Almost a 'war' true happened in copper enrichment factory in Fushe Arres, owned by Turkish, in the north of Albania. Protesters and police clashed after a protest from local residents is out of control and attacking the local police chief. Quick Intervention intervene, but protestors refuse to leave the factory.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Fushe Arres, protesters 'Occupy' copper plant, owned by Turkish, police fired in the air
Almost a 'war' true happened in copper enrichment factory in Fushe Arres, owned by Turkish, in the north of Albania. Protesters and police clashed after a protest from local residents is out of control and attacking the local police chief. Quick Intervention intervene, but protestors refuse to leave the factory.
Almost a 'war' true happened in copper enrichment factory in Fushe Arres, owned by Turkish, in the north of Albania. Protesters and police clashed after a protest from local residents is out of control and attacking the local police chief. Quick Intervention intervene, but protestors refuse to leave the factory.
US, EU concerned over Albania's plan to replace election watchdog member ahead of June poll
TIRANA,
Albania - The United States has expressed concern over plans by
Albania's conservative government to replace a member of the country's
election watchdog ahead of national polls on June 23.
The government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha announced the plan after a junior partner in his government recently left the coalition. The member Berisha wants to replace is from that party.
The U.S. ambassador to Albania, Alexander Arvizu, on Monday said the late change to the Central Election Commission would put the country on a potential "collision course with the U.S. and the international community."
European Union officials in Tirana also expressed concern.
The international community will send more than 400 observers for the polls in post-communist Albania, which has so far failed to fully meet international election standards.
The government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha announced the plan after a junior partner in his government recently left the coalition. The member Berisha wants to replace is from that party.
The U.S. ambassador to Albania, Alexander Arvizu, on Monday said the late change to the Central Election Commission would put the country on a potential "collision course with the U.S. and the international community."
European Union officials in Tirana also expressed concern.
The international community will send more than 400 observers for the polls in post-communist Albania, which has so far failed to fully meet international election standards.
Explosions rock Boston Marathon; several injured
April 15, 2013 -- Updated 1943 GMT (0343 HKT)
At least two explosions rocked the finish line at the Boston Marathon on Monday afternoon.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- NEW: "We just heard a lot of sirens, and people were kind of frantic," a witness says
- Explosions hurt at least six at Boston Marathon
- A CNN producer reported two explosions about 10 seconds apart
The blasts occurred a few
seconds apart on opposite sides of the street, CNN Producer Matt Frucci
reported. The first left "a big plume of smoke" hovering over the area,
around Boston's Copley Square; the second occurred perhaps 10 seconds
later, he said.
The explosions occurred
about 2:45 p.m., about an hour after the first of the race's nearly
27,000 runners had crossed the finish line, Frucci said. The race was
halted after the explosions as was subway service into the area.
Paramedics were treating
several victims at the scene, and police ordered onlookers to back away
from the area. Troops from the Massachusetts National Guard were
assisting police as well.
Onlooker Josh Matthews said he heard the blast, then saw police running toward the scene.
"We just heard a lot of sirens, and people were kind of frantic, and it was a bad situation, so we got out of there," he said.
A spokeswoman for Massachusetts General Hospital said four patients were being treated there.
Iskander Missiles and Russian fighter bomber squadrons in Serbia?
“The military presence of Russia in the Balkans can be the
answer to the U.S. system PRO in Europe,” wrote Nezavisimaya
Gazeta. After informing about the meeting between Serbian Prime Minister
Ivica Dacic and Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, they stated
that meeting ended with mutual expressed hope for closer Russian-Serbian
military cooperation.
The Nezavisimaya Gazeta quoted “experts” who stated that joining of Serbia to ODKB (as observer) is considered “breakthrough achievement of Russia and its allies in achieving its geopolitical interests in the south of Europe.”
The thing is that the Russian Defence League “ODKB” to this point only included the countries of the former Soviet Union, and now has two countries that have expressed interest in its functioning outside that circle – Serbia and Afghanistan.
They also stated that ODKB “within NATO and international community has no high rating” but ODKB is “recently experiencing a transformation,” and claims the “new geopolitical tasks facing Europe,” and situation changes significantly, says Russian newspaper.
It follows from the text that Serbian stand even surprised Russia itself, even though Serbia has been in negotiations for observer status for some time. Even official Russian leadership have not taken the idea seriously, because “Serbia in 2007 declared neutrality in relation to all blocks and alliances.”
“Everything changed when, in the autumn of 2012 President of the Supreme Council of United Russia, Boris Gryzlov visited Serbia ” whose subsequent statements indicate a possible new Russian angle of looking at things, no matter that “official Belgrade remained silent.”
However, Nezavisimaya Gazeta quoted the secretary general of ODKB, who said that it is too early to talk about the full membership of Serbia in the Russian military alliance, and explained that “the status of observer in the ODKB practical terms means the participation of the country (the observer) in activities (organization)” and that “Serbia will not be for such status.”
On the other hand, Gen. Leonid Ivashov believes that the full participation of Serbia in ODKB is “very probably to be expected, that it will help the country to strengthen its position in the Balkans, and in solving the problem of Kosovo.” Ivashov even says “that agreement will allow the presence of the peacekeeping contingents of ODKB in Serbia, and also to provide military assistance, as it applies to all members of the organization,” He also noted that “It would be desirable to education in the armed forces of Serbia also, the main military adviser appliances that would strengthen the defensive power of the Republic. ”
Asked about the Serbian-Russian military theme, the captain Konstantin Sivkov, (ex Center of military-strategic research) believes that “the goals of Russia in the Balkans are far broader.” Referring to the U.S. military base in Kosovo, Sivkov says “deployment of Russian military facilities in Serbia (Military Air Force bases, tactical missiles ‘Iskander’, and so on.), would surely strengthen Serbia’s sovereignty and become one of the factors of restraint.”
“… Russian military presence is possible in Serbia, and could become one of the asymmetric arrangement of the system in response to the U.S. PRO in Europe,” quoted the captain.
At the conclusion of a long article, the Russian NG mentions meeting Dacic and Shoigu, the agreement on the activation of military-technical cooperation between the two sides, and the detail that a Russian military delegation will soon arrive in Belgrade on the occasion of the signing of documents about it. In May, Moscow is also expected to visit the Chief of the General Staff of Serbia.
As Vestinet reported on April 15th, Serbia officially joined the military alliance ODKB as observer. Parliamentary Assembly of the ODKB Council in St. Petersburg decided to give Serbia observer status.
The Nezavisimaya Gazeta quoted “experts” who stated that joining of Serbia to ODKB (as observer) is considered “breakthrough achievement of Russia and its allies in achieving its geopolitical interests in the south of Europe.”
The thing is that the Russian Defence League “ODKB” to this point only included the countries of the former Soviet Union, and now has two countries that have expressed interest in its functioning outside that circle – Serbia and Afghanistan.
They also stated that ODKB “within NATO and international community has no high rating” but ODKB is “recently experiencing a transformation,” and claims the “new geopolitical tasks facing Europe,” and situation changes significantly, says Russian newspaper.
It follows from the text that Serbian stand even surprised Russia itself, even though Serbia has been in negotiations for observer status for some time. Even official Russian leadership have not taken the idea seriously, because “Serbia in 2007 declared neutrality in relation to all blocks and alliances.”
“Everything changed when, in the autumn of 2012 President of the Supreme Council of United Russia, Boris Gryzlov visited Serbia ” whose subsequent statements indicate a possible new Russian angle of looking at things, no matter that “official Belgrade remained silent.”
However, Nezavisimaya Gazeta quoted the secretary general of ODKB, who said that it is too early to talk about the full membership of Serbia in the Russian military alliance, and explained that “the status of observer in the ODKB practical terms means the participation of the country (the observer) in activities (organization)” and that “Serbia will not be for such status.”
On the other hand, Gen. Leonid Ivashov believes that the full participation of Serbia in ODKB is “very probably to be expected, that it will help the country to strengthen its position in the Balkans, and in solving the problem of Kosovo.” Ivashov even says “that agreement will allow the presence of the peacekeeping contingents of ODKB in Serbia, and also to provide military assistance, as it applies to all members of the organization,” He also noted that “It would be desirable to education in the armed forces of Serbia also, the main military adviser appliances that would strengthen the defensive power of the Republic. ”
Asked about the Serbian-Russian military theme, the captain Konstantin Sivkov, (ex Center of military-strategic research) believes that “the goals of Russia in the Balkans are far broader.” Referring to the U.S. military base in Kosovo, Sivkov says “deployment of Russian military facilities in Serbia (Military Air Force bases, tactical missiles ‘Iskander’, and so on.), would surely strengthen Serbia’s sovereignty and become one of the factors of restraint.”
“… Russian military presence is possible in Serbia, and could become one of the asymmetric arrangement of the system in response to the U.S. PRO in Europe,” quoted the captain.
At the conclusion of a long article, the Russian NG mentions meeting Dacic and Shoigu, the agreement on the activation of military-technical cooperation between the two sides, and the detail that a Russian military delegation will soon arrive in Belgrade on the occasion of the signing of documents about it. In May, Moscow is also expected to visit the Chief of the General Staff of Serbia.
As Vestinet reported on April 15th, Serbia officially joined the military alliance ODKB as observer. Parliamentary Assembly of the ODKB Council in St. Petersburg decided to give Serbia observer status.
North Korea’s Leader Missing from Public Eye for Two Weeks – Report
Topic: Crisis on the Korean Peninsula (2013)
North Korea’s Leader Missing from Public Eye for Two Weeks – Report
© AFP 2013/ KCNA via KNS
© AFP 2013/ KCNA via KNS
12:04 14/04/2013
SEOUL,
April 14 (RIA Novosti) - North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has not been
seen in public for the past two weeks, sparking speculation amid
escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap news agency reported
on Sunday.
Kim has been absent from the public eye since April 1 when he
presided over an annual parliamentary session. His absence was not
unusual in the past but this month’s disappearance comes at a time when
Pyongyang is expected to launch a mid-range ballistic missile, the
agency said.According to Yonhap, an official at Seoul's intelligence authority denied rumors of a coup against Kim, saying no unusual movement surrounding the North's leader had been detected.
Another source specializing on North Korea told Yonhap that Kim's absence is part of the North's "psychological warfare that could grab attention from South Korea and the United States."
Tensions rose sharply on the Korean Peninsula in December after North Korea tested a Taepodong 2 missile and again in February when it carried out its third nuclear test. The UN hit back with sanctions, and the start of joint military drills between South Korea and the United States last month further irritated the North, which threatened to carry out a nuclear attack on the US mainland, as well as on US forces in the region.
Chang Yong-seok, senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies of Seoul National University, told Yonhap that Pyongyang was unlikely to scale down its provocative stand against the US.
"Rather than attempting to change the current situation, North Korea is likely to keep raising tensions, while there is a possibility of slightly adjusting the level of tensions," Chang said.
According to Yonhap, Kim may appear in public on Monday, when Pyongyang marks the birthday of its founder, Kim Il-sung, the grandfather of the current leader. Seoul's military officials have said that a missile launch by Pyongyang could happen on Monday.
"Ashton will go to Priština if she visits Belgrade"
Source: B92, Tanjug
BRUSSELS -- If EU's Catherine Ashton decides to
visit Belgrade this week, she will also likely travel to Priština, B92
has learned in Brussels.
Catherine Ashton (Beta/AP, file)
Our reporter was told on Monday that Ashton's possible visit would have "a twofold context" - of the region's further EU integration and continued negotiations between Belgrade and Priština.
Meanwhile, her spokesperson Maja Kocijančič told reporters in Brussels that Ashton was traveling to Podgorica on Monday, and then to Tirana and Skopje, and added that they would be later informed if other cities will be included.
However, a European Commission official who spoke on condition of anonymity told Tanjug today that Ashton wished to see "positive signals from both sides" related to the Kosovo dialogue before including Belgrade and Priština in her tour of the region.
This official added that "the possible visit cannot be separated from the political context", and noted that the dialogue had stalled after Belgrade's decision not to accept a proposed agreement on northern Kosovo.
The same source said that according to a previously determined itinerary, Wednesday would be the only day when Ashton could set aside time for visiting Belgrade and Priština.
Greek Government And Troika Finally Reach Agreement
According to the Associated Press, the review by delegates from the International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank, known collectively as the troika, is part of a regular process under which Greece receives installments of its multi-billion euro bailout if it meets certain conditions. Greece has been dependent on the rescue loans since 2010.
In total, Greece has been granted 270 billion euros in bailouts, which it receives gradually. In return, successive governments pledged to overhaul the Greek economy and have imposed stringent spending cuts and tax hikes.
The reforms have been painful. The country is mired in a deep recession, currently in its sixth year, and unemployment has spiraled to around 27 percent.
In a joint statement, the three institutions said recent steps taken by Greece indicate targets for March "are likely to be met in the near future" and that the country΄s debt sustainability "remains on track."
As a result, the 17-nation eurozone could soon agree to disburse 2.8 billion euros ($3.7 billion) pending from last month. The eurozone and IMF board are expected to approve the review in May.
However, the troika said the government must still be vigilant and "respond promptly to any slippages that may emerge."
Almost every troika review since the start of the bailout has been delayed due to targets being missed or disagreements with the government. Apart from the initial installments, no rescue loans have been disbursed on time.
"Greece has indeed come a very long way," said the IMF΄s troika representative Poul Thomsen, speaking during a conference on the economy in central Athens. "The fiscal adjustment in Greece has been exceptional by any standard."If the country continues implementing its pledged reforms, it will be able to achieve its overall budget targets without imposing any further austerity measures, Thomsen said.
The institutions still predict Greece will return to growth gradually in 2014, and say this is being helped by improved wage flexibility helping to restore competitiveness.
The review also covered the dismissal of civil servants, with firings "targeted at disciplinary cases and cases of demonstrated incapacity, absenteeism, and poor performance, or that result from closure or mergers of government entities."
Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras, speaking at the same economy conference in Athens, said "several thousand" underperforming public sector workers would be dismissed, and new, capable employees would replace them.
Reports have indicated that about 4,000 civil servants are to be fired by the end of this year, and 11,000 by the end of 2014.
Until now, civil servants were constitutionally guaranteed jobs for life under a law dating from the early 20th century to protect public sector workers from unfair dismissal due to political affiliations. But the law was widely abused, with accusations rife that politicians across the spectrum stacked the civil service with employees as favors in return for votes.
The result was a massively bloated, inefficient and corrupt civil service, the size of which the state was unaware until it started a public sector census at the start of the bailout, and discovered it had about 700,000 civil servants in this country of less than 11 million people.
"It΄s still a taboo to dismiss people from the public sector. There have been no forced dismissals of employees whose positions are eliminated or who for some reason do not perform," Thomsen said. "So this dramatic rebalancing of the economy ... has caused a sharp increase on unemployment in the private sector while public sector employees have been protected. This is another source of the sense of lack of fairness in the process."Stournaras said Greece΄s main target now was to achieve a primary surplus of the budget — a surplus without taking into account interest payments on existing loans — this year.
Once this is achieved, Athens could request activation of something Greece΄s eurozone partners agreed on late last year — a further reduction in the country΄s private debt. In March 2012, Greece forced private investors to write off more than half the value of the government bonds they held.
Following the bond writedown, officially known as the Private Sector Involvement, Greece΄s debt is now mainly in public hands. A further debt reduction could come from easing the terms of the country΄s bailout.
"In my opinion, the major target now is to achieve a primary budgetary surplus this year so that we can ... ask for a drastic reduction in the public debt," Stournaras said. "That will create a very positive boost in developments and would speed up our exit from the crisis."
Sunday, April 14, 2013
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Hate graffiti, posters appear in Vojvodina
Source: Tanjug
NOVI SAD --
Graffiti and posters against Serbs, SNS, its leader Aleksandar Vučić and
provincial government head Bojan Pajtić have appeared in Vojvodina.
Anti-Serb graffiti (Tanjug)
He noted that graffiti against Serbs and SNS were painted after the protest held in Novi Sad late on Friday.
According to police assessments, the protest gathered around 30,000 people who called for withdrawal of the draft declaration on constitutional and legal rights of Vojvodina put forth by the provincial government, for resignation of the Vojvodina government head and calling early elections in the province.
Zobenica said that everyone in SNS was shocked by the fact that a peaceful protest triggered such a fierce reaction of the ruling party in the province.
“I am a Serb and I have no intention of going anywhere. I cannot believe it occurred to someone to write such graffiti and call for expulsion of Serbs from Vojvodina,” Zobenica said.
(SNS)
Novi Sad Mayor Miloš Vučević of SNS condemned the graffiti and posters spreading hatred.
In response to the posters against Pajtić, the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina and the coalition of NGOs Civic Vojvodina called on the police and authorities to identify individuals behind the calls for murder.
(B92)
Political issues should immediately be restored to the institutions of the system and the war through protests, calls for elimination, pamphlets and posters should end, the coalition stated in a release.
CIA does not know the official data of the Census 2011 population in Albania
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Greeks of Albania, make up in 12% of the population of 3.1 million inhabitants
Failure of the Census of Albania in 2011, is confirmed by the data of the CIA's own official website, bears the date of April 3, 2013, which does not refer to the official Albanian sources, but the information remains the United States Agencies, as the most reliable in the world.
According to the official website of the CIA, (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html), data on population in Albania, it continued association with the CIA parameters 1989 where the Greek minority went from 1% of the population, up in 12%, according to sources from the Pan Epiriot Federation of USA.
But according to experts of the CIA analysis, review for Albania, has faced the contradictions, as the population of 3.6 million that was in 2011 (CIA fact book Albania), has already come down after two years in 3.1 million, approximately, Data of 1989.
Also, the data for religion, they are the estimates of 1989, which are 70% Musulman, 20% Orthodox, and 10% Catholic.
Albanian Census for 2011, a process which was funded EUR 10 million from the European Union and 5 million euros by the Albanian government, claimed as Musulman 57%, catholic 10% and Orthodox 6.7% ..
This process was is considered falls by Population Orthodox and Greek Minority in Albania.
Energy export increased in Albania
The improvement of the situation in the Drin cascade has returned the massive exports of energy. The Albanian Power Company (KESH) exported 2.5 million of EUR in energy, and the total bill for April mounts up to 8 million.
KESH says for Top Channel that the energy production has reached the historic record of 30 million KWh each day, thanks to the massive rains, but also thanks to the hydropower plant aggregates, which are in good conditions and able to work at maximal capacity.
21 million will be used to cover the domestic consumption, while the rest will be exported or deposited as an exchange. The high exports will be preserved in the next months too, due to the sufficient reserves in the cascade.
KESH experts say that in May they will export even more. In 2.5 months, KESH will collect more than 20 million EUR, 14th of the money that the government received from the sale of four hydropower plants.
If the situation in the cascade will be good, the energy exports will be higher than the total value of the 4 HPPs that were sold for 109 million EUR.
Only three weeks ago, the KESH revenues from the energy export reached 120 million EUR. This argument returns not only the political debate, if the sale of these assets was for the citizens and national economy a lucrative business or a decision that has a cost, dictated by the government’s need for money on the verge of the elections.
Southern Albania, Greeks seek independence: Albania,"
Greek minority in southern Albania is aspiring for freedom and independence from Albania.
Unexpected statements came out in a television debate where talking about Cham resolution, while the Greek minority representatives said, clearly not wanting to discuss the for Cham resolution.
"The Himara Autonimy is in power and we are working in that direction," said Stavri Marko, one of the representatives of the Greek community in Southern, even by comparing the current situation with the aspirations of the Albanians in the Presevo Valley.
"As demand Albanians in southern Serbia, so ask us," said Marko, who has called the Republic of Albania "banana republic".
"Three days away the US represent in Tirana Arvizu in Corfu, let's leave it to the OSCE, the EU representatives, and the other three days, here is banana republic," he said.
"No, not offend Albanian state" was the response of Ardi Nurellari, as representative of PJIU, which irritated this Markos statement.
"The Albanian government works very well, no need for them, this is ofese for the Republic of Albania. The Republic of Albania is not a banana republic, this is your problem, we are a member of NATO, a country that is moving towards the European Union. So you can not come and hurt the Albanian people ", he added.
Moreove, Stavri Marko, whose identity was in question because He is the cousin of Albanian writer Petro Marko, sees himself and his community more progressive than the Albanians.
"We are a community that is moving forward. We walked a lot more money than Albania.. It is not our fault that Albania is in this state. We are a community model that forwart for freedom and independence historicaly, "said Marko.
While Ardi Nurellari reminded Markos worries that Greece and the crisis through which we are passing, but the latter is protected by saying that "Greece is in dire, but the army has in store."
This statement and others met with humor by the director of the show and other debaters in the emission
properties of Cham Albanians who were expelled from their properties estimated at 1 billion euros. If calculated missing earnings under the law of war, it is estimated up to 20 billion euros. There are over 200 thousand acres of the most beautiful areas of Greece. /
Indeksonline Kosovo Pres Agency
http://www.indeksonline.net/?FaqeID=2&LajmID=54098
“The Turkish were not administrators”
12/04/2013
Although history teachers have often declared that politics should not get involved with historic events, it seems that politics is unable to stay away from it.
The official declaration of Ankara to change some terms in the history of Albania, before the declaration of independence, has spurred many debates that brought the signing of a petition by dozens of intellectuals in Albania.
History books clearly state that the Ottoman Empire was the occupier of Albania, and not a friendly administrator, as the Turkish government claims. The Arberesh professor and albanologue, Mateo Mandala, underlined that these declarations should remain political and historians must base their works on facts and documents that show the truth.
“I am talking about the lack of reactions against this doctrine which preaches a political and cultural colonization of the lands that once were property of the Ottoman Empire. This is not the right reaction, because we cannot mix the historic phases, and we cannot allow the politics of a foreign country to interfere with matters that are property of the Albanian state”, Mandala declared.
Prof.Mateo Mandala, director of the Scientific Unit of Albanology at the University of Palermo has published a book titled “Philological Studies for the Romantic Arberesh Literature”. The book focuses on the period after the Renaissance and other facts about that time. The book was introduced by professors of the History Institution at the Science Academy
First test of electronic ballot count
13/04/2013
The first test of the equipments for the electronic ballot count was held today in one Tirana’s high schools.
The votes of 300.000 electors are counted through scanners and the result is shown in tables that can be seen by all parties and the electoral observers.
The first test was made in presence of the Central Election Commission body, the OSCE Ambassador to Tirana, Eugen Wollfarth; the highest representative of the company that will enable it, and representatives of the political parties.
Today were improvised two counting lines of 6000 votes. The members of the electoral centre will verify the electoral materials and will manually place the ballot on one side. Every ballot is then passed to a scanner, which makes the validity verifications, reads the result and divides the contested ballots.
Due to the financial cost, the scanner that was selected today is not high end, which can make all verification process at the same time.
The biggest concern is the contested ballots. The equipment wants to replace the voting ballot within the given box, or it will be considered as contested. The equipment needs the voting mark within the given box, or it will be considered contested. For these votes it will be the members of the electoral centre to decide. But this process spurred debates and blockage by the politicians even in the test phase.
When CEC decided about the specific ballot that would be used in Fier, 42 political parties had been registered to run on June 23rd. While the deadline has not expired yet, this number has gone to 65, which will need a change of the ballot.
The Fier District, second to Tirana in size, has 10 Regional Electoral Centres, and each of them will have two scanners for the ballot counts, except one that will have three. The financial cost of this project is 1.2 million EUR, but it is unknown for how long will the ballot count be made, if there will be no blockage from the party representatives or any other problem, such as a sudden blackout.
The company that will realize the ballot count process is the Spanish “Indra”, which has realized the ballot count in England with much larger populations for each centre. However, we should keep in mind that this is not the highest end of the technology, and the will of the Albanian politicians dominates even technology. Its success will be seen only after June 23rd.
“We can continue dialogue without mediator“
SOURCE: BETA, DANAS
BELGRADE -- Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić has said that Belgrade will continue negotiations with Priština without a mediator if necessary.
Ivica Dačić (Beta, file)
Ivica Dačić (Beta, file)
He stressed that there was no other way to solve the Kosovo issue.
“I have already noted that Serbia is ready to continue direct talks with Priština if there are no more mediators, primarily because the Kosovo issue is both Belgrade and Priština’s problem and we need to find a way to solve it,” the prime minister told daily Danas.
When asked if it was realistic to expect Serbia to get a date for the start of the EU accession talks in June, he said that the most realistic thing to do was to stop tying Serbia’s biggest issue with the EU accession.
“We are solving the Kosovo issue so we could live normally, not so we could get a date. Then again, this date is certainly our goal for the same reason - so we could live normally. But we need to be aware all the time in the process that we are solving Kosovo for the sake of Kosovo and Serbia and that we need to solve it regardless of the fact when we will get the date,” Dačić was quoted as saying.
Commenting on his recent visit to Moscow, he said that Russia strongly supported the Serbian government’s policy.
“Russia is our friend, just the kind of friend we need today. When we decide something, Russia will support us and we will never ask Russia to decide something for us. Unlike earlier, we do not see Russia as a ticket to play when all other options fail and we do not pull its sleeve when we mess something up without informing it,” the prime minister concluded.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Serbian president “interferes in Bosnia’s internal issues”
SOURCE: DANAS
BELGRADE, SARAJEVO -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić is interfering in internal relations and affairs of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croat Presidency member Željko Komšić has said.
Željko Komšić (Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, file)
Željko Komšić (Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, file)
He announced earlier that he would not come to a bilateral meeting on April 23 in Belgrade because of Nikolić’s statements.
“My two colleagues, (Serb Presidency member Nebojša) Radmanović and (Bosniak Presidency member Bakir) Izetbegović can confirm I was certainly a proponent of Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency’s visit to Belgrade. Mr. Izetbegović even insisted that a trilateral meeting should first be held in Ankara and only then the visit to Belgrade,” Komšić told Belgrade-based daily Danas.
“We believed that we did not need a mediator, if it was about mediation in the first place, and agreed to go to Belgrade first and then to Ankara. Mr. Nikolić has had several statements since the beginning that we in Sarajevo considered very unacceptable but we still decided not to react, raise tensions and waited for the right moment to realize the bilateral meeting,” he explained.
When asked about relations between Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and key problems between the two countries, Komšić that he could say that there was even a “relaxed atmosphere” in solving of open issues if there were no such disputable statements and stances on Nikolić’s part.
Parliament Ratifies Deal on Trans Adriatic Pipeline Project
By Hellas Frappe on 12.4.13
 |
| Greek parliament (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Greek parliament (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Greek Parliament ratified the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Albania, Italy and Greece on the construction and operation of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project. The IGA between the three countries, which was signed in Athens on February 13, 2013, confirms the host countries’ support for TAP and their cooperation for the project’s timely implementation.
The ratification of the IGA by the Greek Parliament continues TAP’s progress in the country, with the project now working on successfully completing the Host Government Agreement (HGA) with Greece. The HGA outlines the parameters of engagement between TAP and the Greek Government, such as permitting process, implementation of technical and safety standards and the land easement procedure.
At 1.5 billion Euros, TAP would constitute one of the largest current Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Greece and is expected to create 2,000 directly related new jobs and a further 10,000 peripheral new jobs in the Greek market.
TAP is competing to deliver gas from Azerbaijan into Europe, with a final selection of the gas transportation route expected June 2013 by the Shah Deniz consortium in Azerbaijan. TAP is the only pipeline option that will go through Greece.
Kjetil Tungland, TAP’s Managing Director, said: “As the final decision for the Southern Route by the Shah Deniz Consortium draws closer, we thank the Greek Parliament’s ratification of the IGA. We maintain our confidence that the excellent collaboration with Greece will continue and that together we will provide Shah Deniz with the most compelling offer.”
Michael Hoffmann, External Affairs Director for TAP said: “This marks an important step towards the final decision by Shah Deniz and underlines the progress and advanced status of the TAP project. The ratification by the Greek Parliament emphasizes the common benefits TAP will bring and highlights our common values.”
Rikard Scoufias, TAP Country Manager for Greece said: ”The good relationship TAP has developed over the years with Greece continues with Parliament’s ratification and reiterates the fact that together Greece and TAP can and will produce the best bid for Shah Deniz. We look forward to our continued cooperation and thank the Parliament for its support.”
capital.gr
Albanian Islamic from Kosovo, fighting for Siria rebels
10 Albanians have fallen alongside rebels
Published on 13.04.2013 | 15:56
Syrian lands are washed with the blood of the Albanians. 10 Albanians believed to have been killed so far in the fight against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Muhammad Koprova, 22 years, is the latest victim in Syria. Last week was killed fighting alongside the rebel forces.
Intelligence sources have pointed to "Daily Time" eight killed Albanians from Kosovo, the Presevo Valley and Albania, while the other two are Syrian nationals from Kosovo.
The source said earlier this week the young man from Mitrovica region has been part of a religious extremist group. There has gone from Sweden where he lived with his family.
"So far the results are said to have killed 10 Albanians. Of these two Albanians with Syrian citizenship - and Behlul Arnauti Arnauti Either way, "said the intelligence source.
He said that the first was killed Kosovar Demolli Naman, then Muse Ahmad, another Albanian from Kosovo Terrnoci East, Abu Omar al-Albani Muhammad Albania and Kosovo-born Kopriva.
"Four other Albanians from Albania were killed, but we do not have official confirmation of their identity," the source said.
The total number of Albanians involved in the Syrian war is believed 140. Are divided into two groups in Aleppo.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Killed a resident of Northern Epirus in Argjirokaster
Albania does not guarantee the Greek population lives in the South of Albania,
Himara and Saranda, systematically attacked by Albanian robbers, including Orthodox churches
Pandeli Magllara 76-year-old lost his life after clash with looters apartment
Gjirokastra - One fatality occurred in the early hours of the day in the village Vodhimë Upper Dropull municipality. Two forcibly attempted to grab a flat, inhabited by both elderly man and woman.
Two robbers after they were introduced in the apartment they encountered resistance landlord, Pandeli Magllara, 76 years. In a fight, 76-year-old has fallen by finding death after slamming his head on the ground.
Thieves later clashed with the 76-year-old wife, Evanthi Magllara, which has got some head injuries and was sent to the city hospital emergency.
The police suspected that the robbers were two young men from Tepelena, who previously worked in the area.
The violence that has included looting of houses of the Greeks, has spread almost throughout southern Albania, know as part of Epirus, while Himara and Saranda, robbery perjetojjne not only for homes, but also Orthodox churches.
Greek Parliament Unanimously Agrees - Greece Must Ask Germany To Pay War Reparations
By Hellas Frappe on 12.4.13
For the first time in decades every single party in the Greek parliament is in unanimous agreement. Greece needs to formally ask Germany to pay back the money owed from the Second World War. This includes the war reparations as well as a forced occupation loan. A provocative statement made by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Thursday noting that Greece should avoid the issue of war reparations and rather concentrate on reforms only ignited the flame which is now growing into a fire.
Schaeuble was referring to a top-secret report compiled at the behest of the Finance Ministry in Athens. Leaked by To Vima newspaper on Sunday, the report suggested that Germany owes Greece 162 billion euros in World War II reparations.
In essence, the political parties are urging the government to take the necessary legal steps to claim the 162 billion Euros (without the interest), that are due to Greece as a result of Nazi occupation and a forced war loan. (The 108 billion for Greece's infrastructure and 54 billion for the forced loan).
Responding to Schaeuble's statements, Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said that the reforms being carried out in Greece bear no relation – and can bear no relation – to the issue of German reparations, adding that the Greek state has been raising the issue for many years.
“Whether this case has been resolved or not is determined by international justice, given that, by its nature, this issue concerns international law and the international justice organs,” Avramopoulos said.
“Greece is not ‘losing its focus’ on the reform policy, despite the great sacrifices the Greek people are shouldering,” he added.
In comments made to Germany's Neue Osnabrucker Zeitung newspaper, Schaeuble said the issue of war compensations has already been “settled.”
Meanwhile, the German Tagersspiegel newspaper, slammed the Berlin government's stance on the issue noting that the Nazis did more damage in Greece than in any other country they occupied. The newspaper said that Hitler’s forces were responsible for the death of many men, women and children. Specifically it said 70,000 Jews were taken to concentration camps, 300,000 suffered frostbite and hunger because the German forces confiscated all food and fuel, 50 percent of Greece’s infrastructure and 75 percent of the country's industry were totally destroyed.
The issue of war reparations has been a contentious and legally complicated one for decades. Nazi Germany, which occupied Greece from 1941-44, forced Athens to extend it loans and give up gold reserves. There was also the question of the destruction of infrastructure and compensation claims filed by individuals who survived Nazi atrocities. As a result, Greece suffered greatly and unlike every other country Germany went to war with, only Greece has never been paid compensation.
Campaigners say the Paris Reparations Agreement of 1946 obliges Germany to pay Greece around billions of Euro.
There has long been a vociferous lobby calling for war reparations from Germany, with the so-called “National Council” calling for more than 500 billion Euros in war reparations (with interests), as well as the forced loan (with interest), but also for other commodities such as stolen art work and the loss of 50pc of economic output over almost four years.
The lobby claims that Germany’s debts were forgiven after the war at the London Conference in 1953 - including its debts to Greece - and that Berlin should remember that Germany’s Wirtschaftwunder was built with US Marshal aid and American help.
It is unclear what Athens hopes to gain by stirring up a highly emotional issue and it is certain to be viewed by German officials as a form of moral blackmail as tough talks continue over each stage of Greece’s EU-IMF Troika program. Some reports in Athens are even saying that it was prepared as a bargaining chip, but now the general feeling from all Greeks is that they want to vie for this money. (The people have indeed had enough!)
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is indeed in a difficult position. If Greece abandons this claim, then it might lead to waves of indignation throughout the country and if it decides to proceed with the claim then this could destroy the positive relations Athens now has with Germany.
Whatever the case, the important thing here is that our lawmakers finally came to a consensus. They placed national interests above their own and this is indeed historical. So what will happen? We don't know but we believe that deputy finance minister Christos Staikouras said it best when he stated:
"The matter remains pending. Greece has never resigned its rights."
Maybe this time Greece will!
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