The Albanian government may has removed from the website of the Official Gazette the decision to arbitrarily expropriate properties belonging to members of the Greek minority in Himara. But Greece is closely monitoring the next steps of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama,as taking down the decision, does not mean that it also has been withdrawn from his plans.
Rama plans to expropriate properties belonging to members of the Greek minority in Himara, Agioi Saranta and Avlona and utilize the coastal area in South Albania area for touristic purposes.He pays ridiculous compensation prices, between 0.16 and 1.5 euros per square meter for land properties situated in the best parts of the coast. – see maps here.
Diplomatic sources in Athens told state news agency amna, that “the Greek Prime Minister’s position on the issue was very clear in his comments yesterday, leaving no room for any misinterpretation by the Albanian leadership concerning the prerequisite of absolute respect for the rights and property of Greek expatriates.”
It was additionally clarified that “Greece’s and EU’s views on the rights of the Greek minority in Albania have been repeatedly and clearly expressed at all levels.”
It is also mentioned that as far as the omission of the clause from the Albanian Government Gazette is concerned, “it remains to be seen if this move was the first step towards the complete withdrawal of the unacceptable decisions targeting the Greek minority and its property, irreparably undermining the European perspective of Albania.”
Furthermore, “a prospect based on respect for the rights of all minorities living in Albania, and which we expect to see in Albanian implemented law on minorities,” the sources said.
