WRITTEN QUESTION E-3349/00 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission. Strengthening democratic institutions and promoting respect for ethnic minorities in Albania.
Date: 2000-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Albania, common foreign and security policy, democratisation, rights of minorities

C 151 E/144

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

(2001/C 151 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3349/00

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Strengthening democratic institutions and promoting respect for ethnic minorities in Albania

During the recent local elections in Albania, there were reports of many instances of psychological duress
being brought to bear in the southern part of the country where the country(cid:146)s Greek minority are in the
majority.
including ballot-rigging, affecting the
candidates of the human rights party Omonia (KEAD), which represents the Greek minority, were recorded
by foreign observers and reported by members of the Greek community.

In the Chimara region, a great many irregularities,

What measures will the Commission take to consolidate the democratic institutions, establish the rule of
law, and promote respect for minorities in Albania, which are preconditions for that country(cid:146)s participa-
tion in European institutions?

(2001/C 151 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3389/00

by Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Irregularities and fraud during elections in Albania

Six Greek MPs, together with other international observers monitoring the municipal elections held in the
Chimara region of Albania on 15 October (cid:129) which were being reheld following complaints from the
Omonoia-KEAD party of violence and fraud during the first round held on 1 October 2000 (cid:129) have
reported irregularities and fraud on a large scale.

1.
Is the Commission aware that, on the pretext of naval exercises and routine procedure, the Albanian
authorities closed their sea and land borders on 14 October 2000, which meant that much of the
population of Chimara was unable to go to the polls and vote? Is the Commission also aware that the
Albanian police arrested and terrorised inhabitants of Chimara and that, on polling day, they savagely beat
up voters in front of the observers and the group of MPs, stuffed the ballot-boxes with ballot-papers, drove
off the election supervisors, altered the electoral registers and made multiple arrests, prompting Mr Vasilis
Bolanos, a candidate, and the Omonoia-KEAD party to declare that they would not recognise the result?

2. What is the Commission(cid:146)s position regarding these flagrant violations in the second round of the
municipal elections, which occurred with the support of Mr Nano(cid:146)s government and the complicity of
Mr Berisha(cid:146)s opposition party, and what representations will it make to the Albanian Government to hold
the elections in the area again?

3.
Is it possible to suspend the Council(cid:146)s decision providing macro-economic financial assistance to
Albania (1) because of that country(cid:146)s violation of the criteria concerning the establishment of the rule of
law and respect for human rights?

4. Will relations with Albania be reviewed, with particular reference to the Council(cid:146)s decision authoris-
ing the Commission to negotiate a stability and association agreement with Albania?

(1) OJ L 110, 28.4.1999, p. 13.