Albania: Ministry of Defense sells Chinese military aircraft

TIRANA - The Ministry of Defence has announced that nine float military aircraft of the Albanian Armed Forces, Chinese manufacturing. For the sale of aircraft will be an auction which is expected to take place on Monday and will start with the initial figure of 24 million leks.

Aircraft used by former aviation school in Vlora and former aviation field in Tirana. According to the report issued in the Public Procurement Agency, Ministry of Defence intends to sell non-military aircraft for use, after finding no further use in the Armed Forces.

It is about two types of aircraft, Jak 18 Chinese manufacturing since 1971 and AN-2 aircraft produced in 1966. Jak 18 aircraft, two seater, used in aviation school for pilots' initial knowledge of the young but also in other demonstration activities, while AN-2 aircraft, with 10 seater capacity, have different functions in the armed forces.

 

Waiting for "aprovation" of the Development Plan of the Himara Municipality, without property registration process and particularly for failed of the return of the ownership properties in Ionian Coast

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Land for Sale Jale, Vlore

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Land for sale in Jale, Vlore

 

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210.00 EUR/m²

Land Size (ha): 

2.00 ha

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Jale

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AP-109

Very well positioned, near the sea with a fantastic view offered for sale four land area of 5000m … [+ More Details]each, with regular documents in Jale, Vlore. Very good investment opportunities on a residential land area. [- Fewer Details ]

 

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http://ximara.blogspot.com

A proposal for the troubled Balkans
 
http://www.antibaro.gr/node/3651
 
Constantine Holevas-Political Scientist
The Serbs now a minority in the erstwhile Serbian Kosovo-Kosovo announced that in mid-February 2012 will hold a referendum seeking autonomy in the region Mitrovitsa from the rest "state" of Kosovo. The few Serbs remaining in the historic cradle of the Serbian Orthodox Church excluded live in this enclave and do not communicate with the Albanian majority, which controls Kosovo. Interesting is the news coming from the State of Skopje. The Albanian party DPA announced that the Government of FYROM to change its constitutional name of the state to reach an agreement with Greece. Albanians constitute 30% of the population of Skopje and have virtually but not formally become autonomous in the western regions (Tetovo, Debar, Struga, etc.). Usually their positions on the issue of the name calling rather than the Greek views of these Gruevski.
In light of these developments and taking into account other volatile situations in the Balkan Peninsula we find it appropriate to point out three forms of regional autonomy, which can solve the current problems and to peacefully defuse the dynamic demands of specific ethnic communities. Clarifies that when I say I mean Wide Local Autonomy, Education, Crime and Economic Administration without changing or risk the existing borders. I believe that the opinion of the Court of International Law in favor of independent Kosovo (2010) is lanathasmeni, so it deserves to look for balancing solutions, such as three self which I propose.
First. Autonomy of Serbs in Kosovo. The Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Spain and many other countries (even as Muslim Azerbaijan) well do not recognize Kosovo as a separate state, because each country has to think about the practical consequences of its own national interests ( occupied Cyprus, Catalonia, Muslims of the Caucasus, etc.). Since, however, that other and even powerful countries like the U.S. recognize Kosovo, should all contribute to finding solutions for the survival of the Serbian Orthodox minority in the region. The bombings of 1999 were aimed supposedly multi-ethnic Kosovo and resulted in a mono-ethnic Albanian protectorate, where most Serbs are gone and the few remaining are restricted to the northern enclave, as I said. The only way to survive and not feel persecuted is to provide a form of autonomy with their own local Parliament, ease of communication with the mother Serbia, religious and educational institutions as part of their national tradition, while not preventing their participation in wider institutions in Kosovo if they want and if that is possible. The Independent this area will be protected by the UN and E. Union while UNESCO should more effectively protect Orthodox churches and Serbian monasteries that remain outside the autonomous region and have already been attacked by Albanians during the last 13 years.
Second. Autonomy of Albanians within the FYROM. Since 2001, when Albanians in Skopje took up arms, even today the famous Ohrid Agreement is an area of ​​dispute and recrimination among the Slavs (psefdomakedonon) and Albanians. The Albanians have become encouraged after U.S. support for the secession of Kosovo and to envision their secession from the FYROM and their association with his fellow countrymen, who control Kosovo. The Greater Albania has been renamed to more diplomatic Physics Albania and weapons of the rebellion of 2001 remain in caches for ... the next step. The only solution at least for the foreseeable future is clear autonomy in areas with Albanian majority within the state of FYROM. So the State would lose the character of mono-ethnic "Macedonia", as viewed today. Therefore it is easier to show that Greece arguments on the issue of the name. A bi-national or rather multi-ethnic state can not take the name that expresses a single ethnicity. "Macedonians" Slavs themselves of FYROM. The Albanians have already proposed the name Dardania serving and Greece.
Third. Autonomy of the Greeks in Northern Epirus Albanian border. All parties who ruled Albania from 1990 until today require Greece to maintain numerous Albanians, but also political genocide "low profile" in the native Greeks. If you do not become a form of autonomy or Northern Epirus, the Greeks there will be extinguished completely. Only the solution of Autonomy will provide education, property and religious rights and fair policing. Furthermore, it will create a zone of investment help from Greece to return many Northern Epirus who are currently working in Greece. Unfortunately the Albanian leaders enhance and trigger anti-Greek propaganda Chams (descendants of war criminals in 1941-44). Let them remember the Independence, which provides the Corfu Protocol of 1914, who signed it and Albania!

Albin Kurti of Self Determination: we will block border with Serbia, Albania to participate with us

TIRANA, lawmakers and activists 'self-determination' have given a press conference in Tirana, where they announced their action against the entry of Serbian products in Kosovo.

President of 'Vetvendosja', Albin Kurti said that action slogan "Serbia does not exceed", will launch on January 14, 13:00 am and departure will be from Merdare and 'White soil'.
Under Kurti action is not against people but against the policy of Serbia. Kurti said that while domestic goods are not exported to the Serbian state, Serbian or they should not enter Kosovo.
 
"On 14 January will block all border crossings that connect us with Serbia. It is an action, protest where the police should be on the side of Kosovo qyetarit. This activity is a consequence of non-compliance of the decision of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo by the Government, to establish full reciprocity in political, economic and trade against Serbia. "

Albin Kurti called on Albanians to participate in this action of 'self-determination'.
"Action is not just about the Kosovars, but the Albanians, wherever they are. The jump in defense of the Republic of Kosovo, the products of our country. Albanians invite to participate. I learned that the cities of Albania has events associated with this action, "said Kurti.

'Vetvendosja' ensures that the activity is legitimate and will be peaceful. Through it, Defends Self-Determination of the Assembly of Kosovo, considering it as mandatory for the government, after coming from the highest decision making body of the Republic

Gafurr Adili joins Red and Black Alliance

SKOPJE-Albanian National Union Front, led by former ANA spokesman, Gafurr Adili, will join the Red & Black Alliance.

"Despite all our efforts nationally, for a thousand and one reasons, we have reached our goal: the unification of all Albanian patriotic forces in a single formation of Albanian nationwide.

Therefore, I think that the next meeting of Council of Albanian National Union Front Nationwide, that will keep on March 31, 2012 in Kukes, jointly decide to join the disabled FDBK (the Red & Black Alliance.), "said Adil on Agency INA.

"Front was the first flower in the revival of national consciousness for national reunification of the Albanians and Albania History. And this should be front row of the first flower of unification of all Albanian patriotic organizations of the Red & Black Alliance.".

Greek Consul: "Census, Albanian matter"

  Top Channel TV

The newly appointed Greek Consul in Gjirokaster considered the Census held recently as a completely Albanian matter.

After meeting the local administration in Albania, consul Nikos Kotrokois declared that the role of the Greek Consulate in Gjirokaster will serve to the improvement of the relations between the two countries and Albania’s EU integration.

“I am sure that the Greek Consulate will support the joint efforts of both countries for reinforcing the cooperation in culture, education, heritage, tourism and other sectors of transfrontier interest. The Albanian citizens of Greek nationality are a connecting bridge that brings our countries even closer”.

The Consul also answered to the questions about the Greek position for the population registration in Albania.

“The Population Registration is an Albanian matter, and it is up to the Albanian citizens, including the Greek minority, to decide if they will participate in the Census or not. We support every democratic initiative in the country”, the Consul declared.

Tadić: Solution for Kosovo lies in international arena

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Serbian President Boris Tadić says the Kosovo problem needs a creative solution that would satisfy interests of Serbs, Albanians and interests of great powers.

Boris Tadić

“We need to find allies in this process. This problem has been internationalized and so we need to find a solution in the international field. The Kosovo issue is essentially decided by the great powers, the members of the Security Council, plus Germany,” Tadić told weekly Nedeljnik.
He said that some of the different solutions that had been proposed in the past, such as substantial autonomy or partition, were either outdated or did not have the support of key players in the international community.

“Now we have to consider other solutions - the models of Northern Ireland, South Tyrol, Aland Islands, or some solutions from the territory of former Yugoslavia,” the president was quoted as saying.

The solution, he said, must contain four essential points: in particular, a solution for the administration of Serb monasteries and monastic complexes, special guarantees for the Serbs in the enclaves, regulations regarding the property of Serb citizens and the state of Serbia, and especially a solution for northern Kosovo.

“Those who decide about Kosovo do not want a frozen conflict, and this would not be good for us anyway. We have to take our solution before those who decide on such matters in the international arena. I talked about it with all key parties in Serbia and we all had a high level of agreement, except with the SRS (Serb Radical Party) and the DSS (Democratic Party of Serbia). However, now is not the time for internal debates, but rather a time to check how viable the solution that we have in mind can be before the key actors of the international community,” stressed Tadić.

“Serbia cannot achieve its interests in Kosovo without alliances at the international level, and these interests have been suspended in the international arena after the 1990's,” he added.

“Because of the errors and crimes in which were our countrymen were among the actors, our country has for years been the pillar of shame and has had to struggle for the legitimization of its national interests,” Tadić pointed out.

“Now, in the new and difficult circumstances, Serbia can no longer wait and has to protect its interests in the international arena,” the president explained.

Turkey Heavily Penalised in Greek-Cypriot Human Rights Case

January 11, 2012 | Filed under: Geopolitics

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has awarded heavy damages to Constantinos G. Lordos and others in their claim that their human rights were violated because of the loss of use of their property after the Turkish invasion in 1974 and the continuing occupation of north Cyprus.

Under the ECHR ruling Turkey must pay damages of between 100,000 to 8 million euros to each of the 13 Greek Cypriot applicants for moral and material damages, while the same decision forced Turkey to pay 15,000 Euros for legal costs.

The case concerned the allegation by 13 applicants that the Turkish occupation of the northern part of Cyprus had deprived them of their homes and properties. They relied in particular on Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (protection of property) and Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life).

The court issued a rule in favour of the applicants on November 2nd 2010 saying that Turkey had violated Article 1 for eight of the applicants; and had violated Article 8 for seven of the applicants but failed to award any damages then because “the parties had failed to provide reliable and objective data pertaining to the prices of land and real estate in Cyprus at the date of the Turkish intervention.”

The Court had dismissed by six votes to one Turkey’s preliminary objections that the applicants had not exhausted domestic remedies and that they had “lack of victim status”.

Constantinos Lordos was seeking 34.4 million Euros in damages for 69 properties he owns in north Cyprus. His claims reflected an amount for loss of use plus annual interest.

Pirro Dimas: I'm Greek, and this all the world knows

With George Goro, feel friends, but I never said that I am Albanian.

  After the recent debates about the placement of his name in the list of "notables" Himare and more, to put the quotation in his mouth that "My children have Albanian blood," Pirro Dimas in an exclusive interview for "Gazeta Shqiptare" confesses the truth of this statement and its relationship with the current head of the Municipality Himara, George Goro.

Pirro Dimas, weightlifter 4 time Olympic medalist, said she has never stated that his children are Albanian blood. "I've never told my children have Albanian blood and I've said many times that I am Greek and I am part of the minority. I am Greek and I always so ", - says Dimas.

He further added that Goro George relations are very good and often communicate between them.

The greek newspaper "Proinos Logos"

Sali Berisha and Edi Rama, togather for "The Greater Albania"


First challenge the unity between in Northern .. The Greek Foreign Ministry deal more with these national issues 

Each level tends to overcome the challenges of the Albanians against the Northern Epirus and Greece recently. Only unlike the past, most of these challenges do not come ... in broad terms by "various nationalist circles", but by particular individuals, organizations and even political parties in power! ..The Northern rightly feel uncomfortable by the tense climate that prevails, especially after the population census conducted in October and has since intensified continuously.  

Already in the list of names ... the challenges against them (and all minorities in the neighboring country) has entered even the socialist opposition leader Edi Rama, who back the idea of ​​"Greater Albania" and reflection creates the silent held by the Prime Minister of Albania and leader of the Democratic Party Sali Berisha.

The ... want it all!Now, this list was added and the nationalist organization "Red and Black Alliance", which in May will be turned into a political party! Indeed, as defiantly proclaiming executives, Albania extends Epirus, northwestern Greece, Florina and Kastoria (!), Regions where, according to the absurd claims of extreme nationalists in Albania, "bloodthirsty Greeks did ethnic cleansing of the Chams' !

Moreover, brutally twisting historical fact, reach a point to emphasize that these areas are unfairly attached to the Greek state in 1913 by the Council of Ambassadors........continues...... 


more in gree leanguage: www.proinos Logos"

Ioannis Michaletos interview to newspaper Pravda in Serbia

"In case of a regional conflict it is certain that Turkey will support the “great Albania” plans. But I have to say, that it is not certain that Turkey will actually gain control of the Bondsteel base"

Interview to the journalist Dragan Basovic for newspaper Pravda in Belgrad

 -Is an agreeement between Belgrade and Pristina possible?

An agreement is very difficult under present conditions. I think it will take several years before even an “interim” agreement takes place, let along a final one. It is very difficult for Belgrade to agree in loss of its national terrritory and on the other hand the Albanians do not want really to negotiate anything, for the time being.

- The Serbian government decided to enable freedom of movement on the Northern municipality. Local authorities of the region rejected what the government in Belgrade decided and said that they will have referendum about the authorities of Prisitna. Where their reactions lead into?

This is a crucial development and it seems that for sure in 2012 there will be more trouble in the North of Kosovo. Also one should take into account the expanding role of Germany in the region plus the American plans and the Russian ambitions. I believe there is still potential for conflict in that particular area. Also it is likely that there is going to be a clash between Kosovo-Serbs and the current Serbian goverment.

- The way the international community insists on a quick solution for Kosovo? Is it linked with the Serbian candidacy for the EU and early elections in Kosovo?

The Germans for sure have linked a final solution in Kosovo with EU’s acceptance of Serbia. About the rest of the “international communitiy” is not so certain. Moreover it has to be noted that in 2012 a lot of important developments are expected across Europe due to the ongoing financial crisis, therefore the issue of Kosovo will be used as a pretext so as not to accept Serbia or other Western Balkan countries into the EU, that has a lot of difficulties operating.

 -Kosovo’s acting President Jakup Krasniqi has met chiefs of assembly groups in the to discuss how to pull Kosovo out of its institutional crisis.Is political unstability in Pristina good for Serbs regarding the North of the Eparchy?

It is good as long as Belgrade has a strategic plan

 - Is Greece in danger if situation on North Kosovo gets out of from control?

Greece monitors situation in Kosovo closely because it always suspects a destabilization in the whole of the Balkans, plus it monitors potential Turkish reaction in the region and Albanian moves towards a potential “Great Albania plans”. Currently the issue is not high in the Greek foreign policy agenda, but it is always assessed by diplomatic and political authorities, as well as military ones, due to the presence of Greek soldiers there.

- German company Mercedes will leave Kosovo beecause of coruption.What does this mean?

This is a very interesting development that I assume it is realted to the “under the scenes” conflict for influence in Kosovo between the Americans and the Germans. This antagonism started years ago and still goes on and it is related also to business interests and companies competition between these two countries

-Military base Bondsteell will be, after the withdrawl of USA soldiers, under Turkish control. What do you think about that?

This means in most respects that Turkey will play a more active political role in the Western Balkans. But dont be sure that eventually Turkish military will have full control. It is more likely that there are going to be changes and finally US Army will remain and retain most of the control.

 -What will be the main task of the Turkish soldiers in Bondsteel? Is this related to the Great Albania project?

In case the Turkish Amry seizes control of the base (Something which is not certain), then this will benefit of course the Albanian side, since both countries have develop strong links over the past years. In case of a regional conflict it is certain that Turkey will support the “great Albania” plans. But I have to say, that it is not certain that Turkey will actually gain control of the Bondsteel base.

Mysterious visit of George Goro, in Washington

The famous actor Spiro Duni, appointed as the new Cultural Director  of the Himara Municipality


It is not clear, the agenda of the visit of the Mayor of Himara, George Goro, in Washington, but sources by Washington, sent to SManalysis, the first visit in USA of the Mayor of Himara, is very interesting and very cloused.

The visit comes after several meetings  under non-transparent of Himara Mayor, between the Albanian policy leaders, including Prime Minister Sali Berisha and opposition leader Edi Rama, for the future of Himara Region and Master Development Plans for the Ionian Coast of area.

  The Himara Community, especially that of the Diaspora, in Unitet State of America, in which, the community, constitutes the strongest part and the weight of vision Himara Region, in the future, has criticized irresponsibility on the issue of property, that the Albanian government and political leaders, have promises to Himara, to resolve the issue of properties in which it has a glorious history of 2600 years, and any violation of its territory, will lead to unexpected developments.

The Himara Municipality, still being discussed even after 6 months of activity, establishing a website, at the same time, by the Municipality Cousil, have taken decisions which is in conflict with the interests of the Diaspora and the right of ownership.

The Himara Community, represents several thousand members, most of them from large families who migrated in several stages, but particularly after the persecution of the dictatorship and flows of migrants after 1990 years. 

The famous actor Spiro Duni, appointed in the culture sector in the Himara Municipality

The Director and actor very known in Albania, Spiro Duni, was appointed by George Goro, as the Director of the cultural section of  the Himara Municipality.

Selection is worth doing, for the fact that Duni, the father of famous singer Elina Duni, who has migrated for a long time in the USA, finded support all Himara factors and Communityes.

Elina Duni 

(born March 1981, Tirane, Albania) is a Swiss-Albanian jazz singer.

Born in Tirana, Albania, in 1981 during the Communist regime, in an artist family,her mother Bessa Myftiu and grandfather Mehmet Myftiu are writers, and her father Spiro Duni is an actor and theatre director, Elina Duni makes her first steps on stage as a singer at the age of five and begins studying the violin. From 1986 to 1991, she participates in several children’s festivals and sings for the National Albanian Radio and Television. In 1992 she settled in Geneva, Switzerland along with her mother.
Between 2004 and 2008 she studied singing and composition at the Hochschule der Künste in Bern, in the jazz department. During this time she develops the Elina Duni Quartet with Colin Vallon on piano, Patrice Moret on double bass and Norbert Pfammatter on drums, which represents a return to her musical sources, a combination of Balkans folk songs and jazz.
In 2008 the CD Baresha, the first album of the Elina Duni Quartet, was released on Meta Records. This first musical departure with her quartet received marvelous acclaims from the German and Swiss press and is followed by European tours and festivals.
In February 2010 the second album of the Quartet Lume, Lume (World, World) was released on Meta Records and receives great acclaim from the Swiss, German, Austrian and French Press. The band tours in Switzerland, Germany, France and the Balkans.

TURKEY AS A REGIONAL POWER: NEO-OTTOMANISM IN ACTION

Dr. Srdja Trifkovic (An expert on foreign affairs, is the author of The Sword of the Prophet and Defeating Jihad. His latest book is The Krajina Chronicle: A History of the Serbs in Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia) Copyright: www.rieas.gr Over the past decade Prime Minister Rejep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government and his AKP (Justice and Development Party) have been successful in undermining Mustafa Kemal’s legacy and the character of the state founded upon that legacy. What remained, until the 2010 referendum on constitutional amendments, was an increasingly empty shell of constitutional secularism. That shell was nevertheless an obstacle to the formal grounding of the new legitimacy in Islam at home and neo-Ottomanism abroad. Erdoğan and his team were determined to remove such vestiges, however, and on September 12, 2010, they succeeded. On that day Turkey’s voters approved, by a large margin, a 26-article package which ended the role of the Army as the guardian of secularism. In 2011 Erdoğan was duly reelected with a substantial majority for a third term. Davutoglu’s Strategic Depth What has become known as Turkey’s neo-Ottoman strategy became prominent with the appointment of Ahmet Davutoglu as foreign minister in 2009. As Erdogan’s long-term foreign policy advisor, he advocated diversifying Turkey’s geopolitical options by creating Turkish zones of influence in the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Middle East. On the day of his appointment Davutoglu asserted that Turkey’s influence in “its region” will continue to grow: Turkey had an “order-instituting role” in the Middle East, the Balkans and the Caucasus, he declared, quite apart from its links with the West. In Davutoglu’s own words, Turkish foreign policy has evolved from being “crisis-oriented” to being based on “vision”: “Turkey is no longer a country which only reacts to crises, but notices the crises before their emergence and intervenes in the crises effectively, and gives shape to the order of its surrounding region.” He asserted that Turkey had a “responsibility to help stability towards the countries and peoples of the regions which once had links with Turkey” — thus referring to the Ottoman era, in a manner unimaginable only a decade ago: “Beyond representing the 70 million people of Turkey, we have a historic debt to those lands where there are Turks or which was related to our land in the past. We have to repay this debt in the best way.”.......more see:www.rieas.gr

After the Census, Tirana wants to penalize the leader of the Greek community in Korce

Boboshtica case ", the Court of Appeal 1 year jail's head OMONIA

Korca-Court of Appeal has upheld the decision of the court of Korca to Omonia head Naum Dishon, scandal concerning the "violation of tombs" in Boboshticë, while for both workers Alqi Koroveshi and Luan Zaçe gave conditional sentence freedom.

The the issue was happened in October of 2010-es, when the some villagers denounced the "violation of graves of their ancestors", in order to build a memorial to the fallen Greek soldiers during the Italian-Greek war of 40 years.

According to residents in those graves had no Greek soldier buried. Prosecutor began investigating immediately, and file with the defendant's head OMONIA in Korca and 2 workers were sent to the Court, about a month later, in November 2010.

Dishon has one month to appeal to the High Court.

Presente, during the trial seance, was also the greek represent of Consulate in Korca.

Man of K. Albanian origin planned terror attacks

Source: Tanjug

TAMPA -- A 25-year-old Kosovo Albanian, now a naturalized U.S. citizen, has been arrested in Florida for planning to commit terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.

The suspect was identified as Sami Osmakac.
Shortly before he was arrested, Osmakac recorded "an 8-minute farewell video message", in which he said he would carry out a massacre as retaliation for the crimes committed against Muslims.

The man is seen in the video sitting with a pistol in his hand, while an AK-47 assault rifle is seen in the background.

Osmakac several months ago contacted an FBI informant in a bid to buy weapons and explosives in order to attack night clubs, stores and a radio station in Tampa, Florida.

On December 21, he met with an FBI agent working under cover, and handed him over USD 500 as a down-payment to buy an AK-47s and an Uzi rifle, as well as a hand grenade and an explosives belt.

The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement that the suspect asked the agent to help him manufacture three home-made bombs that he planned to plant in three vehicles and activate remotely.

Osmakac expressed his desire to plant explosives in a location frequented by many people, and to take hostages.

"Honestly, I'd like to enter a military base, but they're so closed that I must think of something else," the man was quoted as saying.

According to the authorities, he planned to leave the area "with ruined economy, without food, with people unable to reach work", by blowing up bridges that connect Tampa with a nearby county.

Executive Director of the Council for U.S.-Islamic Relations Hasan Shibli, who is also a lawyer working in Tampa, said he met with Osmakac briefly last summer, and describes him as someone "who knows nothing about the Islamic religion, doesn't speak Arabic, and knows nothing about the bases of Islamic teachings that promote peace".

Osmakac is now in custody without the possibility to be released on bail. If found guilty on just one count of the indictment against him, he could spend life in prison.

Meanwhile, U.S. reporters contacted his brother, who lives in a small town near Tampa, and runs a bakery called "Balkans".

The man claimed that accusations against his brother were "false", and that he was "innocent".

PM Berisha: Balkans need still US and NATO presence

Prime Minister Sali Berisha met today the ambassador of the USA to Albania, H.E. Alexander A. Arvizu. Ambassador Arvizu positively assessed Albania role as a worthy and active member of the North Atlantic Alliance in the operations that the NATO has undertaken in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere in fight against terrorism and for protection of peace and global stability. In this context, he acquainted PM Berisha with the new Strategy of Defense of the USA as presented few days ago by President Barack Obama. Ambassador Arvizu focused on the main directions of the strategy carrying a great commitment of the USA in Asia, the continuation of commitment via partnership in the Middle East and the fundamental importance that Europe and NATO has in the global strategy of the USA. PM Berisha thanked Ambassador Arvizu for the presentation of the new U.S. Defense Strategy and positively assessed its main directions. In this context, the prime minister appreciated as important for peace and stability in the world the greater focus of the strategy on Asia. While appreciating highly the U.S. and the NATO role in Europe in the solution of the conflicts in the South-East European region over the last two decades, the prime minister highlighted the importance of continuation of the USA and NATO presence in the region, as a condition for ensuring peace, stability and democratic development. The prime minister reiterated the maximum commitment of the government of Albania to fulfillment of its obligations in the framework of the NATO and side by side with its strategic ally, the USA wherever it is necessary. 09/01/2012

Short break ideas for 2012Fancy a fine art holiday in Vienna or Boston, Francis Ford Coppola's latest hotel in Italy, or wild clubbing in Sweden? Here are eight unusual 2012 trips

Butrint, Albania

On 31 March, easyJet (easyjet.com) launches a twice-weekly service to Corfu (from £70 return) from Luton. Of course the Ionian island has much to recommend it in itself, but it's also the gateway to Butrint, a few miles across the sea on the Albanian coast. A Unesco World Heritage site at the heart of a huge national park, the remains of this 2,500-year-old Roman city form one of Europe's greatest, yet least visited archaeological sites, with a splendid Greco-Roman temple. Boats leave the port at Corfu Town for the city of Saranda at 9.15am, returning at 5.30pm (ionian-cruises.com).

[LINK]

Click to View Photo Slideshow

Top Value Destination: Albanian Riviera

Unsung, undeveloped and eminently affordable, the Albanian Riviera has all the natural attractions of its Croatian counterpart further north but without the crowds and considerable expense. Here you have white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and Mediterranean villages barely changed since long before King Zog.

A coastal road, reconstructed in 2009, allows you a relaxed and jaw-dropping drive from the Llogara National Park in the north to Lukovë, close to Corfu, in the south.

The black pines and Bulgarian firs of Llogara is where Caesar pursued Pompey the Great. Golden eagles and griffon vultures still fly overhead today, above chamois and European wildcats. Paragliding and hiking provide peaceful recreation in a landscape dotted with lemon groves, olive plantations, and castles built by medieval Sultans intent on taking Corfu. Spit-roasted lamb and honey tea, perhaps sourced within earshot, provide memorable sustenance.

Borsh is considered the warmest spot in Albania. Romans, Greeks and Venetians scrapped for its three-mile-long beach, the longest on Albania's Ionian coast. The Greeks stayed put in Himarë, a sleepy hamlet of authentic tavernas, Orthodox churches and a bizarre dialect of archaic Greek no longer spoken in Athens. This is genuinely Greece as it once was.

In nearby verdant Qeparo, Greeks and Albanians live amid olive groves planted before Napoleon, positioned above a beautiful beach you'll barely have to share.

For real isolation, swim between the four Ksamili Islands just south of Sarandë in Albania's extreme southwest, blessed with a beachside bar, maybe two. From the littoral you could walk to Greece but, then again... why would you?

LINK: http://ximara.blogspot.com/2012/01/t-2012-guardian-frommers.html 

 "Top Channel":Tadic's difficult visit

The Decan Monastery hosted the annual guest, the Serbian President Boris Tadic, while his arrival was followed by harsh protests and clashes with the EULEX.

Although the Serbian President’s visit was announced as with a religious character, Tadic gave political messages and declared that Serbia will never recognize Kosovo, violating this way the conditions through which he was allowed to enter the country.

“Nothing else can be said in this place, because this Monastery is a holy place not only for the people that visit Kosovo, our country, but this is also our common European space. From Kosovo and Metiohija, I wish merry Christmas to everyone, without ethnic distinctions. From this holy place I wish only peace”, Tadic declared.

The Serbian President also gave a political declaration, even threatening, by declaring for the Serbian media that he will never remove the Serbian parallel institutions in Kosovo.

According to him, many powerful states, members of the UN Security Council, are pressuring Serbia to remove these institutions from Kosovo, but this will not happen.

Together with the Serbian delegation, in this ceremony were present the KFOR commander, Erhard Drews, the head of EULEX, Xavier Bout de Marnhac, the EU representative in Kosovo, Ferdinando Gentilini, and other representatives of the diplomatic body, among them the US Ambassador, Christopher Dell.