[ALBSA-Info] Greece threatens retaliation

[Kreshnik Bejko]

[07] Greek premier calls on Albania to respect the rights of the Greek 
minority in that country

BIARRITZ, 16/10/2000 (ANA - V. Mourtis)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Saturday called on Albania to respect the 
rights of the Greek minority in that Balkan country, during a press 
conference, following a two-day informal European Union summit in this 
French seaside resort.
Greece stands by its positions for unobstructed relations of cooperation 
with Albania, he said, in light of problems that arose days before local 
government elections in the neighboring country.

Press reports noted that the Greek minority in Albania was faced with 
problems arising from pressures applied to minimize the vote to 
representatives of the Greek community in that country, including the 
obstruction of voters' ability to travel to their home-districts.

On his part, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou contacted the Albanian 
government on Friday evening noting that efforts to obstruct ethnic Greek 
Albanian citizens to exercise their democratic right to vote were 
unacceptable and non-friendly.

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) deputy Dora Bakoyianni called on the 
Greek government to undertake measures to secure the free movement of people 
at the Greek-Albanian border and to inform international organizations of 
the affair.

Meanwhile, the Greek ambassador to Tirana handed a relevant demarche to the 
Albanian government, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.

"The stance of the Albanian government is negative and has repercussions. 
Greece possesses all the means necessary to defend the democratic rights of 
the Greek minority and will do so. Thus the Albanian government should 
immediately confront and resolve the problem," Reppas said.

[08] Greek minority Albanian parties charge irregularities, violence in 
Sunday's elections
GJIROKASTER, 16/10/2000 (ANA - P. Barkas)

Run off elections for local government officials in Albania were plagued by 
violence and fraud, according to charges made by the Greek minority leaders 
in that country.
Accusations for fraud and violence, by "Omonia" and the Human Rights Union 
parties, were growing in number as the election day came to a close, 
charging beatings, ballot box stuffing and inaccurate voter registration 
lists.

Press reports on Friday and Saturday noted that voters coming from Greece 
also faced obstruction of travel to their home-districts.


_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at 
http://profiles.msn.com.