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AMENDMENTS TO LAW ON BROADCASTING APPROVED BY THE PARLIAMENT for the second time

The amendments to the law on broadcasting, related to the change of formula for members of the regulatory authority on electronic media and the Steering Council of public broadcaster passed in the Parliament for the second time on June 26. This law was returned to the Parliament by the President, who decided not to decree the law, due to some anti-constitutional provisions he claimed the law had. The opposition is firm in its stance to reject this law, while the majority repeated its guarantee that nominations from the opposition will be voted by the majority. In addition to parliament discussions, the amendments to this law were also discussed in a meeting of negotiating work group in Brussels.

The amendments in question propose to change the formula and composition of the regulatory authority on electronic media and that of the highest governing body of the public broadcaster, on the grounds that these bodies have been so far inefficient and politicized. The final changes to the bill included the nomination of candidates to the regulatory authority from interest groups such as the associations of electronic media, print media associations, electric engineering associations, Chamber of Lawyers, and one from the parliamentary groups. The same groups would also nominate members for the Steering Council of the public broadcaster. This right also belonged to human and children rights NGOs and the National Cinematography Center. The nominations should be no less than two and no more than three for each member, and should pass in a consensual way by the Parliamentary Media Commission.

The formula for the Steering Council of public broadcaster is similar, except that seven members will be elected, and there is also a representative of the government and one from the faculty staff of the University of Tirana. In the meantime, the Parliament has suspended the members of both the regulatory authority and Steering Council, while the law pends to be decreed by the President. The law passed without the voting of the opposition, which proposed a formula that was based on political bipartisanship in both bodies.

In addition, a new amendment was passed on this law, which excludes the owners of television companies from public tenders. The so-called Lesi amendment has been pending in the parliament for more than a year, and its main aim is to eliminate any possible relation between public tenders for media owners and favorable media coverage on the government by the respective media. This amendment is expected to apply for print media, as well, after a new discussion and voting.


REPORTING ON EU TRAINING

The second training course aimed at improving international affairs reporting addressed reporting on EU affairs and took place on June 22-23, with the participation of fifteen journalists from print and electronic mainstream media. The first lecturer was Ledio Bianku, international right expert, the European Center. His main focus was EU and Albania’s path to integration, in view of the recent signing of the Stabilization Association Agreement from Albania, with the respective obligations that follow from this act. He started with a brief description of the EU legal foundations, with an emphasis on the concept of sovereignity. Another topic addressed in the course of the training was Euro as a common currency, its positive and negative effects. Finally, EU structures and their coordinating role constituted another topic of discussion, in view of the new obligations Albanian government faces after signing the SAA. Discussed new measures included the efforts to harmonize the Albanian legislation and the coordinating role and function of the Ministry of Integration.

The second lecturer was Albert Rakipi, Director of the Institute of International Relations, who focused on main aspects of EU since its establishment, providing a brief history. On another level, Rakipi addressed the issue of values of European Union. One of the main ideas was that EU was a unique market, but not a unique cultural identity. Another aspect addressed in the course of the lecture was EU enlargement with members from Central and Southeastern Europe, focusing on their problems in the different membership stages, comparing them to the range of problems of our countries. This course was organized by the Albanian Media Institute, with the support of Media-Im-Pakt, a part of the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations, IFA, Germany.


TEAM TRAINING AND SUPPLEMENT PRODUCTION ON ROMA

A team reporting training took place at the Albanian Media Institute on June 19-23, with the participation of eight journalists from both mainstream and local media. The reporters produced a supplement that was published in daily “Panorama.” The supplement focused on issues of Roma minority reporting and their coverage by both minority and mainstream media. The participants worked as a team and covered different stories addressing topics related to the Roma minority, their living conditions, the economic problems they experience, the existing statistics of Roma minority, government strategy on Roma, profiles of successful Roma people, etc. In order to assist their reporting, three key speakers were invited to address this topic: Lindita Xhillari from the Center for Promotion of Human Development, focused on the situation of minorities in Albania and introduced the main trends deriving from research their center has completed in this area. The second key speaker was Ledi Bianku, international rights expert, who addressed the existing legislation on minorities and their rights. Third speaker was Blendi Kajsiu, analyst, who presented the findings of a research on mainstream newspapers regarding coverage of minorities in general and Roma in particular. This project was supported by Swedish Helsinki Committee and organized by the Albanian Media Institute.


COURT REPORTING TRAINING COURSE

A training on court reporting was organized at the Albanian Media Institute on June 19-21, with the participation of print Tirana-based journalists. Given the importance of appropriate reporting on this delicate section of society, the aim of the course was to introduce journalists to the basic principles of court system in the country and beyond, as well as the main elements to consider when reporting on courts and judicial system. Lecturers were Njazi Jaho, from Albanian Helsinki Committee, Ledio Bianku, European Center, and Xhezair Zaganjori, Constitutional Court. The speakers presented the participants with the main judicial bodies in the country, the way they work, presumption of innocence as a must for reporters, the different angles and phenomena that media coverage can cover in this respect, etc. This training was organized by the Albanian Media Institute with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Tirana.


PHOTOJOURNALISM TRAINING COURSE FOR REPORTERS

A workshop on photojournalism was organized at the Albanian Media Institute on June 26-30, with the participation of 15 journalists from print and electronic media, both from mainstream and local ones. The main aim of this course was to introduce journalists to the basic elements of photojournalism and visual side of reporting in general. In the first three days trainer Albes Fusha discussed with the participants the elements that distinguish good photos from bad ones, taking specific examples from media coverage, participants’ portfolio, and world photojournalism experience in general. Building a photostory and the different facets to consider in the process was another topic that the participants discussed and carried out on field. Attention was also devoted to the relation between reporters and editors and positions when it came to photojournalism. In the next two days trainer Mitrulla Thodhori provided an overview of the technical elements of photography, the basic software for working up photos, formats and their specific natures, etc. The course was a combination of theory, practical examples from well-known photographs, and practice from participants themselves. This training course is part of an extensive project on professional skills training for journalists, organized by Albanian Media Institute with the support of Network Media Program.


HEALTH REPORTING FOR YOUTH

A training on health reporting for young people took place at the Albanian Media Institute on June 15-16, with the participation of fifteen correspondents of mainstream media based on main cities. The aim of the training was to raise awareness among journalists that cover health reporting in order to foster a healthy lifestyle for the youth. The speakers were Genci Mucollari, Andi Shkurti, Irida Agolli, and Arjan Harxhi, from Aksion Plus, an organization that is active in health and youth issues. The main topics covered in the course of the training were the philosophy of damage control for drug users, HIV/AIDS and human rights, role of media in improvement of information, kinds of drugs and how to report on them. Other issues related to health reporting for young people that were addressed included the generation gap, relations and communication among youth and adults, teenagers and sexual health, etc. This seminar was organized by the Albanian Media Institute, with the support of UNFPA.


ONLINE JOURNALISM TRAINING

A training course on online journalism took place at the Albanian Media Institute on June 5-9, with the participation of 15 journalists from print and electronic media, both from mainstream and local ones. The course aimed to introduce journalists to the main principles and skills of computer assisted reporting, as well as provide them with the basic knowledge in online journalism. Trainer Mitrulla Thodhori, IT expert, presented the participants to CAR methodology, its present development, and the main tools used in this regard, mainly using Internet efficiently as an information source in reporting. In her lecture she focused on search engines in Enternet and their specific features, catalogues and databasis, the diverse search strategies, and the practical usage of Internet in today’s reporting. Other topics included advanced usage of MS Office packange and e-mail, working with tables and collection and selection of data, charts, etc. Introducing journalists to the main websites of interest to journalist, the trainer provided practical examples for the participants. Finally, participants were introduced to and tested online journalism and its main elements. This training course is part of an extensive project on professional skills training for journalists, organized by Albanian Media Institute with the support of Network Media Program.


INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING COURSE

A training course on investigative reporting took place at the Albanian Media Institute on June 12-14, with the participation of 15 journalists from print and electronic media, both from mainstream and local ones. The topics addressed in the lecture of journalism professor Iris Luarasi were related to the definition of investigative reporting and the debates that evolve on this genre. The lecturer also provided a brief history of investigative journalism, its origins, famous cases, and the current stage of development. Further on, the lectures continued with instruction on how to draft and follow an investigative story, including both advantages and risks of this genre of journalism. The role of the editor and the media outlet predisposition were also discussed by the lecturer and participants, having in mind the present context of Albanian media when it came to this kind of reporting. The course was a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical examples, enabling the participants to test the knowledge they gained. This training course is part of an extensive project on professional skills training for journalists, organized by Albanian Media Institute with the support of National Endowment for Democracy.


PRESENTATION OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW ON DEFAMATION

The amendments to the law on defamation were presented to a group of mempers of Parliament on June 6. These amendments resulted from previous round tables and discussions with members of the previous parliament. In these discussions the media lawyers, media experts, and the Parliamentary Commision on one hand, and the journalists from the other, had the chance to give their input on the potential amendments needed for the law on defamation. In the final round table the members of Parliament agreed in principle on every article and the amendments made to the law. These amendments will be introduced to the Parliament as a bill. Both the Penal Code and the Civil Code contain articles on defamation and slander that are considered regressive in the framework of the freedom of expression. While neighboring countries have improved this aspect of their legislation, Albania is lagging behind, as underlined in the annual report issued by the European Commission. These discussions are a joint initiative of the Albanian Media Institute and the Justice Initiative in New York, with the support of the Open Society Justice Initiative.


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Albanian Media Institute / ALBANIAN MEDIA NEWSLETTER - July 2006

MEDIA TRAINING ON EU INTEGRATION PROCESS STARTS

Although European integration is a very salient issue after Albania signed the Stabilization Association Agreement, very few people are aware of the complexity of this process. In this context, the Albanian Media Institute, with the support of British Embassy, initiated a training project that aims to provide journalists with the basic aspects that this process entails. The first training course took place in Tirana on July 18-21, with the participation of 15 journalists from both print and electronic media. The main aspects of the integration process were legislation, foreign policy, integration issues, and economical aspects that involve the impact of the integration process. The participants became familiar with the nature of legislation in EU versus member states, the attempts made in harmonizing Albanian legislation to EU standards, and the comparison of the present stage legislation to required standards.

Another topic of interest for participants was the foreign policy issues and the process of relations between Albania and EU in the last years, the changes in the political dialogue, the present position of the Albanian state in this context, Albania’s negotiating power in the region, the historical role of ASA, etc. In addition, the participants were briefed on the role of the Ministry of Integration in this process, the coordination efforts among government bodies, the plan for ASA implementation, the economic benefits and risks expected, the importance of further strengthening of independent institutions in the country, etc. Finally, the Interim Agreement was another major topic, briefing the journalists on the main aspects of this economic agreement, its impact on domestic business, the expected effects, the limitations and benefits that may derive, and Albania’s capacity to fulfill this agreement. Lecturers included high officials from the Ministry of Integration, Ministry of Economy, Commerce, and Energetics, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and international law experts. These courses will continue with other groups of journalists in Tirana and other cities.


ATTEMPTS TO DECRIMINALIZE DEFAMATION CONTINUE

In the framework of the initiative to decriminalize defamation and amend Criminal and Civil Codes provisions on insult and libel, Albanian Media Institute and Open Society Justice Initiative sent a memorandum to the Ministry of Juctice on July 21. This memorandum followed a meeting of representatives of these organizations earlier this month with the minister and other persons of his cabinet. The aim of the memorandum is to explain in detail the two-year ongoing attempts to amend the provisions on defamation. These attempts have been warmly welcome by international organizations concerned with freedom of expression and amending defamation law has been a recommendation of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe. The amendments to defamation received the support of 23 MPs of the last legislature, but due to elections in 2005 could not make it to the plenary voting. Parallel to the amendments to the defamation, Albanian Media Institute is also engaged in the possibility of revising the Code of Ethics for journalists and establishing a self-regulatory mechanism.


TEAM TRAINING AND SUPPLEMENT PRODUCTION ON DRUG ABUSE

A team reporting training took place at the Albanian Media Institute on July 3-7, with the participation of eight journalists from both mainstream and local media. The reporters produced a supplement that was published in daily “Korrieri.” The supplement focused on issues of reporting on drug abuse and risk behavior, targeting especially young generation. The participants worked as a team and covered different stories addressing topics related to risk behavior and drug abuse, such as profiles of drug users, the impact of drug use in society, statistics that exist in this area, the attempts to control the damage, etc. In order to assist their reporting, several speakers were invited to address this topic: Genc Mucollari, from Aksion Plus, focused on drugs prevention and its impact on financial, political, and social costs for the individual, the community, and society. The speaker also discussed with the participants the philosophy of damage control and the human rights and media role. The second key speaker was Sokol Morina from the Ministry of Health, who introduced the National Strategy for Reduction of Drug Usage, followed by Dhimitraq Stratoberdha of the Institute of Public Health, who addressed the concepts of medical and public health in the media, as well as the strategic plans that are being implemented in reducing drug usage. On the second day Andi Shkurti from Aksion Plus introduced to the participants the different social theories and their impact through media awareness and education, broaching the terminology used in these cases and the existing stereotypes. The last speaker was Ilda Londo, media researcher at the Albanian Media Institute, who discussed with the participants cases of media coverage of drug use, coupled with the main principles of the Code of Ethics for journalists. This project was supported by UNFPA and organized by the Albanian Media Institute.


ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS ON COURT REPORTING

A roundtable discussion brought together 20 journalists and representatives of the judiciary system at the Albanian Media Institute on July 12, in order to discuss the citizens’ access to information in this area and search for possible ways to improve the situation. Journalists were mainly court and crime reporters, while the rest of participants included spokespersons of courts of different instances, public relations’ officers, representatives from the People’s Advocate Office, etc. The first speaker in this roundtable was Ledio Bianku from the European Center, who focused on the right to access official documents, comparing it to European standards and bringing specific court cases both from the Court of Tirana and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Second speaker was Njazi Jaho from the Albanian Helsinki Committee, who tackled the concept of presumption of guilt in Albanian legislation and the main problems in media coverage of this aspect.

Other topics that were discussed included awareness of the law on access to information, existing limitations of the court institutions, their internal regulations on granting information classified as secret. Journalists expressed their concern that procedures for accessing information from court proceedings or data from the Commercial Register are often hindered by bureaucratic procedures and delay journalists or public. In additon, the public relations’ officers identified some problems in media coverage related to the correct terminology used, accurate information, use of anonymous sources, etc. This activity was organized by the Albanian Media Institute with the support of National Endowment for Democracy.


REPORTING ON NATO

A training course aimed at improving NATO reporting was organized at the Albanian Media Institute on July 5-6, with the participation of 15 journalists from both print and electronic media. The course was organized in the framework of the visit of NATO’s Secretary General in Albania. The first lecturer was Luan Hajdaraga, ex-Minister of Defense and ex-Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. He gave the participants a brief historical overview of the establishment of NATO, the historical context that led to its establishment, as well as the structure of the organization. Then he focused on the shift of doctrine after the Cold War and on the process of Albanian integration into NATO. More specifically he focused on the different stages Albania has been in this process, several aspects of integration, coordination activity, and membership plan.

The second lecturer was Arjan Starova, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Transatlantic Club. He addressed the role of NATO in preserving Euro-atlantic values, NATO enlargement and the membership criteria, as well as its increasing military power. After tackling the concepts of “defense” and “safety,” Starova focused on the Adriatic Charter III as a positive agreement on the path to NATO membership. Finally, he explained the increasing efficiency of NATO after events in Bosnia and especially in Kosovo, as well as the geopolitical role of this organization in the future. This course was organized by the Albanian Media Institute, with the support of Media-Im-Pakt, a part of the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations, IFA, Germany.


TRAINING ON COVERAGE OF PRESS CONFERENCES

A training course on coverage of press conferences was organized at the Albanian Media Institute on July 24-28, with the participation of 15 journalists from both print and electronic media. Although a routine activity for journalists, press conferences are an important task for them that should be carried out with professionalism. In order to train the participants on the main aspects to have in mind in these cases lecturers were Aleksander Furrxhi, BBC correspondent and Arben Muka, DW correspondent. Some of the steps the lecturers tackled during the trainng were prior research and gathering information on the press conference topic, persons, or organization, preparing the basic questions that are relevant to the topic, foresee questions that might come up in the course of the conference, etc. The trainers also tackled the specific nature of press conferences as events, cases when to attend, what makes a good active participation, and how to report on press conferences. Usage of media kits and other materials available at the conference was also discussed with the participants. In the fourth training day the journalists attended a press conference that took place at the Ministry of Integration, in order to test some of the knowledge gained during the course. This course was part of an extensive training on professional skills, organized by Albanian Media Institute and supported by Network Media Program.


WORKSHOP ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

A workshop on access to information and investigative journalism brought together media and local government representatives in Korca on July 25-26. The main aim of the workshop was to get acquainted to the law on access to information and the manner the local administration implemented this law, as well as the way it can be used for investigative reporters. The first lecturer, Arben Ristani, from Citizens’ Advocacy Office, explained with practical examples the essence of the law and how it can be used by journalists and the general public for a more in-depth and transparent reporting. Giving specific examples, the lecturer addressed the weaknesses and strength of the implementation of the law in everyday life, including the bodies that ensure this implementation: administrative complaint, court complaint, Ombudsman. Ristani also provided a brief history of this law from other countries’ experience.

Second speaker was Lutfi Dervishi, freelancer. In his lecture he addressed the issue of writing a detailed, in-depth investigation story. Specific steps included: picking the topic, planning the sources, searching, reporting, writing the story, checking the facts before publication, the actual publication, follow-up, etc. After becoming familiar with the main problems journalists in this area face with regard to this law, he gave some specific advice and examples that would improve their reporting for the community.

Mitro Medelko, representative of the Prefecture of Korca, focused on the work that was being done by this body for a better implementation of the law on access to information. He clarified the problems that existed in the relations between citizens and journalists on one hand, and the city officials, on the other, briefly explaining the way of functioning of the press office. In his speech he also addressed the problem of meeting the citizens’ attempts for information. The present journalists also suggested some ways that would help a more efficient functioning of the office. This workshop was organized by the Albanian Media Institute, with the support of National Endowment for Democracy.


RADIO PROGRAMS PRODUCED IN MONTENEGRIN

A group of reporters and representatives from the Montenegrin minority gathered to produce two radio programs of approximately 20 minutes in their language. The main aim of these programs is to promote media coverage of minorities in the country and provide a different voice for the minorities within the media landscape. In this context, the first program was devoted to the introduction of this minority group, attempts to protect their rights and organize themselves, cooperation with other organizations, as well as youth education. The second program focused on the culture of this group, tackling such subjects as language, customs, the folk music ensemble, the community life, etc. The participants were guided in these productions by Arben Muka, Deutsche Welle correspondent. These radio programs will be aired by Radio Shkodra and Radio Tirana, the public service radio. The production of the programs was implemented by Albanian Media Institute, with the support of Swedish Helsinki Committee.


COMPUTER ASSISTED REPORTING TRAINING

A training course on Computer Assisted Reporting took place in Shkodra on July 13-15, with the participation of 12 journalists from print and electronic media. The course aimed to introduce journalists to the main principles and skills of computer assisted reporting, as well as provide them with the basic knowledge in online journalism. Trainer Mitrulla Thodhori, IT expert, presented the participants to CAR methodology, its present development, and the main tools used in this regard, mainly using Internet efficiently as an information source in reporting. In her lecture she focused on search engines in Internet and their specific features, catalogues and databasis, the diverse search strategies, and the practical usage of Internet in today’s reporting. Other topics included advanced usage of MS Office packange and e-mail, working with tables and collection and selection of data, charts, etc. Introducing journalists to the main websites of interest to journalist, the trainer provided practical examples for the participants. Finally, participants were introduced to and tested online journalism and its main elements. This training course was organized by Albanian Media Institute with the support of UNESCO.

Note: Albanian Media Institute will be closed until August 28. We wish you all nice holidays,

AMI staff

Arrangement vedr. minerydning i Albanien. Den Amerikanske Ambassade i Tirana skriver:

Ambassador Ries and Adriana, mine survivor assisted through Night of a Thousand Dinners funds


Remarks by Ambassador Marcie B. Ries: Night of a Thousand Dinners In Support of the Albanian Mine Action Program July 24, 2006

I am delighted to host the third Night of a Thousand Dinners in Albania to support mine-victim assistance. Of course, this is a period of change in the Balkans, as we try to move beyond the conflicts of the 1990s toward a more secure and more prosperous future. In Albania, we are closer than ever to eliminating one of the terrible legacies of the Kosovo crisis: landmines and unexploded ordnance in the northeast region of Albania. The Albanian Mine Action Program has been a great success story; thanks to the support of international donors - including of course the United States, the European Commission and Germany - the engagement of the Albanian government and UNDP, and many individuals, we are closer than ever to reaching the goal of making Albania safe from the effects of mines and unexploded ordnance.

The work of clearing mines, combined with education of local communities about the risk of landmines, has saved lives: although 34 people have been killed by landmines in the region bordering Kosovo, but there have been no fatal injuries in the last two years, and so far this year there have been no landmine incidents. The job won't be finished for a few years yet, but we can say that the end is in sight.

But we are here tonight to talk about another aspect of the Albanian Mine Action Program, and that is taking care of the survivors. Even after the mines are cleared, there are those who still need our help. It is to assist the survivors of these accidents that we are here tonight. Funds raised this year will be used to support young mine survivors in pursuing post-secondary studies and to assist survivors requiring advanced medical treatment outside Albania.

At the Night of a Thousand Dinners last year, thanks to your generosity (donors), matched by the U.S. Department of State, we raised nearly $22,000, with which we have already screened 18 sight-impaired mine/UXO survivors and assisted 8 of them with surgical treatment for eye injuries. I ask you again to be generous and surpass that figure so we can do even more this year.

Website om Albanien som turistland skal videreudvikles

Udbud af opgaven: http://www.ictd.org.al/index.php?fq=news&id=261

Foreløbig udgave (mange, men ikke alle, ting virker på siden): http://www.albaniantourism.com

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SERBIEN


Det Amerikanske UM har 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.


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


Kosovo / Kosóva: Den Serbiske Regering skriver:

Serbia will not renounce Kosovo-Metohija for accelerated EU accession

Belgrade, July 31, 2006 – Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said in an interview with daily Danas that Serbia will never renounce Kosovo-Metohija in return for the country’s accelerated EU accession and stressed that Belgrade would respond by using all legal means should the province proclaim independence.

There is one part of international community that sees only one option, that is Kosovo-Metohija’s independence, pointing only to its superficial advantages. Independence for the province has many shortcomings whereas essential autonomy, the solution we pledge, has many advantages, Kostunica stressed.

The Prime Minister went on to say that the UN Security Council’s session dedicated to Kosovo-Metohija on July 13 made a particular impression on him. Representatives of all five permanent members of the UN Security Council spoke, which shows that there is awareness of the importance and complexity of the problem, he said. We had a chance to hear the arguments made by Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, which were very convincing and close to our position, Kostunica pointed out.

It is of utmost importance that the debate on Kosovo-Metohija is first led in Serbian parliament, Kostunica said and noted that the negotiating team will inform parliament in early autumn on what has been done.

Parliament is the only real, democratic forum where the issue of Kosovo-Metohija can be discussed, he said and added that if we consider the worst solution, the position of Serbia would be to conclude that Kosovo-Metohija is part of Serbia. This is no empty rhetoric but a constitutional and legal formulation, Kostunica pointed out.

According to the Prime Minister, in trying to solve the Kosovo-Metohija issue, Serbia has presented only arguments of law and not force and this is the road that Serbia plans to pursue.

The argument of force is very often on the side of others, certain parts of the international community, who sometimes condition Serbia’s European integration with renunciation of Kosovo-Metohija, Kostunica said and highlighted that this would be impossible. There are certain defined conditions for all countries that want to become EU members and no country was forced to give up part of its territory in order to join the EU, said Kostunica and stressed that Serbia cannot be such a case either.

Speaking on cooperation with the Hague tribunal, the Serbian Prime Minister said that all those accused must be brought before the court in The Hague.

All those accused who were proven to be in Serbia went to The Hague, Kostunica said noting that the Serbian government is now facing a technical problem to establish where Ratko Mladic is located at the moment. We are trying to solve the very specific “Mladic case” through the Action Plan and through better coordination with The Hague, Brussels, Serbian intelligence services, copying the Croatian model, Kostunica said.

The Prime Minister also announced that after parliament amends the law on ministries, he will make consultations about candidates for ministers of defence and foreign affairs. It is certain that the government will get two new ministries after the law on ministries is amended, he said.

New elections should take place after the constitution is adopted, Kostunica said and explained that Serbia is no longer a federal unit or part of the state union and therefore it needs to pass a democratic constitution that will last for some time.

Serbia’s foreign policy will focus on EU integration and cooperation with The Hague whereas the country’s interior policy will be based on Kosovo-Metohija, the new constitution and the economy. Kostunica concluded that he does not see a more logical solution than elections taking place after the new constitution is adopted.

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Protection zones for religious and cultural legacy in Kosovo-Metohija necessary

Belgrade, Aug 2, 2006 – Head of the Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija Sanda Raskovic-Ivic said today that the Serbian negotiating team attended a meeting with experts from the UN Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the future status process for Kosovo (UNOSEK). The negotiation team pointed out that for protection of religious and cultural legacy in Kosovo-Metohija it is most important to set the number of places that we want to protect, to establish protection zones as well as security regime in those zones.

Raskovic-Ivic told Tanjug that restitution of church property in protected areas was one of the topics in the meeting with expert team of the office of Martti Ahtisaari.

She said that the Serbian negotiating team suggested that the church property be returned to the church promptly and explained that all facilities taken away from church in the 1945-1953 period can be returned to the church quickly and efficiently through a lex specialis.

IMF har udsendt et statement

Serbia and Montenegro—2006 Article IV Consultation and Post-Program Monitoring
SERBIA: CONCLUDING STATEMENT OF THE MISSION
June 27, 2006

1. Serbia is growing. After stagnation in the 1980s, decline in the 1990s amid the SFRY breakup, and collapse and hyperinflation in 1999-2000, GDP has risen strongly every year since. This reflects the natural rebound following the 2001 stabilization, and a significant—if sometimes interrupted—cumulative fiscal and structural reform effort. Much is going right.

2. But two lost decades are not readily recovered. Though output is up nearly 40 percent since 2000, employment has trended down, unemployment is over 20 percent and still rising, and headline inflation has not been sustained below the mid-teens. Fixed investment is well below transition country norms, yet, even so, the external current account deficit remains unsustainably high—at over 10 percent of GDP. It will be a long haul.

3. Continued structural reform and stability are key. Failed corporate and financial structures—compounded by conflict and policy instability—sapped economic vitality at the end of the 20th century. So it will take completion of the post-2000 reforms to those structures—and policy stability—to restore economic health. This might best be advanced as part of the EU accession process. These matters are considered in turn.


Corporate Restructuring

4. The role of the state has been significantly reduced since 2000. Privatization and retrenchment have reduced the state and socially owned sectors, with private firms expanding alongside. As a result, the private share in non-agricultural non-budget sector employment has risen from 30 to 60 percent between 2001 and 2006. This is a considerable accomplishment, reflected in buoyant exports and improved growth potential.

5. But the core of these corporate reforms has been left until last. Though many tough tasks have been largely completed, including bank restructuring, the more healthy firms were privatized first. So to some extent, the shift towards the private sector has been a change in form rather than substance. And the remaining mixed, socially, and state owned firms still account for over 40 percent of non-budget non-agricultural employment. They incur heavy losses, absorb considerable subsidies, and accrue wage arrears. These firms are largely responsible for low economy-wide corporate savings and impede entry of more productive firms.

6. The remaining restructuring will require sustained commitment. Plans to offer for sale all firms in the privatization agency portfolio by mid-2007 are welcome. But the quality of assets now on offer raises prospects for increased incidence of failed tenders and auctions. In this context, the "two strikes" approach proposed by the IBRD needs to be fully observed. In particular, the tax authorities and the Development Fund should initiate bankruptcies in these cases promptly, while blockages to timely completion of insolvency proceedings—including inefficiencies in the courts—need to be removed. If not, these firms will remain a key constraint on economic performance. Broader business climate and trade arrangements—including regional free trade and WTO membership—should support this effort by encouraging new domestic and foreign investment, while abjuring targeted or firm-specific concessions. And as restructuring proceeds, the high share of administered prices in the CPI can be lowered.

7. The oil sector is an immediate test case. The burden on the economy of high international oil prices is compounded by domestic refinery and distribution inefficiencies—caused by the ban on imported processed product and oil price controls. The sale of shares in the integrated firm to a minority shareholder—albeit with management control and possible eventual majority ownership—with the import ban extended alongside, at best addresses only part of the problem. In addition to these proposals, at the very least the ban should be converted into a tariff scheduled to decline quickly over time, a process that would be consistent with EU and WTO principles. This would lower ex-refinery prices—easing non-oil corporate restructuring challenges—whether or not refining efficiencies are secured, thereby further encouraging realization of those efficiencies by the new management. And it would raise budget revenues.

8. With further corporate restructuring in prospect, employment policy should aim at job creation rather than job preservation. Currently, labor market institutions and remuneration levels discourage employment, which continues to fall even as output rises strongly. And with the toughest restructuring still ahead and the share of the private sector in total employment rising, the inflexibilities of labor market structures are becoming increasingly expensive over time. Hiring and firing rules and unemployment benefit arrangements should be rigorously scrutinized from this perspective.


Financial sector

9. Following earlier bank restructuring, credit has boomed. Drawn by high spreads and a desire to establish early in a new market, foreign parents of banks leveraged surging domestic deposits with external resources, and bank credit has risen over 11 percentage points of GDP in three years. And with credit-to-GDP ratios still regionally low, persistent further expansion is likely—compounding the upward pressures on the external current account deficit emanating from the weaknesses in non-bank corporates.

10. These credit patterns suggest that a further examination of the competitive environment among banks may be warranted. Margins appear to have been falling in some activities—though data on this are unavailable—and unremunerated reserve requirements exact an additional toll on bank profits. But banks' continued appetite to lend suggests that total anticipated returns remain highly attractive. Competition was likely reinforced by the activation of the credit registry in 2004 and, more recently, the pledge registry and legislation on enhancing creditor rights over collateral. But other steps could be considered, including providing banking customers with standardized interest rate formulations and helping them to understand the burden of the debts they take on. Reinforced competition, by securing efficient spreads, may help encourage greater attentiveness by banks to macroeconomic and prudential risks in credit extension.

11. Alongside, supervision should continue to be strengthened. The pace and recent genesis of credit growth raise concerns about credit quality, as does the overwhelming dominance of FX-indexed in total credit and high NPL ratios. The recent banking law establishes the basis for enforcement of Basle Core Principles (BCPs), to take effect once the NBS has adopted detailed "decisions" to implement them. The law and the drafts reflect international and EU best practice. More challenging, however, will be to ensure an appropriately qualified cadre of supervisors to implement the law, deliver the transition from compliance to risk-based supervision, and monitor risks arising from greater exchange rate flexibility. A review of the adequacy of conditions of employment for supervisors from this perspective may be appropriate.


Fiscal policy

12. Fiscal options will remain constrained in the medium-term until corporate profitability improves and credit slows. Until reforms in these areas decisively boost domestic private savings, fiscal policy is constrained to deliver domestic savings—lest investment be constrained by lack of funding and the external current account becomes unsustainable. With external vulnerabilities high—as signaled by external debt at 58 percent of GDP and private external debt up some 6 percentage points of GDP in 2005—and immediate political and regional uncertainties considerable, there appears to be little room for fiscal maneuver.

13. These concerns underlie the need for fiscal consolidation and budget surpluses. Adjustment of 5½ percentage points of GDP in the three years to 2005 represents a further major policy achievement. But that effort was overwhelmed by surging credit and the depth of corporate ailments, so that excluding VAT effects, the high external current account deficits barely budged since 2003. In that light, a budget surplus of 2½ percent of GDP (on IMF fiscal definitions) was anticipated under the Extended Arrangement with the IMF. This implied a further consolidation of 1.8 percentage points of GDP in 2006, and declines in public debt, even excluding the Paris Club write-down. Once the tough corporate reforms take root and credit decelerates, scope may be created to allow the fiscal stance to be re-anchored to fiscal sustainability—thereby accommodating some fiscal relaxation.

14. Tax options are limited. Public revenues are already burdensome at some 44 percent of GDP and tax administration is overstretched in the difficult enforcement environment. Thus, even the envisaged shift from direct to indirect taxation should not go ahead if it prejudices the fiscal balance.

15. This puts the focus on public expenditure reform. Ambitions to raise real public spending within fiscal balance targets would best be secured by growth—and growth of tax revenues—via corporate and other reforms, not by raising tax ratios. Until then, there is ample scope to curb current spending. Spending on transfers, budget wages, and subsidies—17, 10, and 3½ percent of GDP respectively in 2006—contains considerable inefficiencies. As part of a reform effort, an accounting of the costs of the September 2005 government decision to "close" pension contribution gaps is urgent. In that light, recent pension reforms can be taken further, including by rationalizing early retirement. And corporate restructuring could be aided by reduced subsidies and by the impact of budget wage restraint on general wage trends. These actions would create room within fiscal balance targets for long overdue increases in budget investment, including on roads and the social infrastructure.


Inflation, and monetary and exchange rate frameworks

16. A renewed assault on inflation would support restructuring. Still in the mid teens, headline inflation is regionally high. And it constitutes a loud signal of macroeconomic disorder—to the detriment of efforts to raise domestic and foreign investment. Disinflation, by signaling strengthened policies, would encourage investment. In this way, it would not be at the expense of jobs but an essential element in their creation. Unless the NBS takes the view that the prospective fiscal stance is insufficiently supportive, it should not be postponed.

17. Recent changes in monetary arrangements have prepared well for this. Greater exchange rate volatility has already been announced and achieved. And the dinar has strengthened in recent months in the wake of the 500 basis point hike in repo rates from Q4 2005, with banking dinar borrowing and lending rates also rising. These developments demonstrate that repo operations have matured into an effective monetary policy instrument. As the NBS continues to scale back its engagement with foreign exchange bureaus—and with it its forex intervention—the repo will become yet more powerful. Given high pass-through rates from the exchange rate to core inflation, all this signals that monetary policy can be effective through the exchange rate channel in combating inflation. And it is effective notwithstanding high rates of financial euroization and the currently limited impact of dinar interest rates on aggregate demand. Finally, adjustments to reserve requirements on foreign currency-denominated liabilities will continue to play a useful role as a measure of last resort in containing credit growth and the external balance in the context of insufficient fiscal support for these objectives.

18. These steps would best be taken further. A process towards eventual formal adoption of a new nominal anchor—inflation targeting—could be initiated. Within this process, the NBS would publicly adopt "objectives" for core inflation for 2006 and 2007 in the form of a range, extending this projection horizon every six months or so. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Finance would issue objectives for administered prices over the same rolling horizon, in consultation with the NBS. The repo would become the key instrument used to achieve NBS objectives, to be adjusted upwards when core inflation is projected to exceed objectives and vice versa. Forex intervention would be reduced to a daily "leaning against the wind" role.

19. Over a longer horizon, further developments can be envisaged. Once experience is gained with the new framework, the NBS could consider changing its inflation range "objectives" into formal "targets". And other elements of a full-fledged inflation targeting framework could be built. These include modeling, transparency, decision making procedures within the central bank, and final determination of institutional responsibility to set the inflation target band. And as corporate restructuring reduces the share of administered prices in the CPI, the NBS will progressively become responsible for a greater share of CPI developments.


Policies for 2006-07

20. Demand growth remains strong. Notwithstanding weakness in early 2006—reflecting interrupted gas imports followed by flooding—and several measures of monetary tightening, credit growth remains buoyant. VAT collections before refunds confirm that consumer spending is still surging, with concomitant effects on underlying imports.

21. Thus, a firm fiscal stance remains appropriate. The policy goals for the external current account balance—a reduction by 1¾ percentage points of GDP (corrected for the VAT effect) in 2006 and the planned reduction of ½ a percentage point for 2007—are not yet secure. Vulnerabilities would be compounded if those goals are missed, and efforts to disinflate complicated. In this light, a slippage from the anticipated budget surplus of 2½ percent of GDP (on IMF definitions) would best be avoided, and a further improvement to a surplus of 3 percent of GDP is recommended for 2007 (Text table).

22. In this context, disinflation can be purposefully pursued. With core inflation already at 10 percent, the central bank could announce an inflation "objective" range for 2006 of 7-10 percent, declining to 4-7 percent for 2007, and adjust the repo rate as needed to secure these objectives.

23. But a major weakening of budget balance targets is being considered. The suggestion is to commence a multiyear investment program with planned spending of up to 1½ percent of GDP in Q4 2006, funded by privatization and one-off MOBI63 license receipts. This implies, on IMF definitions, a budget deficit of ½ of one percent of GDP in 2006, fully 3 percentage points weaker than target. And if proposed personal tax reforms and Public Private Partnership projects for 2007 go ahead alongside, without spending cuts to offset the non-recurrence of MOBI63 receipts, then the budget would go significantly further into deficit in 2007.

24. These proposals raise again the specter of loss of fiscal discipline, putting at risk the hard-won progress made through reform in recent years. Though the proposed public spending is not debt financed, it will, if implemented fully, significantly impact the current account deficit—raising it towards 14 percent of GDP in 2006, some 3 percentage points weaker than targeted, with further deterioration in 2007 in prospect if the budget deficit enlarges further. Furthermore, the haste of project preparation and disbursement raises doubts about its quality—with considerable waste likely. If the program proceeds on anything like the scale and pace envisaged, investment costs will be raised, gains limited, and competitiveness will be harmed by the impact on non-tradable prices. And if the PIT reforms weaken the fiscal balance further, these adverse effects will be amplified.

25. Disinflation ambitions may also be harmed. Even—perhaps especially—if the fiscal weakening in 2006-07 is sizeable, the suggested reforms to the monetary and exchange regimes should go ahead. But to the extent that the central bank assesses that the fiscal stance is inadequate, it may need to scale back the specificity and ambition of its objectives for core inflation in order to shield, however modestly, the current account balance from the adverse impact of the fiscal loosening.

26. And PPM undertakings would not be observed. In the first quarter, though health sector savings are lower than anticipated and the budget wage bill target was exceeded somewhat, the budget, army reform, headline inflation, and the current account balance are all broadly on track with PPM commitments. Thus these objectives are well within reach, absent the redirection of fiscal policy now under consideration.


Concluding remarks

27. After two decades of disappointment, Serbia has made significant progress in recent years in an exceptionally challenging environment. To continue with this good progress, we urge you to carefully plan the scope and phasing of your new fiscal initiatives.

* * *

The mission is grateful for the warmth of the welcome it has received.

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MONTENEGRO


Præsidentvalg 030611: Filip Vujanovic blev valgt. Seneste Parlamentsvalg 021020.

Folkeafstemning 21.05.2006 om Montenegro's forhold til statsforbundet Serbien-Montenegro. Der var et mindre flertal for at udtræde af forbundet (55,4% mod 44,6%), hvilket er blevet anerkendt af EU m.fl. Formentlig vil Serbien acceptere den nye tingenes tilstand, skønt der var nogen murren efter at resultatet blev kendt.

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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 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.

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.

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/.

Makedonien forhandler med EU om optagelse. Aktuel status, se: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/fyrom/key_documents.htm. Se også den generelle side: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/index_en.html


Parlamentsvalg onsdag 05.07.2006. Valget blev vundet af oppositionen; ny PM ventes at blive Nikola Gruevski; den hidtidige PM - Vlado Buckovski - har erkendt nederlaget. Grevski og VMRO-DPMNE vil intensivere arbejdet for at få Makedonien optaget i EU og NATO. Man vil søge at gøre landet mere attraktivt for investeringer.

Se evt. reportage på BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5152732.stm


OSCE skriver om valget:

SKOPJE, 6 July 2006 - Parliamentary elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 5 July largely met international standards for democratic elections, but violence and intimidation cast a shadow over the campaign, and election day, 5 July, was calm with isolated cases of serious irregularities, concluded the International Election Observation Mission in a preliminary statement, released today.

Some 380 observers monitored the election on behalf of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). This was the ninth time the OSCE observed elections in the country.

"There were a number of improvements in the election process which are a result of the implementation of previous recommendations," said Audrey Glover, Head of the ODIHR mission.

"However, serious incidents during the campaign and on election day are a continuing reminder that perpetrators must be held accountable in accordance with the rule of law."

Mevlut Cavusoglu, who led the PACE delegation, said: "Yesterday the citizens could, and did, decide on the political direction of their country in a generally democratic fashion. The serious, but isolated, irregularities observed should not be allowed to overshadow the democratic progress made. We regret that for some violence and manipulation are still acceptable tools to further their political goals. This can only be condemned. We welcome the willingness and capacity of the people and the electoral system to take corrective action towards such abuses, which is a sign of political maturity."

The observers also concluded that voting and counting were conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner in most of the country, but isolated, serious irregularities, such as vote buying, ballot box stuffing, tension and intimidation tainted the election process in a number of municipalities.

While observers did not find any deliberate attempt to manipulate polling station protocols during the count, major procedural problems were reported.

Following an inclusive registration of political parties, the campaign was competitive, offering the electorate a broad choice. However, a number of violent incidents cast a shadow over the first half of the campaign. Observers also noted instances of abuse of administrative resources, particularly by mayor's offices.

Overall, the broadcast and print media provided the voters with a variety of views, but the public broadcaster, Macedonian Television, favoured the ruling parties in its coverage. The tone of the media coverage was generally moderate, with some partisan comments in private media.

Although the new consolidated Election Code was finalized only three months before the elections, it provides a more consistent basis for their conduct, including provisions for increasing participation of women and national minorities.

PDF-rapport kan hentes fra: http://www.osce.org/documents/odihr/2006/07/19801_en.pdf



IMF har udsendt materiale om Makedonsk økonomi: Report on Observance of Standards and Codes - Fiscal Transparency Module

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report provides an assessment of fiscal transparency practices in FYR Macedonia in relation to the requirements of the IMF Code of Good Practices on Fiscal Transparency based on discussions with the authorities and other organizations, the authorities’ response to the IMF fiscal transparency questionnaire, and other sources of information. The IMF Manual on Fiscal Transparency (http://www.imf.org/external/np/fad/trans/manual/) should be consulted for further explanation of the terms and concepts discussed in this report.

FYR Macedonia meets the requirements of the fiscal transparency code in several key areas: (i) the allocation of responsibilities among different levels of government is well defined, but the ongoing fiscal decentralization process, particularly related to the devolution of expenditure responsibilities to local governments and borrowing by local governments, must be carefully monitored and underpinned by improved capacity at the local level; (ii) the central bank has operational independence from the government and is barred from financing it; (iii) information on public and publicly-guaranteed debt is regularly published; (iv) the legal framework for the management of public funds is clear and comprehensive with regard to the budget process and responsibilities; (v) the annual budget process is transparent, and the budget presentation is rapidly moving toward international good practice; (vi) the budget preparation has a strategic phase, where the main parameters for fiscal policy are determined and indicative ceilings for expenditure areas are set; (vii) the introduction of program budgeting with the 2005 budget (together with a description of programs in the budget document) has provided much better transparency of expenditure plans; (viii) the treasury accounting system is capable of producing accurate and frequent in-year reports on central government budget outturns; (ix) extrabudgetary funds and local governments have been integrated into the treasury single account; (x) the legislative basis for taxation is generally clear and comprehensive, and legislation in the areas of the value-added tax and customs duties are being harmonized with EU practices; (xi) tax administration officials are given legal protection from political interference; and (xii) the state audit office, which conducts external audit, is independent from the executive branch and its mandate covers all public sector activities.

However, fiscal transparency in FYR Macedonia could be improved in several respects, including through: (i) the provision in budget documents of public debt sustainability analysis and information on fiscal risks, contingent liabilities, and tax expenditure; (ii) strengthened reporting on state-owned enterprises and a more transparent nomination process for board members of state-owned enterprises, funds, and agencies; (iii) the provision in the budget memorandum of an overview of new expenditure initiatives, and the development of a system for tracking their expenditure implications; (iv) further support to the recently-established internal audit units; and (v) increased funding for the activities as well as improved follow-up on the recommendations of the state audit office.

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2006/cr06282.pdf

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GRÆKENLAND

Seneste Parlamentsvalg 040307.

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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

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USA

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ENGLAND


»Mjaft« ('Nu kan det være nok!') har fået en afdeling i England. Ét af medlemmerne, Ralf Gjoni, har brokket sig over en 'tendentiøs' eller 'skæv' omtale af Albanien i the »Sunday Times«. Omtalen kan findes på: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2099-2271185,00.html (fortsættelse på: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2099-2271185_2,00.html). Mjaft-krtikken kan findes på: http://www.london.mjaft.org/mjaft_letter_sunday_times.htm

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TYSKLAND

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FRANKRIG

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DANMARK (NORGE, SVERIGE)


060703 Finn Theilgaard, chargé d'affaires på den Danske Ambassade, har haft sin sidste arbejdsdag på ambassaden i Tirana. Han efterfølges senere af Ambassadør Niels Severin Munk, hidtil Dhaka, Bangladesh. Theilgaard har bl.a. haft møde med Præsident Moisiu, der tildelte ham en særlig hædersbevisning:

  

July 3, 2006

The President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu received today in a meeting the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark, Finn Theilgaard who is leaving our country.

During the friendly talk held at the meeting, President Moisiu pointed out the contribution of Mr. Theilgaard in the qualitative enhancement of the good relations between our two countries and peoples and also in the further strengthening of the cooperation to the benefit of reciprocal interests. Appreciating this contribution, the Head of state handed to the Danish Ambassador the Medal of Gratitude.

Then the interlocutors expressed the consideration for the positive achievements of Albania in its path towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration by pointing out especially the signing of the Association-Stabilization Agreement by our country with the European Union and also other significant steps that will be taken in this direction.

DIIS har udsendt »Danish Foreign Policy Yearbook 2006« (redigeret af Nanna Hvidt og Hans Mouritsen).

Den kan downloades i sin helhed som PDF [0.8 MB] fra: http://www.diis.dk/graphics/Publications/Books2006/Yearbook2006/Yearbook2006web_b.pdf.

Contents, Preface, Abstracts of Scholarly Articles in English and Danish [http://www.diis.dk/graphics/Publications/Books2006/Yearbook2006/yearbook2006_content_etc.pdf 0.1 MB]

Chapter 1: Articles [http://www.diis.dk/graphics/Publications/Books2006/Yearbook2006/yearbook2006_chapter1.pdf 0.6 MB]

* The International Situation and Danish Foreign Policy 2005 Ulrik Federspiel
* The ‘Big Other’ and the ‘Small Other’: Discursive Asymmetries and Cleavages in Russian-Danish Relations Andrey S. Makarychev
* Social Defense and National Security: The Globalized Danish Welfare State Eric S. Einhorn
* Truth on Demand: Denmark and the Cold War Thorsten Borring Olesen
* A Hundred Years of Danish Action Space Hans Mouritzen

Chapter 2-5 [http://www.diis.dk/graphics/Publications/Books2006/Yearbook2006/yearbook2006_chapter2_5.pdf 0.3 MB]

* Selected Documents
* Danish Foreign Policy in Figures
* Opinion Polls
* Selected Bibliography

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)