Macedonian Orthodox Christian church set alight

By BORIS GRDANOSKI and KONSTANTIN TESTORIDES - Associated Press

LABUNISTA, Macedonia -- 

An Orthodox Christian church famed for its valuable icons was set alight in southern Macedonia overnight, authorities said Tuesday, as religious tension between Christians and minority Muslims grew over a carnival in which men dressed as women in burqas and mocked the Quran.

Firefighters extinguished the fire late Monday in the two century-old Sveti Nikola church, in the village of Labunista near the town of Struga. The church's roof was partly destroyed but its icons were not damaged, the fire service said.

Hours before the fire, Muslim leaders had appealed for calm among community members.

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AP Photo - - The storage shed for fire wood, built beside the Christian Orthodox church St. Nikola is seen burnt, right, in the dominantly Muslim village of Labunista in southwestern Macedonia, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012. An Orthodox Christian church famed for its valuable icons was almost set alight in southern Macedonia Monday overnight, amid religious tension between Christians and Muslims in this part of the country.

The Jan. 13 Vevcani festival prompted angry, sometimes violent demonstrations by Muslims, who are nearly all ethnic Albanian and make up 33 percent of the country's 2.1 million population and accuse the majority of stoking hatred.

Ethnic tension has been simmering in this small Balkan country since the end of an armed rebellion in 2001, when ethnic Albanian rebels fought government forces for about eight months, seeking greater rights for their community. The conflict left 80 people dead, and ended with the intervention of NATO peacekeepers.

The Vevcani carnival, a traditional festival said to have been held for some 1,400 years, attracts thousands of visitors. Local residents traditionally wear elaborate, frequently sarcastic masks, with some of the most common costumes including devils and demons.

The perceived mockery of the Quran and the burqa costumes caused outrage. On Saturday, protesters attacked an inter-city bus heading from Struga to Vevcani, throwing rocks at the vehicle. They also defaced a Macedonian flag outside Struga's municipal building, replacing it with a green flag representing Islam. On the same day, perpetrators attacked a church in the nearby village of Labunista, destroying a 4-meter (13-feet) cross.

Macedonian president Gjorge Ivanov and the leaders of the Orthodox Christian and Muslim communities condemned the incidents and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

The three "expressed confidence that the tradition of living together for centuries in Macedonia remains the value ... for all people of Macedonia," Ivanov's office said in a statement.

The European Union's mission in Macedonia also called for cooperation among the religious communities.

Ethnic Albanians in Macedonia and elsewhere in the Balkans have traditionally been secular. But conservative Islamic schools, especially an ultra-conservative form of the religion known as Wahhabism, have taken a foothold in the years following the brief 2001 uprising.

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/01/31/3705015/macedonian-orthodox-christian.html#storylink=cpy

Kosovo Albanians: "the new Plan destructs our culture and history"


 The Albanian community, protested for the new Development Plan of the Kosovo Government


A group of NGOs, supported by political forces in Prizren staged a protest to oppose the bill on the city's historic center. Opponents say that this is a political law that promotes ethnic and religious divisions as it provides more legal power in the management of many properties of the Orthodox Church in the center of Prizren. Authorities say that this law except while protecting cultural heritage in Kosovo, helping the process of concluding the supervised independence.

Albanian Statixtic Institute, INSTAT under the PM's Berisha control

The Socialists opposed the project proposed by the majority that establishes the Institution of Statistics under the direct administrative control of the Prime Minister's Office.

“With this amend your are sanctioning ‘de jure’ what happens ‘de facto’, the complete control of INSTAT by the Prime Minister. Our stance for this case is completely opposed to your proposition.  INSTAT must be an independent and completely reliable institution, attributes that unfortunately it doesn't have”, declared the Socialist MP, Mimi Kodheli.

Selami Xhepa, Democratic MP, declared that the draft doesn’t damage the independence and reliability of the data published by INSTAT, since they are monitored by other institutions that are not under the Prime Ministry’s control.

“Everyone knows very well that INSTAT has IMF experts who have given the methodological bases of this institution, and that on those bases have been worked so far. The IMF experts are permanently attached to this institution, for guaranteeing the integrity it deservs”, Xhepa declared.

The draft was approved at the Parliamentary Commission of Economy with the votes of the Democratic MPs, but Mimi Kodheli declared that the Socialists will cancel the law when they will come to power, and will set INSTAT under the control of the Parliament, which guarantees the independence of this institution and the data it publishes.

 

Berisha: Albania to sign probe deal with EULEX

31. January 2012. | 08:01

Source: Beta

Albania and the EULEX mission in Kosovo are poised to sign an agreement on cooperation in investigating allegations of human organ trafficking, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has said.

Albania and the EULEX mission in Kosovo are poised to sign an agreement on cooperation in investigating allegations of human organ trafficking, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has said.
The announcement said that Berisha had fully agreed that an agreement or law that would institutionalize cooperation between the Albanian authorities and EULEX was necessary to establish a clear framework which will help the EU mission fulfill its mandate in the probe, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network reported on Jan. 27.
Berisha made the statement on Jan. 26, after meeting with John Clint Williamson, who is the chief prosecutor in a special investigative team that has been charged with looking into the allegations voiced in a Council of Europe resolution which claims that the Kosovo Liberation Army harvested organs from captive Serbs during the 1999 war which it later sold.

Porto Palermo (Panormo) to be sold, by Tirana for Albanian Boss
 
Mysterious Investments, continue to threaten The Himara Region

The Albanian government has decided to sell about 40 items of cultural monuments of Albanian State, for which the Ministry of Culture, has made ​​nearly sales prices.

In objects that are targeted for privatization, is the castle of Porto Palermo (Panormo) for which efforts are to be bought by Boss Albania, in Tirana.

Development Plan the Himara Region, also includes Castle which is emerging in sale, and tunnels of Albanian Navy submarines.

According to sources from Himara main requirements for privatization, there are several companies that are investing mysterious stains just in tourism development plan of the Himara Region, which is expected to be approved next month in Tirana.

Annyway, the Civil Society, the orthodox Church and Community, stand against the Albanian Government and municipal administration of Himara, for the development of this plan.

As are published, all civil society organizations and communities Himara in the Diaspora, have considered this plan, as economic vassalage and attempt to change the ethnic composition of the Himara Region.

A Company from USA, promised $ 2 billion investment in Vlora Gulf to Berisha

According to the Newspaper "Tema", the american Company has only two employees, because it has falimented 5 years ago


Those Companies have targeted also the Himara Region
 
A small Company in the U.S., presented on Saturday in Tirana a mega-project construction and tourism, for which the figure goes up to 2 billion dollars. After these astronomical figures hiding in the U.S. shareholders who are companies with two employees and a modest balance in sales. The Company in question is "SIVA Partners" that presented Saturday at the "Sheraton" a gigantic project for a tourist resort, where, in addition to the golf courses of ports for yachts - already heard - says he is ready to build two twin towers , with 75 floors each. The project will be realized at the mouth of Vjosa, on 505 acres in an area protected from Narta lagoon and its value will be varied from 1.5 to 2 billion dollars. At the heart of this project is a super-casino. In other words, investors from the United States claim to build an Atlantic City on the Adriatic coast at the height of the global crisis, a center of tourism, which would provide room for luxury ships of the largest and so many places for casino in the world, how would rival any other resort in the Mediterranean port.
On January 20, 2012, this group of investors was received in the office of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, where the head of government said he was willing to give the green light for such investments, as more Americans seek the other sectors.

President Group "SIVA Partners", Simon Elyakim, presented on January 20 premier project "The Millennium Casino & Resort", which consisted of building a tourist resort with villas and hotels, tennis courts, golf courses and casinos. This project, he said, is the result of attractive business climate in Albania, its geography and climate more attractive for tourists. It aims to create a great tourist center in the Balkans. Also, he presented the group's portfolio of interests for investment in Bangladesh in the fields of infrastructure, in roads, railways, including the Albania-Kosovo railways and other works such as tunnels, ports, in the field of hydrocarbons, including the privatization The Albpetrol, etc., and to realize the tram in Tirana. As usual, before such proposals, Berisha is excited, saying they have done very well to have chosen Albania as his government has done much to create a suitable climate for foreign investment.

After these dizzying figures hide a company - say less - modest in the U.S. market and global real estate and investments, which can boast so far only with a two-floor hotel-cottage San Paolo in Brazil. "Pillars" of this group are two Albanians claimed: Valentin Gurraj (29 years) and George Frangaj, resident in the U.S.. The latter company owns a marble works, with two employees and sales of 304 thousand dollars during a year declared, according to data from tax authorities Amerikës. / 

http://www.shqiptarja.com/news.php?IDCategoria=2724&IDNotizia=70105

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Politicians of Greece, "without character", than the Albanian colleagues

Meeting in Athens Bakogiani-Rama

Bakogiani said a month ago, that Edi Rama has joined the Albanian extremists, against Greece

Edi Rama said the day before by Preshevo (Southern Serbia) "Greece gave from Albania 300 km sea"

Another "mandat arrest" order for Naum Disho


Still "Omonia" has not made any declaration to protect Naum Disho by Albanian tribunals


The familiars of Naum Disho, protested yesterday to the Albanian authorities for that about 20 police under the masks in head, have terrorize the children.

Naim Dish is announced a fugitive for the second time, after he was sentenced for the desecration of the Boboshtice village graves.

The judicial confusions with the Boboshtica trial have caused the creation of another arrest-order for Disha. The Korce Prosecution issued the second arrest order for the head of the Omonia, sentenced to one year in prison for desecrating the Boboshtice village graves.

The procedural transfer of this case to the Court of Fact and of that Appeal has enabled Disho escape arrest for the second time, because he wasn’t found at his residence.

The arrest order released by Disho was not executable until the Court would reviewe the defensive request and gives the new decision.

The rejection of the request has caused the removal of the arrest order against Disho, and the issuing of another one.


Anyway, still "Omonia" has not made any declaration to protect Naum Disho by Albanian tribunals



The familiars of Naum Disho, protested yesterday to the Albanian authorities for that about 20 police under the masks in head, have terrorize the children.

Flux of Albanians in Britain

A record breaking flux of Albanians in Britain is the alarm published this Monday by the “Daily Express” newspaper, known in London for the anti-emigration stances.

The newspaper says that the number of Albanians repatriated by the authorities has increased with 800%. Before the visa liberalization with the Southern European countries, in 2010, the British Authorities used to catch 2 illegal Albanian emigrants a day.

After Brussels opened its doors, according to the newspaper, 229 Albanians have been repatriated from July to September 2011. A study of the European Border Agency, Frontex, indicates the number of Albanians returned from the European borders during the same period was 3550, seven times bigger than one year ago. The details are published one week after EU opened the dialogue for the visa liberalization with Kosovo.

“These figures are only the tip of the iceberg, because they show only the ones that have been caught”, declared Gerard Batten, the British European MP form the Anti-Emigration Party, UKIP. Similar anti-emigration tones have came from the British press before other Southern European countries entered the visa free regime.

The biggest problem of London doesn’t come from the Albanians and their numbers, which are very low when compared with the Lithuanians, Poles, Romanians and Bulgarians, although they are EU member countries and benefit much more from the state finances, through social benefits. The number of Albanians involved in crime is still insignificant compared to the others, and they are still being unjustly mentioned as example, while the official British Police data indicate that they are not a problematic criminal group in UK.

			ATHENS, AGAINST THE FINANCE SUPERVISOR OF BRUXELLES
	AMNA / Prime Minister Lucas Papademos reiterated on Sunday afternoon that political leaders supporting his interim government "are in absolute convergence with the continuation of (PSI) negotiations and the positions we shall support."     Speaking after a two-and-a-half meeting at the Maximos Mansion, he said " unity of political forces and their commitment to support necessary changes constitutes a substantive factor of reliability; they strengthen the effectiveness of economic policy and permit us to negotiate better terms."     Papademos also referred to a "tough struggle" to secure the country's position in Europe, the euro and the community of developed countries. www.amna.gr     "... despite the progress which has been achieved for the stabilisation of the economy, despite the considerable changes and great sacrifices of the citizens, deviations from the targets and accumulated delays in the implementation of certain policies have, as a result, caused partners to raise additional commitments and terms," he warned.     The Greek prime minister and former central banker said a new programme includes arrangements for the restructuring of the state and a distinct boosting of competitiveness. amna     Papademos left for Brussels immediately afterwards, where he will attend an EU summit on Monday.

The Albanian President Bamir Topi in court for family propertties

According to the Albanian prosecutor, 8 thousand people were killed, in 20 years in Albania for property rights


TIRANE-Finding the right property in Albania is an almost impossible mission. President of the Republic Bamir Topi seems that there is no difference of hundreds of other citizens, when it comes to property. Along with his brother,Flamur Topi, a renowned physician and other members of the family, could not yet recover their property even though four years at the top of the country and in charge of the institution of justice, the High Council of Justice .

Three days ago, the Supreme Court has registered a complaint with the subject property. What makes this particular claim is precisely the fact that among the applicants is located, and President of the Republic, Bamir Topi, his brother Flamur Topi.

The Civil Case as party respondent and has another family lineage, but the adjective ball, and returns Agency Property Compensation of Tirana. The suit has as object the repeal of a decision of the Tirana District ZRKKP.

In this case, the Supreme Court should decide the jurisdiction of this claim. So, if the Court of Tirana, where the family wants the right to property, will continue on reviewing the action or is a matter to be resolved administratively.

SManalysis


Epirotean comedy within the government of Berisha

 PDIU, becomes part of a coalition with the Greeks, of the government of Sali Berisha

Another theater, is happening in the coalition government of Sali Berisha. He signed the agreement in which the nationalist party of PDIU (Chamera), which also systematically threaten to northern Greece to take territories, shall cooperate with representatives of the Greek forces in the Albanian government.


There has to happen otherwise, the Greek government representatives, some deputies of the Democratic Party and one Minister, will collaborate with chauvinistic party  PDIU, against Greek community.

PDIU will benefit both the director and several deputy ministers nationally,but not known in the ultra-nationalist rhetoric, will continue to bepropagated as before.
If this is seen as a diplomatic move of Sali Berisha, to control nationalistviolence that may erupt in Albania, is the movement of time, but willcertainly exploit this Berisha coalition in the upcoming parliamentaryelections.

smanalysis

Theater with the visit of Rama in Athens

To meet Pyrros Dhimas is loaded from a few days stay in Athens, the socialist MP Fidel Ylli A photo with Pyrro Dhimas, 


Edi Rama means for political bargains at the expense of the Greek Community and Himara

All games are made by Albanian politicians, have no moral, slandered to day and night to praise. This characteristic is typical for all Albanians, where the center of megalomanis, distinguished servility.

This has occurred, the leader of the Albanian opposition, Edi Rama, with half of Himara family origin, but has never had to approach and solveinstitutionally some requirements, such as problems of its property and self financial management of Himara Region.
However, the old leader of the SP (8 years at the head of the Socialist Party) was the closest collaborator of Albanian nationalism, for which the Census Process sabotaged last year, and scrapping of the agreement with Greece for the Sea Marine Sheffield, constitute the core of the dominant philosophy of Albanian position, which tomorrow will be taken power in Albania.
In front of the next leader of the Albanian government, the Greek businesses also working for  peoples with influence in PASOK, have stretched their hands up in Tirana, for which the relations  in power, trying hard to keep even after the departure of Sali Berisha from power.


To stay together with the World Championship, Pyrros Dhimas, will mean more, beyond the limits of diplomacy, but in the first place, Edi Rama shouldbe expressed to the hellenism of Pyrros Dhimas, to accept it as is, and notto deny existence of the Greek Community, through her ​​chauvinistic rhetoric against hellenism in Albania.


This is a fact for which the perception of Albanians from diaspora, Kosovo, FYROM, and Montenegro, that the Socialist Party of Albania, was established by hellenism syndrome, considering its leader Edi Rama, not only as the Greek family ingenious backgrounds, but also it serves, the Greek plan for the annexation of Northern Epirus to Greece, which "de facto" is not true (!).

But for up in power, everything happens in Albania, up to degeneration ...