WRITTEN QUESTION E-3321/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) and Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Targeted demolition of buildings belonging to Greeks in Albania.
Date: 2001-11-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Albania, Greece, anti-discriminatory measure, building, ethnic discrimination, ethnic group, expulsion from housing

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/13

(2002/C 229 E/011)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3321/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) and Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Targeted demolition of buildings belonging to Greeks in Albania

(30 November 2001)

According to complaints by the Greek community of Cheimarra on 22 November 2001 the selective
demolition of buildings and homes belonging to members of the internationally recognised Greek ethnic
minority of southern Albania is scheduled to commence. The buildings concerned are properties returned
to their rightful owners by the local authorities immediately following the fall of Hoxha’s communist
regime and include houses, taverns, cafes and offices belonging to Greek organisations together with a
Greek language tuition centre.

The new mayor of Cheimarra, who belongs to the Socialist party, sent
fifteen selective letters of
notification of demolition to members of the Greek ethnic minority on the grounds that the buildings
concerned, which have been standing for many years and were returned to their rightful owners following
revocation of
the provisions confiscating them decreed by the previous Communist regime were
unauthorised.

What view does the Commission take of this? Are such racist tactics by the Albanian authorities against
ethnic Greeks in Albania consistent with officially accepted principles in the EU Member States? What
immediate measures can be taken to halt the measures thus decided and end the persecution by the
Albania of members of the ethnic Greek minority which is recognised not only internationally but also by
Albania itself?

Reply given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2002)

The Commission is not aware of the selective demolition of buildings and homes belonging to the ethnic
Greek minority in Albania.

According to the information available illegal buildings have been demolished all over the country during
2001, including in its Southern part (Himara region). However, according to the available data, there has
not been any kind of targeted demolition against properties belonging to the Greek minority, and
demolition has only concerned illegal constructions. Ethnic Albanian owners have also been the object of
these drastic measures.

The Commission is closely following the position of minorities in Albania, and is particularly attentive to
the issue raised by the Honourable Members. However, the Commission considers that Albania has, in
general, a constructive attitude as regards its national minorities, and has not observed either racist tactics
nor persecution against the Greek minority in Albania.

(2002/C 229 E/012)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3322/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Sale of priceless archaeological treasures in Turkey

(30 November 2001)

According to the Turkish ‘Milliyet’ newspaper, the ‘KUSAV’ (one of Turkey’s largest cultural foundations)
has decided to hold a public sale of rare archaeological treasures from the ancient Greek Hellenistic and
Byzantine period which are currently in its possession. For this purpose, it has placed an advertisement on
Internet inviting those interested in ancient artefacts to contact it. The Foundation is exhibiting for sale
treasures from the Magnesia and Pergamon areas of Asia Minor and ‘KURSAV’ representatives have
indicated that enormous interest has already been evinced in countries such as the USA, Switzerland, Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait and others. According to the same newspaper, another major exhibition has been
organised in the ‘SUAV’ gallery in Istanbul, where treasures of enormous value from the Hittite, Hellenistic,
Byzantine and Ottoman periods are being exhibited for sale.