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 #265 - Valget i Albanien (klik tv.)
Sidste Nyt #264 - Kosóva's fremtid (klik tv.)
Sidste Nyt #263 - frem til 17.06.2005 (klik tv.)
Sidste Nyt #262 - frem til 10.06.2005 (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: MAKFAX skriver at SRSG Søren Jessen-Petersen vil have 3 Regeringsmedlemmer afskediget: 'Deputy Prime Minister Adem Saljihaj, as well as Ministers Meljihat Trmkoli and Astrid Haricij. The three ministers are believed to have abused power during their tenure.' [Telegrammet er ikek bekræftet]

UNMIK har holdt Special Press Briefing on Strategic Framework on Communities and Returns.

Albin Kurti strammer kursen: 'Albin Kurti says that Kosovo is heading toward an inevitable conflict which may have even more tragic consequences than the one in 1999, Lajm writes. Kurti considers that the only way to avoid the conflict is by having a revolution aiming at toppling the ‘local-dictatorial and international-colonial’ government. He says that the first step toward this is for the citizens to join the newly-formed self-determination movement while the next step is all-out protests throughout Kosovo. Kurti denies allegations that anarchy may overwhelm Kosovo if people acted according to his advice by expressing great faith he has on peaceful character of the people in Kosovo.'

Albanien: Præsident Moisiu har på det seneste været i Montenegro for at mødes med Præsident Vujanovic og for sammen med ham at åbne en bogmesse.

Præsident Moisiu har været i Vlora hvor han har talt med de lokale - og hvor han har haft møde med Lederne af Albaniens Politi og Skkerhedsinstitutioner.

050801 Joana Dudushi (18), kaldet Stela, er fundet dræbt i Vlora. Hun var dolket ihjel. Joana Dudushi blev allerede som 14-årig tvunget ud i prostitution. Hun trådte frem i TV-programmet »Fiks Fare« på »topchannel« i April i år hvor hun beskyldte Politifolk for at have presset hende til at anmelde Kunder for at have voldtaget hende; Politifolkene skulle herefter have fået mulighed for at kræve bestikkelsespenge for at droppe sagerne. Politiet har afvist at der skulle være noget om anklagerne - og man søgte heller ikke, trods hendes anmodning herom og trods dødstrusler mod hende, at give hende vidnebeskyttelse. Det er uklart hvem der har dræbt hende, men formodningerne går på at hun er kommet i klemme mellem forskellige Kriminelle.

Vold i hjemmet. British Medical har offentliggjort en undersøgelse om vold i hjemmet i familier i Tirana. A representative sample of 1039 married women aged 25-65 living in Tirana and recorded in the 2001 census. Results: More than a third (37%, 384/1039) of women had experienced violence. Risk was greatest among women aged 25-34 (odds ratio 1.47, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.09), women with tertiary education (3.70, 2.04 to 6.67), women in white collar jobs (4.0, 1.59 to 10.0), women with least educated husbands (5.01, 2.91 to 8.64), and women married to men raised in rural areas (3.31, 2.29 to 4.80). Women were at higher risk if they were more educated than their husbands (4.76, 2.56 to 9.09). Conclusions In transitional Albania, the risk of spousal violence is high, and more empowered women are at greater risk.

Serbien: Den Serbiske Regering skriver at man i Kosovo er langt fra at opfylde standarderne.

Grækenland: 050803 Brande i Grækenland. Muligvis påsatte. Politiet anholdt nogle Albanere pga et større læs diesel- eller benzindunke, men de var ikke indblandet i ildspåsættelse, kun i tyveri.

Kathimerini har to længere artikler om hhv indvandrere i Grækenland og om Dommernes (u)-partiskhed.

USA: Præsident Bush har udnævnt John Bolton som FN-Ambassadør trods temmelig kraftig skepsis i Washington. Bush vil måske vise at han bestemmer hvor skabet skal stå.

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.: On 13 April 2005, the Prosecution concluded its case. The trial is to resume on 17 May 2005.

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/

MAKFAX skriver at SRSG Søren Jessen-Petersen vil have 3 Regeringsmedlemmer afskediget:

The Head of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Soren Jessen-Petersen has urged the Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi to dismiss three members of Kosovo's government ahead of launch of final status talks, Koha Ditore daily says.

The paper says Petersen is likely to demand replacement of Deputy Prime Minister Adem Saljihaj, as well as Ministers Meljihat Trmkoli and Astrid Haricij. The three ministers are believed to have abused power during their tenure.

Referring to reliable sources, Koha Ditore says Petersen is likely to replace the ministers by himself if the Prime Minister refuses to comply with the demand.

The three ministers are suspected of having links to criminal activities, including abuse of power and close ties with the organization calling itself Fatherland Security.

Pressemeddelelser fra UNMIK / Pressekonferencer:

Press Briefing Notes 27 July 2005

Special Press Briefing on Strategic Framework on Communities and Returns

Kilian Kleinschmidt, OIC/Dy. Director OCRM/UNMIK Fatmir Sheholli, Spokesperson/Ministry of Communities & Returns UNMIK Spokesperson Neeraj Singh

Neeraj: We have with us today two special guests for this press conference, Mr Kilian Kleinsmidt, Officer-in-charge and Deputy Director of UNMIK’s Office of Communities, Returns and Minority Affairs, and Mr Fatmir Sheholli, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Communities and Returns. I welcome both to this press conference. They are here to brief you on the latest strategic framework on communities and returns. After the briefing there will be opportunity for you to ask them questions and then we will go on to the regular weekly briefing. So, on to Mr Fatmir.

Fatmir: Thank you very much. This is a joint press conference organised between the Ministry of Communities and Returns and the ORC (now OCRM). What I would like to initially say is that the progress of the Ministry of Communities and Returns is the fact that for the first time in Kosovo there has been a launch of a strategy, or the framework strategy on returns. Something like that did not exist earlier and as such is a joint result of the activities of the Ministry with the ORC (OCRM) and other relevant international factors. Another achievement in our Ministry is also the preparations which are ongoing on the law on returns that will be submitted to the Assembly of Kosovo. This law will be prepared in close cooperation with UNMIK/OLA and other relevant international factors in Kosovo. This will be developed in Kosovo because so far there was a lack of both the strategic framework but also a lack of a proper law that will deal with the returns, property ownership and other matters that focus and are elaborated in the Ministry of Returns and Communities. Let us not forget once again that the Ministry of Returns and Communities did not exist in the previous government. It is working through its activities for the past six months now. During this period, results were made to the extent it was possible and certainly expectations were higher but it does not always depend on the Ministry but it also depends on other elements that act in Kosovo. That would be all for the beginning and I am available for questions. Thank you.

Kilian: Thank you very much and good morning to everybody. Well, what is a framework, what is a strategic framework? This question has been asked quite a number of times. First of all, I think it is important to understand that it is not a strategy. It is a framework to develop a strategy. And please get this right, once and for all, this is our message here, and this is also the message to some people, unnamed politicians I would say, who came out of the meeting when they launched the framework saying that once more we have not been consulted – typical for Kosovo: something is introduced and we haven’t discussed it. Wrong. The idea is to gradually replace the manual for sustainable return which has been an international product, if you want, replace it as a consequence of a, I would hope, a highly, highly, consultative and inclusive process, with what we could call a program of action on communities and returns. And, well, it doesn’t mean that we have to wait to change things when it comes to the returns process in the course of the coming months. But it means foremost that we have to bring, on key issues, key partners together. Who are these partners? Or course it is the PISG who must be in the lead now. So it is the beginning of a transition, the real beginning of the transition. But it is also of course, and it must be, the IDPs, the refugees themselves, and I met yesterday with a number of them in Krajlevo when I went to discuss the possibilities and opportunities for returns. They are very keen to contribute and come in with their ideas. It is the NGOs, it is the international agencies such as UNHCR, there is of course the OSCE, who will be here for a while, and so on. So we will have the opportunity finally to review this returns process which many have been criticising as being too cumbersome, too difficult, too slow, not responsive enough, not doing enough, being obstructive even as a process and so on. So it is the opportunity to do that. We have to move quick though, because we have only a few months until, basically, the 2006 programmes will be designed by the donors, and by, I would say, also the government itself. So we have to come in with very concrete decisions of how to make it more rapid, more responsive to what the people really want. The good news is that we have reason to do that because there are many, many more IDPs and refugees than we think out there who say let’s try it, we want to return. And this is not propaganda I am doing here, this is based on real encounters with people who say give us the assistance we ask for, help us to come back. And we will do it. Now, the problem is, and this is also one major aspect of this discussion we have to move forward, that already now with the so-called stalled returns process we have totally insufficient funds available. As we speak, we have still activities from the 2004-funded programme ongoing, so you will see construction when you go out in the villages. But particularly the 2005 programme, which has been delayed because of some, let’s say, differences initially at least with the Ministry of Returns and Communities, which I hope, are now finally being resolved. But already the projects, which are developed with hundreds of families who have said ‘Yes, we want to come back’, require an additional 22 million euros today. And there are every day new projects coming in, additional projects coming in, developed by the municipalities in co-operation with their partners, in co-operation with the IDP associations, the IDPs themselves, and there are also many people who come on their own now, and that is, I think, the most encouraging development, who basically knock on the door of the municipalities and say ‘Here we are, can you help us to get back’. So 22 million euros already required now. I mean, I would say God help us if there are more returns happening, because then we are saying, well, sorry, we cannot help you because not enough money. That has something to do, and I discussed it yesterday also with the IDP associations, with the message which is unfortunately given all the time: return is too difficult, return is impossible, return is this and that. So many donors have also, with the very bad events last March, cut down on their programs for 2005. So we are sitting here, we have people who say yes we want to return, hello here we are, and not receiving assistance. So we need to reflect on how we do that and prepare for the moment when returns take place. So, again I think this is now the opportunity to start a reflection on how we can do this famous return process more effective, more responsive. It is bringing in everyone around the table. We will not have huge conferences, we will have small working groups. We will come up with results as they move forward. We already have one perfect example of one of these working groups, which by the way has been meeting for some time on outreach, which Mr Sheholli is chairing together with Caroline. This type of work is now the way forward. I would like to stop here and I think we have the opportunity to discuss. Thank you.

Q: Mr Sheholli, you mentioned the preparation of a law on returns. Should there be a law on returns for the IDPs? Why do we need such a law when this is a human right? And Mr. Kleinschmidt, you are mentioning funds, governments, the international community, whoever, is putting all that pressure on returns, and even numbers on returns. Are they promising money, or do they just want return to happen and they don’t want to care about funding the whole way up to here?

Fatmir: Let us not for get that the Ministry of Returns and Communities is not a Ministry for the return of the Serb community members only. We are a Ministry that will work in returning the IDPs and refugees of all ethnic communities. It has been six years of constant obstructions to the return, and occupied property which have delayed or have made the Ministry and the legal office think seriously to act in this context through the enactment of a law in the Assembly of Kosovo that provide and lay the legal grounds for this human right. The law should have the final verdict or ruling per se and this is the reason why we have embarked on such an initiative. As I said, this is a preparatory phase of preparing the law and it will be completed in compliance with all legal norms and requirements of the Kosovo government.

Q: Mr Sheholli, I do understand that. Nevertheless is there any country in the world that wouldn’t require such a law on returns when the constitutional framework provides these basic human rights to property, to home, and the place of one’s origin. So why is there a need to have such a law when it is an internationally recognized right? Why there should be such an experiment taking place in Kosovo?

Fatmir: The reason is clear, because the Ministry of Returns and Communities received around 25 or 26 applications, 70 percent of which are of the Serb community members and the rest of Albanians who have remained outside Kosovo and cannot return. This is a matter which has not been regulated properly. I am aware that this is an internationally recognized right, but there are problems that Kosovo is facing too, that you may have heard Ambassador Eide and other relevant international factors who refer to the issue of the return which is a priority and one of the key elements in the standards implementation. If so, then it is necessary for us to take this step and there is nothing bad in it because we are not going to have anything outside the scope of international law in this law on returns.

Kilian: Of course we will be discussing this question of law or regulation or whatever at some point in more detail with the Ministry. I think, if I may comment on this, there is a need to look into some key areas which require attention by the municipalities and the central government and also we should put it a little bit into the context of what we are working on in the technical dialogue on returns between Pristina and Belgrade, where we hope to be able to finalize a protocol very soon, a protocol on co-operation on some of these issues, which will require action on both sides. Now, let me again comment on your funding question because it is a crucial one. First of all, yes, there are bad messages coming out all the time and I would say that what happened here in Pristina on Sunny Hill, I think on the 25th, is one of these totally unnecessary signals as regards returns. When people gather and say no we are not ready to accept that somebody is repossessing an apartment and returning to their apartment. I think this is totally unacceptable and this is exactly the message I think also Ambassador Eide and others are listening to. And I think this is also the message the donors are listening to, and when they say, well, it seems the communities are not ready for return. They also listen to those who are inciting others not to return, and, again, I had an interesting encounter yesterday in Krajlevo with one of these persons who for personal interests is preventing 18 other families to return to Dolac. This is totally unacceptable behaviour of some individuals which then affects the entire return process with everybody saying we want to see returns first. So this is the famous chicken and egg question: first people return, but in order to return someone you need money and return is something very expensive, as long as it is linked to reconstruction at least, not so much when it is linked to repossession. So it is a chicken and egg question, what comes first. But I think as international community we have to be serious. Now there are, I mean, the Ministry has a number of applications for returns. We know also from our contacts with CCK and with many other NGOs, there are many people out there who want to return, who say ‘We don’t care about the politics of the day anymore, we don’t care so much on status, we are concerned about our kids and our economy and all that’. But there we have to be able to respond as well. Let’s not forget, as we speak, the largest donor for the returns process is the Kosovo Consolidated Budget. Okay, everything has to do with returns somewhat, everything what is happening here is linked to return. But for return projects, with people linked to that, the largest donor is the Kosovo Consolidated Budget. Then we are having many unfinanced activities, where there hasn’t been a clear signal from anybody, and I think they are crucial. The Roma Mohalla with 8 million for the first phase, the Plementina relocation, getting people out of the Plementina Camp with 3.75 million. A number of Kosovo-wide activities, very important ones, such as enhancing the capacity of municipalities to deal with the citizens. Let’s not forget, it is the municipalities that should receive the returning citizens. Whether they are self-organised, spontaneous returns or whatever, it is them who need to do it. And that we have to support, we have to replace if you want, gradually the international hand-holding exercise by the national and local institutions.

Q: I think that your colleagues in UNMIK and colleagues in other institutions should be available here to answer our questions. But okay, I will ask you. When are you going to stop discussing on preparations for projects on returns? Six years later you are still working on preparations and I quote ‘this is not a strategy, this is just the framework to prepare for the strategy’. So how long are you going to continue the preparations only and not the real projects.

Kilian: This is one of these questions that I am, frankly speaking, getting a bit tired to answer, because there are, and please travel in Kosovo, please do travel in Kosovo, there are return and reconstruction activities ongoing. We all agree that there are not enough. But there have been many, many return projects with many hundreds and thousands of people being assisted. As we speak there is reconstruction going on in a wide range of villages with people returning. Please you are welcome to visit Siga/Sigë and Brestovik/Brestovik. You coming from Serbia, please visit Serb returnees in Siga/Sigë and Brestovik/Brestovik We all agree it is not enough. I am the first one to say this and I think we all agree. But I think, please, to say there is nothing is wrong, is not fair, and I think there has been a lot of effort put in by many organisations and people, by many returnees themselves, and I think it is unfair just to say nothing has happened. Not enough has happened, we must do more, and that is what we are changing. So please do appreciate that and please do appreciate that we are constructively engaged in this dialogue. And yesterday I think my discussions in Krajlevo with IDP associations from the Peja/Pec region were extremely encouraging because here they had understood: ‘let’s work on how to make it better, how to make these projects faster, how to adjust more to what the people really need’. But let’s not say there has been nothing.

Sheholli: I shall answer in Serbian in relation to these preparations. As you mentioned that all the time we are just discussing preparations and not the strategies itself. I agree that a person is preparing all the time, so we should be in course of preparations all the time. But can we see where the obstructions come from, why don’t we simply open the issue of the obstructions which are imposed on the IDPs and their associations in Serbia. We really have to be prepared to deal with such manipulations imposed on the people who are otherwise willing to return. We have to prepare and we have to make Belgrade aware of that situation and responsible for that situation.

Q: Mr Kleinschmidt, I am one of the journalists who really used the opportunity to visit these villages. Four days ago I was in [not audible]. Is it ok to return people into a house of 45 square meters to 70 square meters in size without any infrastructure and that consists only of four walls and a roof. And again, could you really tell us how long is your list of people who applied for returns and are there plans to return by the end of this year. I mean, if you want to go into details about that, just at least give us these basic figures.

Kilian: Okay, there are, as we speak, in the 22 concept papers, which have been approved by municipalities that have worked on with the IDP associations, somewhere in the range of 1,000 families who have basically said yes, we want to return. And that means somewhere in the range of probably 3-4,000 people or so. Now, the Ministry and many other associations have a long list of other people who have said we want to try. Now again, there is a difference between people who say we want to return and there is a question of projects and how these projects are being implemented. There are people returning every day. Not enough, and there have been less this year than last year, unfortunately, as we speak, but there are people returning every day through projects which are implemented by a wide range of organisations, donors, local institutions, and so on. There is a lot happening out there. And it is again very right to question what shall I do in a house with 45 square meters if I don’t have a job and if I don’t have a perspective in the school and all this. And these are exactly the points where, well, there have been in every project at least which is going through the standards of, not of the standards process, but the standards of having a project done, there is a component of income generating, which is not enough, I agree, there is a component of balancing working with the local community, there is a component of infrastructure, provision of connection to water, electricity, what not. So there is a lot of other elements which make it happen, but it is not enough, we know that. But it is also not right, as this person yesterday who said I’m not returning, and I am preventing all the other people from returning, if I don’t get my 120,000 euros house reconstructed the way it was before the war, with exactly the same furniture. That is not what we can do at the moment. Nobody will be able to do that. So we will have to go into other ways of financing if people want to start a real life again. We all agree that this not a real life just to have shelter, there is more to that. But that’s what we are working on. This is good that we are working on that together and I think we have now this Ministry, and of course the other Ministries in charge of these areas, must do more as well.

Q: How many IDPs are in Serbia and how many have returned to Kosovo. Please, a lot of people are playing with figures and we would like to know, do you have an estimate or a rough figure, please.

Kilian: I have said in the same room a couple of times, I am not playing around with figures. The only figures we know, I will repeat them here, and I have said them already. There have been so far 13,000 returns of non-Kosovo-Albanian returns since 1999. Out of these 13,000 returns, 50 per cent have been Kosovo Serb returns. This is the figure we do have, and as a UNHCR figure this is a figure we can work with. Now, what again, nobody can really judge is that many of the returnees have kept, especially Kosovo Serb returnees, have kept, I would say, a second home. This is a normal human thing, please, we have to accept that – ‘we will try, we will come, we will go, it’s good, it’s not so good’ – so therefore we also know that a number of people said, ‘well, it’s not so good’ and have not stayed. But assisted and, let’s say, counted returnees since 1999, non-Kosovo-Albanian returnees have been 13,000. Now, how many there are somewhere in the world, and I think what we keep on forgetting, and this is again a message to all of us, we keep on forgetting that the displaced from Kosovo are not only in Serbia and Montenegro and a few in Macedonia, they are also in Germany, in Scandinavia, and elsewhere. And that is a very large number. I mean, in Germany some 52,000 or so have declared that they are from Kosovo and in an unclear legal status today. So we can fairly say there is probably a 100,000 or so somewhere out there in Western Europe and there is a number which I have refused to get down to details in this room several times, in Serbia and Montenegro. Montenegro we think it is about 18,000 as the last census has been revealing that. Serbia, we still really don’t know. We also forget the ones who are displaced within Kosovo, which are estimated again at 22,000. These are figures that I would be careful in using. What we want to do, and this is a discussion we are having, is setting up, and this is together with the Ministry, an integrated information management system, to obtain more information and gradually getting it together, which I think will be initially, and that is also the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade is concentrating on this, how to get this information together, probably based on voluntary application for return, providing information on yourself: ‘Here I am from Kosovo, this is what I need’. A lot of people have provided that already, we don’t want to ask them this again. We will try to bring it all together and have one consolidated figure. The real number we will have the moment the census will be conducted. This is when we really get all consolidated information together. But that’s still a way to go.

Q: My question goes to both Mr. Sheholli and Mr. Kleinschmidt. For Mr Sheholli, how the returns process in the Northern part of Mitrovica is going? For Mr Kleinschmidt, who spoke about figures: Do you have any data or figures as to how many Albanians have returned to the Northern part of Mitrovica, and how many others expect to return to the Northern part of Mitrovica?

Fatmir: One of the key issues in the territory of Kosovo is the return of Albanians to the Northern part of the town of Mitrovica, but also the return of the Serbs and others, who presently live in the Northern part to the Southern part of the town. And this context we are somewhat ahead because the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Returns and Communities comes from that area. Therefore some activities have been undertaken and we are working towards that goal. One of the successes is the opening of the bridge, although we have witnessed several incidents which have taken place recently in the Northern part of Mitrovica and one of them is the bomb which was thrown at the office of Mr Petkovic, which is a bad signal after all. However, within our strategy, or internal strategy of the strategic framework, there is also a provision for the return of Albanians to the Northern part of the town of Mitrovica. This is not a matter for our Ministry only, but it is rather a global issue in which the whole government is engaged, and I hope that since a step was taken with the opening of the bridge, very soon you will be able to see additional results within the efforts of the ministry, our ministry and other ministries of the cabinet.

Kilian: You are asking for figures on returns. I’m sorry I don’t have the table with me. They have been minimal, small, insufficient; all returns have been minimal, small, and insufficient, on this we can agree, and that one certainly as well. But UNHCR statistics do provide all the details. I am more than happy to share them afterwards. If I may just make an announcement regarding the title of this office here, which you can see. The former Office of Returns and Communities has now been renamed following the merger with the Office of Community Affairs, and that is part of the UNMIK restructuring process. As we say: together, we are stronger or something like that. So together we are stronger and now we have become the Office, and I am still learning it myself, we have become the OCRM, the Office of Communities, Returns and Minority Affairs, to try to really bring all this together, to be stronger in terms of policy support on one hand, advisory support to the PISG and the Ministry, and on the other hand within the Mission as well to be more the focal point, the contact point for all minority returns and community affairs. Thank you.

Neeraj: Thank you very much Kilian and Mr. Sheholli. It was a pleasure having you here and we hope to see you more often. We will now continue with our regular weekly press briefing. Thank you.

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Weekly Press Briefing

UNMIK Spokesperson Neeraj Singh KFOR Chief PIO Col. De Kersabiec OSCE Spokesperson Sven Lindholm EU Pillar Spokesperson Mechthild Henneke

UNMIK Spokesperson Neeraj Singh

UNMIK welcomes the initiative of the Kosovo Government to restore lawful governance at the University of Pristina. The Administrative Directive issued yesterday by the Minister of Education, Science and Technology sets out a concrete, workable plan of action which should restore legality and provide much-need stability to the University.

Congratulating the Government, PDSRSG Larry Rossin said: "This important decision makes it possible to restore legal order in a key Kosovo institution. It will allow professors and students alike to give their undivided attention to the pursuit of academic excellence, while assuring that the credentials they earn will be recognized beyond Kosovo's boundaries. The decision is an essential first step to laying the groundwork for reforms that will enable the achievement of the highest academic standards and the full integration of the University of Pristina into the wider family of European institutions of higher learning. We look forward to its full and transparent implementation as soon as possible to ensure the University's uninterrupted accreditation."

Arrests for burglary from vacant homes in Slatina On 20 July, Police recovered considerable amount of stolen property in search operations in Vushtrri/Vucitrn. The property was stolen on 4 June from 11 reconstructed houses for Kosovo Serbs in Slatina/Sllatinë village.

Following investigations, KPS officers from the Station Investigation Unit identified five houses where the offenders allegedly stored parts of the stolen items. Last Wednesday, 28 KPS officers led by the Station Commander, executed search warrants, recovering about 80% of the stolen property. Two suspects were arrested and have been ordered into detention on remand for 30 days.

Even as investigation into the thefts continues, preliminary indications point to criminal motives for financial gain rather than ethnic motives as is normally presumed by the public in such cases. In fact during these raids, Police also recovered property belonging to a Kosovo Albanian victim that was stolen during another burglary.

This case once again underlines the need to exercise caution when presuming motives at the first instance when a criminal incident occurs. Also noteworthy is the professional and unbiased conduct of investigations by the KPS.

Verdict on Trajkovic murder On 22 July, a Prishtinë/Priština District Court trial panel composed of three international judges rendered the verdict in the case relating to the murder of Zlatibor Trajkovic in a mob attack on 17 March 2004 in Kosovo Polje/Fushë Kosovo.

The defendant Mehmet Morina was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment. The panel extended detention against the defendant until the verdict becomes final.

New laws Last week the SRSG promulgated two new laws adopted by the Kosovo Assembly: the ‘Law on Technical Demands for Products and Valuation of Conformation’ and the ‘Law on Crafts’.

KFOR Chief PIO Col. De Kersabiec

No announcement.

OSCE Spokesperson Sven Lindholm

The OSCE also welcomes the Government decision on the University of Pristina. This is the beginning of a crucial reform process. Once the initial governance issues are dealt with, the OSCE intends to support the further development of the University which will lead to tangible benefits for the university and its students, such as international recognition and committed funding to the university and opportunities for exchange programmes

EU Pillar Spokesperson Mechthild Henneke

I would like to remind you that the Economic and Fiscal Council is meeting tomorrow at

14.00 at UNMIK 1st floor auditorium. Topics on the agenda are the 2005 Budget Mid Year Review and the 2006-2008 Medium Term Budget Framework.

DSRSG Joachim Ruecker and the World Bank Representative in Kosovo, Kanthan Shankar signed this morning two “Development Grant Agreements”. The World Bank will provide $12.5 million for two projects dedicated to improve Kosovo’s business environment and the public expenditure management. We will send out a press release later.

Neeraj: Thanks Mechthild. Any questions?

Q: First this thing with the university. You have been waiting six years almost to put your hands, I mean, we expected a decision of the government, but we know that, clearly, UNMIK has clearly supported the government on that. Why did you have to wait so long to put your hands into the university, when it was clear for everybody that things there were not going well? Neeraj: It should be very clear that it is a government decision. We have facilitated the government in reaching this decision because we felt that the problem had gone on too long and it required to be addressed. The important thing now is that the decision has been made, which is a very welcome decision, and we fully support it.

Q: And the second question. It has got to do with the government. We have heard that you have denied that UNMIK, or Mr Petersen, has asked for changes in the government. But, in general, are we going to see changes or restructuring of the government before the status talks? Neeraj: Let me once again reiterate that there is absolutely no basis to this media report which first appeared in one media and then was picked up by the others. There is no basis to such speculation that there is any move on the part of the SRSG to seek removal of any ministers or change in the government. So that is a total fabrication.

Q: Do you find that the University of Pristina is a corrupted institution?

Neeraj: I don’t think we generally make such statements. I mean, where the issue of corruption is concerned, anywhere, that is a matter for the legal system to address. I don’t think we achieve anything by making statements of this nature in the media. What we are referring to here is the restoration of lawful governance with respect to the functioning of the University.

Q: I want to know whether Minister Haracia can be Minister while there is an indictment against him for a stolen vehicle in his possession? Neeraj: If there is any case, I am not aware of the case you are referring to but I have seen media reports, if there is any case of this nature that has to be addressed by the courts, and the law applies equally to everybody, justice should be allowed to take its own course.

Q: I just wanted to ask you on last week’s decision of the Supreme Court to release, for the retrial for the Llapi Group. Have you supported that decision from the Supreme Court, do you think it was well argued, that they ordered a retrial for Mr Mustafa and the whole group?

Neeraj: Sorry, your question is not very clear to me.

Q: The Supreme Court last week ordered a retrial for a former rebel commander and his associates who were sentenced two years ago on war crimes. Do you support the decision of the Supreme Court? Has it been argued well enough for you? Neeraj: Tina, it is…we don’t support or oppose decisions of the courts. The courts arrive at decisions based on evidence presented before the panel and we have to respect the decision. But at the same time I must inform you that in this case the Supreme Court indeed quashed the decision of the district court in its entirety and remanded the case for retrial, and ordered the release of the defendants pending retrial with certain conditions which have been imposed in terms of their reporting to the police station periodically, etc. The court is yet to issue the reasoned version of its decision. So in fact we haven’t even seen the reasons, but at the same time we wouldn’t comment on it anyway.

Q: Since UNMIK, the SRSG, has signed an administrative direction on decentralisation this is a done deal now? Does UNMIK have any idea as to when this process is going to start, since the SRSG announced that it will be starting this year, but he didn’t give any clear deadline? Neeraj: We did say, at the same time when the Administrative Direction was issued, we reiterated the urgent need for the PISG to make substantive progress on decentralisation. As you know, the Administrative Direction provides the basis for establishing the pilot municipal units within the municipalities. It is now for the Ministry of Local Government Administration to make recommendations on their territorial delineation to the SRSG, and based on those recommendations the SRSG will decide on the territorial delineation through Executive Decisions in each case, for each pilot project. We continue to stress the urgent need for quick progress on decentralisation.

Q: What is the current state of affairs with the telephone code? And the second question is what will UNMIK do against corruption?

Neeraj: On the telephone code, UNMIK is still in discussion with the ITU and we have to wait for a decision, which has to be an ITU decision. Where corruption is concerned it is a very general question that you have asked. There is a lot that has been done to address corruption since UNMIK arrived here. And that has been done in terms of creating the legal framework for addressing corruption, first of all by defining such crimes legally to enable the law-enforcement agencies to act against corruption. Again, in terms of creating the institutional framework for addressing corruption, you are aware that we have set up several specialised bodies including the Financial Investigation Unit or the Guardia di Finanza that came in the beginning of 2003. In November 2003 the Investigation Task Force was set up which provided a broader mandate to the combined anti-corruption elements of the UN, the European institutions, including the FIU, to conduct administrative investigations to identify fraud and corruption involving UNMIK, PISG and institutions funded by public money. There was then the Financial Information Centre that was set up last September, which deals with money laundering specifically, but by creating the culture of reporting among financial institutions and other entities and tracking the proceeds of crime, it does address corruption also to that extent. Even within the UNMIK police, in the Organised Crime Bureau, there is a special Economic Crimes Unit that is looking into such crimes. So this is being addressed at several levels. Also there have been measures directed at capacity building in the PISG for this. You would be aware of the anti-corruption plan of the Kosovo government that was agreed last year. So if you ask me what is being done against corruption, I don’t know where to stop. I can talk to you for hours about it. Maybe we can do that separately after the press conference. Any more questions? Thank you.

Prishtina Universitet. UNMIK skriver:

UNMIK welcomes Government initiative to restore lawful governance to Pristina University

PRISTINA – UNMIK welcomes the initiative of the Kosovo Government, taken in the proper exercise of its competencies under the Constitutional Framework, to restore lawful governance at the University of Pristina.

The Administrative Directive issued on 26 July by the Minister of Education, Science and Technology sets out a concrete, workable plan of action which should restore legality and provide much-needed stability to the University. Concern over the situation prevailing at the University of Pristina has been expressed by the European University Association, UNMIK, Contact Group members and many other international partners of Kosovo. Without the restoration of legality, there is a real risk that the University will lose its accreditation when it expires on 31 August 2005.

PDSRSG Larry Rossin congratulated the Government on its timely initiative and expressed UNMIK's full support. He remarked that "this important decision makes it possible to restore legal order in a key Kosovo institution. It will allow professors and students alike to give their undivided attention to the pursuit of academic excellence, while assuring that the credentials they earn will be recognized beyond Kosovo's boundaries. The decision is an essential first step to laying the groundwork for reforms that will enable the highest academic standards and the full integration of the University of Pristina into the wider family of European institutions of higher learning. We look forward to its full and transparent implementation as soon as possible to ensure the University's uninterrupted accreditation." The PDSRSG paid special tribute to the Austrian Liaison Office in Pristina, which has played a leading role in facilitating the process leading to this important decision.

Albin Kurti strammer kursen - og bliver sammenlignet med Che Guevara. [I Kosóva er det meget almindeligt at sammenligne med store internationale »Stjerner«. Præsident Rugóva er sammenlignet med Gandhi og Adem Demaçi med Mandela]. KosovaReport skriver:

Compared to the revolutionary Che Guevara, Albin Kurti says that Kosovo is heading toward an inevitable conflict which may have even more tragic consequences than the one in 1999, Lajm writes.

Kurti considers that the only way to avoid the conflict is by having a revolution aiming at toppling the ‘local-dictatorial and international-colonial’ government. He says that the first step toward this is for the citizens to join the newly-formed self-determination movement while the next step is all-out protests throughout Kosovo.

Kurti denies allegations that anarchy may overwhelm Kosovo if people acted according to his advice by expressing great faith he has on peaceful character of the people in Kosovo.

RFE skriver i tilknytning hertil:

On 28 July, Kosovar and international police arrested 30 activists in Vushtrri from the pro-independence group called Self-determination (Vetevendosja), which is led by former student leader and political prisoner Albin Kurti and seeks immediate independence for Kosova without negotiations, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 25 and 27 July 2005). This brings the number of Self-determination members arrested since June to well over 100.

Ugerapport fra Dansk KFOR. Hærens Operative Kommando skriver (på http://www.hok.dk/):

En varm og travl uge

Uge 29 i Kosovo betød løsningen af mange forskelligartede opgaver. Ny legeplads i Alesia gjorde børnene glade. Den franske eskadron, fra den danske bataljon, har samarbejdet med tyske enheder, og bataljonen har fortsat gang i de succesfulde Kontakt Operationer. Læs også om det udfordrende maratonløb inde i lejren.

Af premierløjtnant Jesper Rohde, efterretningssektionen.

Glade børn på den nye legeplads.

Den danske bataljon har, i fællesskab med lokale serbere i bydelen Alesia i Mitrovica, etableret en ny legeplads for områdets børn. Den nye vippe, de to fodboldmål og basketball kurvene er lavet af de danske ingeniører.

De nye legeredskaber vakte lykke og glæde hos de lokale børn, der ikke tidligere har haft mulighed for at boltre sig på en dansk inspireret legeplads. Dette har bevirket, at børnene ikke længere behøver at lege på vejene, men nu sikkert kan slå sig løs under sikre forhold.

De lokale drenge tog straks fodboldmålene i brug.

Den franske eskadron i samarbejde med tysk bataljon i det sydlige Kosovo.

Den franske eskadron havde i et par dage byttet deres normale operationsområde ud med et nyt, da de deltog i en "Cross Boundary Operation" med en tysk bataljon. Operationen foregik i det tyske ansvarsområde i den sydlige del af Kosovo, tæt op ad den albanske grænse. "Cross Boundary" begrebet dækker over evnen til at flytte enheder på tværs af ansvarsområder, og være i stand til at gennemføre operationer i ukendt terræn i rammen af en fremmed enhed.

Den franske eskadron blev forstærket med en dansk sanitetsgruppe. Eskadronen fik således øvet samarbejdet med et andet KFOR kontingent, samt vist lokalbefolkningen, at KFOR enhederne kan arbejde på tværs af skillelinier.

Grupperne i den franske eskadron gennemførte patruljer og mobile Check Points i området. Derudover fik franskmændene til opgave at etablere overvågning ved grænsen mellem Albanien og Kosovo, med det formål at melde om illegal krydsning af grænsen, herunder mulig transport af våben og narkotika.

En god og lærerig oplevelse for vores franske eskadron, der nu er tilbage i den danske bataljon, for at fortsætte deres professionelle løsning af rutineopgaverne.

Kontakt Operationer i kosovoserbiske og kosovoalbanske områder. Kontakt Operationerne blev gennemført i fire forskellige områder af den litauiske Spejdereskadron og det danske Panserinfanterikompagni.

Det har givet en meget stor effekt, at vores militære tolke har undervist litauerne i serbokroatisk. Nu kan litauerne snakke direkte med en stor del af befolkningen, uden brug af tolke. Bataljonen har via Kontakt Operationerne fået et godt indblik i situationen i de små lokalsamfund, og befolkningen er glade for vores tilstedeværelse og arbejde i områderne.

Ved den gode kontakt til lokalbefolkningen får vi en hel masse oplysninger, idet de fortæller os om små og store problemer i hverdagen, som vi kan være med til at løse.

Maraton i Camp Olaf Rye.

Sidst på ugen arrangerede Panserinfanterikompagniet et maraton løb inde i Camp Olaf Rye. Ruten var rundt langs hegnet og da en omgang er 1406 meter skulle der løbes 30 omgange.

Otte deltagere fra de forskellige enheder i den danske bataljon tog udfordringen op. Tre fra Panserinfanterikompagniet, tre fra den litauiske Spejdereskadron og to fra Stabskompagniet.

Løberuten var ujævn og underlaget bestod mest af små løse sten, så det var allerede fra start en stor udfordring. Derudover brændte solen fra en skyfri himmel med temperaturer på over 30 grader.

Den bedste løber gennemførte "mareridts løbet" på flotte 3 timer, 53 minutter og 14 sekunder. Panserinfanterikompagniet besatte 1. og 2. pladsen, hvor vores litauiske eskadron tog sig af 3. pladsen. For alle var det dog en præstation i sig selv, at give sig i kast med denne udfordring.

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.

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

Præsident Moisiu har på det seneste været i Montenegro for at mødes med Præsident Vujanovic og for sammen med ham at åbne en bogmesse. Præsident Moisiu's kontor har udsendt flg.:

På det midterste billede hilser Præs. Moisiu på Forfatteren Ali Podrima

President Moisiu held talks with President Vujanovic.

July 29, 2005 Ulqinj, Montenegro

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu held talks with the President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic before the opening ceremony of the Fifth Balkans Book Fair in Ulqinj.

The two interlocutors praised the very good level of the bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries in all the fields by mentioning the very satisfying achievements which come as the result of the sincere, open and constructive commitment by the leading structures of both countries. It was emphasized the realization of concrete projects for improving the infrastructure such as bridges, roads and to found wide communication opportunities between the countries and peoples, to realize the circulation and movement of goods, peoples, cultures, etc.

In the function of this scope will also be held another meeting in September or October in Shkodra between the two presidents – a meeting proposed by Mr. Moisiu. The cultural events such as the Fifth Book Fair were appreciated which serve to affirm the respective cultures and further get our peoples closer. In this context, such a collaboration was praised as a further contribution in affirming the rights of minorities in the concrete terrain. The tradition of promoting the Albanian book and culture in Ulqinj with the participation of President Moisiu and President Vujanovic strenghten the spirit of reciprocal collaboration and respect.

President Moisiu expressed his consideration towards President Vujanovic about the real serious engagement of his government to implement a policy based on the standards foreseen by the European Convention on human rights and minorities.

Mr. Vujanovic pointed out that in the commune of Ulqinj was concluded recently the project of the new cultural center, one of the best in Montenegro.

Both presidents shared the same view that the actual level of the relations between our two countries is a real contribution in strengthening of the trust and collaboration spirit in the regional framework. It was pointed out that already it has been left behind the conflictual spirit and founding of the hot spots and that time has come for understanding and joint efforts to realize the regional strategic goal for integration in the European family.

President Moisiu, stressing the very good relations with Montenegro and Macedonia valued the undisputable role in the regional context. However, Mr. Moisiu stated that the actions a some separate group such as that of Kondova cannot help but attract our attention and that such group must not be supported in any way about their illegal acts and it must be demanded that such groups should face justice. During this talk there were also discussed other issues that have to do with developments in the region.

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President Moisiu participated in the opening ceremony of the Fifth Balkans Book Fair.

July 29, 2005 Ulqinj, Montenegro

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu took part in the opening ceremony of the Fifth Balkans Book Fair organized in Ulqinj. In the Balsha Tower of this city, the Head of the Albanian State was received by the President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic, Deputy Prime Minister Jusuf Kallumperovic, the Minister on Minorities, Gëzim Hajdinagaj, the Head of the Ulqinj Commune, Fuat Nimani, the parliamentarian Ferhat Dimosha, etc.

During the opening ceremony, in the Balsha Tower there were present a considerable number of publishers and famous writers from Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosova and numerous avid readers and well wishers and citizens and tourists. This book fair is being held under the auspices of the Minister on Minorities, Hajdinagaj and the Head of the Albanian Publishers Association, Fatmir Toçi.

After the program on this occasion, the participants in this event were greeted by President Moisiu and President Vujanovic. In his speech President Moisiu expressed the praise about this important cultural event for both countries, which helps the strengthening of the ties and collaboration between the two countries. “Our two peoples, – stated President Moisiu. – have been placed by God next to one another and it is the duty of the politicians to find the ways for these two peoples to better understand each other and move ahead. Balkans has been considered as a powder keg. These fairs turn it into a culture keg. A few years ago it was impossible fro us to meet and talk; only this year President Vujanovic and I have met three times. Tonight we discussed what bridges and roads to build so the culture can develop. This is a colossal progress. Life goes on and we all together move forward.”

Later on, President Moisiu and President Vujanovic inaugurated the Book fair and got to know the titles and the books exposed in the garden of the Balsha Tower.

Præsident Moisiu har været i Vlora hvor han har talt med de lokale - og hvor han har haft møde med Lederne af Albaniens Politi og Skkerhedsinstitutioner. Præsidentkontoret har udsendt flg.:

President Moisiu held meetings with representatives of local government in Vlora.

August 2, 2005 Vlora

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu who is is Vlora during a walk through one of the main streets of the city, accompanied by the Mayor, Shpëtim Gjika, the Head of District Council, Theodhori Shia met in a caffee other representatives of the local government, heads of institutions, intellectuals, businessmen of this city.

The Head of State praised the transformations in Vlora, which he called positive and contemporary. These transformations, pointed out President Moisiu, honor the city known for patriotic values and its citizens. In the mean time, Mr. Moisiu pointed out that the special tourism values that the city posses are a great asset and an important source of income. That is why it must be paid attention, especially by the local businessmen to the development of tourism.

Refering to July 3 elections, President Moisiu expressed the determination to implement to the end the Constitution, the Electoral Code and any law ammended by the Assembly of Albania.

“I hope that the Albanian political class will understand me the right way and will get used to observe the laws and foresee every situation. The Albanian citizens, and the Vlora ones too were ten steps ahead of Albanian politics in the elections.” – stated Mr. Moisiu.

“One policy, – continued the Head of State. – that does not serve to the future and to the people, it is not a policy that sees far in future.” The Albanian politics must serve to the country and to the citizens’ interests.”

Regarding the grave event of the last day that happened in this city and other cases, President Moisiu condemned the criminal act of the eighteen years old girl that was murdered and expressed the concern and his determination to put in movement all the links of the state for this criminal act to be discovered as soon as possible.

For this reason, President Moisiu will hold a meeting tomorrow with the heads of law enforcement institutions.

-

President Moisiu met the heads of national and local security structures.

August 3, 2005 19.00 Vlora

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu held last evening a meeting with the General Attorney, Theodhori Sollkau, the Head of the State Intelligence Service, Bahri Shaqiri, the Head of State Police, Director Bajram Ibraj, the Deputy Head of the Supreme Justice Council, Ilir Panda and also with other heads of public order, police and courts of Vlora.

The Head of State expressed his concern about the rise of criminal acts during the last days which are grave and damage the image in public of the calm post-electoral situation.

President Moisiu also pointed out that these condemnable acts by all are troubling, but in the mean time damage the tourism, which is an important source of income to the country.

President Moisiu demanded the heads of the respective organs to take the measures and to act with determination in order to prevent any criminal act and to their best in bringing the authors in front of justice.

The Head of State demanded from the justice organs to strike the organized crime, which appears any time by asking to get to the bottom of the penal cases. The work of the respective organs must become object of deep analyses and also be transparent for the public opinion.

Based on the work being carried out by the security organs to catch the authors of the penal acts, Mr. Moisiu demanded full coordination of the activity of the public order and justice structures.

In the mean time, President Moisiu re-emphasized that regardless of the post-electoral situation, the work in these depoliticized structures must continue normally in implementing the laws and the constitutional obligations.

Today before noon, President Moisiu visited the naval military base of Pasha Liman. In the evening Mr. Moisiu met also the parliamentarians of the city of Vlora.

Parlamentsvalget i 2005 [Præsidenten vælges af Parlamentet for 5 år, næste gang i 2007]: Se nærmere i # 265

Ejendomslovgivningen. Forholdet mellem Demokraterne og Republikanerne. ADN skriver:

The Democrats determinably declared on Wednesday that they stick to the ownership law no: 7501, approved in 1991, thus disagreeing with their closest ally, the Republican Party (RP), which is against it as the latter claim that it runs against the Constitution. "The Republicans have been our ally through these years but as regards law 7501, I can say that nothing changes about it; we do not change anything from what we have done and said in connection with it," Jozefina Topalli, DP vice-chairman said on Wednesday.

050801 Joana Dudushi (18), kaldet Stela, er fundet dræbt i Vlora. Hun var dolket ihjel. Joana Dudushi blev allerede som 14-årig tvunget ud i prostitution. Hun trådte frem i TV-programmet »Fiks Fare« på »topchannel« i April i år hvor hun beskyldte Politifolk for at have presset hende til at anmelde Kunder for at have voldtaget hende; Politifolkene skulle herefter have fået mulighed for at kræve bestikkelsespenge for at droppe sagerne. Politiet har afvist at der skulle være noget om anklagerne - og man søgte heller ikke, trods hendes anmodning herom og trods dødstrusler mod hende, at give hende vidnebeskyttelse. Det er uklart hvem der har dræbt hende, men formodningerne går på at hun er kommet i klemme mellem forskellige Kriminelle.

Kriminaliteten øget? ADN skriver:

Given the frequency of killing cases lately in the country, Democrat leader Sali Berisha appealed on Wednesday to police to show toughness against the crime and the criminals. Johana Dudushi, a denouncing teenager, was found killed on Monday while a witness was killed on Tuesday in the city of Korca in relation to a processing case to continue with the killing of an emigrant in Tirana on Wednesday.

ATA skriver:

A police inspector was shot dead on Friday (29 July) and another policeman was injured in the village of Xhepaj, Commune of Libofshe in Fier. Official sources in Fier police (department) said that the incident happened at about 1500 (1300 GMT) during the execution of a land property decision by the police of Libofshe. The author of such incident is Peco Gega, who was later detained by the police. Llambi Bardhi, a police inspector, was killed and another policeman was injured, but his name is still not made known. The injured policeman is in hospital. His life is out danger.

Cannabis-aktion i Sydalbanien. ATA og seeurope skriver:

Special Forces of Public Order Ministry, in cooperation with units of police directorates of Vlore and Fier, held on Friday (22 July) a wide raid in some villages of Vlore District identified as places where narcotics are cultivated.

Official sources of the local police told ATA that during this raid, which continued until late last night across the villages of Peshkepi, Treblove, Sevaster, Vllahine, and Karbunare, the police destroyed 17,990 roots of cannabis, as well as there were indicted 12 people alleged of implication in the cultivation of narcotics. This raid started again early morning on Saturday and is expected to continue during the whole day.

Politimand indblandet i kriminalitet. Politiministeriet skriver:

Two citizens were arrested:

Naim Alikaj, born on 28.12.1961 in Vlora and inhabitant in Vlora in the post as a police employee in the Police Commissariat in Vlora and

Pajtim Hyseni, born on 20.12.1966, in Sevaster of Vlora and inhabitant in Vlora.

The drugs were divided in 39 packages and placed together with the opium oil which was sorted in two plastic tanks in the baggage of the auto vehicle.

The Prosecution of Elbasan was informed quickly about this event, and in cooperation with officers of the Judicial Police is executing the procedural actions to fully and legally document this incident.

In General Directorate of State Police, the Directorate that protects witnesses and fights the organized crime, cooperating with the Prosecution, is executing legal actions to document this penal act and analyze the acquired information in order to identify and seize other persons implicated in this traffic network of narcotic plants.

Vold i hjemmet. British Medical har offentliggjort en undersøgelse om vold i hjemmet i familier i Tirana. Artiklen kan findes på: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/331/7510/197. I indledningen står:

Objective To describe the prevalence of intimate partner violence and associated factors among married women in Albania.

Design Cross sectional study.

Setting Tirana, the capital city of Albania.

Participants A representative sample of 1039 married women aged 25-65 living in Tirana and recorded in the 2001 census.

Methods Questionnaire on intimate partner violence and social and demographic characteristics of the women and their husbands.

Main outcome measure Women's experience within the past year of being hit, slapped, kicked, or otherwise physically hurt by the husband.

Results More than a third (37%, 384/1039) of women had experienced violence. Risk was greatest among women aged 25-34 (odds ratio 1.47, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.09), women with tertiary education (3.70, 2.04 to 6.67), women in white collar jobs (4.0, 1.59 to 10.0), women with least educated husbands (5.01, 2.91 to 8.64), and women married to men raised in rural areas (3.31, 2.29 to 4.80). Women were at higher risk if they were more educated than their husbands (4.76, 2.56 to 9.09).

Conclusions In transitional Albania, the risk of spousal violence is high, and more empowered women are at greater risk.

050726 Initiativer for at forhindre kriminalitet mod Turister. Politiministeriet skriver:

The Minister of Public Order issued an order on the eve of the tourist period

To undertake measures in order to increase safety in streets and to increase the traffic police’s level of services

In the framework to adopt measures during the tourist period, in order to increase the level of safety in streets and the Traffic Police’s level of service, the Minister of Public Order issued today in the morning a special order. The main purpose of this order is: the Police employees have to represent themselves in streets with dignity; to execute rigorously the requirements of the street legislation, during the control of auto vehicles; the ethic in communication with citizens; and providing facilities for the Albanian or foreign citizens who come in tourist sites on vocations.

In this context, and considering some of the citizens’ signals, the Minister of Public Order has ordered the Traffic Police Services to not stop the cars with foreign plates, especially auto vehicles who enter the country with families from boundary stops, unless it is noticed obviously that the drivers break the road traffic rules.

Police employees, have to inform the operative hall when they decide to control auto vehicles. Police employees, who fine drivers, have to compile a service rapport and deliver it at the offices of the Sub-Department.

In the meantime, the Police Directorates in Districts, and the Inner Control Service offices are ordered to renew the publication of the phone numbers, where citizens can ask the police for help, report for different problems or report when the police employees break the rules. The Ministry of Public Order will continue to watch the progress of the tourist period and the work of the Police structures in order to serve and help citizens.

Antallet af Turister. ADN skriver at der er godt 140.000:

Election campaign and July 3 poll have not influenced on the flux of foreign tourists who have entered Albania over these last two months, local media quoted Albania's Tourism Minister Artan Lame as saying early this week.Lame said Monday that the total number of tourists that entered Albania until presently is nearly 143,600, adding that he was optimistic about next week's visitors.

Offentlige Myndigheder har begået en række økonomiske fejl, skriver Statsrevisoren. Fejlene beløber sig til knap 2 mia lek. ADN skriver:

The High State Audit (HSA) has published its 2005 first semester report of 400 pages on the work of the state institutions revealing a number of financial violations and irregularities by them with the revenues to the state budget and the expenses with the budgetary funds causing an overall of Lek 1.8bn

Ny IMF-Chef i Albanien: Ann-Margaret Westin has succeeded Jan Peter Olters as the IMF's resident representative to Albania

Samarbejdet mellem IMF/Verdensbanken og Albanien. IMF skriver:

Press Release No. 05/180
August 1, 2005 International Monetary Fund
700 19th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20431 USA

IMF Executive Board Completes Sixth Review Under a PRGF Arrangement with Albania and Approves US$5.8 Million Disbursement

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the sixth review of Albania's performance under the three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement. The completion of the review will enable the release of an amount equivalent to SDR 4.0 (about US$5.8 million), which will bring the total disbursement under the program to SDR 28.0 million (about US$40.5 million).

In completing the review, the Board approved the authorities' request for a waiver for the nonobservance of the performance criterion pertaining to the implementation of the risk assessment module of the ASYCUDA computer system for customs inspections.

The three-year arrangement was approved on June 21, 2002 (see News Brief No. 02/52) for a total of SDR 28.0 million (about US$40.5 million).

Den nuværende Albanske Regering har underskrevet et 'Albania: Letter of Intent, Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies, and Technical Memorandum of Understanding'. Se: http://www.imf.org/External/NP/LOI/2005/alb/072205.pdf samt IMF-rapport på: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2005/cr05267.pdf [Albania: Sixth Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, Request for a Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criterion, and Financing Assurances Review - Staff Report; Supplementary Information; and Press Release on the Executive Board Consideration]

Tirana, July 22, 2005

Mr. Rodrigo de Rato,
Managing Director
International Monetary Fund Washington, D.C. 20431

Dear Mr. de Rato:

The three-year period of our Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement, which was approved in June 2002, is now approaching its expiration in November 2005. This arrangement has contributed to the good performance of the Albanian economy over the period and its main objectives have been successfully achieved. For the sixth and last review under the program, all quantitative performance criteria (PC) have been observed. Structural PCs were also observed with the exception of the PC requiring the implementation of the risk assessment module of the ASYCUDA system in five customs houses—largely due to delays in the necessary technical and financial external assistance. However, this assistance is now in place and we implemented the system in the Durrës and Tirana customs houses as a prior action for completion of this review. As these two customs houses represent more than 60 percent of customs traffic in Albania, and as we intend to implement the module in other customs houses over the course of 2005, we are requesting a waiver for the non-observance of this PC. We request completion of the sixth and final review as well as the financing assurances review under the arrangement.

We intend to initiate discussions for a successor arrangement with the IMF as soon as possible, as indicated at the February 28, 2005 meeting of the Executive Board. Until a new program is in place, we will maintain the current macroeconomic policy stance and continue ongoing structural measures. This will enable us to maintain macroeconomic stability and the pace of reform, thus providing an appropriate base, going forward, for the anticipated new arrangement. The attached supplementary Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) therefore describes not just our economic policies up to the end of the program period, but also our policy intentions and specific targets for the remainder of 2005. These policies are consistent with our November 2001 National Strategy for Socio-Economic Development (NSSED) and the Annual Progress Reports of May 2003 and May 2004.

We believe that the policies set forth in the attached MEFP are adequate to achieve the objectives of the program, but we will take any further measures that may become appropriate for this purpose. Albania will consult with the IMF prior to the adoption of any such measures and of revisions to the policies contained in the MEFP, in accordance with the IMF's policies on such consultations.

After the end of this arrangement, and while Albania has outstanding financial obligations to the IMF arising from loan disbursements under the present arrangement, Albania will consult with the IMF from time to time on economic and financial policies, at the initiative of the government or the Bank of Albania or whenever the Managing Director of the IMF requests such consultation. These consultations may include correspondence and visits of officials of the IMF to Albania or of representatives of Albania to the IMF. In continuing with our policy of transparency, we consent to the publication of this letter, the attached MEFP, and the accompanying Executive Board documents on the IMF’s website.

Sincerely yours,

Fatos Nano, Prime Minister

Arben Malaj, Minister of Finance

Ardian Fullani, Governor, Bank of Albania

Svævebane mellem Tirana og Dajti-bjerget indviet. SET og ADN skriver:

A new funicular, or cable car, railway line linking Tirana with the top of the Dajti Mountain officially opened on Thursday (28 July), according to weekend media reports. Tirana Mayor Edi Rama, Deputy Prime Minister Namik Dokle and foreign diplomats were aboard the "Dajt Express" for its first run. Implementation of the 6.5m-euro project took two years. Arben Peto, head of the Albanian Institute for Forest Projects, described it as the country's first success in alpine tourism.

Sommerlejr i Voskopoje for at 'rehabilitere' freskoerne i St Athanase. EU skriver:

European Commission contributes to the rehabilitation of the Albanian Cultural Heritage

Culture 2000 is a Community programme established for seven years (2000-2006) with a total budget of 236,5 million euro. This programme provides grants to cultural cooperation projects in all artistic and cultural fields (performing arts, plastic and visual arts, literature, heritage, cultural history, etc.).

Patrimoine sans Frontiers, a French NGO, together with EU and Albanian partners (Akademia e Shkencave Instituti i Arkeologjise Sheshi “Nene Tereza” and Instituti i Monumenteve te Cultures) is organizing a summer camp which aims at rehabilitating the frescos of the church of Saint Athanase in Voskopoje.

The summer camp will take place from 17 July to 8 August 2005 and participants come from EU countries and Albania.

USA og Albanien har indgået en arkivaftale. Den Amerikanske Ambassade har udsendt flg.:

[Direktøren for det Albanske Nationalarkiv, Professor dr Shaban Sinani ses th på billedet]

Central State Archives and the Holocaust Museum

Remarks by Ambassador Marcie B. Ries

August 3, 2005

Dr. Sinani, and representatives from the Holocaust Museum, other distinguished guests:

Thank you for coming here today - and special thanks of course to you for traveling here from Washington, DC, for this ceremony.

Americans are committed to working with all nations of good will -- and Albania is certainly among those countries -- to ease those who suffer in our time and spread the blessings of freedom and democracy.

The selfless acts of kindness and courage by the Albanians who helped protect and shelter fleeing Jewish refugees during World War II should never, never be forgotten. The descendents of those who were rescued will be forever grateful.

Albania is rightly proud of its record in protecting the Jews of this country. Coming from a Jewish family myself, I feel a special gratitude to those who took personal risks, and who were willing to risk their lives for others.

Make no mistake: the rise of extremism anywhere is a threat to everyone, everywhere. We cannot and must not falter in the fight against extremism and intolerance in the here and now. Whether it be religious prejudice of any kind, racism, or ultra-nationalism, however intolerance manifests itself, it is important that we stand together to defeat it, and the disease it spreads.

By joining together in this fight, we strengthen the ties that bind us together and deal a blow to those who would divide us by sowing hatred, ignorance, and mistrust. The task is straightforward: to protect those whose dignity or freedom, or even life, may be threatened not because of what they have done, but because of who they are.

We must be vigilant, and by protecting the records of the past we can ensure that future generations will be better armed against the ideologies based on hatred and exclusion.

A lesson that we learn from the Holocaust is that sometimes it is necessary for all those who oppose tyranny, and who share a common respect for the rights of every individual, to join together in the cause to defend those individuals whomever and wherever they may be.

Before I finish, I would like to share with you something special that I received this morning. It is a letter from Elliot Engel, a member of the United States Congress who takes a very special interest in matters that concern Albania and Albanians. He comes from the state of New York, and I think some of you know that he visited us here recently. I will you read you a little bit from his letter:

“Dear Ambassador Ries,

I would like to express my strong support for the agreement being signed today, between the Untied States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Albanian Central State Archives. The goal of the United Sates Holocaust Memorial Museum is to advance and disseminate knowledge about the Holocaust, to preserve the memory of those who suffered, and to encourage reflection about the moral and spiritual questions raised by the events of the Holocaust, as well people’s own responsibilities when such tragedies occur. I have visited the Museum and can testify that the power of this message is expressed through its impressive collection, its multifaceted educational programs, and its team of experts. So once again, I would like to share my deep support for the agreement being signed today. With such information exchange, international understanding of the Holocaust can only grow, and through such knowledge we can reaffirm that such horrors must never happen again.” Signed, Elliot Engel, Member of Congress.

I want to personally thank all of you for coming today, to join us on this occasion which has such importance for people, both here in Albania, in the United States, and for all people from all over the world, who will visit this museum and who will have access to some of the information which is contained there.

Thank you very much.

Forsvarsministeren dekorerer tidligere Officerer. Forsvarsministeriet skriver:

The Minister of Defense decorates ex high-ranking officers Nikollaq Sallabanda and Sule Domi.

Today morning, on the occasion of 85th and 80th anniversary of AF ex high-ranking officers, Mr. Nikollaq Sallabanda and Mr. Sule Domi, the Decoration Ceremony of them with Medal ' For illustrious service', has taken place in the environment of Ministry of Defense.

This Ceremony has been attended by the Minister of Defense Pandeli Majko, by the Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Pëllumb Qazimi, by the Chief of National Veteran Committee of LANÇ Adnan Qatipi, veterans, officers of MOD and General Staff, relatives of decorated veterans, etc.

The Deputy Minister of Defense Besnik Baraj has greeted the participants and during his speech he has appreciated the work and the contribution of both veterans to the and in the AAF organization and modernization during the years.

Then the medals 'For illustrious service' have been consigned by Minister of Defense Majko and Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Pellumb Qazimi to the honored veterans for their qualitatively operation and their contribution to AAF modernization and reformation.

On behalf of decorated, the participants have been greeted by Mr. Sule Domi which thanked the Ministry of Defense and personally the Minister Majko and the Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Pellumb Qazimi for the appreciation of their contribution as ex high-ranking officers, and for the support and estimate given to high valor of Antifascist National Liberation War and Veteran Organization.

In the end of this meeting, the participants have attended the new environment of MOD where the General Staff of AF is located.

Om det militære samarbejde mellem Albanien og Tyrkiet. Forsvarsministeriet skriver:

The changing of Turkish Assistance Team in Commando Regiment

The Takeover Ceremony of Turkish Assistance Teams which are located in this head unit environment of our Army, has taken place in the Jub-Sukth area, where the Commando Regiment troops are operating in 'Skifteri 05' Exercise.

This Ceremony has been attended by the Chief of General Staff of AF, LTG Pellumb Qazimi, by the Commander of Land Forces Kostaq Karoli, by the Commander of Rapid Reaction Brigade, Brigade General Shpetim Spahiu, by the Turkish attaché in Tirana Colonel Ali Ozkan, other militaries of Commando Regiment and Turkish Assistance Team representatives of this Unit.

After the greetings of the Commander of Regiment, Colonel Vladimir Ndreu, the Chief of General Staff of AF, LTG Pellumb Qazimi has awarded the Medal 'For Special service' to Major Ahmet Gëlada for 'his contribution given to the collaboration strengthening between Turkish AF and Albanian AF'.

During this Ceremony some Commando Regiment officers, some of which are operating in 'Liria e Irakut' mission, have been promoted to different ranks.

Subsequently, Commando Regiment troops have held an exercise demonstration that consisted on support peace operations, actions of our troops in Mosul, Iraq. A consistent number of militaries that have participated in this demonstrations will be member of Peacekeeper Contingent VI, which will start one of this day.

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: Den Serbiske Regering skriver at man i Kosovo er langt fra at opfylde standarderne:

Belgrade, July 29, 2005 – The Serbian government’s Council for Kosovo-Metohija held a session today to discuss the assessment of standards in the province.

Based on the document on Kosovo standards, the council concluded that Kosovo-Metohija is far from reaching the standards, particularly when it comes to the creation of a multiethnic province and obeying fundamental rights of non-Albanians.

The council approved the proposed document and decided to recommend to the government the adoption of it as an official basis of the state policy. The government is advised to present the document to the domestic and international public, the media and other relevant factors interested in Kosovo-Metohija.

The presented data is clear evidence of the necessity for greater engagement of UNMIK, the province’s interim authorities and the international community in order to obtain real progress in the fulfilment of standards.

The council also discussed the initiative UNMIK chief Soren Jessen-Petersen presented in his administrative regulative on July 22. After the discussion, the council concluded that it should recommend to the government that the Serb community living in Kosovo-Metohija

not take part in the pilot project, as it is unacceptable because it does not offer minimum guarantees for improvement of Serbs’ position in the province, which even includes the local level.

The council said that the decentralisation in the province must be addressed in a more serious way and recommended that Serbs and Serb political parties in Gracanica and Partes not take part in the pilot projects.

MONTENEGRO (alene)

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

Præsident Moisiu har på det seneste været i Montenegro for at mødes med Præsident Vujanovic og for sammen med ham at åbne en bogmesse. Se under: Albanien.

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).

050803 Brande i Grækenland. Muligvis påsatte. Politiet anholdt nogle Albanere pga et større læs diesel- eller benzindunke, men de var ikke indblandet i ildspåsættelse, kun i tyveri. Kathimerini skriver:

Two Albanian nationals were yesterday charged by an Attica prosecutor with stealing some 120 liters of fuel from a building site, leading police to also question them in connection with the forest fire in eastern Attica last Thursday. The two men, aged 33 and 22, were arrested on Sunday night in Pikermi, east of Athens. Officers found five jerry cans containing some 120 liters of diesel in the boot of their car. After questioning, police said they were satisfied that the pair were not arsonists, as they claimed they had stolen the fuel to take it to Albania.

Trafficking. Kathimerini skriver:

A car chase in Grevena, northern Greece, early yesterday ended with the arrest of three men accused of helping transport into Greece six illegal immigrants from Albania. Police stopped the three men, traveling in two separate cars next to each other, after they picked up the illegal immigrants from the Florina region close to the Albanian border. The illegal immigrants were also detained.

En fælde i skoven. Narkosmugler fanget. Kathimerini skriver:

A court in Kastoria, northern Greece, yesterday charged an Albanian national with drug trafficking after police caught him at 2 a.m. in a forested area on Mount Grammos near the Greek-Albanian border with 78 kilos of hashish hidden in sports bags. Officers said another three suspects managed to escape.

Indvandrere. Kathimerini skriver:

Foreign workers who have settled permanently have begun opening their own businesses

Many migrants who have become permanent residents of Greek islands have opened their own businesses, often cafes or tavernas.

By Elena Karanatsi

Balkan visitors usually choose seaside destinations in northern Greece, while those from the former Soviet bloc countries tend to go for the Aegean and Ionian islands.

“The accession of those countries to the European Union seems to have favored Greek tourism so far, since more of their people are coming to Greece,” said Yiannis Evangelou, president of the Greek League of Travel Agents.

A poll conducted in Czech Republic and Slovakia showed vacationers there chose Greece as their top tourist destination.

Businesses

Tourism is not the only draw for the droves of people from the Balkans and former Soviet republics going to Greek holiday resorts. Most of the islands also have many permanent and seasonal foreign workers.

From Tzia to Crete and Zakynthos to Myconos, foreign workers — primarily Albanians — represent a large portion of the population and work force.

Some of them have lived for years on the islands and established their own businesses, mainly tavernas and cafes.

According to the 2001 census, 5.13 percent of the migrants in Greece live in the Aegean islands, 6.15 percent live in Evia, 5.7 percent in Crete, and 2.57 in the Ionian islands.

They represent 8 percent of the inhabitants of the Aegean islands, almost 10 percent of the population of the Ionian Islands, and 7.56 percent of the population of Crete.

These figures have risen since 2001, judging by what local authorities told Kathimerini.

Myconos has some 4,000 migrants, about a third of the population.

“They work mainly in construction, as laborers and in service industries as kitchen hands and assistant waiters,” Myconos Mayor Christos Veronis told Kathimerini. “Most of them are Albanian but there are some Bulgarians too.”

On Andros, some 2,000 foreigners have lived there permanently for a decade.

“In summer, about 200 foreigners come here to work on farms,” said the island’s mayor, Manolis Vamvoukas. “Recently 30-40 Poles came to work in construction.

“Most of the foreign workers are Albanians who have become integrated into the island’s community and whose children have done particularly well at school,” Vamvoukas continued. “Some of them have opened their own businesses, such as cafes.”

Construction, cleaning

On Tzia, also known as Kea, 700 of the 2,250 inhabitants are Albanians who have been living there with their families for some years now.

“Most of the men are involved in building and the women work mainly as cleaners,” said Tzia Mayor Nikos Demenagas. “After the Olympic Games there was a new but smaller influx of foreigners.”

On Amorgos, the 200 migrants who live there have become a stable part of the island’s population of 1,850 permanent residents. “Most of the permanent workers on Amorgos are Albanians and Egyptians who work at hotels, rented rooms, in the port and construction,” said Mayor Nikos Fostieris. “Recently some Albanians have opened their own restaurants.”

Farming, fishing

On Santorini, more and more migrants are opening their own businesses. In the municipality of Thera alone, six new businesses — ranging from restaurants to book shops — have opened.

On Naxos, a sizable number of migrants work mainly on farms as they do on Zakynthos, where foreigners also work in fishing and tourist enterprises.

The total number of foreign workers on the islands is 2,500. Most of them are employed as waiters, chamber maids, domestic workers and builders.

In recent years, the families of these workers have also joined them on the islands, increasing the foreign population.

050729 Dommernes upartiskhed? Kathimerini skriver om en undersøgelse af Græske Dommere:

Judges: Immigrants are more likely to be offenders than victims

Judges are loath to be called racist and try to be unprejudiced so as not to be characterized as such.

As people, however, they share the fears, worries and reservations of the greater part of Greek society toward migrants. As functionaries of the judiciary, when at the bench, they do not differentiate — or more precisely, declare they do not discriminate — between nationalities and races.

The responses given by the 250 judges who took part in the study conducted by Vagena-Palaiologou were a pleasant surprise, as accusations and reports in the press have at various times revealed prejudiced behavior toward migrants. Naturally, the research identified certain areas where a great deal still needs to be done before foreigners living in Greece can fully enjoy the benefits of the system of justice, as was pointed out by the administrative judges.

According to research findings:

1. The majority of judges blamed “foreigners living in Greece” for the rise in the crime rate; 35.6 percent believed that foreigners were entirely responsible for the rise in crime, 52.8 percent that they were partially responsible, and only 11.2 percent that they were not responsible. In fact, they made reference to certain nationalities as being more often involved in crime than others, namely Albanians and Romanians.

2. The majority of judges also said that foreigners were more often the offenders than victims. Crime committed by migrants was the result of financial, social and cultural problems. More specifically, 62 percent said they believed that foreigners were more often the offenders than the victims, 7.2 percent considered them to be victims and 29.2 percent both victims and offenders.

‘Too many migrants’

3. Most judges think there are too many migrants currently living in Greece today; 60.8 percent claimed the number of foreigners in Greece is “very high,” 32.5 percent “high” and only 2.8 percent did not consider it to be particularly high.

4. To the question of whether they consider foreigners dangerous, 42 percent of judges replied negatively, 16.8 percent responded in the affirmative, while 40.8 percent stated that the situation was also due to other factors, as is true of Greeks in general.

5. When asked to state their feelings toward migrants, 45.2 percent of judges said they liked them, mainly as a result of the difficult circumstances they believe foreigners face in Greece, 16 percent responded neutrally and 15.6 percent declared that they had mixed feelings toward foreigners, that sometimes they liked them and other times feared them. Feelings of pity, sympathy and wariness were expressed by 9.6 percent of respondents. However, as many as 13.6 percent said they felt fear and dislike toward migrants.

6. An overwhelming majority of the judges (85.2 percent) thought that foreigners living in Greece could be protected by Greek law. Nevertheless, 14.4 percent were of the opinion that migrants were not protected in the same way as Greeks. A large majority (74.8 percent) did not think that being foreign affected a judge’s decision, while 24.8 percent claimed that it did. However, a fairly large majority (67.7 percent) said that being foreign had an adverse effect.

Public unfavorable

7. Most judges (76.4 percent) said they thought public opinion was poorly disposed toward foreigners. Indeed, 54.8 percent of judges thought that racism exists or is latent in Greek society. However, one in two judges said that this racism is due to the behavior of migrants, whereas 20.4 percent attributed racist attitudes to xenophobia. This reply would suggest that judges seem to be turning against migrants and exonerating Greek society from any existing or latent racism.

The replies given by administrative judges were particularly interesting: 100 percent said they thought that foreigners could not be protected in the same way as Greeks by the Greek judiciary. The majority (57.1 percent) thought foreigners did not fully enjoy all legal guarantees and one in two of the administrative judges who took part in the study claimed that being a foreigner had an adverse effect on the judge’s decision, while all agreed that it probably had an adverse effect.

In the study, personal interviews were conducted with 15 Supreme Court judges, 13 court of appeals presidents, 32 court of first instance presidents, 72 court of first instance judges, 11 associate judges of the court of first instance, 11 magistrates, nine police magistrates, four Supreme Court deputy public prosecutors, six appeals court prosecutors, 10 deputy public prosecutors of the court of appeals, 16 court of first instance prosecutors, 18 deputy public prosecutors of the court of first instance, eight prosecution presidents, three court of first instance presidents and four court of first instance judges.

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.

Om det militære samarbejde mellem Albanien og Tyrkiet. Se under: Albanien.

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

Accompanied by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, President George W. Bush announces his nomination of John Bolton, left, as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Monday, Aug. 1, 2005, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. White House photo by Paul Morse

Præsident Bush har udnævnt John Bolton som FN-Ambassadør trods temmelig kraftig skepsis i Washington. Bush vil måske vise at han bestemmer hvor skabet skal stå. Det Hvide Hus har udsendt flg. fra 'The Rossevelt Room':

President Appoints John Bolton as Ambassador to the United Nations

THE PRESIDENT: Nearly five months ago, I nominated John Bolton to be America's Ambassador to the United Nations. I chose John because of his vast experience in foreign policy, his integrity and his willingness to confront difficult problems head-on. I told the nation that John Bolton would provide clear American leadership for reform at the United Nations. I told them that he would insist upon results.

The United States Senate held thorough confirmation hearings, and a majority of United States senators agree that he is the right man for the job. Yet, because of partisan delaying tactics by a handful of senators, John was unfairly denied the up or down vote that he deserves.

As a result, America has now gone more than six months without a permanent ambassador to the United Nations. This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about U.N. reform. So today I've used my constitutional authority to appoint John Bolton to serve as America's Ambassador to the United Nations. John Bolton will be an important member of my State Department team, led by Condoleezza Rice.

I'm sending Ambassador Bolton to New York with my complete confidence. Ambassador Bolton believes passionately in the goals of the United Nations Charter, to advance peace and liberty and human rights. His mission is now to help the U.N. reform itself to renew its founding promises for the 21st century. He will speak for me on critical issues facing the international community. And he'll make it clear that America values the potential of the United Nations to be a source of hope and dignity and peace.

As he embarks on his new assignment, Ambassador Bolton will bring tremendous wisdom and expertise. Over the past two decades, John Bolton has been one of America's most talented and successful diplomats. He's been a tireless defender of our nation's values, and a persuasive advocate for freedom and peace. As a senior leader at the State Department in the 1980s and 1990s, he brought people together to achieve meaningful results at the United Nations -- from resolving payment issues, to helping rally the coalition in the Persian Gulf War, to repealing a shameful resolution that equated Zionism with racism. And over the past four years as Undersecretary of State, he's shown valuable leadership on one of the most urgent challenges of our time: preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Ambassador Bolton takes up his duties at a time of opportunity for the United States and the United Nations. America and the U.N. are working to spread democracy, relieve hunger, and assist the victims of disaster. We've delivered hope to millions suffering from HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases. We've helped to lay the groundwork for two landmark events in the history of liberty: the free elections of Afghanistan and Iraq. Ambassador Bolton will work to build on that progress by helping the U.N. continue to find effective new ways to match its good intentions with good results.

As the newest member of America's diplomatic corps, Ambassador Bolton will defend our nation's interests with character and resolve that were instilled early in life. John's father was a firefighter; his mother was a homemaker who took her son to the public library to show him the value of education. I know that Jack and Virginia Bolton would be proud today to see the boy they raised in Baltimore appointed to serve as our permanent representative to the United Nations.

I'm grateful to John's wife, Gretchen, for being here with us and to the entire Bolton family for their service and sacrifice.

Mr. Ambassador, thank you for agreeing to serve your nation once again, and congratulations.

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Mr. President; Madam Secretary; my wife, Gretchen; our daughter, J.S, in absentia. I'm profoundly honored, indeed, humbled by the confidence that you have shown by appointing me to serve as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations. You have made your directions for U.S. policy at the United Nations clear, and I am prepared to work tirelessly to carry out the agenda and initiatives that you and Secretary Rice direct.

We seek a stronger, more effective organization, true to the ideals of its founders and agile enough to act in the 21st century. It will be a distinct privilege to be an advocate for America's values and interests at the U.N., and, in the words of the U.N. Charter, to help maintain international peace and security.

My deepest thanks to you both for the opportunity to continue to serve America.

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks, John, appreciate you.

All right, thank you all.

USA og Albanien har indgået en arkivaftale. Se under: Albanien.

ENGLAND

TYSKLAND

FRANKRIG

DANMARK (NORGE, SVERIGE)

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. Juli at Albanien ligger som nr. 86 med 501 points [forrige nr.: 86]. Andre lande: Makedonien nr. 94 [94], Serbien Montenegro nr. 49 [49], Grækenland nr. 19 [13], Italien nr. 14 [11], Tyrkiet nr. 12 [14], USA nr. 6 [10], Frankrig nr. 7 [5], Spanien nr. 8 [9], Tyskland nr. 11 [10], England nr. 8 [7]. Danmark nr. 19 [16], Norge nr. 36 [35] og Sverige nr. 17 [12]. - 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