[ALBSA-Info] Greece worried over Albanian election violations

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

Greece worried over Albanian election violations

ATHENS, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Greece said on Monday it was concerned about 
voting violations in southern Albania during the second round of local 
elections. 

``From the facts we have gathered from our consulate in Gjirokaster and from 
international observers, there have been serious violations mainly in the 
region of Chimara during voting on Sunday,'' said Foreign Ministry spokesman 
Panos Beglitis. 

``These violations, including forcing members of the Greek minority not to go 
to the polling stations, will definitely influence results,'' he said. 

Southern Albania has a large ethnic Greek population with close ties to 
Athens. 

But Beglitis said problems caused to the Greek minority during Sunday's 
second round voting was not an issue affecting only Greece and Albania. 

``It is also a problem affecting the relations of Albania with the European 
Union,'' he said. 

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said there was ``a democratic deficit'' 
in Albania.'' 

He said Greece has all the means and will take measures to protect the 
minority. 

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou criticised Albania's vote during a 
news conference at an informal EU summit in Biarritz on Sunday. 

``The Albanian position will affect the relations of the two countries,'' he 
said. 

On Saturday, Albanian authorities had refused entry to buses carrying Greek 
Albanians into the country to vote charging they they lacked proper 
documentation. 

``We will present all the facts we have to the European Union and the 
international organisations and you can be certain that we will closely 
monitor this issue,'' Beglitis said.