Bollano denies asking Athens not to ratify Albania’s SAA

TIRANA, Dec 10 – Following the news that the Omonia ethnic Greek minority organization had asked the Greek parliament not to ratify Albania’s Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union, its head, Vasil Bollano, also mayor of Himara in southwestern Albania, said the truth was different; they had asked Athens to ratify the pact.
But they had also complained to Athens for more rights in Albania. Bollano said his group had asked Athens to ratify Albania’s SAA.
Greece is the last EU member country not to have yet ratified the deal Albania signed with the EU two years ago and considered to be the first step toward membership.
Albania should normally expect the SAA to be ratified by all EU member countries before it may ask to begin its candidacy status, likely next year.
At the same time, Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that protecting the rights of the Greek ethnic minority in Albania was a major accomplishment during his governing.
He also stressed the government would continue their improvements.
Answering a question on the call to Greece for not ratifying the deal, Berisha said that he was convinced the Greek government is not affected by extremists, calling it a ‘democratic government that has shown it works for friendly ties with Albania and other countries in the region.”