TIRANA, June 6 – A scheduled visit of Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias was met with protests on Monday from members of Chameria association and the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity (PDIU), a political party representing Cham Albanians who were expelled and stripped of their citizenship and property in northern Greece at the end of World War II under accusations that they cooperated with invading Italian and German forces.
The protesters, gathered in front of Albania’s Foreign Ministry, called for the abolition of the state of war that exists between Greece and Albania and for reparations for property confiscated at the end of World War II.
Despite the tensions outside the building where the top diplomat met with his Albanian counterpart Ditmir Bushati, both countries agreed to work together on resolving all divisive issues between the two neighboring countries.
Speaking on the Cham issue during a joint press conference, Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati said that Albania has no territorial claims over its neighbors.
“We are neighbors and it’s normal to have different views on the same issue. We believe a rational treatment would scale down nationalistic tones and deliver missed justice,” Bushati said.
Meanwhile, the Greek Foreign Minister said that the state of war is just a technicality and the two countries are obviously not in a state of war.
“If the other party has doubts whether we are in a state of war or not, this will be object of discussions and we will find a satisfying solution for that,” Kotzias said.
Kotzia also differentiated between those Chams that collaborated with the Nazis and the Cham population as a whole, in what appeared a conciliatory tone.
“For us the problem does not exist in the way our neighbor sees it. We have different approaches and all are recognized from an historical point of view,” Kotzias added.
While speaking for a renewal of the friendship treaty between the neighboring countries, the Greek top diplomat reminded Albania that its European integration efforts depend on a good relationship with Athens.
“Albania is making progress as a modern European country and we stand beside Albania in this road. On the other hand, no one must forget that its future largely depends on relations with its southern neighbor,” the Greek top diplomat stated during a meeting with students of Tirana University.
Ahead of Kotzias’ visit, Greek media had reported that the Greek Foreign Minister will present a package of proposals during his official visit to Tirana including a technical correction of the maritime treaty signed in 2009, which was voided by Albania’s constitutional court.
Another request from the Greek side was the establishment of cemeteries for Greek soldiers who died in Albania during World War II.
However, Albania listed the abolition of the state of war law as a top priority alongside the Cham issue, which the Greek government maintains that it does not exist.
Addressing the Cham party congress last Saturday, Prime Minister Edi Rama said that the abolition of the state of war was key to a new era of relations with Greece.
“Many claim the law is pointless. We are friends; we have signed a friendship treaty. Then again, if it’s pointless, why not abolish it?” Rama said.
Reacting to Rama’s declarations, the Greek Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday regarding what it considered as “unacceptable remarks from the Albanian political leadership” .
“Instead of raising non-existent issues, Albania must implement the prerequisites and its commitments with regard to protection of the rights of the indigenous Greek minority in Albania,” the statement read.
The anachronistic law passed by Greece has been in force since 1940 and while the Greek government voided the law in 1987, it was never decreed by the then-President Christos Sarxetakis, technically leaving it standing between the two nations.
The law is also seen as responsible for the sequestration of properties of the Cham minority in Greece.
It remains in force, despite the signing of a friendship treaty in 1996.
