CHAM COMMUNITY IN OFFENSIVE AGAINST ATHENS

Shpetim Idrizi responds to Athens
"Top Channel TV"

Shpetim Idrizi, the leader of the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity (PJIU), reacted after the declaration of the Spokesperson for the Greek Foreign ministry, Gregory Delavekuras, who expressed his concern for including in government as Deputy Ministers two members from the Cham community.

“The Greek Foreign Minister has often been not correct, as in the recent case of an ordinary prisoner sentenced for grave desecration. We want to clarify the Minister that the PJIU stances are not against Albania’s integration spirit. It is an internationally known historical fact that Chameria was annexed by Greece in 1913, same as Kosovo from Serbia. Our inclusion in the government coalition will do nothing more than securing a stronger and more supportive voice for the highest minorities’ standards not only in Albania, but throughout the region”, Idrizi declared.

During the press conference, Idrizi spoke about the Athens-Tirana maritime border agreement.

“Greece must show more respect towards the Albanian institutions, such as the Constitutional Court. We are hearing contradictory messages regarding the maritime border agreements. That agreement cannot be redefined only in terms, but it should be followed in full accordance with the principles set by the historical decision of the Constitutional Court. Albania’s EU road doesn’t go through Athens, but through the embrace of European values, in which the interstate blackmail and interferences in the interior works of a country are unacceptable”, Idrizi declared.

Asked by Top Channel if PJIU, now part of the majority, will initiate a Parliament Resolution for the Cham case, after its failure to pass in 2004, he declared that PJIU is looking for the accordance of the Parliamentary parties and that the resolution will be asked within this mandate.

Greece concerned for Chams in Albanian government

The Greek Foreign Ministry expressed its concern for the inclusion of the Cham Party, the Party for Justice, Unity and Integration (PJIU), in the Albanian government. The news was given by the Spokesperson for the Greek Foreign Ministry, Grigoris Delavekuras.

According to Delavekuras, Athens is following closely the political developments in our country and the inclusion in government of the party that has expressed concerning stances against Greece falls against Albania’s European Road.

“The composition of the Albanian Government is an interior matter and as such it is not up to us to comment it. PJIU has expressed stances that are concerning for Greece and that fall against the EU integration spirit of Albania. We have been guaranteed by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Ministry in Tirana that Albania desires good relations with Greece”, he added.

“This is the moment in which Albania must show if this is true and if these relations can continue with the same positive climate. Greece is determined to help Albania in its European road. Athens is an ally of Albania in this process. Certainly, the Greek minority is a very good connecting bridge between the two countries, whose rights are one of the criteria for the integration”, the Greek Foreign Ministry concluded.