Greeks differ over Himara

Kotzias for journalists has said Greece cannot stop urbanising a third country, but demanded that minorities be given property titles.

We cannot stop urbanizing a third country. But we want property rights, especially for minority, to be protected. In recent months we tried to delay any urbanisation plan by Albanian authorities in order to give residents ownership titles. In essence, it was property without owners, whose owners had not sought protection on the judicial road”, Greece's foreign minister said.

Furthermore, the head of Hellenic diplomacy singled out a gas station in Himara, which he said, the Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister promised would give permission to build in another country. We insist that this promise be fulfilled, Kotzias said.

On the other hand, Greek opposition parties, particularly New Democracy, have been more severe in reactions.

The latter urged the Albanian government to immediately terminate works in Himara and not violate minority.

In a press release signed by the New Democracy party, as well as foreign affairs department chief Giorgos Koumoutsakos, the official Tirana is urged to immediately terminate any action that conflicts with the rights of members of the Greek minority living in Himarne”.

A request has also been addressed to the government of Tsipra, where it is asked to respond immediately to the protection of the Greek minority in Himara.

The Greek opposition suggests official Athens immediately launch talks on Himara, ahead of the launch of bilateral talks between Albania and Greece.

But unlike other Greek government statements for the construction in Himara, today's statements by government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos and later by Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias to suggest that the Greek side has withdrawn from the issue, thus paving the way for the development of the plan that the government dealt with the area.

Construction break-up action started early in the morning, with support from the FNSH forces. Residents who broke down such constructions protested constantly, but were not allowed by police to approach to prevent IKMT's rudiments.