From aalibali at yahoo.com Thu Feb 5 19:52:47 2004 From: aalibali at yahoo.com (Agron Alibali) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 16:52:47 -0800 (PST) Subject: [ALBSA-Info] Event in Somerville, MA Message-ID: <20040206005247.90882.qmail@web11505.mail.yahoo.com> FUNDRAISER FOR GENERAL WESLEY K. CLARK AT SABUR RESTAURANT 212 Holland Street Somerville, MA, 02144 617-776-7890 Monday, February 9, 2004 At 5:00 PM Minimum $50 person Showing ?American Son? Movie For directions: www.saburrestaurant.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html From aalibali at yahoo.com Thu Feb 5 19:59:08 2004 From: aalibali at yahoo.com (Agron Alibali) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 16:59:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: [ALBSA-Info] Linra te rinj Message-ID: <20040206005908.57629.qmail@web11502.mail.yahoo.com> From: "Punto Stampa.com" Michele Fasolo, La via Egnatia I. Da Apollonia e Dyrrachium ad Herakleia Lynkestidos, Roma, 2003, 304 pp., euro 70,00. ???? The Egnatia Way, that run through the Balkans from the Adriatic coast to the Dardanelles, has been one of the most important communication routes of the Roman world. The volume published by Michele Fasolo tackles for the first time the problem of the topographic reconstruction of such route with a more systematic and analytic approach; it organically co-ordinates, in fact, any written sources as well as the results of the archaeological researches and finds, but it also makes a critical revision of all remarks that many scholars made on such topic, starting from Nicola Bergier, at the dawn of modern topography. ???? The first volume specifically aims at recovering, re-examining and updating the knowledge of Via Egnatia and the ancient path that preceded it, known in the Roman age as a road of Candavia, in the Albanian central region, running from the Adriatic coast to the area of Ochrida lake and, more eastwards, until the ancient town of Herakleia Lynkestidos in Macedonia. ???? The work is a far-reaching body made up of over 250 photos of monuments, landscapes (many of which aerial) and cartography which illustrate the most interesting pictures of the Albanian and Macedonian territory ever seen. ???? As the first edition has quickly sold out, the volume is currently being reprinted, reviewed, updated and enriched with translations of passages of Edrisi, new photographs, cartography and table of contents, a full summary in English, in addition to those in German and Albanian, already existing in the previous edition. ???? F.W. Walbank, Emeritus Professor in Cambridge, granted his paper entitled "The via Egnatia: its role in Roman strategy" by way of preface of the reprint. The work may be booked at the following address: Punto Stampa s.r.l. Via Dei Prati Fiscali 184 00141 Roma?? Tel 06 88 64 31 56? -?? 06 88 64 33 36 Fax 06 88 64 28 14 Info/puntostampa at puntostampa.com Due to the book's limited edition, any booking of the volume will be made not later than February 28, 2004. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html From aalibali at yahoo.com Thu Feb 5 20:02:01 2004 From: aalibali at yahoo.com (Agron Alibali) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 17:02:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: [ALBSA-Info] EUROMED PROJECT Message-ID: <20040206010201.58137.qmail@web11502.mail.yahoo.com> EDUCATION AND RESEARCH COMMUNITY NEW EUROMED PROJECT BRIDGES AMONG CULTURE 23rd-31st of August, 2004 Istanbul,TURKEY ABOUT THE PROJECT: The overall aim is to set a ground for the youngster to debate and discuss different policies of countries towards minority groupings in an environment, Istanbul, where different cultures heve interacted harmoniously throughout ages. This project will bring groups of youngs from minority and majority back- grounds together for about ten days in Istanbul, Turkey. OBJECTIVES: *To investigate about the core issues such as prejudice, discrimination, inequality of opportunities, intolerance towards cultural differences in order to prevent existing and possibly future conflicts. *To promote cultural diversity and co-existance of people from different historical backgrounds, with this regard, to support and realize intercultural activities. *To contribute to the democratic process which guarantees the basis of minority rights with the help of providing a free atmosphere where they can live their own cultures. *To discover policies of each country towards different segments of their society by way of presenting experiences of such groups are shared. VENUE / PLACE OF THE PROJECT: The project will take place in Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey. The participants will experience a piece of different cultures as well as Turkish culture during their visit to Istanbul, which is one of the utmost multicultural and multilingual cities in the world.There are different minority groups and NGOs founded by them from whose ideas and activities we will benefit. PARTICIPANT COUNTRIES: Turkey (Hosting country) 3 European countries 3 Mediterranean countries THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: For each group 5 people and 1 group leader aged between 18-25 years. Participant fee is 25 Euro.It includes all travel costs (%70), food, accomodation, visa and activities. PREPARATION: -What do you, as a partner, have to do? We expect each partner to be highly motivated about the project to fulfill our desired objectives together. On every phase of the project, we need the innovative opinions and different considerations of partners about the topic, aims, activities, program and views so as to contribute to our project. We believe that this could be a beneficial way to show what we think before, during and after the project. *** IF YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR OUR PROJECT, PLEASE SEND US YOUR ?NGO? DETAILS AND STUDIES NO LATER THAN 8th of JANUARY, 2004. ACTIVITY PLAN: Intercultural Orientation: Participants may reflect their cultural values and present the policies of their countries towards different segments not only among themselves but also with locals. Traditional Experience:Members of the event may participate in daily life activities by tours and trips to historically and culturally important places in the multicultural city, Istanbul. Workshops:Taking photographs reflecting past and current situation in each countries and sharing in an exhibition, to take part in some of cultural activities of local NGOs, some musical activities and different art works. Umit GEDIMAN, Vice President CONTACT ADDRES: Murat AKBIYIK Project Coordinator Group-2 Education and Research Community (EREC) Bogazici University 34342 Bebek / ISTANBUL Phone: +90 (536) 7170451 Fax:+90 (212) 263 63 66 E-mail: akbiyik at boun.edu.tr __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html From mentor at alb-net.com Thu Feb 5 10:20:36 2004 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 10:20:36 -0500 (EST) Subject: [ALBSA-Info] [Kcc-News] Kosovo: Trade Booms Between Old Enemies Message-ID: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News: http://www.alb-net.com/index.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?archive/bcr3/bcr3_200402_479_3_eng.txt Kosovo: Trade Booms Between Old Enemies Albanians may have thrown off Belgrade rule but they are still part of the Serbian economy. By Tanja Matic and Altin Ahmeti in Pristina (BCR No 479, 04-Feb-04) Every week, ethnic Albanians from Pristina head into the city's supermarket and fill their shopping baskets with goods from Serbia - a republic that most of Kosovo's majority think of as enemy Number One. Four years after the armed uprising that resulted in Kosovo throwing off Serbian political control, the region remains reliant on its powerful northern neighbour for many of its most basic needs. Stores in the international protectorate are lined with Serbian goods, ranging from foodstuffs to shopping powder and even bricks and mortar - all evidence of the fact that while political dialogue between Serbs and Albanians remains stalled, trade between the two is booming. The goods pour in from every part of Serbia. Favourites from the sweet section include "Medeno Srce" (honey heart) and "Plazma" biscuits, from the northern town of Subotica and from Slobodan Milosevic's home town of Pozarevac respectively. Over in the dairy section is "Imlek" milk from Belgrade, while the hardware shelves stock "Tesla" light bulbs from Pancevo in Vojvodina and Merix soap powder from Krusevac. Pristina store owner Avni says no one makes a fuss, "I sell these products and people do not complain. Some even ask for 'Beogradsko Mleko' (Belgrade Milk) that they used to buy for years, though we don't have that one any more." Avni laughs at the idea of boycotting Serbian goods out of patriotism. Shoppers, he says, easily distinguish between much-loved products and the state that produced them. "We don't identify Serbian products with the Serbian state," he said with a smile, "and what's most important is that these products are mostly the cheapest ones." The Albanians certainly do not buy Serbian goods out of any nostalgia for the former regime. Geography and simple economics play the largest part. Under UN Resolution 1244, Kosovo has remained part of Yugoslavia pending a decision on its final status. That means no customs duties are paid on goods from Serbia and Montenegro, the successor state to Yugoslavia. The other factor is that Kosovo simply doesn't produce much these days. With very few home-grown products to offer, people here have to buy their goods from somewhere. One obvious area of cooperation is building. The armed conflict between Albanians and Yugoslav forces left thousands of homes destroyed. As a result, one of the main economic activities in the entity is the construction industry. If Kosovo Albanians see any irony in buying bricks and mortar from the republic whose forces destroyed their homes, they are not disturbed by it. Milos Boskovic, sales director of the Vojvodina-based Potisje brick factory, told IWPR that since the end of conflict cooperation has blossomed with Kosovo Albanians. "Kosovo is a very important market to us. Up to 70 per cent of our annual production goes there," he said. But not everyone is happy with the flourishing trade relations between these two former enemies. Kosovo economists point out that business is very one-sided. Thanks to the entity's undeveloped economy and Serbian reluctance to recognise Kosovo travel documents, the goods only travel one way - south. Mustafa Ibrahimi, of the Kosovo Chamber of Economy, complains that even if the region's economy was more developed, container trucks from there would not be in a position to enter Serbia. "Serbia has the advantage over exports to Kosovo, as Albanians are not able to travel to Serbia on Kosovo licence plates," he said. Statistics from the entity's ministry of trade illustrate the stark imbalance. Serbia exported goods to Kosovo in first nine months of 2003 worth 108 million euro, just over 15 per cent of the region's total imports. Over the same period, Kosovo sold Serbia goods worth some 3.5 million euro. Goods heading north were worth less than one-thirtieth of the amount travelling south. Kosovo trade minister Ali Jakupi says the duty-free regime between Serbia and the protectorate hinders the growth of local industries and makes Serbian products more competitive than local ones. "We should trade with Serbia under different conditions, because without proper customs duty, Serbia has advantage in selling us products such as flour, oil, sugar, which are consumed in huge amount here," he said. "There are no psychological reasons for this trade - Serbian products are just cheaper." While Milos Boskovic's brick factory in Vojvodina is flourishing, Shemsedin Rashiti's in Podujevo, north-east Kosovo, is close to bankruptcy, owing to competition with Serbia. "Bricks bought in Serbia costs 13 to 19 cents each but in Kosovo they cost about 30 cents per brick," he said. "People have no interest in buying from us here in Kosovo." Until Kosovo starts producing goods that are cheaper and as good as Serbian products, the Albanian money will continue to flow north to Serbia. "People want the lowest prices and we have to meet customers' needs," said Agron, a store keeper from the Besa supermarket in Pristina's Bregu i Diellit district, pointing to shelves covered with products from everywhere but Kosovo. "I have to buy this container of Serbian salt, as that is the only one in this shop," a customer explained defensively. "If there was any other one, I wouldn't buy this Serbian one." Tanja Matic is IWPR Kosovo project coordinator. Altin Ahmeti is an economics journalist with Koha Ditore. ______________________________________________________________ If you wish to unsubscribe, send a blank message to: kcc-news-unsubscribe at alb-net.com , or visit KCC-NEWS's page at: http://www.alb-net.com/mailman/listinfo/kcc-news From mentor at alb-net.com Sun Feb 8 16:30:38 2004 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Albanians in Macedonia Crisis Center News & Information) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 16:30:38 -0500 (EST) Subject: [ALBSA-Info] [AMCC-News] Macedonia: Albanian Party Dominates by Default Message-ID: --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMCC http://www.alb-net.com/amcc/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?archive/bcr3/bcr3_200401_476_2_eng.txt Macedonia: Albanian Party Dominates by Default Moderate party has weak local support among Albanians, but survives because it's still perceived as better than the alternative. By Fami Bajrami in Skopje (BCR No 476, 15-Jan-04) Moves to legalise a controversial Albanian-language university in Macedonia are likely to boost the standing of the moderate Albanian party, the Democratic Party for Integration, DUI, on which the government heavily relies as a coalition partner. The DUI needs all the help it can get, since its political base is weak at grassroots level. The only saving grace is that its rival in Albanian constituency areas, the more radical Democratic of Albanians, DPA, is even less popular. In a debate starting on January 16, the Macedonian parliament is set to pass a law that gives legal status to an Albanian university in Tetovo, in an area which saw several months of violent ethnic conflict in 2001. The university was established illegally 10 years ago and became a symbol of the Albanians' struggle for higher education in their own language. Attempts to close it down have only bolstered support for it. Under the proposed law, the university will not only become legal but will receive state funding. The move will defuse a long-running source of tension between the country's two main ethnic groups. If passed, the law will be viewed as a triumph for the DUI, the party formed by former Albanian rebels who gave up their guns after the conflict. No other Albanian party can claim success in driving such a reform through. Since it was founded two years ago, the DUI has been seen as the main guarantor of the Ohrid peace deal that ended the conflict. The credentials it has won for its moderate views have positioned it well to tackle thorny issues like the university in Tetovo. The DUI is the minor partner in a coalition led by the Socialist Democratic Alliance of Macedonia, SDSM, which came to power in September 2002. The Albanian party won 17 seats in parliament, and has four government ministers and a deputy prime minister. The coalition ousted a cabinet run by nationalists from either side of the divide - the Macedonian VMRO and, on the Albanian side, the DPA. While those parties were united in wanting to see the small republic split in two along ethnic lines, the SDSM-DUI partnership pledged to maintain a multi-ethnic society. The DUI still dominates the Albanian political scene in the face of ineffectual opposition from the DPA, which remains mired in allegations of corruption and perceptions that it is intransigent on disarmament issues. But on the ground, things sometimes look rather different - the DUI faces opposition in some Albanian-majority areas controlled by mayors loyal to its rival. It suffered a reverse in November when the government-sponsored campaign it was backing to encourage Macedonians to hand in their weapons ran into trouble, because of a boycott in 23 municipalities controlled by the DPA. This weakness on the ground underlines criticisms that the DUI remains top-heavy, poorly organised and politically immature. Analysts in Macedonia say the party has only a handful of experienced officials, no proper party structure and no visible presence on the ground. And, they say, it is too reliant on its leader Ali Ahmeti, a charismatic figure whom one diplomat pointedly described as "the man who keeps Macedonia together". "They need to get organised properly and then decentralise power to their regions," a senior western diplomat told IWPR. "They might become a proper party in the end as they don't have any competition. The DPA is discredited and its radical ideas are not massively supported by the population." This view of the DPA is shared by many diplomatic sources in Macedonia, who told IWPR they believe the party is a spent force with a policy platform that offers little more than a return to the past. The DUI's advantage seems to be growing. The latest polls released in December by the United States' International Republican Institute showed Ahmeti's popularity rating up four percentage points from October to 11 per cent. By contrast, the popularity of DPA leader Arben Xhaferi slumped to four per cent. For some observers, the DUI's weak points are outweighed by its steadfast refusal to allow talk of ethnic partition, a positive factor which has played well with Macedonians. "This is probably the first time in a decade that Macedonian and Albanian parties have functioned properly in government," a source in the government told IWPR. "The Albanian party usually just demands control of the western part of the country and is not interested in anything else. That's not the case now." But others point out that the DUI's apparent strength may simply represent the lack of any reasonable alternative. Ahead of local elections in October 2004, many of the Albanians who voted for the DUI two years ago are unhappy about the slow progress the governing coalition has made in implementing reforms set out in the Ohrid accord, and its failure to check former rebel commanders who are often accused of involvement in organised crime. The views of one 22-year-old man from Tetovo are fairly typical, "It turns out they [DUI] have no control over former commanders who go around stirring up trouble." Like many others, this man said he would nevertheless vote DUI again, because he cannot see a better option. DUI leaders say they are well aware of the local concerns facing their voters, and are not taking their support for granted. "We have not forgotten our constituency," the party's deputy leader Teuta Arifi told IWPR. "It is true there are people who have been disappointed, but you have to bear in mind that there are problems and issues that we cannot resolve immediately. There are around 400,000 people unemployed. We are really focused on the key issues." Party members also told IWPR that the DUI is still a young organisation, and is trying to address concerns about its outreach by building up a party network in all the areas where Albanians live. With the DPA in disarray, and no other major Albanian players emerging, the DUI's most immediate challenge may be to avoid a run-in with its allies in government. SDSM leader Branko Crvenkovski has a reputation for marginalising previous Albanian coalition partners and riding roughshod over their concerns. "The only danger for Ahmeti is if his voters see him as being manipulated by Crvenkovski," one diplomat told IWPR. Fami Bajrami is a journalist with the Albanian language weekly Lobi. ______________________________________________________________ If you wish to unsubscribe, send a blank message to: amcc-news-unsubscribe at alb-net.com , or visit AMCC-NEWS's page at: http://www.alb-net.com/mailman/listinfo/amcc-news From aalibali at yahoo.com Thu Feb 12 15:56:42 2004 From: aalibali at yahoo.com (Agron Alibali) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2004 12:56:42 -0800 (PST) Subject: [ALBSA-Info] Cultural news Message-ID: <20040212205642.75802.qmail@web11509.mail.yahoo.com> THE MAKING OF BALKAN WARS: THE GAME THE BALKAN MALL ? Curated by: "Personal Cinema" Coordinated by: Ilias Marmaras and Nina Vagic. Contact: the.game at hol.gr????? game at personalcinema.net ? www.balkanwars.net ? www.personalcinema.org 10 February -?? 14 March 2004 Media Lab Madrid Centro Cultural Conde Dunque c/ Conde Dunque 9 -11 28015 Madrid Spain T: +34 91 8121123 / 8120939 The project was proposed at Media Lab by: Katerina Gregos, Sania Papa, and Denys Zacharopoulos We announce, The Making of Balkan Wars: The Game and The Balkan Mall opening on the February 10th 2004 at 1 p.m. at the Media Lab Madrid. ? "The Making of Balkan Wars: The Game" is a Personal Cinema project primarily focused on the social and cultural issues within the Peninsula and on the creation of networks between artists, art critics, writers and curators from Southeastern Europe. It proposes some new media works created by 51 participating artists investigating the Balkan territory and way of life. Both geopolitical war games and epic strategy video games are interrelated in this multi-media project. While virtual battle scenes are celebrated for their extreme realism, contemporary warfare has begun to resemble science fiction. The reality (or virtual reality) presented by official narratives and industrial entertainment does not adequately describe the experiences of the people who are caught in the actual war games. In the real-time of CNN, and in video games, the simplification of cultures and history is itself a form of violence. The Making of Balkan Wars: The Game is intended to counteract the sensational spectacle of war presented by the media by deconstructing stereotypes, focusing on the distortion of identities, and revising the dominant logic of explanation. "The Balkan Mall" video game, the central node of the project, created by the Personal Cinema team, is the elevation of social, historical and cultural elements of the Balkans into the form of an imaginary Balkan shopping mall. It is a poetic metaphor, which has many moments of ironic stance towards the prevailing multicultural concepts, historic disputes and contemporary political developments in the area. The players and spectators have the opportunity to learn how to behave and act in a simulated Balkan reality, and are informed about their level of Balkanization/De-Balkanization through an indicator within the interface of the game. The game contains about 20 different spaces, and some 30 videos from artists participating in the wider project; "The Making of Balkan Wars: The Game". Following the "Myth of Interactivity" of new media, in contrast to old media where the order of presentation is fixed, the users can now interact with and within a media. They can choose which elements to display or which paths to follow, creating each time a new pathway and generating each time a unique work. In addition to the virtual space, there is a real space, a three-wall projection of a virtual room in which both real and computer users can select and project videos from the participating artists. In this way the users become the co-authors and co-curators of the work. This leads to changing the view and standards of the art system of curatorial presentation, putting all of us (artists, critics, curators and spectators) in an uncertain position of proposing a new art behavior. ? Personal Cinema: Maya Bontzou, Andy Deck, Dimitris Dokatzis, Stelios Giannoulakis, Vassilis Kokkas, Nikolas Kozakis, Ilias Marmaras, Panos Papadopoulos, Yannis Scoulidas, Alexandros Spyropoulos, Stewart Ziff Participating Artists: Robert Alias Dragot, Genti Shkurti (Albania); Beatrijs Albers, Francis Schmetz, Jacques Lizene, Marie Andre, Eugene Savitzkaya, Reggy Timmermans, Koen Wastijn-Deschuymer, Ria Pacquee (Belgium); Albena Mihaylova, Krassimir Terziev? (Bulgaria); Irena Paskali, Natasha Dimitrievska, Christina Ivanoska-Yane Calovski (FYROM / Macedonia); Mathias Wagner K (Germany); Kostas Beveratos, Maya Bontzou, Dimitris Dokatzis, Stelios Giannoulakis, Maurice Ganis, Ilias Marmaras, Angelo Skourtis, Panos Vittorakis, Alexandros Spyropoulos, Dimitris Tsardakas (Greece); Babis Kandilaptis, Nicolas Kozakis (Greece / Belgium); Vassilis Kokkas, Dimitris Tzamouranis? (Greece / Germany); Chiara Passa, Antonio Riello (Italy); Floe Tudor, Mona Vatamanu, (Romania);? Per Pegelow (Russia);? Andrej Tisma, Windows 99 - hammer creative (Serbia); Milena ZeVu (Serbia / Hungary); Vuk Cosic (Serbia? / Slovenia); Aniceto Exposito - Lopez, Angel Vergara (Spain / Belgium); Selda Ashal, Gulsen Bal, Cem Genser, Genco Gulan (Turkey); Ruth Catlow (UK); Stewart Ziff (UK / USA); Andy Deck, Goron Dolan, Morgan Showalter (USA) THE MAKING OF BALKAN WARS: THE GAME THE BALKAN MALL Curated by: "Personal Cinema" Coordinated by: Ilias Marmaras and Nina Vagic. Contact: the.game at hol.gr????? game at personalcinema.net ? www.balkanwars.net ? www.personalcinema.org __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html From aalibali at yahoo.com Fri Feb 13 07:07:06 2004 From: aalibali at yahoo.com (Agron Alibali) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 04:07:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: [ALBSA-Info] In breach of International law Message-ID: <20040213120706.99306.qmail@web11503.mail.yahoo.com> ADVERTISEMENT var trv_formUrl="http://rd.yahoo.com/SIG=12eiu1vj7/M=220133.4478820.5655239.2772263/D=egroupweb/S=1705064309:LREC/EXP=1076760196/A=1954762/R=0/*http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?travelocity2+shopping:dmad/SIG=12eiu1vj7/M=220133.4478820.5655239.2772263/D=egroupweb/S=1705064309:LREC/EXP=1076760196/A=1954762/R=1/1076673796+http://us.rmi.yahoo.com/rmi/http://www.travelocity.com/rmi-framed-url/http://travel.travelocity.com/trips/ClarifySearchTimekeeper.do"; var trv_bannerImage="http://us.a1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/a/1-/flash/travelocity/012004/splendid_lrec_r1_c1.gif"; ?? ?? Youth Initative Molerova 78/4 Tel: +381 11/ 344 59 47, 344 59 48 e-mail: office at y... Serbia and Montenegro in breach of UN Resolution 1244 and the Kumanovo Agreement Youth Initiative appeals to the Ministry of Defense to urgently withdraw from Kosovo all members of the Serbia and Montenegro Army whose presence in Kosovo is in serious breach of international obligations previously agreed upon. The UN Resolution 1244 and the Kumanovo Agreement require that intelligence forces, as part of the military units of the Serbia and Montenegro Army, are not to be present in the territory of Kosovo. A statement given by Momir Stojanovic, Director of Military and Security Agency (MSA) of Serbia and Montenegro, with regard to a draft of intelligence forces to Kosovo, points to a clear violation of international obligations undertaken by the Serbia and Montenegro. Annex 1 of the UN Resolution 1244 (issued in 1999) requres a complete withrawal from Kosovo of all military, police and paramilitary forces. Paragraph 3c, Article 1 of the Kumanovo Agreement clearly defines the withdrawal of "FRY forces" and all personnel and organizations with a military capability, including all members of its intelligence service. Paragraph 4a stipulates that "under no circumstances shall any Forces of the FRY and the Republic of Serbia enter into, reenter, or remain within the territory of Kosovo (...) without the prior express consent of the international security force (K-For) commander". The statement of MSA Director, emphasizing that members of the MSA have been operationally present in Kosovo for the past 12 months, shows that authorities of Serbia and Montenegro are not in compliance with international obligations, to which they themelves often refer. One of the goals of the Kumanovo Agreement is establishment and maintenance of durable cessation of hostilities and creation of conditions of safety for all citizens of Kosovo. Activities of MSA clearly show that a civilian control of the Serbia and Montenegro Army is nonexistent and that a thorough reform of all military structures is neccessary. Violation of international obligations may strongly affect a dialogue on the future of Kosovo, and gravely undermine efforts to establish durable peace and stability in the region. Youth Initiative demands that the Minister of Defense launch a thorough investigation into the matter and punlish all responsible persons for violating international obligations. For more information, contact the Youth Initiative office in Belgrade: Molerova 78/4, 011 344 59 47, 344 59 48, or via e-mail: office at y... __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html From aalibali at yahoo.com Fri Feb 13 07:08:53 2004 From: aalibali at yahoo.com (AAlibali) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 12:08:53 -0000 Subject: [ALBSA-Info] Fwd: MRGI: French ban on faith symbols would contravene international rights law. Call for France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Greece to ratify FCNM. Message-ID: --- In balkanhr at yahoogroups.com, office at g... wrote: Press Release - French ban on faith symbols would contravene international rights law Minority Rights Group International Press Release 28 January 2004 for immediate release French ban on faith symbols would contravene international rights law The proposed ban on 'conspicuous' religious symbols is in direct contravention of France's obligations under international human rights law said Minority Rights Group International (MRG) today. New laws may exacerbate ethnic and religious divisions if imposed on members of religious minorities attending state institutions, who may perceive them to be discriminatory. Minority Rights Group International, which works to uphold the rights of minorities, including religious and cultural rights, today called upon President Chirac to rethink the culturally divisive policy. According to Minority Rights Group International, the legislation contravenes France's obligations under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR). Article 9 of the Convention clearly establishes both freedom of religion, and the freedom to manifest religion or belief in public and private spheres. These rights may be subject to certain limitations at the discretion of states, such as the protection of public order, however MRG believes that France's proposed ban fails to meet the strict criteria required to impose these limitations on religious freedom, which must be 'necessary in a democratic society'. The wholesale ban of religious symbols would not be consistent with the spirit and objective of the Convention, which is to protect freedoms rather than to unnecessarily deny them, stated MRG. The French proposals equally contravene Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which imposes similar strict conditions regarding limitations and allows for no derogation of the right to freedom of religion. This article has been expanded upon by the Human Rights Committee, the ICCPR's monitoring body, in General Comment 22 of 1993, to include provision under this Article for 'the wearing of distinctive clothing or head coverings'. Both the ECHR and the ICCPR have been ratified by France without reservation to the relevant articles. While attention has been mainly focused on Muslim communities and issues around the wearing of the Islamic hijab (headscarves or veil), France's Sikh community is amongst others which have expressed grave concern over the proposed legislation. A 5000 strong Sikh community in Northern Paris has taken advice from religious leaders from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India who have also travelled to Paris to meet officials in advance of a planned protest. The turban worn by Sikhs, the Jewish kipot (skull cap), and other religious symbols could all be banned under the legislation which officials have suggested may even extend to beards worn out of adherence to religious faith. MRG has advocated internationally for the protection and promotion of religious rights including provisions for worship and other manifestations of religious practice such as the wearing of the hijab as an act of free choice. While the ban would, in theory also apply to 'large Christian crosses' it is seen by many to clearly target non-Christian minorities. 'It is inevitable that religious minorities will see themselves as targeted by assimilationist legislation such as this', stated MRG Director, Mark Lattimer. 'Far from achieving integration, this policy is likely to consolidate ethnic and religious divisions'. MRG is lobbying for a Europe wide ratification and implementation of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM), which includes strong protection of religious rights under Article 5. While Brussels has pushed EU accession states to ratify the FCNM and implement minority protection rules, a number of existing EU states including France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Greece have not been subject to the same pressure. MRG urges these states to ratify and implement the FCNM as a positive move towards establishing a common European standard for the promotion and protection of minority rights. Notes for editors: For interviews or further information please contact the Press Office at MRG on 020 7422 4200 or 07734768223 (mobile). Minority Rights Group International (MRG) is a non-governmental organization working to secure the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide, and to promote cooperation and understanding between communities. http://www.minorityrights.org --- End forwarded message --- From aalibali at yahoo.com Fri Feb 13 07:11:22 2004 From: aalibali at yahoo.com (AAlibali) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 12:11:22 -0000 Subject: [ALBSA-Info] Fwd: Latest publications of the Albanian Helsinki Committee Message-ID: --- In balkanhr at yahoogroups.com, Komiteti Shqiptar i Helsinkit (by way of Greek Helsinki Monitor ) wrote: The Albanian Helsinki Committee has the pleasure to inform you that it has published in its website the final report on the elections for the local government organs, "Monitoring of the elections for local government organs, October 2003", which provides the reader with all the electoral aspects monitored by AHC during these elections. In addition, this publication presents the conclusions and recommendations related to all electoral components based on the key findings of the monitoring. The Albanian Helsinki Committee has published "The Electoral Code 2003", (a critical view)". This publication is offering a legal analysis of the Electoral Code that is in force. Persons interested in downloading these publications are welcome to visit our website at www.ahc.org.al We would like to inform you that the Albanian Helsinki Committee, lately has published the book "Minorities in Albania". In this publication, the Albanian Helsinki Committee has made an assessment of the situation of minorities taking in consideration the standards set by the most important international document on minorities "The Framework Convention on National Minorities". The key findings included in this publication are the result of the work that many activists of the Albanian Helsinki Committee have done during 2002 and 2003, through meetings, visits and contacts with the representatives of the minorities and communities in Albania, local and central government organs in the respective cities etc. This publication is of interest not only for the respective state institutions, Albanian and foreign organizations acting in the area of human rights, and scholars that work in the human rights area, but it is of interest for the citizens in general. "Minorities in Albania " provides the reader with very extensive, detailed scientific and rich information about the situation of minorities in Albania. In preparing this publication, AHC has maintained its position as a non-profit organization. >The persons who are interested to the above mentioned publications can >contact us at the following adress: > >Adress: Rr. "Gjin Bue Shpata", Pll. 5/1, Ap. 4, Tiran?, Shqip?ri > >Tel/fax: +355 4 233 671 > +355 68 20 23 699 --- End forwarded message --- From aalibali at yahoo.com Fri Feb 13 07:12:34 2004 From: aalibali at yahoo.com (AAlibali) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 12:12:34 -0000 Subject: [ALBSA-Info] Fwd: EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR MINORITY ISSUES : Two Vacanies Message-ID: --- In multiethnic at yahoogroups.com, "lgiresearch" wrote: EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR MINORITY ISSUES (ECMI) TWO VACANCIES AT ECMI ECMI is a governmentally funded international institute headquartered in Flensburg. Through its three regional offices it engages in cutting edge projects and research on minority issues throughout the OSCE region. ECMI now has two job vacancies available: Country Director Kosovo Special Assistant to the Director For full job descriptions and application details, please see: http://www.ecmi.de/doc/about_staff_vacancies.html --- End forwarded message --- From aalibali at yahoo.com Sun Feb 15 08:06:04 2004 From: aalibali at yahoo.com (Agron Alibali) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2004 05:06:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: [ALBSA-Info] Utica College in Butrint Message-ID: <20040215130604.90807.qmail@web11503.mail.yahoo.com> Utica College Utica, New York Archaeological Field School: Forensic Skeletal Analysis Butrint National Park, Albania May 17-June 6, 2004 21 days 6 Undergraduate/Graduate Credits [] Baptistery at Butrint built in the 6th century AD over an earlier Roman public bath. Butrint is a UNESCO World Heritage Site first inhabited in the 7th century BC.? Located near Albanias border with Greece and 11 miles west of Corfu, the site contains Illyrian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Early Christian, and Venetian components.? At the invitation of the Albanian government, Utica College forensic anthropologist Thomas Crist, Ph.D. will conduct the first systematic examination of human skeletal remains previously excavated at the site.? Students who participate in this field experience will learn the basics of forensic anthropology; analyze the human skeletons and explore the awesome site at Butrint; travel with Utica College cultural anthropologist John Johnsen, Ph.D. to the medieval city of Gjirokastra, the Roman site at Phoinike, and the Greek island of Corfu; and visit Tirana, the capitol of Albania, for two days. Cost is $3,700, including tuition, RT airfare from JFK Airport in NYC, two days in Tirana, trips to Gjirokastra, Phoinike, and Corfu, and food and lodging at the Hotel Livia at Butrint National Park. Non-credit participation is also available during the field school season. Visit Butrint online at http://www.galenfrysinger.com/butrint_albania.htm or www.geocities.com/albaland/butrinti For a truly unforgettable educational experience contact: Dr. Thomas Crist (315-792-3390/Tcrist at utica.edu) Dr. John Johnsen (315-792-3339/Jjohnsen at utica.edu) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html From albboschurch at juno.com Mon Feb 16 10:09:38 2004 From: albboschurch at juno.com (albboschurch at juno.com) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 10:09:38 -0500 Subject: [ALBSA-Info] Boston: Albanian Concert: Sunday March 21st at 6PM at Moseley's on the Charles in Dedham Message-ID: <20040216.131842.9104.3.albboschurch@juno.com> Please see attached and contact Piro or Florian if you are interested. Tickets are $35. Pirro Ikonomi (617) 236 0526 (work) (781) 769 7942 (home) Florian Struga (617) 592 1846 struga_4soccer at yahoo.com Shfaqja organizohet diten e djele me date 21 Mars ne ora 6 pm ne "Moseleys on the Charles" Route 109 Dedham -- http://www.moseleysonthecharles.com/home/home.htm -- Directions below Koncerti "Pranvere ne BOSTON-2004" Diten e djele ne daten 21 Mars ora 6 pm... Live Music with Irma Libohova and Morena Reka Aktor i shquar i humorit shqiptar -- Xhevair Zeneli (Albanian Humorist) Materjalet muzikore do te shoqerohen nga orkestra profesjoniste " ALBA" me drejtues artistik Edmond Xhani NE PROGRAM : Kenge nga fondi i arte i muzikes se lehte , kenge e valle popullore, melodi te ndryshme instrumentale si dhe mjaft materjale te spikatura humoristike. Directions: >From Boston: Take I-93 South (Southeast Expressway) to I-95 North (Route 128 North) to Exit 16A (Route 109 East). Follow 2 miles to Moseley's on the right. >From Cambridge: >From Central Square in Cambridge, take Massachusetts Avenue to Memorial Drive. Follow Memorial Drive to the BU Bridge and cross over the Charles River. Follow to the Riverway (Route 1) and continue onto the Jamaica Way (still Route 1). At the rotary, follow the sign to Route 1/VFW Parkway. After passing the Faulkner Hospital on the right, bear right at the Mobil Gas Station and continue on Route 1 (VFW Parkway). Follow to the next rotary and continue on the VFW Parkway. After passing the MDC Skating Rink on the right, bear right onto Route 109. Moseley's is on the left side of the road, across from the Shell Gas Station. >From Mattapan/Dorchester: Take Morton Street (Route 203) towards Boston. Follow onto the Forest Hills overpass to the rotary. At the rotary, follow the sign to Route 1/VFW Parkway. After passing the Faulkner Hospital on the right, bear right at the Mobil Gas Station and continue on Route 1 (VFW Parkway). Follow to the next rotary and continue on the VFW Parkway. After passing the MDC Skating Rink on the right, bear right onto Route 109. Moseley's is on the left side of the road, across from the Shell Gas Station. >From Cape Cod: Take Route 3 North to Route 128 North (I-95 North) to Exit 16A (Route 109 East). Follow 2 miles to Moseley's on the right. >From North: Take I-95 South (Route 128 South) to Exit 16A (Route 109 East). Follow 2 miles to Moseley's on the right. >From South: Take I-95 North to Route 128 North to Exit 16A (Route 109 East). Follow 2 miles to Moseley's on the right. >From West: Take the Mass Turnpike East to I-95 South (Route 128 South) to Exit 16A (Route 109 East.) Follow 2 miles to Moseley's on the right. Via public transportation: >From Forest Hills Station (Orange Line) Take bus #36 (Charles River Loop or VA Hospital via Belgrade Ave.). Exit bus at Charles River Station. Walk to traffic lights at intersection and cross Route 1 onto Route 109. Moseley's is up on the left side of Route 109, across from the Shell Gas Station. It is approximately a 5-8 minute walk from the bus stop. PARKING We provide free parking for 300 vehicles directly across the street and in the parking areas around the perimeter our facility. -------------- next part -------------- HTML attachment scrubbed and removed From aalibali at yahoo.com Thu Feb 19 17:53:12 2004 From: aalibali at yahoo.com (Agron Alibali) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 14:53:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: [ALBSA-Info] Summer School, Southeastern Europe in a Comprehensive Security Perspective, 12-24.7.2004, Vienna Message-ID: <20040219225312.67300.qmail@web11503.mail.yahoo.com> > Summer School ???Southeastern Europe in a > Comprehensive Security > Perspective??" > > From July 12 to 24, 2004 the Austrian Institute for > International > Affairs ??OIIP will host the 5th European > International Relations > Summer School (EIRSS) of the Standing Group on > International > Relations (SGIR) within the network of the European > Consortium > for Political Research (ECPR). > > The European International Relations Summer School > (EIRSS) will > offer a two-week intensive program and addresses > qualified > postgraduate students in International Relations and > related > fields of study. All lectures and seminars will be > in English. > Participants will also have the opportunity to > present their own > research projects in baseline seminars. Also planned > is a program > of discussion with experts at the United Nations > Office, the OSCE > and the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. > > For further information about the EIRSS, visit its > website at > www.sgir.org/eirss.htm. For further information on > eligibility, > credit, housing, fees, and to obtain an application > to the EIRSS, > please contact the Austrian Institute for > International Affairs ?? > OIIP at www.oiip.at/summerschool or sommer at oiip.at. > > > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard - Read only the mail you want. http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools