The
Greek delegation of course subscribes to the statement made earlier by
Sweden on behalf of the European Union. In my statement, which will be
a very brief one, I wish to refer to the local elections that were
held in Albania on the 1st and the 15th of
October.
It
is unfortunate that in the case of Albania the electoral exercise,
which should have been a celebration of democracy, was accompanied by
events in the southern city of Himara that have saddened and shocked
the friends of Albania.
The
international community has rightfully shown great interest in the
developments in Albania and solidarity with the Albanian people in its
efforts to solidify democracy and benefit from a free and democratic
political system, a system which includes the periodical holding of
free and fair elections.
No
country has shown stronger interest or has deployed proportionately
greater efforts for the well being of Albania than Greece. Indeed
Greece has a legitimate and good-intentioned interest in developments
in that country, with which we are linked with centuries–old ties of
friendship and cooperation.
And
nobody rejoiced more than we Greeks did when the Albanian people
finally rid themselves of the tyranny that had oppressed them for
decades and joined the ever growing family of free countries in the
early ‘90s.
Not
the least of the reasons for our strong interest in the well being of
Albania is the presence of a sizeable Greek minority in that country.
We have always considered that minority as a valuable element that
further strengthens the links of friendship and co-operation between
our two countries. The influx of numerous Albanian citizens into
Greece over the last decade, in search for better life, despite the
inevitable difficulties inherent in such massive movements of people,
has been an overall positive episode in the history of the relations
between the Greek and the Albanian people, and a testimony to the
friendship which I referred to a moment ago.
Ánother
major positive development is the constant and consistent assistance
Greece has been offering her Albanian neighbor, including the support
we have been extending to the European aspirations of Albania.
In
light of the above, we are deeply saddened, indeed shocked, by the way
the recent elections in Albania, especially the second round held the
day before yesterday, provided the backdrop for violent attacks
against the Greek minority in southern Albania. Unfortunately, such
attacks were not only verbal but also, in some cases, physical.
As
the events I am referring to are very recent, and in the interest of
staying within the boundaries of the subject we are discussing at this
session, “Free and Fair Elections”, I will limit myself, at this
stage, to reading a few short excerpts from ODIHR’s Election
Observation Mission/Press Release and Statement of Preliminary
Findings and Conclusions published yesterday.
“
… In Himara, where there is a Greek-speaking minority, the end of
the campaign at local and national level was marred by nationalistic
rhetoric at length in the press even on election day, in an
environment of increased tension with a neighboring country.”
“…
In the last days of the campaign, the press carried inflammatory
language and nationalistic rhetoric against the Greek minority, in
relation to the situation in Himara. ”
“
In Himara, an unexpected coalition, including the DP, supported the SP
candidate and resorted to inflammatory speeches in its campaign
against the candidate of the Union for Human Rights Party (UHRP),
pitting the Albanian against the Greek minority. As a result, the last
days of the campaign at local and national level were marred by ethnic
and nationalistic rhetoric against the Greek minority.”
“
…The second round on 15 October was less transparent and inclusive,
and showed the need for further improvement in order to meet certain
OSCE commitments.”
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