Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia—Concluding Statement of the 2006 Article IV Mission

June 5, 2006

Macedonian economic performance has started to improve. For more than a decade, economic growth was sluggish, in part the result of external shocks. However, in the last couple of years, growth has reached 4 percent or even higher, inflation has remained under control, the current account deficit has narrowed, international reserves have increased, and structural reforms have been initiated. To raise living standards more decisively toward European levels, the authorities now need to focus on sustaining and accelerating these achievements. As a first condition, this will require maintaining the country's hard-won macroeconomic stability. But for growth to accelerate and jobs to be created, this will need to be accompanied by more ambitious structural reforms: enhancing financial intermediation with sound banking supervision, improving the business climate and, underlying all these reforms, improving institutional quality.

The Medium-Term Challenge: Achieving Rapid Sustained Growth

1. For much of the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of Macedonia's independence, fiscal and monetary policies have been relatively stable. Despite numerous shocks, fiscal policy has generally been disciplined. Monetary policy has been guided by the fixed exchange rate, which has successfully delivered low inflation. By keeping government debt to sustainable levels, fiscal policy has supported the fixed exchange rate regime.

2. Until recently, this stability in macroeconomic policies has been slow to translate into rapid output or employment growth. Since the mid-1990s, growth has averaged only 2 percent, well below other transition economies. Output has only recently reached its pre-transition level. The unemployment rate is one of the highest in the region.

3. However, it would be wrong to conclude from this that growth would have been higher if only monetary and fiscal policies had been more expansionary. Macedonia is a small and open economy. Experience from around the world shows that in such countries fiscal expansion soon leaks into higher imports and loss of international reserves. Monetary loosening would also result in reserve loss, depreciation, and inflation. Expansionary macroeconomic policy cannot generate a lasting improvement in living standards.

4. Spending the recent increase in international reserves also would not generate any lasting improvement in growth. To some extent the increase in reserves is due to privatization receipts. Since these sales will not recur, the proceeds are best saved (for example by repaying external debt) rather than spent. This strategy is already producing substantial economic benefits, by improving confidence in the fixed exchange rate and causing interest rates to fall.

5. To reach the country's full growth potential and to raise living standards, macroeconomic stability and structural reform need to work together. The government has implemented several important reforms in recent years, including the strengthening of customs and tax administration, labor market liberalization, introduction of the one-stop shop for registering companies, and privatization of electricity distribution. The ground work for judicial reform has also been completed. However, to sustain and accelerate growth a more ambitious pace of reform is needed.

6. Macroeconomic stability and ambitious structural reform, consistent with intensified efforts toward EU accession, could raise growth significantly. With ambitious reforms, capital inflows and investment (including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)) should strengthen and growth could accelerate faster than envisaged under the program. Since imports are much larger than exports, the resulting increase in import growth rates would cause some widening in the current account deficit. However, as much of this should be FDI-financed, vulnerability should be less of a concern. Fiscal policy needs to keep to the 0.6 percent of GDP deficit target, to prevent overheating and contain the current account deficit.

7. However, if structural reforms slow and fiscal policy is allowed to loosen, the economy could quickly deteriorate. Weaker commitment to structural reform could slow growth back toward the low historical average. Failure to resist pre- and post-election pressures to raise public sector wages and pensions or for major tax cuts would raise the fiscal deficit. Government debt ratios would increase, while the fall in domestic savings would increase the current account deficit. Financial market confidence and capital inflows would worsen, and the fall in international reserves could again become an issue.

Statistical Issues

8. Understanding economic performance and assessing monetary and fiscal policy is complicated by data deficiencies. National accounts data are available only with a considerable lag, making it hard to understand the forces determining growth. Trade performance and competitiveness are also hard to gauge, with volume figures indicating an exceptionally large contribution of exports to growth difficult to reconcile with GDP estimates from the production side. Increased conversions of foreign currency into denars at cash exchange bureaus, a major contributor to last year's current account improvement, are also hard to interpret. Do these reflect increased remittances from abroad and, if so, how permanent are they likely to be? Or do they reflect capital inflows or the conversion of so-called mattress money? Efforts to improve statistical data are taking place, and the mission looks forward to their continuation, supported by additional resources. However, aside from making the macroeconomic analysis which follows more tentative than it could be, these statistical uncertainties caution against fine-tuning monetary and fiscal policy. This increases the premium on keeping macroeconomic policy stable and relatively simple.

Recent Developments and Prospects

9. Notwithstanding these caveats, last year saw a marked improvement in economic performance. The SSO's preliminary estimates suggest growth reached 4 percent in 2005, driven by strong exports, with tight fiscal policy and high interest rates at end-2004 restraining domestic demand. However, the true growth figure could be even higher: (i) corporate income tax receipts are much stronger than expected, likely reflecting higher profitability and value added; and (ii) the increase in consumption and investment due to higher private transfers and bank lending is unlikely to be measured fully. Despite higher oil prices, the stable exchange rate, lower tariffs, and food prices kept average inflation below 1 percent.

10. The external position is also considerably better, with gross reserves increasing to around €1,200 million (roughly 4½ months of imports, or 25 percent of GDP):

*

The official current account deficit fell sharply to 1.3 percent of GDP in 2005, but mainly because of increased private transfers, which probably includes some capital account elements. The trade deficit has declined by around 2 percent of GDP, with strong iron and steel exports, and lower consumption goods import growth offsetting higher oil prices; however, at just over 18 percent of GDP it is still high. *

Last year's €150 million Eurobond and this year's electricity privatization (€225 million, almost 5 percent of GDP) have improved the capital account. However, greenfield FDI (as opposed to privatization-based FDI) is still very low; what FDI there is has been mainly in such sectors as banking, telecoms, retail trade and energy, which do not generate exports.

11. The improvement in international reserves has allowed some expansion in monetary and fiscal policy. The NBRM has been able to cut interest rates substantially and rapidly, from 10 percent in November to less than 6 percent, because of the increased reserves. Commercial banks have partly matched these rate cuts. Credit has expanded, especially to households for consumption and in foreign currency, though from a low base and slowly compared to the region. Fiscal policy is also modestly expansionary, last year's ¼ percent of GDP surplus giving way to a projected 0.6 percent of GDP deficit.

12. This monetary and fiscal policy easing should sustain growth in 2006, while inflation and the current account stay under control:

*

Growth in 2006 should meet the 4 percent projection. Though industrial production seems to have slowed in the first quarter, business confidence indicators have improved, new car sales are exceptionally strong, and credit growth since March has started to increase. *

Inflation should average 3 percent. Consumer price inflation rose to 4.1 percent year on year in May, driven by supply factors such as increased tobacco taxes and oil prices, and higher than expected food prices (because of the harsh winter). Under the fixed exchange rate this price increase should only be a blip, with any pickup in domestic demand showing up in the current account. Core inflation remains well under control, and is projected at only 1 percent. *

The official current account deficit should widen in 2006 to around 3 percent of GDP. This assumes higher oil prices, lower interest rates stimulating imports, and some slowing of last year's increase in private transfers. Main risks include higher oil prices (each $10 per barrel increase raises imports 1½ percent of GDP), steel production delays, and Chinese textile competition. On the upside, the projection for private transfers is quite conservative and the new free trade agreement with Serbia could increase exports of refined oil products.

Fiscal Policy

13. Keeping to the government's annual 0.6 percent of GDP fiscal deficit target over the medium term is essential for maintaining macroeconomic stability. First, uncertainty over the current account deficit's true size, as well as its history of volatility, caution against fiscal expansion. Second, though there are spending needs, institutional capacity in line ministries to spend additional funds efficiently is lacking. Third, rationalization of the public sector is far from complete, and needs to be done first before any spending increases are entertained. Finally, sticking to a clear fiscal anchor can create substantial credibility and expectational benefits, and provides essential support to the fixed exchange rate regime.

14. While the deficit target is likely to be met again this year, the mission regrets the recent proliferation of spending proposals from many fronts. These would worsen the composition of the budget. Recent initiatives include increased subsidies for tobacco farmers, higher health sector wages without full reform of the health sector, and benefits to workers made redundant from large firms. There are also additional proposals in the election campaign for spending increases and tax cuts. The mission is concerned at these proposals, which should not be allowed to undermine the 0.6 percent of GDP deficit target. Relying on higher telecom dividends to pay for these would be unsatisfactory, since telephone charges are exceptionally high and this revenue source will disappear once privatization is complete.

15. The authorities also need to find savings to meet medium-term fiscal challenges:

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This year's second pillar pension system reduces social security revenues by 0.5 percent of GDP this year, rising to 0.9 percent of GDP by 2009. *

Trade liberalization will reduce import tax revenues by around 0.1 percent of GDP. *

Preparation costs for EU accession (initially institutional strengthening but later investment in transportation and the environment) should be small at first, but may rise later to 1-2 percent of GDP annually. *

Loss of the telecom dividend after privatization will reduce revenues by ½-1 percent of GDP annually. *

Public investment is only 3 percent of GDP, low by regional standards, and will face pressures to increase.

16. The incoming government should act quickly to address these medium-term fiscal challenges. Close to 80 percent of government spending is non-discretionary. This share needs to be lowered substantially to create flexibility for new initiatives. Rather than simply increase spending and create new institutions to meet EU priorities, spending needs to be reallocated. The best way to do this is through reorganizing the functions of government, which should be championed at the highest levels of government.

Monetary Policy

17. The mission supports the NBRM's gradual interest rate reductions under the fixed exchange rate regime, made possible by the accumulation of foreign reserves. However, the scope for further rate cuts seems limited given the uncertainty over the current account deficit, the slow transmission to bank lending and deposit rates and to credit growth, and because the differential with Euro rates is quite small compared to historical averages. With sterilization costs manageable, the NBRM should continue to sterilize further inflows in line with the monetary program. The further issuance of treasury bills for monetary policy purposes, especially with longer maturities, can help this process.

18. Despite the history of current account deficits, price competitiveness seems broadly appropriate at present. The real exchange rate has depreciated somewhat and, compared to countries with similar incomes, the Macedonian price level is low. Analysis indicates that the real exchange rate's current level is broadly in line with macroeconomic fundamentals. Although export market shares have declined, disaggregated data show this is largely explained by specialization in products with declining world market shares. Correcting this will require a reallocation to sectors that are growing more rapidly and with higher value added, through improving the business environment which would encourage FDI.

Structural Reforms for Growth and Employment

19. Though macroeconomic stability is a precondition, structural reform and improving institutional quality are also key if sustained growth of 5-6 percent is to be achieved. Since 1996, growth has averaged only 2 percent. Despite high unemployment rates, employment growth has been low, explaining part of this poor performance. Investment has been low too, but increasing investment from its current share of 22 percent of GDP to 25 percent of GDP, closer to the regional average, is likely to only raise the growth rate by around 2/3 of a percentage point. Productivity improvement is the most durable way to promote more rapid growth, and this is best achieved through building institutions that support a market environment. This will promote the transfer of ideas and best practices, especially through increased foreign direct investment, and allow existing labor and capital to be used more efficiently. Looking ahead, the scope for employment growth is also considerable, which should further boost output growth rates.

20. The wrong way to improve productivity and attract new investment would be to grant special concessions, such as offering tax breaks or subsidies to individual firms. Incentives schemes offering special treatment for investors do not succeed in attracting long term investment. The mission cautions the authorities against granting concessions (be it free economic zones, selling land below market prices, or direct subsidies to produce) to individual firms. Aside from governance concerns, these result in investments that typically create little value added, erode the tax base, and encourage other investors to seek similar special treatment. These practices also harm those firms which had decided earlier to invest based on the country's fundamental merits, and so ultimately can deter productive investment.

21. The right way is to create an attractive environment for all investors, domestic and foreign, large or small, that attracts investment projects on their merits. Unfortunately, measures of the business environment, like the governance indicators prepared by the World Bank—covering areas such as the costs of opening and closing a business, hiring and laying off workers, and contract enforcement—rank FYR Macedonia poorly against its neighbors. There has also been little change in the last ten years, suggesting little reform effort, but also considerable scope for higher growth. The most important actions needed to improve governance and lower the costs of business include:

*

Continue judicial reform. The government has amended many laws, and even the constitution, to introduce a comprehensive judicial reform. A coherent and credible strategy to implement these changes is needed, to reduce the backlog of court cases and to improve governance in the judiciary. *

Enhance transparency of government action. Greater and more freely available information can promote better governance. The new Law on Free Access to Information should promote greater transparency. Electricity discounts should be offered to firms based not through individual negotiation but by clear rules based on rational and objective criteria. Abolishing discretionary power to sell state-owned land through direct negotiations would also strengthen governance. *

Liberalize the telecoms sector. Aside from being an EU requirement, this is also important for reducing the cost of doing business. Publication of information on the internet and greater use of e-government can improve governance and efficiency, but these will only become effective once the high cost of telecommunications and internet access is brought down.

22. The government also needs to develop plans for reducing unemployment. Though the headline rate exaggerates the problem, mainly because informal workers register as unemployed to claim health benefits, the underlying unemployment rate still likely exceeds 25 percent. Last year's labor law reform should help, but unemployment is still a serious economic and social problem. More rapid economic growth is the most effective way to reduce unemployment, but in addition the following reforms should be considered: (i) reducing the labor tax wedge by funding healthcare by general taxes instead of social contributions on payroll; (ii) eliminating licensing requirements which should encourage the growth of small and medium-term enterprises; (iii) promoting part-time employment by phasing out minimum social contributions (which are based on minimum salaries assuming full time work for the whole month); (iv) reforming the education system to create human capital attractive to the needs of employers. Steps should also be taken to measure unemployment more accurately, by de-linking health benefits from unemployment registration, using existing public works projects to screen those who are truly unemployed, and using sanctions made possible by the judicial reform to encourage registration in the formal economy.

23. Sustained growth also requires a sound and well-functioning financial system. The number of banks and savings houses is very high for the country's size, suggesting considerable room for consolidation. By and large, the banking sector is adequately capitalized and liquid, though some weaknesses associated with the high level of non-earning assets and high operating costs persist, which lower bank profitability. With poor powers of creditor enforcement, banks have preferred to hold government paper rather than to lend; the recent reduction in NBRM rates could strain profitability in the less efficient banks. Foreign bank penetration is moderate, with most of the entrants from neighboring countries, and focused on providing services for their nationals' businesses. No major foreign bank has entered the market.

24. While much progress has been made, to enhance financial intermediation the authorities should consider: (i) continuing to strengthen banking supervision (especially in light of risks associated with foreign currency lending); (ii) revising the banking law to make it more in line with international best practice and EU directives; (iii) improving implementation of the law (especially bankruptcy and contract enforcement) to nurture a credit culture; (iv) strengthening transparency and corporate governance (for banks and also enterprises); (v) enhancing competition in the banking system (through entry of foreign banks, including allowing those from countries meeting high supervisory standards to open branches); (vi) increasing minimum capital adequacy ratios while enforcing the gradual write off of foreclosed assets; (vii) improving the quality of financial reporting and auditing; (viii) reducing intermediation costs (ending taxation of provisioning for bad loans and remunerating reserve requirements at closer to market rates); (ix) enhancing the functioning of the credit registry within the central bank.

25. Finally, the mission would like to thank the Macedonian authorities, parliamentarians, union leaders, and representatives of the business and academic communities, for their hospitality, helpful discussions, and cooperation. We look forward to returning to Skopje for discussions after the elections.

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GRÆKENLAND

Seneste Parlamentsvalg 040307.

De fleste Immigranter er Albanere. Kathimerini skriver:

Most foreign nationals in Greece are Albanians, according to latest data

The most characteristic aspect of Greece’s wave of immigration is that 60 percent of migrants come from Albania.

The latest count from the Immigration Policy Institute gives the following information on immigrants to Greece:

– Some 83 percent of immigrants hail from Albania and other former Eastern bloc countries. Most of the immigrants from these lands come to Greece to seek employment (70 percent), while the rest come to be reunited with members of their family already living in Greece or to work in independent jobs.

– Many immigrants — about 132,000, or 17 percent of the total population — live in Athens. Another 7 percent of migrants live in Thessaloniki.

– Some 80 percent of immigrants are of working age, compared to 68 percent of Greeks.

– More than 50 percent of the immigrants living in Greece want to stay here.

– Some 300,000 immigrants are insured. Of those, 230,000 use the Social Security Foundation (IKA), more than 50,000 use the Farmers’ Pension Fund (OGA) and 10,000 use the fund for the self-employed (TEBE).

– Albanians comprise 6.9 percent of all those insured.

– Even though the total school-age population (in junior high, senior high and technical high schools) has dropped by about 8.9 percent, there has been a 20.8 percent increase in foreign-born students.

– More than 85 percent of foreign students in junior high schools were born outside of Greece. Most of these students have already lived in Greece between six and eight years.

– In the junior high schools of outlying Attica, the immigrant population is made up of 75 ethnicities.

About 80.02 percent are Albanians, followed by Russians (2.8 percent), Bulgarians (2.3 percent), Hungarians (2.2 percent), Romanians (1.5 percent), Armenians (1.3 percent), Moldovans (1.2 percent), Kazakhs (1.2 percent) and Georgians (1.15 percent).

– In senior high and technical high schools in outlying Attica, foreign graduates hail from 70 different countries. Some 83.5 percent are Albanian.

– In the municipality of Thessaloniki, foreign students comprise 8.5 percent of the total student population in junior high schools. (In senior high schools they make up 3.4 percent and in technical high schools they make up 9.1 percent.) Some 56.3 percent of foreign students are Albanians, followed by Georgians (17.5 percent), Russians (7 percent) and Armenians (6.4 percent).


I en anden artikel står der:

Greece, meanwhile, has special issues with immigration. It’s the only EU member state whose foreign-born population consists largely of one ethnic group: 60 percent of migrants to Greece are Albanians. Some 30 percent of Albania’s GDP — about 1 billion euros — is composed of incomes sent home from Albanian immigrants working abroad. Of that amount, 700 million euros comes from Albanian immigrants in Greece.

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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.

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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


Konference om Economic governance in the European Union, arrangeret af den Italienske Ambassade i Tirana. Se under: Albanien.

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USA




Amerikansk rapport om korruptionen i Albanien er udsendt. Den Amerikanske Ambassadør, Marcie Ries, udtaler at der i de seneste år er sket fremskridt, at man er nødt til at skabe stærkere konsensus om kampen mod korruptionen, og at der er en del der mangler at blive rettet op på. Rapporten hjælper til at re-fokusere på problemerne. Se under: Albanien.


Amerikansk rapport om trafficking. "Albania is primarily a source country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor. Victims are trafficked to Greece and Italy, with many of these victims trafficked onward to the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands. Internal trafficking within Albania and re-trafficking of Albanian victims to other countries remained a problem in 2005. Reports of Roma and Egyptian children trafficked for forced labor or begging continued." Se under: Albanien.


Michael Hayden er sværget ind som DCIA. CIA skriver:

President Attends Swearing-In Ceremony of CIA Director Michael Hayden

CIA Headquarters

Langley, Virginia

31 May 2006 2:00 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be back with the really fine people here at the Central Intelligence Agency.

I'm honored to be here at the swearing-in of Mike Hayden as America's new Director of the CIA. He's such a good man, we're going to swear him in twice -- (laughter) -- yesterday and today.



President George W. Bush looks on as Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte administers the oath of office to General Michael V. Hayden, USAF, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. General Hayden's wife, Jeanine C. Hayden, holds a Bible for the oath. The ceremony took place in the CIA headquarters lobby in front of the memorial to the Office of Strategic Services and a statue of OSS Director William J. Donovan.


President George W. Bush looks on as Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte administers the oath of office to General Michael V. Hayden, USAF, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. General Hayden's wife, Jeanine C. Hayden, holds a Bible for the oath. The ceremony took place in the CIA headquarters lobby in front of the memorial to the Office of Strategic Services and a statue of OSS Director William J. Donovan.

Mike is a patriot, he's a reformer, he's one of our nation's finest intelligence professionals. I know firsthand how good this guy is; I've worked with him on some really important issues related to the security of the United States. He brings more than two decades of experience in the intelligence field. He is going to be a superb leader for the dedicated men and women of the CIA.

I appreciate Ambassador Negroponte being with us today, the Director of National Intelligence. I want to thank Attorney General Al Gonzales for joining us, and the Director of the FBI, Bob Mueller, for joining us, as well. But most importantly, thank you all for coming.

I'm proud to serve with you. It is such an honor to serve the United States of America and I appreciate your serving along my side to make America secure. The role of the CIA is critical to the security of the United States. This agency is helping to lead the intelligence war against the terrorists who attacked us on September the 11th, 2001. They continue to plot attacks, and together, we are going to stop them.

The role of the CIA is vital to my doing my job. I cannot do my job without the Central Intelligence Agency. This agency remains the principle provider of intelligence analysis to the President, to the Director of National Intelligence, and to senior national security officials in my administration. As Director of the CIA, Mike will continue the reforms needed. America's leaders are going to have the best possible intelligence, and Mike Hayden is going to work with you to see that that's the case.

I've asked Mike to continue to develop the human intelligence capabilities of the CIA which are essential to understanding the plans and intentions of dangerous regimes and terrorist organizations around the world. I've asked Mike to continue improving the analytical skills of the CIA, which apply the best minds to interpret the intelligence that we gather. I'm confident that under Mike's leadership, the CIA will help us stay ahead of America's enemies and win the war on terror.

The men and women who work here at the CIA have got a tough job and a really important job. You must penetrate closed societies and secretive organizations. You must master foreign languages and deal with unfamiliar cultures. Much of your work is secret, and American lives depend on that work remaining secret. America appreciates the good work you're doing, and so do I.

And in Mike Hayden, you have a leader who recognizes your talents, who understands your challenges, and will ensure that you remain the finest intelligence agency in the world.

In his new position, Mike will build on the good work of Director Porter Goss. Nearly two years ago, I asked Porter to take on a tough assignment, the transformation of the CIA. Porter carried out that assignment with skill and determination. He upheld the high standards and proud tradition of the agency. And he leaves behind a CIA that's stronger than the one he found. And Laura and I wish Porter and his family well as they begin a new chapter in their lives.

Mike Hayden succeeds Porter Goss at a time of great change in the world, and great challenge for our intelligence community. Under the leadership of John Negroponte, our intelligence community is growing more integrated and more effective every day. And under the leadership of Mike Hayden, the Central Intelligence Agency will continue to play a critical role in our nation's intelligence enterprise. Mike understands that the CIA must transform to confront new dangers, and do so without slowing the high tempo at which it already operates to protect this country. I'm confident that with Mike Hayden at the helm, the CIA will succeed, and continue to make important contributions to the security of the American people.

As Mike takes on this important assignment, he has my trust, my full trust, and he has the support of a loving family. I'm glad to see his wife, Jeanine, his children and grandchildren, and his father, Harry, and all the other members of the Hayden family who have joined us, as well, today.

I want to thank Mike for agreeing to serve our nation once again, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to do our duty to protect the American people.

Thank you all for coming today. May God bless Mike Hayden, may God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America. (Applause.)

(The oath of office is administered.) (Applause.)

DIRECTOR HAYDEN: Thank you all very much. I will keep this very short. Mr. President, thank you for the honor of placing your confidence in me, and for all of us here and around the world, thank you for the faith you have placed in this agency.

For my family, thank you once again for your continued support. I could not be more grateful. To my new friends and partners here at the Central Intelligence Agency, thank you for the warmth of your welcome over the last 24 hours. The President has laid out in front of us what we have to do, and as I said yesterday in the bubble when I talked to you for the first time, let's just go to work.

Thank you all. (Applause.)

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ENGLAND

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TYSKLAND

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FRANKRIG

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DANMARK (NORGE, SVERIGE)


Den Danske UM, Dr Per Stig Møller, besøgte Albanien tirsdag 06.06.2006 - onsdag 07.07.2006. Se under: Albanien.


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

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


RUSLAND

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

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KINA

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Information om »Sidste Nyt« »Sidste Nyt om Albanien, Kosóva og Makedonien« hører til et web-site om de Balkan-lande hvor der lever mange Albanere: http://bjoerna.dk/albanerne.htm. Her kan du også finde »gamle nyheder«, anmeldelser, links og en Balkan Brevkasse. »Sidste Nyt« sættes på nettet senest hver fredag morgen, hvor der sendes besked til dem der ønsker det. Bestilling / afbestilling sker ved at sende en e-mail med teksten »Nyheder udbedes« / »Nyheder afmeldes«. Nyheder, materiale, kommentarer og spørgsmål modtages meget gerne, både om småting og større ting. Send en e-mail. Tilsvarende hvis du opdager en fejl. Fejl vil blive rettet hurtigst muligt. »Sidste Nyt« og http://bjoerna.dk/albanerne.htm drives non-profit og uden finansiering »udefra«. Hvis du vil være med til at fiansiere udgivelsen kan du lettest gøre det ved at købe én eller flere af mine bøger. Send gerne en mail hvis der er - små eller store - tekniske problemer. Bemærkninger om EDB-sikkerhed. Du må citere hvis du angiver hovedsidens adresse: bjoerna.dk Siderne om Albanerne finder du på: bjoerna.dk/albanerne.htm

»To skridt frem? Albanien i en brydningstid« Baggrundsmateriale kan findes via: http://bjoerna.net/to-skridt-frem/#Linksamling »Albansk Almanak 2004« Almanak'en for 2004 er udkommet i december 2005. Her finder du nyhedsbrevene fra 2004 og nogle kommentarer. Bogen udgives i et sæt bestående af et hæfte (de første 77 sider) og en CD (alle 1264 sider). På CD'en også supplerende materiale - ikke mindst »1912 - Med den serbiske Armé i Makedonien« - Fritz Magnussen's beretninger v/ Palle Rossen. Se indholdsoversigt på: http://bjoerna.dk/albansk-historie/almanak-2004.htm. Se pris på: Bestillingsliste. »Albansk Almanak 2005« Almanak'en for 2005 er udkommet i april 2006. Her finder du nyhedsbrevene fra 2005 og forskelligt supplerende materiale. Bogen udgives i et sæt bestående af et hæfte (ugeoversigterne) og en CD (med ugebrevene og det supplerende materiale - i alt omkring 2.150 sider). Se pris på: Bestillingsliste.

»Albanske Studier« bd. 1-2 Kommentarer til Bjøl, Huntington, Machiavelli, Sørlander, DUPI (Humanitær Intervention), Clausewitz, Mao Zedong, Lars R. Møller, Malcolm og flere andre. 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. Hans bog om Kosovo er omtalt i »Albansk Almanak 2004«. Du kan downloade indholdsfortegnelsen og kommentaren til »På skansen« 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)