Albanian Army, 3.1 billion dollars

International Institute for Peace and Research in Stockholm, every year publishes and figures moneys spent by 171 countries of the world in use of the army. 

Referring to the report published by the Institute, Albania in the period 1992 - 2013 has spent 3.131 billion dollars for the military. According to the schedule, costs were lower in 1998, a year after riots in our country, where the government has spent 70.4 million dollars only in the military field. While a higher level of spending achieved in 2009, the year when Albania joined NATO. In this year in the "military spending" had raised at 251 million dollars.

Expenses were higher in 2008, where were exactly are disbursed 233 million dollars for military spending. While in the last year included in this report, in 2013 our country has spent 168 million dollars.

In comparison with other countries in the region, Macedonia, Montenegro or Bosnia, Albania shows that in total has spent more on the military, but for these countries report data start many years later. More specifically, Macedonia from 1996 to 2013 for the military, has spent 3 billion and 46 million dollars, which costs more numerous, are committed 436 million dollars during 2001, the year in which Macedonia was at war, or almost twice with more than our country in the year with higher costs.

Even Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost at the same levels. For the period 2002 - 2013, this state has investiuar 3 billion and 90 million dollars. Meanwhile, Montenegro has spent far less. In the period 2006 - 2013, this country has performed military spending around 626 million and 800 thousand dollars or five times less than Albania.

International Institute for Peace Research in Stockholm is an independent international institution dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. Established in 1966, the institute provides data, analysis and recommendations regarding the level of armament in the world. Only 2013 worldwide 1.747 trillion dollars are spent where states have invested more are America, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and France.

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Lorik Cana ends celibacy

The national team captain, Lorik Cana ended celibacy. He laid with Monica, the Italian girl with whom he has got a relationship for a long time. 

Marriage ceremony was held Friday night in one of the luxury resorts in Pristina combined with Albanian traditional marriage motifs.

Albanian Footballer of Lazio and his family had received the wedding plan several months before the wedding at the end of June.

Lorik himself says he feels good in Rome, while this marriage has joined Altin Lala and Erion Bogdani, two other national team captains that are married also with Italian girls.

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Brussels, police arrested six Albanian smugglers

Six Albanian traffickers have fallen in Belgian police handcuffs. After audits, Belgian police forces were able to catch the Albanians who were illegally transporting six illegal immigrants in Britain. This fact is made ​​known by the Public Ministry in Brussels.

More specifically, according to ministry sources, police had launched an investigation last November during a raid on the road E-40 to Grand-Bigard area. Police then discovered four Albanian citizens in the back of two trucks parked incorrectly. 

"The investigation then led to the identification of twelve Albanians suspected of working together in various operations," said a spokesman for the prosecutor.

People are illegally transported by truck through the Netherlands and France, or by plane with false documents. The truck driver, a Lithuanian, was also arrested in the Netherlands and to its being developed in a joint investigation between justice and Dutch police.

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Santo told friends: I suspect that a motorcycle follows me.

Two weeks before he was killed in an assassination attempt in front of the bank that ran guns, Artan Santo was talking about a suspicious motorcycle chasing after his car referring to Panorama newspaper.

On June 12 he went from Tirana to Mali i Robit in Durrës, where they dined with some friends. Throughout the road has detected a large engine sports motorcycle that always walked behind. He showed this to his friends, with whom he dined in a restaurant in Durres, but without giving much importance, since it could be a coincidence and nothing more. 

Given that there has assessed the situation, he has even closed in the table that conversation, preferring to not denounce this case. However, after the yesterday events have been some friends who have testified about what he had said over the dinner at Mali i Robit. Such evidence has not been obtained in the form of the official investigation team, however, is expected to materialize with people that will be asked during the investigation further. 

Sources said that it thoroughly checked every move Artan Santo had recently conducted, starting from the moment where he said to his friends that he had been chased by a motorcycle.

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Police seizes 1.7 tons of marijuana in Lazarat, one person arrested

Long operation of States Police continues in Lazarat, exercising checks on flats and environments against narcotics cultivation. According to information coming from the police learned that today were blocked 1.7 tons of marijuana, 14 guns and rifles, three shotguns and a considerable amount of ammunition.

Meanwhile, another person was arrested by the police, taken within the operation in Lazarat against narcotics cultivation. 

Police arrested Birbili Abas, 61 years old, after exercising control over police forces in his residence in the village yesterday were found a quantity of 22 bags filled with cannabis sativa plant, with a weight of 210 kg, and 4 packs wrapped natriban cannabis sativa plants with a weight of 2.8 kg. 

In the framework of this operation until now have been arrested and detained 30 people suspected of assault with a weapon against police forces, for the sale of narcotics production, cultivation of cannabis, contrary to police for destruction of property. It was also prosecuted and The Mayor Lazarat. 

State Police during this day continues the operation in the village Lazarat for control of the territory and premises, in order to find and destruct narcotics, illegal seizure of items, conducting procedural actions and investigations, and bring to justice those persons who have committed unlawful acts.

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Albania Recieves EU Candidate Status

After many unsuccsessful tries, Albania recieved today the European Union Candidate Status.

 The EU General Affairs Council meeting Tuesday in Luxembourg agreed to grant EU candidate status to the Albanian country, subject to endorsement by EU heads of states at their summit on Friday in Brussels.

"This is a clear step forward in EU-Albania relations, reflecting the progress the country has made in European integration and in implementing the necessary reforms. Today's decision underlines the EU's continued and credible commitment to support Albania in its efforts towards this goal," said the Council in a statement.
Albania, however, still needs to meet key priorities, with particular focus on administration and judiciary reform, fight against corruption and organised crime and fundamental rights, it noted.

Along with other Western Balkan countries, Albania was recognised as a potential country for EU membership in 2003. A Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) entered into force on 1 April 2009. In the same month, Albania submitted its application for EU membership.

The European Commission recommended that Albania be granted EU candidate status in October 2013.
Being recognised as an EU candidate country has a number of implications for Albania. It is an important political signal for Albania and its citizens, showing that the country is moving to the next phase of the European integration process.

The candidate status raises the relationship between Albania and the EU to a higher level. Albania will now receive invitations to EU Ministerial Council meetings open to candidate countries. Its access and cooperation with EU agencies will be easier.

.// Albania On Air

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