The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania wishes to express its deep indignation with regard to the provocative language and the unprecedented interference which characterize the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, dated October 19th, 2017.

The involvement in the internal political debate in Albania and references to issues which are under investigation by the judiciary authorities, constitute a contravention of diplomatic practice, of the spirit of good neighborliness, and of the strategic relations between our countries.

Moreover, the link that this statement intends to establish between the Law on the Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Albania, newly adopted by the National Assembly, and the Regulatory Plan for Himara and other surrounding villages, in the context of the Urban Renaissance, constitutes a distortion of reality and a violation of the spirit of coexistence and cooperation with minorities in the Republic of Albania. The Albanian Government has provided registration and compensation of property to the residents affected by the implementation of the Plan, and has shown full availability, in compliance to the best international legislation and practices.

We would like to emphasize that the new Law on the Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Albania guarantees the individual and collective rights of all persons belonging to national minorities, wherever they live, and in accordance to the criteria and spirit of the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Any other ethno-nationalist reference evoked by the above-cited statement contravenes with the spirit and the European legal practices on the protection of national minorities.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania reiterates its commitment to continue addressing open issues between our two countries in accordance with the European spirit and international law, despite the undermining effects of the above-cited statement over the climate of trust and cooperation between our two countries.