In his initial response, the Deputy Minister noted that:
“Initially, in two of our announcements as the Foreign Ministry, we expressed our concern at the developments in the region and called on the Albanian authorities to proceed immediately to the cancellation of the scheduled demolitions and move ahead to a substantial consultation with the residents regarding the redevelopment of Himara. We also called on Albania to demonstrate in practice that it functions in accordance with the Rule of Law, protecting all of its citizens from arbitrary and illegal actions, regardless of national origin.
Subsequently, due to Tirana’s continued negative stance on this issue, the Foreign Ministry proceeded to carry out a stern demarche to the Albanian Ambassador to Athens. Additionally, we proceeded to notifying the competent international organizations, the representatives of the international community and, of course, our partners in the European Union.
I would also like to inform you that, for the time being, no further negative development has taken place with regard to the aforementioned issue of the demolitions in Himara. Evidently, we are monitoring the whole issue closely and on the ground, including through our diplomatic missions in the neighbouring country, which remain always at the side of the Greek community.”
In his second response, the Deputy Minister stated that:
"We have made it clear to the Albanian side that the Greek government and public opinion place particular importance on the respect and safeguarding, in practice, of all the rights of the Greek National Minority, regardless of the area in which its members reside.
I would like to remind you that all of the issues of the Greek Minority are an essential and intrinsic component of Greek-Albanian relations and are raised on a regular basis in our meetings with the Albanian side. Regarding the property issue in particular, I highlight that a prerequisite for the comprehensive and just handling of this issue is its incorporation into the institutional reforms that are being promoted in the fields of Justice and the Rule of Law in our neighbouring country.
The property/ownership issue has also been incorporated into the framework of Albania’s European course. What is more, the reforms in the sector of Justice and the protection of human and minority rights, including property rights, constitute two of the five Key Priorities that have been set for Tirana as prerequisites, I stress, for the consideration of the opening of accession negotiations with the EU.
November 18, 2016