Journal

Behgjet Pacolli and Mabetex donate 5 Million Euro

Mr. Behgjet Pacolli and Mabetex donate 5 Million Euro to the American University of Prishtina, Part of the Rochester Institute of Technology. American University of Pristina

Read the original letter... [pdf]

UN 'did nothing to help hostages'

THE millionaire Kosovan businessman who negotiated the release of Annetta Flanigan in Afghanistan has criticised the United Nations for ignoring her plight.

Behgjet Pacolli, who offered $1.5m (€1.13m) to the kidnappers in the days before the release of Flanigan and two other UN workers, said that the organisation had been extremely passive, and had effectively deserted Kabul during their captivity.

Flanigan, from Richhill, Co Armagh, is still in the Afghan capital being debriefed and recuperating. She will fly to Dubai with her husband Jose Aranaz for a holiday within days. Friends say the couple hope to spend Christmas with her mother in Northern Ireland.

There is a deepening mystery about the manner of her release and a fear among [read more]

Afghans hopeful on hostages

[...]Behgjet Pacolli, a businessman from Kosovo who says he is a relative of Hebibi's, told The Associated Press that Hebibi made a satellite telephone call to a friend in Kosovo on Monday. The message was passed to her family, he said.

"She said she feels good and she will be soon with them in Kosovo," Pacolli said.

Pacolli, who met former President Burhanuddin Rabbani on Monday, said he conveyed a message to the kidnappers via "influential people" and received an answer. He said that he expects "success" but that no ransom is being offered.[...]

Extract from an article by Stephen Graham

Original article by The News Observer - Afghans hopeful on hostages - November 10 2004

Afghan UN kidnappers say government agrees deal

The kidnappers of three U.N. workers in Afghanistan said the government agreed terms for their release on Wednesday, but there was no confirmation and a top U.S. official said a deal would encourage hostage taking.

The kidnappers from a Taliban faction have threatened to kill Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Shqipe Hebibi from Kosovo and Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan unless 26 Taliban prisoners, some of whom may be in U.S. custody, were freed.

Mullah Sabir Momin, one of several men claiming to speak for the Jaish-e Muslimeen (Army of Muslims), told Reuters the group had talks with the government and U.N. officials via intermediaries on Wednesday.

"The intermediaries told us that the government has accepted our demands. They [read more]

Behgjet Pacolli - Honor Citizen of Kazakhstan

Behgjet Pacolli, for the 10th anniversary of the capital of kazakhstan, Astana, with the decree of parliament, was awarded the "Honour Citizen" of Kazakhstan for all his immense support in building of the new capital of kazakhstan. In fact the Mabetex Group is working in Kazakhstan since 1995 in the construction of Astana. This company has built various key government buildings, the parliament building, the presidential palace, building of the foreign affairs ministry, hospitals, theaters, sport complexes and many other.

Malta Recognizes Kosova - Behgjet Pacolli was lobbying

Behgjet Pacolli has been lobbying very hard in the last four months for these precious recognitions.

The Parlament of Malta on August 4, 2008 has decided to recognize the republic of Kosova. The information came on that date from the President of the Aliance for New Kosova, Bhgjet Pacolli. He announced this by a direct interview at prime time news of RTK (Radio Televizioni i Kosoves). Mr Pacolli testified that Malta will recognize Kosovo. The confirmation would come within 2 weeks.

Exactly on August 21, 2008 the ministry of foreign affairs of Malta has informed the Kosova government that Malta has recognized the Republic of Kosova and will establish diplomatic relations. The recognizing of Malta is very important due to the fact that it [read more]

Behgjet Pacolli securing the Liberation of Hostages taken in Afghanistan

All daily newspapers report on the front pages about the release of Shqipe Hebibi and her two colleagues who were kidnapped in Kabul, Afghanistan. Koha Ditore reports on the front page that the hostages were set free in an unidentified area in Kabul at around 0600 hrs.

Lajm newspaper reports on the front page that UNMIK chief Jessen-Petersen and Prime Minister Rexhepi visited Hebibi’s family in Peja yesterday. ‘This is a very happy day for Shqipe’s family and for all in Kosovo, and this is the reason why we came here to share the happiness with your family,’ Jessen-Petersen is quoted as saying.

The Afghan Government, according to Koha, claims that it had reached no agreement with the kidnappers for the release of hostages, [read more]

Behgjet Pacolli - CSIS, Washington D.C - South Eastern European Economical Integration

Behgjet Pacolli, was chosen as a international counselor of the center for strategic international studies in Washington. The CISI international councilor where he is taking active part in this important duty. CSIS is also assisting Mr Behgjet Pacolli in his political life. CSIS with Mr Behgjet Pacolli has/is organized/ing yearly meetings with the topic of South Eastern European Economical Integration. Where head of states and important world opinionists take part. The next meeting will be in February 2009 in Pristina, Kosova

Letter To The Editor

The Center for Strategic and International Studies invited Mr. Behgjet Pacolli, President of Mabetex Group, to be an International Councillor, recognizing his globespanning personal and proffessional interests and his deep experience in the world of business and public policy. The CSIS International Councilors are chaired by Dr. Henry Kissinger. CSIS has drawn on Mr. Pacolli on numerous occasions for his expertise on economic development in South East Europe, most recently here in Washington in October 2006. We are now planning a follow on conference on economic development to be held in Kosova later this year. These conferences have been instrumental in bringing together leaders from government, business and civil society circles to develop [read more]

The Pacolli Effect

Since the early 1990’s, the Former Yugoslavia has experienced many tragedies. Some often say “no news” is “good news.” But, as is too often the case with places like Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Kosovo – one too many times has each of these countries been on the front cover of leading news sources, and headline news TV, depicting the tragedies taking place and the many war criminals being sought and indicted for their disgraceful acts.

We often hear of the lack of progress in places like Kosovo, corruption at all levels and the stories of the actions of people like Slobodan Milosevic, Arkan, Ratko Mladic and the new International War Crimes Tribunal guest, Radovan Karadzic.

I spent many years working and living in [read more]

Exclusive Interview with Behgjet Pacolli

President Mabetex Group, Lugano and owner of the Swiss Diamond Hotel Olivella, Vico, Lugano, Switzerland

Dear Mr. Pacolli, thank you for your time to do this exclusive interview with the Diamond's Revue

It is my pleasure.

Mr. Pacolli, The Mabetex Group has been created in 1990 by you as its founder and President. Can you tell us what your main driver was to achieve this outstanding success of the Mabetex Group today?

Well, this is a big question and I would like to summarize it with an old saying that I learned from my grandfather, Osman: "A man can succeed in almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm." This is the red line I always followed throughout my life and I always make sure that the customer satisfaction comes first on everything we do.

Read more... [pdf]

Kazakhstan's capital develops into a gem

Twenty years since the end of Soviet rule, and ten since the founding of its new capital city, Astana, Kazakhstan is thriving like never before thanks to some helpful inward investment by construction giant THE MABETEX GROUP.

Read more... [pdf]

Behgjet Pacolli the key person for the liberation of Gabriele Torsello

Behgjet Pacolli the key person for the liberation of italian journalist Gabriele Torsello, he negotiated 2 full days for the Torsello liberation Afghanistan. He was continually in contact with the italian authorities.

Italian article follows

«Non ho dormito tutta la notte, per le telefonate che ho ricevuto dall' Afghanistan, quando mi hanno offerto la liberazione di Gabriele Torsello. L' Italia mi deve una notte in un albergo a cinque stelle a Roma». Scherza Bejet Pacolli (nella foto), imprenditore di origine kosovara, conosciuto in Italia come l' ex marito di Anna Oxa. Ha raccontato di essere stato coinvolto nelle ultimissime ore nelle trattative che hanno portato Torsello alla libertà. Pacolli, che ora si trova ad Astana in [read more]

Behgjet Pacolli the key person for the liberation of italian journalist Gabriele Torsello

Behgjet Pacolli the key person for the liberation of italian journalist Gabriele Torsello, he negotiated 2 full days for the Torsello liberation Afghanistan. He was continually in contact with the italian authorities.

Italian article follows

Anche il magnate kosovaro Beghjiet Pacolli con mega villa a Montagnola di Lugano e proprietario della 'mabetex' di Lugano, oltre che di un lussuoso albergo a Morcote, a due passi da campione d'Italia, sarebbe coinvolto nelle trattative per la liberazione del fotoreporter italiano Gabriele Torselli. Lo ha raccontato lui stesso sostenendo che il suo coinvolgimento e' avvenuto nelle ultimissime ore. L'ex marito di Anna Oxa si trova ad Astana, in Kazakistan "per ragioni di lavoro" e dove, a suo dire, [read more]

Aliance for New Kosova of Behgjet Pacolli is lobbying in the USA for the independence of Kosovoa

From the muddy fields and torched villages of Kosovo six years ago, the struggle of its Albanian majority for independence from Serbia is moving to the political battlegrounds of Washington.

Although Martti Ahtisaari, the special United Nations envoy and former Finnish president, launched his shuttle diplomacy in the Balkans last week in a bid to negotiate a final settlement, all sides recognise the critical importance of lobbying the US now that the Bush administration has decided it will actively push the process to a resolution.

All sides involved in the "final status" talks also agree that the status quo is untenable. Kosovo has been under UN administration since 1999 when Nato bombed Serbia and occupied the province to halt waves of [read more]

Behgjet Pacolli liberates the hostages in Afghanistan

Three United Nations workers kidnapped in Kabul were released unhurt yesterday, ending a three-week ordeal that sparked fears Afghan militants might be copying the grisly tactics used by Iraqi terrorists to intimidate expatriates.

The hostages were dropped off at an unidentified location in Kabul at about 6am yesterday, said Ali Jalali, the Afghan interior minister. They were then taken to a military base used by the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force, where they had medical checks and called their families.

Kofi Annan, UN secretary general, said he was "profoundly relieved" at the hostages' release and that he had spoken to each of them by phone.

Annetta Flanigan, from Northern Ireland, Shqipe Hebibi, a Kosovan woman, and [read more]

Behgjet Pacolli securing the Liberation of Hostages taken in Afghanistan

Two of three United Nations workers being held hostage by militants in Afghanistan have called home, raising hopes that the trio might be released. Authorities said they were making headway in efforts to secure their freedom yesterday, as a deadline for the kidnappers' demands came and went.

Jawed Ludin, spokesman for Hamid Karzai, the president, said there had been progress in efforts to convince the kidnappers to release Shqipe Hebibi, Angelito Nayan and Annetta Flanigan, who were abducted in Kabul 12 days ago.

Ms Hebibi, a Kosovan, called a friend in Kosovo saying she was well and hoped to be home soon, according to Behgjet Pacolli, a relative in Kabul trying to help secure her release. In a call to the foreign office in Manila on [read more]