Police raided homes in the Macedonian village of Vaksintse as part of a people-smuggling investigation - a week after a reporter for Channel 4 News traced a kidnap gang to the area. Four people were arrested and 128 migrants, including women and children, were detained by police in the raids, on ten locations. The migrants were not arrested, but held as witnesses to the investigation into the smuggling of illegal immigrants. A week earlier journalist Ramita Navai visited the village to investigate reports that a kidnap gang was holding migrants at one of the houses there. Using the GPS coordinates from two men who say they were held in the village, Navai found the house where migrants were being beaten and held for ransom - forced to pay anywhere from €500 to €1,000 for release. When police carried out the raids, the house was empty. However, migrants from Syria, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries were found in five locations.
Building sites could be partially or totally closed if modern slavery practices are found under new powers to be given to Luxembourg's ‘Inspection du travail et des mines’. The body is responsible for checking that employers obey the law when it comes to workplace practices. The new EU directive aims to end criminal exploitation in the workplace where people are paid below minimum wage. Responding to a parliamentary question, employment minister Nicolas Schmit said that in addition to increasing powers to close down sites which illegally exploit workers, the new law will define who is responsible when work is subcontracted. A report claimed that Portuguese construction workers were being routinely exploited. One worker said he worked ten hours per day for 7.50 euros per hour.
Visiting Chief of Staff of the United States Army General Raymond T Odierno says military exercises in the Baltic States will be of ‘greater sizes’ in the future. With joint exercises the US demonstrates NATO’s collective defence commitments at a time when Russia's growing military activity is raising concern. Asked about Russia's military activity, Odierno said, ‘It's concerning that in some ways they are not following the rules that we've set in place with some of their air activity. As part of NATO, it's our responsibility to protect our NATO allies which is why we are here in Lithuania. Major General Almantas Leika, commander of the Lithuanian Land Force, said joint exercises show the US determination to be present here when it's not completely safe in the region, and send clear messages to everyone.’
Liechtenstein: Migration smuggling situation
17 Jul 2015
On 9 July, at the invitation of the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU Deputy Prime Minister Thomas Zwiefelhofer, an informal Council of EU Justice and Home Affairs and Schengen associated countries (Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) discussed the migration situation in the Mediterranean Sea. Although Liechtenstein is landlocked , the irregular migration by sea has increased dramatically over the past year and reached a new high which affects member states. Smuggling of migrants has become an extremely lucrative business, in which criminal networks take advantage of a low risk of detection and sanction. In the migration agenda adopted by the European Commission, migrant smuggling has been set as a priority objective. Through an enhanced police and judicial cooperation among member states and with other countries, with the involvement of FRONTEX and Europol, the exploitation of migrants by criminal networks is prevented and the incentives for irregular migration are reduced.
Since the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of the military conflict in eastern Ukraine, the security situation in the Baltic States has become a hot issue. Regular violations of national airspace, increased military trainings and bold political statements illustrate the rising tensions. In this context, it has been argued by some that ‘the Russians are coming’ whereas others believe that the idea of a Russian invasion in the Baltics is an absurdity. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov described the perceived threat of a Russian intervention as ‘raving nonsense’ and the result of ‘a psychological disorder’. However, the message a few days later that the Russian General Prosecutor is asked to review the legality of the Baltic states’ independence is not very reassuring. Some say there is no real threat to the sovereignty of the Baltic States but the events in Ukraine and, previously, Georgia explain the feeling of insecurity in the region.
The United States says it won’t block Russia’s attempts to establish a UN tribunal to investigate allegations that Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian wartime leaders killed hundreds of Serb civilians. The country’s lawmakers rejected amendments to the constitution to allow a Western-backed court to deal with the claims. The US Embassy in Kosovo said it was ‘deeply disappointed’ by Friday’s vote. A 2010 Council of Europe report claimed former rebel leader turned politician Hashim Thaçi and other Kosovo guerrillas ran a criminal ring in 1999 and that some victims were allegedly killed for their organs to be sold on the black market. The 120-seat legislature voted in favour of the amendments, but failed to secure a two-thirds majority to approve the changes. (Hashim Thaçi served as the prime minister of Kosovo from 2008 to 2014 . Just weeks after assuming the premiership, he oversaw Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia.)
In a chilling interview over Skype, a 28-year-old Italian woman who joined the ranks of IS last year told Corriere della Sera that the Islamic State is a ‘perfect country’ and when the group beheads people, it is simply obeying Sharia law. Maria Giulia Sergio, who changed her name to Fatima Az Zahara after converting to Islam, left for Syria with her Albanian husband, Aldo Kobuzi, just days after marrying him last September. Kobuzi was immediately dispatched to an IS training camp while Sergio was given weapons training. The story came to light last week after her parents and sister, also Muslim converts, as well as five members of Kobuzi’s family, were arrested as part of Italy’s anti-terrorism sweep. A former student at the University of Milan, she described the Islamic State - where women have been raped and forced into sexual slavery - as the ‘perfect country’, where people respect human rights.
Ireland: Four Revs a Minute on Tour de Foyle
17 Jul 2015
Leaders of the four main churches in the North West ‘got on their bikes’ at Ebrington for the
formal launch of the 2015 Tour de Foyle charity cycle. Proceeds from the event, on 29 August, will go towards the North West Methodist homeless service and the Churches Trust’s Pantry Project. Participants will cycle a 50-mile mostly flat route. The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good, said the Tour de Foyle event was consistent with the Diocesan themes of ‘Mission, children and generosity’ and he encouraged anyone who was fit enough to consider taking part. ‘This year’s beneficiaries are extremely worthy charities that deserve our wholehearted support. They provide critical help to fellow citizens at moments of crisis in their lives. I would encourage people to support these charities either by taking part in the Tour de Foyle cycle event themselves or by donating to others who are taking part.’