AHI Releases 2013 Policy Statements call on the U.S. government

PROTECT THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA



The Issue

Under the veil of economic development, the Albanian government led
by Prime Minister Sali Berisha, tolerates the organized violation of the
rule of law, basic human rights of ethnic minorities, and property rights,
including illegal seizures of property.

In 2004, Berisha won re-election, returning to office after his previous
regime collapsed in 1997 following widespread systemic corruption.
During his initial regime in the 1990s, Berisha targeted the Greek
minority with heavy-handed tactics that included harassment and
violence by security forces, setting fire to schools, churches, and
businesses; and the arrest of the Greek minority’s leadership, which
was detained for six months before unspecified charges were filed. The United States, due to the efforts
of the Greek American community and Greece, worked to reverse these policies.
Berisha has reverted back to his policy of persecuting the ethnic Greek minority of southern Albania. This
time, Berisha’s strategy utilizes the assistance of international organizations, for example the World Bank,
to legitimize economic development efforts that in effect will diminish or eliminate the ethnic Greek
minority of southern Albania near the Ionian Sea. An example is the “Albanian Southern Coast
Development Plan,” which draws heavily upon tourism as the main thrust of the plan’s success.
Although Albania successfully sought a census to measure the Albanian minority in neighboring FYROM,
its government resists undertaking a legitimate, credible census to accurately measure its minorities so it
can continue to claim the Greek minority is small when it constitutes approximately 10 percent of
Albania’s 3.2 million population.19
Developments

 2004: The Albanian government leased 70 hectares of land in the Cheimarra province of Albania,
which has been inhabited by ethnic Greeks for centuries, to Riviera, a private construction company,
for 99 years. There are 120 private individuals, and the Albanian Orthodox Church, that claim
ownership of parcels that comprise this property.
 Sept. 19, 2008: the “Commission for the Return of Properties,” a body created by Berisha, rejected
applications of the 120 ownership claims of the properties.
 Nov. 2008: A series of incidents occurred as truck convoys attempted to bring building and fencing
materials into the towns and villages of Cheimarra on behalf of Riviera. Local inhabitants protested,
leading to the arrival of the police and a private security squad. Subsequent clashes and arrests
followed. Threatened with violence, some inhabitants removed their families for safety reasons.
 Jan. 9, 2009: 200 Albanian police riot units raided the town of Kakomaia in the province of Cheimarra
in an effort to help Riviera forcibly seize properties claimed by local residents who are ethnic Greeks.
 Jan. 16, 2010: A commission of 12 ministers will be established to coordinate the next census in
Albania, according to an Albanian State Minister.
 Feb. 1, 2012: Omonoia, an organization representing the Greek minority in Albania, announced it will
carry out a census of ethnic Greeks in Albania.20
 Dec. 4, 2012: Greek FM Dimitris Avramopoulos cancels a planned trip to Albania following references
PM Berisha made to a “greater Albania”21 that included extending Albania’s borders to Preveza.
 Dec. 16, 2012: A 2011 census reports the number of Greeks living in Albania as 24,360, or .54
percent of Albania’s population of 2.8 million. Media and certain officials claim the number of Greeks
19 Albania’s population is 3.2 million according to the World Bank
20 “Omonia: Albanian census to go ahead,” Athens News http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/10/52868#
21 “Albanian foreign minister accuses Greece of ‘naïve’ and ‘nationalist’rhetoric,” ekathimerini, December 4, 2012 (web site).
12is closer to 300,000. The Orthodox Church of Albania rejected the official results, and Omonoia
requested the Albania government and the international community to not accept the results.22
Our Position

We call on the U.S. government to:

 undertake diplomatic dialogue with the Albanian government to ensure the rule of law is observed
and that minority rights, human rights, and property rights are protected. An adherence to these
basic values and principles are expected of a nation with aspirations to join the EU; and
 call on Albania to conduct a proper, credible, and accountable census to accurately measure the
ethnic and religious minority populations of Albania.