Albanian Diversity

Goodbye Belgium - a failed state

2009-06-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

Ed West -Culture Wars
Jun 11, 2009 at 10:56:24
Posted in: Politics

Europe's most famous fake country took a step closer to being put out of its misery last week as the loveless marriage between Flanders and Walloonia continued to fall apart.
Reports the Brussels Journal
Yesterday, apart from the European elections, Belgium also held elections for the regional parliaments in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern half of the country, and Wallonia, the French-speaking southern half.
These elections highlighted the fact that Flanders and Wallonia are two different nations. While the left won in Wallonia, it was crushed in Flanders.
In the Walloon Parliament (75 seats) the leftist green party Ecolo won 14 seats (+11), the Parti Socialiste (PS) remained the biggest with 30 seats (-4), the liberal-conservative Mouvement Reformateur received 18 seats (-2), the centrist christian-democrat CDH won 13 seats (-1) and the Front National lost its 4 seats. The greatest surprise was that the PS was only marginally affected by the tsunami of corruption and other scandals (even one involving child pornography) in which it has been entangled.
A paedophile scandal in Belgium - what next? Meanwhile in Flanders pro-independence parties won over a third of the vote, meaning that it will be hard to form a government without one of them. The most popular remain the pretty nasty Vlaams Belang, the sort of dodgy operation young Tintin would have supported during his Commie-kicking days. But they are in decline, partly thanks to a telling campaign:
The VB, meanwhile, feels it has been unfairly treated during the election campaign. The mainstream media, which all receive government subsidies, refused to run VB adds and hardly devoted any attention to Belgium’s main opposition party. In the past, parties were assigned broadcasting time to run a short informative television spot of their own on the state television channel. These programs, too, were abolished for this year’s campaign. A journalist openly admitted: “In these broadcasts, Filip Dewinter could openly express his political views. This was sufficient reason to ban these broadcasts.”
So to fight fascism the government pays the media to influence the voters - lucky we in Britain have the super-impartial BBC. But no wonder Belgium is so institutionally corrupt and unworkable when even the media relies on the daddy state.
I won't lament this fake state if and when it falls. Belgium was a good idea in 1830, when it was artificially created because the Dutch couldn't bear to have the French as neighbours - and who could blame them? Nation states with defined borders and tribalism-free politics work. Artificial countries, whether in Europe, Africa or elsewhere, are intrinsically corrupt.
And wouldn't it be wonderful if, at the very heart of the European project, the very principle behind it was shown to be unworkable with two tribes, let alone 27?

China rejects US criticism over military strength

2009-05-08T00:06:00.000-07:00

Visitors looks at a Chinese-made missile "Yongshi" on display at the Military Museum in Beijing, China, Wednesday, May 6, 2009. Chinese military officials have rejected criticism by Washington that China's rising military power is focused on countering the United States and said U.S. pressure was behind Australia's bid to boost its defense spending. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (Andy Wong - AP)

Workers clean military vehicles on display at the Military Museum in Beijing, China, Wednesday, May 6, 2009. Chinese military officials have rejected criticism by Washington that China's rising military power is focused on countering the United States and said U.S. pressure was behind Australia's bid to boost its defense spending. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (Andy Wong - AP)

Visitors looks at a Chinese made missile "Yongshi" on display at the Military Museum in Beijing, China, Wednesday, May 6, 2009. Chinese military officials have rejected criticism by Washington that China's rising military power is focused on countering the United States and said U.S. pressure was behind Australia's bid to boost its defense spending. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (Andy Wong - AP)

By TINI TRAN

The Associated Press
Wednesday, May 6, 2009; 8:00 AM

BEIJING -- China blamed the United States on Wednesday for the latest naval confrontation between the countries, after rejecting criticism by Washington that Beijing's rising military strength is focused on countering U.S power.

A U.S. Navy ship "violated" international and Chinese laws by entering what China considers its "exclusive economic zone" without authorization, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said.

"It entered China's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Yellow Sea without permission from the Chinese side. China is concerned about it, and asked U.S to take effective measures to prevent a similar case from happening again," he said in a statement.

The Pentagon said the latest encounter occurred Friday in international waters when two Chinese fishing vessels came dangerously close _ to within 30 yards (27 meters) _ of the USNS Victorious as it was operating in the Yellow Sea.

The Victorious crew sounded its alarm and shot water from its fire hoses to try to deter the vessels in an hour-long incident, one official said. The vessels didn't leave until the Victorious radioed a nearby Chinese military vessel for help, said Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman.

The past month has seen a number of confrontations between Chinese vessels and U.S. Navy surveillance ships in the Pacific that have become almost a routine cat-and-mouse game on the seas.

There have been four incidents _ including last Friday's _ where Chinese-flagged fishing vessels maneuvered close to unarmed U.S. ships crewed by civilians and used by the Pentagon to do underwater surveillance and submarine hunting missions, two Pentagon officials said.

U.S. Defense officials have called the Chinese maneuvers dangerous and say they could lead to escalating problems.

Military tensions have increased as U.S. officials have increasingly spoken out about China's military spending and the country's lack of transparency.

Earlier this week, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said China's increasing military strength seemed to be focused on counterbalancing America's presence in Asia.

"They are developing capabilities that are very maritime focused, maritime and air focused, and in many ways, very much focused on us," Mullen said in Washington. "They seem very focused on the United States Navy and our bases that are in that part of the world."

An unidentified Chinese Defense Ministry official was quoted in Wednesday's Global Times newspaper saying that Mullen's remarks were "irresponsible and worked to the disadvantage of the development of Sino-US military relations."

Mullen acknowledged that "every country in the world has got a right to develop their military as they see fit to provide for their own security" but suggested the U.S. and its allies needed to cooperate to figure out a way to work with China to avoid miscalculations.

Beijing has bristled at the criticism, saying its military spending was on par with its economic growth and defense needs, and its budget remains only a fraction of the Pentagon's.

"The U.S. has to create an imaginary enemy to find excuses to develop its military might," Li Jie, a military expert on the Navy, was quoted as saying in the Global Times, which is connected to the Communist Party's People's Daily. "How on Earth can China threaten the U.S.?"

Last year, China announced a military budget of $61 billion, up nearly 18 percent over the previous year. It was the 18th year of double-digit growth of military spending in the past 19 years. China's spending, which puts it on par with Japan, Russia and Britain, is still dwarfed by U.S. military expenditures, which are nearly 10 times as large.

Chinese military officials have accused the U.S. of encouraging allies such as Australia to beef up their militaries to help contain China.

Canberra announced last Saturday it would buy 100 state-of-the-art U.S. jet fighters and double the size of its modest submarine fleet to keep pace with military spending in Asia.

"The U.S. has successfully coaxed Australia into approving a military budget of $70 billion to boost its defenses over the next 20 years," the Global Times quoted Zhang Zhaozhong, a rear admiral in the People's Liberation Army Navy, as saying Wednesday.

Upbeat music 'makes you think everyone is happy'

2009-05-07T17:52:00.000-07:00

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:13 AM on 08th May 2009

Listening to cheerful music can be one way to put you in a good mood on the way into work.

But beware - it can also make you think that everyone else feels just as happy as you do.

So that ticking-off from the boss as you arrive smiling at your desk may come as something of a shock.

Uplifting? Experts say that listening to Girls Aloud can convince you that other people are in a good mood

Researchers have found that listening to different types of music on an iPod or car stereo can dramatically change the way we think about others.

They say that listening to Girls Aloud or Beethoven's Ninth can convince you that other people are in a good mood too.

But listening to gloomy jazz or songs by 1980s doom merchants such as Morrissey or Joy Division can make you assume that everyone else is feeling down.

Gloomy: Tuning in to Morrissey can make you assume that everyone else is feeling down, according to researchers

Even a 15-second snatch of music is enough to influence perceptions of strangers, workmates or friends, the study at Goldsmith's College, University of London, found.

And it is not just music that affects perceptions.

Scientists found the same effect from 'happy' sounds such as crashing waves, crackling fires and birdsong and 'sad' sounds such as machine guns, whistling wind and industrial machinery.

The findings suggest that listening to upbeat music can make your day more bearable - and create the illusion that you are surrounded by happy, contented people.

Lead researcher Dr Joydeep Bhattacharya tested the effects of 120 sounds and songs on mood and perception.

His team played 46 volunteers 15-second snatches of music and sounds before showing them a selection of faces and asking them to decide if each one was happy, sad or neutral.

Listening to sad music made the volunteers more likely to judge the faces as sad, while upbeat music made the faces appear happier.

The happy music included Take Five by Dave Brubeck, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, Mark Knopfler's Theme To Local Hero and upbeat classical pieces by Bach, Handel and Beethoven.

Sad tunes include moody jazz tracks from the likes of Charlie Parker, modern classical works and rock from Deep Purple.

Electrical sensors stuck to the volunteers' heads revealed that music triggered a response in parts of the brain involved in visual stimuli.

If the music is happy then the next face a person sees is more likely to be perceived as happy, Dr Bhattacharya said.

He believes the effects could be more pronounced if people choose music they know lifts or deflates their mood.

Intervista e ABC e ish-presidentit Ramiz Alia

2009-04-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

Në një rrëfim të gjatë dhënë revistës së re “ABC”, ish-presidenti Ramiz Alia tregon jetën e tij dhe raportet konfidenciale në kupolën e shtetit komunist. Flet për herë të parë për përplasjet në Komitetin Qendror dhe se çfarë ndodhi pak minuta pas vdekjes së ish-kryeministrit të hekurt

Cilat kanë qenë etapat e formimit tuaj intelektual, duke nisur që prej periudhës së gjimnazit, kohë për të cilën keni kujtime të mira. Cilët kanë qenë idhujt shpirtërorë, filozofikë e letrarë të asaj kohe, raportet me shokët e gjimnazit. A ka ndër ta personazhe që u bënë figura të njohura dhe veçanërisht raportet me Todi Lubonjën, i cili edhe sot mbetet një prej miqve tuaj?

R. Alia: Kam lindur në Shkodër, ku kam bërë dy klasë të shkollës fillore. Më pas, familja u vendos në Tiranë, ku vazhdova edhe shkollën. Pasi mbarova filloren në “Shkollën e Kuqe”, u regjistrova në gjimnazin e Tiranës. Në atë kohë, gjimnazi i kryeqytetit ishte një prej shkollave më të mira të vendit dhe mos harroni se ishin vetëm gjimnazi i Shkodrës, Liceu i Korçës, Normalja e Elbasanit dhe gjimnazi i Tiranës. Këto ishin shkollat e mesme të plota, përveç Teknikes në Tiranë. Dua të them që gjimnazi i Tiranës ishte një institucion, ku jepnin mësim, mësues e pedagogë mjaft të ditur. Unë kam pasur mësues shumë të mirë si Vangjel Gjikondi, Minella Karajani, Sotir Angjeli, Vasil Andoni, Mihal Zallari, Vedat Kokona, Nonda Bulka, etj. Drejtor i shkollës ishte Safet Butka. Kur u krijua Universiteti i Tiranës, shumica prej tyre u bënë pedagogë themelues të atij universiteti. Jeta në gjimnaz ishte e veçantë: në atë kohë lexonim shumë, si të rinj që ishim, dhe në atë ambjent u formuam në të gjitha kuptimet. Në vitin 1939, në kohën e pushtimit, unë ndiqja gjimnazin dhe ishte pikërisht ky moment që shënoi për të rinjtë e shkollave formimin e ndjenjës antifashiste. Pas vitit 1941, vit i krijimit të Partisë Komuniste, kur lëvizja antifashiste përfshiu të gjithë rininë shkollore, unë kam hyrë në Organizatën e Rinisë Komuniste. E thashë këtë, pasi kjo shënon edhe përfshirjen në jetën politike. Kjo kohë përcakton edhe shokët e ngushtë, me të cilët diskutonim për çështje të ndryshme të fushave të ndryshme. Kam pasur shumë shokë, një pjesë e të cilëve janë vrarë, si shoku im i ngushtë Manush Alimani, Siri Kodra, Zeqi Agolli, etj. Diskutonim për politikë, por edhe për kulturën në përgjithësi. Lexonin letërsi, kryesisht italiane, por edhe amerikane si Shtajnbekun, Mark Tueinin, Danten, etj.

A kishte ndonjë afeksion të rinisë shqiptare për Danten, për poetët e tjerë popullorë, për Italinë? Po i referohemi një periudhe të depërtimit kulturor italian….
R. Alia: Sigurisht, ka patur. Por lexoheshin edhe shumë të tjerë. Lexonim në atë kohë edhe filozofi si Shopenhauerin, Niçen, etj., sepse ishte kuriozitet i madh. Marksin nuk e njihnim mirë. Njihnim vetëm disa teza themelore të tij. Përmendët Todi Lubonjën. Është personazh që kam qenë gjithë jetën i lidhur, prej rinisë deri më sot. Todi ka qenë më lart në vite shkolle se unë. Kemi qenë shokë fëmijërie e shtëpitë i kemi pasur afër në Tiranë. Edhe pas çlirimit, kemi punuar në sektorë që na lidhte puna, si në sektorin e rinisë, të kulturës, etj. Nuk është e nevojshme të futemi në historinë e Todit.

A keni ndjerë keqardhje për fatin e Todit dhe çfarë keni bërë ju për ta ndryshuar atë fat?
R. Alia: Ajo që ndodhi me Todin, e kam thënë gjithnjë, duke u nisur nga vija e partisë në atë kohë, u konsiderua gabim. Edhe unë vetë kam qenë i mendimit se atje (në Festivalin e 11) kishte ekzagjerime, gjithnjë sipas vijës politike të kohës. Për këtë e kam kritikuar personalisht Todin, që në mbrëmjen e festivalit. Por, ashtu si rrodhën ngjarjet, sidomos burgosjen e Todit, e kam vuajtur personalisht, si për një shok të ngushtë timin. Por, është e kuptueshme, në atë kohë, më shumë se të shprehja dhimbjen, nuk mund të bëja asgjë.

Por, kur u bëtë Sekretar i Parë dhe President i Shqipërisë, ju i kishit të gjitha mundësitë ama?
R. Alia: Po. Mund të thonë se përse nuk bëra gjë për Todin. Por nuk ishte problemi i vetëm Todi. Problemi ishte se në atë kohë duhej rishikuar çështja e dhjetëra e dhjetëra kuadrove të partisë, të cilët ishin dënuar. Pra, t’i hyje një rishikimi të tillë, do të ishte tepër e vështirë për mua. Do të konsiderohej si një shkëputje nga rruga e Enver Hoxhës, si një shkëputje nga e gjithë veprimtaria e partisë deri në atë kohë, një rishikim, një revizionim i plotë i vijës së partisë, gjë që nuk bëhej dot.

Çështja e Mehmet Shehut vazhdon edhe sot të zërë faqet e shtypit. Keni ndonjë refleksion të tanishëm të nxitur nga ky shtyp? Ç’mund të thoni rreth tij si figurë politike e intelektuale? Cili ka qenë raporti juaj me të?
R. Alia: Përsa i përket Mehmet Shehut, çështja themelore për të cilën shkruajnë autorë të ndryshëm sot, është: Vrau veten apo e vranë? Unë do të them në mënyrë kategorike se Mehmet Shehu e vrau veten dhe prova për këtë është, jo ku u gjet e jo ku nuk u gjet koburja, por letra e shkruar prej tij. Në atë letër, e shkruar nga dora e tij, thuhet që ai po vret veten, jep rekomandimet, etj., etj.

Në ato rekomandime, ai ju përmend edhe juve….
R. Alia: Në atë letër më përmend edhe mua, në kuptimin që i thotë Enver Hoxhës “ruaju nga njerëzit që ke përreth”, e përmend Kadri Hazbiun që e quan “Jago”, përmend emrin tim dhe të Foto Çamit. Por kryesisht, emrin tim, që më cilëson si “Hrushov”, etj. Këto ishin mendime që kishte Mehmeti.
Pse e kishte këtë mendim Mehmeti për ju?
R. Alia: Para se të them se përse e kishte këtë mendim, doja të tregoja raportet e mia me Mehmet Shehun, ose më mirë, mendimin tim për Mehmetin. Ai ka qenë një kuadër e udhëheqës i talentuar i vendit tonë. Ai ka qenë i ditur, njeri që lexonte, i mprehtë nga pikëpamja politike, ishte shumë punëtor e aktiv. Nuk kishte lënë zonë të Shqipërisë që Mehmeti nuk e kishte shkelur me këmbë, si i thonë fjalës. Nga kjo pikëpamje, ai ishte padiskutim një prej kuadrove kryesorë të partisë.

Kishte divergjenca me ju, që e bënin atë të arrinte në konkluzione të tilla?
R. Alia: Jo divergjenca. Ai nuk pajtohej, ose e shihte me sy sektar qëndrimin tim, që ishte relativisht i butë. Nuk kam qenë i egër me njerëzit që punoja, me sektorët që kontrolloja, etj. Për shembull, ndodhi ajo që ndodhi me grupin ku ishte edhe Todi Lubonja, që ishte sektori që drejtoja unë. Mehmeti u ngrit në Pleniumin e Komitetit Qëndror e tha që përgjegjës është Ramizi, domethënë donte, në një mënyrë ose në një tjetër, që të më implikonte edhe mua në atë problem.

Pra, atëherë, raportet tuaja ishin të ftohta?
R. Alia: Të ftohta nuk kanë qenë asnjëherë, por unë do të thoja korrekte. Marrëdhëniet e mia me Hysni Kapon, kanë qenë shumë më të afërta se sa me Mehmetin.

Qëndrimi i Mehmetit në letrën e fundit para vdekjes, ka pasur si pikënisje qëndrimin tuaj kritik ndaj tij në mbledhjen e Byrosë?
R. Alia: Jo, nuk e besoj. Qëndrimi im ka qenë i matur. Unë nuk jam futur në kritikë ndaj Mehmetit me fjalë kot. Por atë mendim për mua, Mehmeti duhet ta ketë krijuar përpara, duke parë tolerancën time në drejtimin e sektorëve për të cilët kisha përgjegjësi. Unë isha më i kuptueshëm me njerëzit. Nuk isha i egër në drejtimin e këtyre sektorëve, ku ai mendonte se influencat e huaja po shfaqeshin, po dukeshin.

Mos vallë ka qenë pjesë e luftës për pushtet? Mos ndoshta ju konsideronte si rival kryesor për të qenë pasardhës i Enver Hoxhës?
R. Alia: Nuk besoj të jetë nisur nga ky koncept pasi, për drejtuesit e partisë, Mehmeti konsiderohej si njeriu që do të vinte pas Enver Hoxhës. Sa ishte gjallë Hysni Kapo, kishte një lloj dyshimi se cili do të ishte pasuesi i Enverit, por absolutisht për mua që isha në radhën e tretë apo të katërt. Pasi vdiq Hysniu, ishte Mehmeti ai që konsiderohej si pasardhës. Madje edhe ne, sekretarët e Komitetit Qendror, kur nuk ishte Enveri, shkonim te Mehmeti për t’u këshilluar. Prandaj, nuk ka qenë ky motiv.

Në momentin kur kanë nisur fërkimet e Mehmetit me Enverin, për çështjen e fejesës së djalit, ai mund të ketë menduar për ndonjë konspiracion ku ju ka përfshirë edhe juve….
R. Alia: Ai mund të ketë menduar shumë gjëra, por nuk jam në gjendje të flas për ato që ka menduar ai.

Pas vdekjes së tij, u mbajt një qëndrim i ftohtë, me një komunikatë zyrtare. Më pas, nisi një fushatë kriminalizuese ndaj tij si poliagjent, etj. I qëndroni ju sot, pas 25 viteve, akuzave që ai ka qenë agjent i Jugosllavëve, amerikanëve, rusëve, etj.?
R. Alia: Vetëvrasja e Mehmetit e komplikoi problemin, pasi lindi pyetja se përse e bëri këtë? Pse vrau veten? Ishte pikërisht kjo pse. Mua, kur më njoftuan për vrasjen e Mehmetit, kam shkuar te Enveri për ta lajmëruar. Gjëja e parë që tha Enveri: “Po pse vrau veten?”. I bëri pyetje vetes. Nuk deshi përgjigje nga unë. Pra, lindi kjo pyetje. E më vonë, pas një apo dy ditësh, në zyrën e Enverit, ai më bëri një pyetje: “I ke parë ti ato dokumenta që na kanë ardhur në vitin 1964 për Mehmetin”? Unë nuk kisha parë gjë dhe i thashë: “Jo, nuk di gjë”. U ngrit, ishin në kasafortën e Hysnin Kapos që kishte vdekur në atë kohë. Kasafortën e Hysniut e mbante Enveri në kasafortën e tij. E hapi atë kasafortë dhe më dha një zarf me kartela, të cilat ishin kartela të zbulimit të huaj. Autentike apo jo, unë nuk them dot gjë. Fakt është që ato i kishin parë në vitin 1964 Enveri dhe Hysniu, vetëm këta të dy, e kishin arritur në përfundimin se ky është një provokacion që na bëjnë rusët për të na ndarë me Mehmetin. E, për këtë arsye e kishin mbyllur për rreth 17 vjet (1964-1981). Meqënëse Mehmeti vrau veten, Enveri nisi të besojë se këto janë të vërteta. Unë nuk them dot gjë për këto dokumente. Me thënë të drejtën, kur i lexova, të dukej se kishe të bëje me një agjent të tyre të Intelligence Service. Në ishin apo jo të vërteta, nuk them dot gjë. Në vitin 1987, në ambasadën tonë në Argjentinë, një amerikan dorëzon një letër, ku thuhej se: “Ato dokumente që ju janë dhënë në vitin 1964, janë të vërteta”. Pra, kur kishte vdekur edhe Mehmeti, edhe Enveri. Unë e kam parë atë dokument, ia kam lexuar Komitetin Qëndror të Partisë dhe u kam thënë: “Nuk dua asnjë koment, por të futet në arkivë”. Ajo duhet të jetë në arkiv.

Ju duket disi qesharake…?
R. Alia: Mund të jetë qesharake, mund të jetë hiç. Unë sot nuk mund të prononcohem fare, pasi nuk kam asnjë të dhënë. Unë po flas atë që ishte reale.

Po me zemër?
R. Alia: Me zemër them këtë: Po të kishte qenë Mehmeti i tillë që nga viti 1942-’43, kohë kur ishte në kampin e përqendrimit, deri në vitin 1981 kur vrau veten, i thonë 40 vjet. Çfarë ka pritur? Ishte në krye të vendit. Po të ishte agjent i amerikanëve apo i anglezëve, çfarë donin më tepër ata për ta shtruar Shqipërinë?! Mehmeti do të kishte vepruar. Por deri atëherë s’ka vepruar. Domethënë, kur them vepruar, një agjent i atij niveli bën përmbysje. Nuk thotë ai: …Ky është kështu, e ky është ashtu… Muhabet kot. Pra, ai një veprim të tillë nuk e bëri. E ka pasur raste të shumta, si për shembull në kohën e prishjes me sovjetikët. Nga kjo pikëpamje, janë të dyshimta konkluzionet mbi atë çështje.

Ramiz Alia: Arsyet pse Mehmeti vrau veten

2009-04-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

Në këtë intervistë të marrë nga emisioni “Opinion”, Alia i pergjigjet pyetjeve te Fevziut:

Kur e ndjetë realisht se do të ishit zëvendësi i Enver Hoxhës?
Pasi vdiq Mehmeti, sepse para se të vdiste ai mendohej se do të ishte ai ose shokët e tjerë. Hysniu konsiderohej një nga kryesorët, po kështu edhe Mehmeti dhe Beqiri. Kështu që nuk më shkonte mendja ndonjëherë. Vetëm pasi vrau veten Mehmet Shehu ishte e qartë.

A u eliminua Mehmet Shehu për t’ju hapur ju rrugën drejt pushtetit? A u detyrua të vriste veten?
Mehmet Shehu vrau veten, eliminoi veten. U detyrua të vriste veten, sepse ishte një njeri me katarker të vështirë. Mehmeti nuk e duronte dot që të kritikohej, të jetonte si të thuash me një barrë mbi kurriz. Por u habitëm që vrau veten.

Ju keni qenë, me sa duket, njeriu që lajmëroi Enver Hoxhën për këtë?
E lajmërova Enverin, sepse mua më lajmëroi shoqëruesi i Mehmet Shehut. Më mori në telefon dhe më tha: “Ky ka vrarë veten”. Edhe unë vajta drejt nga shtëpia tek Enveri dhe e gjeta duke ngrënë bukë. Atë ditë kishim mbledhjen e Byrosë dhe ai tha: ‘Do të mbarojmë shpejt sot, do të dëgjojmë fjalën e Mehmetit, do të flas edhe unë, jam dakord me atë që propozuat ju”. Ne kishim propozuar vërejtje me shkrim në kartën e regjistrimit. Kaq. Pasi tha këtë, i thashë: “S’kemi çfarë mbarojmë se ai e mbaroi punën, vrau veten”.

Ishte befasuese për Enver Hoxhën?
Shumë befasuese. Nuk e priste, sepse edhe Mehmeti nuk pati ndonjë rasye. Të tërë shokët bënë kritika, por konkluzioni ishte vetëm vërejtje në kartën e regjistrimit dhe aq.

Si shpjegohet fakti që Mehmet Shehu vrau veten në një moment që ai nuk i duronte dot kritikat e tjera, por pa pasur ndonjë paramendim, si shpjegohet që dënimi ndaj familjes së tij qe ekstrem?
Nuk mendoj se kishte ndonjë gjë të veçantë ndaj familjes së tij. Ai ishte një problem që ka ndodhur edhe herë të tjera. Pas vetëvrasjes së Mehmetit u bë ajo tabloja sinoptike në të cilën gruaja e tij paraqitej si një njeri që ishte agjent i të huajve dhe ai vetvetiu kishte hyrë në këtë rrugë ku implikohej edhe e shoqja. Masat që u morën ndaj së shoqes ishin të lidhura me këtë agjenturë.

Ju vetë besuat se ai kishte qenë agjent?
Dokumentet që unë kam parë me sytë e mi, thonë që është. Më 1987-ën kam marrë personalisht një letër nga Argjentina, që e dërgonte një amerikan ku thoshte se ato dokumente janë të sakta. Pra, dokumentet thonë se ky ishte. Tani, më tej, ndosnjë fakt a ndonjë dokument që të vërtetojë saktësinë e tyre nuk ka. Marrim anën tjetër. Enver Hoxha dhe Hysni Kapo këto dokumente i panë në vitin 1964 dhe i mbyllën, sepse ata nuk konstatuan se Mehmeti kishte bërë ndonjë gjë deri në atë moment.

Në letrën që ka lënë pas vdekjes, Mehmet Shehu është shumë i ashpër. Pse kjo mëri ndaj jush?
Unë nuk kam pasur ndonjë kontradiktë me të. Kemi shkuar mirë në përgjithësi. Tani ndoshta dy karaktere të ndryshme; ai ishte nervoz, i ashpër, i rreptë, thoshte gjithmonë fjalën e fundit të parën, ndërsa unë e kundërta. Nga kjo më vunë mua titullin liberali. Ai ishte ekstremist, unë isha liberal.

Iraq says U.S. raid violated security pact

2009-04-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

By Aref Mohammed

Reuters
Sunday, April 26, 2009; 10:12 PM

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq considers a U.S. military raid that killed two people a crime and wants U.S. forces to hand over those responsible to the courts, an Iraqi official said on Sunday.

Hundreds of Iraqis protested in the southern city of Kut against U.S. forces and the provincial governor also condemned the military operation.

The U.S. military had any immediate comment on the Iraqi stance but said the raid was carried out with the full approval of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government .

It said it had targeted "special group" fighters, its term for Shi'ite militiamen the United States says are funded and armed by Iran, in the operation early on Sunday in Kut, 150 km (95 miles) southeast of Baghdad.

"The general commander is affirming that the killing of two citizens and detaining of others in Kut is considered a violation of the security pact," said an official in the office of Major General Qassim Moussawi, Baghdad's security spokesman.

"He asks the commander of the multinational forces to release the detainees and hand over those responsible for this crime to the courts."

'General commander' refers to Maliki.

Under the U.S.-Iraqi security pact that came into force this year, the 137,000 U.S. troops in Iraq can no longer conduct military operations without Iraqi approval.

The pact says U.S. soldiers are immune from prosecution in Iraqi courts unless they are suspected of grave crimes committed while off duty outside their bases.

Two Iraqi military commanders who authorized the raid were detained on the orders of the defense minister, spokesman Major General Mohammed al-Askari said. A committee had been sent to Kut to investigate.

"This committee has managed to get the six people detained by the Americans released," he said.

Witness Nidhal Abdul Munem, the sister of the man killed in the raid, choked back tears as she recounted her story.

"They invaded our house, shot my brother and my sister-in-law and herded us into one area. All the while, we tried to ask, 'Why are you doing this?'" she said.

ANGRY CROWDS

In a statement issued before the Iraqi government's condemnation, the U.S. military said its troops had shot and killed a man suspected of being behind supplying weapons to the Shi'ite fighters. A woman was killed in the crossfire, it said.

As a funeral procession made its way through Kut, carrying the cloth-draped coffins of the two people killed in the raid, protesters shouted angry slogans and demanded the release of the seized men, calling Americans "criminal occupiers."

"We condemn this horrific incident. Innocent people were killed and the city is now very tense," said Latif al-Tarfa, governor of Wasit province.

U.S. First Lieutenant John Brimley said the women killed was in the area with a suspect and moved into the line of fire. She died of her wounds before she could be evacuated.

But Iraqi police Major Aziz al-Amara, who commands a rapid reaction force in Kut, said all of those targeted in the raid were innocent. One of those arrested was a police captain.

Wasit deputy governing council head Mehdi al-Makosi said the families of the victims were pursuing a legal case against the soldiers who carried out the raid.

The raid was mounted just months before U.S. combat troops are due to withdraw from Iraqi cities. U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered all U.S. combat operations in Iraq to cease in August 2010 before the full withdrawal by the end of 2011.

Kut and surrounding Wasit province were the last area south of Baghdad to be handed over to Iraqi forces last October.

Wasit province was the scene of fighting during an uprising by followers of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in March and April last year but like other parts of the south has since become largely quiet as Sadr's followers observe a ceasefire.

(Additional reporting by Tim Cocks, Waleed Ibrahim, Aseel Kami and Missy Ryan; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

Muslim calligrapher writes Luke's Gospel for pope

2009-04-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

By DALIA NAMMARI

The Associated Press
Monday, April 27, 2009; 3:03 AM

BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- Muslim calligrapher Yasser Abu Saymeh has dedicated the past two months to Christian art, writing the Gospel of Luke in ornate Arabic script to be presented to Pope Benedict XVI when the Roman Catholic leader visits the Holy Land next month.

Abu Saymeh never read a New Testament text before he was picked for the prestigious assignment by Bethlehem's Christian mayor. He said he has since come to appreciate the shared strands of the two faiths.

"I found that many of the things emphasized in Christianity exist in our religion," said the 51-year-old Abu Saymeh.

The artist has nearly completed the Gospel's text, which will eventually cover 65 poster-sized pages. It will be accompanied by colored drawings depicting the life of Christ, from the Nativity to the crucifixion.

The pope will receive the gift on May 13, when he visits Bethlehem as part of a pilgrimage that also includes stops in Nazareth and Jerusalem, the other focal points in the life of Jesus.

During a May 11 reception at the residence of Israel's president, Shimon Peres, the pope will receive another rare gift of Scripture _ a 300,000-word Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible inscribed on a silicon particle the size of a grain of sand, using nanotechnology.

Calligraphy is prized in Islamic cultures because Islam frowns upon figurative art as idolatrous.

Abu Saymeh was trained in Baghdad and works in a small studio in Bethlehem, a few hundred yards (meters) from the Church of the Nativity, built over Jesus' traditional birth grotto.

He opens his workshop early every day, right after dawn prayers at a mosque near his home. The walls are decorated with handwritten verses from the Quran and Arabic poetry. Writing tools are laid out on an old table, including two dozen calligraphy pens and black, green and red ink.

Every few days, a local priest checks completed pages for accuracy. The text and drawings will be bound in deer hide and presented in a mother-of-pearl box, a specialty of Bethlehem artisans.

When it came to choosing a calligrapher for the project, the choice quickly fell on Abu Saymeh. He had won distinction in 2007, when he presented a handwritten copy of the Quran to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

He also teaches calligraphy at a local university, and is sometimes asked to testify in court as a handwriting expert, usually in fraud cases. Raised in a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan, he began his career by drawing signs for what he said were peaceful demonstrations against Israel's military occupation.

Mayor Victor Batarseh said he chose Luke among the four Gospels because he felt his writing contains the most detail about Jesus' time in the city. And he picked Abu Saymeh not just because of his talent, but to send a message of peaceful religious coexistence.

"It's a message to the world that Bethlehem is the city where Christianity was born," he said. "It's also the place of brotherly relations between Muslims and Christians."

Relations between Christians and Muslims in Bethlehem are generally good, though there is occasional friction, usually involving either land disputes or mixed couples breaking the taboo of marrying someone from another religion.

Muslims make up two-thirds of the population in the town of 30,000 and Christian influence has been receding steadily.

The issue of interfaith relations will be high on the pontiff's agenda during his May 8-15 tour, which includes several meetings with Muslim leaders.

Among many Muslims here resentment is still festering from 2006, when Benedict linked Islam and violence. The pope quoted a Medieval text that characterized some of the teachings of Muhammad as "evil and inhuman," particularly "his command to spread by the sword the faith."

Benedict long ago expressed regret for any offense his words might have caused, but his comments on the upcoming trip will be watched closely by Muslims and Chrisians in the Palestinian territories. Any misstep could upset the delicate relations between the Muslim majority and a dwindling Christian minority.

The calligrapher said he took on the mission, in part, because he wanted to send a conciliatory message and distance himself from extremists.

"I would like this to be a message from a Muslim artist through this simple work that the Muslim artist is tolerant and not aggressive, despite abuses that may come from here and there from extremists who use our religion for their own interests," he said.

Clinton Reiterates Iraq Commitment

2009-04-26T19:55:00.000-07:00

Latest Attacks Fuel Residents' Anxiety

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton flew to Iraq on Saturday on the heels of four suicide bombings in two days that killed more than 160 people. (By Hadi Mizban -- Pool)

By Mary Beth Sheridan

Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 26, 2009

BAGHDAD, April 25 -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton promised the people of war-torn Iraq on Saturday that the Obama administration will not abandon them as it begins to pull out U.S. troops.

Clinton flew to the country Saturday morning on the heels of four suicide bombings in two days that killed more than 160 people. The violence signaled the difficulties the Obama administration may face as it tries to shift troops from Iraq to the escalating war in Afghanistan.

"I wanted to come today to repeat the commitment that President Obama and I and our government have to the people and nation of Iraq," Clinton said at a town hall-style meeting at the U.S. Embassy that was broadcast on Iraqi television.

"As we make this transition, the United States will stand with the people of Iraq," she said.

Violence in Iraq has dropped dramatically since the worst days of the war, from an average of 180 attacks daily in June 2007 to 27 a day in January, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. But the death toll has spiked lately, with insurgents demonstrating that they are still able to obtain explosives and outwit Iraqi security forces.

Many attacks are thought to have been carried out by Sunni insurgents, who recently announced a campaign of violence code-named Good Harvest. They appear to be trying to destroy the credibility of the Shiite-led government.

The latest attacks occurred two months before U.S. forces are to withdraw from Iraqi cities under a treaty signed with Iraq in December. The Obama administration is planning to slash the number of troops here from about 140,000 to 50,000 or fewer by the summer of 2010.

Clinton played down the latest burst of violence, telling reporters she saw "no sign" it would reignite the sectarian warfare that ravaged the country in recent years. She said that the Iraqi government had "come a long, long way" and that the bombings were "a signal that the rejectionists fear Iraq is going in the right direction."

The trip was Clinton's fourth to Iraq but her first as secretary of state. Her visit was not announced in advance for security reasons.

She met with Gen. Ray Odierno, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, to discuss the security situation and with Iraqi government leaders, who enjoyed a close relationship with the Bush administration.

To emphasize the new administration's continued engagement with Iraq, Clinton brought along her top deputy, James B. Steinberg, who usually runs the department when she travels. The new U.S. ambassador, Christopher R. Hill, also accompanied her.

Clinton described the highlight of her trip as the town hall-style meeting at the embassy in the heavily guarded Green Zone, where more than 100 Iraqis -- middle-aged businessmen in dark suits, women in headscarves and young men in jeans -- packed a small auditorium. Clinton strolled the stage with microphone in hand, responding to one Iraqi after another who pleaded for assistance for farmers, aid groups, released prisoners and others.

Several people told Clinton they feared that the U.S. commitment to the country would decline with the troop decrease, the economic crisis and the recent transfer of power in the United States.

"It looks like, to us, that the situation of Iraq is not so important, or not in the same level of importance, for the new administration," a human rights activist said.

Clinton vigorously denied that, saying that the troop withdrawal will be done in a "responsible and careful way" and that the U.S. government will increase its assistance for civilian projects, such as strengthening the justice system.

Another questioner, an Iraqi journalist, told Clinton that "frankly, some people are concerned" about the U.S. military drawdown. "There are so many people and so many citizens who don't have enough faith and confidence in the Iraqi forces," he said.

Clinton said the U.S. government will continue to work on building up Iraq's police and military, which have roughly doubled in size in the past two years.

"But we need to be sure that all of you are supporting a strong, nonsectarian security force," she said.

No one at the hour-long event expressed opposition to the U.S. presence in Iraq -- possibly because they had been selected by U.S. Embassy employees. The audience members applauded Clinton, eagerly waved their hands to ask questions and laughed at her wit. But some later expressed disappointment.

"It doesn't resolve any problems. She's just talking," said Shaimma Salman, 27, manager of a construction firm.

Iraqi politicians appeared relieved to hear Clinton's promises of continued support. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said in a statement that Iraqis "are working seriously to bring the terrorism chapter to a close and move on to reconstruction and improving social services."

Special correspondents Zaid Sabah, K.I. Ibrahim and Aziz Alwan contributed to this report.

Handshake With Obama Belies Chavez's Contempt for America

2009-04-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

April 18: President Obama and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez shake hands at the Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad. (AFP photo)

When President Obama met Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Trinidad on Friday, he shook hands with a man who only four years ago called the United States the most "murderous empire that has existed in the history of the world."

Chavez has hardly mellowed, either. Last month, in a radio address, he called Obama a "poor ignorant person," and in January he accused the new president of having the "same stench" as President Bush -- just the latest lashes in a long line of his signature anti-American speeches over the years.

Here are just some of Chavez's anti-American blasts:

-- "The U.S. has bombarded entire cities, used chemical weapons and napalm, killed women, children and thousands of soldiers. That's terrorism." (Sept. 25, 2005: Washington Post interview)

-- The U.S. government under Bush is the "most savage, cruel and murderous empire that has existed in the history of the world." (Aug. 8, 2005: Caracas youth rally)

-- "Our real enemy is called the U.S. empire, and on Sunday, Dec. 2, we're going to give another knockout to Bush, so no one forgets that is the battlefield." (Dec. 1, 2007: election speech in Caracas)

-- "Capitalism will lead to the destruction of humanity ... (and America) is the devil that represents capitalism." (August 2006: speech in Vietnam)

-- American policy in the Mideast is "a policy of permanent aggression, of war, of terrorism by the U.S. empire. That's the great guilty one, the great Satan, as they call it here." (April 1, 2009: Tehran, Iran)

-- "The imperialist, genocidal, fascist attitude of the U.S. president has no limits. I think Hitler would be like a suckling baby next to George W. Bush." (Feb. 4, 2005: rally in Caracas)

-- Chavez accused the U.S. and allies of lobbing "imperialist fire! Fascist fire! Murderous fire! ... genocidal fire against the innocent people of Palestine and Lebanon by the Empire and Israel" during an address he made at the U.N. in September 2006.

-- ''The axis of evil is Washington and its allies around the world, which go about threatening, invading and murdering. We [Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales] are forming the axis of good." (Jan. 3, 2005: Caracas)

-- "The United States brought the (Sept. 11) attacks upon itself, for their arrogant imperialist foreign policy." (Sept. 12, 2001: Venezuelan TV)

-- "The hypothesis that is gaining strength ... is that it was the same U.S. imperial power that planned and carried out this terrible terrorist attack or act against its own people and against citizens of all over the world. Why? To justify the aggressions that immediately were unleashed on Afghanistan, on Iraq." (Sept, 12. 2006: Caracas speech)

-- "The devil came here yesterday," Chavez said at the U.N. general assembly, referring to President Bush as he made the sign of the cross and accused the U.S. of "domination, exploitation and pillage of peoples of the world." (Sept. 20, 2006: New York)

-- "I hope I am wrong, but I believe Obama brings the same stench" as President Bush. (Jan. 17, 2009: Caracas speech)

--"They are threatening any country that decides to be free." (Feb. 1, 2007: Caracas speech)

While those kinds of words would draw the dagger stares of the Secret Service on most offenders, they earned Chavez a warm greeting and thanks from Obama, who also received a gift from Chavez at the 34-nation Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

On Sunday, Obama defended the handshake and said his presence at the summit would help open up relations with other nations in the Americas.

"It's unlikely that as a consequence of me shaking hands or having a polite conversation with Mr. Chavez that we are endangering the strategic interests of the United States," Obama said.

But some veteran diplomats said Chavez would wield the gracious grasp as an important symbol to help consolidate his growing power in Venezuela.

"What he's going to say is that what he has been doing in Venezuela now has the seal of approval of the United States," said Otto Reich, who was ambassador to Venezuela under President Reagan. "He sees it as a green light to continue dismantling democracy in Venezuela."

Reich said Chavez is already using the handshake as propaganda and called the summit a missed opportunity by the Obama administration.

"What the president of the United States last night and today is trying to explain as a handshake, Chavez is already announcing as the greatest exito -- success -- in Venezuelan political history," he said.

FOXNews.com

Serbian-Albanian Conflict

2008-10-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

1913 to 1946

The border between Albania and its neighbours was delineated in 1912-1913 following the dissolution of most of the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Balkans. The borders chosen for the new state did not correspond to the ethnic composition of the region, leaving hundreds of thousands of Albanians outside Albania. This population was largely divided between Montenegro and Serbia (which then included what is now the Republic of Macedonia). A substantial number of Albanians thus found themselves under Serbian rule.

The initial sparks of the first Balkan War in 1912 were ignited by the Albanian uprising between 1908-10 which were directed at opposing the Young Turk policies of consolidation of the Ottoman Empire. Following the eventual weakening of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria declared war and sought to aggrandize their respective boundaries on the remaining territories of the Empire. Albania was thus invaded by Serbia in the North and Greece in the south, restricting the country to only a patch of land around the southern coastal city of Vlora. In 1912 Albania, still under foreign occupation declared its independence and with the aid of Austria-Hungary, the Great Powers drew its present borders leaving more than half of the Albanian population outside the new country.

In 1914, Serbia was invaded by Austria-Hungary. During the autumn of 1915 its army, accompanied by a host of civilian refugees, was forced into retreat in the face of the Austrian invasion. It embarked on a two-month forced march across Kosova, Montenegro and Albania to the Albanian port of Durrës, from where it was evacuated by the Allies. Along the way it was repeatedly attacked by local Albanians; many more Serbian soldiers died of starvation, with 150,000 fatalities by the time the host had reached the sea. (See Serbian Campaign (World War I) for more information on this campaign.)

The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was established following the war. As the kingdom's original name - the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes - indicated, the Albanians of Yugoslavia were not regarded as a constitutive nation of the new state but rather a mere ethnic minority. Official discrimination and efforts to dilute the numbers of the Albanian population led to the formation of anti-Serbian groups, the so-called Kaçak.

In the Second World War, Kosova Albanians rebelled against Axis-occupied Serbia and threw in their lot with Italian-controlled Albania. Kosova and parts of what is now Macedonia were annexed to a "Ethnic Albania". Other Albanians joined the Partisans of Josip Broz Tito, seeking to obtain equal status for Kosova in a future federation.

From 1946, when the constitution of the Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia (later the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) was established, the Albanians of Yugoslavia were split between three new entities: the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosova, the Socialist Republic of Macedonia and the Socialist Republic of Monte Negro (Montenegrins being a much smaller in number population had the right to have a republic, while the Albanians the second largest nation in Yugoslavia were not even recognized as a nation, but as a small minority) . The Albanians were again established as "national minorities" rather than "nations". The Yugoslav government imposed a strongly repressive policy, carried out by the UDBA secret police under the direction of Aleksandar Ranković. Tito, and his reight hand man, the Slovene Edvard Kardelj, recognized that Kosovo would be a thorn in the Yugoslavian side, and therefore it should be given back to Albania.^{[citation needed]} Nevertheless, this promise (to the Albanian communist leader, Enver Hoxha was never materialized, because, according to Tito, the "Serbian element would not be able to accept it."

After Ranković fell from power in 1966, the position of the Yugoslav Albanians improved somewhat. Mass demonstrations by Albanian students in 1974 led to the province obtaining greater autonomy under the rule of the local (Albanian-dominated) Communist Party. Serbian nationalism started immediately to sabotage the Albanian run entity.

With the rise of Slobodan Milošević in the late 1980s, serbians decided to go back to the Rankocivic's time... In 1989 Slobodan Milošević greatly reduced the autonomy of Kosova and imposed a harshly repressive regime that was widely criticised by foreign governments and international human rights groups. The province remained quiet during the early phase of the Yugoslav Wars, but by 1996 Albanian nationalists had established the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) to fight for an independent Kosovo. Attacks against the Serbian security forces and civilian targets followed, and by 1998 the province was in a state of widespread low-level war. The Kosovo War of 1999 resulted in NATO forces expelling Serbian and Yugoslav security forces from Kosovo.

[edit] 1999-present

Bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica over Ibar - symbol of division of Kosovo

Open conflict between Albanians and Serbs broke out again between 1999 and 2001 in the demilitarized Preševo area under Serbia. Albanian nationalists, aided by former members of the KLA, established the Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac (UCPMB) with the aim of uniting the Albanian territories. The conflict was, however, on a much smaller scale and intensity than in Kosovo, taking the form of gun and bomb attacks... The conflict was ended when the area was remilitarized, with the consent of NATO, and the UCPMB rebels were allowed to disarm and disband under a NATO-run amnesty.

It is not surprising, given the history of conflict between the two peoples, that relations between them have been and still are extremely troubled. Observers have noted a frequent tendency on the Serbian side to refer to Albanians as "Shiptars", a term regarded by Albanians as derogatory (although being a direct transliteration of the Albanian word, shqiptari), and on the Albanian side to refer to Serbians as "Shkije", a term regarded by Serbians as derogatory as it translates to "sub-human".

Even before the Kosovo War, the two communities led largely separate lives with little intermarriage or social contact. Opinion polls carried out in the late 1980s and 1990s found that Albanians were seen by Serbs in an extremely negative light. A 1994 survey found that only 33% of Serbs would agree to socialize with Albanians; 52% accepted Albanians living in the same country as them, 48% accepted them as co-workers, 40% as friends, 22% as leaders and 22% as a relative. A 1997 survey conducted in Kosovo found that Serbs regarded Albanians as united (62%), xenophobic (55%), sly (46%), backward (37%) and rough-mannered (20%). Fewer than 10% judged Albanians to be cultured, civilized, clean or friendly towards other peoples. The same survey found that Albanians were equally distrustful of Serbs, describing them as xenophobic (81%), sly (52%), pushy (39%), selfish (27%) and rough-mannered (26%). ^[2] It is safe to assume that the experience of the Kosovo War has resulted in opinions hardening on both sides.

The ethnic conflict between the Serbs and Albanians stems back to ancient times. It corresponds to the arrival of the slavic populations in the Balkan penisula around 600 A.C. Being the Albanians a different ethnic group the albanian language, customs, uses and religious approach was totally different regarding the uses and culture of the slavic populations. Albanians used to have strong ties with the Roman Catholic Church, ties that even now days are identified in a significant Albanian Catholic community in Albania.

During the Ottoman dominion the Albanians faced the risk of being assimilated by the slavic populations, thus became Muslims to avoid identifying themselves as Slavic and certainly won by such a move a privileged position inside the Ottoman administrate. Of course later on the conflict was depicted as a religious dispute between Muslims (modern day Albanians) and the Orthodox Christians (modern day Serbians). Even in the modern times it is easy to notice that the conflict grew up on ethnic differences, land disputes, political control, and the acquisition of wealth. This ethnic dispute eventually led to asymmetrical-like warfare on the part of the Serbs, who were able to gain political control in Kosova, despite being the minority. In order to combat this asymmetrical-like warfare and discrimination on the part of the Serbs, the Albanians formed guerrilla groups to fight for their rights and protection. The conflict became so severe that the UN Security forces intervened in 1999 in order to bring stability to the region. The UN intervention, along with U.S. assistance, brought greater awareness of the situation around the world and for the first time in history, the Serbian Albanian conflict became an issued seriously discussed in today’s popular culture. The future of the conflict is is definitely uncertain. Tension between the two groups today remains high, and the possibility of true peace or even co-existence appears to be improbable.

History of Conflict: With the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the borders in the Balkan region were delineated in such a way that many Albanians found themselves under the political control of the Serbs. These border divisions at the beginning of the 20th Century would set the stage for the present day Serbian-Albanian conflict. After World War II, the government of Yugoslavia (controlled by the Serbs) instituted “official discrimination” against the Albanians who were considered “national minorities”. Under the direction of Yugoslavian leader, Aleksander Rankovic, the UDBA (state security directorate) was formed as a type of secret police. The official purpose of the UDBA was to gather intelligence for Yugoslavia (similar to the CIA), and its unofficial purpose was to strongly repress Albanians in the region. After the fall of the Soviet Union, it appeared as if the Albanians would obtain autonomy and form an independent nation in Kosova; however, this hope was short lived when Slobodan Milosevic became the President of Serbia. President Milosevic was considered by many in the international community as leading a harshly repressive regime. Milosevic’s harsh discrimination against the Albanians in Serbia led to the formation of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA -UCK Ushtria Clirimtare e Kosoves) in 1996 by Albanian nationalists. The KLA carried out guerrilla like warfare against Serbian Security forces and Serbian civilians. The conflict escalated to such an extent that the UN Security Council was forced to intervene in 1999. The UN/NATO intervention in Kosova led to greater knowledge of the Serbian-Albanian conflict among the international community.

The Conflict in Popular Culture: As CNN, and other news networks, aired footage of the violence taking place in Kosova awareness of this ethnic conflict quickly became a topic of debate and study. For the first time in history the Serbian-Albanian conflict received major international attention. This led scholars and authors from the U.S. and around the world to study the causes of the conflict. These studies led many to conclude that the main source of the conflict was a result of the strong promotion of nationalism by the Serbian government, and a neo-fascist view of the Albanians as a scapegoat for Serbia’s economic problems. Author and editor, James Mattil, states in his article that, “Extreme Serbian nationalism has been promoted to unify a Serbian-controlled, Yugoslav state, suffering severe economic and political decline, while casting ethnic-Albanians in Kosova as scapegoats” (flashpoints.info).

The conflict in Kosova has also received attention in an unlikely area of modern day popular culture, children’s books. In her book written for adolescents, “Girl of and the Socialist Republic of M”, author Alice Mead gives a detailed account of an eleven year old girl’s experience during the Kosovo conflict in 1999. It is a graphic depiction of the horrors of the conflict, and is successful in informing young people of international ethnic conflicts.

The Future of the Conflict: The UN’s intervention has seemed to be moderately successful in removing Serbian forces from predominately Albanian areas of Kosovo; however, the ethnic diversity and potential for violence still remains. . In a scholarly article, “The Balkan Reconstruction Report”, author Denisa Kostovicova describes life after the 1999 intervention in Kosovo, and interviews various prominent political actors from both sides. Kostovicova asserts that while the violence has subsided somewhat, tensions between the two still remain high. She attributes these tensions to the silence between the two groups. It appears as if leaders from both groups vehemently refuse to discuss peace. She claims this silence substantially hinders the UN’s efforts for co-existence, “Until that silence is broken, multiculturalism will remain stripped of its true meaning in the United Nations-administered province.” Her article goes on to describe interviews from both sides. On the Serbian side, a political figure who did not wish to be named states, “…all political and state structures in Serbia will fight with all means to regain control over Kosovo.” And an Albanian representative, who also wished to remain anonymous said, “…simply, they hate us, co-existence is impossible.” In summation, the Serbian-Albanian conflict is one that stems from decades and perhaps even centuries of ethnic intolerance, and culminated at the end of the 20th Century, requiring international intervention. This international intervention has led to greater awareness and understanding of the conflict around the world. While the UN, and other outside parties, push for peace, reconciliation, and co-existence it appears as if both Albanians and Serbs refuse to even discuss the matter.

In February 2008, the Assembly of Kosovo declared Kosovo's independence as the Republic of Kosovo. As of 20 April 2009, its independence is recognised by 58 UN member states.

South African E. Outcomes

2008-10-26T12:48:00.001-07:00

Without South African mercenaries the African continent would have been a little bit different. Without them quite a few wars would have lasted longer; some of governments would have been overthrown; resources would have been kidnapped by barbaric rebels; and so on…We need more of them… Thank you Executive Outcomes! I deeply respect your great work…

Executive Outcomes

2008-10-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

Executive Outcomes
Executive Outcomes, the mercenary firm based in Pretoria, South Africa, and manned mostly by former members of the South African Defense Force, has proven to be a decisive factor in the outcome of some civil wars in Africa. Involved in forcing rebels to the negotiating table in Sierra Leone and more well-known for contributing to the Angolan government's success in forcing UNITA to accept the Lusaka Protocol in 1994, Executive Outcomes reportedly has a web of influence in Uganda, Botswana, Zambia, Ethiopia, Namibia, Lesotho and South Africa.
Even though the firm's expertise lies in fighting bush wars, it has diversified and reportedly operates 32 companies, whose interests range from computer software to adult education. The firm's tactic of quickly regaining control of a client country's mineral-rich regions is well-documented. Within a month of Sierra Leone's hiring of Executive Outcomes in May 1995, government forces had regained control of the diamond-rich Kono district, which produces two-thirds of Sierra Leone's diamonds. In Angola, oil- and diamond-producing regions were the first areas secured by government forces trained by Executive Outcomes. The firm also reportedly mines gold in Uganda, drills boreholes in Ethiopia and has a variety of interests in the other countries noted above.
Executive Outcomes claims that its sole purpose is to bring stability to the region by supporting legitimate governments in their defense against armed rebels. Nevertheless, rumors persist that the firm is connected to either the South African DeBeers Diamond Corporation or the South African government. These claims are denied by all parties, and the South African government has tried to restrict Executive Outcomes' business ventures.
The intermixing of paramilitary and commercial ventures makes it difficult to determine the number of mercenaries involved in various countries. Most reports indicate there were between 150 and 200 in Sierra Leone, while reports from Angola vary, indicating between 500 and 4,000 members in that country. At any rate, Executive Outcomes has proven to be a sound investment for the governments of Angola and Sierra Leone. Those successes may help to persuade other countries in the region to employ the firm's services. Increased involvement in regional security problems and an expanded portfolio of affiliated businesses suggest that Executive Outcomes will play a periodically visible role in sub-Saharan African affairs.

Pink Floyding the pig

2008-08-27T21:15:00.000-07:00

“You can put wings on a pig, but you don’t make it an eagle” William J. Clinton
That is what i think about Obama… DNC was wrong, is wrong and that will cost them more than they think…
Obamatics will not intimidate anyone with their lame retoric…

Comment by ARBEN Camaj - August 28, 2008 at 12:15 am

McCain would do the right thing

2008-08-27T20:55:00.001-07:00

What a pity!
Obama...
Shame on DNC!
Obama has trashed the the Clintonian legacy... Today it does not matter what Hillary or Bill will ask us to do; what matters is we feel ignored, bashed, disrespected...
No way we will vote for Obama.
I urge all Clinton supporters to vote for McCain. He dedicated his life for the good of this country... He would not do the wrong thing...

2008-08-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

Bill Clinton’s Denver Speech to be on Five-second Delay

‘Just in Case,’ Convention Planners Say

Former President Bill Clinton's speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver Wednesday night will be broadcast on a five-second delay similar to that used to screen callers on talk radio programs, party officials confirmed today.

The five-second delay, customarily used to censor callers who might use profanity or other unacceptable speech on a radio show, has never before been used in the broadcast of a speech by a former President of the United States, experts believe.

But convention planners, nervous that Mr. Clinton might depart from his prepared remarks in an unacceptable way, said that they were using the delay "just in case."

"We hope and expect that Bill Clinton will give a stirring and perfectly acceptable speech, by broadcast standards," said DNC chairman Howard Dean. "However, if we see his face turning red and his forehead starting to throb, we'll be there to pull the plug."

For his part, former President Clinton said that he was "surprised" by the DNC's decision to institute the five-second delay, but added, "It's just like those motherfuckers."

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@ 24 ORE rreth vendimit te Thacit per leshimin e pasaportave te reja per shqiptaret ne Dardani (Kosove)

2008-03-27T00:50:00.000-07:00

afrim ne 14 March, 2008 11:08:29

valla boll mir ja pske ba qasj teutes asaj magjupje po qfar pasoshi ai nime per magjup ashte se e ka ngjyren e sarit te magjupve .i fortje a o tarras bulba thuja bre edhe nja e te knaqemi tuj kesh me magjup

VUSHTRRIASI ne 16 March, 2008 02:49:27

UN KAM PASPORT SERBE DEH KURR SE DOREZOJ mue sme vyen ky mut passi i ks se sme vyen se po ta pshurri shtetin multietnik .viciterrna

Teuta ne 16 March, 2008 11:42:34

Afrim, po me vjen keqe qe nuk dine qka ashte kombi po i perkrahni shkjet-magjup ne ket faqe, po me siguri edhe ti je si ta.
Jame e lumtur qe kemi arrit deri ketu, se ju si duket nuk dini per vuajtjet e shqiptarve, lexoni ju lutem LEXONIIIIIIII

Edhe nji her i falenderoj me se pari AMERIKEN dhe shtetet tjera qe na ndihmuan deri ktu ku jemi.

shota ne 17 March, 2008 10:52:38

Vushtrrias,me lendoj ky koment i juaj thell ne zemere.A eshte e mundur qe je shqipetar?!!!!Po mbasi nuk e dorzon pasaporten e shkijeve ateher nuk kuxon te aferohesh as deri te ura e hekrit e nder ure te Sitnices do ta kish vendin.E din ti aaaa per uren Sitenices ,se kush eshte i vorrosur neder berdhok.A thu valle se kush je?Mos je djali ish udbave se kur nuk je ne gjendeje ta shkruash VUSHTRRINAS----poVUSHTRRIASI ateher ma mere mendja se qfare llomi je .U ne do ta marre pasaporten e Kosoves edhe se shpejti do te shkoj ne Kosove e ti rri aty ku je. P.S jam nje qytetare e Vushtrris dhe femija e nje anetari te Levizjes ,,Shqiperi e madhe ,,.E Kosova eshte nje shtete dhe e din se qfare?!Rrezuluta 1244 eshte nje Rrevulucion i Rri Demokratik.E do te vije koha kure do te bashkohemi te gjithate tokat shqipetare.Dhe ish udbistat si ju ,ju ruajt zoti.

ARBEN Camaj ne 17 March, 2008 11:41:08

Vushtrias ben mire te shkosh te jetosh ne Serbi kur paske kaq dashuri per pasaporten e atyre qe na kane vrare e na kane prere ne shekuj...
Populli shqiptar thote qe "dardha bie nen dardhe" por ti paske ardhur prej "ferrave" te tradhtise. Me siguri neper ato ferra i ke mbushur edhe ato breket tua nga frika e ushetimes se pushkeve te djemve dhe vajzave te vertete shqiptare qe luftuan per liri te Memedheut...
E pake haram ate jete prej gjarpri!

Samiu ne 17 March, 2008 11:56:47

VUSHTRRIASI
po me ven e ke,si pasaporta e unmik.Edhe ky me mut.
Po mos ke gajle se shumica prap marrin te serbise me beso .SE eshte nje marreveshje e msheft me serbine tonet dhe evropen qe prap jeni shtetas kosovari dhe serbe.Dmth shtetesia nuk hjeket prej serbise dy.Se kosova seshte shtet po ka nje vetqeverisje e kea udbashet i thojne shtet.Vetem shiqo kushe perkrah kete tatus .Ish komunistet udbashet dhe femijet e tyre apo bashkpunetoret serbe qe deri dje u betojshin ne Miloshin he Shallin.Do kinse kane dale ne pdk.
Po ishe shpijun kunder uck.patriot shqiptare nuk perkrahe kete status.As Levizja vevendosje as Adem demaqi as FBKSH-AKSH as ai shqiptare qe mendon shqip.Po vetem keta qe kane biznis me shkije ja kosovari .Shqiptari jo.Se keta qe kane hjek emrin shqiptare keta jane shkije se vete menxi kane prit te nderrojne emrin.Po a kane daste se kinse per hater te shtetit pa shtet.
per hajr ju kofte.Po keta te gjithe ne gjep kane pasaporta te shkijeve dhe dote ken me besoi.

ARBEN Camaj ne 18 March, 2008 12:10:42

Cfare jane keto emra more! Majmuni! Gomari! Laperi! Sikur jane duke shkruar kafshet e kopshtit zoologjik...
Pse nuk perdorni emra, ose pseudonime shqiptare, me origjine ilire a arberore! Prej sa e sa emrave te bukur shqip qe kemi nuk mundet te gjenit dicka me te hajrit?
Teuta, Shota, ju pershendes!

Teuta2 ne 18 March, 2008 11:55:41

ARBEN Camaj....iden se ke sa kam qesh, te luuuumt bre, shume kam qesh,ia ke qellu me zoo park!

Kisess...Prej tash vec lexo dhe mos komento se definitivisht nuk ia vlen.
Edhe ti Teuta tjeter, mos komento se kot eshte me duket ktu te komentosh. Si duket web administratori qenka njeri nga keto zoo-te, qe lejon te tilla komente...
Bye bye foreeweeer

vushtriasi ne 18 March, 2008 12:04:35

arben camaj TI SHKO OR NE KONSULAT NE STUTTGART ke plot kosovar qe u ka dal afati i pasaportes dhe kan deshir me vazhdue prap passin o njeri ku po jeton ti ,un me pass tem heci krejt balkanin e ti kurr jo

Tarrasbulba ne 18 March, 2008 12:21:06

ARBEN Camaj
a pe shehni shoke qe teuta ky camaj e do jane metevertet magjup shkije.
keta ne gjep kane pasaporten e shkavit a kne kinse te kosoves.Po ne kishmi te unmik po nuk e dashti kerkushe po prap shkojshin ne konsullata serbe jashte dhe ne serbi nmrena.Se thojshin me mire per 10 vjet te shkavit se dy vjet te unmikut.Po edhe tashe njeso prap thojne me mire te serbise se te kosovari me mute ne mijdise.Si ai si ai dallim ska.
Kopje serbe.E keta udbashet patriota me bateri kinse ,,patriota" ne te kosoves.PO be po ju baje edhe shume deputet edhe politikane kane te serbise dhe prap doti ken te serbise.
Hajt se edhe statusi i kosoves eshte qashtu bashkim vllaznim.
kosova ne kuader te serbise se ska sovranitet as territor te definum.Po keta dojne me mashtrue popullin se kinse arrijten ate qe premtuan popullit pavaresi pa shtet.
He shyqir qe dijna e lexue se mos me pas dijte vet me lexue keta kishin thane se kosova eshte amerik e kishmi menue perme.po spo shiten rrenat ma.
Mut flamur mut pasaport mut pavaresi.

shota ne 18 March, 2008 11:01:02

Vushtrriasi,nuk eshte e mundur qe ka ende shqiptare qe jan pran knonzulates serbe.Nuk eshte e mundur?!!Nuk dua as te besoj,por nese kjo ehste e vertet ateher ju shkoni pmiknike veres prane Danubit e jo pran Mirushes.Megjithese do te mundohemi ta dijm se kush jan ata qe marrin ende pasa... serbe po do ta paguajn shtrrejnet--sikure dikur udbistet parardhesit e tyre.

ARBEN Camaj ne 22 March, 2008 02:41:36

Ketyre serbofilave, qe nuk dine as te shkruajne e as te lexojne shqip, nuk ja vlen t'i kthesh ndonje pergjigje. Injorimi eshte me pergjigja me e mire...
Gjithashtu, une nuk e klasifikoj veten nga ana fetare. Une jam me ate qe ka thene patrioti Pashko Vasa "FEJA E SHQIPTARIT ESHTE SHQIPTARIA!"
Ju pershendes te gjitheve!

Serbia's debauchery...

2008-03-27T00:14:00.000-07:00

After assaulting & burning foreign embassies residing in their country, Serbian political conductors and their hooligan orchestra have shown what democracy meant for them & how they would undermine anyone and everyone who disagree with their distorted views.

So, how can we be surprised they would not be able to guarantee Björk’s security?!

Spitzer should have not resigned!

2008-03-27T00:11:00.000-07:00

If prostitution was legal (like it is in some European countries) the story about Spitzer would have not been a story...

Spitzer has worked very hard & has done a lot of good things for New York & the country. One misstep will not tarnish his legacy in a long run.

Spitzer, I wish you well!

Kontradikta Shqiptare

2008-03-27T00:10:00.000-07:00

Une mendoj se ka ardhur momenti qe te gjithe grupimet politike dhe shoqerore shqiptare te bejne nje pakt ku figurat shqiptare kombetare te mos denigrohen dhe qe ta shikojme njeri-tjetrin me me shume respekt. Me vjen turp kur i lexoj ca komente ku shqiptari hedh balte mbi shqiptarin. Kjo percarje con uje vetem tek mulliri i Beogradit.

UCK-ja ka vendin e vet ne historine shqiptare. Po ashtu edhe Kadareja, Koliqi, Fishta, Agolli, Camaj, Podrimja, Qosja, Mjeda, Cajupi, Azdreni, Gurakuqi, vellezerit Frasheri, etj. kane vendin e vet... Madje edhe figurat kontradiktore te Hoxhes, Zogut, Toptanit, Alise, Rugoves, etj. kane lene mbresen e tyre ne historine e shqiptareve. Per ate duhet te jemi me tolerant ndaj njeri-tjetrit per hater te Memedheut tone...

Serbia's SS regiment

2008-03-27T00:09:00.000-07:00

"People easily forget that Serbia is an old and devoted ally of the West during both world wars......
Kristijan, Miami, Florida"

This is a myth - like most nations in Europe, there were collaborationist & partisan factions. Serbia had it's own SS regiment (Ljotic's brigrades), concentration camps (Banjaca & Sajmiste) & Belgrade was one of the very few cities declared juden frei. Let's not forget that the leader of the Anti-Fascist Partisans, Tito, was a Croat.

Mark, Sydney

Eja mblidhemi rreth idealit te Fan Nolit

2008-03-27T00:07:00.000-07:00

Eshte per te ardhur keq, sidomos tani qe kemi dhe Kosoven sovrane, shqiptare te bejne komente negative kunder nje figure te mirenjohur boterisht si Kadareja. Njerezit qe nuk kane jetuar ne Shqiperi gjate periudhes se Hoxhes nuk e kane njohur realitetin e asaj periudhe...
Ne lidhje me komentet kontradiktore qe Kadareja apo edhe shqiptare te mirenjohur te tjere kane bere, kjo nuk ka ndodhur se kane qene qendrime antishqiptare, por njerez te ndryshem ne peridha te ndryshme kane perceptime dhe informacione te ndryshme. Ndoshta Kadareja nuk ka qene i mireinformuar kur ka bere nje koment, ose e ka perceptuar nje situae jodrejte, por kursesi nuk mund ta besoj qe nje shkrimtar qe vetem ka shkruar per shqiptaret dhe ndergjegjen e tyre ne shekuj te kete patur ndonje qellim percares ose negativ ndaj ceshtjes shqiptare.
Enver Hoxha, eshte fakt qe ka qene ndihmuar ne fillimet e veta prej Partise Komuniste Jugosllave, Miladin Popovici, Velimir Stojnici, etj. Ata kane qene arsyja kryesore qe ndikuan ne marrjen e vendimit prej Shtabit te Pergjithshem Ushtrise NACL Shqiptare te braktisi marreveshjen e Mukjes (midis nacionalistave te Ballit Kombetar dhe Partise Komiste Shqiptare per nje front te perbashket proshqiptar dhe bashkimin e Kosoves bije me truallin nene, Shqiperine). Nga ana tjeter gjate viteve te fundit te jetes Hoxha eshte munduar te ndihmoje ceshtjen e Kosoves por i ka patur duart e lidhura me politiken izoluese qe ndoqi (sigurisht e nxitur nen rrogoz nga elemente agjenturore te UDB-se te instaluar ne aparatin politik shqiptar, qe u interesonte ta mbanin Shqiperine dhe shqiptaret te izoluar dhe te varfer. Pse? Nje Shqiperi e dobet qe nuk mund te ndihmonte vetveten nuk mund te ndihmonte Kosoven bije...
Gjithashtu, te mos harrojme Rugoven, ne fillim ka qene nje fenomen shume pozitiv per Kosoven, se I bashoi kosovaret ne nje front. Vite me vone politika e tij kishte ngecur vendnumero. Si mund ta bindje ti boten qe shqiptaret ne Kosove ishim te shtypur kur udheheqesi shqiptar ishte duke hyre e dale kur t’i donte qejfi me pasaporte diplomatike jugosllave dhe leviste brenda pre brenda Kosoves me makina luksoze.?!! Gjithashtu, kur djemte dhe vajzat e UCK rrembyen pushket per liri e pamvarsi, ishte Rugova ai qe e akuzoi UCK si grupime te organizuara prej zbulimit jugosllav qe te sabotojne ceshtjen shqiptare; ishte Rugova qe shkoi dhe nen presionin serb takoi Milloshevicin dhe Milutinovicin. Ndersa ne anen tjeter Thaci ishte duke u perpjekur me pushke e me pene per pamvaresine shqiptare, ne kohen kur paramilitaret serb dhe zbulimi jugosllav po mundoheshin me cdo menyre qe ta asgjesonin...
Ne qofte se shkon perreth dhe pyet shqiptare te ndyrshem do te japin mendime shume te ndryshme per figuren e Hoxhes, Zogut, Rugoves, Thacit, etj…
Shkurt, varet se ne cilen periudhe je duke gjykuar veprimet politike te dikujt dhe patjeter ke per te gjetur dicka. Por qe te vleresosh nese nje figure ka qene e mire ose jo per vendin ose jo, per kete duhet t'ja peshosh ne njeren ane pozitivet dhe ne tjetren ane negativet. Ne qofte se rezultati i pergjithshem eshte pozitiv, atehere ajo figure duhet te respektohet.
Per mendimin tim, Kadareja, ky shkrimtar i permasave boterore duhet te respektohet per punen e madhe qe ka bere per ekspozimin e ceshtjes shqiptare ne bote…

THE FUTURE IS US!

2008-03-27T00:02:00.000-07:00

Serbia fell under Ottoman Empire in 1459. While Arberia at that time (Albania + Kosova) survived until 1468 (succumbed after the death of the Albanian heroic warrior Scanderbeg). Also during B.C period Illyrian people, inhabited those areas and more, until Roman Empire invaded the whole Balkan. Slavic names appear on the historical books around VI - VII century.
Dardania/Kosova will have a bright future in Europe, in spite of the Serbian howl
Serbia! Read the real history, not propaganda! Learn who Gjergj Kastrioti Scanderbeg was! Then, let’s discuss about right and wrong. A lost war during XIV century doesn't give you any reason to call Dardania a promised land. No Serbian, or orthodox prophet, was ever born there, or promised to the Serbian population something regarding that territory. So, stop comparing Kosova with Jerusalem! Nobody could have promised a land that was still under the ottoman occupation! Wake up!
Dardania/Kosova has a great chance to be a prosperous country. Dardania is rich in minerals.., rich enough to give her people a comfortable living. Also our great allies will help with investments...
Kosova Serbians must realize they gain more by being a valued minority under the Albanian majority than being unnoticed under the Serbian majority. Doesn't matter who wins or loses from the Albanian political parties, Serbian minority will always have their share of power. THE FUTURE IS US! Think!

2005-04-02T22:24:00.000-08:00

RB, Sheila & DD

2005-04-02T22:21:00.001-08:00

Rb, Sheila & DD

2005-04-02T22:20:00.000-08:00

2005-03-31T14:14:00.000-08:00

sheilla and darylle

2005-03-30T12:35:00.000-08:00

Sensuale

Rrezet e shpreses

2005-02-13T18:40:00.000-08:00

Shpresa qe akulli do te shkrije nje dite e jeta dalengadale do te rinise ciklin e saj, rilind sa here qe shfaqen rrezet e Diellit ne horizont...

Eja mblidhuni, ketu-ketu...

2005-02-08T01:06:00.000-08:00

Eshte ora 01.09 e mengjesit. Por mengjesi eshte larg... Rrezet kane ende nje cope rruge te mire perpara se te vijne ketu ku jam une e te zbardhojne trishtimin e nates, qe fshehet thelle ne zemrat e te pagjumeve te kesaj ane te botes... Mendja ime, flirton haptas me format e turbullta te hijeve qe u shembellejne vajzave qe i desha. Kurse zemra ime, i bie violines plot dhimbje per ate qe ka shkuar e nuk vjen me...
Eja mengjes! Mengjesi im i bardhe...

shkroi RB

Fotografia e Dites

2005-02-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

Isn't Deneve gorgeous?

Kenge

2005-02-04T13:41:00.000-08:00

Kallami fletet duke tundur
Mes lumit e shkoi jeten;
Dhe mua vitet me te lumtur
Mes vajzave me mbeten.

Telashet tona vene e vine,
Me halle mbushen kupat,
Por disa caste lumturine
Mes nesh e sjellin cupat.

Lavdia, smira, pasuria,
Na turbullojne epshet.
Por dhe t'i kesh, te vjen merzia
Dhe lumturia tretet.

Ta kisha mbremjen pak te lire,
Nje perqafim te prisja...
Andrallen, jeten e veshtire,
Ne djall do ta degdisja!

Dhe gjyqi le te me denonte
Me sharje, a vargonj,
I thosha: vajzat shume i donte
Dhe plaku Solomon!

E beri Zoti seksin mashkull,
Kur ende s'kishte shkolle.
Se Zoti shkollen s'e kish' dashur,
Ndaj s'ishte mendjeholle.

Pastaj mesimet Zoti ndoqi,
Mes librave i strukur.
U lodh, koken e perpoqi...
Dhe doli seksi i bukur!

marre prej "Kenga e Gezimeve dhe Brengave", nga Robert Burns
shqiperoi Dritero Agolli (megjithse jam pak skeptik per kete te fundit)

Kenga e brekeve te bardha

2005-02-04T13:40:00.000-08:00

Buzeqesh!

2005-01-24T19:03:00.000-08:00

"Ashtu si e shoh une, po shes dicka qe njesoj eshte e imja, dhe pas 30 ditesh do te me kthehet mbrapa perseri." komenti i banorit Andrew Fischer nga Omaha e Nebraskes, ne lidhje me vendimin e tij qe te shese ne ankand ballin e vet per 30 dite si siperfaqe reklame. Fischer prej 100 ofertave, pranoi oferten e $ 30 000. Me paret e marra, ai tha se do t'i shpenzoje per te paguar shpenzimet per te studiuar ne kolegj.

marre nga faqja 23 e revistes "Newsweek" e 24 Janarit, 2005
shqiperoi RB

Puthja prej buzeve te deshiruara...

2005-01-24T18:50:00.000-08:00

Puthja

2005-01-24T18:18:00.000-08:00

Gjurme e njohjes se sivjetshme
Dhe premtim me fshehtesi, -
Puthja - lulebore e hershme,
Bore e bardhe e pasterti;

Nje leshim me: desha-s'deshe!
Miqesi e njome e re
Prej pellumbi pellumbeshe,
Gazi i pare dhe plot hare:

Mall i ndarjes se trishtuar
Dhe dyshimi: "po me pas"?
S'e gjej fjalen e bekuar
Qe mendimin larg ta ngas!

marre prej "Kenga e Gezimeve dhe Brengave", prej Robert Burns
shqiperoi Dritero Agolli

ALBANIAN DIVERSITY

2005-01-23T14:41:00.000-08:00

Mireseerdhet ne Albanian Diversity!

2005-01-23T11:41:00.000-08:00

Le te jemi te hapur me vehten tone dhe me njeri-tjetrin! "Nje luge kripe e hedhur ne nje gote me uje, e ben ujin te papijshem. Nje luge kripe e hedhur ne liqenin e madh, as qe nuk vihet re."

shkroi RB