"KATHIMERINI":
THE RISE OF ATIHELLENISM IN ALBANIA

by Stavros Tzimas
Photo: PM Berisha and the journalist Stavros Tzimas

About the killing of Pyrros Bollanos and the reaction of albanians claiming anti hellenism rethoric.

«We all have to kill a Greek», writes one of anonimous on albanian blog newspapers. Another, addressed to the offender, says that «if kills the Greek mayor of Himarras would you were the new Georg Kastriot» (NB: the national hero of the Albanians) and a third party stated that «good Greek is the Greek dead»

read more about the "Kathimerini" Comment (in greek):

http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_columns_1_16/05/2008_270111

Security News Albania.

VLORA`S PERSECUTOR "URGES TO ARREST" THE MAYOR OF HIMARA VASSILIS BOLLANOS

Against the Chairman of the Greek Ethnic Minority also the Mayor of Himara Vassilis Bollanos "are opened some accuses linked politically" particularly the last incident during a violence protest of people of Himara against Police Department and other with his presence as the head of Himara Region.

According to information from Attorney’s Office in Vlora, against Bollanos there are some of accuses which may be to go in arrest next days the Chairman of Omonia “The Greek Ethnic Minority”, motivated as a precedent very spoken by Albanian media.

In fact the tentative to “arrest Vassilis Bollanos is the extreme measure” of Albanian national strategy supported usually by Albanian media accused hem as “Greek Extremist who works against Albanian national interest, parallelizing the Kosovo Independence with Northern Epirus Issue”.

An initiative by attorney’s office against Chairman of Greek Community of Albania is more important to understand the strong pressing which is using by Albanian opinion, when Albania is going to make General Counting Population, which is requested by “Omonia”.

An effort to send in prison the Head of Greek Community and Mayor of Himara Municipality would rise the World Opinion, Hellenic Diaspora and Bruxelles for the Human Rights violated in Albania, remembering the Trial against five member of Omonia in 1994 and the clash between Greek Albanian relations.

The Attorney’s Office and the Tribunal of Vlora, four years ago denied five himara`s citizen with Greek origin under the accuse of violence against the “National Albanian symbols”.

Regarding the possible arrest of Mayor of Himara, Bollano there are some questions to make:

Which would be the reaction of Omonia and the Greek Minority?
Which would be the justification of Tirana regarding Human Rights of Greeks in Albania?
Which would be the reaction of Athens and international institutions including Bruxeles and Washington regarding the methods used by Albanian institutions against the universal human rights?

THE EVOLVING BALKAN SCENERY AND THE “GREEK CONNECTION”

Ioannis Michaletos(RIEAS Analyst)

Copyright: http://www.rieas.gr/

The Balkans Peninsula has claimed the fame numerously in history as the “Tinderbox of Europe”, the “Soft underbelly of Europe” and its inhabitants were accused that they “produce more history than they can consume”. The previous quotes are apt oral depictions of the significance of this Peninsula for the European affairs. The developments over the past period have proved once again that global players tend to filter their tactics in the Balkans and in the process gain or loose significantly.

The summer of 2007 witnessed the dynamic tour de force of President Bush in Albania and Bulgaria, claiming the forthcoming entrance of NATO well into the Western Balkans and the turn of the balance between USA and Russia. In parallel, Moscow prepared itself and retaliated with a series of transnational energy agreements that saw the commission of a 4 billion nuclear power plant by Sofia, the drafting of plans for a new “South Stream” gas pipeline and the imminent sale of the main state energy corporation of Serbia to Gazprom.

more: http://rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=638&Itemid=56

Ioannis Michaletos Editor South East EuropeCoordinator of Southeastern European OfficeWorld Security Network Foundation Ioannis Michaletos has been educated in the UK in the fields of Political Science (BA) and HRM (MSc). He is occupied as an indepedent journalist-analyst for Greek & international media.He is a Balkan security analyst for the RIEAS institute and a correspondent analyst for ISRIA a security assessment agency. He speaks Greek, English, and French and has a passive knowledge of Italian.

"in memorian"

HIMARIOTES FIGHTERS JOINT TO THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST AXIS FORCES, ITALY 1944.

Photo: January 1945, Volos Greece. Himariotes fighters jointed to the greek army to liberate Volos by nazifashists.

After escaped from Himara Region embarked on British Warships, the team composed by strong 22 men, all from Himara Region, left Albania to joint to the International Brigade “Rimini” in Italy.

This document is a historically moment when a small group men from the Himara Region known as one of the Greek Minority Group of Balkan who collaborated with international forces against Axis taken part of International Brigade inside Greek Company for the liberation of Italian city “Rimini” by Axis forces.

After Rimini, the Himara`s Team contributed fighting to liberate the Southern Italian city of Taranto and after in Greece participated to liberate the Greek city of Volos.

The photo is an authentic historic document which the Albanian Government since 1944 never has been liked to know the honorific contribut of the hellenic community of Himara, the only represent of Albania to fight togather with wester international forces. This is a historical manifest which tells for the collaboration together with American and British troops during WWS of a group represent of the region most persecuted by Albanian Dictature such as Himara and the Hellenic population.

The photo is published to remember the anniversary of British troops to fights against fascists of Axis in Albania during the summer of 1944 in Himara Region.

Photo: British troops in Kakomea, Himara Region May 1944


Member of "himara fighters" on "Rimini Brigade"

Kimon Bollanos, Terkos Bollanos, Athanasios Bollanos, Damianos Beleris, Georgios Burbos, Spryros Buntinis, Miltiadis Goros, Petros Goros, Eriststeas Gkionis, Xristos Lazaris, Axilleas Milos, Kostas Kokavesis, Dimos Kokavesis, Alekos Karzis, Spiros Tsouras, Basileos Vitos, Pavlos Veizis, Georgos Zotos, Dimitreos Papos, Miltiadis Rondos, Kristos Dimas, Spyros Veizis.
Himariotes who fighted on the greek naval forces:

Nikolas Gionis, Aferinos Bontinis, Ilias Kolilas, Manolis Ramos, Kostas Rondos, Kostas Krekos, Jason Kutulas, Panos Lazaris, Viktor Brigos Kristos Likokas.

Albanian leader survives assassination in Macedonia

SKOPJE, May 12 (Reuters) - Shots were fired at a convoy in Macedonia carrying ethnic Albanian opposition leader Ali Ahmeti during election campaigning on Monday, but he was unhurt, police said.

The attack took place near the western town of Tetovo, as Ahmeti toured villages ahead of a June 1 parliamentary election. It followed a string of violent incidents linked to a fierce battle for the ethnic Albanian vote between Ahmeti's Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) and the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA).

"This was an assassination attempt," said senior DUI campaign official Izet Mexhiti. He blamed followers of the DPA. Police said they had detained one person suspected of involvement in the shooting. One person was slightly wounded. The DPA is part of the outgoing ruling coalition led by conservative Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of the VMRO-DPMNE. The government collapsed in April after Greece blocked the country's bid to join NATO in a years-long dispute over the name of the former Yugoslav republic.

Ahmeti led an insurgency against government forces in 2001, before Western powers mediated a peace accord offering the 25 percent Albanian minority greater rights. Having entered politics, Ahmeti was frozen out of government by Gruevski in 2006. The West is watching closely for any sign of renewed tension, having only just steered ethnic Albanians in neighbouring Kosovo to independence from Serbia.

Previous elections in Macedonia have been marred by campaign violence and voting irregularities, something the European Union says Skopje must stamp out in order to progress towards membership of the bloc. (Reporting by Kole Casule; writing by Matt Robinson)

Security News Albania.

EX MEMBER OF “SHIK” (ALBANIAN SECRET SERVICE) NOMINATED HIGH REPRESENT OF TAX ADMINISTRATION.

The Albanian newspaper “Shqip” writes as "head argoment" about the nomination actually in high Taxes Directorate Administration of Albania the ex officials of SHIK (Albanian Secret Service, during period 1992 – 1996). The newspaper accuses Prime Minister Sali Berisha who uses “mysterious methods” to oblige the Albanian “business to pay the taxes” controlling Albanian private economic initiative by ex his espionages administrate headed by Bashkim Gazidede.

The nomination of “Bashkim Gazidede`s Guard” as high represents of SHIK (Albanian Secret Service 1992 - 1996) to control the Albanian public finances has been observed strongly by foreign intelligences including CIA, M16 and EYP which operate in Albania based under antiterrorism operations in the area. Gazidede and his team in SHIK known not only for anti American tendencies but also linked with Islamic radical groups actually have penetrated supported by Prime Minister Berisha inside to important Albanian administration.

Gazidede is nominated as V/General Director of Albanian Priopriety Real Estate Administrate. On March 1997 in albanian parliament he accused Washington and CIA as protagonist which provocked the colaps pyramidal shemes and the "Civil War" between northern (Gheghs) and Southern (Tosks) in Albania. During his activity in head of SHIK he was elected as the President of Islamic Intelectual Community of Albania.

The bussines community and associations in Albania paticularly the Greek Investiments and the Greek Community has been target by administratores headed by "Gazidede Group" since the interference of greek government to Tirana was imediately.

Three days ago the head of Albania’s General Directorate of Taxes, Arben Sefgjini, who previously served as the head of Tirana’s Secret Service Office, SHIK, and three of his former colleagues Budion Mece, Avni Kolladashi and Ilir Kumbaro have been charged with the torture and murder of Macedonian-Albanian, Remzi Hoxha in 1995. The four former SHIK officers are accused of abducting Remzi Hoxha, Zizo Kristopoli and Avdyl Loshaj on October 21, 1995.

RADICAL ISLAMIC MAN MENACES HIGH REPRESENT OF ALBANIAN POLITIC OPOSIT

Photo: "Panorama Newspaper and the letter sent to "Vizion Plus TV"

The newspaper “Panorama” publics as sensational news a message by a radical Islamic man “anonym” addressed to important personalities of Albania.

The Member of Albanian Parliament Ben Blushi as author of the book “Living in Island” has been menaced by a letter sent to the author of best known emission “Zone e Lire” the journalist Arian Cani of “Vizion Plus” a TV Private station.

The author a radical Islamic menaces the journalist Cani to take in consideration the responsible of the offenses against “Allah” or to be died. The menaces also target the author of the book “Living in Islands” the politician Ben Blushi.

On the list of radical Islamic menaces have been also the publicist Piro Misha, the architect Piro Velo and other personalities of Albania, all of orthodox religion.

Albania, the country known by the most dictature regim of europe, is liveing a dangeros period not only to the politic stabillity, organized crime and corruption but more important is the pseudo "religios harmony" which never has not showed the reality of sentiments between muslym and christian population.

Security News Albania

CIA INQUIRES “HIMARA MONSTROUS CASE”

Photo: The monster Bledi Xhaferri

According to information, the Department Section of CIA in Albania is inquiring the “Himara Monstrous Case” when some days ago the “monster” named Bledi Xhaferri massacred the pensioner, 74 old Pyrros Bollanos.

The information taken from Vlora Police Department when is isolated the “monster” Bledi Xhaferri 24 old, said for a team composted by foreign experts of CIA anti terrorism group and other psychologist who met hem and actually are analyzing the raisons of killer to make the most horror killing of the country.

The team may investigate to the some directions, such are both Islamic and ethnic reasons, which should be provoked dangerous incidents between ethnic populations.

Intensively inquiring for specially “Himara Case” is making also the Greek antiterrorism section in Northern Greece Ioanina Prefecture for control of the borders with Southern Albania. Greece has expressed to the Albanian Government to have “under attention” paramilitaries groups and other extremist segments which provoked incidents to the Greek Ethnic Community, particularly in Himara Region.

PRESS CONFERENCE OF HIMARA COMMUNITY IN GREECE ABOUT THE KILLING OF PYRROS BOLANOS IN HIMARA

NEWS BULLETIN

ATHENS: On the morning of Tuesday 6 May 2008, compatriot our Pyrros Bolanos, was killed by an Albanian horror killer named Bledi Xhaferri.

The killer killed after a brutal manner, without any cause of the unfortunate himariotis Pyrros Bollanos, came on the road killing brutally hem the passers-by eventually be arrested by the police. The Union of Himariotes in Athens expresses its deepest condolences to the family and their relatives of victim. Following the incident express our concern about the dozens of Albanians who annually come to Himara with a reason to work.

The police authorities are obligated to inquire towards those dangerous incidents which happened in Himara periodically terrorizing the Hellenic population. So nobody is in a position to know some element of their origin, life and the reasons that led to their migration.

We believe that the murder of a Greek Himariotis by an Albanian worker, linked to the propaganda carried out by Albanian media against the Himara about the national identity, that the himariotes expressed particularly to the democratic institution to one country which hope to aspirate to EU.

The President Dionysius Beleris

The Secretary-General Spyros Koutoulas

STATEMENT OF HIMARA COMMUNITY OF ALBANIA

TIRANA: “We condemn the terrorist act against our compatriot Pyrros Bollanos killed by an Albanian killer extremity to terrorize also the Himara People of the Region.

We call Albanian government and International Security Observers NATO and Europol in Albania to inquire about the terrorist act made in Himara Town and to take in observer all the activity of Police Department in Himara Region which never until now has not take it responsibility to explore the criminal events made in our region and to have transparence with Hellenic community of Himara Region.

The Police Department according to us is the instrument to be protector of the contrabandist of lands and proprieties stolen by Albanian organized crime".

Chairman Theodoris Bollanos
Direct. Stavros Markos

Lightened Visa Regime between Bulgaria and Albania, Ukraine, Moldov

Author: Kristalina Ilieva

Bulgarian Government approved the changes in the agreement for traveling of citizens of Bulgaria to Albania, Ukraine and Moldova.

According to the new changes all Bulgarian citizen, who has valid document of traveling obtain the right to enter, pass through, stay temporary or leave the three countries Albania, Ukraine and Moldova without visas for a term of 90 days in the frames of 6 months.

The terms for Ukrainian and Moldavian citizens towards Bulgaria are the same.
The Albanian citizen can pass through or stay in Bulgaria for the term, defined in the visa.

SECURITY NEWS, HIMARA,

TERROR IN HIMARA TOWN, KILLED A PENSIONER

Pyrros Bollanos, 74 old, a Greek ethnic of Himara is massacred by Albanian killer, terrorizing other natives in center of the town near Police Department, with out any reason. The Albanian Press, according to police authorities, has justified the terrorist act as a “psychic trauma of killer”.

The terrorist act of Albanian boy against a Greek resident of Himara, which had came in Himara by other regions of Albania to work, has raised the tension of population. Is the second incident when died an ethnic Greek by Himara Region. Three years ago another native of Dhrimades has been killed by Albanian killer inside his house.

Meanwhile from Himara, is waiting for an official declaration of “Omonia” The Greek Ethnic Minority Organization of Albania, about terrorist horor act. According to security foreign specialists team estabilished in Tirana, which cooperate in Albania against terrorism and organizes crime, the terrorist action was a lot of hate, inspired by religion sentiments, could investigate by another directions, such are both Islamic and ethnic reasons, which should be provoked dangerous incidents between ethnic populations.

One month ago the Hellenic population of Himara was provoked by Police Department member creating a dangerous precedent confrontation against population and Albanian authorities.

ALBANIA STOPED TO MOVE TO EU..

Albania told to implement reforms before winning closer EU ties

BRUSSELS – The EU on Monday (5 May) said it was too early to set a date for the next step in Albania's EU integration process, demanding instead that promised reforms be implemented first.

"I do not think that we can take a precise engagement at this stage," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, referring to the formal step of giving Albania EU candidate status.

First, Tirana first needs to demonstrate it is implementing the reforms it has promised. It needs a "solid track record", Mr Barroso told journalists after meeting Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha in Brussels.

more:..http://euobserver.com/9/26085

Kosovo/Albania: Investigate Postwar Abductions, Transfers to Albania

05 May 2008 Human Rights Watch

New York, Additional information has emerged that bolsters allegations of abductions and cross-border transfers from Kosovo to Albania after the 1998-1999 Kosovo war, Human Rights Watch said today. The Kosovar and Albanian governments should open independent and transparent investigations to help resolve the fate of approximately 400 Serbs who went missing after the war.

""Serious and credible allegations have emerged about horrible abuses in Kosovo and Albania after the war," said Fred Abrahams, senior emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch, who investigated human rights violations in Kosovo and Albania for the organization from 1993-2000. "The Prishtina and Tirana governments can show their commitment to justice and the rule of law by conducting proper investigations."

more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/fb14fb6d0cb71b06cd8f73efbe2ba742.htm

Albania Tax Chief Arrested For Murder

May 2008 Tirana _ Albania’s Tax chief is under house arrest on charges of the murder and torture of a businessman in 1995.

The head of Albania’s General Directorate of Taxes, Arben Sefgjini, who previously served as the head of Tirana’s Secret Service Office, SHIK, and three of his former colleagues Budion Mece, Avni Kolladashi and Ilir Kumbaro have been charged with the torture and murder of Macedonian-Albanian, Remzi Hoxha in 1995. The four former SHIK officers are accused of abducting Remzi Hoxha, Zizo Kristopoli and Avdyl Loshaj on October 21, 1995. P

rosecutors believe that after being placed in a SHIK safe house in the town of Lezha, in northern Albania, the three were tortured by the defendants, while Hoxha died as a result of the wounds inflected during torture. The reasons behind the abduction and torture remain unclear. The defendants have all declared their innocence through their layers during the arraignment hearings held at the High Crimes Court in Tirana.

The arrest of Sefgjini comes after Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Minister of Finance, Ridvan Bode both refused to dismiss him from his duty, despite the request filed by the prosecution office in court for his arrest.The arrest warrant from the court on Sunday means that Sefgjini is automatically suspended as head of Albania’s tax office.

The mountain people (Gorani)

15:00 Fri 02 May 2008 - Spasena Baramova

A little more than a month after Bulgaria recognised Kosovo in a joint act with Croatia and Hungary, European Affairs Minister Gergana Grancharova became the first Bulgarian minister to make an official visit to the newly proclaimed republic.

Along with meetings with high-ranking Kosovar and Western officials, Grancharova’s programme included talks with representatives of the Gorani community in Kosovo, including Mursel Halili, chairperson of the Gora Civil Initiatiative party.

The Gorani are a Slavic ethnic group adhering to Islam. In all Slav languages the word “gora” means “mountain”, hence the English equivalent of “Gorani” would be “mountain people”. Since Bulgarian scientists have published research showing linguistic and ethnic similarities between the Gorani and the Bulgarians over the years, debate has centred around their possible Bulgarian origin and whether they should be recognised as a Bulgarian minority.

more see: http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/the-mountain-people/id_29067/catid_5

From Stalin to saints


Tom Blass
Published 01 May 2008



Tom Blass finds jaunty funeral parlours and newly restored monasteries and mosques in rural Albania

Hurtling along the Drino Valley floor, my taxi driver forced me to repeat after him the names of the villages that we passed through. It was a torture of sorts and to change the subject I pointed out a rash of bunkers, the concrete pimples that polka-dot the countryside, and from which Albania's former dictator Enver Hoxha believed his loyal citizens would one day defend the motherland unto their death.

The driver transferred his energies to a pantomime of machine-gun spraying and the steering wheel was left to trace the contours of the contorted road by itself. I wondered whether I had made a fatal error. But within an hour he had deposited me alive at my destination, planted a (manly) kiss on my cheek, and given me back half the fare.


It was a generous, kind gesture but, had the journey proved terminal, the likelihood is that I would still have remained well catered for. Funeral parlours in Albania are commonplace, jaunty establishments. They leave the door open and the radio on and are more ubiquitous, say, than fast-food restaurants, and about on a par with pet shops, lending the impression that Albanians die more often than other people (having eaten fewer hamburgers and bought many canaries). Statistically this is highly improbable, and the more likely explanation is that both private enterprise and public mourning, in a ceremonial sense, were denied them for so long.

more: http://www.newstatesman.com/print/200805010034

THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS TO TAKE ALBANIAN CITIZEN ON JULY 2008

One week ago the Greeks of Albania in Himara Region proposed to D.Foreign Minister of Greece to implement the agreement for tow citizenship of Greeks in Albania, to have the rights to vote in Greece and to have their autonomy inside Albanian territory.

According to Albanian newspaper “Panorama” which referred to BBC Albanian Section, the new Kosovo Constitution will predict the possibility for which Kosovo Albanian to have another identity, the Albanian passport.

The tow citizenship of Albanians will be reality after the Kosovo Constitution will enter in power in July 2008. Is the first time that the possibility “de jure” of Albanians both Tirana and Pristine, to be reality as the first step of “Greater Albania”.

Anyway, the possibility of tow citizenship now is to be really for Albania, Serbia, Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria citizens who should take double passport by mother lands.

Actually the minorities, the Greeks in Albania, the Gorans (bullgarian) in Albania, Kosovo and Fyrom, the Serbs of Kosovo and the Albanians of Preshevo province in southern Serbia, have expressed their possibility to have mother land passport.

One week ago the Greeks of Albania in Himara Region proposed to D/Foreign Minister of Greece to implement the agreement for tow citizenship of Greeks in Albania, to have the rights to vote in Greece and to have their autonomy inside Albanian territory.

According to the Greek Lobby of USA actually the number of Greeks of Albania who most part live in Greece, is about 600 thousand, when Tirana is categorical against, but the Albanian government has failed to make the general counting population and continues to censure the estimates about the minority groups.

The Gorans (Bulgarian) of Albania sent one week ago messages to Sofie to have in high consideration the Bulgarian community in Albania. High represent of Bulgaria, V. Prime Minister has visited Tirana last week for “important talks”, but according to information, Bulgaria wanted by Tirana to "safe" the Bulgarian minority in Albania. Sofie has given about 150 thousand Bulgarian passports for their "citizens" in Albania, estimates never known by Tirana.

The requests of minority groups of Southern West Balkan Region to be united by the “mother states” is going straight to the referendums to another faze after the stability of the region, which most to be guarantied by NATO alliance. The first step which obliges the States to protect and to integrate minorities groups giving tow citizenship for their compatriots is actually become “de facto” if the voluntary of the peoples for peace and prosperity is an important factor for general stability of the region.

South Stream a 30-year agreement

The signing of an agreement for the South Stream natural gas pipeline made between PM Karamanlis and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Greek government on Wednesday unveiled the basic points of an Energy Agreement signed between Greece and Russia for the construction and operation of the South Stream natural gas pipeline on Greek territory.

The Greek section of the natural gas pipeline will begin from the Greek-Bulgarian borders carrying natural gas to Italy. The agreement will have an initial duration of 30 years, carrying around 10 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually. Greece will absorb part of this quantity and will also receive transit fees. Under the agreement, Gazprom and Desfa will soon sign an agreement to set up a joint venture to take over construction and operation of the natural gas pipeline.

The Energy Agreement seeks to upgrade energy security in Europe, supports the creation of a new natural gas pipeline system from the Russian Federation through the Black Sea, to supply Greece and other European countries.

It also seeks to create the necessary conditions to plan, build and operate this system according to national legislations and international treaties. Under the plan, the new company will be preferably based in Greece, with both parts sharing an equal 50 pct.

Balkan Security News

Not only albanian media hysteri against greek minority but also
Bulgaria Warns Macedonia over Hate Media

Bulgarian Members of the European Parliament have urged Macedonia to stop instilling hatred against its eastern neighbour.

"Bulgaria should support selflessly the Republic of Macedonia but must be clear that anti-Bulgarian campaigns aim to hinder progress in bilateral relations, and undermine Macedonia's progress towards EU membership," Nikolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian MEP with the European People's Party said.Mladenov was an author in a key European Parliament report on Macedonia's progress towards the bloc.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted in favour of the report which concluded that the country’s name dispute with Greece should not obstruct its European Union accession process.
But the report also urged Skopje to combat hate language against neighbouring states, such as Greece and Bulgaria."We see that certain circles in Macedonia make consistent efforts to worsen relations with Bulgaria.

We will support Macedonia's EU integration but this support will not be unconditional. Our position is in the interest of Macedonia as well," Evgeni Kirilov, an MEP with the Party of European Socialists claims.Following Greece's move to block Macedonia's invitation to join NATO because of the unresolved 'name' dispute earlier this month, some media lashed out at Athens, along with Sofia, as there was a perception Bulgaria had also tried to block Macedonia’s membership bid.

Relations between Macedonia and Bulgaria have been historically fraught with Sofia invading Macedonia in both World Wars and claiming it as part of its territory.

SECURITY NEWS, ALBANIA

Photo: "SAVE THE ALBANIAN ECONOMY"

ALBANIA UNDER STRONG INFLUENCE OF GREEK MONOPOLES

Albania to get EUR 230 mln loan for Rreshen-Kalimash road project

Rreshen-Kalimash road is part of the road corridor linking Durres and Morine and Durres port with Kosova and the Southern Balkans.

The Parliament ratified an agreement between the Republic of Albania and Alpha Bank A.E and NBG S.A. on a loan of EUR 230 mln for the project on Rreshen-Kalimash road, ATA News Agency reports. Regarding the abovementioned agreement, Deputy Finance Minister Sherefedin Shehu said that after all banks' bids were examined, the Ministry of Finance decided that the joint bid made by Alpha Bank and the National Bank of Greece was the best one as regards the terms of crediting and required credit amount.

He added that the terms offered by the two banks are: a principal of EUR 230 mln, maturity period of 15 years, a 5-year period of principal payment, payment by ten annual installments and Euribor interest rates plus 1.25%. He also said that the interest rates offered by the two banks are approximately the same with those offered by international financial institutions such as EBRD, WB etc. Rreshen-Kalimash road is part of the road corridor linking Durres and Morine and Durres port with Kosova and the Southern Balkans.

Anyway the Politic Opposition Socialist Party has posited the Greek Albanian financial agreement, when the Deputy Pellumb Xhufi of LSI said that; “under this agreement there are Greek geopolitics influence to conquest politically and economically Albania for Greek national issues underlining “Northern Epirus”.