be determined.

In 2001 this region was engulfed in the armed conflict between ethnic Albanian insurgents and Macedonian security forces. The six month conflict ended the same year with the signing of the Ohrid Peace Accord that envisaged greater rights for the ethnic Albanian community in the country. Among others it envisaged proportional employment of Albanians in the security forces and the administration.

The area around Blace was considered a hiding place for the armed insurgents.

Kosovo police also uncovered a weapons cache in Kosovo on Thursday, but the two busts have not been linked.

Albanian Ambassador in Greece, Minaroli: "the case, refers to a self-accident"

After comments by the albanian media in recent days in the case of abuse of an Albanian and burned in Greece, the Albanian ambassador in Athens, Vili Minaroli in the official version of events, declaring for "Vision plus TV", that it refers to a self-accidents, no implicated the Greek citizens.

The Albanian media had reported that 35-year-old was brutally abused by some Greek youths, noting that even the body of an Albanian was going to massacre. The event happened on the island of Crete.

more see; www.vizionplus.tv

Jeremić: Kosovo cannot participate as state

1 May 2010, Source: Večernje novosti

BELGRADE -- Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić told daily Večernje novosti that Kosovo cannot be represented as a state at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Sarajevo. Vuk Jeremić (FoNet archive) He said that it would be good for “all voices of the region to be heard in Sarajevo,” and that is why Serbia is working on finding a way in which the UNSC Resolution 1244 and Serbia’s principal stance on not recognizing the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo’s independence would not be compromised. “For this, the presence of UNMIK would be necessary, as well as the implementation of a clear asymmetry in the representation and participation of the state delegations of those who are not a state,” he said. He said that Belgrade is practicing “policies in full continuity with the last government,” because Kosovo cannot be a topic of partisan disputes, adding that all parties “must breathe as one” when Kosovo is in question, because that is the only chance for success........ http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=05&dd=01&nav_id=66854

May 1, Berisha: "Long live the European Albania, the Albania of NATO"

About one hour, different singers performed in the festive concert held by the Democratic Party. The concert ended quietly, while Democratic MPs expressed that the celebration was not a challenge to protest the PS, but it was just a celebrating.

Few moments ago, Prime Minister Sali Berisha hailed the festive concert of his supporters for May 1. "Long live the European Albania, Albania of NATO" he said."Today we are here to enjoy than ever in our history as we celebrate as a haven to our European ideal.
I invite you to continue along our journey towards Europe's you deserve ", said PM Berisha.

According to Albanian opposition leader Edi Rama, only in Cuba of Fidel Castro and in Tirana of Sali Berisha, May 1, is celebrated as a "party day".

NATO following with concern developments in Albania

Pangallos expected to visit Tirana in the next days

Secrete Service Chief of NATO, is cut a few days in Tirana, the developments in the crisis and control of Albanian extremists, in the focus

After the visit to NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Tirana, another team of security that NATO is from several days in Albania. According to sources, after the public offer was made by the Prime Minister Sali Berisha to NATO Chief for the deployment of missile defense to nuclear Albania, NATO security team Michael Turner Evanof, is looking with concern the political crisis that has included Albania, especially the escalation of opposition protests.

But according to NATO sources concern has been the initiatives of the Albanian extremists to threaten the Greek minority in southern Albania. Events in Himare last Saturday did not pass unnoticed by NATO security team and Tirana have asked to perform duties as initiatives by NATO members to curb Albanian extremists, who run the risk to be involved in ethnic riots, in Albania.

Meanwhile, according to the latest sources, the Greek Deputy Prime Minister Theodoros Pangalos is expected to visit Tirana, where he will meet with Prime Minister Berisha. Anxieties latest political crisis in the country, the EU prespective of the country, also require serious attention of the Greek Minority and Greek albanian border security, are purported to be the focus of talks Pangalos Berisha.

Albanian opposition Socialists start hunger strike

AP

TIRANA, Albania — Twenty-two opposition Socialist lawmakers and 180 supporters have launched a hunger strike to press the government to allow a partial recount of an election they claim was tainted by vote-rigging.

Tens of thousands of Socialist supporters, led by Tirana Mayor Edi Rama, held a protest earlier pressing for a recount.

The government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who narrowly won the June 28 general election controlling 75 of parliament's 140 seats, has called that demand illegal.

The governing Democrats plan to hold a public concert at noon Saturday for the May 1 holiday to celebrate what they describe as successful reforms aimed at Albania's EU membership.

Tens of thousands of Albanians protest in Tirana
By LLAZAR SEMINI Associated Press 2010-05-01 01:01 AM
Tens of thousands of opposition supporters thronged the main square of the Albanian capital Friday, vowing to stay there until the government allows a partial recount of June election ballots following allegations of vote-rigging. Prime Minister Sali Berisha's conservatives narrowly won the June 28 general elections, but the opposition Socialists have been boycotting parliament for months, demanding the recount of ballots in several districts. The government has called that demand illegal. Berisha's Democrats and allies control 75 of parliament's 140 seats. Socialist Party spokeswoman Armela Imeraj said the rally, which also protested economic hardship blamed on the government, would continue for days. "The rally is a non-stop one until the government decides to reform or to recount the election votes," she said. The international community has pressed new NATO-member Albania to resolve the deadlock, which could hamper its efforts to joint the European Union. "Does Berisha see this? We are many. We just want a fair electoral game," said protester Ilir Tiko, one of the protesters in Tirana's vast Skenderbeg Square. Another demonstrator, Sanie Behari, said she came out onto the streets to protest poverty. "Do they understand we can't live with such high prices?" she said of the government. "Sure, they can with their salaries. We just want a better life."

Minister: Phone services restored in Kosovo

30 April 2010 | 13:41 | Source: Beta

BELGRADE -- Telecommunications Minister Jasna Matić stated that mobile and landline phone services of Serbian providers had been restored in most of Kosovo. Matić pointed out that the Telecommunications and Information Society Ministry had asked UNMIK not to allow illegal actions of Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština, which were incurring great damage to the citizens, and Telekom Srbija and Telenor operators. “According to UN Security Council’s Resolution 1244 the telecommunications authority has been put under the jurisdiction of UNMIK. They have so far regulated this field and we wrote to them so they would keep doing it,” she said. Matić noted that the situation in Kosovo was “relatively undefined” and that Priština was was using “every opportunity to strengthen its authority”. “It’s indisputable that Kosovo is a part of Serbia's territory, that Resolution 1244 is the only document which has legal weight, and Serbia will insist on it like we have done until now,” the minister said. Authorities in Priština last weekend disabled transmitters claiming that they did not have a license to operate in Kosovo, leaving some 100,000 Serbs in central and southern parts of the province without mobile phone service. Landline phone service has been disabled in some areas south of the Ibar River.

International Community Concern over Macedonia

Skopje | 28 April 2010 |

Skopje

The Skopje Missions of the EU, NATO, OSCE and the U.S. are concerned about the latest political developments in Macedonia, and urge the country's leaders to commit to reinforced political dialogue.

In a joint press release issued by the missions on Tuesday afternoon they expressed concern that Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and the full implementation of the Ohrid Peace Accord that ended the 2001 conflict in the country might be jeopardized.

"We have taken note with concern of recent statements by political leaders and other individuals that point in the opposite direction: talk of separatism, conflict, and abandonment of the Ohrid Framework Agreement,” the release reads.

"We firmly oppose any violence or threats of violence, as this will only harm political and economic progress, and which are in sharp contradiction with the values that our institutions represent."....

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/27707/

Slovenia and Italy want Albania and Bosnia to enter the “white list” of Schengen as quickly as possible

The Foreign Ministers of Slovenia and Italy - Samuel Žbogar and Franco Frattini, have sent an official letter to the Spanish Presidency of EU, urging the speeding up of the procedure for visa liberalisation for the citizens of Albanian and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Radio Free Europe announced.

The message was published in the Albanian media today, quoting the Slovenian Foreign Ministry. The letter was signed by the foreign ministers of another 10 EU member states.

The present situation on the Balkans is a historic success: Anders Fogh Rasmussen

“The present situation on the Balkans is a historic success,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said today following his meeting with Albanian Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilir Meta in Tirana, Macedonian TV channel "Sitel" reported.

“The situation on the Balkans is a historic success and my will is to see all countries from the region NATO members as soon as possible,” Rasmussen said. He noted that there was a significant progress in Kosovo, from a security point of view.

NATO’s Secretary General has expressed his gratitude to the Albanian authorities for their participation in the peacekeeping missions of the Alliance.

Albanian opposition to protest on April 30th for transparency on elections

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April 28, 2010 (MMD Newswire) -- On Friday, April 30th the Socialist Party led Albanian opposition is going to protest in the capital, Tirana, demanding full and thorough transparency of the parliamentary elections that took place on June 28th. The opposition is determined to persist in its protests until its constitutional right to an investigation into the elections is fulfilled.

The protest of the opposition does not aim to change the results of the election, but to achieve full transparency on said elections, as an indispensable precondition for free and fair elections in the future. In this action the opposition is supported not only by half the Albanian electorate who voted for them in the elections, but also by the thousands of Albanians who are suffering the dire economic conditions that have prevailed in the country since the elections; conditions which are a direct consequence of the abuse of public funds and finances by Prime Minister Sali Berisha for electoral purposes.

The difference between the Socialist led opposition and the governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Sali Berisha, in the elections of June 28th amounted to a mere 1.5% of ballots cast; the narrowest difference ever in any elections in Albania. At the same time, international reports, such as by OSCE-ODHIR, underline the fact that "vote counting in a full one third of the voting centers was bad or very bad." Further evidence has surfaced in recent months of massive vote stuffing, of individuals having voted with multiple fake identity cards and of voting instead of emigrants who were not in Albania at the time of the elections.

To date the opposition has been denied its constitutional right to a full a thorough parliamentary investigation into the elections including the opening of the ballot boxes and the examination of electoral materials contained therein. Although the demand of the opposition for an investigation into the elections has been supported by many international actors including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, European Socialists and the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Europe Subcommittee Chairman Bill Delahunt, the government has so far been intransigent in its refusal.

In the first major, three day protest on November 20th 2009, upwards of 100,000 people poured out onto the streets in the name of democracy and free and fair elections; on April 30th and beyond, the scale and the duration of the protest will dwarf any protests Albania has experienced during its 20 year long transition.

The Albanian opposition cannot compromise on its demand for transparency. Its determination is born of the belief that free and fair elections constitute a cornerstone of democracy.

* For any information, footage and images of our protests or any other type of assistance that you may require please contact:

Endri Fuga

Press & Communication Officer
Socialist Party of Albania
Tirana, Albania
endrifuga@gmail.com
00-355-672-102-020 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 00-355-672-102-020 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Maklen Misha

Press & Communication Officer,
maklenm@gmail.com
00-355-672-042-891 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 00-355-672-042-891 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Etjen Xhafaj

Press & Communication Officer
etjen.xhafaj@gmail.com
00-355-686-014-477 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 00-355-686-014-477

Albania: Counterfeit euro distribution network dismantled

Albanian police busted a group for distribution of counterfeit euro, Macedonian newspaper "Vecer" announced. Two of the detainees are albanian Macedonian citizens - Djeladin Demiri and Kemal Rejepi.

Together with them were arrested Avni Hayrulahu Kosovo citizen, leader of the group and of Petri Marku from Tirana, whose cafeteria was used as a warehouse for counterfeit euros.

Counterfeit bank notes had to be put into circulation in Albania. In the cafeteria the police discovered 75,000 counterfeit euro, printed in Bulgaria and moved through FYROM to Albania.

Thousands of K. Serbs stage protest

26 April 2010 Source: FoNet, Tanjug

GRAČANICA -- The Kosovo Serb protest in Gračanica against the violent disabling of Serbian mobile phone networks in parts of the province has ended. The protest in Gračanica today (Beta) Local officials called on the international community to react and to stop the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština from prohibiting Serbs from using the phone services of Serbian operators. The protests ended without incidents, and more were announced, with similar gatherings expected to be held every day until the Belgrade-based mobile phone networks have been reactivated. Some 3,000 Serbs from central and other parts of Kosovo participated in the protest march in Gračanica. There were ambulances ahead of the crowd of people, symbolizing the fact that communication with such emergency services is not possible without working phones. KFOR and Kosovo police, KPS, secured Gračanica during the rally, which stopped the traffic through the enclave. The Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština targeted Belgrade-based operators over the weekend. www.b92.net

April 25, 2010 Greater Boston Parade

It is developed as each year, the biggest parades of Boston, the anniversary of the Greek national holiday of the year 1921 Participants at the celebration, was the Pan Epiriotic Federation of USA.

EC says Albania not ready for visa liberalisation

26/04/2010

TIRANA, Albania -- The European Commission (EC) says Albania has completed just one of four sections of its EU visa liberalisation questionnaire, local media reported on Sunday (April 25th). Government and local integration officials had assured the public that Tirana has met all technical criteria in the process.

The section praised by Brussels deals with securing documents. The other three sections -- deemed incomplete -- involve repatriation policies, fighting crime and corruption and dealing with the finances of criminal gangs.

Albania began working on visa liberalisation in 2008 and expects to complete the process by the end of this year.

Armed in Himara, come the members of the Front for Albanian National Union

In today's press release, DEEEM Omonia, denounces the rise of irredentist voices in Albania at the expense of Greece and Hellenism of Northern Epirus.

PRESS AND COMMUNICATION OFFICE OF "OMONIA"

PRESS RELEASE

While the Greek national minority and its political representative, the DEEEM "Omonia" at the forefront of the effort to integrate the country into the European Union and the Greek National Minority aims to calm and peaceful coexistence with the majority of extremist nationalist groups, continue to rise and affect its national.

Just yesterday, the only feasibility cause residents, called the Front for Albanian National Unification met in private in Himara, although in principle this was planned in the city of Fier.

Indeed, during the meeting, as noted by the press, participants from Albania, Kosovo and Skopje criticized Greece and EU for Minority.

However, the fact that Albanian media have emphasized today that in Himara, where not recorded any incident and the police had taken all necessary measures, amply demonstrates that this event aimed to challenge and disrupt the city and that probably the threads to move from state structures.

The gesture was preceded by some hothead campaign nationalists, who wrote provocative slogans on roads crossing the area of minority refers to a nonexistent issue, something that history has already been closed.Also unknown are the days defiantly tore it up the Greek flag at the Military Cemetery of Vouliarati, and the offices of Omonia in Saranda.

The DEEEM "Omonia" harshly condemns these challenges and acts it out in the Ethnic Greek Minority and asking the authorities to take necessary measures to fully respect all rights.

Albania and Kosovo

Tirana, Pristina to be joined by railroad connection

Tirana. Albania and Kosovo reached agreement to realize new project in the field of transport, albanian media news agency reports.

The project envisages a railroad connection between the cities of Tirana and Pristina.
The two countries are already realizing a joint motorway, which is already built up in the Albanian part, while the construction in Kosovo is yet to start.

Meanwhile today inaugurated the beginning of construction of highway works Morin-Merdar Vërmicë-Prizren which is described as a major project by the authorities in Kosovo and Albania.

At the festive ceremony on the occasion of the commencement of the works are expected to attend: Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, the Albanian counterpart Sali Berisha,

Greece: Gruevski opposes to name ‘Northern Republic of Macedonia’

The prime minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski opposes the possible suggestion ‘Northern Republic of Macedonia’ to solve the Greek-Macedonian name dispute, Greek "Express" daily writes on its website.

In an interview with the private Skopje-based television channel Sitel, which will be aired on Sunday, but parts of it have already leaked into the media, Gruevski says:

“If ‘Northern Republic of Macedonia’ is suggested for general use, provided that this name proposal is officially presented to the mediator Matthew Nimitz, I will put it to a referendum. If you are interested in my personal opinion – I will vote against.”

Albania, latest security and developments news

United Front of Greater Albania, an illegal rally in Himare

NATO security services in Albania, are alarmed by this development undesirable, jeopardizing the fragile geopolitical stability in Albania

Had come as tourists from Albania, Kosovo, FYROM, Montenegro and completed by developing a nationalist congress, provoking heavy feelings in the community of Hellenes in Himara.

While another Congress, just of "Omonia" is being held in Saranda, a group of "tourists", come in Himara from various regions of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and FYROM, organized in one of the hotels of the town, an Albanian Nationalist Congress.

The group was identified as the United Front of Greater Albania. The News is distributed by "Gazeta Shqiptare" and "News 24", which had filmed the development within the Hotel.

At the same time, hundreds citizens of Himara, were collected at the hotel, where was held The Congress of Albanian Nationalists and asked them to leave Himara as soon as possible, because the consequences could be unpredictable.

The Police Department caught the "surprise" tried to block the entrances of the hotel, so when "tourists guests" can be raise on the bus and depart for leaving Himara.

According to "News 24", the Albanian nationalists in Congress, were thrown psllogans as "will all die for Albania", "Himara is Albania", "Greater Albania by the Tivar in Preveza" ecct

Meanwhile the "Albanian Newspaper" thought that this leader of the nationalist group, has Gafur Adili, character sought by the secret services of NATO, isolated for years because it represents great risk for ethnic clashes in the region.

Sources from Tirana said that NATO security services in Albania, are alarmed by this development undesirable, jeopardizing the fragile geopolitical stability in Albania.

"Omonia"`s conference to reshape the Statute

HURP Chairman Evangelos Doules and Omonia President Vasilios Bollanos, will visit State Departament to Washington next days and will meet with the represents of the Greek American Lobby, including senators, congressmans ecct.

Photo" US President Joe Biden with President of "Omonia" Vasasilios Bollanos seen in Washington

The Conference of "Omonia" for the redevelopment of the Association, held in Saranda, sent a message of unity to all Northern Epirus, to participate actively in the processes of the organization.

The Conference was represented by PASOK Secretary for Integration Maria Dimitrakopoulos, which inter alia stated that "Governments and G. Papandreou, following a pragmatic policy, which aims to strengthen the Greek-Albanian relations, without prejudice to the rights of Northern Epirus."

The representative ND Stathis Konstantinidis, MP Florina said that "the interest of the current leader Antonis Samaras SW for the Greek minority in Northern Epirus is old and enduring. The integration of Albania into the European Union passes through the respect of human rights in Northern Epirus" The President of "Omonia" Vassilios Bolanos admitted that mistakes were made, but argued that they in no way justify the separatist tendencies that occur within the organization.

"We have a duty to keep alive the" Omonia "and make sure the European course of Albania," said President of HURPt Evangelos Doules.

The Meeting decided to extend the Political Council of "Omonia" from 45 members now amount to 61. Also tabled a proposal to participate in the Political Council of 15 representatives on Northern clubs and entities, operating in Greece.

Meanwhile, HURP Chairman Evangelos Doules and Omonia President Vasilios Bollanos, will visit State Departament to Washington next days and will meet with the represents of the Greek American Lobby, including senators, congressmans ecct.

Turkey, Bosnia, Serbia start trilateral summit

Apr 24, 2010

Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia started a trilateral summit in Ciragan Palace, Istanbul on Saturday.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Haris Silajdzic and Serbian President Boris Tadic attended the summit.

In a statement, the Turkish Presidency underlined that Turkey paid high attention to permanent peace and stability in the Balkans.

During the Summit, leaders will discuss new steps to be taken for regional peace and stability, the Turkish Presidency said.

After the summit, participants of the gathering are expected to hold a joint press conference.

LAOS MP, Johanis Corantis requires explanations for burning the flag of Greece, in Tirana

LAOS MP, Johanis Corantis, requires the Government of George Papandreou, explanations for the burning of the Greek flag at a nationalist demonstration in Tirana, during the month of March.

Among others, he stresses that this protest has been organized with participation of two members of the PDU (the party that supports the aspirations of the Community Cham.

Meanwhile, in a closed session on national issues, the LAOS leader George Karatzaferis, has asked the Greek Parliament, holding a public senace for the rights of the Greek minority in Northern Epirus and Relations of Greece with Albania in this context.

Dashnor Dervishi in the Albanian embassy in Athens

The cousin of Foreign Minister Ilir Meta, new Ambassador in Greece

Sure is, after today's hearing by the Foreign Policy Committee of the Albanian parliament, the installation of Dashnor Dervishi as head the Albanian embassy in Athens. First embassy which is headed to Mexico and is currently Ambassador of Albania in Bucharest. Dervisi, presented the committee with the goals and priorities of the mission:

Ntervisi, described his appointment as an important task for expanding cooperation and strengthening of bridges linking the two countries. Mr. Dervisi said that his position as a diplomatic representative of Albania in Athens is very important, since Greece is a strategic political and economic partner in the cooperation on bilateral, European and other issues.

"Greece is a strategic partner for Albania in a political and economic issues, European cooperation and beyond. One of the main tasks will be upgrading contacts at presidential and parliamentary level to deepen cooperation to increase across visits and strengthening existing bridges of communication, "said Mr.. Dervisi upon presentation of the Foreign Affairs Committee as proposed in the Albanian Foreign Ministry for the post of ambassador of Albania to Greece.

Dashnor Dervishi is the first cousin of Foreign Minister Ilir Meta. Derrvishi also was served as ambassador in Tel Avin and Italy.

Serbia: Cables of Serbian mobile operators in Kosovo severed

The Kosovo Serbs do not have a connection with the world after the authorities in Pristina cut off the cables of the Serbian mobile operators in Kosovo, "Glas Javnosti" daily reports.

The newspaper comments that 40,000 Serbs in Kosovo do not have mobile connection and EULEX is silent about everything.“The latest move prepares a new displacement of Kosovo Serbs,” writes Glas Javnosti. The telecommunications regulator in Kosovo in cooperation with the police severed the cables of the Serbian mobile operators in Badovac, Gracanice, Gusterici and Babin Most.

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic described the events as a new attempt to isolate the Kosovo Serbs and called on the international peacekeeping missions to foil the incidents.The residents of the Serbian enclaves in Kosovo cannot communicate with the world – they cannot call a doctor or an ambulance, the newspaper writes.

K. Albanians disable phone networks in Serb areas

Source: B92, Tanjug

PRIŠTINA -- The Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština removed the equipment of all Belgrade-based mobile and landline operators this morning. This happened in central Kosovo, reports said. Eyewitnesses, who secured the premises, said that “special police” broke into Telekom, Telenor and VIP structures to help cut off cables and take down equipment, at around 05:00 CET. Eyewitnesses said that workers of a "telecommunications regulatory body" from Priština removed transmitters and randomly severed cables. As a consequence, 40,000 Serbs are either left without mobile service in that part of the province, or have very poor reception. In all, some 80,000 people have their phones cut off, reports said. Telekom Srbija said they would issue a statement once they have learned about what exactly happened and who was responsible for what they called an act of vandalism. Telekom workers are currently working to enable landline telephony in the villages surrounding the Serb enclave of Gračanica. The enclave's small base transmitter has not been destroyed, so the 064 network has weak reception there. Meanwhile, a body dubbed the Kosovo Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said this Friday that it had taken action to "put an end to the illegal operation of unlicensed and unauthorized providers" that have “built networks in Kosovo”, Tanjug reports. http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=04&dd=23&nav_id=66665

The President of Albania gave amnesty to 367 prisoners

Among thieves, murderers and slave traders .. 140 of them won their freedom and for the rest of the sentence was reduced to less time than what was ordered.

For some up to 10 years less in the odd case is that among people who gained their freedom, but also those who reduced the sentences are murderers, thieves, pimps, who had been declared dangerous by Interpol and also people who were accused of pyramids (the fake companies) in 1997 brought the civil war in Albania.

Question: The European Union says something about this scandal?

We speak Griko!

Calimera (meaning “good morning”) is a small town in the “Grecìa Salentina,” or Greek Salento, at Italy’s Southern Apulia. Besides Italian, the inhabitants of Calimera also speak Griko, a linguistic amalgam comprising ancient Greek, Byzantine Greek and Italian elements.

In an effort to promote the dialect of Griko – also spelled Grico, a form of the Greek language spoken by people in the Magna Graecia region in southern Italy – the Organisation for the promotion of the Greek Language hosts an annual essay contest for pupils attending schools in Apulia on “The presence of Greeks in Southern Italy.”
Every year, the winners are invited to Greece for an educational trip during summer.
Magna Græcia (Latin meaning Greater Greece), is the name of the coastal areas on the Tarentine Gulf that was extensively colonized by Greek settlers.

The colonisers, who started arriving in the 8th century BC, brought with them their Hellenic civilization, which was to leave a lasting imprint in the Italian peninsula.
Grecia Salentina: Official Website & Grika milume: www.grikamilume.com

Greece: Papandreou announces use of EU-IMF aid


Prime minister George Papandreou on Friday announced that Greece is formally asking for activation of the EU support mechanism for the Greek economy.

“The time has come for the decision the leaders of the European member countries to support Greece to give us the time that the markets are not giving us. It is a national and pressing need to formally ask of our EU partners the activation of the support mechanism that we jointly created, Papandreou said in a televised statement from the island the southeastern island of Kastelorizo (foto), where he is on a visit.

Papandreou added that he has instructed finance minister George Papaconstantinou to make the necessary actions. The premier said that the revised figures of the true size of the Greek fiscal deficit for 2009 released on Thursday (by Eurostat) “reminded all of us of the “unfathomable mistakes, omissions and criminal choices and the storm of problems legated to us by the previous government”.

“We all — the present government and the Greek people — inherited a boat ready to sink, a country without prestige and credibility that had lost the respect of even its friends and partners, an economy exposed to the mercy of doubt and the appetites of speculation,” he said.
From the very first day the PASOK government rolled up its sleeves and went to work to reverse this negative climate, set out a plan, took tough measures that many times hurt, but regained the country’s credibility and created new alliances, Papandreou continued.