3.8.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

Die vergessenen ermordeten Romas im Bosnien Krieg

The Forgotten Roma Victims of the Bosnian War

Saida Mustajbegovic

02 August 2007 Little research has been conducted into wartime crimes against members of Bosnia’s largest minority group and no indictments have specifically addressed the issue, despite evidence that large numbers of Roma were detained, deported and murdered.

Bahrija Otanovic, a Roma from Srebrenica, lost 33 family members in this Eastern Bosnian town during the war.

Twelve years on from the signing of the Dayton accords that brought an end to the fighting, no-one has yet been put on trial for their murders.

“They were all killed in different ways. Some went to fetch water and then they were slaughtered,” Otanovic recalls. “We did not leave Srebrenica because we liked living there. We thought, ‘We haven’t done anyone any harm, so we should not leave the city.’ For this reason, very few Roma survived.”

Before the war, Srebrenica was home to 53 Roma families, most of them made up of around six members. Today, not a single Roma is left in the town.

The wartime experience of Srebrenica’s Roma and the lack of moves to record or address it is representative of the situation across much wider areas of Bosnia.

Information collected by non-governmental organisations, NGOs, suggests that Roma were killed during the war particularly in Prijedor, Kozluk, Doboj, Srebrenica, Bratunac, Vlasenica and Zvornik. The same sources indicate that there were also large-scale deportations of Roma from Bijeljina.

…………….

Birn

Geschrieben in Geschichte - History, Balkan (Englisch) | Drucken | Keine Kommentare »

3.8.2007 by Lupo.

Justice Report
Future of Hague Tribunal Archives Debated

02 08 2007 A decision is yet to be made about where huge quantities of historically important documentation are to be sent when the court closes.

By Erna Mackic and Aida Alic in Sarajevo

With the Yugoslavia war crimes tribunal in The Hague due to close in 2010, a debate is underway in the Balkans about what ought to be done with the vast collection of documentation accumulated in the course of its investigations and trials.

There is a broad consensus within the local human rights community that the archives should be located somewhere in the region, and a number of Bosnian politicians and non-governmental organisations have suggested that it would be appropriate for the material to be sent to Bosnia. But BIRN`s Justice Report has learnt from sources within the Bosnian government that the authorities have not submitted an official request to the United Nations for this to happen.
At the same time, local experts are warning that none of the countries in the region have the facilities to safeguard such a historically important archive.
Since the Hague tribunal opened its doors in 1993, prosecutors there have filed 161 indictments for crimes committed on the territory of Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Kosovo and Macedonia, of which 106 resulted in trial proceedings. Verdicts have been pronounced against 68 individuals, including 51 convictions.
……

http://www.birn.eu.com/en/97/10/3787/

Geschrieben in Balkan (Englisch) | Drucken | Keine Kommentare »

3.8.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

Romania’s Teoctist leaves controversial legacy

03/08/2007

Bloggers debate the late Patriarch Teoctist’s career and his relationship to the Ceausescu regime,

By Paul Ciocoiu for Southeast European Times in Bucharest – 03/08/07

Romanian Patriarch Teoctist died on Monday (July 30th). [Gabriel Petrescu]

Patriarch Teoctist, the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, died on Monday (July 30th) at the age of 92. He was born Toader Arapasu in 1915, hailing from the village of Tocileni in northeast Moldavia, and was the tenth of 11 children. He entered a monastery in 1928, was tonsured in 1935, and went to Bucharest five years later to study theology — after which he was ordained.

Decades later, in November 1986, the Electoral College of the Church Synod elected him as the Church’s fifth patriarch. The regime of former communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was in its final years. As ordinary people grappled with conditions of austerity, Ceausescu was busy razing historic parts of Bucharest to make way for his new “Civic Centre”. Many notable churches and monasteries were torn down, and some say Teoctist did little to prevent the destruction.

Because of accusations that he collaborated with the regime, the patriarch resigned in 1990 and withdrew to a monastery, However, he returned to office after the Holy Synod voted to reinstate him.

“The reasons why he collaborated with the former odious regime are understandable,” writes Stratan at CevaUtil Blog. “He did it lest the church should be destroyed as an institution, and the events starting back in 1948 (when the communists came to power) clearly showed that was the objective. Compromise was and is a reality, in any field. Any other diplomatic step in those times wouldn’t end in concrete results and all he could do was to adapt to the situation. So let him rest in peace.”

Not everyone agrees. “He should have resigned if he couldn’t manage the situation. Leading the Church involves a certain responsibility and when you cannot assume it you back off,” argues Habemus. “He was the only hope for the 23 million inhabitants who were ultimately deeply disappointed. Compromises are out of discussion when it comes to religion.”

Cumanul refers the matter to a higher authority.”The man is cleric, a Christian. After the revolution (in 1989) he confessed and repented, so his sins were redeemed. This is the very essence of Christianity. So the discussion is useless — God will judge him.”

The subject is a sensitive one, Madrigal writes, adding that both camps in the debate have solid arguments. “I am more interested in the coming fight over the vacant seat because there will certainly be something like that. We’ll now see how earthly the religious environment is! Whoever may come out the winner must understand the Church has to keep pace with the times, and not the other way around.”

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/blogreview/2007/08/03/blog-03 

Geschrieben in Kultur, Balkan (Englisch) | Drucken | Keine Kommentare »

3.8.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

Business: General Electric to help modernise Republika Srpska’s railways

03/08/2007

Republika Srpska’s Prime Minister Milorad Dodik promises faster trains in the entity. Also this week: the National Bank of Kuwait acquires Turkish Bank.

Republika Srpska’s railway sector could be getting an upgrade. [Getty Images]

General Electric will draft a strategy for the modernisation of Republika Srpska’s (RS) railway sector, to be forwarded to the entity cabinet. A co-operation agreement will be sealed based on the strategy, RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said on Friday (July 27th). He added that railway modernisation will allow faster trains in the entity, up to 150km/h, but declined to give details on the project deadline or investments.

***

Average annual earnings in Greece stand at 19,754 euros, according to official data released on Tuesday (July 31st). The country ranks 14th in the EU in terms of earnings; Luxembourg and Denmark are in first and second place, respectively. The figures reflect conditions in 2006, before Bulgaria and Romania joined the bloc.

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2007/08/03/roundup-bs-04

Geschrieben in Balkan (Englisch) | Drucken | Keine Kommentare »

3.8.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

Geschichte Afghanistans

Kampf gegen einen Teil des Volkes

Jens Tevres hat ein Sonderheft zur jüngeren Geschichte Afghanistans vorgelegt. Im Mittelpunkt steht der afghanischen Revolutionär Nur Mohammed Taraki.

Taraki führte 1978 die sogenannte Saur-Revolution an. Sie bewirkte den Sturz Mohammed Dauds, eines Vetters des nominellen afghanischen Königs bis 1973, Zahir Shah. Taraki konnte sich beim Versuch, Afghanistan von seinen Feudalstrukturen zu befreien, in der Demokratischen Volkspartei Afghanistans nicht dauerhaft durchsetzen. Auch verweigerte ihm die Sowjetunion wirksame Unterstützung. Er starb 1979; Anhänger seines Nebenbuhlers Afizullah Amin haben ihn vermutlich umgebracht.

Seit 1978 hatten die Vereinigten Staaten, über saudische und pakistanische Kanäle, Islamisten inner- und außerhalb Afghanistans rekrutieren und ausrüsten lassen. Die Islamisten nahmen als Mudschaheddin den Kampf gegen die antifeudalistische Kabuler Regierung auf und drohten, an die Macht zu gelangen. Der einstige Nebenbuhler Tarakis, Afizullah Amin, begann, mit den Mudschaheddin, mit Pakistan und den USA zu konspirieren.

Im Dezember 1979 marschierten Sowjettruppen in Afghanistan ein, erschossen Afizullah Amin und ersetzten ihn durch Babrak Karmal, einen Reformisten. 1989 zogen die Sowjettruppen geschlagen ab. Den anschließenden Bürgerkrieg entschieden die pakistanisch und indirekt US-amerikanisch unterstützten Taliban für sich. Sie beherrschten bis zum Überfall der USA auf Afghanistan 2001 den größten Teil des Landes.

Jens Tevres hat in seinen Text aussagekräftige Fotos, Faksimiles und wichtige historische Dokumente auf Deutsch eingefügt, zum Beispiel das antifeudalistische Dekret Nr. 7 vom 17. Oktober 1978 zu Verlobung, Heirat, Migift und Zwangsehe; und Auszüge aus der Aufzeichnung des Gesprächs zwischen Nur Mohammed Taraki einerseits, Ministerpräsiden Alexej Kossygin und weiteren Sowjetführern andererseits, vom 20. März 1979. Die Auszüge belegen, daß die Sowjetunion auch zu diesem späten Zeitpunkt noch nicht gewillt war, zugunsten der antifeudalen afghanischen Regierung in den Krieg einzutreten. So hielt Kossygin der Bitte Tarakis um militärische Hilfe entgegen:

Man darf nicht übersehen, daß unsere Truppen nicht nur mit einem äußeren Agressor zu kämpfen hätten, sondern auch mit einem Teil Ihres Volkes. Und das Volk verzeiht solche Dinge nicht.

Kossygin meinte damit die Feudalherren, deren große Anhängerschaft und die vom Feudalismus geprägte, großenteils analphabetische bäuerliche Bevölkerung Afghanistans.

Tevres wirft der sowjetischen Führung wegen ihres Zögerns Feigheit vor. Der Marburger Wissenschaftler und Publizist Matin Baraki dagegen hat vielfach dargelegt, daß der – neun Monate später dennoch angeordnete – Einmarsch der Sowjettruppen zwar völkerrechtskonform und womöglich ehrenwert war, aber das Ende der Sowjetunion besiegelt hat; ein letzter großer Fehler also. Tevres setzt sich mit Barakis Position nicht auseinander und scheint keine seiner zahlreichen Veröffentlichungen herangezogen zu haben.

Stattdessen schweift Tevres mehrfach auf andere Weltregionen und Zeiträume ab, um seine generelle Sicht auf die sowjetischen Politik zu unterstreichen. Bemerkungen wie die, der Konspirateur Afizullah Amin sei von den Sowjettruppen „verdientermaßen erschossen“ worden, irritieren. Eine unklare Gliederung und Schachtelsätze dämpfen die Lesefreude.

Dennoch kann das Heft helfen, westlich-imperialistischer Propaganda über die jüngere afghanische Geschichte entgegenzutreten.

T:I:S, 2. August 2007

Jens Tevres: Kurze Geschichte Afghanistans, oder: Wer war Nur Mohammed Taraki? EUR 4,50 / sFr 8,10. ISSN 0930-0503. ISBN-13: 978-3-89484-243-7. Ketzerbriefe 140, Ahriman-Verlag, Juli/August 2007.

*

Unter den Augen der westlichen Besatzer

Im vorletzten Jahr der Taliban-Herrschaft, 1999, kamen 4500 Tonnen Opium aus Afghanistan auf den Weltmarkt, was 77 Prozent des Markts entsprach. 2001 waren es nur 150 Tonnen, weil die Taliban kurzzeitig gegen den Anbau vorgegangen waren, bevor die Nato nach den Terroranschlägen vom 11. September in dem Land einmarschierte. Ausgerechnet unter den Augen der westlichen Besatzer hat der Mohnanbau stark zugenommen: 2005 wurden 4100 Tonnen Rohopium aus afghanischem Mohn gewonnen, 2006 dann 6100 Tonnen, neunzig Prozent der Welternte.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Print-Ausgabe, 23.03.2007, Nr. 70 / Seite 5: Der geheimnisvolle amerikanische Mohn. Deutsche Wissenschaftler gehen der Frage nach: Wird in Afghanistan die Opiumproduktion durch hochgezüchtete Pflanzen angeheizt? / Von Christian Schwägerl

T:I:S, 23. März 2007

*

Afghanistan geostrategisch

Texte bei SteinbergRecherche zur geostrategischen Bedeutung Afghanistans unter Krieg um Öl, Pipelines und T…, Transportkorridore, Erdgas, Brzeziński, Al Qaida und Geburtswehen. Powerpoint-Präsentation: Afghanistan im Fadenkreuz

T:I:S, 17. Februar 2007

*

كشف يك نوع مواد مخدر شيميايي جديد

Fada Hossain Maleki, Leiter der Rauschgiftsbekämpfungsbehörde Irans erklärte auf einem Kongreß: Vor dem Sturz der Taliban wurden in Afghanistan jährlich 200 Tonnen Rauschgift produziert. Unter dem westlichen Besatzungsregime ist die Produktion auf jetzt 6100 Tonnen angestiegen.

Dem Kampf gegen Rauschgiftbanden seien bis heute 3500 iranische Soldaten zum Opfer gefallen.

Meldung auf Farsi,T:I:S, 14. Februar 2007

Mohnblüte

Die Afghanen vergessen nicht. Sie sehen auch, dass die Briten den Taliban ein “sicheres Gebiet” für den Mohnanbau zugestanden haben, um einer erneuten schmählichen Niederlage zu entgehen. 

Willy Wimmer, MdB-CDU, T:I:S, 3. Februar 2007

http://www.steinbergrecherche.com/mohn.htm#T

Geschrieben in Welt News Spezial, Geschichte - History | Drucken | 1 Kommentar »

3.8.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

Crossfire War - Gunfire Directed At Macedonian Police Station

By Willard Payne

Crossfire War - Athens - Tehran - Ankara Watch - Southeast Europe Theatre: Athens - Belgrade - Moscow - Tehran - Ankara - Tirana - Pristina/Skopje - Vienna - Brussels - Warsaw; Gunfire Directed at Macedonian Police Station on Kosovo Border - Ankara Protests Vienna Permitting PKK Leader to Leave for N. Iraq - Greece - Iran Increase Strategic - Energy Relations

Night Watch: GOSHINCE - Macedonia Interior Ministry has just confirmed reports of gunfire directed at a Macedonian police station in the village of Goshince near the Kosovo/Macedonia border.The action took place Tuesday evening at 20:45 that also involved grenade explosions within 100-500 yards of the station. No injuries have been reported and so far no one or group has taken responsibility. This is just a minute example as to how intriguing the European theatre is.

The Macedonian government in Skopje supports Albanians in Kosovo’s independence war against Serbia yet here is, what is most likely, an Albanian guerrilla unit shooting again at Macedonia, which is what nearly set off a regional chain reaction war in early 2001. That was when Albanians in Macedonia attacked government positions in the country, right after Reuters reported in late 2000, Iran-Turkey were comparing intelligence information but they wouldn’t say about where. Now this action Tuesday night just one month after Tehran had a meeting in Tirana, with Albania’s Minister of Transportation, reported on crossfirewar.com June 30. [MAKFAX]

The weapons used Tuesday could have easily been the ones Tehran just transported to Albania for use by units like the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) or other Albanian nationalist-militia groups no longer waiting for the interminable negotiation process to grant Kosovo independence, a negotiation process they no longer have any faith in. Some of the Albanian fighters want more than just Kosovo independence but a Greater Albania, all Albanian people together in the same country, which would increase the territory of Albania at the expense of Greece-Macedonia-Montenegro-Serbia.

Encouraging war in this theatre is of course Tehran, which has just concluded a meeting in Athens that is intended to increase the strategic (military) and energy cooperation between both countries. Only their increased energy cooperation was mentioned publicly, but Greece Minister of Development Dimitrios Sioufas did state Athens supports Tehran’s position regarding Europe and Athens knows the opposing positions of Iran/Europe, the Europe that is outside Southeast Europe.

………………….

newblaze

Geschrieben in Balkan (Englisch) | Drucken | Keine Kommentare »

3.8.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

02.08.2007

Bulgarien: Traum vom Mallorca an der Schwarzmeerküste ausgeträumt?

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Massenvergnügen am Strand von Varna

In den florierenden Tourismus setzt Bulgarien große Hoffnungen. Doch zugleich müssen neue zukunftsweisende Strategien für den Schwarzmeertourismus entwickelt werden. Klasse statt Masse lautet ein Vorschlag.

Geschrieben in Kultur, Economy - Wirtschaft, Balkan | Drucken | Keine Kommentare »

3.8.2007 by admin.

Energy crisis get worse

http://www.tiranatimes.com/

Geschrieben in Economy - Wirtschaft | Drucken | Keine Kommentare »