Athens against new format of Albanian certificates

TIRANA, June 6 – Albania has been using new formats of birth certificates for its citizens, something that seems to have caused some concern in neighboring Greece.
The removal of a holder’s ethnic origin from new certificates issued by Albania has raised questions regarding its motives, stated Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman, Grigoris Delavekouras.
He said the decision reversed a long-held practice, also noting delays in completing a census of Albania’s population, due to pressures from nationalist circles opposed to the inclusion of questions regarding ethnic origin, language and religion.
In defense of the census protests, Albanian civic groups argued that making the declaration of ethnic origin obligatory would push many Albanian immigrants in neighboring Greece to be obliged to change their origin into Greek in order to preserve their legal status, job or residence there.
It is believed that up to one million Albanians may be living in Greece, though only about 600,000 are officially registered. Many of them have changed their identities, with fake certificates giving them Christian Orthodox names that helped them find work and legal status in Greece.
A non-governmental group has started a campaign within Albania and abroad with a petitition to skip such questions in the new census.
“The Republic of Albania operates on the basis of its own laws and Constitution and not on the basis of statements by whoever releases them. These laws, our Constitution and all actions by the Republic of Albania are in full harmony with international laws and the obligations we have towards the conventions we have acceded,” said Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinasto.