WRITTEN QUESTION E-3459/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(8 November 2000)

Subject: Elections in Albania and the Greek minority

Serious irregularities in the second round of elections in Himara were confirmed in the OSCE's interim statement, issued on 16 October 2000 in Tirana by observers from the OSCE and the Council of Europe. The statement reports that in Himara, where there is a Greek-speaking minority, the end of the campaign at local and national level was marked by nationalistic rhetoric mldr, and continues on election day mldr the situation was marked by some serious irregularities ranging from intimidation of commission members, to one case of violence in which a ballot box was destroyed, to verified evidence of fraud in at least three other voting centres.

When the Council has examined these allegations:

1. How will it intervene directly to reinstate a climate of full respect for the democratic rights of the Greek minority?

2. Will the Council working group which has undertaken the revision of the Action Plan for Albania and the neighbouring region submit a report to Parliament on the situation of minorities in Albania, particularly the Greek minority, so that this may be taken into consideration during the legal revision of the proposals for regulations concerning financial assistance to Albania?

3. Does the Council intend to request that elections be held again in those areas where cases of fraud were detected?

Reply

(8 March 2001)

1. As Albania is a country eligible for a stabilisation and association agreement, its performance in respecting democratic principles, human rights and the rights of minorities is an important point of reference for future developments in its relations with the European Union. Since adaptation to the structures of the Union is a strategic goal for Albania, the Union has considerable leverage to help improve the situation of minorities. It is determined to step up its cooperation and to specify the reforms to be accomplished, including in the field of human rights. The Union has also noted the commitments entered into by Albania during the visit by the Secretary-General at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Georges Savaidis, on 17 November 2000 and the commitment made, during the Albanian Prime Minister's talks with the Greek Prime Minister, Mr Constantinos Simitis, on the issue of minority zones and minority rights, to expeditiously promoting a review, according to European standards, of Albanian legislation on the rights of persons belonging to the Greek minority, with the addition that the Albanian government will also seek the advice of European experts in this respect.

2. The Council has not yet undertaken a revision of the Action Plan for Albania and the neighbouring region, which it only adopted on 13 June of this year. It is currently reviewing implementation of the measures contained in the Action Plan, including those under point 123(f) (measures to stimulate respect for human rights and minorities).

3. The Council has noted the Preliminary Statement published on 16 October 2000 by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the final report of the OSCE/ODIHR of 11 December 2000 and the report of the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of 10 November 2000 concerning the second round of local elections in Albania, together with the comments contained therein concerning serious irregularities and fraud which occurred during the elections in the Himara region. In the declaration made by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on 1 December 2000 it is stressed that the European Union sees the increasing use of violence in the pursuit of political aims as a worrying development. The European Union therefore made a forceful appeal for the rule of law to be respected. The desire of the Albanians to move towards a closer relationship with the European Union implies observance of shared fundamental values, chief among which are respect for institutions and legality, non-recourse to violence, and a spirit of tolerance and dialogue. The Council understands that the ODIHR was mandated by the international community to monitor the

elections and make recommendations. It is therefore for the ODIHR, where appropriate, to make recommendations along the lines proposed by the Honourable Member. States are, moreover, bound by the 1999 OSCE Charter for European Security to follow recommendations contained in the final reports addressed to them.