[ALBSA-Info] news:Top socialist reacts on Cham issue

[KreshnikBejko]

Senior Socialist Criticises Democrat for 'Balkan Division' Views

TIRANA - A senior ruling Socialist Party (SP) official criticised on Tuesday the
opposition leader for trying to raise new walls of division in the Balkans.

The SP's Secretary for Organisation, Petro Koci, said that the ruling party was
keen to build bridges of cooperation in the region to the mutual benefit of the
countries involved.

"We are and act different from (Sali) Berisha and the DP (Democratic Party), we
do not proclaim enemies, do not raise walls in the Balkans, as Berisha is trying to
do," said Koci, apparently referring to recent statements by DP leader Berisha on
a tour of southern regions.

Berisha threatened to put relations with neighbouring Greece on hold if it did not
comply with two key demands: more cultural rights for the Albanians living in
Greece and the resolution of the property issue of the Cham population, expelled
from their territories in northern Greece at the end of World War 2.

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), and warned that without a solution to the
Cham properties' issue 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