Mosques attacked after killing of soldier

SOURCE: B92
LONDON -- Over 100 members of Britain's ultra right-wing group EDL gathered last night near the spot where a British soldier was brutally murdered in London.

 


People heckle London Mayor Boris Johnson, not pictured, as he leave the scene of the attack (Beta/AP)
They clashed with the police, throwing bottles at officers, and "continued to run riot and sing nationalists songs in a local pub" after the police formed a cordon.

The police said they received reports of attacks against mosques throughout London later during the night, but that they could not make a direct connection with the murder of the soldier - reportedly committed by two Islamists.

However, eyewitnesses said that "it was clear from the attackers' behavior that it was about revenge."

A local Muslim said that a brick was used to smash a window on a nearby mosque, while two men were arrested elsewhere in the city for attacking other mosques.

Another man was detained for attacking a mosque in Kent, said the police.

According to reports, the soldier was "hacked to death" on Wednesday in London by two British men of African origin.

One of them later approached a CCTV camera holding a knife and meat cleaver in bloodied hands, and said, "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you. The only reason we have done this is because Muslims are dying every day. This British soldier is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

According to a Reuters report, British Prime Minister David Cameron held an emergency meeting of his intelligence chiefs to assess the response to what he called a "terrorist" attack.

Albania - Greece, the first crash in the League of Nations on 1935: Minority Schools in Albania



De facto for the first time

General List No. 62

Advisory Opinion No. 26

6 April 1935

 
PERMANENT COURT OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE

Thirty Fourth (Ordinary) Session

 
Minority Schools in Albania

 
Advisory Opinion

 
BEFORE: President: Sir Cecil Hurst
Vice-President: Guerrero
Judges: Baron Rolin-Jaequemyns, Count Rostworowski, Fromageot, Altamira, Anzilotti, Urrutia, Schücking, Negulesco, Jhr. Van Eysinga
   
Perm. Link: http://www.worldcourts.com/pcij/eng/decisions/1935.04.06_albania.htm
 
Citation: Minority Schools in Albania, Advisory Opinion, 1935 P.C.I.J. (ser. A/B) No. 64 (Apr. 6)
Publication: Publications of the Permanent Court of International Justice Series A/B No. 64; Collection of Judgment, Orders and Advisory Opinions A.W. Sijthoff’s Publishing Company, Leyden, 1925
 
 
 
[p5] The Court, composed as above, gives the following opinion:

[1] On January 18th, 1935, the Council of the League of Nations adopted the following Resolution:

"The Council of the League of Nations,
In consideration of the Albanian Declaration made before the Council on October 2nd, 1921, Article 5 of which reads as follows:
'Albanian nationals who belong to racial, religious or linguistic minorities will enjoy the same treatment and security in law and in fact as other Albanian nationals. In particular they shall have an equal right to maintain, manage and control at their own expense or to establish in the future, charitable, religious and social institutions, schools and other educational establishments, with the right to use their own language and to exercise their religion freely therein.
Within six months from the date of the present Declaration, detailed information will be presented to the Council of the League of Nations with regard to the legal status of the religious communities, Churches, Convents, schools, voluntary establishments, and associations of racial, religious and linguistic minorities. The Albanian Government will take into consideration any advice it might receive from the League of Nations with regard to this question.'
In consideration of the provisions of Articles 206-207 of the Albanian Constitution of 1933, which read as follows:
'The instruction and education of Albanian subjects are reserved to the State and will be given in State schools. Primary education is compulsory for all Albanian nationals and will be given free of charge. Private schools of all categories at present in operation will be closed';
In consideration of the plea adduced before the Council by the representative of the Albanian Government that, as the - abolition of private schools in Albania constitutes a general measure applicable to the majority as well as to the minority, it is in conformity with Article 5, first paragraph, of the Albanian Declaration;
In consideration of the report submitted to the Council on January 14th, 1935, by the representative of Spain;
Requests the Permanent Court of International Justice to express an advisory opinion on the following question:
1° whether, regard being had to the above-mentioned Declaration of October 2nd, 1921, as a whole, the Albanian Government is justified in its plea that, as the abolition of the private schools in Albania constitutes a general measure applicable to the majority as well as to the minority, it is in conformity with the letter and the spirit of the stipulations laid down in Article 5, first paragraph, of that Declaration; [p6]
2° and if so, whether the Council of the League of Nations can, on the basis of the second paragraph of the said Article, formulate recommendations going beyond the provisions of the first paragraph.
The Secretary-General is authorized to submit this request to the Court, together with all the documents relating to the question, to afford the necessary assistance in the examination of the question, and to arrange to be represented before the Court if necessary."

[2] In accordance with this Resolution, the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, on January 21st, 1935, transmitted to the Court a request for an advisory opinion in the following terms:

"The Secretary-General of the League of Nations,
in pursuance of the Council Resolution of January 18th, 1935, and in virtue of the authorization given by the Council,
has the honour to submit to the Permanent Court of International Justice an Application requesting the Court, in accordance with Article 14 of the Covenant, to give an advisory opinion to the Council on the question which is referred to the Court by the Resolution of January 18th, 1935 (see attached text).
The Secretary-General will be prepared to furnish any assistance which the Court may. require in the examination of this matter, and will, if necessary, arrange to be represented before the Court."

[3] The request was registered on January 23rd, 1935, in the Registry of the Court. To the request were appended a number of documents [FN1] concerning the history of the Albanian Declaration of October 2nd, 1921, the application of Article 5 of this Declaration, and the origin of the request for an opinion.

More see all the Court Decision,,, http://www.worldcourts.com/pcij/eng/decisions/1935.04.06_albania.htm

Albania suggests changes in the Balkans, in cooperation between countries in the region, with cross-border agreements and not at war.






Balkan army chiefs in Tirana.  
President Nishani: To find common solutions


The President of the Republic of Albania, Bujar Nishani, speaking at the 7th conference of chiefs of General Staffs of the Balkan armies, sought the cooperation of all countries to maintain peace and security in the region.

"I think a lot of Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as regional cooperation and integration are the most valuable instruments for achieving the objectives of all our countries. Security risks are not just local and less national borders closed. None of our countries can not afford the risks only. In this regard we must find common solutions, which should be as logical as it is affordable. We must take measures to protect the wiser. I would like to urge this forum to consider ways to expand capacities for cooperation in providing military support to the civilian population ", - said President Nishani.

Under President Nishani, there are all possibilities for improving collaborative work in the field of security and defense.

In the 7th Conference of Heads Initiative General Staff of the Balkan countries, which began today works in Tirana hosts participating heads of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Romania. At this conference, the status of guests attending and chief of the General Staff of Croatia and Slovenia, as well as senior representatives of NATO and the European Union.

Albania the mostly country in Europe for racism, holds a Conference for intolerance 







Berisha: Proud of religious tolerance in Albania


OSCE in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a conference on discrimination and intolerance. The meeting was also attended by the Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, who said that our country is an example of religious tolerance, whereas according to his problem is domestic violence.

"Intolerance and discrimination issues are a very old thing. They created our civilizations to the most barbarous ages. These issues are truly multi-dimensional. In this country, religious violence in Albania was never a serious problem, and I am proud to have. Religious tolerance has always existed, but we can not say the same for domestic violence or homophobia. In fact it is an unfavorable situation for him, "said Berisha.

Wake: Cases prosecuted hate

Dauglas Wake, director and member of the ODIHR said that manifestations of intolerance continue to be vulnerable every year in the OSCE region from extreme violence to murder people. "We are committed to fighting crime, but on the other hand do not have accurate data. We are committed to supporting minority subject to discrimination. The countries concerned should take necessary measures. Prosecute hate crime with stiff penalties. Civil society should be involved in these problems, "he said.

Related:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/15/a-fascinating-map-of-the-worlds-most-and-least-racially-tolerant-countries/

http://smarkos.blogspot.com/2010/10/albanian-nationalism-and-new-othomans.html

The Greek Navy sends the frigate'' Psara'' and gunboats in the Aegean! ... obsserver the Turk Exercises

According to Deffencenet, the Greek Military Navy, is scheduled to observed step by step on the Aegean Sea the, Turkish Naval exercise "Deniz Kurdiu 2013", a movement very seriously for the problematic relations between Greeks and Turks Navy in Aegean. 

With information that is not disputed, the Greek Frigate'' Psara' and other 13 navy gunboats have developed exercises from Lemnos until Karpathos!


The greek navy comand, is monitor the movement of the Turkish fleet at any time,  said a Senior Staff Officer for Defencenet!

On the Occasion of Exercise Turks is delayed the departure of M / Defence General Michael Kostarakos to Tirana ahead of the meeting of chiefs of staff of the Balkan Countries!

But by morning the Interdisciplinary Special Operations Command was alarm in part for the immediate departure unknown destination

EU Threat to Visa Regime Worries Macedonia

In a bid to head off moves to reassess the visa-free regime, Macedonia says the number of asylum seekers in the EU from the Balkans is falling.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic

BIRN

Skopje

Rejected asylum seekers at Skopje airport

Macedonia's Foreign Ministry says numbers of asylum seekers heading for the EU from the region are falling.
The ministry spoke out following reports of a fresh initiative to reassess the visa-free regime by Germany, Austria, Holland and Britain.

“We are in permanent contact with the countries affected by this problem… [but] joint efforts to reduce the number of asylum seekers have started to bear fruit,” the ministry told Balkan Insight.

In a joint letter on April 25 to the Irish EU presidency, the four EU countries asked Ireland to put the issue on the table at a forthcoming meeting of the EU’s Justice and Internal Affairs Committee in mid-June, Deutsche Welle reported on Monday.

Sources in the Macedonian foreign ministry said questioning the free-visa regime for the Balkans undermined “the principle of openness of Europe and the possibility of Balkan countries one day joining the EU”.

The European Union lifted visa requirements on Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro in December 2009, allowing their citizens to travel freely into the EU's Schengen zone.

But since then Serbia and Macedonia have received complaints about mass arrivals of asylum-seekers, mainly ethnic Albanians and Roma, filing applications in Germany, Sweden, Belgium, France and other countries.

The EU has warned Balkan countries that if they don’t cut the number of asylum seekers, visas may be re-introduced.

As a result, Macedonia and Serbia last year introduced stricter border controls and boosted education among most concerned groups, urging them not to go.

Last year’s data from the German Foreign Ministry, during the peak of the influx, show that 8,477 of the 64,539 people who requested asylum in Germany in 2012 came from Serbia, ranking the country first in the list of asylum seekers.

The 2012 figure represented an increase of almost 50 per cent compared to 2011, when 4,579 Serbian nationals sought asylum in Germany.

Macedonia came fifth in the table with 4,546 asylum requests, which represented an increase of more than 3,000 people compared to 2011.

Over 80 per cent of the people who applied from both countries listed their ethnic background as Roma.

However, the most recent German data show a significant drop in applications from both countries starting from the end of last year. This currently places Serbia in fifth place and Macedonia in tenth place in the list of asylum seekers in Germany.

Boutaris Says Frangoulis Frangos "Is Dangerous" - Ti Pineis Re Dimarxe & Den mas Dineis?

Boutaris Says Frangoulis Frangos "Is Dangerous" - Ti Pineis Re Dimarxe & Den mas Dineis?

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By Hellas Frappe on 21.5.13

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Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris, who is not really one of our favorite people, has probably just created many, many enemies in the northern Greek city, and we here at HellasFrappe highly doubt that he will ever be elected as mayor again. At the weekend, and on the sidelines of his meeting with the leader of the "Agreement for A New Greece," Andreas Loverdos, Boutaris had the audacity to criticize the former Chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces Frangoulis Frangos, for basically being a patriot.

It should be reminded that Boutaris, who advocates for gay pride parades, and closer Turkish cooperation, was hand selected by George Papandreou to run as Mayor of Thessaloniki. This past winter, billionaire George Soros also took a liking to him and apparently made a handsome donation to the municipality with the excuse of heating some schools (Editor - uhmmm... clearing throat).

Boutaris expressed his dissatisfaction with what Frangoulis Frangos said at an event that was held on Sunday commemorating the Genocide of the Greek Pontus people.

In his speech in Thessaloniki Frangoulis Frangos talked about the "genocide of the Memorandum", urging the government and opposition to finally bring the people's agony to an end.

      "Today we are experiencing another genocide, which is occurring at the expense of the Greek people. Our young people, the youth and the future of Greece, due to unemployment which stands at 60%, find it difficult to marry and have children. Even those who do work with wages that do not conform to country- member of the European Union, (are affected)."

He added that the government and the opposition must resolve this problem right away so that the people can start believing that they will see a light at the end of the tunnel. He also said that excuses such Greece is in dire financial straits, will not be tolerated.

We agree, so what is Boutaris' problem?

Is it because Mr. Boutaris is noticing that the citizens of Thessaloniki are realizing that he is better skilled to operate his wine business and not the management of Greece's second city? Or is it because he is feeling a little bit of heat under the collar because Frangoulis Frangos continues to advocate for the rights of the Greek people, their history and especially this country's culture? Is it because Frangos could mass thousands of people together in a flick of the wrist, whereas Boutaris needs his campaign people to do so, or is it because the former General of the Greek Armed Forces has a wide acceptance with the public (right and left) and is someone that is extremely highly respected in Greece?

We here at HellasFrappe do not know what Boutaris' beef is, but we suspect that the same people that supported him politically, meaning the pseudo-leftist powers of Papandreou and his clan (both domestically and internationally) do not want citizens in Thessaloniki, or in other areas of Macedonia to remember atrocities such as the genoicide of hundreds of thousands of Greeks in Pontus and Asia Minor, and certainly Mr. Boutaris does not want people in Macedonia to be united. In fact George Papandreou, and the PASOK party has worked hard to separate the Greeks for the past three decades.

So why is Boutaris so bothered by Frangoulis Frangos?

Well the various Pontian associations and organizations which are scattered throughout Thessaloniki are not on very good terms with Boutaris.

Last year he and the Pontian associations were at odds end over the use of the city's main square. This year, Boutaris might of given the associations the right to use the square for their commemoration (because municipal elections are around the corner) but Pontian Greeks might forgive, but they sure as hell never forget. One of the basic reasons for this is because of Boutaris' ongoing pro-Turkish statements.

At the end of the commemoration on Sunday the criticism and good old fashioned heckling (and boos) against Boutaris were indeed very loud and very intense. When the organizers decided to thank the Thessaloniki Mayor for his support at the event, the only thing that was heard was a loud dissatisfaction of the people.

On Monday night, and on the last day of the two-day event, the same criticism was heard.

This time it was Boutaris' turn to speak, and certainly the people did not hold off on their emotions towards him. They literally verbally attacked Boutaris who dared to criticize Frangoulis Frangos, who was the keynote speaker at the event of Pontian Associations a day earlier.

    "Wow, what he (Frangoulis) said yesterday (Sunday night) is dangerous. He is only pouring oil on fire (meaning between Greeks and Turks)," said Boutaris.

This stunned all those who were present and Boutaris was suddenly booed and hissed by everyone present once again.

After these statements, various reporters asked the retired Chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces to comment on Boutaris' statements. So what did this patriot say, as opposed to the man who is so pro-Turkey?

     "Everyone has a right to have an opinion. My speech was a historical reference for the event. I have not provoked anyone. On the contrary, I honored him" noted Frangoulis Frangos, leaving everyone to draw their own conclusions.

This is how real men (with oumbala as we say in Greece) responds. And certainly this is how a Greek democrat who has decency, who is well cultured , educated and a patriot responds! Not someone who pretends to be Greek, and endorses the Ottoman culture every chance he gets!

In fact Boutaris' grand admiration and determination to endorse the Ottoman culture in Thessaloniki has indeed shocked and annoyed many citizens in the city, and at times he is so passionate about his beliefs that he forgets to follow protocol. 0ne such foul-up happened on Monday night after his verbal attack against Frangoulis, when he accidentally let it slip out that the FYROManian language is actually "Macedonian".

This obvious screw up occurred at a municipal council meeting and while he was referring to a Skopjan plaque to Rome, which, he said, was written in the "Macedonian" language. Boutaris obvious foul offended many who were present and Theophilus Pateli, who is a city councillor for the "Creative Team" party under conservative MP Costas Gkioulekas, decided to intervene.

"FYROManian Mr Mayor" said Patelli correcting Boutaris, but the Mayor of Thessaloniki insisted and then pointed out that he is a Vlach who was born in Nymphaeum, where, he added, in the past the "Macedonian" language was spoken by the Vlach people!

Ti Pineis Re Dimarxe & Den mas Dineis

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First Unmanned Aircraft Launch from Carrier – A Moment in History

An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator flies over the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. (Photo: Northrop Grumman by Alan Radecki)

The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator (UCAS-D) completed its first ever carrier-based catapult launch from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) off the coast of Virginia May 14, 2013.

“Today we saw a small, but significant pixel in the future picture of our Navy as we begin integration of unmanned systems into arguably the most complex warfighting environment that exists today: the flight deck of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier,” said Vice Adm. David Buss, commander, Naval Air Forces, the Navy’s “Air Boss”.
The unmanned aircraft launched from the deck of George H.W. Bush at 11:18 a.m. It executed several planned low approaches to the carrier and safely transited across the Chesapeake Bay to land at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., after a 65-minute flight.
Buss called the launch a “watershed event” in naval aviation and said he expects that decades from now, a future “Air Boss” will have a picture of the X-47B launching from Bush behind his or her desk just as he has a picture of aviation pioneer Eugene Ely’s first-ever landing on the deck of a ship in 1911 behind his desk today.
“This ship and her crew continuously meet the challenges placed before them,” said the ship’s commanding officer, Capt. Brian E. Luther. “The successful launch of the X-47B is yet another first on USS George H.W. Bush. We were excited to host the experimental aircraft, and are proud to know we have played a part in a significant milestone in naval aviation.”
Completing another important first for the UCAS-D program, the team demonstrated the ability to precisely navigate the X-47B within the controlled airspace around an aircraft carrier at sea and seamlessly pass control of the air vehicle from a “mission operator” aboard the carrier to one located in the Mission Test Control Center at NAS Patuxent River for landing.
“The flight today demonstrated that the X-47B is capable of operation from a carrier, hand-off from one mission control station to another, flight through the national airspace, and recovery at another location without degradation in safety or precision,” said Matt Funk, lead test engineer for the Navy UCAS program.
Prior to the catapult launch on Tuesday, the UCAS test team also conducted deck-handling and ship-integration testing to demonstrate the capability to safely operate the X-47B in the dynamic, unforgiving environment of an aircraft carrier flight deck.
“This event is a testament to the teamwork, professionalism and expertise of everyone involved with X-47B program,” said Rear Adm. Mat Winter, program executive officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons. “Their work will positively impact future unmanned aviation development for years to come.”
Over the next few weeks, the X-47B aircraft will fly approaches to the ship multiple times and eventually land on the pitching flight deck, said Navy UCAS Program Manager Capt. Jaime Engdahl.
The UCAS team will conduct additional shore-based testing with the X-47B at NAS Patuxent River in the coming months before its final carrier-based arrested landing demonstration later this summer.

3 days later – Touch and Go

Three days after leaving the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush on the first catapult launch, the Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D) returned to the carrier for a ‘touch and go’ landing trial, successfully testing the automatic landing system which integrates reference signals from the carrier deck and the drone’s avionics, conducting fully automatic approach and precision touchdown landing. On this landing test the drone touched down within the locations that would enable the tailhook to catch the arresting cables and slow the aircraft to a complete stop within the required parameters. After the test landing the aircraft returned to its shore-base at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland. The aircraft is expected to conduct shore based arrested landings at Pax River in the coming months, before final carrier-based arrestments scheduled for later in 2013.
Capt. Jamie Engdahl, Program Manager for UAS program office at the U.S. Navy the X-47B will continue to demonstrate consistent, reliable and repeatable touch down on a moving carrier flight deck, “this precision relative navigation technology is key to ensuring future unmanned systems can operate off our aircraft carriers”.

US Navy / Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle takes off from the Aircraft Carrier George H.W Bush (CVN 77) on its maiden launch from an aircraft carrier, May 14, 2013. Photo: Alan Radecki, Northrop Grumman

"Action plan for implementation expected"
SOURCE: TANJUG
BRUSSELS -- EU's Catherine Ashton expects Ivica Dačić and Hashim Thaci to on Tuesday agree on concrete steps for the implementation of the Brussels agreement.


 

Ashton and Dačić are seen during the Brussels talks (file)
Ahead of a new round of talks in Brussels, Maja Kocijačič, a spokesperson for the EU foreign policy chief, told reporters that Ashton will do everything in her power to achieve this.

A new meeting between Dačić and Thaci, their first after initialing an agreement on normalization of relations on April 19, is set for the afternoon, and as usual will begin with Ashton meeting separately with the delegations of Belgrade and Priština.

Afterwards, Ashton will sit down for a working dinner with the heads of governments in Belgrade and Priština, "which could last well into the night," said Kocijačič.

This round cannot continue the next day like some previous ones, since Ashton has to present a report on Syria to the European Council on Wednesday morning, Tanjug has learned from a source at the European Commission.

Dačić and Thaci will probably meet in Brussels one final time before the Council of the EU makes its decision regarding Serbia's accession talks on June 28, said the source.

BOOK - Greek Americans: Struggle and Success
By Hellas Frappe on 21.5.13

Greek Americans

Peter C. Moskos, C...

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Greek Americans
Peter C. Moskos, C...
Best Price $27.18
or Buy New $27.18

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This is an engrossing account of Greek Americans—their history, strengths, conflicts, aspirations, and contributions. Blending sociological insight with historical detail, Peter C. and Charles C. Moskos trace the Greek-American experience from the wave of mass immigration in the early 1900s to today. This is the story of immigrants, most of whom worked hard to secure middle-class status. It is also the story of their children and grandchildren, many of whom maintain an attachment to Greek ethnic identity even as they have become one of America’s most successful ethnic groups.

As the authors rightly note, the true measure of Greek-Americans is the immigrants themselves who came to America without knowing the language and without education. They raised solid families in the new country and shouldered responsibilities for those in the old. They laid the basis for an enduring Greek-American community.

Included in this completely revised edition is an introduction by Michael Dukakis and chapters relating to the early struggles of Greeks in America, the Greek Orthodox Church, success in America, and the survival and expansion of Greek identity despite intermarriage. This work will be of value to scholars of ethnic studies, those interested in Greek culture and communities, and sociologists and historians.

How serious is the P800 Yakhont threat? Does it have a destabilizing effect on the Middle East?

Posted by Tamir Eshel

The launch vehicle unit carrying two Yakhont anti-ship missiles in container launchers. The missiles are carried in the recessed position and launched vertically from the erected canisters.

The expected arrival of the P800 Yakhont supersonic anti-ship missile in Syria is considered the first serious attempt by Syria to directly challenge the Israel Navy since the 1973 war, when the Israeli Navy sunk five Syrian vessels in the first missile-boat engagement known as the ‘Battle of Latakia’. Four decades later, the P800 Yakhont is far superior than the Styx missiles that failed to protect the Syrian Navy in 1973.  Much like the Russian-Indian Brahmos, the earlier Moskit and Supersonic Alpha, Yakhont has the capability to strike its target at supersonic speed, flying at very low level, leaving the defender much shorter time to react. Yet, ship defenses have come a long way since the Electronic Warfare (EW) systems that saved the day and won the battle for the Israelis.
AEGIS systems, used on U.S. Navy and many NATO vessels, the European PAAMS, used by the Royal Navy, French and Italian navies and Israel’s new Barak 8 ship air defense system are designed to match such treats. So does Israel’s ‘Magic Wand’ system, employing the Stunner missile interceptor, capable to counter these potent missiles effectively if employed in surface/surface or ship/surface role. However, the majority of smaller naval vessels, still equipped with ‘point defense’ anti-missile systems were not designed to counter such high speed attacks, particularly when it comes in salvos of two or four missile.
Such elements are at risk within ranges of 300 km, by missiles fired from the Mediterranean Syrian naval bases at Tartus and Latakia. Yakhont typically cruises to the target area at high altitude, and then descends for a sea skimming attack from under the horizon. The distance at which it begins its descent can be programmed before launch, by determining the achievable range, which is between 120 (low level flight) – 300 km (high mid-course, low-level beyond the horizon to the target.

The potential coverage of P800 Yakhont missiles fired from coastal sites (Tartus) or land sites in Southern Syria cover Israel's Mediterranean Naval Bases.

While some navies could avoid this area, for Israel, the long range of the P800 means its naval vessels could be at risk, even at their main base in Haifa, a site already compromised by rockets fired from Lebanon during the 2006 war. Israel’s second naval base in Ashdod could be targeted from land-based sites in Southern Syria. Furthermore, when targeting Israeli naval patrols in international waters off the Lebanese coast, P800 can be vertically launched from inland sites in Syria or Lebanon, fired behind the Lebanon mountain ridge, avoiding detection from the sea, thus minimizing the early warning for the targeted vessels. Therefore, accelerated fielding of Barak-8 and Magic Wand systems should be a top priority for Israel. Another risk for Navies operating in the Persian Gulf presents a technology leak – by such a missile falling into Iranian hands, which could accelerate the introduction of such potent weapons in Tehran’s growing anti-shipping arsenal.

The operational concept of the Bastion P coastal defense system employs multiple mobile launchers each carrying two Yakhont missiles, capable of attacking targets at a distance of 250 km from the coast. Targeting is provided by helicopters or other airborne platforms, coastal radars or ships at sea. Each launch unit is operating independently, or coordinate its activity with another launch vehicle located up to 15 km away, targeting, command and control are provided by the central command vehicle and regional command post that can be located more than 25 km apart.

The current contract, estimated to be worth $300 million includes the delivery of two Bastion coastal defense systems, each includes 36 missiles. It is yet unclear if the Syrian navy will also opt to equip its naval platforms will with these new weapons. The Yakhont can be fitted with relatively small vessels, from corvette size and larger. The Bastion system is operated from mobile launchers on land, each launcher carries two ready to launch missiles. Another configuration is designed for airborne platforms. But even with these potent weapons in hand, the Syrians may not yet be ready to employ them effectively. Syria currently does not have the means to effectively target the missile beyond the horizon, lacking maritime patrol aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles or attack aircraft capable of carrying such missiles. Even their largest Petya class Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates do not have a flight deck for the Ka-28 (Helix) helicopters, operated by the Syrian Navy. The Syrians do not have the capability to detect, track and designate targets at those ranges since, being a small, defensive force, they did not have any weapon reaching out to these ranges. This is particularly true when the target is ‘silent’ and cannot be targeted by surface-based Electronic Support Measures (ESM).

Each mobile transporter-launcher carrying two Yakhont P800 missiles.

If the Syrians are seriously planning to extend their operational reach with the missile, one has to watch out for Syria to reach for UAVs, naval patrol aircraft (Be-200 or Il-38 from any CIS nation or other countries (decommissioning such aircraft could be an option). Such transfer of equipment could be unnoticed as it does not involves weapons transfer. They could also opt for upgrading the Su-24MK ‘Fencer D’ to take on maritime recce role. Even more serious is a combination of Su-27/Su-30 and P800s, which could provides the P800 with the stand-off targeting and attack capability against surface targets. The Russians are using their Onyx version of the weapon with their Su-33 carrier-based naval fighters. By knowing the P800 is within range, the Israeli Navy will definitely lose its dominant and unchallenged position in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly along the Lebanese coast, and therefore should take defensive measures – certainly be on guard, which it failed, during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, when ISN Hanit was hit unexpectedly by a Hizbollan C-802 missile – having turned off its on-board defensive systems.
Of course, for deliberate ‘ambush’ attacks Syria could try deploying forward targeting using merchant or fishery vessels sailing in the Eastern Mediterranean  or submarines, provided by allies such as Iran (since Syria do not have any submarines now, after decommissioning their 3 Romeo subs about six years ago). But this is really a long, long shot that would cost Syria dearly.
Altogether, for the short term, the arrival of the P800 in the Mediterranean is a serious threat. Over time, as the Israel Navy gets its Barak-8 missiles and ‘Magic Wand’ deployed, the threat could be contained, given the Syrians will not deploy large numbers of these missiles on platforms and constellations that would maximize its capability to launch saturation attack against the IN leading vessels. Whatever the case may be, both sides, the Syrians and the Israelis need time to deploy and defend so the threat may be serious, at first sight, but viable solutions are already in sight.

The Russians are using their Onyx version of the weapon with their Su-33 carrier-based naval fighters.

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New Greek Party Calls for Return to Drachma and Bank Separation

New Greek Party Calls for Return to Drachma and Bank Separation

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By Hellas Frappe on 20.5.13

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Launched on May 8, the new party, Greek Democratic 5 Star Movement or Drachma 5, calls on Greece to dump the euro, return to its former currency, the drachma, and implement banking reform based on the separation of commercial and investment banking as modeled on the Glass-Steagall Act.

Contributed to HellasFrappe
By E.I.R. Strategic Alert
www.eir.de

The key initiator of the movement is Theodoros Katsanevas, a Professor of Labor Economics who was among the featured speakers of the Schiller Institute’s international conference, “The Last Chance for Humanity” held last April 13-14 in Germany. Prof. Katsanevas also signed the Resolution: “Either Glass-Steagall, or Chaos and Genocide” issued at the end of that conference (cf. SAS 17/13). He is not new to politics, having been a founding member of the Pan Hellenic Socialist Party for which he served several terms in parliament, as well as serving in government.

While similar to the name of the Italian “Five Star Movement” of populist Beppe Grillo, the five stars in the Greek party stand for the basic positions of the party:

• 1) overthrow of the Memorandum of the IMF, European Commission and ECB;
• 2) return to the drachma;
• 3) facilitating robust growth;
• 4) restoring national dignity
• 5) ensuring social justice.

Its 25 member organizing committee includes no comedians, but they do represent a cross-section of the Greek population with teachers, businessmen, engineers, economists, university professors, etc. Their program clearly recognizes that the “Memorandum and the euro are an absolutely indisputable unity”, therefore a withdrawal from the Eurozone is needed as well as implementation of “a comprehensive plan,” including cancelling 70% of the Greek debt.

After denouncing “casino-capitalism” and the “‘holy alliance’ of globalized economy of gambling that erodes the real economy of human labor”, the party manifesto calls for bank separation:

     “Control of the banking system, capital flows and speculative financial transactions, separation between commercial and investment banks...”

Under the principle of “patriotic socialism with a human face with social solidarity,” the manifesto promotes development of the industrial and agricultural potential of the Greek economy through investment in technological innovations and expansion and development of its infrastructure, and the creation of “international university training centers and research institutes to utilize Greek scientists who excel internationally,” and are now emigrating by the thousands.

The manifesto calls for establishing an alliance among Italy, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Greece to exit the euro and enter into a cooperative economic and political alliance.

The State Department, Religious Freedom Report: The Albanian Census, does not reflect the number of Greek Orthodox

May 20 2013 

 

The U.S. State Department has published its annual report on religious freedoms in the world.
In part to Albania, quotes census data in 2011.

"According to the census of 2011, the population consists of 2.8 million inhabitants. It is difficult to assess the extent of religious groups because nearly 20 percent of respondents refused to answer questions on the registration optional religious affiliation. A number of religious leaders challenged the census results. According to the census, Sunni Muslims make up about 57 percent of the population, 10 percent Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christians (Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania) about 7 percent, and Bektashi (a form of Shi'a Sufism) 2 percent. Other groups include Baha'is, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Seventh Day (Mormons). State Committee on Cults reports over 230 groups, organizations, foundations, and religious institutions to perform their activities in the country, " the report said.

Then note that particular part of the Greek minority boycotted the census, which will mean that the census data does not reflect reality.

"A number of religious leaders challenged the results of the census of 2011, claiming that the registration officials had not ever visited a number of their believers. Also, confusion of the consequences of self-identifying ethnic and religious could have done that many respondents do not identify their religious affiliation. For example, the Greek ethnic minority groups encouraged their members to boycott the census, which affect the measurement of the ethnic Greek minority and the Greek Orthodox Church, " the report continues.

The U.S. State Department says there were reports of abuses of religious freedom.

While concern remains the property of religious communities.
"The government continued to address claims by religious groups on the return or restitution of property confiscated during the communist era, however, many remained unresolved property claims. After reaching bilateral agreements in 2008 between the government and Muslim communities, Orthodox, and Bektashi, the government instructed the State Agency for Property Restitution and Compensation to give priority to properties owned by religious groups. However, administrative and legal challenges associated with property claims generally make difficult the return of property to individuals and organizations, including religious groups, and progress was slow. For example, administrative procedures stalled Bektashi community continued to hamper the recovery of Ksamili properties, properties that a court had back in 2009 " .

   Picture: Вечер

Vecer:1st they vetoed us, now they assimilate our minority, Greek-Bulgarian coalition against Macedonians in Albania

FOCUS News Agency 

Home / Southeast Europe and Balkans

 

Skopje. First they imposed a veto on us, now they are assimilating the minority, the Macedonian Vecer daily writes in an article titled Greek-Bulgarian Coalition against Macedonians in Albania.
Greeks and Bulgarians joined forces against Macedonians also in Albania. At a joint press conference the leader of the Greek Unity for Human Rights Party Vangjel Dule announced the cooperation of his party with Izeir Fetahu, chairman of the Party for Democratic Prosperity, as a coalition with the Bulgarians in Albania.
We will cooperate in these elections. The Party for Democratic Prosperity, which represents the interests of the Bulgarian community in Golo Brdo, will cooperate with us in these elections, Dule said at a press conference.

The Macedonian Alliance for European Integration denied the claims that Bulgarians live in Golo Brdo.
“This is absolute propaganda of the Bulgarian state against Macedonians in Albania and assimilation of Macedonians in Albania. Having imposed a veto on Macedonia for its EU accession negotiations, now Bulgaria and Greece are trying to destroy and assimilate the Macedonian minority,” said Vasil Steriovski, secretary general of the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration.
Steriovski considers this a great defeat also for the Macedonian diplomacy, which held a meeting with Izeir Fetahu and presented him as a leader of the second Macedonian party in Albania.

The unprincipled coalition will harm the Macedonians in the June elections in the region of Elbasan, where a lot of Macedonians from Golo Brdo live.
According to the Vecer daily, for two years Fetahu has been successfully cooperating with the Bulgarian radical Krasimir Karakachanov. They are reported to be working on the agenda – Bulgarian passports for the Macedonians in Albania.

Albania’s Catholic Bishops Warn Against Election Fraud

Albania’s bishops have called on believers not to sell their votes in the June 23 parliamentary elections, while urging politicians to clean up their confrontational rhetoric.

Besar Likmeta

BIRN Tirana

 

“It’s well known that in many areas of Albania, ballots are sold, bought or stolen under duress,” the Catholic bishops wrote in an open letter.
“Trading one’s vote is selling out freedom,” they added.
The bishops also underlined that pressure exerted on people who work for public bodies vote in a certain way in order to keep their jobs was inexcusable and a direct violation of human rights.
The appeal represented a rare intervention by the Catholic church into domestic politics, underlining the importance of the June 23 parliamentary elections, which are seen as a test for Albania’s democratic credentials.
Since the country emerged from the autocratic Stalinist regime of former dictator Enver Hoxha two decades ago, it has never held elections that met international standards.
Like many before it, the June 23 vote will be held under the EU’s watchful gaze, with Albania desperately seeking to get closer to future membership despite making little progress over the last three years.
The bishops also urged politicians to tone down their rhetoric.
“We urge political parties and candidates on the campaign trail to hold a positive campaign and not go down to the level of insults, swearing and humiliation of an opponent and their family,” the open letter said.
“The campaign should be based on programmatic proposals and not denigration of an opponent,” it added.

Tony Blair to advise next government of Albania

Tony Blair has agreed to advise the next government of Albania, opening the way for a deal which could be worth millions of pounds.

Tony Blair: the former prime minister’s role was agreed at a meeting at his office in Grosvenor Square Photo: REX

 

By Robert Mendick, and Besar Likmeta

19 May 2013

Edi Rama, leader of the country’s opposition Socialist Party, announced last week that Mr Blair will act as a consultant, starting next month after elections which Mr Rama is expected to win.

The former prime minister’s role was agreed at a meeting at his office in Grosvenor Square, central London.

Albania hopes to join the European Union and it is likely that Mr Blair’s advice on how to do that as well as how to implement New Labour-style domestic reforms will be high on his agenda.

Mr Rama is popular in Albania and polls indicate that, currently predicted to gain in the region of 49 per cent of the national vote, he is on target to win the election.

Mr Blair’s appointment follows lucrative deals with governments in Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Brazil and Colombia.

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He set up his Government Advisory Practice shortly after quitting Downing Street in 2007, enlisting Jonathan Powell, his former chief of staff, and Alastair Campbell, his former director of communications. The Sunday Telegraph understands that the deal with Albania was first negotiated in February when Mr Campbell flew to Tirana, the capital, to promote his bestselling diaries. He is offering the Socialist Party strategic advice in the run-up to the election on June 23.
The agreement to hire Mr Blair and his team was announced last week after a meeting between the former prime minister and Mr Rama, the former mayor of Tirana.
Mr Rama said on Tuesday on Twitter: “An excellent meeting with Tony Blair. We agreed that after June 23, he and his team will work with us for good governance. Fantastic!”
The Socialist Party subsequently issued photographs and video footage of the meeting. In the video, Mr Blair said: “I will be very happy to help you, I am very interested in your country.”
The footage gives a rare glimpse into Mr Blair’s inner sanctum, where he has struck business deals worth tens of millions of pounds since leaving office. The two men stand in front of an Impressionist-style painting while photographs on the mantelpiece show Mr Blair with the world’s elder statesmen, including Nelson Mandela.
In a press statement, a Socialist Party spokesman said: “With Tony Blair and his team we will have on our side a very important partner, with a unique experience and all the right advice to build a successful government and to make a reality of our programme for an Albanian Renaissance.”
A party spokesman refused to say how much Mr Blair’s Government Advisory Practice (GAP) will be paid, although the figure is likely to be several million pounds.
GAP’s contract in Kazakhstan, an oil rich autocratic state, is said to be worth as much as £16 million – a figure Mr Blair’s office disputes, although it refuses to specify what figure it considers correct.
GAP’s contract to advise the state government of Sao Paulo, the economic powerhouse of Brazil’s fast-growing economy, is worth almost £4 million a year.
Mr Blair set up a complex web of companies to channel money from his various business interests after leaving Downing Street.
It is understood that fees earned through GAP, which employs several consultants, are administered through a company called Windrush Ventures. Windrush’s latest accounts show an income of more than £16 million for the year ending March 31 2012 and profits of £3.6 million.
While Mr Blair’s popularity has plummeted in the UK in the wake of the second Iraq war, he is considered a hero in Albania and in neighbouring Kosovo for coming to the aid of ethnic Albanians during the Kosovo war against Yugoslavia and its then president, Slobodan Milosevic.
It is said that hundreds of ethnic Albanian children in Kosovo are named “Tonibler” in his honour.
According to local media reports, Mr Rama first met Mr Blair in London in June 2010. The next month the Blairs visited Kosovo with Cherie Blair making a detour to Albania as the guest of Rezart Taci, an oil tycoon. She flew on a private jet paid for by Mr Taci to Tirana, where she opened a television station, which the multi-millionaire owns.
Mr Campbell visited Albania in February to promote his political diaries. At the time, he tweeted: “It is very wet. Here for publication of Albanian translation of diaries.”
But local reports suggest Mr Campbell was also helping the Socialist Party prepare for next month’s election.
Endri Fuga, media adviser for the Socialist Party, said: “Campbell is a friend with whom we exchange advice. Campbell does this because he believes in the Left.”
In February Mr Campbell said in an Albanian television interview: “I know Edi Rama well now, and I can tell you that he has a real programme for change. He is a person who understands what we did, from the creation of New Labour, which was a great strategic move. It’s not a secret to tell you that I like Edi Rama very much.”
The admiration is clearly mutual: after last week’s meeting, the Socialist Party described Mr Blair as “the man that transformed the European Left”.
Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe, a legacy of nearly 50 years of rule by Enver Hoxha, a communist era hardliner who led the Workers’ Party.
It was the only legal party until the fall of communism, and in 1991 reformed itself as the centre-Left Socialist Party. Mr Rama was not a communist and another hard-Left party has laid claim to Hoxha’s legacy.
Another Briton to achieve cult status in Albania was Sir Norman Wisdom, the late comedian, His comedies were the only Western films allowed to be shown during Hoxha’s dictatorship as he saw them as classic illustrations of the struggle of a proletarian hero against the ruling classes.
A spokesman for Mr Blair said: “Mr Rama met Tony Blair in London last week. As was accurately reported on Albanian TV, Mr Rama said that if he became PM, he would like Mr Blair’s advice on how to modernise government and implement a reform agenda.
"Mr Blair said that he would be happy to help, as both Albania and the region meant a huge amount to him, the conflict in Kosovo having been an important period in his Premiership. That was the sum total of the discussion about any work that Mr Blair and his team might do there.
"It has also been accurately reported in the Albanian media that Alastair Campbell has been advising the Socialist Party on election strategy.”

Iranian MP Warns Tirana Hosting MKO Terrorists Endangers Albania's National Security    TEHRAN (FNA)- The relocation of the members of the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO, also known as the MEK, PMOI and NCRI) in Albania will threaten the country's national security, an Iranian legislator warned on Sunday.

On Thursday, US State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that the 14 members of the MKO left their camp in Iraq on Wednesday "for permanent relocation in Albania."

Tirana recently offered asylum to 210 members of the MKO members.

Speaking to ICANA about the development, Member of the Presiding Board of the Iranian Parliament Seyed Baqer Hosseini warned Tirana against the negative outcomes of the MKO members' presence in the country, and asked, "How could the MKO, who had no pity for their own fellow countrymen, conduct a peaceful coexistence with foreign citizens?"

"The government of Albania should avoid repeating the same mistake that other countries have made with regard to the hosting of the MKO members because these people are dangerous both for that country's national security and the entire region," Hosseini cautioned.

MKO is a terrorist group with a bad record of terrorist operations in Iran and other countries, including Iraq.

In a recent case, the MKO claimed that it can recruit extremist and terrorist groups in Iraq due to its three-decade-long stay in that country which has also provided them with some in-debt knowledge of the Arab country, and then organize bombing plots, suicide attacks and spark sectarian and ethnic conflict in a bid to make Iraq's atmosphere tense similar to the present conditions in Syria.

Despite the efforts made by the Iraqi government to expel all MKO elements from Iraq, the western supporters of MKO, specially the US, have prevented their expulsion from the Muslim country so far.

In September 2012, the last groups of the MKO terrorists left Camp Ashraf, their main training center in Iraq's Diyala province. They have been transferred to Camp Liberty transient facility near Baghdad.

The MKO, founded in the 1960s, blended elements of Islamism and Stalinism and participated in the overthrow of the US-backed Shah of Iran in 1979. Ahead of the revolution, the MKO conducted attacks and assassinations against both Iranian and Western targets.

The group started assassination of the citizens and officials after the revolution in a bid to take control of the newly-established Islamic Republic. It killed several of Iran's new leaders in the early years after the revolution, including the then President Mohammad Ali Rajayee, Prime Minister Mohammad Javad Bahonar and Judiciary Chief Mohammad Hossein Beheshti who were killed in bomb attacks by MKO members in 1981.

The group fled to Iraq in 1986, where it was protected by Saddam Hussein and where it helped the Iraqi dictator suppress Shiite and Kurd uprisings in the country.

The terrorist group joined Saddam's army during the Iraqi imposed war on Iran (1980-1988) and helped Saddam and killed thousands of Iranian civilians and soldiers during the US-backed Iraqi imposed war on Iran.

Rama introduced in Vlore
18/05/2013

Edi Rama was introduced as a candidate in Vlore, leading the list for this district. Rama commented his candidacy in Vlore with the fact that this is the capital of all Albanians.

The opening of the Socialist Party campaign in Vlore was conceived differently from the other districts. The Socialist Party candidades for this district held short speeches, and then a short film about Edi Rama’s life was shown through a big screen.

By the end of the documentary, Rama spoke about his special connection with Vlore, since his childhood. He spoke about the current situation in this district and declared that the eight years of Berisha’s government, Vlore has received less funds than Kamza, and declared that Berisha locked the Vlore sea for eight years with the moratorium of motorboats.

Rama published a comment yesterday on his blog, saying that the race in Vlore is a great challenge for him, which the Socialist Party leader promised to win not only for Vlore, but for all Albania.

For Rama, the electoral campaign in Vlore will not be easy, especially for the fact that he will carry the biggest burden, that of the electoral campaign for the Socialist Party throughout Albania.

Edmond Leka, leader of the Socialist Party in Vlorem, decalred that Rama’s candidacy in their district was welcomed.

“We have worked in every electoral campaign with 13-15 electoral centers. Now we have 45 centers in Vlore and many people are offering their promises for the June 23rd victory, because they trust on this party and their enthusiasm is bigger”, Leka declared.

“I have led many campaigns and I have been in front of many auditoriums, but today I have a very special emotion, the same feeling before an important exam. I hope it will all be good”, Rama declared for Top Channel a few hours after being introduced as a candidate in Vlore”, Rama declared.

The Socialist Party list in Vlore is led by Edi Rama, followed by Valentina Leskaj, Koco Kokedhima, Luiza Xhuvani, Fatmir Toci, Andrea Marto, Edmond Leka, Shuaip Beqiri and Mira Shehu.

 AHI Releases 2013 Policy Statements call on the U.S. government

PROTECT THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA



The Issue

Under the veil of economic development, the Albanian government led
by Prime Minister Sali Berisha, tolerates the organized violation of the
rule of law, basic human rights of ethnic minorities, and property rights,
including illegal seizures of property.

In 2004, Berisha won re-election, returning to office after his previous
regime collapsed in 1997 following widespread systemic corruption.
During his initial regime in the 1990s, Berisha targeted the Greek
minority with heavy-handed tactics that included harassment and
violence by security forces, setting fire to schools, churches, and
businesses; and the arrest of the Greek minority’s leadership, which
was detained for six months before unspecified charges were filed. The United States, due to the efforts
of the Greek American community and Greece, worked to reverse these policies.
Berisha has reverted back to his policy of persecuting the ethnic Greek minority of southern Albania. This
time, Berisha’s strategy utilizes the assistance of international organizations, for example the World Bank,
to legitimize economic development efforts that in effect will diminish or eliminate the ethnic Greek
minority of southern Albania near the Ionian Sea. An example is the “Albanian Southern Coast
Development Plan,” which draws heavily upon tourism as the main thrust of the plan’s success.
Although Albania successfully sought a census to measure the Albanian minority in neighboring FYROM,
its government resists undertaking a legitimate, credible census to accurately measure its minorities so it
can continue to claim the Greek minority is small when it constitutes approximately 10 percent of
Albania’s 3.2 million population.19
Developments

 2004: The Albanian government leased 70 hectares of land in the Cheimarra province of Albania,
which has been inhabited by ethnic Greeks for centuries, to Riviera, a private construction company,
for 99 years. There are 120 private individuals, and the Albanian Orthodox Church, that claim
ownership of parcels that comprise this property.
 Sept. 19, 2008: the “Commission for the Return of Properties,” a body created by Berisha, rejected
applications of the 120 ownership claims of the properties.
 Nov. 2008: A series of incidents occurred as truck convoys attempted to bring building and fencing
materials into the towns and villages of Cheimarra on behalf of Riviera. Local inhabitants protested,
leading to the arrival of the police and a private security squad. Subsequent clashes and arrests
followed. Threatened with violence, some inhabitants removed their families for safety reasons.
 Jan. 9, 2009: 200 Albanian police riot units raided the town of Kakomaia in the province of Cheimarra
in an effort to help Riviera forcibly seize properties claimed by local residents who are ethnic Greeks.
 Jan. 16, 2010: A commission of 12 ministers will be established to coordinate the next census in
Albania, according to an Albanian State Minister.
 Feb. 1, 2012: Omonoia, an organization representing the Greek minority in Albania, announced it will
carry out a census of ethnic Greeks in Albania.20
 Dec. 4, 2012: Greek FM Dimitris Avramopoulos cancels a planned trip to Albania following references
PM Berisha made to a “greater Albania”21 that included extending Albania’s borders to Preveza.
 Dec. 16, 2012: A 2011 census reports the number of Greeks living in Albania as 24,360, or .54
percent of Albania’s population of 2.8 million. Media and certain officials claim the number of Greeks
19 Albania’s population is 3.2 million according to the World Bank
20 “Omonia: Albanian census to go ahead,” Athens News http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/10/52868#
21 “Albanian foreign minister accuses Greece of ‘naïve’ and ‘nationalist’rhetoric,” ekathimerini, December 4, 2012 (web site).
12is closer to 300,000. The Orthodox Church of Albania rejected the official results, and Omonoia
requested the Albania government and the international community to not accept the results.22
Our Position

We call on the U.S. government to:

 undertake diplomatic dialogue with the Albanian government to ensure the rule of law is observed
and that minority rights, human rights, and property rights are protected. An adherence to these
basic values and principles are expected of a nation with aspirations to join the EU; and
 call on Albania to conduct a proper, credible, and accountable census to accurately measure the
ethnic and religious minority populations of Albania.

PM Dačić: Serbia does not need conflicts, wars

Source: Beta

BELGRADE -- Serbian PM Ivica Dačić has said that Serbia does not need conflicts and wars and that nobody should die for it but that everybody should live and work for it.

Ivica Dačić (Tanjug)

He attended an election assembly of the United Regions of Serbia (URS) on Sunday and said that it was not easy to run Serbia today “because the hardest thing is to fight for peace and for a modern country”.
“This is not a medieval Serbia but 21 century Serbia. Strong Serbia is good for the entire Serbian people in the region,” Dačić pointed out, stressing that “justice is the soul of Serbia”.

“Justice means that there is a principle of equal chances for everyone. Equal chances can be in human rights and freedoms, economic development, availability of public systems to all citizens, right to education and health care for everyone,” the prime minister stressed.

He added that the equal chance system meant that every part of Serbia had the right and chance to develop equally, which is why he supported an idea of equal chances for all regions.

Dačić noted that it was time for Serbia to form a concept as to how it should look like and call on the URS to “jointly move toward new time”.

“There are many parties in Serbia, but there is only one Serbia,” he stressed

Christos Pappas Statesman to  Greek Foreign Ministry, for implementation of the Corfu Protocol, 1914
 

 

TO: Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos
          
SUBJECT: "The Protocol of Corfu and submissive government policy towards the Albanians'
Once the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Afairs, inside the coalition mentioned with reverence in the proper observance of the Treaty of Lausanne, the Treaty of defeat, between our country and the Turks, and asks the strict application, unfortunately it does not do the same for the application Protocol of Corfu, as the Protocol of Victory, signed on 17 May 1914, nine years before the Treaty of Lausanne between Greece and Albania.  

With the signing of this Protocol, Albania and the Great Powers, recognized the autonomy of Northern Epirus, the Greek character and to fully vested religious, linguistic and educational freedom of its people.

  Today the Greeks of Northern Epirus is left at the mercy of the Albanian irredentism. Without any substantial help from their homeland, Greeks of Northern Epirus experiencing perhaps conditions worse than those of the 80s. Without schools, without basic human rights. Here the person during Northern Epirus treated with analgesia, with no national or social sensitivity. Deprives the state and even pensions OGA the time for other minor issues, the state can finds funds even if they exist.

 On the occasion of the anniversary of a then forgotten by the political establishment anniversary of a national and diplomatic victory for our country.

The RESPONSIBLE MINISTER

1) Why not demand that the Albanians implement the Protocol of Corfu; Why does our diplomatic policy towards the Albanians becomes more assertive, as regards the rights of the Greeks of Northern Epirus; 
2) In what ways will strengthen our brothers in Northern Epirus opposite the Albanian irredentism; What steps will be taken in order to protect their rights? 
3) Continue the Greek Foreign Ministry the same submissive policy towards Albania, once the Albanian provocations has reached a point where it sees as Albanian territory across the continent?
                                                                                
Athens, 17/05/2013

Christos PappasMP of Golden Dawn Party