Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha officially submitted the country’s application for EU candidacy status during a visit in Prague to the rotating Czech presidency of the European Union.
This is a big step for this small Balkan country. They still have much to do in the way of reforms in order to bring themselves in line with the EU's standards. Most of the reforms in need of change fall under the categories of justice, freedom and security. These are pretty important categories, but they are also broad and subjective. How do you measure freedom? I'm sure the EU has a very scientific method of devising a citizenry's freedom, but...
Justice is a little easier to define, but it is still a rather vague category. For example, in the US, justice in one state/region can be defined differently in another state/region. Gay marriage in Iowa? Legally approved, so here it's considered just that same sex couples can marry. But in New York? Not so much. Justice varies quite a bit within each region due to different feelings of what constitutes it. It's very subjective, but you can measure "justice" by legal standards, which I'm sure the EU has another awesome scientific/statistical method to devise this.
Security is a tough one. Especially for the region. After all, one would hardly consider Greece "secure" with all of the riots and bombings, but they are a prominent member of the EU. How can you reconcile this? Albania is a relatively secure nation for the region. They are also luckier than neighboring Macedonia, as Greece isn't debating their legal name.
The bid to join the EU comes on the heels of Albania's admittance into NATO as full member on April 1st. Proof that they are making strides in their international relations, and their desire to be accepted by the West.
Showing posts with label balkans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label balkans. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Milosevic-Era Serb Intelligence Chief Worked with CIA
Balkan Insight Article
LA Times article by Greg Miller
A brief synapsis of this story could go like this: Stanisic worked with the CIA in order to bring a quicker end to the troubled Balkan region during Milosevic's reign. He claims to have never taken money from the CIA. The reason all of this came up? The CIA is attempting to reduce his sentence at the Hague. They submitted a dossier that shows what "help" he was, and a list of all the "good" things he did. Never mind the death squads he established, he was helping the CIA. He is currently back in Belgrade for health reasons, strange how that works.
A brief excerpt from the LAT:
"For eight years, Stanisic was the CIA's main man in Belgrade. During secret meetings in boats and safe houses along the Sava River, he shared details on the inner workings of the Milosevic regime. He provided information on the locations of NATO hostages, aided CIA operatives in their search for grave sites and helped the agency set up a network of secret bases in Bosnia."
So the question is this I guess: Did he aide the CIA and NATO enough to warrant regard in his case? Or, will this be passed over?
If it is passed over and ignored by the Tribunal, what will that mean for future CIA operations? Will the CIA lose possible contacts in the future? What would have happened in Yugoslavia had Stanisic not been a crucial element in the CIAs plans?
How will the outcome of this case affect our sources in Afghanistan and other regions where intelligence will be crucial to victory?
I leave you with those questions to ponder. Especially considering the weak economic state of most of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, we need all the stability and intelligence we can get if something goes amiss. Like, if Serbia gets pissy enough to attack Kosovo, then Albania rides to the rescue or something like that.
Thanks for listening to the rant, and I hope you enjoyed the other articles more than you enjoyed this one.
Peace.
LA Times article by Greg Miller
A brief synapsis of this story could go like this: Stanisic worked with the CIA in order to bring a quicker end to the troubled Balkan region during Milosevic's reign. He claims to have never taken money from the CIA. The reason all of this came up? The CIA is attempting to reduce his sentence at the Hague. They submitted a dossier that shows what "help" he was, and a list of all the "good" things he did. Never mind the death squads he established, he was helping the CIA. He is currently back in Belgrade for health reasons, strange how that works.
A brief excerpt from the LAT:
"For eight years, Stanisic was the CIA's main man in Belgrade. During secret meetings in boats and safe houses along the Sava River, he shared details on the inner workings of the Milosevic regime. He provided information on the locations of NATO hostages, aided CIA operatives in their search for grave sites and helped the agency set up a network of secret bases in Bosnia."
So the question is this I guess: Did he aide the CIA and NATO enough to warrant regard in his case? Or, will this be passed over?
If it is passed over and ignored by the Tribunal, what will that mean for future CIA operations? Will the CIA lose possible contacts in the future? What would have happened in Yugoslavia had Stanisic not been a crucial element in the CIAs plans?
How will the outcome of this case affect our sources in Afghanistan and other regions where intelligence will be crucial to victory?
I leave you with those questions to ponder. Especially considering the weak economic state of most of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, we need all the stability and intelligence we can get if something goes amiss. Like, if Serbia gets pissy enough to attack Kosovo, then Albania rides to the rescue or something like that.
Thanks for listening to the rant, and I hope you enjoyed the other articles more than you enjoyed this one.
Peace.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
World Bank still Screwing!
BalkanInsight Article
Brief summary of the article.
The World Bank finally admitted that a project meant to safeguard Albania's coastal zones was used to selectively demolish houses in Jale, Albania. It's going to be launching an investigation into the handling of the project. An earlier investigation by the International Development Organization showed that it seemed likely that the project was being abused to develop the land into resorts. This all took place back in April 2007, and since then several families have had to struggle with displacement and homelessness.
Brief summary of my reaction to World Bank's reaction.
Um... how did this not a bigger splash? Can we get any decent coverage of events like this in the states? Not that it really matters because homelessness is becoming pretty trendy here as well. But this seems like something that should have been noticed as it was happening (back in April 2007) and at least a minor uproar heard by someone.
If VP Biden plans to make an impact in the Balkans, the first step might be to prevent the World Bank from completely screwing these people to set up resorts for rich snobs to come and enjoy the beautiful beaches.
But hey, we have Hillary Clinton as Sec of State, and we all know how much the Balkans looooove her! That whole campaign lie about bullets flying past her head, that didn't ruffle any feathers...no...
Oh right, the World Bank's statement issued on the whole thing- TA-FREAKING-DA
My reaction to that? Mostly swearing.
In it, the President of the Bank, Robert Zoellick, himself states that the handling of the situation was "appalling." You'd think the president of an organization that powerful would be able to stop this kind of crap from happening right? Then I get more ranty, because I want to know who these Presidents and CEOs and COOs are! How do such incompetent people get into places of such power. It's like giving the keys to a Bugatti to a five year old and turning them loose on the freakin' Autobahn!!!
I digress.
Peace.
Brief summary of the article.
The World Bank finally admitted that a project meant to safeguard Albania's coastal zones was used to selectively demolish houses in Jale, Albania. It's going to be launching an investigation into the handling of the project. An earlier investigation by the International Development Organization showed that it seemed likely that the project was being abused to develop the land into resorts. This all took place back in April 2007, and since then several families have had to struggle with displacement and homelessness.
Brief summary of my reaction to World Bank's reaction.
Um... how did this not a bigger splash? Can we get any decent coverage of events like this in the states? Not that it really matters because homelessness is becoming pretty trendy here as well. But this seems like something that should have been noticed as it was happening (back in April 2007) and at least a minor uproar heard by someone.
If VP Biden plans to make an impact in the Balkans, the first step might be to prevent the World Bank from completely screwing these people to set up resorts for rich snobs to come and enjoy the beautiful beaches.
But hey, we have Hillary Clinton as Sec of State, and we all know how much the Balkans looooove her! That whole campaign lie about bullets flying past her head, that didn't ruffle any feathers...no...
Oh right, the World Bank's statement issued on the whole thing- TA-FREAKING-DA
My reaction to that? Mostly swearing.
In it, the President of the Bank, Robert Zoellick, himself states that the handling of the situation was "appalling." You'd think the president of an organization that powerful would be able to stop this kind of crap from happening right? Then I get more ranty, because I want to know who these Presidents and CEOs and COOs are! How do such incompetent people get into places of such power. It's like giving the keys to a Bugatti to a five year old and turning them loose on the freakin' Autobahn!!!
I digress.
Peace.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Hate to be a Doomsayer, but...
Seriously, can things get more screwed up? Take stock of the world around you, your car, your job (if you're lucky enough to have one of those) and all your material possessions. Go ahead, I'll wait...
Got it? Good, now imagine all of those sitting on a curb as you watch a foreclosure sign get thrown up in your yard. Imagine that sweet little ride getting repossessed. Now, you have to sleep at your friend's house and take the bus to work with all of the "crazies." Then, one day you come to find out the company you work for is struggling to get the loans it needs to survive. You'll have to go. Sorry pal. So, take stock of the world around you at this point. No job, no car, no home. Sounds pretty rough doesn't it? Well, it is. But, you just have to remember you live in America and that as bad as things get here, it's still a heckuva lot better than in a lot of places. Here are a few examples.
Gaza- Even before the recent Israeli invasion, life in Gaza was a day-to-day struggle for many people. Remember that house you lost? How would you feel if you were evicted from your country? Still, with the Israeli invasion things have managed to get worse. The use of white phosphorous devices is causing civilian casualties of a horrific nature. The searing gas travels surprisingly well in tight, over-populated spaces, leaving hundreds horribly burned. If Israel manages to destroy Hamas and come up with a better system for Gaza, this war could have a semi-happy ending. There are a lot of things that could still go awry though, such as war with Iran in the interim. In the meantime, innocent Palestinians will starve, be injured with little hope of medical care and huddle in groups in dilapidated buildings. It is largely Hamas's fault for being an unintelligent group of rocket-launching morons, and Israel has the right to destroy them. They just need to be careful.
Somalia- The Ethiopians have finally withdrawn their troops from Mogadishu. The African Union is leaving a small contingent of peace-keepers to defend against all the Islamist radical factions that are vying to fill the void. It is predicted that they will do little to halt further onslaughts of violence. On the coast, pirates are living lavishly with their stolen booty. Inside, children roam the streets with old Kalashnikovs, rocket-launchers and camouflage clothing. Civil war has torn this country apart for decades, leaving it the most war-torn country in all of Africa, which is no small recognition. The US is trying to get the UN involved more intensely, but everyone is concerned that they will be there too long if they go in now. They're basically cowards, allowing innocent civilians to die, children to be raised as outright thugs and erasing this country's future before it's written.
Balkans- Riots and protests clog the streets in several of these countries over everything from police brutality to poor governance to lack of pay for police officers. Kosovo is struggling to remain independent in an angry world. Serbia is trying to convince the world that it's people in Northern Kosovo are being mistreated. All of the Balkans are struggling with the row between Gazprom and Ukraine. Factories are shutting down, leaving many jobless. Millions are without heat. And now, the worldwide economic slowdown is starting to trickle down to this region. Even more jobs are being lost or threatened. The threat of war from Serbia is a constant threat, even though it does seem unlikely at this point. Meanwhile, these countries are expected to enact serious reforms so they may join the European Union. They are severely hobbled but expected by the EU to make record leaps and bounds. Hopefully, the Balkans don't get to hot any time soon.
Mexico- Druglords are becoming more and more of a threat and power in Mexico as more of their products are consumed at home. They have gained power as their countrymen have turned to drugs as an escape from poor conditions. Kids are growing up as drug dealers because it pays more than working in a maquiladora. Would it be greatly beneficial if the US forced companies setting up shop just across the border to follow the same rules they follow here? Maybe, or they might just move again, leaving a more severe void in the workforce. The point is, we have a third world neighbor to our South. We are still the most powerful economy on the face of the world. Do you see the paradox?
Now, go back to the beginning. Take stock of what you have around you. Even if you don't like your job, consider yourself lucky to have one. Even if your house isn't furnished like a palace, just be glad you have access to heating elements. We live in America people. Our lowest standard of living is still far and beyond other regions standards. We are lucky to have been born here. Do not squander that opportunity. And for the love of god stop watching tv and read a freakin' book!
Peace.
Got it? Good, now imagine all of those sitting on a curb as you watch a foreclosure sign get thrown up in your yard. Imagine that sweet little ride getting repossessed. Now, you have to sleep at your friend's house and take the bus to work with all of the "crazies." Then, one day you come to find out the company you work for is struggling to get the loans it needs to survive. You'll have to go. Sorry pal. So, take stock of the world around you at this point. No job, no car, no home. Sounds pretty rough doesn't it? Well, it is. But, you just have to remember you live in America and that as bad as things get here, it's still a heckuva lot better than in a lot of places. Here are a few examples.
Gaza- Even before the recent Israeli invasion, life in Gaza was a day-to-day struggle for many people. Remember that house you lost? How would you feel if you were evicted from your country? Still, with the Israeli invasion things have managed to get worse. The use of white phosphorous devices is causing civilian casualties of a horrific nature. The searing gas travels surprisingly well in tight, over-populated spaces, leaving hundreds horribly burned. If Israel manages to destroy Hamas and come up with a better system for Gaza, this war could have a semi-happy ending. There are a lot of things that could still go awry though, such as war with Iran in the interim. In the meantime, innocent Palestinians will starve, be injured with little hope of medical care and huddle in groups in dilapidated buildings. It is largely Hamas's fault for being an unintelligent group of rocket-launching morons, and Israel has the right to destroy them. They just need to be careful.
Somalia- The Ethiopians have finally withdrawn their troops from Mogadishu. The African Union is leaving a small contingent of peace-keepers to defend against all the Islamist radical factions that are vying to fill the void. It is predicted that they will do little to halt further onslaughts of violence. On the coast, pirates are living lavishly with their stolen booty. Inside, children roam the streets with old Kalashnikovs, rocket-launchers and camouflage clothing. Civil war has torn this country apart for decades, leaving it the most war-torn country in all of Africa, which is no small recognition. The US is trying to get the UN involved more intensely, but everyone is concerned that they will be there too long if they go in now. They're basically cowards, allowing innocent civilians to die, children to be raised as outright thugs and erasing this country's future before it's written.
Balkans- Riots and protests clog the streets in several of these countries over everything from police brutality to poor governance to lack of pay for police officers. Kosovo is struggling to remain independent in an angry world. Serbia is trying to convince the world that it's people in Northern Kosovo are being mistreated. All of the Balkans are struggling with the row between Gazprom and Ukraine. Factories are shutting down, leaving many jobless. Millions are without heat. And now, the worldwide economic slowdown is starting to trickle down to this region. Even more jobs are being lost or threatened. The threat of war from Serbia is a constant threat, even though it does seem unlikely at this point. Meanwhile, these countries are expected to enact serious reforms so they may join the European Union. They are severely hobbled but expected by the EU to make record leaps and bounds. Hopefully, the Balkans don't get to hot any time soon.
Mexico- Druglords are becoming more and more of a threat and power in Mexico as more of their products are consumed at home. They have gained power as their countrymen have turned to drugs as an escape from poor conditions. Kids are growing up as drug dealers because it pays more than working in a maquiladora. Would it be greatly beneficial if the US forced companies setting up shop just across the border to follow the same rules they follow here? Maybe, or they might just move again, leaving a more severe void in the workforce. The point is, we have a third world neighbor to our South. We are still the most powerful economy on the face of the world. Do you see the paradox?
Now, go back to the beginning. Take stock of what you have around you. Even if you don't like your job, consider yourself lucky to have one. Even if your house isn't furnished like a palace, just be glad you have access to heating elements. We live in America people. Our lowest standard of living is still far and beyond other regions standards. We are lucky to have been born here. Do not squander that opportunity. And for the love of god stop watching tv and read a freakin' book!
Peace.
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