Thursday, January 25, 2007

National Prayer Breakfast Draws Thousands – to Pray and Protest


The National Prayer Breakfast, which draws nearly 4,000 guests from around the world, will once again be held in the immense ballroom of the Washington Hilton on February 1, 2007. This “see” and “be-seen” event for politicos has drawn presidents, kings and other leaders from around the world, including Members of Congress and thousands of other guests over orange juice and muffins to petition God to rain bipartisan blessings down on the United States and its incumbant-elect. This years address by President Bush will be particulary interesting given that most of these incumbant-elects are Democrats.

Invitees to this years’ event include Montenegro’s premier Zeljko Sturanovic, who for the first time will represent the newest member-state in the international community. Although Montenegro’s transition to democracy has been problematical, to say the least, this event is just another façade for Sturanovic to soak up and to forget, for at least one day, the tribulations his tiny state faces in 2007.

To highlight these shortcomings, however, Albanian-American communities representing several cities of the Diaspora have planned a demonstration to take place directly across the street from the Hilton. This protest follows last years’ successful gathering where over 1500 Albanians and supporters called out to the former Foreign Minister, Miodrag Vlahovic, to stop Albanian suppression and discrimination in Montenegro. Although this years’ message will beat to the same drum as last year, it will also call for the immediate halt to torture, cruel and inhumane punishment of Albanian political prisoners, including a call for a fair and speedy trial by an independent judiciary.

For more information on the protest, including times and exact location, please click on the following link: http://malesiaemadhe.org/documents/Microsoft%20Word%20-%202007%20washington%20demo%20english%20word%20revised.pdf

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Disturbing ...

Montenegrin Judiciary under fire
Source: SE Times
January 24, 2007

EU foreign ministers on Monday (January 22nd) urged Montenegro to reform its judiciary and to combat corruption. Their call came amid criticism by Montenegrin state prosecutors, who say courts are inefficient and unable to keep up with the number of cases.

"Because of delays in the courts, processes are frequently terminated due to expiration of the legal deadline, while verdicts frequently reject accusations without due consideration," State Prosecutor Vesna Medenica said in a 2005 report. According to her, as many as 46.6% of trials have not been concluded.

"The number of unfinished trials testifies to the inadequacy of our courts, with the consequence that the fight against crime becomes inefficient, and the legal security of the citizens is undermined," Medenica said in the report.

Opposition politicians have long charged that the country's judges are controlled by the ruling structures, particularly since their appointment depends on the parliamentary majority.

Representatives of the judiciary acknowledge that this is the case. They argue that the power to appoint judges should be taken from parliament and given instead to a newly established Judiciary Council.

Other factors undermining judicial independence include lack of a separate budget and the government's role in the provision of housing for judges.

In its annual progress report, published in early November, the European Commission (EC) said corruption continues to be a widespread problem in Montenegro

"The overall legal and administrative framework contains loopholes which allow corrupt activities to take place and limit the capacity of the state to fight corruption efficiently," it said.

While welcoming steps Montenegro has taken to improve the training of judges, the EC stressed the need to depoliticise the appointments process. Appointments and promotions should be based on "professional and objective criteria", rather than political ones, it said.

Montenegrin Supreme Court President Ranko Vukoti agrees with the EC recommendations. "The current constitution and the expert draft of the new supreme legal document of Montenegro do not provide for the implementation of the international standards in independence and autonomy of the judiciary power," Vukoti said.

"I hope the new constitution will allow the best lawyers to become judges, halting the outflow of the best legal cadre into advocacy and other profitable professions," he added.

Anonymous said...

In all fairness, Montenegro's judiciary branch is corrupt, Montenegro's executive brance is corrupt (former, not sure about present), MANY members of Montenegro's parliament are corrupt, and Montenegro goes as far to place corrupt politicans to "represent" their restless minorites.

Anonymous said...

REPORT FROM VJESTI --

STURANOVIC AND DELEGATION ARE NOT COMING TO NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST

-- REASONS UNKNOWN

Anonymous said...

Yes, true ... reports are coming out, and have been confirmed, that the Montenegrin delegation IS NOT attending the National Prayer Breakfast.

Which begs the question -- will there still be a demonstration???

Please advise.

Conference Organizer said...

Please be advised that the demonstration will proceed as planned.

Regardless of who is/is'nt attending, the appeals on February 1st will be directed at the international body of representatives in Washington DC.

Hope to see you all there.

Anonymous said...

Great! I think its only appropriate that they continue with the rally.

Who knows, maybe the Montenegrin delegation is bluffing.

Anonymous said...

The timing is perfect too; the final status of Kosova will be presented the next day in Prishtina -- INDEPENDENCE!!

The "Albanian Question" is taking center stage; let's soak up the spotlight people.

Anonymous said...

Ethnic Albanian DUI Party Leaves Macedonian Parliament

January 28, 2007

Tetova -- The MPs from the ethnic Albanian party Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) will leave the Macedonian Parliament. It was decided by the party’s Central Committee on Saturday, the Macedonian agency Makax reported. DUI leader Ali Ahmeti said his party didn’t want to be part of the institutions, which undermined the Ohrid Agreement. He stressed that DUI supported the real dialogue.

The Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP), a coalition ally of DUI, also decided to leave the Parliament last week. US ambassador in Skopje Gillian Milovanovic said on Friday, Jan. 26 that DUI and PDP’s decision to leave the Parliament was not good.

Source: Focus News Agency

Anonymous said...

Will NAAC attend?

Anonymous said...

Naac is too busy preparing a press release for Kosova's future.

Naac has been distant with respect to Montenegro; they have opted to stay out of the debate, choosing to meet on a couple of ocassions with Montenegrin officials but not really making any headway or taking a firm stand.

Their "diplomatic" way of negotiating usually pays lip service to Montenegro's objective -- assure Albanians everything is "OK" and have them agree on it.

I am 100% certain they will not send a rep to the rally, obscene given that its right in their backyard in DC.

Anonymous said...

Who cares about NAAC, they have not done anything for Malesia. They won't be there for the demonstration, and they have never stood beside the Albanians from Montenegro's Diaspora, usually discounting their efforts and doing things their own way.

I remember that Martin Vulaj was the only one that initiated something for Albanians there, after him, that's it, nothing.

Let's talk about something else.

Anonymous said...

Montenegro's prosecutor for organised crime receives threats

Police announced on Sunday (January 28th) that they have stepped up security around Stoyanka Radovic, special prosecutor for organised crime. Officials say she has received threats from the disbanded Kosovo National Liberation Army. Police also are providing additional protection to Chief Prosecutor Vesna Medenica and Supreme Court Chairman Ratko Vukotic.

Information about the threats was provided by international intelligence services, and stem from the recent arrest of a group of ethnic Albanians, who allegedly planned terrorist attacks in the area of Tuzi, about 20km south of Podgorica, on the eve of 2006 general elections. (RTS, SRNA - 28/01/07)

Anonymous said...

NAAC COULD CARELESS ABOUT MALESIA CAUSE!!! I DIDNT SEEN ANY OF THEIR REPS @ DEMO. MEMBERS TOO BUSY SOAKING IT UP AT COCKTAIL PARTIES AND LANDING BUSINESS CONTRACTS TO LINE THEIR POCKETS.

DEDNICK77 said...

In spiritual sphere, in possessing or creating values never have Albanians had any reason to envy or covet others, much less have they any for such today.


The Albanians are the creators and bearers of one of humankind’s fundamental languages, a language that has its unshakable place among a dozen or so of the main languages of the world.


One of the first Europe’s Christian countries, Albania has consequently been the original soil of the Western European civilization.


From the great hymn of Christianity “Te Deum” written by an Albanian Archbishop over fifteen hundreds years ago, to the teacher of Western civilization George Kastriot, the most sublime and renowned character in the world not only of Albanians, but of all Balkan peoples as well, described as “the Athlete of Christ”, to the Albanian nun Mother Teresa, the most famous Albanian women in today’s world, the proof of civilization passes through like a brilliant thread, so much and so persistently denied by the ill-wishers of Albanian nation.
- I. Kadare

Anonymous said...

Amen!!