| 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 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 |
Monday, April 26, 2010
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.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
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 newsUnited 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.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
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 GreeceSure 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?
Friday, April 23, 2010
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
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.
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.
EU: Bosnia, Albania Need to Work More for Visa Free Travel
Brussels 23 April 2010 By Gjeraqina Tuhina
European CommissionBalkan Insight has obtained a copy of an EU assessment of the progress made by Albania and Bosnia in the implementation of the roadmap for visa liberalisation, which indicates that whilst both countries have made progress in meeting benchmarks, more effort is needed.
Although there is a chance that Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina might receive a positive recommendation from Brussels on the implementation of a visa free travel regime, Tirana and Sarajevo should not rest on their laurels as more work is needed before agreement is reached.
Without further progress, the two countries may well have to wait longer and will probably not enjoy visa free travel in time for the summer holidays, as they had initially hoped. The report, prepared by EU experts, guages the level of progress of both Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in meeting the necessary requirements for the visa liberalisation process.
The European Commission was expected to deliver a positive recommendation at the end of May or the beginning of June but according to the experts’ report, further conditions will need to be met before such approval can be given.
The report was sent to EU member states last Friday and it underlines that both countries have met the “majority of benchmarks from the roadmap” that would enable them to be put on the “White Schengen” list - countries whose citizens do not require a visa to travel within the zone.
Last year, both countries were judged to have failed to meet the necessary conditions and were excluded from first wave countries in the region, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia which were added to the “White Schengen” list. ....
more see;
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/analysis/27572/
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
| TERRORISTS, "OLD" AND "NEW" |
 Active since 2003, Revolutionary Struggle moved quickly beyond what "old" Greek terrorist were able or willing to do. For the first time in Greek domestic terrorism annals, large ANFO bombs exploded in the middle of Athens causing serious damage but thankfully no casualties. Revolutionary Struggle fired military rifles at police with complete abandon. In January 2007, a Revolutionary Struggle "stick" launched an anti-tank rocket at the American embassy in Athens -- causing little damage but establishing strong symbolic credentials with Greek and foreign security and intelligence agencies..... more see: www.rieas.gr |
Albanian PM: Kosovo factor of stability
TIRANA - Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that “independent Kosovo has become an essential factor for stability and peace in the Balkans”
He said that the participation of Serbs in the last Kosovo elections is further proof of a high level of democratic standards achieved in Kosovo.
According to his cabinet, “during a meeting with Kosovo Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni in Tirana the two officials talked about expanding and deepening the already excellent relations between Albania and Kosovo in all fields, especially in economy, trade, culture and Euro-Atlantic integrations”.
Berisha proposed that a feasibility study should begin for a large national project of building a railway between “the two countries”.
Hyseni informed Berisha of the activities and measures of the Kosovo government and all other institutions in Priština, said reports.
Greece, ready to recognize minorities!
In recognition of dangerous roads or even Turkish Macedonians minority in Greece, leading a curious correspondence between the Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe Thomas Hamarmpergk and ministers Mich. Christohoides. The Commissioner says that we should resolve the matter of the citizens it claims live in Greece and abroad have been deprived of Greek citizenship under Article 19 of the same name code.
In the same letter, the Commissioner stated that a discussion he had with George Papandreou on the issue of recognition of minorities in Greece and the necessity of signing the Convention of the Council of State for Minorities, Papandreou replied that it is consistent that the signature This contract is a "positive tool"!
Chrisochoïdis and C. Kastanidis is anything but prevent its minorities. They say, however, that the only recognized under international treaties minority in Greece is the Muslim minority in Thrace, but add: It is ongoing processes of the decision of the ECHR on the "Turkish Union of Xanthi" and pending further consideration to applications for recognition of three Muslim groups in the region of Komotini.
Recalled that the same commissioner during the three years 2006 - 2009 had sent similar letters to the then Minister Pr. Pavlopoulos, who refused to answer, just anticipating the risk if such an open dialogue with him ...
more see: http://www.paron.gr/v3/new.php?id=53134&colid=&catid=42&dt=2010-04-18%200:0:0
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