Saturday, November 12, 2016

SOT: Greqia skenar për bllokimin e negociatave për Shqipërinë, paketë me kushte në dhjetor, veto nëse Tirana nuk tërhiqet nga pretendimet



Greqia do të kthehet në një pengesë për integrimin evropian të Shqipërisë. Pas nxjerrjes së tankeve dhe ushtrisë në kufi, qeveria e Athinës ka nisur të marrë masa për të bllokuar dhe hapjen e negociatave të BE me Shqipërinë. Publikimi i progres-raportit të mërkurën nga komisioneri Johanes Han ka sjellë reagime të forta në qarqet greke, të cilat nuk janë pajtuar me përcaktimet aty. Nga ana tjetër, mediat kanë nisur sulmet ndaj qeverisë shqiptare, duke thënë se nuk ka dhe nuk do të ketë datë për hapjen e negociatave.

Gazeta më e madhe greke “Kathimerini” i kishte kushtuar dje një shkrim të gjerë integrimit të Shqipërisë, ku ka paralajmëruar se Greqia do të kthehet në pengesë. Duke iu referuar burimeve të saj, gazeta ka shkruar se qeveria greke ka nisur të përgatisë një raport për mbledhjen e Këshillit të Ministrave të Jashtëm në dhjetor, i cili do të vendosë nëse do ketë një datë për hapjen e negociatave apo jo.

Sipas gazetës, përfaqësuesit e Greqisë do të dorëzojnë një raport voluminoz ku do të paraqesin një sërë kushtesh në mënyrë që të japin votën e tyre. Mësohet se Greqia do të kërkojë që të zgjidhet një herë e mirë çështja e minoritetit dhe do të kërkojë të ndalen prishjet në Himarë. Po ashtu një tjetër çështje që do ngrihet është ndërtimi i varrezave greke në vendin tonë.

Sipas informacioneve, Greqia do kërkojë gatishmëri nga Tirana zyrtare për të zgjidhur dhe çështjen e shelfit kontinental. Nëse nuk merr garanci nga Tirana, atëherë ata do vendosin veton. “Para marrjes së vendimit, Athina është e vendosur të vendosë në tavolinë një sërë çështjesh që duhen zgjidhur, kryesisht mbi qëndrimet e qeverisë shqiptare ndaj minoritetit grek.

Kjo me fokus njoftimi për prishjen e ndërtesave të 19 familjeve minoritare në Himarë. Në Athinë vendosja e vetos shihet diçka jo shumë e këndshme, mirëpo sipas burimeve nëse Shqipëria nuk jep prova se dëshiron fqinjësinë e mirë, atëherë ajo do jetë e nevojshme”, shkruan gazeta.

Rreziku nga marrëdhëniet mes dy vendeve

Një sërë gazetash greke kanë mbetur të pakënaqura me atë se çfarë shkruhej në progres-raportin për Shqipërinë. Aty nuk paraqitej asnjë problem sa i takon marrëdhënieve me fqinjët. Por sipas  “Kathimerinit”, nuk ka ende një datë nëse do hapen negociatat dhe në Këshillin e Ministrave Shqipëria do e ketë punën pisk pasi ka shumë elemente që nuk janë plotësuar. “Në raport marrëdhëniet me Greqinë janë cilësuar përgjithësisht si pozitive, kjo dhe pas vizitave në nivele të larta.

Aty vihet në dukje fakti se në qershor ministri i Jashtëm Kotzias vizitoi Tiranën, ku thuhet se dy vendet diskutuan për krijimin e një mekanizmi të përbashkët për zgjidhjen e çështjeve dypalëshe. Burime diplomatike raportojnë se gjithçka do të vendoset në Këshillin e Ministrave të BE që do të mbahet në fillim të dhjetorit. Aty do vendoset nëse do hapen negociatat me Shqipërinë apo jo.

Pastaj këto propozime do të diskutohen më vonë në samitin e dhjetorit. Vëzhgues me përvojë kanë thënë se është shumë e vështirë që Shqipëria të marrë një datë për hapjen e negociatave”, shprehet gazeta. Sipas saj, nuk përjashtohet mundësia që të vendosen kushte të tjera ndaj vendit tonë.

Friday, November 11, 2016

President Nikolic to invite Trump to visit Serbia


President Tomislav Nikolic has told the Belgrade media that he will officially invite the newly elected U.S. president, Donald Trump, to visit Serbia. 

Source: Tanjug



Nikolic said he expected that "after these changes," Serbia and other countries in the region would be treated equally.

He added that Trump will receive the invitation in next few months, via the U.S. ambassador Belgrade.

"Trump has his own priorities and I am sure that he will come when I invite him. Trump is likely to first visit strategic partners. Our turn will come, too," said Nikolic.

He also stated that the U.S. president-elect is "sure to receive such, at this time, courteous invitations from 100 countries."

"All that matters is that he turns some of his campaign rhetoric into deeds, so that the world under the influence of the United States can change. Trump will accept the invitation, because he is a man who knows the mistakes made toward Serbia by the previous presidents," Nikolic said.

He pointed out that the presidential visit should be organized at the highest level "and that cannot be done by any ministry."

According to the Serbian president, "the open joy in many countries and the way in which the world media reported about Trump's victory" speaks about the awareness of "all peoples" that this event will "greatly change the physiognomy of the world."

"The policy announced by the new U.S. president is likely to be diverted from maintaining the dominance in international relations toward the strengthening of the national economy, the fight against corruption and job creation," said Nikolic.

According to him, the trend of "turning toward the national" started with Brexit, and is now spreading across Europe at an unstoppable speed.

"After these changes we expect to be treated equally with other countries in the region and to, after several decades, have the opportunity to implement a policy of peace and cooperation in accordance with our legitimate interests," said Nikolic.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

«Χαστούκι» για την ελληνική εξωτερική πολιτική η έκθεση της Κομισιόν για την Αλβανία-Καμία αναφορά στην Ελληνική Εθνική Μειονότητα


Οι Βρυξέλλες προτείνουν την έναρξη ενταξιακών διαπραγματεύσεων, δίχως την παραμικρή αναφορά στην ελληνική εθνική μειονότητα και τα προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζει από την κυβέρνηση Ράμα - Εξαίρουν ακόμα και τον μηχανισμό των γειτόνων για τα κλειστά σύνορα!
Την ώρα που η αλβανική κυβέρνηση προωθεί την κατεδάφιση των σπιτιών 19 οικογενειών στην Χειμάρρα, που ανήκουν στην ελληνική εθνική μειονότητα, η έκθεση της Κομισιόν, που είδε χθες το φως της δημοσιότητας, όχι μόνο δεν περιλαμβάνει καμία αναφορά στις γνωστές αλυτρωτικές και ανθελληνικές θέσεις (σ.σ. και στη μειονότητα), αλλά συστήνει κιόλας την έναρξη ενταξιακών διαπραγματεύσεων της ΕΕ με την Αλβανία.

Στο ίδιο κείμενο, μάλιστα, όπου επαινείται ο περιφερειακός ρόλος της Αλβανίας, γίνεται ειδική αναφορά στον μηχανισμό που συμφώνησε ο Έλληνας υπουργός Εξωτερικών, Νίκος Κοτζιάς, με την αλβανική κυβέρνηση, για την «επίλυση των εκκρεμών διμερών ζητημάτων» όπου, όπως είναι γνωστό, η αλβανική πλευρά έχει συμπεριλάβει και το Τσάμικο.

Στην ουσία, παρά τους δημόσιους «λεονταρισμούς» του κ. Κοτζιά και τις απειλές περί «μπλοκαρίσματος» της ενταξιακής πορείας της γειτονικής χώρας, φαίνεται ότι ο υπουργός Εξωτερικών, τόσο με την επίσκεψή του στα Τίρανα, στις αρχές του καλοκαιριού, όσο και με την παντελή αδράνεια και απουσία από τις διαβουλεύσεις στο πλαίσιο της Κομισιόν και των ευρωπαϊκών θεσμών, διευκόλυνε το έργο της Κομισιόν, έτσι ώστε να μην υπάρχει καμία «ενοχλητική» για τον Έντι Ράμα και την κυβέρνησή του αναφορά στην έκθεση των Βρυξελλών.

Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον έχει η αναφορά στις σχέσεις της Αλβανίας με την Ελλάδα: «Οι σχέσεις με την Ελλάδα παραμένουν συνολικά θετικές, με συχνές υψηλού επίπεδου επισκέψεις. Η συνεργασία σε θέματα διαχείρισης της μετανάστευσης έχει ενισχυθεί, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του επιχειρησιακού επιπέδου για να δοθεί απάντηση στη μεταναστευτική κρίση, με τριμερείς συναντήσεις μεταξύ Ελλάδας, Ιταλίας και Αλβανίας. Με την ευκαιρία της 25ης επετείου από την υπογραφή της Συνθήκης Φιλίας μεταξύ Ελλάδας και Αλβανίας και την επίσκεψη του Έλληνα υπουργού Εξωτερικών στα Τίρανα, οι δύο χώρες συζήτησαν τη θέσπιση ενός κοινού μηχανισμού για την αντιμετώπιση των "εκκρεμών διμερών ζητημάτων"».

Έτσι, για πρώτη φορά καταγράφεται σε κοινοτικό κείμενο η ύπαρξη διαδικασίας για αντιμετώπιση «εκκρεμών διμερών ζητημάτων», όπου, μαζί με τα υπαρκτά ζητήματα της εφαρμογής της Συμφωνίας για οριοθέτηση θαλασσίων ζωνών και της προστασίας της αναγνωρισμένης Ελληνικής Εθνικής Μειονότητας, η Αλβανία βάζει ακόμη στο τραπέζι ζητήματα όπως η άρση του εμπολέμου, το Τσάμικο και η διδασκαλία της αλβανικής για τους Αλβανούς μετανάστες στην Ελλάδα, τους οποίους ουσιαστικά επιχειρεί να αναβαθμίσει σε μειονότητα (βασιζόμενη κυρίως σε όσους έχουν λάβει την ελληνική υπηκοότητα).

Αρνητικές εντυπώσεις, δε, προκαλεί το γεγονός ότι δεν υπάρχει καμία απολύτως αναφορά σε Ελληνική Εθνική Μειονότητα, ενώ, στον αντίποδα, υπάρχουν εκτενείς αναφορές για θέματα δικαιωμάτων των Ρομά και των Αιγυπτίων στην Αλβανία.

Πέραν όλων αυτών, η έκθεση της Κομισιόν εξαίρει τον εποικοδομητικό ρόλο της Αλβανίας στην περιφερειακή συνεργασία και στη διατήρηση σχέσεων καλής γειτονιάς με τις υπόλοιπες χώρες της περιοχής, αλλά και στη συμμετοχή της σε περιφερειακές πρωτοβουλίες όπου, εκτός των άλλων, περιλαμβάνεται και η συνεργασία των Δυτικών Βαλκανίων για το μεταναστευτικό.
Τι σημαίνει αυτό; Ότι η Κομισιόν, στην ουσία, εξαίρει την Αλβανία και τον μηχανισμό που επιβλέπει τη διατήρηση του κλεισίματος των συνόρων με την Ελλάδα...

European Far Right Celebrates Donald Trump Victory

 

Link



AMSTERDAM (JTA) —  Far-right leaders from across Europe congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election, which they celebrated as a historic turning point.
Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician on trial for promising to make sure that the Netherlands has fewer Moroccans, wrote Wednesday on Twitter: “Congratulations, @realDonaldTrump !! A historic victory, a revolution! We, too, will give back our country to Dutchmen!”

Trump, who has alienated large segments of American society during his campaign with rhetoric that many deemed discriminatory to Muslims, Latinos and other groups, was elected Tuesday as the next U.S. president, sweeping to victory in at least 29 states with 288 electoral votes.

In France, the leader of the far-right National Front party, Marine Le Pen, wrote: ”Congratulations to the new president of the United States and to the American people, [set] free!”

Both Wilders, who speaks often of his attachment to and love for Israel and the “Judeo-Christian tradition,” and Le Pen have fought off accusations that their respective parties are encouraging anti-Semitism in addition to the anti-Muslim policies they openly espouse. In both countries, the representative bodies of the Jewish communities have shunned Le Pen and Wilders. However, they enjoy some support among their countries’ Jewish voters, many of whom feel threatened by the rise of jihadism.

The Greek neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party also celebrated Trump’s victory with a special video message by Ilias Kasidiaris, a lawmaker and party spokesperson. In the video, he is seen calling Trump’s victory “a major global change,” that he said “has begun and will continue with the victory of nationalists in Austria, of Marine Le Pen in France, and the Golden Dawn in Greece.”

In Britain, Nigel Farage, the leader of the UKIP nationalist party, who is reviled by many British Jews for what they consider xenophobic policies, wrote on Twitter: “I hand over the mantle to @RealDonaldTrump! Many congratulations. You have fought a brave campaign.”

By contrast, the Board of Deputies of British Jews also congratulated Trump in one of the first reactions by any Jewish community outside the United States.

“After a divisive campaign, I hope that Mr. Trump will move to build bridges and ensure that America’s standing as a beacon of progress, tolerance and free thinking remains strong,” wrote Jonathan Arkush, the board’s president, in a statement.

Five Greek American House Representatives Elected

GREEK REPORTER
By
Philip Chrysopoulos -
Nov 10, 2016


Five Greek-American politicians were elected in the House of Representatives. Democrat Representatives John Sarbanes, Dina Titus and Niki Tsongas and Republican Congressmen Gus Bilirakis and Charlie Crist were elected to the House of Representatives on Tuesday’s elections.

Specifically, Democrat Dina Titus is re-elected in Nevada’s 1st Congressional District.

Born in 1950 in Thomasville, Georgia to parents of Greek descent Titus was Greek Orthodox. Her first exposure to politics came at an early age, when her father, Joe Titus, ran for the Tifton City Council. Her uncle, Theo Titus, served in the Georgia House of Representatives for many years. Her political career started in 1988 and served in the Nevada Senate for 20 years, representing the Clark 7th District.

Democrat Niki Tsongas was re-elected in the Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District.

Niki Tsongas was married to the late Paul Tsongas, who served in the House from Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District from 1975 to 1979, and the Senate from 1979 to 1985. Niki Tsongas is a House Representative since 2007.

In Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District, Democrat John Sarbanes was re-elected U.S. Representative.

Sarbanes, who serves since 2007, was born in 1962 and is the son of former Senator Paul Sarbanes (1971-1977). Prior to his political career, he worked at the law firm of Venable LLP in Baltimore from 1989 to 2006, where he was chair of health care practice from 2000 to 2006.

UNITED STATES - MAY 8: Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., speaks during a briefing in Cannon Building by the American Humane Association on it's study titled Canines and Childhood Cancer, which examined the effects of therapy animals in pediatric cancer patients. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

In Florida’s 12th Congressional District, Republican Gus Bilirakis was re-elected.

Born in 1963, the Greek-American Congressman serves since 2007.  He was born in Gainsville, Florida and grew up in Tarpon Springs. He is the son of Evelyn Miaoulis and Michael Bilirakis, who were born in the U.S. to Greek immigrants.

Finally, Charlie Crist, is Congressman-elect from Florida’s 13th Congressional District after Tuesday’s elections.

Crist, born in 1956, is of Greek-Cypriot and Lebanese descent. He has served as 44th Governor of Florida (2007-2011). His political career began in 1993 when he served in the Florida Senate until 1999. From 2001 to 2003, he served as Florida Education Commissioner. From 2003 until 2007, he was Florida Attorney General.

Kammenos congratulates Trump on Twitter





Panos Kammenos, Greek coalition partner and leader of the right-wing Independent Greeks party, has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential contest.

“Congratulations to new president Trump,” Kammenos, who is also Greece's defense minister, said in a tweet Wednesday and stressed the “important role” of Trump's Greek American foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos for Greece.


Albanian PM: Albania's and Kosovo's great friend did not win


 

Hillary Clinton, a great friend of Albania, Kosovo, and all Albanians, did not win in the U.S. presidential elections.
Source: B92
(Tanjug/AP)
(Tanjug/AP)
This is what Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama posted on Facebook on Wednesday.
As he stated, the American people have made their choice, and Clinton will not become the first woman president.

"Her opponent, Donald Trump, has become the 45th president of the U.S.," Rama explains.

Rama also congratulated Trump on his victory, and wished success to "the friends and partners" in the U.S.

"I am convinced that our strategic relations with the U.S. will continue to strengthen in view of our shared values and interests. Albania is a friend and an ally of the U.S. government," he said.


Edi Rama, about Donald Trump Candidature for US President:

Albanian PM: Trump nomination would harm America

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

4 Greeks in Donald Trump’s team


New US President Donald Trump had chosen as companions in the difficult election period 4 Greeks who contributed to the great election victory.

George Papadopoulos
papadopoulos-trump

He is a part of Trump’s foreign policy team. Papadopoulos, a 2009 graduate of DePaul University, directs an international energy center at the London Center of International Law Practice. He previously advised the presidential campaign of Ben Carson and worked as a research fellow at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has had meetings with the president of Cyprus and the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. He obtained a masters’s degree from the University of London in 2010.
George Gigicos
gigicos-trump
George Gigicos is Trump’s director of advance operations and was one of the first associates in Donald Trump’s team. His owns Telion company. TELION is a comprehensive, event based communications firm specializing in event management and design, public relations, media affairs and advance operations. He partners with corporations, associations, government, political and religious entities to successfully assist in the management of their meetings, conferences, incentive programs and special events.
priebus-trump
Reinhold Reince Priebus is the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Born to a Greek mother and a German father, Priebus is had the difficult task to unite the Republicans in order to endorse Trump.
Christos Marafatsos
marafatsos-trump1

Marafatsos has been selected to represent the Greek and Cypriot American community on the National Diversity Coalition for Trump. Marafatsos’ role was to advise the Coalition and the Republican National Committee on the issues, struggles and accomplishments of the Greek and Cypriot American community.
“We support Donald Trump and his solutions to strengthen communities, foster job creation, support small businesses, and support faith and family principles with conservative action,” says Marafatsos.
The National Diversity Coalition features representatives from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and ethnic groups, including Muslims, Latinos, African Americans, Asian-Americans, Koreans, and Greeks. Many of the representatives are well known and successful, according to Marafatsos. Marafatsos is the president and founder of Blue Sky Capital, an investment brokerage and consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. An active entrepreneur, he was named Third Best Entrepreneur in America under the age of 25 by Bloomberg’s Business Week in 2011

This Election Has Disgraced the Entire Profession of Journalism


Can't possibly argue with that -- Reporters queue up to submit stories for Clinton approval as Team Hillary delivers dossier on unfriendly writer
Originally appeared at Observer
We still don’t know the outcome of the 2016 election, in which our “democratic process” has produced two candidates widely despised by the American people, but we do know the race’s biggest loser: reporters and the profession of journalism, which has been reduced to surrogacy, largely on behalf of Hillary Clinton.
Before going further, let me state that my own politics are on the left but I won’t be voting in this election. Both parties have collaborated to rig the system so that’s it’s virtually impossible for an independent candidate to compete given the financial and institutional hurdles that have been put in place to block such a possibility. We live in an oligarchy where democracy is virtually meaningless; I’m not debasing myself by participating in this charade.
Several studies rank electoral integrity in the United States as the worst among Western democracies — for example, the one discussed here — and this year’s campaign has made the United States an international embarrassment. I’ve personally witnessed elections in Africa and Latin America that had more legitimacy than the charade that will culminate here next Tuesday. The idea of the United States lecturing foreign countries about holding fair elections has long been dubious and is now grotesque.
We have two unbelievably shitty candidates, neither of whom is fit to lead the country. Donald Trump is a reckless narcissist who, as his debate performances indicated, cannot string together more than two sentences, let alone articulate a coherent vision for the country’s future. His remarks about women, Latinos and African-Americans are reprehensible and, whether he believes his own statements or is merely trying to stir up anger for his electoral benefit, have emboldened people who hold retrograde and genuinely scary views.
Then there is Hillary Clinton, who has been in public life for decades and who grows more and more unpopular upon exposure —and for good reason. Whatever one thinks of the so-called “Servergate” scandal —and I personally find it troubling that she put classified information on a private server that was almost certainly obtained by foreign intelligence services — she stonewalled and lied to the FBI during its investigation, which has now been reopened. She and her family run a foundation that aggressively solicited donations from corporations, wealthy individuals and foreign governments that have interests before the government, and in some cases Clinton, as secretary of state, took actions that can only be seen as quid pro quo for big donors. These facts alone should disqualify her from political life and make her the legitimate target of criminal investigations.
After the FBI reopened its investigation, John Kass, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, cogently wrote in an opinion piece titled “Democrats should ask Clinton to step aside”:
Think of a nation suffering a bad economy and continuing chaos in the Middle East, and now also facing a criminal investigation of a president. Add to that congressional investigations and a public vision of Clinton as a Nixonian figure wandering the halls, wringing her hands. The best thing would be for Democrats to ask her to step down now. It would be the most responsible thing to do, if the nation were more important to them than power. And the American news media  fairly or not firmly identified in the public mind as Mrs. Clinton’s political action committee  should begin demanding it.
Don’t bet on the best happening. It appears there may be a few late Democratic defectors but Clinton is surrounded by a core group of amoral supporters who, like her and her husband, lie without remorse or shame and with such conviction that it appears they don’t know the difference between fact and fiction. The truth is utterly irrelevant to the Clinton crowd, as are the issues. All that matters is winning — as seen in their rigging of the DNC to ensure Hillary’s nomination — and their continued ability to exploit public office for private gain.
It’s even less likely that the media, especially major outlets and Washington political reporters who have all but openly worked on Clinton’s behalf, will rethink their roles. This election has exposed as never before that there is indeed a media elite, bound together by class and geography, that is utterly clueless about its own biases and filters. A vast number of journalists covering the presidential campaign are economically privileged brats that seem blissfully unaware that for most Americans, the economy is in recession and people are terrified.
If you don’t understand that, you can’t understand Trump. That an addled, reckless, dangerous billionaire is the last electoral hope to tens of millions of Americans may be a sad reflection of the complete breakdown of our political system, but it doesn’t make Trump’s appeal to a significant chunk of the electorate illegitimate nor does it make all of his supporters irrational morons and racists, as one gathers from news accounts and liberal pundits.
The destruction of the industrial heartland due to Democratic-driven trade policies, shrinking salaries that force many Americans to work two and three jobs to support their families, the staggering rise in health care costs under Obamacare, widespread economic insecurity that has fueled a national opioid epidemic, and Hillary’s trigger-happy views are highly rational reasons for any voter to consider casting a ballot for Trump. So, too, are fears that Clinton’s election would lead to an entrenchment of institutionalized corruption and corporate political power. (If Hillary wins and Chuck Schumer takes over as Senate Majority Leader, Wall Street will get its every dream through Congress.)
There’s nothing secret about the media’s anti-Trump stance. A formal declaration of war was launched on August 7, when Jim Rutenberg, the New York Times media columnist, wrote a story under the headline, “Trump Is Testing the Norms of Objectivity in Journalism.” Rutenberg wrote that journalists were in a terrible bind trying to stay objective because Trump, among other things, “cozies up to anti-American dictators,” has “put financial conditions on the United States defense of NATO allies,” and that his foreign policy views “break with decades-old …consensus.”
Rutenberg made clear that he and other reporters viewed “a Trump presidency as something that’s potentially dangerous,” which required them to report on him with a particularly critical point of view. This, he said, would make journalists “move closer than you’ve ever been to being oppositional,” which would be “uncomfortable and uncharted territory.”
There are so many things wrong with all this that it’s hard to know where to start. Rutenberg’s comment about dictators was clearly a reference to Vladimir Putin, who is an authoritarian leader who Trump, to his shame, admires. However, Russia is not the world’s worst dictatorship — and has been far more effective at fighting ISIS than the Obama administration — and Hillary’s cordial relationship with the Saudi regime, to cite just one example, seems far more dangerous. But rethinking “the alliances that have guided our foreign policy for 60 years” — the alliances that have resulted in non-stop war since 9/11 and the U.S.’s current involvement in seven overseas conflicts — is not an acceptable position for a presidential candidate in Rutenberg’s view.
Furthermore, how is it that the media has derogated to itself the right to decide what candidates deserve special scrutiny and what policies are acceptable? In a democracy, that is supposed to be the voters’ job.
And worst of all is Rutenberg’s statement about the role of journalists. “All governments are run by liars and nothing they say should be believed,” I.F. Stone once wrote. “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations,” said George Orwell. For those two self-evident reasons, being “oppositional” is the only place political journalists should ever be, no matter who is in power or who is campaigning.
But for Rutenberg and the New York Times being oppositional is only “uncomfortable” when it comes to covering Hillary Clinton. It didn’t seem uncomfortable at all when it came to running a story about Trump’s taxes based on three pages of a decades-old tax return that was sent anonymously or when it ran another story with the headline, “The 282 People, Places and Things Donald Trump Has Insulted on Twitter: A Complete List.”
All during the campaign we have watched Hillary Clinton rehearse campaign themes and, almost as if by magic, the media amplifying those themes in seeming lockstep. The hacked emails from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta have demonstrated that this was not mere happenstance, but, at least in part, resulted from direct coordination between the Clintonistas and the press.
Mark Leibovich of the Times magazine gave the Clinton campaign significant input and review into a fawning profile of the candidate. “Pleasure doing business!” campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri wrote him at the conclusion of the process.
The Clintonistas had an equally pleasurable relationship with the Times’s Maggie Haberman, who, it was said in one email, “We have had… tee up stories for us before and have never been disappointed.” Haberman even apparently read Palmieri an entire story prior to publication “to further assure me,” Palmieri wrote.
Ezra Klein, the boy wonder editor-in-chief of Vox, is considered to be the campaign’s most reliable mouthpiece, as seen in a March 23, 2015 email in which Clintonistas were wondering which journalist it could call upon to push out a campaign storyline they were then concocting. “I think that person…is Ezra Klein,” wrote Palmieri. “And we can do it with him today.”
In a July email, Neera Tanden, Hillary’s longtime friend, aide, and attack puppet, strategized with Podesta about “recruiting brown and women pundits” and pushing pro-Hillary media figures such as MSNBC’s Joan Walsh and Klein’s colleague at Vox, Matthew Yglesias, to be even more faithful stenographers. “They can be emboldened,” she wrote, as if these two loyalist PR assets needed any further encouragement.
In the same email, Tanden wrote that when New York mayor Michael Bloomberg was “having problems” with the Times he called publisher Arthur Schulzburger [sic] to arrange a coffee to complain about the newspaper’s reporting and that their chat “changed the coverage moderately but also aired the issues in the newsroom so people were more conscious of it.” Unfortunately, she added, “Arthur is a pretty big wuss” so he wouldn’t do more to help out Bloomberg without additional prodding.
Wikileaks revealed that Politico reporter Glenn Thrush, pictured here at July’s Republican convention in Cleveland, sent an email to Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta allowing him to review a story draft before publication.
To get real results to change the Times’s coverage of the 2016 campaign, “Hillary would have to be the one to call” Sulzberger — a rather astonishing remark that begs a million questions about the Times’ election reporting.
Politico reporter Glenn Thrush apologized to Podesta for writing a story draft that he feared was too critical. “I have become a hack I will send u the whole section that pertains to u,” he wrote. “Please don’t share or tell anyone I did this Tell me if I fucked up anything.” On bended knee would have been more dignified.
Trump’s threats to expand libel laws and to sue journalists are genuinely scary, but Hillary displays similar contempt for journalists. In September, she gave her first formal press conference in more than nine months — virtually this entire presidential campaign. And as the Podesta emails show, the Clintonistas happily work hand in glove with pliant surrogates but operate in quite a different, and dishonest, way with critics.
Which leads me to my own recent experience writing about the Clinton Foundation’s abysmal programs in Colombia, where it has worked closely with Frank Giustra, reportedly the foundation’s largest donor. Giustra, a Canadian stock market manipulator who was known as the “Poison Dwarf” because of his tiny stature — he’s a little north of 5 feet— and tendency to make tons of money at the expense of small investors, invested heavily in Colombia in oil, gold, and timber. He made a fortune while companies he was affiliated with ruthlessly exploited workers and reportedly raped and pillaged the environment.
The Clinton-Giustra partnership had been written about but no U.S. journalists had traveled to Colombia to see what the Foundation has done there. In fact, with few exceptions, the Clinton Foundation’s claims about the good it has done overseas have been unexamined.
I spent 10 days in Colombia last May and spoke to unionists, workers, environmentalists, Afro-Colombians and entrepreneurs — exactly the people who the foundation brags about helping on its website— as well as three left-leaning senators who champion the poor. They were overwhelmingly negative, and in many cases disparaging, about the Clinton Foundation and Giustra, who was deeply involved with an oil company, Pacific Rubiales, that recently went spectacularly bankrupt and which worked with the Army to smash a strike after workers revolted over miserable pay and working conditions.
Bill Clinton had a friendly relationship with Pacific Rubiales too, and in 2012 the two men golfed together at a charitable event for the foundation sponsored by the oil company. Colombia’s president, whose niece got a plush job as “Sustainability Manager” for Pacific Rubiales, golfed with Bill.
Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri frequently uses New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman to “tee up stories” and has “never been disappointed” with the results. Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
I had wanted to write the Colombia story for months but, as is often the case in journalism today, couldn’t find a media outlet to pay for the trip. A friend steered me to the American Media Institute (AMI), a conservative non-profit, which funded the trip.
AMI arranged for the story to run in Politico, but it killed an early version. I then pitched it to Fusion, which ran it on October 13. It immediately generated a furious reaction from the Clinton camp, starting off with a series of tweets by Angel Urena, Bill Clinton’s spokesman. Then the Foundation tried to get Fusion to take the story off its website.
On October 14, Craig Minassian, a Clinton Foundation spokesman, sent a 14-page letter to Fusion, CC-ing foundation officials, Urena and Mark Gunton of the Clinton-Giustra Enterprise Partnership. The first few pages attacked me, citing past articles about the Clinton Foundation and a series of “vulgar” tweets I’d posted about Hillary Clinton and her supporters, including Clinton’s long-time surrogate Joe Conason, author of Man of the World, a rapturous book about Bill Clinton’s post-presidency. (Conason is also former executive editor of the Observer.)
It also complained about factual errors and cited the funding from AMI as being evidence that the story was a right wing plot. In fact, I set up the trip with the help of fixer in Colombia, picked people to interview, and there was no political intrusion into the story. Ironically, a conservative non-profit paid for a piece that defended unions, the poor, women, and Afro-Colombians.
Mostly the dossier contained unverifiable Clinton Foundation propaganda and references to positive press stories about the foundation, like one in pro-Hillary Vox titled “The key question on the Clinton Foundation is whether it saved lives. The answer is clearly yes.” A central component of the foundation’s attack — which Urena played heavily on his Twitter feed —was that I had never attempted to reach the Clinton Foundation or campaign for comment.
Furthermore, I had “misled” the Foundation in the past so “we have every reason to be suspicious of his intentions and doubt he would give our facts a fair hearing,” he wrote. “Other news organizations have handled this material differently, always checking with us prior to publication, giving us an opportunity to respond.” (Giving us the opportunity to edit and approve, is what he should have written.) In the end, Fusion updated the story and posted an editorial note saying that it had not met its standards.
OK, let me acknowledge my mistakes and provide a little further information. First off, the Fusion story did contain a number of errors. My name is on the story so I have to take responsibility.
Fine. None of the mistakes was intentional and I spent endless hours prior to publication trying to ensure everything was accurate. There is nothing more embarrassing as a journalist than having to make corrections. I screwed up. But I stand by the story’s on-the-ground reporting from Colombia and the conclusions about the Clinton Foundation’s meager results there.
Second, of course I’m biased against the Clinton Foundation and the Clintons, on the basis of evidence and reporting.I’ve never bothered to hide my feelings, in public, on social media, or in my articles, because I believe that all reporters are biased and readers are smart enough to know that, and that the pretense of objectivity is itself dishonest. What makes a journalist honest is holding all sides to the same standard of criticism, no matter what your own views.
I’m equally biased against Donald Trump and have written a number of critical articles about him and described him in equally vulgar and unflattering terms. The only reasons I haven’t written about Trump more is that I had pitches about him turned down — including one about his revolting comments about women, which I shopped around unsuccessfully last spring during the GOP primaries — and because I believed (and still do) that Hillary Clinton is likely to be elected president, which makes her a bigger target.
Third, and most important, I repeatedly sought comment from the Clinton Foundation. This may seem like a minor matter but the fact that the foundation lied about that shows that it not only seeks out well-trained pet reporters as surrogates, but keeps tabs on and actively seeks to undermine its “enemies.”
In August, when the piece was at Politico, I sent a detailed email to the foundation, to Hillary’s campaign and to the CGEP seeking comment. There was nothing coy about it. I wrote, in part:
I’m currently writing a piece about the foundations’ activities in Colombia, where I recently spent 10 days, and interviewed dozens of people…I truly want to hear your side of this story, which thus far appears to be utterly appalling. While the Foundation and presidential candidate Hilary Clinton have effusively and repeatedly expressed their concerns for the poor and organized labor — and in Colombia specifically mention a deep concern for Afro-Colombians — I found no evidence of that on the ground.
Unionists, Afro-Colombians, elected officials and impoverished people in the slums of Bogota and Cartagena are unanimous: the Clinton Foundation…has played no role at all in helping Colombia’s poor or even worse, it has played a negative role.
I’ve tried unsuccessfully to get comment from you in the past about other stories but wanted to reach out once again in the hopes that you might be able to reply to some simple straightforward questions.
In fact, this was the fifth time in the past year that I wrote about the foundation and it only replied once, prior to publication of the first story. Furthermore, I sought comment at the Clinton Foundation in Colombia and at several of its projects in Bogota and Cartagena, and no one could talk to me or provide even minimal information. (For example, why does the Clinton Foundation run a private equity fund out of its Bogota office? What does that have to do with its charitable efforts?)
Should I have reached out to the foundation again after the story moved to Fusion? Perhaps, but another reporter who had been working on the Colombia story had attempted to get comment from the foundation and received no reply. The foundation (and the Clinton campaign) was given ample opportunity to reply and chose not to. I have a strong suspicion that if Thrush or Klein or Haberman or one of its other pet journalists had asked for comment they would have had no problem.
The 2016 election has exposed like nothing in modern times the desperate need for political reform in this country.That two candidates of such low stature are all we have is an indictment of the system, not the poor voters who are stuck with such dismal choices.
But we also desperately need a better media, because in this election Trump’s voters were not understood and issues he espoused were treated as reckless even in cases where many Americans — in fact most — probably agree with him.
Again, I find both of the major candidates repellent and would never vote for either. Most of my friends and family are voting for Hillary (in despair), and I respect that; I have no intention of losing friendships over this election because of the way someone votes.
But you don’t have to be crazy to vote for Trump. The best reason I’ve seen was recently offered by Camille Paglia, who said, “People want change and they’re sick of the establishment…[I]f Trump wins it will be an amazing moment of change because it would destroy the power structure of the Republican party, the power structure of the Democratic party and destroy the power of the media.”
If she’s correct, that indeed would be the very best outcome of this sad, sad election.

NATO Secretary General congratulates US President-elect Donald Trump


I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as the next President of the United States. And I look forward to working with President-elect Trump.
Press Conference NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
We face a challenging new security environment, including hybrid warfare, cyber attacks, the threat of terrorism. US leadership is as important as ever. Our Alliance has brought together America’s closest friends in times of peace and of conflict for almost 70 years. A strong NATO is good for the United States, and good for Europe.
NATO has responded with determination to the new security situation. But we have more work to do. And I look forward to meeting Mr. Trump soon, and welcoming him to Brussels for the NATO Summit next year to discuss the way forward.

Χαλύβδινη ασπίδα στα ελληνοαλβανικά σύνορα


Η 8η Ταξιαρχία εκπαιδεύεται στα ελληνοαλβανικά σύνορα

Το βίντεο από το ΓΕΣ θυμίζει προς πάσα κατεύθυνση ότι η Ελλάδα στρατιωτικά είναι παρούσα σ΄ όλη την επικράτειά της. Ακόμη κι εκεί που δεν υπάρχει ουσιαστικό στρατιωτικό πρόβλημα λόγω ανυπαρξίας αντιπάλου, αλλά υπάρχουν πολλοί προκλητικοί ηγέτες, ηγετίσκοι και τσιράκια της Άγκυρας.
Η Ελλάδα δεν έχει ανάγκη να κάνει επίδειξη δύναμης σε κανέναν. Αλλά όσοι ερμηνεύουν την ψυχραιμία ως αδυναμία, καλό θα είναι να “χαλαρώσουν” την ρητορική τους εναντίον της Ελλάδας.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

HIMARA PEOPLE STAND WITH TRUMP

 

SManalysis

'ISIS suspects arrested for terror plot against Israeli soccer team in Albania'


Jerusalem Post

    Shin Bet: Hamas terror attack plot at Jerusalem soccer stadium thwarted


According to Albanian media reports, local security forces uncovered the plot with the help of other international security agencies, including Israel's Mossad.

After needing a stoppage-time penalty save from Dudu Goresh (in green) to win in Macedonia, the Isra

After needing a stoppage-time penalty save from Dudu Goresh (in green) to win in Macedonia, the Israel national team will be hoping for a more straight-forward victory when it hosts Liechtenstein at Teddy Stadium tonight.

Israel's 2018 World Cup qualifier against Albania this weekend was relocated on Tuesday after four suspects were arrested in connection with planning a terror attack against the blue-and-white national team.

According to reports in Albania, four people with links to ISIS were seized following a tip from the Mossad that they were preparing an attack on the Israel squad.


Israel's Counter-Terrorism Bureau confirmed that there was a plot to harm the national team and urged Israeli fans not to travel to the match.

As a result, the Albanian Football Association asked FIFA to move Saturday's match from the stadium in Shkoder to Elbasan, which is closer to the country's capital Tirana and is believed to be easier to secure.

Even before Tuesday's announcement, the Israel squad was set to be escorted to Albania by an additional 15 security personnel. Israel's players were also told in advance that they wouldn't be able to return to their teams in Europe directly from Albania as is accustomed following international matches. They will instead need to travel back to Israel as a group and then fly from Ben-Gurion Airport to their different destinations.

Despite the decision to move the match to what is believed to be a safer venue, Israel's players are far from relaxed.

"There is a real sense of fear," said one player. "Right now we are really not focused on the match. Our lives are more important than soccer and I hope that there will be appropriate security. We would have rather played in a neutral country, but perhaps these recent developments will make sure that nothing happens." Israel has six points from three matches so far, losing its opener against Italy 3-1 before defeating Macedonia and Liechtenstein 2-1.

Israel's visit to Albania will likely go a long way to determining which team finishes in third place, assuming powerhouses Italy and Spain claim the top two spots as expected.

Only the winners of each group will qualify automatically for Russia 2018, with the eight best runners-up to advance to home-and-away playoffs.

Albania is tied with Israel on six points, beating Macedonia 2-1 and Liechtenstein 2-0 before losing 2-0 to Spain. Italy and Spain lead the group with seven points each.

Albania, Kosovo Keep ISIS Suspects Behind Bars



After a combined police anti-terror sweep in Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia, courts in Kosovo and Albania have ordered a dozen suspected members of a pro-ISIS group to be kept in detention.

Fatjona Mejdini BIRN Tirana


The Court of Serious Crimes in Tirana on Monday decided to keep in jail four Albanians suspected of terrorism, who have refused to be represented by lawyers.

It came after Albanian police on Saturday announced the results of a regional anti-terrorist police operation conducted in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia, and said investigations are still continuing.

On November 4, Albanian police nabbed four Albanians arrested from 30 to 46, two in the northern city of Shkodra on the border with Montenegro and the two others in the northeastern one of Peshkopi, on the border with Macedonia.

Police announced that the four collaborated with each other and other citizens outside Albania and propagandized hate and the recruitment of fighters to join ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

Police said the four citizens supported ISIS with logistics and funding and had all travelled in the conflict areas of the Middle East.

However, the mother of one of the arrested in Shkodra, Jetmira Faslija, said on TV that her son had nothing to do with ISIS as far as she knew.

"He has never spoken in our house about ISIS and was arrested while he was sleeping," she said.

On the same day, seven others were arrested in Kosovo in Mitrovica, Ferizaj and Prishtina, also suspected of engaging in terrorist activities.

Two new suspects as part of the same operation were arrested in Kacanik and Mitrovica in Kosovo on Monday.

Kosovo investigators said the arrested men supported ISIS's terrorist activities and had planned attacks first in Kosovo and other countries of the region.

The Kosovo Prosecution said that the suspects acted on the orders of Lavdrim Muhaxheri, the former leader of Albanian ISIS fighters.

On Sunday, the Basic Court of Pristina decided to keep the seven suspects accused of terror in custody. Their defending attornies objected to the decision.

The prosecution had no proof support of the allegations, a lawyer for one of the suspects said.

"The allegations ... stain the image of Kosovo as a state," he said.

In Albania, nine people are now in prison having been found guilty of recruiting some 70 Albanians to fight in the conflict in Syria. They are serving 126 years in jail in total.

Around 70 people have been indicted for terrorism within the last three years, but not official data has been published concerning their final verdicts.

«Βέτο» στον Αλβανικό εθνικισμό σκέφτεται η Αθήνα


8 Νοεμβρίου 2016 ΕΠΙΚΑΙΡΟΤΗΤΑ Kathimerini

Ο «καθυστερημένος» αλβανικός εθνικισμός, ο οποίος παραπέμπει στον ευρωπαϊκό 19ο αιώνα, αντιμετωπίζεται από την Αθήνα με σκεπτικισμό. Το οκτάμηνο που ακολουθεί από σήμερα μέχρι και τη διεξαγωγή των εθνικών εκλογών στην Αλβανία θα αποδειχθεί μια σκηνή εθνικιστικού διαγκωνισμού, στην προσπάθεια προσέλκυσης ψηφοφόρων. Η εσωτερική πολιτική αντιπαράθεση δεν αφορά την Αθήνα, στον βαθμό που αυτή δεν επηρεάζει τις σχέσεις των δύο χωρών. 

Ωστόσο, τα ειδοποιητήρια κατεδάφισης των σπιτιών 19 Ελλήνων ομογενών στη Χειμάρρα, οι δηλώσεις του πρωθυπουργού της Αλβανίας Εντι Ράμα, πριν αλλά και μετά από το συγκεκριμένο περιστατικό, σε συνδυασμό με την υπονομευτική (για κάθε συνεννόηση) στάση που έχουν δείξει τα Τίρανα από τον περασμένο Ιούνιο, οδηγούν την Αθήνα στο συμπέρασμα ότι η κυβέρνηση της γειτονικής χώρας έχει επιλέξει την Ελλάδα ως άξονα προεκλογικής αντιπαράθεσης. Δεδομένου δε ότι πρόσωπα όπως ο αρχηγός του κόμματος των «Τσάμηδων» Σπετίμ Ιντρίζι, φορέας ρατσιστικής (σχεδόν φυλετικής), ανθελληνικής ρητορικής, αποτελεί κυβερνητικό εταίρο καθιστά την παραπάνω εκτίμηση ακόμα πιο σαφή.

Η ελληνική αντίδραση στην περίπτωση της Χειμάρρας κρίθηκε επιβεβλημένη για προφανείς λόγους, ωστόσο στην Αθήνα ο προβληματισμός αφορά το τι μέλλει γενέσθαι στο αμέσως επόμενο χρονικό διάστημα.

Στις αρχές Δεκεμβρίου θα κατατεθεί από την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή η Εκθεση Προόδου για τις χώρες που είναι υποψήφιες προς ένταξη στην Ε.Ε. Αν κριθεί ότι η Αλβανία οφείλει να εκπληρώσει ορισμένες ακόμη προϋποθέσεις προκειμένου να ξεκινήσουν οι ενταξιακές διαπραγματεύσεις στην Ε.Ε., η Αθήνα δεν έχει πρόβλημα.

Αν όμως η Επιτροπή κρίνει ότι η Αλβανία πρέπει να ξεκινήσει ενταξιακές διαπραγματεύσεις, τότε η Ελλάδα θα αναγκαστεί να εξετάσει ακόμη και την πιθανότητα βέτο, με αιτιολόγηση την καταπάτηση της Ελληνικής Εθνικής Μειονότητας στη γειτονική χώρα. Κάτι που, ούτως ή άλλως, έχει υπονοηθεί και από τις επίσημες ανακοινώσεις του υπουργείου Εξωτερικών. Εμπειροι παρατηρητές τόνιζαν ότι, προφανώς, θα ήταν ευχής έργον να μη χρειαστεί η Ελλάδα να σπαταλήσει πολιτικό κεφάλαιο για κάτι τέτοιο.

Μια δεύτερη, λιγότερο ορατή πτυχή του αλβανικού εκνευρισμού έναντι της Ελλάδας είναι η ανάγκη δημιουργίας αντιπερισπασμού από τη δοκιμασία που διέρχονται οι σχέσεις Τιράνων – Αγκυρας λόγω της ανανεωμένης τουρκικής πίεσης να κλείσουν όλες οι σχολές του Φετουλάχ Γκιουλέν στην Αλβανία.

Πριν από λίγες ημέρες, έγινε γνωστό ότι η κυβέρνηση Ράμα προχώρησε στην απομάκρυνση 12 διευθυντών από τις συγκεκριμένες σχολές, γεγονός το οποίο προκάλεσε πολιτική αντιπαράθεση ακόμη και στην αλβανική βουλή, όπου ο νυν πρωθυπουργός της χώρας επικρίθηκε για την πρωτοβουλία του.

Οι πολιτικές δυσκολίες γι’ αυτό το ζήτημα δεν αφορούν μόνο την κοινή γνώμη γενικότερα, αλλά και το γεγονός ότι σημαντική μερίδα της αλβανικής ελίτ έχει αποφοιτήσει από τις συγκεκριμένες σχολές.
«Καθημερινή»

Βήμα : Για την Χιμάρα ρε γαμώτο

Άρθρο στο Βήμα : Για την Χιμάρα ρε γαμώτο

To Bima
 
himara-kastro


Ανήμερα φθινοπωρινής εθνικής επετείου, την οποία στα ξένα οι Έλληνες εορτάζουμε με κάθε λαμπρότητα υπό την «κωδική ονομασία οxiday», 28η Οκτωβρίου, στη Χιμάρα, ο ελληνικής ιθαγένειας δήμαρχος, Γιώργος Γκόρος, Έλλην εξ ημισείας από πλευράς πατρός, μοίραζε σε όμαιμους, ομόθρησκους, και ομόγλωσσους συντοπίτες του, οι οποίοι είχαν μόλις επιστρέψει από κατάθεση στεφάνων σε μνημείο για τους επτά Έλληνες πεσόντες του ΄40 στην περιοχή, ειδοποιητήρια κατεδαφίσεως των πατρώων οικιών τους, τις οποίες όφειλαν να εκκενώσουν εντός πέντε ημερών. Πολλά δε εξ αυτών, έφεραν  ημερομηνία πρωτοκόλλου της προηγουμένης.

ximara-sygkentrosi-diamartyrias-2Οι πεσόντες δεν γνωρίζει κανείς πόσοι επακριβώς ήταν. Ήταν σίγουρα περισσότεροι. Οι εν λόγω επτά έμειναν για να καλύψουν τα νώτα των υπολοίπων στην οπισθοχώρηση και θυσιάστηκαν κοντά στο σημείο που είναι θαμμένοι. Η ταφή τους έγινε από τον πατέρα της Ερμιόνης – θεία Μιόνη- Μπρίγκου και μάλιστα οι τάφοι προστατεύτηκαν από τον ίδιο, ο οποίος όταν ενημερώθηκε πως στο εν λόγω χωράφι μετά από δήμευσή του από το καθεστώς στο πλαίσιο της «αγροτικής μεταρρύθμισης» που ξεκίνησε το 1946 και ολοκληρώθηκε το 1952, θα γίνονταν γεωργικές εργασίες, πήγε την ίδια νύχτα και φύτεψε δέντρα, λεμονιές και ελιές, πάνω από τους τάφους για να μην ανακαλυφθούν από τους εργάτες της κοοπερατίβας.
Και τα 19 ειδοποιητήρια αφορούσαν σπίτια που ανήκουν σε μέλη της Ελληνικής Εθνικής Μειονότητας στην Αλβανία. Μόνο αυτά, ως επί το πλείστον διώροφα κτίσματα διακοσίων ετών, μεταξύ των και μία επικερδής επιχείρηση, παρακωλύουν την υλοποίηση του σχεδίου ανάπτυξης της αλβανικής κυβέρνησης στην περιοχή. Και τα 19 πρέπει να κατεδαφιστούν προκειμένου να απελευθερωθεί χώρος για πράσινο ή να αποκτήσουν πρόσοψη οι 11όροφες νεόδμητες πολυκατοικίες της πόλης.
Οι συγκεκριμένες πολυκατοικίες χτίστηκαν χωρίς άδεια δόμησης. Ο πρώην Δήμαρχος Χιμάρας και πρώην Πρόεδρος της Ομόνοιας, Βασίλης Μπολάνος, αντιστάθηκε στην ανοικοδόμησή τους με κάθε μέσο, αφού έφτασε σε σημείο να βάλει το αυτοκίνητο και το σώμα του μπροστά στα μηχανήματα του πρώην Βουλευτή του κυβερνώντος Σοσιαλιστικού Κόμματος, Κώτσο Κοκδήμα, ο οποίος είναι ο εργολάβος ιδιοκτήτης.
 
Η Χιμάρα είναι παραθαλάσσια περιοχή κατά μήκος της Αλβανικής Ριβιέρας στην Νότιο Αλβανία και υπάγεται στο Νομό Αυλώνα. Από τα ελληνικά σύνορα απέχει περίπου δύο ώρες, μέσω Αγίων Σαράντα και Μαυρομάτι. Από τα Τίρανα, αν δείξεις το θάρρος να ανέβεις και να κατέβεις τον Λογαρά, περίπου τρεισήμισι. Αλλά οι ώρες σε αυτές τις διαδρομές εξαρτώνται αποκλειστικά από τον οδηγό. Αν τύχει να ρωτήσεις τον χρόνο που απαιτεί μία διαδρομή, η απάντηση που θα λάβεις είναι πάντοτε ίδια: «Για εμάς τους ντόπιους ή για εσάς τους ξένους;»
 
Η πρώτη ταυτότητα των Ελλήνων της Μειονότητας στην Αλβανία είναι ο τόπος τους. Αποκομμένοι επί σειρά ετών από τον κορμό της χώρας καταγωγής τους, τη γλώσσα και τη θρησκεία τους, το μόνο που τους είχε απομείνει ήταν η γη τους. Δεν είναι διόλου τυχαίο που στις διαδηλώσεις διαμαρτυρίας που πραγματοποιούνται κάθε εβδομάδα στην Χιμάρα για τις κατεδαφίσεις των σπιτιών τους, αρκούνται σε ένα, μόνο, πανό: «Η γη μας είναι η ψυχή μας».
 
Ίσως σε αυτό ακριβώς να έγκειται η γοητεία και η δύναμη αυτών των ανθρώπων. Σ ένα πρώτο εξωτερικό χρόνο βίωσαν την ισοπέδωση επί μισό περίπου αιώνα υπό το καθεστώς Χότζα. Σε έναν δεύτερο εσωτερικό χρόνο βίωσαν την άλωση. Η πατρώα τους γη δεν μπορούσε να είναι για αυτούς πατρίδα.
 
Οι Χιμαραίοι είναι ιδιάζουσα περίπτωση. Είναι ιδιαίτερα περήφανοι, καθώς επί Οθωμανικής Αυτοκρατορίας η περιοχή απολάμβανε ένα καθεστώς οιονεί αυτονομίας, γιατί πάντοτε πολεμούσαν, αλλά και διότι ο θρύλος θέλει μία από τις γυναίκες του Σουλεϊμάν του Μεγαλοπρεπή να κατάγεται από τα μέρη αυτά. Τα χρόνια, αργότερα, που η χώρα έγινε φυλακή μονολογούσαν: «Μέχρι και τα κύματα φτάνουν στην Κέρκυρα και ξαναγυρνάνε, μονάχα εμείς δεν μπορούμε να πάμε». Έχουν πλήρη επίγνωση της ομορφιάς και του πλούτου της γης και του τόπου τους. «Όταν επί Χότζα όλη η Αλβανία έτρωγε καλαμποκίσιο αλεύρι, σε εμάς έστελνε σταρένιο». Έχουνε να λένε για την αμηχανία εκπροσώπων Μη Κυβερνητικής Οργάνωσης, οι οποίοι είχανε καταφθάσει στην περιοχή αμέσως μετά την πτώση του καθεστώτος για παροχή ανθρωπιστικής βοήθειας. Οι Χιμαραίοι ανταπέδιδαν με λουκούλλεια γεύματα θαλασσινών από τις ακτές τους, κάνοντας και τους πιο ψύχραιμους Κύπριους να σαστίσουν.
Τις τελευταίες ημέρες γίνονται συνεχώς επίσημες Ανακοινώσεις από τα Υπουργεία Εξωτερικών των δύο χωρών, Ελλάδος και Αλβανίας, επιδίδονται διαβήματα εκατέρωθεν, με κλιμάκωση την ανάρτηση του Αλβανού Πρωθυπουργού στο προσφιλές του Facebook, ότι η Αθήνα υπήρξε κυρίως αλβανόφωνη και ότι η Ακρόπολη διεσώθη μέσα στον χρόνο χάρη σε Αλβανό. Δηλώσεις τις οποίες επανέλαβε την Πέμπτη στην Βουλή. Τόσο η Αθήνα, αλλά ακόμη περισσότερο τα Τίρανα, για τους Έλληνες στη Νότιο Αλβανία, είναι όχι μακρινά, αλλά ξένα. Ερωτηθέντες οι γενναιότεροι εξ αυτών, γιατί δεν διεκδικούν μία θέση πολιτικής ευθύνης και εκπροσώπησης στην αλβανική Βουλή, προκειμένου να κάνουν καλύτερο κουμάντο στις τύχες των παιδιών και του τόπου τους, η απάντηση είναι: «Μα δεν μπορούμε να ζήσουμε μακριά από τον τόπο μας».
 
Όταν μιλάς για δυσκολίες στους Έλληνες της Αλβανίας, ή παραπονιέσαι για αναποδιές στην δική σου ζωή, σε κοιτάζουν με υγρά μάτια σαν από άναρθρο και άλογο ζωντανό, που έχει δει κατάματα την φρίκη. Οι ίδιοι ποτέ δεν κλαίγονται, δεν μεμψιμοιρούν, τους αρέσει μόνο να διηγούνται.
Η Χιμάρα είναι δίγλωσση περιοχή, επί σειρά αιώνων συμβίωναν ελληνόφωνοι και αλβανόφωνοι, άλλοτε ειρηνικά, άλλοτε λιγότερο. Το δικαίωμά τους να ομιλούν την ελληνική, το πλήρωσαν πολλάκις με τον εαυτό τους. «Μα πως», είχε αγανακτήσει ένας τους, «ο παππούς μου μπορεί να μιλούσε και αλβανικά, αλλά μόνο στα ελληνικά έβριζε».
 
Κάθε άνθρωπος έχει το δικαίωμα του αυτοπροσδιορισμού, το δικαίωμα να ορίζει την γλώσσα, την εθνικότητα και την καταγωγή του. Το δικαίωμα να διατηρεί την κυριότητα στο σπιτικό του, μέσα στον κυκεώνα του αλβανικού περιουσιολογίου και τα κενά του αλβανικού κράτους, πόσω μάλλον όταν η χώρα φιλοδοξεί να ενταχθεί στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Οι Χιμαραίοι έχουνε κερδίσει αυτό το δικαίωμα.
 
Πως διακρίνει κανείς έναν Χιμαριώτη; Η ανορθογραφία τους είναι παροιμιώδης, καθώς μετά το ΄45 ο Χότζα είχε αφαιρέσει το μειονοτικό καθεστώς από την περιοχή και είχε κλείσει τα ελληνικά σχολεία. Γράφουν πάντοτε τον τόπο τους Χιμάρα, και ποτέ Χειμάρρα σύμφωνα με τα επίσημα έγγραφα του ελληνικού Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών. Πολλοί δε, φέρουν μη χριστιανικά ονόματα, καθώς επί Χότζα τα επιτρεπόμενα ονόματα ήταν μόνο εκείνα που συμπεριλαμβάνονταν στην επίσημη κρατική λίστα. Κάποιοι εκ των υστέρων τα εκχριστιάνισαν. Εις εξ αυτών και πολύ αγαπημένος μια μέρα μου είχε πει: «Ποτέ δεν μου πέρασε από το μυαλό να αλλάξω το όνομά μου, για να μην ακούγεται ξένο. Ας τολμήσει ένας να ‘ρθει να μου πει ότι δεν είμαι Έλληνας».
 
Η γραφή της Χιμάρας με «ι» και ένα «ρ» είναι αρχαιότερη. Οι Χιμαριώτες θεωρούν και τις δύο σωστές, αφού η πιο πρόσφατη δεν είναι αρκετά πρόσφατη, ώστε να την χαρακτηρίσουν λανθασμένη. Εφόσον επιστημονικά και οι δύο μπορούν να σταθούν το ίδιο, προτιμάνε εκείνη που παραπέμπει στην αρχαιότητα από εκείνη που παραπέμπει στο Βυζάντιο, καθώς είναι και πιο ρομαντική, ετυμολογούμενη από την θεότητα των κεραυνών και των καταιγίδων «Χίμαιρα». Ταιριάζει άλλωστε και με τα Ακροκεραύνια όρη. Οι χείμαρροι «λάκκοι», τους Χιμαριώτες δεν τους συγκινούν τόσο, και αν και υπάρχουν μπόλικοι, δεν τους θεωρούνε άξιους να τους ονοματοδοτήσουν.
 
Από την Χιμάρα κατάγεται ο ολυμπιονίκης Πύρρος Δήμας, το λιοντάρι της Χιμάρας, ο αξιωματικός και πολιτικός Σπύρος Σπυρομήλιος, ο αετός  της Χιμάρας, εξ ου και η ομώνυμη Στοά στο Citylink στο κέντρο της Αθήνας, αλλά και ο σημερινός Αλβανός Πρωθυπουργός, Έντι Ράμα, από πλευράς μητρός.
Μυρένα Σερβιτζόγλου

300 protestat e Rames dhe 300 “Leonidhasit” e Himares

Demostrate ne Vlore Shkurt 1997, Reuters

Demostrate masive ne Vlore Shkurt 1997, Reuters

Image result for protesta e 21 janarit 2011

 Protesta e 21 Janar 2011

Stavri Marko*


Himara, hyn ne muajin e dyte te protestave, ku disa qindra himariote, po protestojne perpara Bashkise, per arsyje madhore, te kercenimit  te ekzistences se ketij komuniteti 3000 vjecar, me orientim historic etnik helleno epiriot, sovran ne territorin e vete autonom, veteqeverises, kristiano perendimor dhe me shpirt luftarak.


Kjo do te jete mesa duket vetem fillimi, per arsyjet qe dihen: u vidhet prona dhe u shkon per llogari te oligarkeve qe kontrollojne parlamentin dhe qeverine, , bregu i detit per mafian e lacianeve, peqinesve, mallakastrioteve dhe cunave te tirones, , mali u vidhet per te provokuar me shqiponje natyrale, , prona e kishes dhe komuntare u meren per 99 vjet per pallatet dhe plane me popullsi asimiluese, u vidhet historia territory dhe u bashkohet me matane alpine, hellenizmi epiriot planifikohet per tu kthyer si vlere shqiptare, krenaria e autonomise veteqeverisese, u kthehet ne kontroll totalitar nga qeveria e Tiranes dhe ne fund, shtepite shekullore qe po prishen, kthehen ne gjenocid te paster etno komunitar.


Kryeministri Edi Rama, qe sot eshte protagonizti i nje skeme asimilimi nacionaliste ne emer te zhvillimit ndaj Himares, ka misionin e radhes te vendosur nga Tirana, per te perfunduar strategjine e “kthimit te Himares hellene ne ate shqiptare” kete here nepermjet mekanizmit te forces. Njeriu qe perendimi (ne rastin tone Soros) ka investuar, ne “emer te lirise dhe te drejtave te njeriut” perdor metoda dhunuese dhe gjenocidiale kunder nje komuniteti qe jo domosdoshmerisht, nuk pranon politikat sfiduese te vendosura ne tavoline per te ardhmen e tij, shprenguljen massive dhe asimilimin etno religjioz ne emer te zhvillimit, haron se ne vitin 1997, ka qene protagonist i dhunes kunder tij nga shteti policoro totalitar qe dhunonte lirine dhe te drejtat humane, qe te gjithe ne, u ngritem ta rrezonim. 


Sot pavaresisht te qenurit ne pushtet absolut prej 20 vitesh (sindrome e vendeve totalitare) Edi Rama, ushtron nje pushtet fashist ndaj Himares tradicionale, jo asaj qe e bashkoi me forcen e kartonit me Ndarjen Territoriale, duke mos harruar se edhe pse ishte ne pushtetin e vete ne krye te Bashkise se Tiranes, ai gjeti forca dhe udhehoqi per 300 dite rresht te vitit, opoziten ne protesta mbar popullore per te vetmen arsyje “dhunimin e votes se lire”.  


Paralelisht sot, po ndodh e njejta perpmbajtje, por forma ndryshon. 300 vete ne Himare, protestojne per pronen, shtepine, territorin, kishen dhe identitetin, historine, vete qeverisjen, protestojne per te ardhmen e femijeve te tyre,,, protestojne se dhunohen te drejtat dhe lirite e njeriut, protestojne se po ushtrohet gjenocit me metoda zhvillimore me prapavije shperngulese. Ne plan te pare, ata 300 pleq te moshuar, bura gra dhe femije  qe mbajne pankarta ne duar, mund te te duken “karamele” per policine shqiptare, por kujdes, ata jane trashegimtaret e “Leonidhes se Termopileve”, qe kane histori, dhe qe nuk i mposht dot, jo sepse kane nje Elada me tanke, avione dhe fregata sic edhe ju e pranoni se skini frike se jeni ne “Aleancen e Vlerave Demokratike”, por se shpirti luftarak i himariotit, eshte realitet historic dhe duhet mare ne considerate, aq sa edhe ju vete e pranoni se himariotet jane “autonom dhe kokeforte”. 


Duke kujtuar 1997, per te cilen mar shkas nga djegja e gazetes Koha Jone, ne te cilen Edi Rama aso kohe, ishte kolegu im gazetar ndersa sot eshte pushtetar absolute totalitar, nje simetri qe kurre nuk mund te ndodhe ne historite humane, i kujtoj Vloren asaj kohe qe vete Edi shkruante me passion kunder diktatorit Berisha, se grate himariote, ishin ato qe u ngriten te parat dhe cuan popullin e Vlores ne revolte, kur demostronin perpara Bashkise apo Sheshit te Flamurit, per te kuptuar se sot jane 300, por neser do te jene 3000, sepse dhuna ndaj lirive dhe te drejtave te njeriut te con ne katastrofe. 


Dhe meqenese shpesh ne altopalantin mediatik te albosferes, per te deformuar etno nacionalitetin dhe Autonomine e Himaren, permendin Petro Markon, per te cilin do te ulem te shkruaj gjate ne nje edizion tjeter, por me lind e drejta te kujtoj se vete Petro Marko ka shkruar per Shqiperine e asaj kohe te regjimit te Zogut 1936, kur Himara luftonte ne Gjyqin e Hages per te drejten e Komunitetit Grek, dhe qe e fitoi, se Shqiperia matet me Himaren, sikur te thuash, se “Rendon Bishti me teper se Sopata” dhe e di cfar ndodhi, Regjimi i mbylli gazeten ....



*Gazetar, Kryetar i Komunitetit Himariot