The new distinction of Katsalidas’ work is reflective of his contribution to Greek and Albanian Literature, since he is considered to be one of the few Greek minority poets that can employ both languages to express himself on paper.

In Albania, Mr. Katsalidas is deemed one of the most recognized and most productive figures of Modern Literature. In fact, his overall work has earned him an honorable position in the recently published Encyclopedic Lexicon of the Science Academy of Albania.

The work of Mr. Katsalidas consists of thirty collections of poems, one novel and a short-story collection. He has also translated several Greek works into Albanian, including the complete works of Nobel laureate Odysseas Elytis. For this particular translation Mr. Katsalidas has been honored with the “Silver Pen” Award by the Ministry of Culture of Albania in 2003.

Up until 2011 he served as the Minister for the Office of the Prime Minister of Albania, in matters relating to Human Rights and Minorities. He has also served for many years as a cultural attaché of the Embassy of Albania to Athens.

Mr. Katsalidas is 63 years old and currently works and lives in Athens.

Last Friday, men of the Albanian Special Forces entered the house of Greek national Disho bearing guns and wearing hoods looking for him.

The Greek national from the city of Korytsa is today the top fugitive wanted in Albania. The judicial confusion on the case led Disho into fleeing and now a second arrest warrant has been issued against him.

One year ago Albanian far rightists accused Disho of desecrating the graves of Albanian citizens while he was trying to reconstruct the village’s cemetery, which includes a commemorative tomb of the Greek fallen soldiers of WWII.

“This is clearly a political issue. They want us locked up in jail because we call out loud our Greek-Vlach identity and fight for our rights. The Albanians will not recognize the Greek minority in the region of Korytsa” told Greek daily Proto Thema Mr. Disho.

Disho called the Greek state to show interest in the issues concerning the Greek minority of Albania, which has been degraded by the Albanian government and is being diplomatically approached by Romania.

Mr. Bolanos, the President of the organization representing the Greek minority in Albania, said that “Omonoia” is fully supporting Naum Disho, who is being prosecuted by far-right nationalists that aim at disrupting all communication levels between the Albanian state and the Greek minority in the country.

The Census Committee, chaired by the President of Omonoia Mr. Vassilis Bolanos, held a meeting at Sarandë, on Monday, January 30, in order to decide upon the preparatory measures that need to be taken to materialize the initiative.

“The census conducted by the government did not give our community the chance of showing its dynamics forged in the past 20 years of freedom and democracy in Albania. Omonoia’s initiative aims at giving the Greek community this chance”, as stated in the formal announcement of the organization.

The process is planned to begin in June and end in September 2012.

Prior to the event, the Divine Liturgy was conducted at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church, headed by Metropolitan Demetrios of Argyrokastro, followed by a memorial service for the departed founders and fighters of Omonoia.

Subsequently, the established anniversary gathering took place at Dervitsani cultural center, attended by Omonoia members and president Vassilis Bolanos, KEAD President Evangelos Doules, administrative officials and chairs of all branches, as well as the Consul General of Argyrokastro, Mr. Nikos Kotrokois, PASOK and New Democracy representatives, and Ioannina MP Michalis Pantoulas.

A message of unity and support to the political representative of the Minority from the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, was read by Consul General Mr. Kotrokois, who also conveyed the greeting message of Deputy Foreign Minister Demetris Dollis. A message was also sent by the 1st Deputy Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Gregoris Niotis.

Omonoia President, Mr. Vassilis Bolanos, spoke on the history, work and struggles of the organization, while KEAD President, Mr. Doules, referred to the need for genuine unity, based on specific objectives. Furthermore, Mr. Doules spoke extensively on the census issue, stressing that “the struggle we started will go on, with appeals to the European Court of Human Rights and our own decision for a N. Hellenism 2012 census”.

Entitles as “Ellinon Athyrma” (translation: Greek Games), the calendar presents the games played by the ancient Greeks and still survive to our days.

The calendar was published by the Friends of Marioupoli Association and aims at enhancing the transmission and preservation of Greek traditions and culture.

Mrs. Sxina has worked upon such concepts related to cultural matters of ancient Greece and how these are reflected in modern times for the past 11 years.

“This calendar shows that ancient Greeks have also played football, pessous, backgammon, yo-yo, blind man’s buff, leapfrog and many other children’s games. This calendar is a collection work and not something to hang on the wall” stressed out the relative announcement of ODEG, responsible for promoting the calendar.

Vangelis Dules

KEAD Party will be resorting to the European Court of Human rights, as it was announced in a Press Conference by KEAD President, Vangelis Dules, as the decision of the Albanian Constitutional Court, in which the indicated term of “ethnicity” in register offices is considered to be in conflict with the Albanian constitution, in conflict with all international and European conventions.

Mr. Dules noted that “it was a decision strongly influenced by a pseudo – nationalist sway; this decision is a self-inflicted goal on Albania’s national interests”.

The Chambers of Halkidiki, Pieria, Kozani, Kastoria and Larissa as well as the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry and enterprises from the cities of Halkida, Ioannina, Serres, Kilkis and Athens will also attend the fair.

Albania’s International Fair covers the sectors of building and construction, alternative energy sources, and the metal industry, tourism, agriculture and food industries.

The Fair attracts 30,000 visitors from 20 countries every year and hosts over 300 foreign exhibitors.

Finally, the Greek embassy in Tirana organized the 5th Greek-Albanian Business Forum that will be held on November the 24th, the eve of the Fair’s opening.

“We are facing common challenges in terms of culture and tradition within the European community” stressed the Albanian President.

According to an Albanian Presidency announcement, Mr. Topi assured that “the Greek minority in Albania will find a way to live according to the standards and join the decision making on all projects concerning its communities in the areas where they reside”.

The President of Albania spoke also supportively of the promotion of cross-border projects between the two neighboring countries.

The program includes great Greek hits from eminent Greek singers, such as Yiannis Parios, Marinella, Yiorgos Dalaras, and Charoula Alexiou performed by famous Albanian artists or artists from Albania who work in Greece or have participated in Talent Shows of Greece in the past.

During the program, a documentary of Yiannis Parios’ tour in Albania during the 80′s is shown which is unexpected because at that time, Albania was an isolated communist country.

Greek singer, Katerina Kouka also attended the ‘Greek Night’ program, performing live new and old Greek songs.

Many students that have returned from Greece to Albania due to the ongoing economic crisis in Greece register in Albanian schools.

Nevertheless, the education in Albanian Schools is not as sufficient as that in Greek Schools as well as Greek Language, Greek history and culture are being distorted.

According to Himara News Website post, Greek School in Chimara is being fully undermined, since it has no qualified teachers.

The principal of the school stated that teachers have gone a long time unpaid and encourages parents to occupy the school to help the problem be resolved by the Greek Government.

Finally, parents are protesting against non qualitative education and thinking whether to take their children out of schools or start a charity to raise money to pay teachers.