Prime Minister Speech at the Council of Ministers Meeting Announcing “Albania 1 Euro” Initiative

21/8/2006

Today, we are announcing our government’s new initiative: “Albania 1 euro”. During our electoral campaign, we established that making Albania the most attractive place for foreign investors would be a major goal. We reaffirm that this objective is crucial for our country.

Transforming Albania into an appealing place for investors is a very difficult challenge, but not an impossible mission. We can only make it happen by thinking the unthinkable and imagining the unimaginable. This is the condition. We have to improve on other countries’ practices, otherwise why should we be more appealing than others?

Some of the conditions that drive us into this undertaking are fundamental, as are also the circumstances that urge for this initiative. Albania will be attractive only when it becomes the easiest and the cheapest at the same time. We must not delude ourselves. No other nation or country has a more desperate need for investments than Albania. If we look back at our modern history, we see that Albanians have suffered more illnesses, sufferings, deaths and immigration from poverty and misery than from wars. The harshest enemy to their identity have been misery and poverty.

Today, poverty sirens are sounding all over the country. More than any other nation, Albanians have lived in long era of poverty and misery. Attempts after the declaration of independence to build a system based on the values of free initiative were interrupted by the most inhuman and most totalitarian dictatorship Europe has known after the Second World War. This dictatorship turned more than 80 percent of Albanian citizens working in factories, farms and agricultural cooperatives, into the most miserable slaves and labourers of modern European and world history.

This dictatorship built three times more military bunkers than apartments at the same cost. It built hundreds of kilometres of tunnels but not a single kilometre of highway.

After the dictatorship, we went fort four years investing in the system of values of freedom, but they were interrupted after the ’97 riots. This rebellion substituted the system of values with a kleptocratic system. Albanians were thus once again a nation in misery, where billions were ripped from them in public property, taxes, and procurement money, which went in the private pockets of government officials.

If you look at the last World Bank corruption report for the years 2002-2005, you will see that due to these officials Albania topped the list for “capture” and corruption in the judiciary and customs. Referring to the latest reports on kleptocracy published by the State Department and the World Bank for 2004, we see that Albania is penalized by corruption more than any African country and the highest cost per capita from corruption than any other country. Such kleptocracy condemned the country to sink in deep misery.

Such reality makes it imperative our endeavour to take every effort to transform Albania in the cheapest and best country for investing. We have to turn into reality the slogan “Albania the most attractive place for foreign investments”. This is our challenge. This is the only way we can develop in our poor country the EU standards and achieve the European integration - Albania’s dream project of this century. This is the only way we can keep our energies and resources in the country, rather than letting them migrate for building other countries roads, farms and factories.

All ministers will review all their policies in the view “Albania, 1 euro” initiative. Of course, we are talking about the public property here. Private property is governed by free market rules and no other rule. The Ministry of Economy has been assigned the task of establishing the necessary criteria for adopting the initiative based on the investment, production and number of employers.

All the Ministers are encouraged to bring their respective proposals which, complimenting the fiscal revolution that has successfully started, will strengthen our efforts to transform Albania in the cheapest and the best country for both foreign and domestic investors.

We will be offering investors grounds with 1 euro. We will offer them training for their employers for 1 euro. We will offer them technological water for 1 euro. We will offer registration for their businesses for 1 euro. We will offer them entry to Albania for 1 euro.

I would like to once again emphasise that our challenging needs optimism and belief, it requires that we think the unthinkable, and imagine the unimaginable. But, I assure you that the great winners will be Albanian citizens.

The policies we have introduced so far have started to bear fruits. I have the pleasure to inform you that there is an increasing interest for investments, many of which are in the preparation phase. The interest will continue to increase, provided that we enforce the law.

“Albania, 1 euro” initiative will further boost the interest for investing in Albania. In addition, we will direct our diplomatic service towards efforts to attract investments. Our diplomats will be briefed and trained for this task.

Our challenge is enormous, but it equally appealing. I am very confident that we will succeed. We will rise to the challenge, thus rendering a great service to our country, rendering Albanians the opportunity to overcome their harshest enemies: the poverty and misery.

OSCE har haft foreløbige drøftelser med hhv Regeringspartierne og Oppositionen. Man arbejder på at parterne kan mødes med hinanden og drøfte de udestående problemer (bl.a. vedr. det forestående lokalvalg), i stedet for at Oppostionen søger at gennemføre demonstrationer landet over. Ifølge Makfax har Pandeli Majko (Generalsekretær for Socialisterne) bedt OSCE om at mægle. Kan man ikke nå en acceptabel løsning, kan det føre til - siger Partiformand Edi Rama - at Socialisterne næste år vil boykotte valget af ny Præsident efter Alfred Moisiu. Rama opfordrer til at PM Berisha træder tilbage; han ser ham som en Albansk 'Fidel Castro'.


Handelsbalancen. Albaniens Statistik har offentliggjrt materiale om situationen i Maj 2006. Underskuddet er højere i de 5 første måneder af 2006 ift tilsvarende i 2005; det er især importen (af bl.a. elektricitet?) der er øget:

During May of 2006 were exported 6997 mln leks commodities, increasing 27.3% compared with May of 2005 and increasing 8.3% compared with the April of 2006.

There were imported 24349 mln leks commodities increasing 12.9% compared with respectively month of the previous year and increasing 7.7% compared with April of 2006.
>
This month the trade deficit is 17352 mln leks signing an increase of 7.5% compared with April of 2006 and signing an increase of 8% compared with May of 2005.

Trade with the EU countries is 70.6%. The main trade partners remain Italy and Greece. With Italy the export is 73.6% and the import 31.9%, while with Greece the export is 11.7% and the import 16.8%.

Some of the partners countries with which our export and import is increased are: in exports, Great Britain, Croatia, Greece, Italy, etc and in imports, Austria, Greece, Italy, Great Britain, etc.

The comparison with the previous month of some group commodities shows that:

Export of group “Food, beverages, tobacco”, export increased 54.7%, “Construction materials and metals” increased 24.4%, “Textile and footwear” increased 14%, etc. While export of group “Minerals, fuels, electricity” decreased 52.6%, “Machinery, equipment and spare parts” decreased 24.9%, etc.

Import of group “Minerals, fuels, electricity” increased 42.7%, “Wood manufactured and article of paper” increased 23.4%, “Leather and leather manufactured” increased 16.8%, etc. While import of group “Construction materials and metals” decreased 6.2%, “Food, beverages, tobacco” decreased 2.1%.

In May 2006, the import of goods with excise is 2520 mln leks or 10.4% of the total import. During this month, the import of goods with excise is increased 23.2%, compared with same month of 2005. Oil fuel products are the main imported goods in the group of goods with excise (56.9%).


Tabeller (Excel-format) kan downloades:

Flow of goods: http://www.instat.gov.al/graphics/doc/tabelat/trjnew/TRJ_maj06/T1.xls

Groups: http://www.instat.gov.al/graphics/doc/tabelat/trjnew/TRJ_maj06/T2.xls

Countries: http://www.instat.gov.al/graphics/doc/tabelat/trjnew/TRJ_maj06/T3.xls

Export. Groups + Countries. Jan-May: http://www.instat.gov.al/graphics/doc/tabelat/trjnew/TRJ_maj06/T4.xls

Import. Groups +Countries. Jan-May: http://www.instat.gov.al/graphics/doc/tabelat/trjnew/TRJ_maj06/T5.xls

Definitions

Exports Generally, these are goods destined to a third country, placed under customs export or outward processing arrangements or re-exported following inward processing.

F.O.B. (Free on board) Delivery term, indicating that the price of the goods includes transport and handling costs to an agreed port of loading.

Imports Generally, these goods arrive from a third country and are directly placed, or are left in warehouse, under customs procedure of release for free circulation, inward processing or processing under customs control.

C.I.F. (Cost, Insurance, Freight) Delivery term indicating that the price of the goods includes insurance and freight to an agreed port of destination.

Harmonized system ( HS) The Harmonized System (HS) is a goods nomenclature used by foreign trade statistics and for customs tariffs. The HS comprises about 5000 separate groups of goods, identified by a 4-digit code (heading) or a 6-digit code (subheading) in 21 sections and 96 chapters.

Member State of European Union Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia.

Etablering af nye supermarkeder. EBRD yder lån til Albanske Euromax

4 August 2006

EBRD loan supports Albanian retailer Euromax

Local producers to benefit from company’s expansion

Albanian consumers are expected to gain more access to a wide variety of good quality food products at competitive prices following a euro8 million loan by the EBRD to Euromax Sh.p.k. The loan will shortly be followed by an equity investment. The combined financing package will help the company strengthen its financial resources and build five new large supermarkets in Albania’s main cities.

Gilles Mettetal, EBRD Director for Agribusiness, said the financing will not only benefit local consumers but also producers by offering reliable market outlets to farmers and local agri-processing enterprises. Additionally, the strengthening of the company will support the community through both employment opportunities and by selling locally produced goods.

After opening the first Euromax hypermarket in 2005 in Qendra Tregtare Univers near Tirana, the company intends to replicate its success in other Albanian cities. The company plans to build three supermarkets in Tirana and is considering the construction of further outlets in Skhodra, Vlora, Korca and Fieri in 2007, thus creating the first supermarket chain in the country.

Murat Yildiran, Head of the EBRD Office in Albania, said Euromax's expansion plans were a sign of up and coming Albanian entrepreneurial companies developing and successfully combining international industry best practice with local market expertise.

Samir Mane, the owner of Euromax, said the EBRD financing comes at a time when the company is aiming to become market leader in the Albanian retail sector. This long term financing is very important support for our expansion plans. To become a key player in this sector on the local market we will strive to keep our strong customer service focus and react to market changes, Mr Mane said.

EBRD is the largest single investor in Albania, having committed more than euro314.7 million in 24 projects. In the agribusiness sector the Bank has invested more than euro 4.2 billion in 293 projects across its countries of operations. EBRD views retail commerce as vital to a successful market economy and to this end plans to support more retail companies in south-eastern Europe.

Press contact: Jazz Singh, London - Tel: +44 20 7338 7931; E-mail: singhja@ebrd.com

Protest mod manglen på vand. Mjaft-bevægelsen (Mjaft = Nu kan det være nok) skriver:

Dear Citizens,

Via this e-mail we would like to inform you that on Monday (August 28) at 12.00 MJAFT Movement will conduct a protest in front of the Ministry of the Public Affairs, Transports and Telecommunications.

(We would also like to apologize for sending yesterday an email with some mistakes in information regarding the date of the protest).

The reasons why we decided to undertake such a public initiative, as you all are experiencing, are innumerable.

80% of the Albanian households are facing shortages of water supply (according to the Report of the World Bank “Albania- Water supply and Sanitation Sector Strategy, Tirana 2003”).

Hundreds of young and old people are referred to the health care centers as a result of the consumption of not chlorinated drinking water, (according to official information sources from the Universal Health Care Centre “Mother Tereza” July-August 2006.

The reason: The drinking water and the sewage system in Albania is totally worn out, defective and not at all effective (World Bank, Albania – Water Supply and sanitation Sector Strategy, 2003).

This year the Albanian tourism was gravely affected by the shortages of drinking water supply (Top Channel, August 2006).

The institutions have totally failed to prevent the direct damage that is continuously done to the water supply system at national level. Moreover a lot more damage caused by the discriminate use of the natural water supply in the country is not prevented, on the contrary, it is stimulated. (Weekly Newspaper ABC, August 19, 2006, Editorial)

If all these problems were seriously analyzed then the solution to the problem would be found.

It is absurd the fact that although the water abundantly runs in the water pipes for 24 hours per day and the water consumption measures up to 500l/ capita per day compared to the 120l/capita in other European countries (according to the World Bank), the vast majority of the people lack drinking water.

The reason: The water pumped abusively by citizens who illegally get it out of the central tubes reduces the quantity of the drinking water in our houses.

The reason is obvious and the solution to the problem would be the implementation of the metering system accompanied by the water rate that would reflect the real cost of the consumption, yet no concrete steps!

Try to remember how many years have passed by…yet the situation has not been solved…

In the mean time, tend to listen to the promises made by the governors. Don’t you think that their glossary comprises only demagogies, offensive and denigrating verbal attacks against particular individuals?

Have you ever heard the word ‘water’ among the tiring word phrases that they articulate in front of the TV cameras? Yes of course, but only when they promise the “earthly paradise” like this one:

“From Velipoja to Ksamil there will not have shortages of electric power during the tourists’ season. The Ministry of the Public Affairs should urgently put into practice all the projects concerning the works on water supply system in the resorts from Velpoja to Ksamil including Pogradec and other resorts. The objective is: These areas should have running water for 24 hours per day by late 2006” (Sali Berisha, January 19, 2006).

The Ministry of the Public Affairs, Transports and the Telecommunications has not taken concrete measures yet in order to change this situation.

Thus, if you, too, feel offended and want to reacted, join us in the protest that will take place on Monday, August 28, at 12:0 in front of the comfort offices of the Ministry.

ALBANIA IS THIRSTY!

LEAVE A SING IN THE HISTORY, GET INVOLVED!

MJAFT MOVEMENT!

Balkansamarbejde. Den Albanske Vice-FM, Petrit Karabina, har holdt pressekonference. Forsvarsministeriet skriver:

15 Gusht 2006



Deputy minister of Defense, Mr. Petrit Karabina, the Chair of SEDM-CC/PMSC, gave a press conference for representatives of the written and electronic media, at the Ministry of Defense. The journalists present at the conference were informed about the SEDM [South East Defense Ministerial] Process and the important role Albania is playing in its positive progress.

In the press release, deputy minister of Defense, Mr. Karabina concerning the participation of different countries in the South East Defense Ministerial stressed that: “ 11 NATO member and non-member states : Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Moldavia, including USA take part in this process, valued as one of the most dynamic and massive ones. Other countries, like Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Georgia are on their way to membership in this process, as well.”

Then, Mr. Karabina evidenced the positive steps the SEDM process has taken under Albania’s leadership. Taking part for the first time of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force of South East Europe [SEEBRIG] in a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan during the period of 06 February – 06 August 2006, after more than 10 years, was mentioned in this framework. Realization of this mission was carried out in close collaboration with all NATO member states, especially with the USA. The ceremony of the successful completion of the mission in Afghanistan was organized on 11 august in Constance, Romania where the Staff of SEEBRIG is actually situated.

“Our country’s participation in this mission, as in the other peacekeeping missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia-Herzegovina is evidence of the interoperability increase of AAF with NATO.” Pointed out Mr. Karabina in his word.

Biler. Omsætning af sorte og hvide biler. Der er noget om snakken, men hvor meget? »Gazeta Sot« har tre 'historier':

Stolen cars block car dealers’ market. In Albania, about 280 thousand cars in circulation, out of which 95 per cent result to be purchased in the black market and just five per cent through authorised car dealers. But lately, the number of cars purchased in the black market has sensibly decreased. According to sources from the customs, the number of cars from the black market has decreased by 40 per cent as compared to the same period of time of last year. Meanwhile, according to car traders of the black market, the rise of custom duties for imported cars has caused a sensible rise of cars price in this market.

Police Fails Against Car Traffic. Expensive cars are today a normal picture across Tirana streets, while shops of prestigious car companies like Volkswagen, Mercedes or BMW charge prices that are far from is called normal for Albanian families. But, how can be explained the fact that streets of the capital and other towns of Albania are filled with these expensive cars? The response is very easy. A cheap stolen car can be easily found in the black market, and furthermore, no one hassles you to drive around in the most possible normal way. The police have now come to terms with this reality and they can do nothing to stop the phenomenon of car trafficking from eastern European countries to Albania and further to other eastern countries.

The Police, Accomplice in Car Trafficking. By now it is common knowledge that a great number of stolen cars circulate in Tirana. The majority of them are latest editions and they circulate undisturbed by anybody. The stolen cars are all equipped with new number plates and with documents issued by Albanian police authorities. Most stolen cars, even when confiscated by the police, are released after two or three days equipped with all the necessary papers and then, nobody can say a word to those that own them. The situation is very worrying even in market terms.

Journalistuddannelse på Tirana Universitet. Udbredelse af studentermagasin. OSCE skriver:

Feature: Tirana student newspaper goes nationwide with support from OSCE Presence in Albania

Twenty-one-year-old Anisa Ymeri is in her third year at the University of Tirana's Department of Journalism. When they finish their studies, she and her fellow students will be looking for work as reporters in a tough job market.

Anisa, though, has a head start - she's already had four stories published in one of Albania's most respected national newspapers.

Anisa is one of 40 third-year journalism students at the University. The Department of Journalism publishes its own fortnightly newspaper, Reporteri, where the students have a chance to see their stories in print.

But thanks to financial support from the OSCE Presence in Albania, Reporteri is now more than just another student newspaper. Since March this year, it has been published as a fortnightly supplement to the Saturday edition of the popular national daily Korrieri.

Supporting practical initiatives

"Reporteri is at the moment the only outlet for the students of the journalism school," says Pascale Roussy, Head of the OSCE Presence's Human Dimension Department. "We have chosen to support this initiative as it is a unique opportunity for students to practice their skills and start working as professionals in the media market."

Elton Metaj, the Editor-in-Chief of Korrieri, points out that his paper has a slightly higher circulation on Saturdays when it comes out with Reporteri. "It's hard to say whether the increase is due to the insert or whether it's just because it's the weekend when people read more, but I'd like to think that it's because of Reporteri," he says.

"Working on Reporteri is a great chance for us to put into practice everything that we have learned in our first two years," adds student Suadela Balliu.

With a much wider circulation (7,000 copies) than previously, Reporteri has also changed its look and content to better meet the growing needs of Albania's competitive media market.

Awareness-raising tool

"The students can choose whatever story ideas they want for the next edition, which means that Reporteri is not just a platform where they can practice their skills, it's also a tool for them to raise awareness about certain social problems," says the paper's editor Zylyftar Bregu, who teaches in the Department.

The role of the teachers is outlined by the Head of the Department, Bashkim Gjergji. "They are not there to decide on the content of Reporteri, but to ensure that the stories meet the professional standards which they teach.

"One student wrote a story about corruption which was not accepted for publication, but only because the claims of both sides involved were not presented in a balanced manner. The majority of students write very responsibly now that their stories are read throughout the country."

Reporteri has come a long way since the first issue was published in 1993. Back then, it was a modest in-house platform for students to try their hand as first-time journalists. The Dutch organization Press Now and the US Embassy in Tirana both provided funding, but it was limited and the paper had an on/off existence.

Addressing essential needs

The move to bring Reporteri to a wider audience is just part of a larger project developed by the Presence in Albania aimed at addressing the essential needs of the Department and helping it improve the curriculum. As a result of recommendations drawn up by the OSCE, a long-term strategy has been developed, the ultimate goal of which is to achieve international accreditation for the Department.

But for students like Anisa, the benefits of working on the paper and having their stories published nationwide are immediate and practical.

"By developing my skills on Reporteri, I'll be better prepared to find a job when I finish my studies," she says. "With the media market getting more and more competitive each day, you need to be really skilful to make a difference in this profession rather than just doing a job."

Written by Suela Shala and Felipe Daza

13 June 2006

[060825] Dagens Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten har en artikel af Per Nyholm (artiklen er at finde i sektionen "Kulturweekend" s. 15). Han har besøgt Qemal Minxhozi i Burrel. Nyholm trækker linien tilbage til Edith Durham's tid - og fortæller om en selvoplevet hændelse i 1990'erne.


Ismail Kadaré. I # 312 nævnede jeg en artikel jeg har på bedding om Ismail Kadaré: http://bjoerna.net/sidste-nyt/312.htm#Kadare. Artiklen - som findes på: http://bjoerna.net/Kadare/2006.htm - er blevet justeret en smule. Fx har jeg på forslag af en læser ændret omtalen af Kadaré's fødeby: Gjirokastra. Nu står der: Ismail Kadaré blev født 28. Januar 1936 i Gjirokastra i det sydlige Albanien, hvor de kulturelle og religiøse forhold er præget af nærheden til Grækenland, og hvor også Enver Hoxha var født i stedet for det noget bombastiske og ikke helt korrekte: Ismail Kadaré blev født i Gjirokastra i det sydlige og Græsk-orienterede Albanien 28. Januar 1936.

Se ovenfor om Præsident Moisu's nylige besøg og om materiale fra UNESCO

Forleden genfandt jeg i mine bunker en stak albanske tidsskrifter fra midten af 1970'erne og frem til omkring 1990, heriblandt forskellige artikler af Kadaré og af hans forfatterkollega Dritëro Agolli. Artiklerne vil blive lagt på nettet ud på efteråret, foreløbig har jeg tilføjet to af Kadaré's, én fra 1988 (om Ramiz Alia og Enver Hoxha) og én fra 1990 (om socialistisk digtning: Our Time and Our Literature).

PDF-udgave af artiklen med forskellige bilag kan hentes på: http://bjoerna.net/Kadare/2006-u.pdf [4,2 MB]


Amerikansk besøg i Albanien. Den Amerikanske Ambassade har udsendt flg.:

Statements by the U.S. House of Representatives Members John Duncan and Jerry Costello



I midten PM Sali Berisha, lidt tv: US Ambassadør Marcie Ries. Rep. Duncan og Rep. Costello flankerer PM Berisha.


Rep. Duncan: I am Congressman John Duncan from Tennessee. I have the privilege of being the Chairman of this delegation. We have come here to Albania to express our desire that we have closer ties both of friendship and commerce in the years ahead. And we came here to learn more about Albania and what the needs are of your country. We are proud that the United States is doing more to help the people of Albania, than perhaps any other country in the world. And all of us in our delegation have seen what we believe are tremendous opportunities for the future here.

You have great beauty in this nation as well as tremendous natural resources. And we believe that with the proper leadership and with the institution of free market reforms and removal of corruption so that your have a strong legal system especially for contracts and ownership of property that there can be great investments coming into this country from businesses in the United States of America. It has been a tremendous honor to be hosted by your wonderful prime minister and by your Speaker of Parliament and other members of your government.

This is a 12-member delegation from the United States of America. This is the largest delegation ever to tour Europe. Chairing this delegation with me is Congressman Jerry Costello from Illinois. And I would like Congressman Costello to say a few words at this time.

Rep. Costello: Congressman Duncan, thank you very much. As Chairman Duncan stated, this is a 12-member delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives. It is a bi-partisan delegation made up of five Republicans and seven Democrats. While we do not always agree on every issue, we know that it’s important for democracy to flourish that we work together and we sit down and try and negotiate and reason on issues important not only to the United States, but to the world.

We are very impressed with the improvements that have already been made and the path that has been charted for improvement not only in infrastructure, but to improve the quality of life for the people in this great country. We look forward to continuing to have a close working relationship with the Prime Minister and your government for many years to come.

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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: Der har i Serbien og Albanien og andetsteds været en vis opstandelse over et interview i »Epoka e Re« [Prishtina] med Koço Danaj. Han har - øjensynlig - talt om at de etniske Albanere i Makedonien, Kosovo, Montenegro og Albanien forenede sig. Se nærmere ovenfor under Albanien


Det forlyder i Beograd at Momir Gavrilovic (myrdet i Oktober 2001) blev dræbt af 'Røde Baretter' for at skabe politisk uenighed blandt tilhængere af Zoran Djindjic og Vojislav Kostunica m.fl. Lederen af den nu opløste enhed er sigtet for at være ansvarlig for det senere drab på Zoran Djindjic.

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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. Serbien har accepteret 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). Parlamentsvalg fandt sted 020915. Der kan henvises til flg. OSCE/ODIHR-oversigtsside: http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/field_activities/skopje2002/. Seneste Parlamentsvalg fandt sted i Juli 2006: Den hidtidige Regering led nederlag. Der kan henvises til: http://www.osce.org/item/19800.html og http://www.osce.org/documents/odihr/2006/07/19801_en.pdf

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


DUI der ledes af Ali Ahmeti vil gennemføre en protest Fredag mod den nye Regering, men vil ikke boykotte Parlamentet.




Arben Xhaferi på konference om religiøs tolerance i Tirana. Affotograferet fra TV


Arben Xhaferi [Arben Dzaferi] vil gradvis trække sig ud af politik pga langvarig sygdom.

Der har i Serbien og Albanien og andetsteds været en vis opstandelse over et interview i »Epoka e Re«, Prishtina, med Koço Danaj. Han har - øjensynlig - talt om at de etniske Albanere i Makedonien, Kosovo, Montenegro og Albanien forenede sig. Se nærmere ovenfor under Albanien

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GRÆKENLAND

Seneste Parlamentsvalg 040307.

Skyderi, anholdelse og sigtelse af Albaner. Kathimerini skriver: Athens police yesterday charged a 23-year-old Albanian man in connection with a taverna shooting in the district of Polygono early this month. The unnamed 23-year-old allegedly fired several times at a fellow Albanian, aged 20, on the afternoon of August 3 but failed to hit him, officers said. According to police, the 23-year-old has a longstanding dispute with the younger man and has attacked him twice before - once with a knife and once with a gun - both times without success.


En 'nyhed' fra 24.08.1956. Kathimerini skriver: At 9 p.m. yesterday, the navy ship Aliakmon arrived in Piraeus from Durres, Albania, with 217 officers and men who had been taken hostage during the war against the outlaws. (...) According to an announcement from the mission that took charge of the hostages, 40 men had died in the nine concentration camps in Albania. The state of health of the survivors clearly indicates the poor treatment they received at the hands of the Albanian authorities.

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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




Amerikansk besøg i Albanien. Den Amerikanske Ambassade har udsendt flg.:

Statements by the U.S. House of Representatives Members John Duncan and Jerry Costello



I midten PM Sali Berisha, lidt tv: US Ambassadør Marcie Ries. Rep. Duncan og Rep. Costello flankerer PM Berisha.


Rep. Duncan: I am Congressman John Duncan from Tennessee. I have the privilege of being the Chairman of this delegation. We have come here to Albania to express our desire that we have closer ties both of friendship and commerce in the years ahead. And we came here to learn more about Albania and what the needs are of your country. We are proud that the United States is doing more to help the people of Albania, than perhaps any other country in the world. And all of us in our delegation have seen what we believe are tremendous opportunities for the future here.

You have great beauty in this nation as well as tremendous natural resources. And we believe that with the proper leadership and with the institution of free market reforms and removal of corruption so that your have a strong legal system especially for contracts and ownership of property that there can be great investments coming into this country from businesses in the United States of America. It has been a tremendous honor to be hosted by your wonderful prime minister and by your Speaker of Parliament and other members of your government.

This is a 12-member delegation from the United States of America. This is the largest delegation ever to tour Europe. Chairing this delegation with me is Congressman Jerry Costello from Illinois. And I would like Congressman Costello to say a few words at this time.

Rep. Costello: Congressman Duncan, thank you very much. As Chairman Duncan stated, this is a 12-member delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives. It is a bi-partisan delegation made up of five Republicans and seven Democrats. While we do not always agree on every issue, we know that it’s important for democracy to flourish that we work together and we sit down and try and negotiate and reason on issues important not only to the United States, but to the world.

We are very impressed with the improvements that have already been made and the path that has been charted for improvement not only in infrastructure, but to improve the quality of life for the people in this great country. We look forward to continuing to have a close working relationship with the Prime Minister and your government for many years to come.

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ENGLAND

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TYSKLAND

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FRANKRIG

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DANMARK (NORGE, SVERIGE)


Hjemsendelse fra Danmark til Kosóva: UNMIK accepterer nu at modtage asylansøgere fra Danmark, der er under traumebehandling og som ikke har opnået asyl. 24 er blevet hjemsendt (ifølge Berlingske Tidende) og flere vil følge.


DIIS indbyder til foredrag om danske styrker i Kosovo (Afghanistan og Irak). Hvor stor en forskel gør de danske styrker? Hvordan klarer de danske soldater sig sammenlignet med blandt andet tyske soldater? :

Forsker i trøjen - indblik i danske styrkeenheders dagligdag i Irak, Kosovo og Afghanistan Torsdag, den 7. september 2006, 15.00-16.30, Dansk Institut for Internationale Studier Auditoriet Strandgade 71, stuen, 1401 København

Seniorforsker Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen fra DIIS fortæller om sine oplevelser som medfølgende forsker ved danske styrkeenheder i Irak, Kosovo og Afghanistan i perioden februar til juni 2006. Feltstudiet fokuserede på danske styrkers tilgang til opgaver, der særligt i Irak og Afghanistan er rykket i centrum, nemlig den militære støtte til genopbygning i områder, hvor sikkerhedssituationen forhindrer civile aktører i at operere.

Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen vil blandt andet diskutere følgende spørgsmål: Hvor stor en forskel gør de danske styrker? Hvordan klarer de danske soldater sig sammenlignet med blandt andet tyske soldater?

Ved samme lejlighed vil hun præsentere sin nye bog om Tysklands militære rolle i internationale missioner fra Balkan til Afghanistan, Germany, Pacifism and Peace-enforcement, der netop er udkommet på Manchester University Press. Arrangementet afsluttes med en reception.

Foredraget vil foregå på dansk. Deltagelsen er gratis, men forudgående tilmelding er dog påkrævet via e-mail indeholdende navn, titel og organisation til event@diis.dk senest tirsdag den 5. september 2006 kl. 12.00. Afvent venligst bekræftelse på deltagelse fra DIIS.

[060825] Dagens Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten har en artikel af Per Nyholm (artiklen er at finde i sektionen "Kulturweekend" s. 15). Han har besøgt Qemal Minxhozi i Burrel. Nyholm trækker linien tilbage til Edith Durham's tid - og fortæller om en selvoplevet hændelse i 1990'erne.

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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«. The framework of The Latest News from Albania, Kosóva and Macedonia is in Danish - nevertheless, the news are mostly in English. You may send information, comments and questions to: »The Latest News« [please click]. 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)