[ALBSA-Info] News:Berisha on the Cham issue

[KreshnikBejko]

Opposition Leader Demands Rights for Albanian Minority in Greece

TIRANA - The leader of the opposition Democratic Party, on a tour of 
southern Albania, demanded on Saturday more rights for the ethnic 
Albanian Cham minority in Greece, saying the relations between the two 
neighbouring countries may suffer if mutual problems were not solved.
Berisha demanded more cultural rights for the Albanians living in Greece 
and the solution of the property issue of the Cham population, expelled 
from their territories in northern Greece at the end of World War 2.
Albanian historians claim that about 300,000 ethnic Albanians were 
forcefully expelled from Greece's northern region of Chameria to 
neighbouring Albania during the civil war in Greece at the end of World 
War 2. The then Greek authorities approved a law sanctioning the 
expropriation of Chams, citing the collaboration of several leaders of 
their community with occupying German forces as a main reason for the 
decision.
The law is still in force in Greece, and several associations 
representing the Cham population in Albania are wooing for support for 
their cause. They are even working on legal procedures to sue the Greek 
government at the European Court of Human Rights.
Ex-president Berisha said in a rally with party supporters in the 
southernmost town of Saranda that Greek authorities should open an 
Albanian language school in the northern town of Filat (Filiates).
"The Greek government should open Albanian schools in Filat, as well as 
recognise and respect the Albanian minority," said Berisha, apparently 
referring to ethnic Albanians still living in northern Greece.
He said that without the solution of the Cham properties' issue the 
relations between the two countries will notice only "artificial 
developments". Berisha vowed that the solution of the Cham issue will be 
a main condition for better relations with the neighbouring country when 
his party comes to power.
"The Greek government should return all the properties to the Cams, or, 
without resolving the issue, the relations with Greece will know only 
artificial developments," said Berisha.
The ex-president said that when his party was in power several years ago 
the government signed a Treaty of Friendship with Greece. "But, it 
(Greece) did not implement it."
"Albanians there (Greece) are treated as second class citizens," he said.
The controversial Cham issue has been dormant in recent years and none of 
the post-war Albanian governments, including the Communists, ventured to 
try and make it a key issue in the relations with the southern neighbour.
However, the issue cropped up during a recent visit of Albanian Premier 
Ilir Meta to Greece, though it was not on the agenda of talks with his 
Greek counterpart Costas Simitis.
Simitis, answering questions from journalists at a joint press conference 
following the official talks, said that the Greek government considered 
the Cham issue as "a closed chapter". The Greek Premier's statement 
prompted Meta's reaction with a statement for home consumption for 
Albanian journalists covering his visit. He said that Albania expected 
the Greek government to solve the issue of the Cham properties "according 
to the European conventions Greece abides by."
A senior right-wing leader suggested Albania should ask the International 
Human Rights Court to give a solution to the Cam issue unless an 
agreement was reached with Greece. The chairman of the Foreign 
Parliamentary Committee, Sabri Godo, a Republican, urged Albanian 
authorities to work out with Greece a solution to the issue.