WRITTEN QUESTION E-1891/01 by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Persecution of the Greek minority in Albania and activities of Albanian extremists in Greece.
Date: 2001-06-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Albania, Greece, extremism, national minority, protection of minorities

C 40 E/132

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

(2002/C 40 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1891/01

by Ioannis Mar(cid:237)nos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 June 2001)

Subject: Persecution of the Greek minority in Albania and activities of Albanian extremists in Greece

According to a report by the Athens News Agency from Gjirokastra, the former Prime Minister of Albania,
Mr Fatos Nano, formally condemned the leader of the official opposition, Mr Sali Berisha, on 29 May 2001
for the harsh policies he had pursued as President of Albania against the Greek minority living in the south
of the country. Mr Nano described how he used to share cigarettes in the prison cells with Greek
Albanians imprisoned by Mr Berisha. He also estimated that USD 1 billion in currency was flowing into
the country from the hundreds of thousands of Albanians working in Greece.

The weekly magazine, Zoom, published in FYROM reported on 25 May 2001 that a major offensive was
about to be launched by Albanian extremists in Greece, who have already formed a force called the
(cid:145)Tsamouria Liberation Army(cid:146). Citing secret service sources, the magazine reports that a complete plan of
operations was drawn up early in the year in Switzerland (where most of the leaders of the Albanian
extremist organisations live), the objective being the annexation of Greek territory to a (cid:145)Greater Albania(cid:146).

What is the Commission(cid:146)s response to the information that terrorist operations may be launched on the
territory of a Member State of the Union? What information does the Commission have concerning the
the large Greek minority (cid:129) which even the former Prime Minister of Albania has
persecution of
condemned (cid:129) which was also repressed for decades by Hoxha(cid:146)s totalitarian communist regime? Is the
Commission considering linking EU economic aid to Albania with respect for the human rights of the
Albanian people and the ethnic minorities living in that country?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2001)

The Commission is not aware of any terrorist operations which might be launched by possible Albanian
extremists in Greece.

Repression in Albania during the Hoxha era was, regretfully, quite widespread, and it certainly included
representatives of the Greek minority. The situation has, however, evolved since 1991. Today, Albania is
signatory of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of National Minorities and, in general,
takes a constructive approach towards minority issues. It recognises the existence of an important Greek
minority and is attempting to bring its legislation and practice up to international standards. During
discussions in the framework of the Union/Albania High Level Steering Group in May 2001, the Albanian
Government stressed its intention gradually to complete the legal framework for minority protection and
to abolish the concept of (cid:145)minority zones(cid:146). These steps will contribute to enhancing minority protection in
Albania.

Community assistance to Albania has been, and will continue to be, linked to the respect of essential
political criteria such as human rights and protection of minorities. The Commission closely follows up
developments in these sensitive areas.

(2002/C 40 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1895/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2001)

Subject: Non-disbursement of appropriations under the second CSF for Greece

What is the amount of appropriations made available to Greece under the second CSF which have not yet
been disbursed? Which specific programmes are concerned and what are the reasons for the delay?