Βιβλιοπαρουσίαση
Θεοφάνης Μαλκίδης
Η ΕΘΝΙΚΉ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΜΕΙΟΝΟΤΗΤΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΛΒΑΝΙΑ
(Έκδοση στην ελληνική, αγγλική και αλβανική γλώσσα. Αθήνα 2007, εκδόσεις Γόρδιος τηλ. 210-8252279)
Το βιβλίο, το οποίο κυκλοφορεί στην ελληνική, αγγλική και αλβανική γλώσσα, αποτελεί μία γενική αναφορά στο Βορειοηπειρωτικό ζήτημα, στο ζήτημα της Εθνικής ελληνικής μειονότητας που ζει στην Αλβανία και στοχεύει στην εισαγωγή του θέματος τόσο στο ελληνικό όσο και κυρίως στο διεθνές περιβάλλον.
Το βιβλίο θέλει να συμβάλλει στην προάσπιση των δικαιωμάτων της ελληνικής μειονότητας που ζει στην Αλβανία και μαζί με όλες τις πρωτοβουλίες που έχουν αναλάβει οι εκπρόσωποι των Ελλήνων, αποσκοπεί στη ανάδειξη του θέματος.
Περιλαμβάνει μία ιστορική ανασκόπηση της πορείας των Ελλήνων που ζουν στο αλβανικό κράτος, μίας αυτόχθονης εθνικής ομάδας, η οποία έχοντας να αντιμετωπίσει παλιές προκλήσεις (περίοδος συγκρότησης του αλβανικού κράτους, περίοδος διακυβέρνησης του κομμουνιστικού καθεστώτος του Ενβέρ Χότζα) αλλά και σύγχρονες (περίοδος μετάβασης), προσπαθεί να κατοχυρώσει τα δικαιώματά της και να τα προβάλλει διεθνώς όταν αυτά δεν εφαρμόζονται και όταν καταπατούνται.
Μεγάλα προβλήματα όπως η εκπαίδευση των μελών της ελληνικής μειονότητας, η θρησκευτική της ελευθερία, η απόδοση στους δικαιούχους των ιδιωτικών, κοινοτικών και εκκλησιαστικών περιουσιών, η μη υλοποίηση από την αλβανική πλευρά των δεσμεύσεων για τα ανθρώπινα και μειονοτικά δικαιώματα, η τρομοκρατία εναντίον παραμένουν άλυτα και εντείνονται. Μάλιστα μέσα στο εθνικιστικό κλίμα που αναπτύσσεται στην Αλβανία, μια σειρά από ενέργειες της αλβανικής κυβέρνησης στράφηκαν κατά της ελληνικής μειονότητας με στόχο την οριστική απομάκρυνση του ελληνικού πληθυσμού.
Το ζήτημα της ελληνικής μειονότητας στην Αλβανία, πρέπει να αποτελεί κυρίαρχο θέμα στις ελληνοαλβανικές σχέσεις, στις διαπραγματεύσεις της Αλβανίας με την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, ως ζήτημα εξέλιξης ή όχι της σχέσης των δύο πλευρών και της προόδου με άλλους ευρωπαϊκούς και διεθνείς οργανισμούς (ΟΗΕ, ΝΑΤΟ, ΟΑΣΕ,).
Συνεπώς ο κυριότερος στόχος θα πρέπει να είναι ο σεβασμός και η πλήρης άσκηση των πολιτικών, πολιτιστικών, εκπαιδευτικών δικαιωμάτων της ελληνικής μειονότητας. Οι εθνικές μειονότητες και ειδικότερα η ελληνική μειονότητα δεν είναι περιθωριακό στοιχείο των κρατών της Βαλκανικής χερσονήσου και της Αλβανίας αλλά ένα δημιουργικό της τμήμα. Υπό τον όρο αυτό είναι αναγκαίος ο σεβασμός των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων της ελληνικής μειονότητας όπως εγγυώνται οι διεθνείς οργανισμοί, συμβάσεις και συνθήκες, αλλά και η αλβανική νομοθεσία.
**Ο Θ. Μαλκίδης είναι διδάκτωρ Κοινωνικών και Πολιτικών Επιστημών και διδάσκει στο Τμήμα Γλώσσας, Φιλολογίας και Πολιτισμού Παρευξείνιων Χωρών του Δημοκρίτειου Πανεπιστήμιου Θράκης. Ασχολείται με τις εκφάνσεις της πολιτικής, της οικονομίας και της κοινωνίας στον Παρευξείνιο χώρο και τα Βαλκάνια.
Έχει τιμηθεί από το Συμβούλιο Τύπου των Εθνικών Κοινοτήτων του Καναδά για τη συνεισφορά του στην προαγωγή του πολιτισμού και την αλληλοκατανόηση μεταξύ των Εθνικών Κοινοτήτων.
Κυριότερα έργα του είναι τα εξής:
-Η πολιτική της Ελλάδας και της Τουρκίας για τη Θράκη, μετά την ένταξή τους στο ΝΑΤΟ.
-La situation de la Minorité Grecque en Albanie. A l ' égard du Droit International relatif a la protection des Minorités. Dimensions Politiques et Juridiques. (Με τον Στέφανο Αμπατζή).
-Οικονομία και κοινωνία στον Παρευξείνιο χώρο.
- Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και Παρευξείνιος Χώρος.
Επίσης έχει επιμεληθεί τα βιβλία:
-Μετασχηματισμοί της εθνοτικής ταυτότητας των Πομάκων (Με τον Νίκο Κόκκα)
και
-Aspects of South-eastern Europe and Black Sea after the Cold War.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Karamanlis receives mandate to form new gov'tPhoto: ..with Prime Minister Karamanlis at "Great Maximus" Government Residence, Athens 2004.
Greek Politic Elections, wins New Democraty Parti
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis exited the presidential mansion on Monday with a mandate to form a new Greek government, a day after voters swept him and ruling New Democracy (ND) back to power in the Sept. 16 election. "We are fully aware of our responsibilities towards the people, regardless of what they voted," Karamanlis said outside the presidential mansion and after his customary meeting with Greek President Karolos Papoulias, the head of state assigned the task of allocating a government mandate. Ruling New Democracy (ND) party and Karamanlis were easily re-elected in Sunday's general elections in Greece, while the main opposition PASOK party slumped and the two leftist parties -- the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) -- posted a strong showing, nearly doubling their parliamentary seats. Moreover, the neophyte Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) became the latest newcomer to the expected five-party parliament that will emerge. Karamanlis again raised his party's standard of reforms, speaking to the nation in a televised statement in downtown Athens after ND clinched its re-election, saying that the outcome of the vote was a "clear mandate" by the people for his government to carry on with reforms and changes.
UPDATE ON ALBANIAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTSThe Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS)
By Stavros Markos* (Copyright: Stavros Markos on line)
http://rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=398&Itemid=42
In a recent public appearance the Albanian National Security Council President and Army Chief Bamir Topi stated that: "The endless suspension of a final status in Kosovo decision creates serious perils for the regional stability. Albania should be prepared for any unexpected situation." This should not be surprising since Albanians were given the impression by the European Union (EU) and some NATO countries over the previous months that they were willing to recognize Kosovo's independence until the Serbian government in Belgrade and Serbian paramilitary nationalist groups openly announced their war preparations in order to retain control over the province.
In response, the United Nations and the EU advised all parties to hold, hoping that a solution streaming from the ongoing negotiations could break the entrenched impasse. In the meantime the Albanian nationalists in Kosovo, with the full support of Tirana, made unofficial claims of independence with the assumption they had Washington's support.
According to the Pristina daily Koha Ditore, for the last few weeks unofficial statements in political circles began to circulate, by which Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, without the knowledge of the Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, dispatched his private envoy, businessman Vojin Lazrevic to a number of European capitals so as to test their response to Kostunica's proposal on Kosovo being partitioned.
According to AKI, Lazrevic was indeed in Rome last week. Kostunica's Belgrade office has responded with a no comment reply to the reports and there has been no indication, officially, as to the responses so far from the European governments. However Lazervic may have been informed by them, that Tirana and the Kosovo Albanians would never support the above plan, even if they have to reach the point of preparing for war, in order to prevent partition.
Lazervic assumingly mentioned that if another war is inevitable, then the European Union and most of NATO member states should assist Serbia against any Albanian military unit, in Kosovo or from Albania itself and the reason being is that Albanian nationalists have support from Islamic militant groups.
Furthermore over the past few months there are considerable indications of Tirana's increased relations with Tehran. Iran is eager to see any war that can be used to distract the West from attacking Iran. Tehran can also use the next war in Southeast Europe to silence Vienna, and end the investigation into Iran's nuclear weapons program by the UN agency based there.
For the past week, Tirana has placed its military on "the second level of readiness" and all armed units are set to be active of "pre-mobilization" mode. In an attempt to defuse the situation Serbian Parliament member Dragan Todorovic is trying to portray reports of Albania's mobilization as "propaganda." Todorovic commented, "Still, I have to ask against whom Albania wants to go into war - Serbia, Montenegro or Greece."
Washington has expressed its serious concerns over these latest developments by sending CIA Deputy Director Stephen Kappes to visit Tirana on the 9th of September where he held two hours of secret discussions with the Albanian Secret Service (SHISH) Director Bahri Shakiri.
The escalation of tensions in the Balkan area alerts also FYROM, Bulgaria, Montenegro and most surely Greece which is heading towards general elections on the 16th of September. According to MAK News press agency, the President of FYROM, Branko Cervenkovski, has ordered for the rise on a first level alert of his country's security services, after the attack of Albanian paramilitary group against police patrol near Kumanovo.
Sofia continues to conduct wide-range propaganda about the rights of the Bulgarian minority in Albania. This issue has been raised since early August after a public statement by the Bulgarian ministry of foreign affairs in the Focus news agency and clearly portrays Sofia's wider interest for the Balkan affairs. The Bulgarian government last year, has distributed some 50 thousand passports to alleged Bulgarians in Albania, whilst the academics from Bulgaria mention around the existence of 100 to 300 thousands Bulgarians in Albania. The Bulgarian political and diplomatic maneuvers, creates further difficulties in Skopje after the decision of the Former Prime Minister of FYROM, Georgierwski to declare his nationality as Bulgarian one. Georgiewski during an interview on the national Bulgarian TV station declared that, “The Macedonian state, must be partitioned and Albanians can take Struga and Diber region, because after 5 years the Albanians have the capability to take more territories of this country”. As far as the tactic used by the Bulgarian side; it's not just the Bulgarian academics that are propagating the existence of a substantial minority of theirs in Albania, but also the Association of the Municipalities in Bulgaria decided to finance next year Bulgarian schools in Albania. That last move has created a stir in the Albanian press and damaged to an extent the relations between Sofia and Tirana.
In another field, that of security, Albania declared the end of the demilitarization of the Chemical Weapons process, financed from Washington with about 20 $ million. Also the rise of tensions in the region and in parallel the existence of organized crime and Islamic groups in Albania has obliged FBI to strengthen its operations in Tirana and make its presence more visibly over the past few months.
The Albanian Government has also strong cooperation with EU and Europol under the program "Intereg" that finances the Albanian frontier Guards corps in the area close to the Greek borders.
The current developments in the Balkans finds Greece in the midst of general elections, and the Greek Army is in constant alert after the catastrophic wildfires as well as, observing the borderline with Albania and FYROM for the case of an escalation in relation to Kosovo. In Southern Albania, (known also as Northern Epirus), a large Greek Community resides, which obligates the Albanian government to be in attention for any provocation from Albanian national paramilitary groups. Athens always has been supporter of the reforms in Albania, and is eager to assist in the implementation of proper human rights agenda in the country.
During the visit of the Under Secretary of the State Department on the 11th of June 2007 in Athens, Mr. Nicholas Burns, foreign Minister Dora Bakogianis declared that: "Albanian and FYROM are not ready to enter NATO in 2008 because they have made no progress in their reforms”. More recently, the Prime Minister Karamanlis during the course of the electorate Campaign stated in Thessaloniki international fair that “We will veto FYROM's entry to NATO if there is no compromise in the name issue".
On overall the recent entrance of Bulgarian advance in relation to the domestic Albanian politics, coupled with the Kosovo issue and the probability of a disintegration of FYROM; provides ample opportunities to the Greek diplomacy to gain a leading role in easing the tensions in the region. For the time being there are clear signs that a crisis is under way in the Western and Southern Balkans that could erupt as early as October 2007, unless there is no compromise between all interested parties.
Stavros Markos (Journalist, Member of the World Security Network Foundation-Southeastern European Office)
News sources:
Koha Ditore
AKI-Kronos
MaknewsFocus
Associated Press
Gazeta Sqiptare
OMONIA, THE GREEK ETHNIC MINORITY IN ALBANIA, CALLS TO GENERAL COUNTING POPULLATIONStavros Markos*
“We call Albanian government to take in high consideration our request to respect human values and rights of minorities ethnic counting process”. HRUP menaces the government coalition. “Berisha, makes the general population counting or we will leave from collaboration”.
“We call Albanian government to take in high consideration our request to respect human values and rights of minorities making the General Ethnic Population Counting in Albania”” said the high represent of OMONIA (The Greek Ethnic Represent in Albania) last Sunday in Argirokaster, Southern Albania (Northern Epirus). The Central Committee of Omonia, declares to foreign agencies and Albanian media a ‘Ultimatum” to Albanian Government to take in high consideration the ulterior declaration from Greeks ethnic of Albania.
The developments in Balkan Region and Kosovo Issue, have opened a great discussion in Albania opinion, after Tirana called some days ago a decision for Kosovo Issue, “The independence of Kosovo is an important priority of Albanian Government to help Albanian Diaspora particularly the Ahtisari Project for independence of Kosovo ”. The new role of Tirana as factor directly about future status of Kosovo, has made in movements some other Balkan states including tow important states member of NATO and EU, Greece and Bulgaria.
Seeing the escalation of Sofia`s request to Tirana about Bulgarian Minorities in Albania supporting any possibility counting population, Athens urges Omonia to “menace” the Albanian Government to respect his promises to HRUP (The Human Rights Union Party, as strong represent electorate of Omonia in Albanian coalition government), for counting population process during 2001, but anything resulted failed.
In 2001, Omonia boycotted the process of Identity Card in Albania, declaring as step down of Albania to respect Minorities in Albania. The opposition leader Sali Berisha declared the boycott process of Identity cart by the Greek Minority as legitimate and urged in favor of Omonia to make the Counting General Population of Albania under ethnic requests including individual declaration of religion and nationality. In 2005 the politic coalition headed from Sali Berisha, wined the politic elections, while had as priority the request of Omonia. But nothing progress from Albanian government even Albania is waiting from Greek Parliament to ratify the Stabilization Process of Integration of Albania to European Union.
In June, the Pan Epirotic Federation of America, a strong brunch of Greek American Lobby in USA, urges to call Washington, EU and Athens to take extreme measures to Tirana including the stopping process of Albania to EU and NATO. Albania is only country in Balkan region, which has very problem inside the electorate process, counting population and politic elections. The last local election in February 2007, OSCE was very critic to Albanian politic parties, considering the elections as “Albania, is missing opportunities to prosperity of Albania in Europe, failing during the electorate process ”.
According to Albanian Government, the estimates for greek minority are 3% or 58 thousand ethnic greeks in albania, while greek american organiations said for 600 thousand greeks togather with vllahs who live in Albania. The first statistics of Albanian State in 1928, said for 3% greeks while the Greek Government claimed much morre than Tirana. In Peace Conference in Paris 1919 the Greek Prime Minister Elefteros Venizelos claimed to Great Powers for about 120 thousand ethnic greeks live in Albania.
Stavros Markos*(Journalist, Member of the World Security Network Foundation -Southeast Europe Office)
ALBANIA: A Few Greeks Discover Their Neighbour By Apostolis Fotiadis
Photo: Apollonia Parc, the old Helenic City in Albania
ATHENS, Sep 17 (IPS) - Some years ago most Greeks knew Albania only as an unknown frontier. It was a country from which impoverished migrants crossed into Greece in search of a job and a better life; a place that people were leaving, where nobody wanted to go.
A gradual if limited integration of the newcomers and the opening of a newborn market for Greek business in Albania has created an opportunity for a few in the Greek public to learn more about their neighbour.
Historical links have been rediscovered. The flow of people has started becoming reciprocal even if marginally.
Stefanos Hatzimanolis is the one travel agent to have sensed this change. The last two years he has been organising holiday packages to Albania.
"People who buy packages for Albania are either experienced passengers who want to add this destination to the list of places they have been to, or they are motivated by curiosity," he told IPS. "They are well educated, and they are usually informed about their destination."
His customers come mostly from northern Greece, and are interested in four or five-day excursions which include transportation, hotels, meals and a tourist guide. "It makes it easier for the visitor since these services do not work perfectly all along the country. Currently we move more than 800 people annually by airplane or bus."
The trip that the agency offers covers many sights and cities in central and south Albania.
"Visitors are usually impressed with the castle at Berat, the city of Durres, and the city centre in Tirana. The cost of the trip is between 295 and 340 euro, depending on the services someone wants to buy, plus any personal expenses. It is very difficult to convince someone to travel to Albania for more than that at the moment," Hatzimanolis said.
The trip focuses on the ancient heritage and the ethnic Greek element of the country. Specific emphasis is given to the archaeological site Butrinti, 290km south of Tirana, and other southern cities with an ethnic Greek population like Gjirokaster, Himara and Sarande.
Greek tourists say they are attracted largely by ethnic ties and feelings.
Nikos Petalotis, a 33-year-old dentist, said his visit to Albania was a dream come true. "It is important for me to visit this region of Hellenic culture about which I have read many books and heard innumerable stories. I am interested in the Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments."
Andrea Litis, a pensioner, says he goes for personal reasons. "My parents came from a small village outside Gjirokaster, but they never managed to return after the Second World War. Indirectly, through their stories, I became nostalgic about these places. I felt strong emotions during my trip."
Despite the country's natural beauty and the attractiveness of its cultural wealth, Albania's tourism development is widely challenged by lack of infrastructure.
"It is obvious that they need a new road circulation network," said Natassa Siniori, a journalist who has travelled extensively around Albania. "Distances are not calculated by kilometres but by minutes or hours. Narrow streets with bad quality tarmac make an otherwise pleasant journey tiring and difficult."
But problems with infrastructure do not deter all. Hatzimanolis says cultural and other attractions more than compensate.
"Perhaps the tourist sector and basic infrastructure still need a lot of advancement. But the will of people to improve things, and their limitless interest in opening up this market creates good conditions for cooperation. And local cuisine and Albanian culture are likely to grab the attention of the tourist from Greece and the broader Mediterranean." (END/2007)
A gradual if limited integration of the newcomers and the opening of a newborn market for Greek business in Albania has created an opportunity for a few in the Greek public to learn more about their neighbour.
Historical links have been rediscovered. The flow of people has started becoming reciprocal even if marginally.
Stefanos Hatzimanolis is the one travel agent to have sensed this change. The last two years he has been organising holiday packages to Albania.
"People who buy packages for Albania are either experienced passengers who want to add this destination to the list of places they have been to, or they are motivated by curiosity," he told IPS. "They are well educated, and they are usually informed about their destination."
His customers come mostly from northern Greece, and are interested in four or five-day excursions which include transportation, hotels, meals and a tourist guide. "It makes it easier for the visitor since these services do not work perfectly all along the country. Currently we move more than 800 people annually by airplane or bus."
The trip that the agency offers covers many sights and cities in central and south Albania.
"Visitors are usually impressed with the castle at Berat, the city of Durres, and the city centre in Tirana. The cost of the trip is between 295 and 340 euro, depending on the services someone wants to buy, plus any personal expenses. It is very difficult to convince someone to travel to Albania for more than that at the moment," Hatzimanolis said.
The trip focuses on the ancient heritage and the ethnic Greek element of the country. Specific emphasis is given to the archaeological site Butrinti, 290km south of Tirana, and other southern cities with an ethnic Greek population like Gjirokaster, Himara and Sarande.
Greek tourists say they are attracted largely by ethnic ties and feelings.
Nikos Petalotis, a 33-year-old dentist, said his visit to Albania was a dream come true. "It is important for me to visit this region of Hellenic culture about which I have read many books and heard innumerable stories. I am interested in the Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments."
Andrea Litis, a pensioner, says he goes for personal reasons. "My parents came from a small village outside Gjirokaster, but they never managed to return after the Second World War. Indirectly, through their stories, I became nostalgic about these places. I felt strong emotions during my trip."
Despite the country's natural beauty and the attractiveness of its cultural wealth, Albania's tourism development is widely challenged by lack of infrastructure.
"It is obvious that they need a new road circulation network," said Natassa Siniori, a journalist who has travelled extensively around Albania. "Distances are not calculated by kilometres but by minutes or hours. Narrow streets with bad quality tarmac make an otherwise pleasant journey tiring and difficult."
But problems with infrastructure do not deter all. Hatzimanolis says cultural and other attractions more than compensate.
"Perhaps the tourist sector and basic infrastructure still need a lot of advancement. But the will of people to improve things, and their limitless interest in opening up this market creates good conditions for cooperation. And local cuisine and Albanian culture are likely to grab the attention of the tourist from Greece and the broader Mediterranean." (END/2007)
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