Sidste Nyt fra Albanien, Kosóva og Makedonien

Indholdsfortegnelse Contents

Ugeoversigt Summary

Internationale organisationer   International organizations
FN   UN
Verdensbanken, IMF m.fl.   World Bank, IMF etc.
OSCE, Europarådet   OSCE, Council of Europe (CoE)
EU   European Union (EU)
NATO   NATO
ICTY - Tribunalet i Haag   ICTY

Balkan, generelt   The Balkans
Kosóva   Kosóva [Kosovo]
Øst Kosóva / Presevo-dalen / Syd-Serbien   Eastern Kosóva
Albanien   Albania
Serbien og Montenegro. Serbien (alene)   Serbia-Montenegro. Serbia
Montenegro (alene)   Montenegro
Makedonien   Macedonia [FYRoM]

Grækenland   Greece
Tyrkiet   Turkey
Italien   Italia

USA   United States (US)
England   England
Tyskland   Germany
Frankrig   France
Danmark (Norge, Sverige)   Denmark (Norway, Sweden)

Rusland Russia
Kina China

Fodbold (FIFA's rangorden) Football (FIFA)

»Albansk Almanak 2003« bd. 1-3

Almanak'en for 2003 er udkommet. Her finder du årets nyhedsbreve. Årets litteraturkommentarer vil udkomme hen over sommeren 2005 i »Albanske Studier« ## 3-4.

Bogen findes i trykt form og på CD (som pdf-fil). Papirudgave på 800 sider i 3 bind. Bogen sælges som papirudgave m/ CD og som CD alene. Se pris på: Bestillingsliste.

Udgaven for 2004 ventes at udkomme medio 2005.

»Albanske Studier« bd. 1-2

Kommentarer til Bjøl, Huntington, Machiavelli, Sørlander, DUPI (Humanitær Intervention), Clausewitz, Mao Zedong, Lars R. Møller, Malcolm og flere andre (kommentarerne er suppleret ift udgaver i Almanak'erne m.v.). Englændere på rejse i Albanien: Edward Lear, Edith Durham og Robert Carver. Bøger om slægtsfejder og blodhævn. Diskussion af Anne Knudsen's disputats om blodhævn på Korsika og af Ismail Kadare's roman »Ufuldendt april«. Baggrundsmateriale om den Sønderjyske general Christian von Holstein, der deltog i Habsburgernes felttog ind i Kosóva i 1689-90. Sidst i bogen et forsøg på en sammenfatning i form af nogle 'grundlæggende synspunkter'. Desuden en kommentar til Hans Hækkerup's »På skansen«. På CD'en supplerende materiale om traditionelle Albanske klædedragter og om Holstein.

Du kan downloade indholdsfortegnelsen og kommentaren til Hækkerup fra: http://bjoerna.dk/albansk-historie/studier-2002.htm

Bogen findes i trykt form og på CD (som pdf-fil). Papirudgave 368 A4-sider i 2 bind. Bogen sælges som papirudgave m/ CD og som CD alene. Se pris på: Bestillingsliste.

Til dig der kigger på et ældre nummer af »Sidste Nyt«.

Seneste udgave af denne »annonce« kan ses på:

»Sidste Nyt« (klik)

Seneste 4 udgaver af »Sidste Nyt fra Albanien, Kosóva og Makedonien«:

Sidste Nyt #260 - frem til 27.05.2005 (klik tv.)
Sidste Nyt #259 - frem til 20.05.2005 (klik tv.)
Sidste Nyt #258 - frem til 13.05.2005 (klik tv.)
Sidste Nyt #257 - frem til 06.05.2005 (klik tv.)

Urolighederne i Kosovo / Kosóva marts 2004: Sidste Nyt #206 (klik tv.)

Sagen mod Slobodan Milosevic: (1) Retsmødet 5.7.2004. Udsættelser osv. Links & materiale: Om udskrift af anklageskrifter og retsbøger | (2) Milosevic' indledende forsvarstale; tildeling af Forsvarsadvokater | (3) Afhøring af de første af Forsvarets Vidner. Sagen udsættes til 12.10.2004. Skriftlig begrundelse for at tildele Milosevic Forsvarsadvokater | (4) Forsvarernes appel (29.9.2004; som pdf); (5) Appelafgørelsen der - i høj grad - gav Milosevic medhold (1.11.2004; som pdf); (6) Afhøring af Professor Mihajlo Markovic (Nov. 2004)

Sagen mod Fatmir Limaj m.fl.: Se under: ICTY.

Alle årets udgaver: http://bjoerna.dk/nyt-oversigt.htm

UGEOVERSIGT (resumé)

Kosóva: Kosóva har været på dagsordenen sidste uge under UM Per Stig Møller's forsæde. "Sikkerhedsrådets medlemmer udtrykte i deres indlæg på mødet støtte til generalsekretærens hensigt om hen over sommeren at gennemføre en vurdering af situationen i Kosovo, herunder af mindretallenes vilkår. Annan vil udpege en Særlig Udsending til at stå herfor. Et positivt udfald af denne vurdering kan føre til starten på forhandlinger om Kosovos endelige status." SRSG Søren Jessen-Petersen holdt et oplæg som optrykkes. Der er sket visse fremskridt, men der har været vanskelige situationer (særligt i forbindelse med PM Haradinaj's tilbagetræden og efterfølgende fængsling og fremstilling i Haag). SRSG Jessen-Petersen kan siges at være behersket optimistisk; han fremhæver at der er dannet en ny regering (under ledelse af Bajram Kosumi), og at der nu findes en stærk politisk oppostion (under ledelse af hhv Hashim Thaci og Veton Surroi). Man taler bedre med Serbien/Beograd end tidligere, men der er kun ganske få Kosovo-Serbere der er vendt tilbage til Kosovo. Man kunne tilføje at økonomien er fuldstændig forvredet og at der forestår en meget lang, besværlig og kostbar omstillingsproces.

UNMIK skriver om overførsel af 64 Albanske Lig til Kosóva.

FM Søren Gade har været i Kosóva. Han mener at Dansk KFOR kan reduceres.

Albanien: 1. Juni var det Børnenes Dag i Albanien. Der har været munterhed i gaden og møde i Ungdomsparlamentet.

Præsident Moisiu holder i denne tid møder med Den Centrale Valgkommission, Militærets Ledelse, Politiets Ledelse, Ledelsen af Efterretningsvæsenerne, Pressens Ledelser - alt sammen for at vende nogle problemer i relation til det forestående valg.

Alumil. En Fabrik i Tirana-området er blevet åbnet eller udbygget med Græsk støtte (næppe på 100% markedsmæssige vilkår); både Præsident Moisiu, Økonomiminister Anastas Angjeli og den Græsk-Ortodokse Ærkebiskop deltog i arrangementet; desuden var der Gæster fra Kosóva - muligvis fordi der skal hentes råvarer dér?

PM Nano er fortsat flittig med at komme rundt i Albanien for at styrke Socialistpartiet i valgkampen. Han har fx været i Burrel for at støtte Qemal Minxhozi, indtil fornylig chargé d'affaires i København. Mens han var i Burrel så han på arbejdet med at modernisere vandingssystemet. Nano har også været i Përmet, i Bilishtit hvor han var på besøg på en tekstilvirksomhed, i Lushnja for at støtte tidligere Udenrigsminister og Kulturminister Arta Dade, og endelig har han været i Tirana for at støtte en kvindelig Kandidat i kreds 31 og Politiminister Toska i kreds 34. Minister Toska har offentliggjort sin valgtale på Politiministeriets hjemmeside; det er ikke så usædvanligt i Albanien (PM Nano offenttliggør også en del politiske indlæg på Statsministeriets side); havde det været i Danmark var der faldet brænde ned - for et Dansk ministerium må ikke bruges partipolitisk.

Mjaft og Gallup har gennemført en opinionsmåling (siger Mjaft).. Det ser ud til at Socialisterne og Demokraterne ligger nogenlunde lige; men Ilir Meta's parti har fået en vis tilslutning. Hvor dækkende målingen er, er meget svært at sige; specielt er det svært at gisne om hvordan det vil gå Meta's parti og de andre mindre eller helt små partier; til gengæld er Meta nævnt nogle gange af PM Nano i Burrel-talen (se ovenfor) - ikke akkurat for det gode. Man er i øvrigt ikke vant til Gallup'er i Albanien - hverken som spørgere eller som adspurgte. ... Efterfølgende skal Gallup have udtalt at det er forkert når Mjaft taler om et samarbejde mellem sig og Gallup.

Europarådets Parlamentariske Forsamling har haft en Delegation på besøg for at 'vende' den politiske situation og parlamentsvalget. Delegationen har været på besøg hos Præsidenten, Premierminister Nano og den Centrale Valgkommission.

Det Albanske Udenrigsministerium har haft de udenlandske Diplomater på udflugt til Vlora; på billedet ses bl.a. den Amerikanske Ambassadør Ries (lige ved siden af UM Islami) og den Italienske Ambassadør Attilio Massimo Iannucci (et stykke tv); Italien spiller en stor rolle både som politisk partner og som handelspartner. Adskillige Albanere arbejder i Italien - nogle har fast ophold dér, andre midlertidigt. Antallet af illegale Albanere i Italien er formentlig faldet i det seneste par år.

Albansk-Kinesisk Arkivsamarbejde. For nogen tid siden er man blevet enige om at samarbejde på forskellig led mellem Kina og Albanien. ADN skriver: TIRANA - Yang Donquan, Deputy-General Director of the State Archives of the People's Republic of China and Shaban Sinani, Director of National Archives of Albania signed on Thursday an agreement consisting in exchange of materials and experience in this field. In function of keeping the historical memory alive, the two sides will exchange copies of documents and for those towards which common interest will exist, joint researches would be conducted. The agreement also includes the archives restoration for which the People's Republic of China has a prestigious school recognized at international level.

Frankrig: Folkeafstemningen om EU-traktaten var klar og tydelig; flertallet af Franskmændene stemte imod traktaten; senere har de Hollandske Vælgere været endnu tydeligere. Det ventes at traktaten er død i den foreliggende form, og at der vil gå et stykke tid, før man finder ud af hvordan man kan komme videre.

Danmark: Mht Dansk Formandskab i Sikkerhedsrådet og Rådets diskussion om Kosóva Se under: Kosóva.

Flygtning fra Albanien? Danmarks Radio's Ungdomsredaktion har i ugens løb bragt en 'radiofeature' på ca 45 min af Ulla Ringgård om en Flygtning fra Albanien der kom til Danmark i 1999 sammen med sin Kone. Flygtningen havde været politisk aktiv i Albanien og var blevet torteret, hvorefter han var flygtet. Flygtningen havde fået afslag på sin ansøgning om opholdstilladelse, den Danske Advokat mente ikke at kunne gøre mere, mens en ung Dansker havde taget sig af Parret og skjult dem. Manden havde fået et alvorligt psykisk sammenbrud - herefter havde de Danske Myndigheder bevilget opholdstilladelse af humanitære grunde. Foreløbig kommentar: Historien er mærkelig (kommer Flygtningen virkelig fra Albanien og ikke fra Kosóva eller Makedonien?); jeg har sendt en mail til Ulla Ringgård for at få lidt information. Når jeg hører fra hende, vender jeg tilbage. [Se nærmere i »Sidste Nyt« # 262]

USA: Den Amerikanske Historie: Watergate. Rolling Thunder: Deep Throat er trådt frem, han var i sin tid Vicedirektør i FBI og synes kun at have haft redelige motiver til i sin tid at være gået til Washington Post. Rolling Thunder: Tusindvis af Vietnam- og andre Veteraner har afviklet et stort mindearrangement i Washington. FM Rumsfeld deltog.

INTERNATIONALE ORGANISATIONER m.v.

Opmærksomheden henledes på Economic Reconstruction and Development in South East Europe. Adressen er www.seerecon.org. Her kan man finde materiale om aktuelle møder og konferencer.

VERDENSBANKEN, IMF M.FL.

Se under de enkelte lande / områder.

OSCE, Europarådet

Se under de enkelte lande / områder.

NATO

ICTY - TRIBUNALET I HAAG

Sagen mod Slobodan Milosevic: (1) Retsmødet 5.7.2004. Udsættelser osv. Links & materiale: Om udskrift af anklageskrifter og retsbøger | (2) Milosevic' indledende forsvarstale; tildeling af Forsvarsadvokater | (3) Afhøring af de første af Forsvarets Vidner. Sagen udsættes til 12.10.2004. Skriftlig begrundelse for at tildele Milosevic Forsvarsadvokater | (4) Forsvarernes appel (29.9.2004; som pdf); (5) Appelafgørelsen der - i høj grad - gav Milosevic medhold (1.11.2004; som pdf); (6) Afhøring af Professor Mihajlo Markovic (Nov. 2004)

Sagen mod Fatmir Limaj m.fl.: 29 May 2005 – Defence motion on behalf of Fatmir Limaj for provisional admission of written evidence in lieu of viva voce testimony pursuant to Rule 92bis and attached annexures A-C. 27 May 2005 – Expert report of professor WA Wagenaar concerning the issue of identification by means of eyewitness recognition and the specific procedures used in the present case.

BALKAN LANDE, LANDE VED ØSTLIGE MIDDELHAV

BALKAN GENERELT

Udsnit af EU's Europakort 2004. [Udsnittet kan forstørres ved at klikke på det]. Kortet indgår i en præsentationsborchure, der kan downloades som pdf fra: http://europa.eu.int/comm/publications/booklets/eu_glance/20/da.pdf.

KOSÓVA

Bynavne: Angives der to navne på samme lokalitet, er den Albanske nævnt først. Se oversigten på: http://bjoerna.dk/kosova/byer.htm ... Bynavne: Angives der to navne på samme lokalitet, er den Albanske nævnt først. Se oversigten på: http://bjoerna.dk/kosova/byer.htm ... Rapporter fra FNs Generalsekretær ... 040616 SG Kofi Annan udtaler at han agter at udpege Søren Jessen-Petersen som 5' SRSG. Søren Jessen-Petersen blev senere udpeget og tiltrådte i Kosóva 040816. ... 0308 Harri Holkeri tiltrådte som 4' SRSG. Fratrådt 0406 af helbredsmæssige grunde. ... 020214 Michael Steiner tiltrådte i Kosova som 3' SRSG og fratrådte i begyndelsen af 0307. ... En biografi over 2' SRSG Hans Hækkerup kan læses på Danske Politikere. En anmeldelse af hans bog »Kosovos mange ansigter« kan downloades fra: http://neva.hjem.wanadoo.dk/Haekkerup2.pdf (0,4 MB) ... Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government. ... Kosova's Regering. ... Webside vedr. 2004-valgene ... UNMIK Politiets oversigt over 2001 (artikler, billeder og statistik i pdf-format (fil'en er forholdsvis stor: 2,6 MB)) ... Kriminaliteten i 2002 - Oversigt kan downloades [klik på titlen]

Parlamentsvalget 2004 [Præsidenten - Ibrahim Rugóva - er valgt af Parlamentet, the Assembly], se: http://kosovoelections.org/eng/

Pressemeddelelser fra UNMIK:

Kosóva har været på dagsordenen sidste uge under UM Per Stig Møller's forsæde. Det Danske UM skriver:

UDENRIGSMINISTEREN LEDER MØDE OM KOSOVO I SIKKERHEDSRÅDET

Med udenrigsminister Per Stig Møller i formandsstolen afholdt FN's Sikkerhedsråd den 27. maj 2005 et møde om Kosovo og FN-administrationen af provinsen (UNMIK). Mødet indledtes med en briefing ved generalsekretær Kofi Annans Særlige Repræsentant i Kosovo og chef for UNMIK, danskeren Søren Jessen-Petersen.

Sikkerhedsrådets medlemmer udtrykte i deres indlæg på mødet støtte til generalsekretærens hensigt om hen over sommeren at gennemføre en vurdering af situationen i Kosovo, herunder af mindretallenes vilkår. Annan vil udpege en Særlig Udsending til at stå herfor. Et positivt udfald af denne vurdering kan føre til starten på forhandlinger om Kosovos endelige status.

Udenrigsminister Per Stig Møller udtalte efter mødet:

"Vi har taget et vigtigt skridt i dag, men der er ingen automatik i den videre proces. Hvis alt går som det skal, forventes processen at ville vare op til 1 år, inden der er en endelig afklaring på Kosovos status.

Det er håbet, at den nu aftalte omfattende vurdering vil føre til åbning af statusforhandlinger. Processen vil ikke være uproblematisk. En løsning på Kosovos status skal sikre Kosovos mindretal og understøtte den regionale stabilitet.

Danmark er parat til fortsat at støtte denne proces og tiden derefter, så vi for alvor kan få lagt den sidste af Balkans blodige konflikter bag os. Den høje arbejdsløshed og ringe økonomiske vækst i Kosovo kan destabilisere situationen. En afklaring af Kosovos status vil være en forudsætning for, at der kan komme investeringer til området.

Det er ikke mindst takket være Søren Jessen-Petersens store indsats i Kosovo, at vi kunne have det gode og afgørende møde, vi har haft i Sikkerhedsrådet i dag. Hans fine balance og høje personlige integritet har sikret ham troværdighed og upartiskhed som Særlig Repræsentant. Det har givet ham den gennemslagskraft, der har gjort dagens resultater mulige."

SRSG Søren Jessen-Petersen holdt et oplæg som optrykkes nedenfor (men som også kan downloades fra: http://bjoerna.net/balkan-dokumenter/KOS-SRSG-UNSC-050527.pdf). Der er sket visse fremskridt, men der har været vanskelige situationer (særligt i forbindelse med PM Haradinaj's tilbagetræden og efterfølgende fængsling og fremstilling i Haag). SRSG Jessen-Petersen kan siges at være behersket optimistisk; han fremhæver at der er dannet en ny regering (under ledelse af Bajram Kosumi), og at der nu findes en stærk politisk oppostion (under ledelse af hhv Hashim Thaci og Veton Surroi). Man taler bedre med Serbien/Beograd end tidligere, men der er kun ganske få Kosovo-Serbere der er vendt tilbage til Kosovo. Man kunne tilføje at økonomien er fuldstændig forvredet og at der forestår en meget lang, besværlig og kostbar omstillingsproces.

PRISTINA_ SRSG Søren Jessen-Petersen has just finished addressing the UN Security Council at the start of the UNSC’s session on Kosovo at UN Headquarters in New York. This is the text of his address:

“ Mr President,

Let me begin by congratulating you as the President of the Council. You will appreciate my particular pleasure in seeing Denmark in the chair. I also want to thank you personally for honouring us with your presence today.

The three month period since my last appearance before the Security Council has been a challenging one. The progress made – and let there be no doubt that there has been progress – must be seen in the context of the challenges that Kosovo has faced.

In particular, March 2005 saw some very difficult moments. The Government formed in December 2004 made good progress through its first 100 days, and the momentum was considerable. However, in early March, a few days after my last report to this Council, that Government came to an end when Prime Minister Haradinaj resigned following notification of an imminent indictment from the ICTY. Within 24 hours following his indictment and after appealing for calm and for a continuation of progress in building a democratic society, Mr Haradinaj proceeded voluntarily to The Hague.

During those days, Kosovo showed the region and the world a commendable respect for the judicial process. Democracy was respected, and a new Government – continuing the coalition of the two parties, LDK and AAK, and under the leadership of Bajram Kosumi as Prime Minister– was formed within three weeks. Throughout those difficult days and weeks, the political leaders and citizens of Kosovo managed a highly unusual situation with maturity and without any disorder or instability.

In particular, standards implementation stayed on track. The brief delay around the time of the formation of the Government was quickly overcome. The new Government showed the same commitment to moving forward on standards and made continued progress on its programme during the months of April and May.

As in most new democracies – and let us remember that democracy in Kosovo is only a few years old – there is political tension. For the first time in its recent history, Kosovo has a strong opposition, under the leadership of Hashim Thaci and Veton Surroi, which, as everywhere, is critical of the work of the Government, while in agreement on the overall goals for Kosovo.

In order to manage any tensions more constructively, and in view of the critical period ahead for Kosovo and the significant political issues coming up, I decided to propose bringing political party leaders and the President of Kosovo together in a ‘Forum’. The purpose of this Forum is to enhance constructive dialogue and ensure maximum possible consensus on critical and crucial issues, without substituting for constitutional fora. My proposal has met with agreement and I will convene the first meeting of the Kosovo Forum next week.

Mr President,

I am glad to report some positive developments on dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. The first meetings of Direct Dialogue since March 2004 resumed one year later, beginning with the Working Group on Missing Persons on the 16th March. This was followed by meetings in April and May on the key issues of Energy and Returns of Displaced Persons. These Working Group meetings will take place on a regular basis in Belgrade and Pristina and are supported by intermediate technical meetings to work on substantive issues. This dialogue not only serves to make progress on the specific issues, which range from humanitarian to economic, but it is an important sign of building confidence – crucial as we move closer towards status discussions.

We need to continue encouraging political dialogue. I welcome the fact that Pristina and Belgrade have now expressed their readiness to engage in high-level political dialogue. It is vital that political leaders begin to talk with each other sooner rather than later. Pristina and Belgrade have every mutual interest in co-existing and interacting peacefully and constructively.

Over the past months, we have witnessed greater engagement and dialogue with the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Church and the PISG signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 25 March to allow for the reconstruction of Serbian Orthodox religious sites; this followed a lengthy delay due to talks within the Church on how to proceed. The PISG had already allocated 4.2 million euros last year, and is now actively considering to earmark an additional 1.5 million for reconstruction of Serbian Orthodox religious sites that were damaged during March 2004 violence.

It is obvious that long term preservation of cultural heritage in Kosovo (which includes Serbian Orthodox, Ottoman/Islamic, Catholic and vernacular sites) must be an increasing priority in the coming months. In this context I would like to mention the successful International Donors Conference for the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage of all communities in Kosovo, held two weeks ago in UNESCO in Paris with the support of that organisation, the EU, the Council of Europe, and others. Participants at the meeting pledged some 10 million euros and technical assistance in a clear expression of support for the cultural heritage in Kosovo. A technical mission to restore a church in Prizren, supported by UNESCO, took place just a few weeks ago, and more will now follow.

However, the news is not all good. Despite recent encouraging developments on dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, I am concerned that there is still – after more than 15 months –no clear signal from Belgrade to the Kosovo Serbs to participate in the institutions. Dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, although welcome and important, cannot substitute for the direct involvement of the Kosovo Serbs in shaping their own future in an internal dialogue in Kosovo.

Progress in Kosovo will continue, even without the meaningful participation of the Kosovo Serbs, but progress in establishing a fully multi-ethnic Kosovo and integrating all communities will remain limited as long as one ethnic group is pressured to stay outside the political, economic, and social processes. The fault for this obstacle towards progress does not lie in Pristina. The victims, however, are the Kosovo Serbs who are eager to participate at this crucial moment of time. Those who oppose progress can always find some reason to defer allowing participation, but the recent trends have proven that bolder engagement can actually foster real progress for the benefit of all. Belgrade, in my view, would help the Kosovo Serb community, and itself, by moving from reticence and delay to commitment and engagement.

Mr President,

Standards remains the roadmap for the short term but also for the long term. It is a way of building and strengthening democracy and a multi-ethnic society, and also a way for Kosovo to move progressively towards EU integration.

We have seen a continued strong commitment by the PISG during the reporting period. The structures working on standards implementation have shown themselves to be solid and durable. While we recognise that there is still much to do, the trends in a number of areas have been positive, and this is reflected in my technical assessment annexed to the SG report before the Council. We feel that the authorities, and increasingly the citizens, have understood the need to implement standards, and have made efforts to reach out to the minorities.

Mr President, let me say a few words on some specific issues.

Decentralisation, or local government reform, is not a standard as such, but it is an important process. Decentralisation will benefit the population as a whole, as it will bring services closer to the citizens, and it will also help to meet minority concerns.

After some hesitation following its formation, the Government has acted. A Steering Board and five Working Groups have been established and are convening, including two held this week on legislation and on pilot projects, which are to be established shortly. The Kosovo Serbs were invited to, and did participate in these meetings, thus having the opportunity to shape the process. I would also add that Belgrade was invited to join the Kosovo Serb delegation and that we were of course flexible on the modalities, but again failed to do so. Regrettably, the post of Deputy Minister for Local Government Administration, reserved for a Kosovo Serb, still remains vacant. As we push for further progress on decentralisation, I believe that the recent Contact Group agreement on the principle of ‘no partition’ of Kosovo does send a clear signal that the majority community has no reason to fear that meaningful decentralisation would be a cover for division. On the contrary, if well conceived and implemented, it should eventually promote co-existence around the efficient sharing of local capacities and resources.

I would add that we are currently looking at a number of initiatives that could be carried out prior to full-scale decentralisation and that could empower municipalities, for example in the field of policing and administration of justice.

Mr President,

Security has further improved and this is key, as it is a basis for progress in all areas. I want again to pay tribute to the Commander of KFOR and his forces, whose excellent work and close co-ordination with UNMIK and KPS is playing a key role in maintaining a safe and secure environment. The environment has indeed been generally calm during the reporting period, with only a few incidents of note. In particular, very little occurred in the way of inter-ethnic incidents. Unfortunately, the Commander of KFOR and I are concerned, and we have repeatedly said so, that – partly due to deliberate misinformation – perception of security remains a problem and leads to mainly self-imposed limits on freedom of movement. There is a tendency in some media to generalise and to misrepresent every incident involving Kosovo Serbs. Before the police investigation has even begun, some journalists – and some politicians – already pronounce an event as being ethnically motivated, thus feeding the fears of the Kosovo Serb community, including IDPs. In most cases we find, after professional and thorough investigations, that such assertions have no foundations.

There are also assertions that perpetrators are not sentenced – this is simply also misinformation. As a recent example, six Kosovo Albanians were found guilty of murder of two Kosovo Serbs in March 2004, and sentenced to a total of 38 years just last week by the Gjilan/Gnjilane Disrict Court. It is also worth noting that Serbian cabinet ministers, in recent meetings with senior UNMIK officials, have indicated that trust in the KPS on the part of the Kosovo Serb population has indeed increased. The KPS, as you may be aware, has a minority component of about 16%, and Kosovo Serbs make up about 10% of KPS numbers. I might add another example of progress: of 29 lay judges sworn in at the end of April, 16 were minority community members, of which 13 were Kosovo Serbs.

There are signs, and also evidence, of increased freedom of movement by Kosovo Serbs, although there are still too many who do not feel free to move. As a sign of the improving environment, there has been a reduction of escorts and of military and police presence at specific sites or locations. As a most recent example, at the beginning of this month, the first Serbian play since the end of the conflict was held at Kosovo’s main theatre in Pristina, and was prepared and performed by Serbs with large Serb attendance.

The number of returns is still disappointingly low. PISG, UNMIK, and UNHCR continue to work hard on improving conditions for returns, so that displaced persons can return to Kosovo if they so choose. I have recently met with IDPs in Serbia and returnees in Kosovo, and can report to you, Mr President, that their main concern is not primarily security; rather, they are concerned by property issues and by the lack of economic prospects.

There has been some qualitative progress in returns, as for example the first urban returns to Klina. My visits to returnees in several areas, including Bablyak and Brestovik, have convinced me that conditions are present to allow tomorrow’s returns to take place, and that positive encouragement by responsible politicians, both in Pristina and in Belgrade, can convince more displaced persons to return to Kosovo.

There have been increased efforts on the part of the Kosovo Government on returns. This includes personal appeals by the Prime Minister to potential returnees, and visits to Podgorica and to Skopje by the Minister of Returns – himself a Serb – and the Minister of Local Government Administration. These visits have resulted in better understanding and improved regional co-operation, as well as agreements with regional partners, as for example a recent Protocol on returns with Montenegro.

The Working Group on Returns, held on 12 May between Pristina and Belgrade under the chairmanship of UNHCR, was a successful first meeting and will continue. In a very positive development, the respective heads of delegations from Pristina and Belgrade met in Pristina to discuss issues of substance in a productive bilateral working meeting.

As regards functioning democratic institutions, I can report that the rapid formation of the new Government in March showed continued evidence of a stable political situation. The Assembly of Kosovo has lately shown itself to be a more transparent and democratic place for debate according to the established rules; the recent debate, 5-6 days ago, on decentralisation was a step forward. I and colleagues from the OSCE will continue to provide assistance and advice to the Assembly Presidency to ensure that this key institution functions democratically, as I trust it will.

We are rigorously stressing the need for local ownership, and the policy of transfer of competences to the PISG has continued. We are at this point carefully looking at transfer in police and justice areas, where we can transfer competencies short of sovereignty in order to ensure that the local authorities assume maximum responsibility and accountability, also in the area of security.

Mr President

We have continued to support the PISG’s efforts to co-ordinate and strengthen institutional capacity building. The PM has given full political backing to a PISG initiative, supported by UNMIK and the international community, to draw up a strategic plan in order to guide assistance and help focus on priorities. It is expected that the strategic plan will be developed by the summer and will serve as a basis for better targeting and co-ordinating donor efforts so that we can build up the institutions that Kosovoso needs. It is clear that considerable donor assistance will be necessary in a number of sectors over the next months and years.

On accountability, the policy we developed has served as an incitement to the PISG to address accountability problems and take corrective measures where necessary. UNMIK is prepared to take action if and when appropriate, but counts on the PISG to assume its responsibilities directly.

Mr President,

There have been some significant developments on economic issues which have helped to improve the investment climate somewhat, including in the area of privatisation, access to loans from the European Investment Bank, and long-term lease possibilities for investors.

However, it must be stressed that the extremely problematic economic conditions could at any moment lead to social instability – as they would in any society with high unemployment and continued stagnation. In spite of our efforts to make the investment climate more attractive and to stimulate the economy, it is clear that there will be no real overall progress until the status issue is resolved.

In conclusion, Mr President, let me stress again that according to realistic and fact-based criteria, Kosovo has seen steady further improvement during the reporting period. At the same time, the PISG knows that much still needs to be done in key standards areas, and we are pursuing the shortcomings on a daily basis.

We must however recognise that the pace of further progress on standards implementation is reliant on several factors. Firstly, it depends on the willingness of the majority community to continu making efforts to create a multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo. This willingness does exist, despite the recent, painful conflict, and we must and will continue to support those who display that willingness. Secondly, the degree of Kosovo Serb participation will influence the extent to which their interests are reflected in the ongoing standards implementation; here, as we have urged repeatedly, Belgrade must give a clear, positive signal. Thirdly, status resolution and the ensuing certainty will mean that we can make faster and more substantial progress on a range of issues.

I want to be very frank: with a resolution to the status issue, and therefore an end to the uncertainty, I am confident that we will see much more significant results on issues such as returns, freedom of movement, and the economy.

Status resolution will also have clear regional benefits, including for regional dialogue and trade. There are clearly limits to the results on regional integration that can be achieved without having certainty on status. Leaving it pending will delay regional integration and adversely affect the interests of all – including Belgrade, Podgorica, Skopje, and Tirana. In my meetings with regional partners, the interest in seeing status resolution is strong.

We are all working toward the same ultimate goal: stabilising the region and the pursuit of the EU perspective. European integration is vital for Kosovo and for the region. It will serve, as it has elsewhere, to break down borders and ensure greater prosperity for everybody.

As you will have seen in his report, the Secretary General believes that a comprehensive review of standards should be initiated this summer. That comprehensive review can inter alia draw on existing structures and working groups in Pristina to support its work on reviewing the standards, and all interested parties will no doubt have a chance to make their voice heard.

I am confident that progress will continue in the interest of all communities in Kosovo, based on a forward-looking, constructive and honest approach by all concerned. The role of the Security Council in moving Kosovo from a holding operation to a sustainable and lasting solution is crucial, and I thank you for your support.

Kosovo making steady progress despite continued challenges. UNMIK har udsendt flg. om diskussionen i Sikkerhedsrådet:

Kosovo making steady progress despite continued challenges, Security Council told

Progress in Kosovo must be across the board, continuous – Annan

26 May 2005 – Noting concrete progress in Kosovo toward internationally-agreed standards in such areas as government reform, the rule of law and minority rights, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a report out today, stressed that continuing progress must be made in all priority areas for any future political settlement to proceed.

Mr. Annan's latest report to the Security Council on the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) contains an assessment of progress measured against the eight agreed-upon standards in the priority areas of democratic institutions, rule of law, freedom of movement, sustainable returns of displaced persons, economic growth, property rights, cultural heritage, inter-community dialogue and a civil emergency response corps.

"All standards are important and the focus on areas of particular importance to Kosovo minorities does not diminish the relevance of any of the eight standards," Mr. Annan says in the report.

Mr. Annan recommends that a comprehensive review of progress against the standards should be initiated this summer, saying that he intends to appoint a Special Envoy to conduct that review in the near future.

He adds that the review – on the basis of which final status talks could be launched – should consist of consultations with the parties and the international community to assess the current situation and conditions for possible next steps in the process.

But he also stresses that the review's outcome is not a foregone conclusion. "During and beyond the comprehensive review, Kosovo's political leaders will be expected to pursue and strengthen their efforts to implement the standards, and will continue to be assessed on this basis," he says.

While noting improvements in outreach to minority communities and the smooth transition of government that took place recently, he expressed concern over the slow pace of local government reform, inter-party rancour and violent incidents that may have been related to such problems.

"It is crucial that any threats of violence or intimidation not detract us from our goal," he said. "It is the responsibility of all people in Kosovo to ensure that the work of extremists is not allowed to dictate the future course of Kosovo."

- - -

27 May 2005 – Progress in Kosovo remains on track in most priority areas, despite continued uncertainty, a change of Government and the fact that Kosovo Serbs continue to shun participation in the provisional institutions, Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s representative told the United Nations Security Council today.

“Let there be no doubt there has been progress,” Søren Jessen-Petersen, Mr. Annan’s Special Representative for Kosovo told the Council in a briefing on the Secretary-General’s latest report. He pointed, in particular, to the rapid formation of a new Government in March following the resignation of Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj after his notification of an imminent indictment from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

“During those difficult days and weeks, the political leaders and citizens of Kosovo managed a highly unusual situation with maturity and without any disorder or instability,” he said.

In addition to other progress in the building of democracy, Mr. Jessen-Petersen also highlighted positive developments on dialogue between the Kosovo institutions and the Government of Serbia and Montenegro, as well as with the Serbian Orthodox Church.

He said that such progress would continue even without the meaningful participation of the Kosovo Serbs, but the ability to establish a full multi-ethnic country, integrating all communities, would remain limited as long as one ethnic group was pressured to stay outside the political, economic and social processes.

In that context, he said, “Belgrade would help the Kosovo Serb community, and itself, by moving from reticence and delay to commitment and engagement.”

Pointing to improvements in security, freedom of movement and economic issues, among others, he stressed that the so-called international “standards” remained the road map for the short and long term, as well as a way for Kosovo to move progressively towards European Union integration. He added that a resolution of the status issue would produce even more significant results on issues such as refugee returns and the economy.

Finally, he emphasized that the pace of further progress relied on the willingness of the majority community to continue to make efforts to create a multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo.

“This willingness does exist, despite the recent, painful conflict, and we must and will continue to support those who display it,” he said.

For his part, Nebojsa Covic, President of the Coordination Centre of Serbia and Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia for Kosovo and Metohia, said that the report heard today, regrettably, linked the most important problems to the Kosovo Serbs and to the Government of Serbia and its authorities. In view of the fact that Serbs and other non-Albanians lived isolated in enclaves precisely because their safety was jeopardized and there was no freedom of movement, the statement that the freedom of movement existed in all municipalities in the province except in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica was inaccurate.

He said the authorities in Belgrade were trying to facilitate the process of achieving the common goal of a truly democratic and multi-ethnic society. The cornerstone of Belgrade’s policy was that state borders could not be changed, and its sovereignty and territorial integrity could not be questioned. Direct dialogue was the only road to follow if solutions to the problems faced in the province were to be found. Mr. Covic said he hoped that the leaders of the Kosovo Albanians would also demonstrate their readiness for dialogue.

Overførsel af 64 Albanske Lig til Kosóva. UNMIK skriver:

Set of 64 mortal remains repatriated to Kosovo under UN auspices

27 May 2005 – A group of 64 bodies exhumed from Batajnica, Serbia, and believed to be of missing Kosovo Albanians, were repatriated under United Nations auspices today.

The Office on Missing Persons and Forensics (OMPF) of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) arranged the transfer in cooperation with the UN Civilian Police Missing Persons Unit (MPU) and the Serbian authorities.

The remains were identified by DNA, and once verification procedures were completed, they were transported to the Rahovec/Orahovac mortuary where forensic inspections will then begin.

UNMIK said family members would be the first to be informed as soon as their loved ones are identified. Teams consisting of an OMPF outreach officer and MPU identification officers will visit the families affected by the transfer when forensic inspections are complete. The mortal remains will then be ready for release to the families.

The first group of bodies exhumed from Serbia were repatriated to Kosovo in May 2003.

Ugerapport fra Dansk KFOR. Hærens Operative Kommando skriver (på http://www.hok.dk/) bl.a. om Forsvarsminister Gade's nylige besøg:

Besøg af Forsvarsministeren, supplerende uddannelse i førstehjælp og medaljeparade

Uge 21 i Kosovo. I denne uge har Den Danske Bataljon haft besøg af Forsvarsministeren, der ved selvsyn kunne besigtige de ganske store, positive forandringer, der er sket i bataljonens ansvarsområde. Bataljonen har gennemført medaljeparade for alt personel i bataljonen. Herudover har bataljonen iværksat supplerende førstehjælpsuddannelse.

Af: Stabskompagniet

Besøg af Forsvarsministeren

Den danske bataljon har i dagene 24.- 25. maj 2005 haft besøg af Forsvarsministeren. Forsvarsministeren havde under besøget lejlighed til at besigtige områder, der har gennemgået en positiv udvikling indenfor den danske bataljons ansvarsområde. Ministeren havde blandt andet mulighed for at se det nye "grønne" område, som den danske bataljon har etableret på nordsiden af floden Ibar i samarbejde med lokalbefolkningen i de tre beboelsesblokke kendt som "Tre Tårne".

Det nye "grønne" område ved Austerlitzbroen i Mitrovica centrum. Broen kan skimtes i baggrunden. Chefen for den litauiske spejdereskadron forklarer ministeren om området.

Ministeren besøgte herudover landsbyen Banja, hvor den danske bataljon frem til sidste uge havde en delingslejr. Lejren er nu nedlagt og skærver og grus fra fundamentet, samt fra beskyttelsesvæggene i lejren, er blevet anvendt til to vejprojekter i området ved Banja til gavn for såvel kosovoserbere som kosovoalbanere.

Endvidere fik ministeren lejlighed til at se et af de CIMIC-projekter, der er iværksat i bataljonens område. Projektet består i støtte til en fælles kosovoserbisk/-albansk markkommission, der blandt andet styrer anvendelsen af en fælles traktor og landbrugsredskaber.

CIMIC-officer premierløjtnant Peter Maltesen fortæller, hvorledes CIMIC har støttet et projekt i Banja, hvor kosovoalbanere og kosovoserbere deler en traktor samt diverse landbrugsredskaber.

Medaljeparade

Bataljonen afholdt medaljeparade torsdag d. 26. maj 2005 for alt personel i bataljonen. Paraden blev forud for overrækkelse af medaljen, NATO Non-Article 5 Medal, inspiceret af brigadegeneral Houbron, chef for Multinational Brigade (North East).

General Houbron benyttede lejligheden til at takke personellet i den danske bataljon for en særdeles god og professionel indsats i Kosovo. General Houbron nævnte blandt andet, at bataljonen i perioden fra februar til maj havde opnået flotte resultater som blandt andet nedlæggelsen af to delingslejre.

Dette er et synligt tegn på begyndelsen af transformationen hen imod den såkaldte Task Force struktur, hvor færre, centralt placerede militære enheder skal dække større ansvarsområder.

Efter generalens tale blev NATO-medaljen overrakt til alt personel.

Efter paraden blev højtideligheden markeret med en reception for alt personel og gæster. Om aftenen spiste bataljonen fælles middag på terrassen ved cafeteriaet.

Supplerende førstehjælpsuddannelse

Den danske bataljon har i denne uge iværksat supplerende førstehjælpsuddannelse. Formålet med uddannelsen er dels at repetere allerede kendte færdigheder, men også at introducere lidt mere avanceret hjælp til tilskadekomne.

Hjertemassage og kunstigt åndedræt blev repeteret og indøvet, og herudover blev der gennemgået hvorledes en rygskadet person stabiliseres på et såkaldt "spine board" - en specialbåre, hvor lemmer, hoved, nakke og ryg kan fikseres. Endvidere blev anlæggelse af halskrave indøvet samt gennemførelse af nødflytning af en tilskadekommen fra en forulykket bil.

I denne uge var personel fra Stabskompagniet igennem uddannelsen, der blev forestået af personel fra Sanitetsdelingen.

Postvæsenet: En vis selvstændiggørelse er på vej. RFE skriver:

Rafet Jashari, who heads Kosova's postal service, told reporters in Prishtina on 31 May that the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the UN's civilian administration in Kosova (UNMIK) have approved a new system of 118 postal code numbers for the province, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported. The system is distinct from that of Serbia and Montenegro and is registered with the UPU as "Kosovo (UNMIK)." Mail can now be sent directly to Kosova from abroad instead of indirectly through Albania or Switzerland. Kosova also has its own postage stamps denominated in euros, as well as automobile license plates distinct from those of Serbia and Montenegro. The elected authorities in Prishtina also want Kosova to have its own international telephone dial code and SWIFT code for money transfers. Elsewhere, Randjel Nojkic, who is a Kosovar Serb politician and postal official, told the private Beta news agency that the Serbian enclaves in the province will continue to use the old Serbian postal codes, Reuters reported. Nebojsa Covic, who is Belgrade's point man for southern Serbia and Kosova, has argued that assigning Kosova its own license plates and postal codes is tantamount to treating it internationally as "a completely separate entity" from Serbia. PM

ØST KOSÓVA / PRESEVO-DALEN / SYD-SERBIEN

For nemheds skyld bruges betegnelsen Øst Kosóva / Presevo-dalen om det omstridte område med byerne: Presheva, Medvegja og Bujanoci (Albansk stavemåde). Ca. 75 % af befolkningen skønnes at være etniske Albanere - måske omkring 70.000. En modstandsgruppe har været i funktion, men synes nu at være »lukket ned«. Gruppen kaldtes i forkortet form UCPMB (som står for noget i retning af: Ushtria Clirimtare e Presheva, Medvegja dhe Bujanoci; på Engelsk: Liberation Army of Presheva, Medvegja and Bujanoci). Gruppen sagde at den intet havde at gøre med Kosova's UCK, og at den var en lokal gruppe.

ALBANIEN

Klik på kortet, hvis du vil have det forstørret / click http://bjoerna.dk/kort/Albanien.gif to enlarge it

Info fra Albaniens Statistik: Befolkningstal: 3,1 Mio (1.1.2004). GDP (Gross Domestic Product): 630 Mia Lek (2002, current prices); GDP-structure: Agriculture: 26 %, Industry 10-11 %, Construction: 7-8 %, Services: 55-56 %. Export: 54 mia lek (2003) [heraf til Danmark: 23 mio lek; størrelsesorden 1,2 mio kr], Import: 226 mia lek (2003) [Heraf fra Danmark: 855 mio lek; størrelsesorden: 45-50 mio kr], Tradedeficit: 171 mia lek (2003). Største import fra Italien (75 mia lek) og Grækenland (45 mia lek), største eksport til Italien (40 mia lek). Unemployment: 14-15 % (2004-III)

Det Engelske Udenrigsministeriums 'Country Advice' til rejsende kan findes på adressen: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618385522. Det Danske UM har pt ingen rejsevejledning, men henviser til det Engelske UM. Den Norske Ambassade kan findes på: http://www.norvegji.org/. Det Amerikanske UM har Juni 2004 offentliggjort en 'Background Note' om Albanien: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm

Mother Teresa: http://bjoerna.dk/albanien/Teresa.htm.

1. Juni var det Børnenes Dag i Albanien. Der har været munterhed i gaden og møde i Ungdomsparlamentet - om eftermiddagen (?) med deltagelse af PM Nano og fru Xhoana

Præsident Mosiu har haft besøg af forskellige Børne- og Ungdsomgrupper:

Præsidentkontoret har udsendt flg.:

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu received today in the morning a representation of the Albanian Youth Parliament.

President Moisiu expressed his pleasure about the commitment of the Youth Parliament in informing and helping those that have just turned eighteen and who vote for the very first time.

“The vote is a constitutional right that is bestowed on very citizen to give his political view and the youth should go to vote and each one should elect the person that he thinks might better for the future of the country.” – stated President Moisiu.

In the Albanian politics it is required the entrance of a new spirit and this will come from the youngsters, because they are free of the mentalities of forty-five years under dictatorship; the Albanian youth posses a great potential which must be used for a better future of Albania and its citizens.” – continued Mr. Moisiu by expressing the full conviction that the Albania youth will progress ahead.

The Head of the Youth Parliament, Endri Shabani stated that the Youth Parliament appreciated a lot the Code of Conduct, an initiative of the President of the Republic and supported the idea of Mr. Moisiu that the political forces must not use children during the electoral campaign. In this frame work, he handed to the Head of State a postcard based on the action of the Albanian Youth Parliament to prevent the use of children in the electoral campaign in general from the politics and political forces.

Præsident Moisiu holder i denne tid møder med Den Centrale Valgkommission, Militærets Ledelse, Politiets Ledelse, Ledelsen af Efterretningsvæsenerne, Pressens Ledelser - alt sammen for at vende nogle problemer i relation til det forestående valg.

Valgkommissionen. Præsidentkontoret har udsendt flg.:

May 30, 2005

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu met today the members of the Central Elections Commission.

The Head of State pointed out the great importance of the July 3rd elections and the role of CEC in this process. Mr. Moisiu stressed the necessity of the full implementation of the Electoral Code and the Code of Conduct by the political parties and the institutions.

CEC is a constitutional organ, independent from politics and the main responsible for the elections that is why it should act entirely as such and not to allow to be indirectly or directly part of politics and campaign that might have political effects in the elections.

President Moisiu focused also on issue that have to do with the role of State Police, media, army in safeguarding objects of special importance and also on the role of state administration in the implementation of the decision and guidelines of CEC. The Board of Media and CEC should take the stand at the right time for those media that are not careful in implementing of the law and Mr. Moisiu suggested that this Board must prepare daily communiqués. In the mean time, it was suggested to CEC to compile weekly or every ten days reports about the technical problems and the progress of the process until the elections. It was emphasized that the founding of Zonal Commissions (Zonal Elections Commissions) must not be delayed anymore because the commissioners need time for full training in all the electoral zones.

Pausing on the fundamental role of CEC for the transparency and control of the financing of the electoral campaign form the candidates and political parties, President Moisiu demanded not to allow the infraction of the law by the candidates. The same way CEC must harshly punish also the organs of local government that break the law or overstep the legal dealine in fulfilling of the obligations. President Moisiu has demanded that the complains that come from the political candidates or parties to be considered with care and transparency. The emphasizes was placed also on not allowing of the polls during the elections’ day.

Mr. Moisiu also asked the assurance of full space for the foreign and Albanian observers and also advice for a strong media and public campaign to increase the participation in the elections, the consciousness of the voters and the increase of the public trust in free and fair elections.

On their part, the members of CEC informed President Moisiu on the up to the present work and presented some of their problems that have to do with the delay in founding the zonal elections commissions which condition their training, on the financing, etc.

Militæret. Præsidentkontoret har udsendt flg.:

May 28, 2005 11.00 Durrës

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu, in the framework of the meetings at the eve of the beginign of the electoral campaign, held talks with the Joint Chiefs of Stff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Pëllumb Qazimi dhe directors of the main structures of our army. The topic of the talks were the July 3rd elections as a decisive moment for Albania and democracy.

”The Armed Forces, as distinguished citizens of this country are interested for the elections progress and have the ooportunity to shopw once more that they really are at the profesional and civil level of the time, that they have finally departed from past mentalities of political services.” – stated the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

President Moisiu stressed that the Constitution and the Law determines the Armed Forces as a depoliticized organ that has no connection to the political parties and electoral campaign, to the candidates or other electoral elements.

”It is your responsibility, -- addressed the Head of State to the directors of our army. – not to allow the efectives of Armed Fortces to be used for secondary activities that might be in the interest of the candidates. Everybody attends the state activities, the political and electoral activities, but the Constitution and the law forbids the participation of the depoliticized organs such as the Armed Forces are.”

President Moisiu demanded this message to be conveyed also to the middle and lower levels, at the base where the soldiers are who have the right to express their political support only through their secret ballots on July 3. There have ben compalins of the escorting that the military leaders do to political figures during their political activities, perhaps unintentionally, but that must not be repeated anymore.

President Moisiu demanded from the high military leaders of the army the creation of the conditions for the verifying of the soldiers’ lists and to eliminate any irregularity that might noticed.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lieutenant General Pëllumb Qazimi informed the Head of State about the emasures taken so the military structures can correctly implement the constitutional laws as depoliticized part of the state and emphasized that the assigned duties will be at the center of the attention in order to fulfill their mission.

Efterretningstjenesterne. Præsidentkontoret har udsendt flg.:

May 31, 2005

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu received in a meeting today the high-ranking directors of SHISH (the State Intelligence Service).

President Moisiu stressed during the talks that the importance of the parliamentary elections conditions duties and responsibilities for all the institutions and actors involved directly and indirectly in this process. Pointing out the positive experience of the last elections of this institution, the Head of State demanded from the employees of SHISH that through their behavior and actions confirm the law and Constitution to convince the public opinion that SHISH has once and for all distanced itself from politics and serves only to the Albania state.

President Moisiu stated that the running for office of their former directors or functionaries or other people who have friendly or family connections with them, should not influence at any case on them and especially on their employees in the remote districts. Continuing Mr. Moisiu stated that their activity in the elections will be under harsh scrutiny of the public and Albanian and international monitoring groups and in case of accusations against SHISH, there must be official clarification to the public and to the political party that makes the accusation. It is required “full transparency, self-control and will to professionally explain any misunderstanding,” by not allowing the use of SHISH for political consume. President Moisiu called the attention also to be careful and not to fall prey to the provocations or incidents, by avoiding them in a professional manner and in time. In the mean time it was demanded the maximum cooperation with the State Police in the fight against crime. At the end, Mr. Moisiu firmly stressed that he will not forgive anyone from this structure who will get involved in the campaign.

On his part, the Head of SHISH informed President Moisiu about the concrete measures taken by this institution according to the laws in effect for impartiality and objectivity and preservation of the state secret.

Politiet. Præsidentkontoret har udsendt flg.:

May 31, 2005

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu in a meeting the General Director of the State Police and other high-ranking directors. The meeting was held based on the Article 92.h of the Constitution of Albania, according to which the President of the Republic has the right to ask the view and written data from the directors of the state institutions on issue that are related to their duties.

The Head of State stressed once more the great importance of the July 3rd elections and the role in this process of the State Police; these elections are the final turning point also for the Albanian police, which is one of the most important sectors of the State, which during the elections will be under the harsh observation of the public, media and international observers. It was demanded that according to the Constitution and the law, the police must observe the law on the State Police, the Electoral Code, the Code of Conduct and the Guideline of Central Elections Commission on the role of police in the elections. The Law and the Constitution determines the police as the de-politicized organ which has no connection to the political parties in electoral campaigns or to other electoral elements, regardless of the fact that the Minister of Public Order, the deputy minister or their colleagues have decided to run for office as parliamentarians. President Moisiu stated that he will not hesitate to sign the firing of anyone from the police forces who gets involved in the electoral campaign.

Emphasizing the fact that a lot of former police functionaries run for office during these elections, President Moisiu stated that the police should not be used as a trampoline towards politics or vice versa.

Mr. Moisiu demanded that the messages of this meeting to be conveyed to all the local structures and all the way to the base because the authority of the police to the citizens will be transmitted from the behavior of the simple police officer to the voting center in the street or the border checkpoints. In the mean time President Moisiu asked for full transparency, self-control and willingness for professional clarifying of any misunderstanding that might arise.

Mr. Moisiu called the attention also on giving up the abuse practices with human rights by showing on the televisions screens the arrests of yet to be charged citizens by the court or suspects. This might have an effect on the electoral climate and also on the relations between the police and the public and demanded the correction of these practices. Alongside the duty during the campaign, the police should be careful to safeguard the public order, because according to President Moisiu, there are always tendencies to increase the criminality by taking advantage of the situation.

Director Ibraj thanked President Moisiu for the direct communication and informed him about the concrete measures taken for elections day by emphasizing that there will be no more diversion of the attention from the other duties such as those in the framework of the tourism season. He expressed his maximal commitment for the progress of the work before and after the elections and stated that the State Police will act impartially and will correctly implement the law.

Alumil. En Fabrik i Tirana-området er blevet åbnet eller udbygget med Græsk støtte (næppe på 100% markedsmæssige vilkår); både Præsident Moisiu, Økonomiminister Anastas Angjeli og den Græsk-Ortodokse Ærkebiskop deltog i arrangementet; desuden var der Gæster fra Kosóva - muligvis fordi der skal hentes råvarer dér? Præsidentkontoret har udsendt flg.:

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu took part today in the inauguration of the aluminum profiles line in the industrial area of Tirana, which is an investment of the Greek company Alumil of about 11 million Euros.

After cutting the ribbon, President Moisiu visited the premises of the factory, which now joins a group of other factories of Alumil in Europe. Alumil is the greatest group of aluminum profiles production in the region.

In this inaugurating ceremony were also present the Minister of Economy, Angjeli, the minister of the Kosovar government Dugolli and Çeku, the Greek Deputy Minister of Economy, the Greek Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, the Greek Ambassador Karkabasis, representatives of the Albanian business community and other guests.

PM Fatos Nano's aktiviteter: [Billederne i denne sektion kan som regel forstørres ved at klikke på dem (mens man er på nettet)]

PM Nano er fortsat flittig med at komme rundt i Albanien for at styrke Socialistpartiet i valgkampen. Han har fx været i Burrel for at støtte Qemal Minxhozi, indtil fornylig chargé d'affaires i København. Mens han var i Burrel så han på arbejdet med at modernisere vandingssystemet. Den Albanske PMs Informationskontor skriver [kun Albansk udgave haves]:

Kryeministri dhe Kryetar i Partisë Socialiste,Fatos Nano zhvilloi sot një vizitë në Burrel.

Gjate kesaj vizite Kryeministri Nano inspektoi ecurinë e punimeve të projektit të rehabilitimit të ujësjellës-kanalizime në Bashkinë e Burrelit, një investim ky me vlerë 5.2 milionë euro,nga Qeveria shqiptare dhe Qeveria norvegjeze. Përmes ketij projekti synohet përmirësimi tërësor i rrjetit të ujësjellësit, sigurimi i furnizimit me ujë të pijshëm 24 orë në ditë për qytetin dhe zonat përreth, përmirësimi i kushteve hidrosanitare, etj.

Deri tani janë realizuar riparime në rrjetin shpërndarës të qytetit, rehabilitimi i mjediseve, vendosja e 1500 matesa te ujit per konsumatoret familjare, proces ky qe do të vazhdojë më tej. Ndërkohë, pritet të realizohet rehabilitimi i linjes kryesore derguese, ndërtimi i rezervuarit 2000 metra kub, ne Lis, riparimi i rrjetit te shume fshatrave pergjate linjes derguese, shtrimi i tubacioneve, etj. Drejtues të projektit thanë se komuniteti e ka vlerësuar dhe mirepritur kete projekt dhe po bashkëpunon për ecurinë e tij.

Gjithashtu, kryeministri ka zhvilluar një vizitë dhe eshte takuar ne bashkinë e Burrelit, me kryetarin e kësaj bashkie. Në këtë takim, është vlerësuar bashkëpunimi mes pushtetit vendor dhe atij qendror në funksion të komunitetit.

Në takimin me banorë të qytetit të Burrelit, z. Nano u shpreh:

Të dashur motra dhe vëllezër,

Jemi krenarë për c’ka kemi bërë gjatë dy mandateve. Shqipëria dhe Mati i vitit 2005 nuk ka asnjë të ngjarë me ato të vitit 1997.

Ne jemi krenar sepse i kemi kthyer normalitetin Shqiperise dhe Malesisë, kemi vendosur këtë demokraci të vërtetë ku të gjithë lëvizin lirisht me iniciativa për zhvillim. Ju e dini qe 8 vjet më parë nuk morëm në dorëzim as shtet dhe as pushtet, që vendi ishte i shkatërruar në themel, me njerëz të tmerruar, të zhvatur, pa shpresë. Ju e dini kush e solli atë gjendje. Vazhdoni t’u tregoni bijve tuaj se çka ndodhi në 97-ën dhe pastaj lerini të lirë të gjykojnë dhe të marrin vendimin për të votuar dhe mbrojtur të ardhmen.

Nga liria dhe sistemi demokratik që mbrojtëm dhe konsoliduam në Shqipëri kanë përfituar të gjithë. Më shumë ka përfituar Sali Berisha dhe Ilir Meta. Dhe kjo sepse ne nuk trembim askënd, por besoj e dini, deri tek fëmijët në bark të nënës, se Berisha Kryeministër dhe Meta zëvendësi i tij, do të thotë të rrezikosh lirinë dhe sistemin demokratik, qytetarin dhe institucionet, pronën dhe sipërmarjen, jetën dhe të ardhmen.

Këta dy burra sot duken disi normalë, sepse lëvizin në një sistem lirie të cilin e mbrojmë ne, por po ra ky sistem në duart e tyre, që as në vitin 2005 nuk po lejojnë konkurim dhe opozitë për vete, jemi të gjithë shumë të rrezikuar.

Unë e di sa probleme e halle ka dhe ne kete zone. Kemi ende per te bere punë, me investime publike në çdo fshat e në çdo lagje. Por e kemi e ngritur në këmbë karabinanë e Shqipërisë moderne dhe Europiane. Berisha, Meta e të tjerë po ju ftojnë ta nisni ndërtimin e shtëpisë nga çatia, ndërsa ne e kemi nisur dhe ngritur nga themelet.

Nuk mund të ndërtonim rrugën e Gurrës pa ndërtuar aksin Tiranë – Milot – Shkodër. Ne rrugët dhe infrastrukturat e lëvizjes së lirë ne nuk i ndërtojmë për bukuri, që të mos ju marrin baltë këpucët, po për t’ju sjelle dhe integruar në tregun e punës, të mallrave dhe shërbimeve, për t’ju dhënë te njejtat mundesi si kryeqyteti për te ardhura, pune dhe mirëqenie.

Godina e Shqipërisë moderne që ne po ndërtojmë ka mbërritur në katin e Matit. Mos lejoni të na i prishin ata që dinë të mbjellin vec kioska, piramida e çeqe bosh.

Ne po e ndryshojme Shqiperine duke ndryshuar ne radhe te pare vetveten. Une e di se kemi patur boll gabime. Shumë i kemi korrigjuar. Shumë po i korrigjojmë. Une ju garantoj se ne mandatin e ri do të ketë frymë, moral dhe ritëm (europian) tjetër pune e përkushtimi.

Por shumë po spekullohet nga llafazani i vjetër i opozitës për moralin dhe karakterin tonë, duke na akuzuar nga mëngjesi në darkë, 8 vjet rresht, për korrupsion. Ky njeri nuk ka ndonje moral të ri, por ai po zbaton me këmbëngulje shprehjen e vjetër: “Shpif, shpif se dicka do mbetet”.

Nuk po them se nuk kemi pasur abuzues midis nesh, të korruptuar apo trafikantë, por ju siguroj se i kemi zbuluar dhe i kemi ndëshkuar ligjërisht e jo me mallkime ujku, si hipokriti Berisha.

Berisha i vjeter përbetohet për ndershmëri dje, sot dhe nesër. Më thoni një rast kur ky mashtrues politik ka ndëshkuar korrupsionin e të vetëve, kontrabandën e të vetëve, trafiqet e të vetëve.

Vetëm në 3 vitete fundit ne kemi ndëshkuar nga gjoba e deri me 20 vjet burgim 18 mijë persona.

Në kohën e Berishës doganat dhe tatimet drejtoheshin nga shoqata e biznesmenëve demokrat, nga të përndjekurit fallco dhe jo nga të vërtetët, nga firma famëkeqe “Shqiponja” që theu embargon ndaj Jugosllavisë dhe furnizoi me naftë Milloshevicin. Ndërsa sot buxheti i shtetit grumbullon dhe perdor ne te miren tuaj, 2 miliardë dollarë në vit.

Në kohën e Berishës pushtoheshin pronat e tjetrit si pa të keq dhe ai premton që kjo skemë të rikthehet, duke ftuar malësorët të nisin aventurat me thirrjen: “Kombi sytë nga deti”, qe ju te merrni arratine ne pronat e tjeterkujt.

Ju e mbani mend edhe Genc Rulin se si e çoi në prokurori për drurin e arrës, tani pa asnjë shpjegim, apo ndjesë, e ka futur në rrjeshtin e kandidatëve te humbjes.

Ne vazhdojnë të na kërkojnë llogari joqytetare, vazhdojnë të na akuzojnë ata që vetëm shkatërruan, që gjysmën e këtij mandati e kanë kaluar duke pushtuar sheshet që ne ju liruam, duke bllokuar institucionet dhe reformat, duke sharë dhe shpifur nëpër botë për Shqipërinë e shqiptarët dhe jo vetëm për socialistët. Ndërsa ne kemi garantuar tashmë si anëtarësimin e vendit në NATO edhe nënshkrimin e marrëveshjes që do mundësojë anëtarësimin e plotë në BE.

E dëgjuat Berishën se cfarë tha; do e fusë Shqipërinë në BE pas 5 vjetësh. Ai vetëm në Konferencën Islamike dhe në hartat e zeza e ka futur deri tani Shqipërinë.

Luftën kundër korrupsionit, kundër paaftësisë, kundër çdo lloj trafiku e krimi, ne nuk e bëjmë për propagandë, por për të ndryshuar dhe forcuar shtetin, per t’i dhene garanci qytetareve qe te shohin se mbrohen dhe lirite dhe te drejtat e tyre themelore.

Nga 100 deputetë, PSSH ka ndryshuar 52, ose më shumë se gjysma. Ky ndryshim nuk rrjedh nga interesa elektorale, por nga nevoja per zhvillim, për pastrim, për përkushtim dhe energji me te medha per ju.

Unë e di se ka të korruptuar që i kanë shpëtuar ndëshkimit ligjor, sepse edhe vetë sistemi i drejtësisë vuan nga disa sëmundje. Unë ju garantoj se mandatin e ri do të merremi edhe me mire me sistemin e drejtësisë, për të mos lejuar me forcen e ligjit dhe te shtetit, qe asnjë prokuror apo gjykatës të pasurohet duke shkelur ligjin dhe te drejtat tuaja. Ne nuk mund te lejojme që ai që vë respektin ndaj parasë së qelbur para respektit ndaj ligjit, të jetojë më mirë se qytetarët e gjithë Shqipërisë. Ne do t’i pastrojmë trupat e togave te zeza nga të korruptuarit dhe do garantojmë drejtësi për të gjithë.

Ne nuk mund të lejojmë më që qeveria të çojë për ndjekje penale rreth 300 doganierë dhe shumica e tyre të dalin pastër, të ndershëm, të pafajshëm, të pakurruptuar sepse paratë e vjedhura i kanë ndarë me prokurorë apo gjykatës të pisët në profesion dhe moral.

Nuk mund të lejojmë më pavarësi rryshfetcinjsh. Sistemi shqiptar i drejtësisë do varet, tërësisht nga ligji dhe vetem nga ligji.

Motra e vëllezër,

Ju garantoj se asnjë individ me hije nuk do mundet të ulet më në tryezën e punës së qeverisë së re. Përzgjedhja e ekipit të ri qeverisës do fillojë nga morali dhe karakteri.

Ju duhet ta dini se cfare do të bëjmë ne në mandatin e ri në çdo javë, në çdo muaj, në çdo vit, prandaj u kam dhënë urdhër të gjithë kandidatëve në të gjithë Shqipërinë t’ju japin përgjigje të prera dhe të qartë për të gjitha problemet që ju shqetësojnë, që nga dritat, uji i pijshëm, rrugët e deri tek pagat, pensionet e puna.

Ju duhet të dini që tani se kur do mbërrijë ajo që kërkoni në lagjen tuaj, në rrugën tuaj, në derën tuaj, në familjen dhe xhepin tuaj. Dhe unë jam sot këtu për t’ju dhënë llogari e per t’u njohur me projektin tonë për të ardhmen tuaj.

Gjatë katër viteve të fundit në rrethin e Matit janë investuar nga buxheti i shtetit afro 800 milione lekë, nga donatorët afro 170 milion lekë dhe nga burimet vendore rreth 45 milion lekë dhe në total investimet kanë qenë në masën 985 milion.

Ne rrethin e Matit nga MRRTT-ja, MPVD-ja dhe donatorët janë investuar rreth 241 milion leke duke permiresuar rreth 25 akse rrugore rurale dhe 20 objekte te rendesishme, si rruge e trotuare Bashkise Burrel rreth 60 milion, apo rruget Xiber-Murrize, Rukaj-Prell, Buz-Lekhot-Rrethbaz dhe Ura Batra e Madhe-Franketh, ku jane investuar rreth 74 milion apo ujesjellesi i Karices, ku jane investuar rreth 21 milion leke.

Ketyre i shtohen edhe 40 milione leke investime te tjera ne infrastrukture nga programi CARDS i Bashkimit Europian dhe i Bankes gjermane KFË. Nga keto investime kane perfituar rreth 21 500 banore te kesaj zone. Kjo per te deshmuar me fakte se Qeveria jone nuk e ka pare kurre Shqipërinë as si te majte dhe as si te djathte, por te gjithe njelloj dhe te gjitha investimet per permiresimin e jetes se cdo qytetari dhe te familjes se tij.

Vitin tjeter, ne 2006, me nje grant prej 5.2 milione EURO të qeverisë së Shqipërisë dhe të Qeverise Norvegjeze, Burreli do te jete qytet me 24 ore uje pa nderprerje ne cesmat e veta, si pjese e projektit tone te madh per ujin ne kater vitet e ardhshme qe parashikon 200 milion dollare investime ne te gjithe Shqiperine. Vetem buxheti i shtetit do te angazhoje mbi 75 milione dollare.

Kemi investuar për rikostruksionin e qendrave shëndetësore në Komsi, Gurrë, Urakë, Rremull, Rukaj etj, nga kanë përfituar mbi 16 mijë banorë.

Në 4 vitet e ardhëshme garantojmë rikostruksionin e plotë të të gjitha qendrave shëndetësore rurale të pa pakompletuara nga do të perfitojne edhe 18 mijë banorë të tjerë dhe pajisjen e çdo qendre pranë komunes me mjek, infermier e mami.

Ministria e Arsimit ka investuar deri tani për ndërtimin e shkollave të reja 9 vjeçare në fshatrat Rremull, Gurrë, Xibër, Gurrë etj. dhe për rikostruksionin e shkollave në fshatrat Macukull, Dom, Urakë, Ujatë etj, në përfitim të 2500 fëmijëve.

Mbi 1 milion dollare do te perdoren per sistemim-asfaltim dhe mure mbajtes te rruges Burrel – Bulqize, punime qe do te fillojne ne mes te ketij muaji qe vjen, te Qershorit. Pervec kesaj do rikostruktojmë edhe 56 km rrugë fshatrash për të lehtësuar lëvizjen e njerëzve, sidomos në periudhën e dimrit.

Investime të rëndësishme janë bërë e do të vazhdojnë të bëhen në bujqësi për sistemin e ujitjes dhe kullimit nga ku kanë përfituar rreth 2300 familje fermere. Fermerët e kësaj zone nga programi i grantit japonez kanë përfituar 23 traktorë dhe 13 makineri bujqësore. Keto jane shoqeruar me rreth 600 mije dollare investime per linjen e perpunimit te mishit, dhe te bimeve medicinale.

Vëllezër dhe motra!

Ne do te vazhdojmë të punojmë për ju dhe me ju, të japim llogari për të gjitha projektet dhe investimet që bëjmë për zhvillimin tuaj. Rruga jonë e fitores për ta shtruar përfundimisht Shqipërinë dhe Matin në dimensione të tjera të zhvillimit europian, sapo ka nisur. Unë nderohem që këtë rrugë ta vazhdojmë sëbashku me kandidatin për deputet tuajin në Kuvendin e Shqipërisë, Qemal Minxhozin. Qemal Minxhozi dhe Skënder Demiraj i keni nxjerrë nga gjiri juaj, dy burra me mendje të ftohtë dhe karakter të fortë, që nuk i kanë shkëputur lidhjet as me origjinën e as me njerëzit e vet, duke dhënë një kontribut shumë të vlefshëm kudo qe i ka hedhur puna, per zhvillimin e zonës suaj.

Une nderohem me djem matjanë si Qemal Minxhozi dhe Skënder Demiraj. Gjithcka kanë bërë ata për zhvillimin e Matit dhe kurimin e problemeve tuaja, nuk i kanë parë deri tani, si pjesë e ndonjë fushate elektorale, por i kanë parë si pjesë e jetës së vet dhe zhvillimit të vendit të origjinës. Ndaj unë personalisht i përshëndes dhe u jap besim të plotë Qemal Minxhozit dhe Skënder Demirajt, që përfaqësojnë të ardhmen. Kini besim tek ata. Le te punojmë sëbashku për të ardhmen tuaj, për realizimin e projekteve europiane të zhvillimit dhe ecjes sonë përpara.

Ju uroj fat të mbarë, suksese dhe fitore!

Nano har også været i Përmet: Kryeministri dhe Kryetari i PSSH-së, Fatos Nano duke shetitur se bashku me banoret ne qytetin e Përmetit:

i Bilishtit hvor han var på besøg på en tekstilvirksomhed: Fatos Nano duke vizituar rrobaqepsinë moderne në Bilisht, një investim greko-shqiptar, ku jane mbi 300 të punësuar

i Lushnja for at støtte tidligere Udenrigsminister og Kulturminister Arta Dade (tv nedenfor):

Og endelig har han været i Tirana for at støtte en kvindelig Kandidat i kreds 31 (se ovenfor) og Politiminister Toska i kreds 34 (se nedenfor)

Minister Toska har offentliggjort sin valgtale på Politiministeriets hjemmeside; det er ikke så usædvanligt i Albanien (PM Nano offenttliggør også en del politiske indlæg på Statsministeriets side); havde det været i Danmark var der faldet brænde ned - for et Dansk ministerium må ikke bruges partipolitisk. Bemærk i øvrigt de Amerikanske flag (billedet th):

Fjala e kandidatit për deputet të PS në zonën Nr.34, Igli Toska gjatë mitingut për prezantimin e tij

Vëllezër e motra

Banorë të nderuar të kombinatit

Fillimisht le të falënderojmë së bashku me një duartrokitje kryetarin e Partisë Socialiste, shokun Fatos Nano, i cili me ardhjen e tij këtu, tregon se si përherë është pranë qytetarëve dhe çdo lloj komuniteti në vend. Le ta falënderojmë për të gjitha sakrificat dhe përpjekjet që ai ka bërë dhe bën në emër të Partisë Socialiste, në emër të Shqipërisë, në emër të prosperitetit dhe integrimit të vendit.

Natyrshëm që pjesë e këtyre sakrificave dhe përpjekjeve keni qenë edhe ju, që na keni mbështetur, na keni përkrahur, na keni frymëzuar, na keni kritikuar, në rrugën tonë, me thjeshtësinë, sinqeritetin dhe dashurinë që ju karakterizon përherë. Por ne jemi sot këtu për t’u thënë me plot gojën se me punën tonë të përbashkët do të përpiqemi fuqishëm ta zhdukim fjalën sakrificë nga përdorimi I përditshëm. Dhe këtë e bën të mundur fitorja jonë e padiskutueshme në 3 korrik. Me votat tuaja për kandidatin e Partisë Socialiste, me votat e aleatëve tanë progresistë për kandidatin e Partisë Socialiste, ju I thoni “JO” një aventure tjetër të rrezikshme për Shqipërinë, të Berishës. Të kërkosh të bëhesh kryeministër, pasi ke qenë presidenti që shkatërroi vendin, duhet të kesh një guxim të çmendur. Por ne, ju, Shqipëria, nuk ka më kohë të merret me aventurat e Berishës, nuk ka kohë të merret me ëndërrat e njeriut që kërkon të bëhet edhe njëherë nuse se pastaj di ai si nusëron, nuk ka kohë të merret as me premtimet fantastikoshkencore që I kanë ardhur këtë rradhë në mendje pronarit të Partisë Demokratike dhe njerëzve të tij të punësuar rishtaz, apo të rimarrë në shërbim. Sepse ne, ju dhe Shqipëria kemi projektet tona të qarta, të prekshme dhe të dukshme. Ne kërkojmë sërish një mandat për të çuar në fund ëndërrën për integrimin euroatlantik. Unë kërkoj këtu para jush votat në 3 korrik për ta bërë zonën e kombinatit pjesë përbërëse të Tiranës dhe jo vetëm një periferi të shkëputur që lidhet me kryeqytetin vetëm në sajë të rrugës. Unë kërkoj votat tuaja për të zhdukur njëherë e mirë ato probleme shumëvjeçare që ju bëjnë të ndiheni jo banues të kryeqytetit, por qeraxhinj që keni të drejtë vetëm të merrni frymë mes katër mureve. Unë kërkoj votat e të ardhurve në kombinat, që ata të mos ndihen refugjatë në vendin e tyre. Unë kërkoj votat e të papunëve që mbushin rrugët e kombinatit që ata të kenë një të ardhme të sigurtë për vete dhe familjet e tyre. Unë kërkoj votat e pensionistëve të kombinatit për t’u siguruar një pleqëri të bardhë dhe të qetë. Unë kërkoj votat e të rinjve të kombinatit për t’u dhënë atyre më shumë shanse për shkollë, më shumë shpresë për të ardhmen, më shumë siguri për jetën e tyre. Unë kërkoj votat e grave të kombinatit që ato të marrin vendin që u takon në shoqëri, që ato të jenë zëri I veçantë I kombinatit. Unë kërkoj votat e biznesmenëve të kombinatit që ata të jenë të sigurtë dhe të qetë në aktivitetin e tyre. Unë kërkoj votat e gjithë kombinatasve në emër të prosperitetit, në emër të të ardhmes së fëmijëve të tyre, në emër të një komuniteti homogjen me zërin e tij në Parlamentin e ardhshëm, në emër të investimeve që po planifikojmë për kombinatin, në emër të qetësisë, punës dhe zhvillimit.

Fjalët që ju po dëgjoni unë I bazoj në platformën e shkëlqyer të Partisë Socialiste, në synimin tonë të palëkundur për të zhvilluar çdo cep të Shqipërisë. Unë një gjë ju premtoj me bindjen e palëkundur: do të jem me ju që nga katër korriku e për gjithë katër vitet e ardhshme. Nuk do të marr votat tuaja e të rikujtohem në marsin e 2009. Nuk do të vij në kombinat për të pirë ndonjë kafe apo për të takuar dy-tre servilë. Por ashtu siç I kemi qarë hallet së bashku, ashtu do të dimë t’I zgjidhim përgjatë gjithë kohës së kontratës sonë. Sepse votat tuaja, votat socialiste, janë një kontratë që askush nuk ka të drejtë ta shkelë sipas qejfit. Dhe në këtë kontratë jam unë që kam detyrime ndaj jush dhe jeni ju që do të më tërhiqni veshin. Unë do të jem po aq I hapur, po aq I gatshëm dhe po aq I vëmendshëm ndaj problemeve tuaja, sa ç’jam edhe tani. Shtabi im electoral do të kthehet në shtabin e punës për katër vitet e ardhshme, ku ju mund të trokisni pa frikën se derën do ta gjeni mbyllur.

Partia Socialiste e ka treguar me vepra se I mban premtimet e saj. Ne nuk ju premtojmë qiellin, por tokën ku secili të ndihet zot në pjesën e tij. Së bashku ne kemi shumë punë për të bërë. Së bashku ne duhet t’ia ndryshojmë fytyrën kombinatit. Së bashku ne do t’I bëjmë kombinatasit të ndihen plotësisht banorë të kryeqytetit. Së bashku ne do të shpërndajmë retë e zeza që po përhapen nga selia e Patisë Demokratike në të gjithë Shqipërinë. Së bashku ne do të fitojmë. Dhe le të jetë fitorja e tre korrikut mburoja e madhe për të ardhmen e përbashkët.

Rroftë Partia Socialiste

Rroftë populli i kombinatit

Fitore dhe vetëm fitore

Parlamentsvalget i 2005 [Præsidenten vælges af Parlamentet for 5 år, næste gang i 2007]:

Valgloven for 2005 kan hentes i pdf-format på: http://www.osce.org/item/14076.html (Engelsk) og http://www.osce.org/item/14076.html?lc=SQ (Albansk).

HTML-udgaver: http://www.osce.org/item/14076.html?html=1 (Engelsk) og http://www.osce.org/item/14076.html?html=1&lc=SQ (Albansk)

Mjaft og Gallup har gennemført en opinionsmåling (siger Mjaft).. Det ser ud til at Socialisterne og Demokraterne ligger nogenlunde lige; men Ilir Meta's parti har fået en vis tilslutning. Hvor dækkende målingen er, er meget svært at sige; specielt er det svært at gisne om hvordan det vil gå Meta's parti og de andre mindre eller helt små partier; til gengæld er Meta nævnt nogle gange af PM Nano i Burrel-talen (se ovenfor) - ikke akkurat for det gode. Man er i øvrigt ikke vant til Gallup'er i Albanien - hverken som spørgere eller som adspurgte. ... Efterfølgende skal Gallup have udtalt at det er forkert når Mjaft taler om et samarbejde mellem sig og Gallup. ADN skriver:

TIRANA - Two main political parties in the country, the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition Democratic Party, result to have an equal support in the electorate with 34 percent each whereas the Socialist Movement for Integration has gathered some 10 percent of votes, being positioned the third. The Movement for National Development, a monarchist-led movement, has received 2 percent while the other parties only 1 percent.

-

[050602] TIRANA - The prestigious The Gallup Organization declared on Thursday that they bear no relation at all with the Mjaft! poll whose results were announced on Wednesday and expressed its indignation about that. Mjaft! (Enough) representatives announced last Wednesday the results of the first public opinion poll, which according to them, was conducted by The Gallup Organization and with the Movement's initiative and the financing of the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the British Embassy in Tirana.

I april lagde Mjaft flg artikel på sin internetside:

Media Press Releases

"Mjaft" and "Gallup", polls for elections 28 April 2005

By Korrieri, Shekulli, Koha Jonë

MJAFT Movement and Gallup International will organize public opinion polls in Albania regarding the parliamentary elections of April 3 rd , 2005. With the contribution of the Presidency of the European Union, the British and Dutch embassies, MJAFT has invited in Albania the most renowned international company for public opinion polls, Gallup International, which will contribute to all the technical aspects of this new experience. At the same time, the leaders of MJAFT Movement declared yesterday that they have been contacting with all the parliamentary parties in order to ensure their welcome to the results of these polls.

In total, Gallup International will interview 1,400 individuals above 18 years old, while there will be two polls, one in May and the other in June. Through these polls, the leaders of MJAFT Movement aim at intensifying the debate on issues of public concern, and help the politicians or the parties to adapt their policies to the specific needs of different cities and regions. At the same time, the polls aim at stimulating the accordance between the platforms of the political parties and some important issues, thus, increasing the participation in the elections. Other objectives of these polls are better information for the media and public in general, about the progress of the electoral campaigns and the raising of accountability from the part of the politicians, so that their promises can be clearly understood.

The method of the interviews

Step I - The Universe is divided in a proportional way, according to the residential characteristics (urban/rural) of the population for each region.

Step II - The choice of families based on the "random" method (The size of a unit is 7-8 interviewees, regardless of their kind of residence. In the urban areas, the chosen family is each third address of house, on the left side of the road. In apartment blocks, the chosen family is each fourth apartment starting from the higher floor of each building. In rural families, the chosen family is each third house on both sides of the road that the interviewer takes.)

Step III - Choosing the person to be interviewed within the family will be based on the "subsequent group-age" method.

Step IV - The replacement of the person that is to be interviewed after three attempts, if the person is not available at the time of visit or refuses to take part in the poll. His replacement will be done according to the rules of choosing the family.

Ilir Meta (nr 2 fra v), Sabit Brokaj, Sokol Peza og Roland Celmeta (arkivfoto)

Ilir Meta. Nedenfor følger Ilir Meta's officielle CV (fra hans internetside der i øvrigt virker temmelig uaktuel):

Ilir Meta was born on March 24, 1969 in Skrapar, Albania. He graduated in Political Economy at the Faculty Economics, University of Tirana, where he also concluded his postgraduate studies.

Ilir Meta is currently a member of Parliament, founder and President of the Board of Directors at the Institute for Peace, Development and Integration, and member of the International Commission on the Balkans.

Ilir Meta has an intensive political activity, staring from 1990 as an active participant in the students’ movement that brought the fall down of the communist regime. Since 1992 he has been elected Member of Parliament in all legislatures, and member of several Parliamentarian Commissions. From 1996 to 1997 he was deputy chairman of the -Foreign Affairs Commission of the Parliament.

Ilir Meta is one of the co-founders of the Forum of the Euro-socialist Youth of Albania (FRESH), contributing to its accession to the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY). Ilir Meta held important leading positions within the FRESH as Deputy Chairman (1992-1995), and Chairman (1995-2001).

His political activity within the Socialist Party of Albania is quite intensive. He has been a member of the Party’s Steering Committee from 1992 and a member of the Party’s Presidency from 1993 up to the day he resigned (July 2003), after presenting to the Party’s leadership pressing issues such as the lack of transparency, failure to deliver progress, and commitment to reforms from the Party’s Chairman and Prime Minister, Fatos Nano.

Ilir Meta was Chairman of local branch of the capital city, Tirana (1997-1998). From 1993 to 1996 he held the important position of Party’s Deputy Chairman and International Secretary, a time when relations with many socialist and social-democrat parties across Europe, European Socialist Party and the Socialist International were established.

His political activity marked significant progress during a successful prime-ministership (November 1999 - September 2001), and after a victory in the summer General Elections, He won a second mandate (September 2001 - February 2002). These are the years that central governance in the country reached its most impressive results. Macro-economic parameters were stabilized, many state owned companies in strategic sectors of national economy were successfully privatized, and law and order was re-established throughout the country. In February 2002, he resigned to avoid a political crisis within the majority.

Ilir Meta has also served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (July 2002 – July 2003), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Coordination (October 1998 – October 1999), and State Secretary for European Integration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (March – October 1998).

Recently, Ilir Meta was elected member of International Commission on the Balkans, chaired by former Italian Prime Minister, Giuliano Amato.

Ilir Meta is a visiting lecturer at the Economic Faculty of Tirana University. He also lectured in some renowned universities and academies overseas, such as Harvard University, and European Academy in Berlin.

He has published several articles and analyses on national and international issues.

He speaks English and Italian.

Ilir Meta is married to Monika Kryemadhi and they have two daughters and a son, Bora, Era and Besar.

Europarådets Parlamentariske Forsamling har haft en Delegation på besøg for at 'vende' den politiske situation og parlamentsvalget. Delegationen har været på besøg hos Præsidenten, Premierminister Nano og den Centrale Valgkommission. Præsidentkontoret har udsendt flg.:

May 31, 2005 The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu received today the members of the Special Commission on the elections in Albania created by the Council of Europe.

President Moisiu expressed the gratitude about the contribution of the international observers in the elections and the conviction that the Albanian politics has understood the holding of the elections according to the international standards.

The Head of State stated that there have been some positive achievements in the electoral reforms such as the balancing of Central Elections Commission, the compiling of voters’ lists, which have been achieved through the consensus of the two main political forces.

President Moisiu informed the observers about the Code of Conduct, which was supported by all the political forces, the address to the Parliament and the meetings with the directors of independent state institutions and the media.

The Head of State expressed the main grievances about the elections: the transparency of the financing of the electoral campaign, the “Dushku” phenomena, the role of the directors of the public institutions in the campaign, the preserving of the political moral on the resigning of the directors of public services entities, who are running for office as parliamentarians and the small number of women candidates.

Mr. Moisiu demanded from the international community to give messages and a clear and firm final report in order to not allow interpretations from those who will come out unhappy from the elections results.

Mr. Smoravinsky praised the positive activity of the Head of State, especially the role that has the composing of the Code of Conduct and pointed out some of the problems that have been evidenced from the meetings that they have held during the visit in Tirana.

Den Centrale Valgkommission skriver:

The CEC held a meeting with the President of the Republic and delegation of European Council

[30.05.2005] The members of the Central Elections Commission held today a meeting with the President of the Republic, Mr. Alfred Moisiu. During the meeting in the Presidency, the CEC members informed the President Moisiu in regard to the preparation of 3 July, 2005 Elections to the Albanian Assembly.

Another issue discussed during this meeting was the so far election concern and the needs of the Central Elections Commission regarding the management of the upcoming election process. The President of the Republic, Mr. Alfred Moisiu has requested the directions of his support from the CEC members, in order that elections be conducted in accordance with international election standards.

The members of the Central Elections Commission held another meeting with the Experts’ Delegation of the European Council, headed by Mr. Smorawinski. The CEC members have presented a complete view of the administrative steps taken for the upcoming election process, and continuation of the preparations in full accordance with the action plan adopted by the Central Elections Commission.

Den Albanske PMs Informationskontor skriver:

The Prime Minister Fatos Nano meets the head of the monitoring group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Jersy Smorawinski

1/6/2005

The Prime Minister Fatos Nano received today in a meeting the monitoring group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, lead by Jersy Smorawinsky.

In the meeting is estimated the importance of the CE mission in Albania, the contribution regarding the expertise that offers the job of the EC reporters.

Mr. Smorawinsky appraised the evident progress the country has made, and he appraised also the role of Albania in the region as a constructive factor of cooperation and stability.

Mr. Nano introduced Mr. Smorawinsky with the preparations for the coming electoral process, pointing out that it is being worked for elections in accordance with CE standards, and elections that may guarantee a wide political consensus in the country. Mr. Nano pointed out also that in accordance with the OSCE/ODIHR and CE recommendations, it has been realized the implementation of the law for the definition of the electoral districts, the definition of the borders of the electoral units and voting centers, realization of the amendments of the Electoral Code, the preparation and implementation of the law on Verification, Identification and Registration of the citizens by the authorities of the local government.

The Prime Minister shared the same opinion with the interlocutors that the Code of Ethics is an important document and should be implemented by all political parties. Mr. Nano said, we support the timely establishment of the commissions of the electoral zones, commissions of the voting centers and training of the commissioners, as well as the realization of an efficient campaign that guarantees the wide participation of the voters.

Further on, Mr. Nano said that “for the majority I lead it is very important the standard of these elections”. Regarding this, he pointed out, “we have invited CE to send observers for the elections, because it is very important to cover as many as possible electoral zones during the electoral process”.

OSCE har arrangeret Presseseminar. OSCE skriver:

TIRANA, 1 June 2005 - The Council of Europe Office in Tirana and the OSCE Presence in Albania welcomed the discussion on a code of conduct for Albanian media professionals during elections by the participants in a seminar on media and elections, held in Tirana yesterday.

The seminar was organized by the Council of Europe together with the Albanian Media Institute, the OSCE Presence in Albania and the Central Elections Commission.

It discussed issues facing the Albanian media during the run-up to the parliamentary elections, to be held on 3 July 2005. The seminar also drew attention to international standards, Council of Europe reference documents and the experience of other countries concerning media professionalism.

Participants from the print and electronic media expressed hope that the code of conduct would be published and implemented by the media while reporting on the electoral campaign.

Det Albanske Udenrigsministerium har haft de udenlandske Diplomater på udflugt til Vlora; på billedet ses bl.a. den Amerikanske Ambassadør Ries (lige ved siden af UM Islami) og den Italienske Ambassadør Attilio Massimo Iannucci (et stykke tv); Italien spiller en stor rolle både som politisk partner og som handelspartner. Adskillige Albanere arbejder i Italien - nogle har fast ophold dér, andre midlertidigt. Antallet af illegale Albanere i Italien er formentlig faldet i det seneste par år.

pÅ billedet ses th for Vice-PM Namik Dokle Professor Shaban Sinani, der er Direktør for det Albanske Nationalarkiv

Albansk-Kinesisk Arkivsamarbejde. For nogen tid siden er man blevet enige om at samarbejde på forskellig led mellem Kina og Albanien. ADN skriver:

TIRANA - Yang Donquan, Deputy-General Director of the State Archives of the People's Republic of China and Shaban Sinani, Director of National Archives of Albania signed on Thursday an agreement consisting in exchange of materials and experience in this field. In function of keeping the historical memory alive, the two sides will exchange copies of documents and for those towards which common interest will exist, joint researches would be conducted. The agreement also includes the archives restoration for which the People's Republic of China has a prestigious school recognized at international level.

SERBIEN og MONTENEGRO. SERBIEN (alene)

Det Amerikanske UM har Juli 2004 offentliggjort en 'Background Note' om Serbien - Montenegro: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5388.htm ... Det Engelske Udenrigsministeriums 'Country Advice' til rejsende kan findes på adressen: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618386622 ... En biografi over tidligere Forbundspræsident Kostunica kan læses på Serbiske Politikere ... Mht ICTYs sag mod tidligere Præsident Milosevic, se (evt.) under ICTY ovenfor.

Præsidentvalg i Serbien. Boris Tadic blev i Juni 2004 valgt som Præsident. Seneste Parlamentsvalg: 031228.

Kosovo / Kosóva:

MONTENEGRO (alene)

Præsidentvalg 030511: Filip Vujanovic blev valgt. Seneste Parlamentsvalg 021020.

MAKEDONIEN

Det Engelske Udenrigsministeriums 'Country Advice' til rejsende kan findes på adressen: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618386163 ... Det Amerikanske UM har Maj 2004 offentliggjort en 'Background Note' om Makedonien: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26759.htm

Der er omkring 25 % etniske Albanere i Makedonien. Folketælling afholdtes 021101-021105.

Præsidentvalg i Maj 2004: Branko Crvenkovski - hidtidig PM - blev valgt (efter Boris Trajkovski som omkom ved en flyulykke). Seneste Parlamentsvalg fandt sted 020915. Der kan henvises til flg. OSCE/ODIHR-oversigtsside: http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/field_activities/skopje2002/.

Folkeafstemningen 041107 om decentralisering (= imødekommelse af Makedonien-Albanske interesser): Folkeafstemningen "faldt". Stemmedeltagelsen var kun omkring 26 %. Hvis afstemningen skulle have kunnet udvirke en ændring af decentraliseringslovgivningen, skulle deltagelsen have været mindst 50%, og desuden skulle der have været flertal mod lovgivningen. Det var ventet at stemmedeltagelsen ville have været noget større, selv om både Regeringspartierne og den Albanske minoritet anbefalede at man blev hjemme. Man kan nu gå videre i overensstemmelse med Ohrid-aftalerne.

GRÆKENLAND

Seneste Parlamentsvalg 040307. Olympiade 13.-29. August (se Græsk side: http://www.athens2004.com/athens2004/ og Dansk side: http://www.dif.dk/index/ol-3/ol-ol2004.htm).

Alumil. En Fabrik i Tirana-området er blevet åbnet eller udbygget med Græsk støtte (næppe på 100% markedsmæssige vilkår); både Præsident Moisiu, Økonomiminister Anastas Angjeli og den Græsk-Ortodokse Ærkebiskop deltog i arrangementet; desuden var der Gæster fra Kosóva - muligvis fordi der skal hentes råvarer dér? Præsidentkontoret har udsendt flg.:

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu took part today in the inauguration of the aluminum profiles line in the industrial area of Tirana, which is an investment of the Greek company Alumil of about 11 million Euros.

After cutting the ribbon, President Moisiu visited the premises of the factory, which now joins a group of other factories of Alumil in Europe. Alumil is the greatest group of aluminum profiles production in the region.

In this inaugurating ceremony were also present the Minister of Economy, Angjeli, the minister of the Kosovar government Dugolli and Çeku, the Greek Deputy Minister of Economy, the Greek Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, the Greek Ambassador Karkabasis, representatives of the Albanian business community and other guests.

TYRKIET

UMs rejsevejledning: http://www.um.dk/da/menu/Borgerservice/FoerRejsen/Rejsevejledninger/RejsevejledningTyrkiet.htm.

Seneste Parlamentsvalg blev holdt 021103. Det blev i December 2004 aftalt (med EUs Regeringschefer)at der i Oktober 2005 skal indledes forhandlinger om optagelse af Tyrkiet i EU.

Trafficking: Turkey - Multi-Country Trafficking Campaign Launched. IOM har udsendt flg.:

The first major multi-country campaign to prevent human trafficking across key Eastern European countries, Turkey and the former Soviet Union, is being launched tomorrow by IOM in close coordination with the Turkish government.

The campaign is targeted towards providing rescue and prevention assistance for actual and potential trafficked individuals in Turkey from neighbouring nations, including Moldova and Ukraine, the two top sources of trafficked victims into Turkey.

The multi-country media campaign will promote Turkey’s new 157 helpline for the rescue of trafficked individuals. It will also cross-promote prevention telephone hotlines in Moldova and Ukraine that provide information on the danger signs of trafficking to potential victims.

“Trafficking in human beings is a problem that cuts across international borders,” said IOM Turkey chief of mission, Marielle Sander-Lindstrom. “This campaign recognizes that fact by taking a comprehensive regional approach to preventing human trafficking.”

In Turkey, authorities are distributing small handouts, or passport inserts, to travellers entering the country at key border crossings. The passport inserts publicize the 157 helpline number and include warning signs of trafficking. Billboards and other advertising are also included in the campaign.

Similar handouts will be distributed by non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) in Ukraine to those people on their way to Turkey and who may be at risk of trafficking. The distribution will target Odessa and Crimea seaports and regional airports used for transport to Turkey.

In addition, 30-second television commercials publicizing the 157 helpline in Turkey as well as locally-based prevention hotlines will run in Ukraine and Moldova. An additional commercial publicizing the 157 number will run on Turkish channels.

Turkey has seen growing numbers of women from the former USSR being trafficked through Turkey for sexual exploitation in recent years. In 2003, Turkish law enforcement identified 102 cases of trafficked girls and women. In 2004, figures had jumped to 266 with 27 cases from Turkey, the remainder mostly from countries in the former Soviet bloc. Sixty-two of the women had been assisted by IOM in that year. Figures for 2005 are set to show a dramatic rise with IOM alone having assisted 80 women in the first five months of the year.

The launch is in the framework of an already existing Turkish-government coordinated and IOM-implemented campaign to combat human trafficking. The campaign includes increased public awareness activities, stepped up training for law enforcement and medical, psychological and direct assistance to trafficked individuals. The US$ 700,000 project is funded by the US government with co-funding from the Turkish government. Major support for IOM counter-trafficking programmes is also provided by the Italian and Swedish governments.

For further information, please contact

Allan Freedman, IOM Ankara, Tel: +905334822049, E-mail: afreedman@iom.int

LANDE UDEN FOR BALKAN OG ØSTLIGE MIDDELHAV. NATO-LANDE

ITALIEN

Mother Teresa. I anledning af saligkåringen ('beatificeringen') 031019 har Vatikantet etableret en internetside: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20031019_index_madre-teresa_en.html

USA

Den Amerikanske Historie: Watergate. Rolling Thunder: Deep Throat er trådt frem, han var i sin tid Vicedirektør i FBI og synes kun at have haft redelige motiver til i sin tid at være gået til Washington Post som skriver:

Leonard Downie Jr., Executive Editor, The Washington Post, Wednesday, June 1, 2005; 1:00 PM

The Washington Post Tuesday confirmed that W. Mark Felt, a former number-two official at the FBI, was "Deep Throat," the secretive source who provided information that helped unravel the Watergate scandal in the early 1970s and contributed to the resignation of president Richard M. Nixon.

The confirmation came from Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two Washington Post reporters who broke the Watergate story, and their former top editor, Benjamin C. Bradlee. The three spoke after Felt's family and Vanity Fair magazine identified the 91-year-old Felt, now a retiree in California, as the long-anonymous source who provided crucial guidance for some of the newspaper's groundbreaking Watergate stories.

... Rolling Thunder. Tusindvis af Vietnam- og andre Veteraner har afviklet et stort mindearrangement i Washington. FM Rumsfeld deltog.

Rumsfeld Thanks Rolling Thunder for Support of Vets, Troops. By Steven Donald Smith, American Forces Press Service

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, left, meets with Paul Revere of the band Paul Revere and the Raiders during Rolling Thunder 2005 in Washington, D.C., May 29, 2005. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby

A Vietnam veteran holds a flag near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 29, 2005. Men and women, young and old, gathered in the nation's capital to watch as hundreds of thousands of motorcycle riders took part in Rolling Thunder 2005. The annual ride which began in 1988 pays tribute to those killed in Vietnam and remembers those missing from all conflicts. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby

WASHINGTON, May 30, 2005 – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld thanked the thousands of riders in the 18th annual Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom for their support of veterans issues and of today's troops.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld speaks of the importance of remembering the military during the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom in Washington, D.C., May 29. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby, USAF.

The secretary addressed the crowd on the National Mall May 29.

Hundreds of thousands of Vietnam veterans and others rode their motorcycles into Washington to bring attention to the prisoner of war/missing in action issue.

Rolling Thunder, Inc., is a non-profit organization that aims to highlight the fact that many American servicemembers from past wars are still unaccounted for. Vietnam veterans Artie Muller and Ray Manzo founded Rolling Thunder in 1987.

"My goodness look at the crowd," Rumsfeld said. "I wish every one of you could stand up here and see what you all look like. You look fantastic!

"To the riders of Rolling Thunder, I want to thank you so very much for what you are doing for the veterans and the country -- patriots all," Rumsfeld said.

Rumsfeld stated that the United States has been blessed because of the countless men and women from every generation who have stepped forward to defend freedom.

"Many of those patriots are here today. Some did not return home. The members of Rolling Thunder have not forgotten a single one of them," he said.

He thanked the members of the organization for what they have done for America's veterans, including donating money to the families of veterans. He also thanked them for volunteering their time and for speaking to America's youth regarding the high price of freedom.

"But particularly I want to thank you for your support of the men and women in uniform who are fighting today on the front lines in Afghanistan and Iraq and other troubled spots around the globe," Rumsfeld said. "They are serving with great courage, skill, with confidence and professionalism, and they are doing truly noble work for our country."

He noted that today's armed forces have toppled two tyrannies and liberated 50 million people. "They are making our country safer and the world more free," he added.

Rumsfeld also spoke about how much the world has changed in the 18 years since Rolling Thunder began.

"Since the first Rolling Thunder in 1987 the world has been transformed. It's a world that has been transformed by the same freedoms for which you ride today," he said.

He noted that the late 1980s was a time of oppression and tyranny, in which entire families died trying to escape communism.

"And the dictator in Iraq was gassing the Iraqi people, killing tens of thousands, and piling them in mass graves that the free Iraqi people are finding today. Today Saddam Hussein is in prison, and the Berlin wall is in pieces," he said.

"The Afghan people are free and building a proud new country, having elected the first popularly elected president in 5000 years of its history," he continued.

Rumsfeld added that since Rolling Thunder was founded the number of free countries in the world has almost doubled.

"Victory wasn't always fast, and it wasn't ever easy," he said. "As has been said about the price of freedom: no price that's ever been asked for it is half the cost of being without it."

"You're here today because you know the price of freedom, and I thank you for your commitment to that cause. And I thank the millions who fought for that cause by your sides. We will never forget them," he said.

After completing the ride from the Pentagon, motorcycle riders sing the song "Proud to be an American" during Rolling Thunder 2005 in Washington, D.C., May 29, 2005. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby

ENGLAND

TYSKLAND

FRANKRIG

Folkeafstemningen om EU-traktaten var klar og tydelig; flertallet af Franskmændene stemte imod traktaten; senere har de Hollandske Vælgere været endnu tydeligere. Det ventes at traktaten er død i den foreliggende form, og at der vil gå et stykke tid, før man finder ud af hvordan man kan komme videre. EU-kontoret i Albanien har udsendt flg.:

Joint Declaration of President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell Fontelles, President of the European Council Jean-Claude Juncker and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso on the results of the French Referendum on the European Constitutional Treaty

Sunday May 29 2005

The French voters have today, Sunday 29 May, chosen to say no to the ratification of the Constitutional treaty. We take note of this.

We regret this choice, coming as it does from a Member State that has been for the last 50 years one of the essential motors of the building of our common future.

We completely respect the expression of the democratic will that has made itself felt at the end of an intense debate. The result of the French referendum deserves a profound analysis, in the first instance, on the part of the French authorities. The Institutions of the European Union should also, for their part, reflect on the results of the collected ratification processes.

It is important to remember that nine Member States, representing almost half (49%) of the European population have already ratified the Constitutional Treaty, in one case on the basis of a broadly positive referendum and that the majority of Member States have not yet had the opportunity to complete the ratification process.

The tenor of the debate in France, and the result of the referendum also reinforce our conviction that the relevant national and European politicians must do more to explain the true scale of what is at stake, and the nature of the answers that only Europe can offer. We continue to believe that a response at thee European level remains the best and the most effective in the face of accelerating global change.

We must ask ourselves how each among us – national governments, European institutions, political parties, social partners, civil society – can contribute to a better understanding of this project, which cannot have its own legitimacy without listening to its citizens.

The building of Europe is, by its nature, complex. Europe has already known difficult moments and it has every time emerged from them strengthened, better than before, ready to face its challenges and its responsibilities. Today Europe continues, and its institutions function fully. We are aware of the difficulties, but we have confidence that once again we will find the means to move the European Union forward. Together, we are determined to contribute to this.

DANMARK (NORGE, SVERIGE)

Flygtning fra Albanien? Danmarks Radio's Ungdomsredaktion har i ugens løb bragt en 'radiofeature' på ca 45 min af Ulla Ringgård om en Flygtning fra Albanien der kom til Danmark i 1999 sammen med sin Kone. Flygtningen havde været politisk aktiv i Albanien og var blevet torteret, hvorefter han var flygtet. Flygtningen havde fået afslag på sin ansøgning om opholdstilladelse, den Danske Advokat mente ikke at kunne gøre mere, mens en ung Dansker havde taget sig af Parret og skjult dem. Manden havde fået et alvorligt psykisk sammenbrud - herefter havde de Danske Myndigheder bevilget opholdstilladelse af humanitære grunde. Foreløbig kommentar: Historien er mærkelig (kommer Flygtningen virkelig fra Albanien og ikke fra Kosóva eller Makedonien?); jeg har sendt en mail til Ulla Ringgård for at få lidt information. Når jeg hører fra hende, vender jeg tilbage. [Se nærmere i »Sidste Nyt« # 262]

Ugerapport fra Dansk KFOR. Hærens Operative Kommando - se under: Kosova.

LANDE UDEN FOR BALKAN OG ØSTLIGE MIDDELHAV. IKKE NATO-LANDE

RUSLAND

UMs Rejsevejledning: http://www.um.dk/da/menu/Borgerservice/FoerRejsen/Rejsevejledninger/RejsevejledningRusland.htm

KINA

Fodbold: FIFA meddeler med. Maj at Albanien ligger som nr. 93 med 499 points [forrige nr.: 89]. Andre lande: Makedonien nr. 96 [96], Serbien Montenegro nr. 46 [47], Grækenland nr. 12 [12], Italien nr. 10 [10], Tyrkiet nr. 14 [14], USA nr. 10 som Italien [10], Frankrig nr. 4 [4], Spanien nr. 8 [7], Tyskland nr. 19 [20], England nr. 6 [6]. Danmark nr. 19 [18], Norge nr. 36 [36] og Sverige nr. 13 [13]. - Brasilien ligger som nr. 1 [1].

Kvalifikationskampe til VM-slutrunde 2006 i Tyskland. Danmark skal møde Albanien, Georgien, Grækenland, Kasakhstan, Tyrkiet og Ukraine.

Du må citere hvis du angiver hovedsidens adresse: bjoerna.dk ... Siderne om Albanerne: bjoerna.dk/albanerne.htm ... Søgning på internettet: bjoerna.dk/soegning.htm