TIRANA, Aug. 31 – The Greek foreign ministry has reacted angrily over clashes in the Municipality of Himara over its urban development plan.
“Albanian authorities appear to see the violation of the rights of the Green national minority as more important than the country’s European integration,” ministry spokesman Aleksandros Gennimatas told journalists.
The statement comes after the Municipal Council of Himara approved a new development plan this week, which is opposed by OMONIA, an ethnic Greek rights organization, and the Party for Unity and Human Rights, which represents Albania’s Greek minority in the political realm.
Two separate clashes between OMONIA activists and police happened this week as activists looked to disrupt the council meeting so the development plan wouldn’t go forward.
The Kuc meeting place was guarded by a heavy police presence, but tensions continued as OMONIA leader Fredi Beleri and Himara-born activist Nikollaq Neranxi, one of Albania’s most powerful business owners, attempted to enter the council meeting.
Human Rights Union Party members of the council then walked out the meeting taking the protesters with them. The meeting proceeded to a consensual vote of the Socialist Party and Democratic Party councillors on the overall urban development plan of the Himara Municipality.
On Aug 25. activists from OMONIA disrupted a meeting of the council in Himara and forced officials to close it prematurely.
Himara Mayor Jorgo Goro told the media the activists had yelled insults at him and other.
OMONIA protesters outside carried signs that indicated they are unhappy with the Socialist Party mayor about new construction taking place in the area, which they say could disrupt the composition of the local population.
OMONIA leader Fredi Bejleri said his organization would lobby with the Greek and Cypriot governments to use their votes against Albania’s membership in the European Union.
The Party for Justice, Integrity and Unity, representing the Cham community in Albania, reacted to these statements by saying that the calls on Greece and Cyprus to act against Albania constitute criminal offences and should be prosecuted as such.
Albania does not recognized Himara and nearby villages as a Greek minority area, seeing the residents as Greek-speaking Albanians.
The property rights and development issue is complicated by the fact that the area is the most desirable place in the country for tourists, which puts development pressure on the locals.
“More than an ethnic issue, this a local economic and power issue,” according to an expert on minority rights.
