Greek National Minority in Albania

The Greek National Minority (GNM) is the largest numerically and the most important one in Albania. It is an indigenous minority, recognized by Albania as a national minority. The “Omonoia” organization, the “Union for Human Rights Party”, as well as the “National Greek Minority for the Future” party (MEGA) are the main representatives of the GNM in Albania.

Greece’s foreign policy top priority with regard to Albania is to monitor the situation of all members of the Greek minority throughout the country. Full respect for the rights of the minority and implementation of the relevant commitments and obligations by the Albanian side are criteria that Albania needs to meet on its European course, and are at the coreof Greek-Albanian bilateral relations.

Greece raises GNM issues consistently on a bilateral level, as well as within the framework of the EU, the OSCE and the Council of Europe. As a result of these efforts, respect for minority rights throughout Albania figures consistently among the criteria set by the European Commission in its annual progress reports on Albania’s EU accession course. At the same time, the Greek state actively supports the GNM in Albania by contributing to the settlement of priority issues pertaining to their overall situation.

The full protection of the right of self–determination, which constitutes a prerequisite for exercising minority rights, is at the core of the issues raised towards Albania by Greece.Additionally, respect for their property rights, effective education in the mother tongue, as well as the guarantee of the right to use the Greek language in public life are of particular importance for the GNM.