Minority organization against Greece’s ratification of Albania’s SAA

TIRANA, Dec 8 – The local media reported that Omonia, the organization of the ethnic-Greek minority in southern Albania, has asked Athens not to ratify Albania’s Stabilization and Association Agreement before Tirana fulfills their demands.
Omonia has reportedly sent a letter to the Greek parliament and foreign ministry with their request last month, according to Gazeta Shqiptare newspaper.
Omonia members basically are seeking autonomy in what they call the ethnic-Greek minority area in southern Albania.
They also ask that Albania should change the legal context to comply with such a request.
They further seek the Greek language to become the second official language in the country.
Omonia is headed by Vasil Bollano, mayor of Himara in southwestern Albania.
Albania signed the SAA in 2006, considered to be a first step toward membership. Greece is the last EU member country to ratify the agreement before Tirana may move to the next step, asking for starting talks on candidacy status.