[ALBSA-Info] {QIKSH «ALBEUROPA»} Albania Tells Greece It Will Improve Minority Laws

[Nikoll A Mirakaj]

Albania Tells Greece It Will Improve Minority Laws 

TIRANA, Nov 18, 2000 -- (Reuters) Albania pledged on Friday to draw up improved citizens' rights legislation after Greece complained about the mistreatment of the ethnic Greek minority in the south of the small Balkan country.

"The prime minister expressed his conviction that Albania will compile and apply an advanced legislation, one of the most progressive in Southeastern Europe," an Albanian government spokesman said in a statement. "The legislation would further improve the rights of all Albanian citizens."

Greece reacted strongly this week to what it saw as unfair treatment of ethnic Greeks in Albania during last month's elections.

Greece's Foreign Ministry General Secretary George Savaidis on a visit to Tirana told Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta that Tirana had to review its legislation on minorities if it wanted to get closer to the European Union.

EU member Greece has cited alleged voting violations during October local elections in and around the Greek speaking town of Himare, on Albania's western coast.

Ethnic Greeks in Himare complained that police kept them away from polling stations. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe had said there were "serious irregularities" in the area.

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou has written to European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten about what he said was a serious lack of democracy in Albania and a need to respect the rights of the Greek minority.

The EU is expected to send a committee in early 2001 to discuss a cooperation agreement with Albania.

(C)2000 Copyright Reuters Limited

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