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WRITTEN QUESTION E-3321/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)And Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE)To the Commission (30 November 2001)

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WRITTEN QUESTION E-3321/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)And Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE)To the Commission (30 November 2001) 26.9.2002 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 229 E/13 (2002/C 229 E/011) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3321/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)and Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE)to the Commission (30 November 2001) Subject: Targeted demolition of buildings belonging to Greeks in Albania According to complaints by the Greek community of Cheimarra on 22 November 2001 the selective demolition of buildings and homes belonging to members of the internationally recognised Greek ethnic minority of southern Albania is scheduled to commence. The buildings concerned are properties returned to their rightful owners by the local authorities immediately following the fall of Hoxha’s communist regime and include houses, taverns, cafes and offices belonging to Greek organisations together with a Greek language tuition centre. The new mayor of Cheimarra, who belongs to the Socialist party, sent fifteen selective letters of notification of demolition to members of the Greek ethnic minority on the grounds that the buildings concerned, which have been standing for many years and were returned to their rightful owners following revocation of the provisions confiscating them decreed by the previous Communist regime were unauthorised. What view does the Commission take of this? Are such racist tactics by the Albanian authorities against ethnic Greeks in Albania consistent with officially accepted principles in the EU Member States? What immediate measures can be taken to halt the measures thus decided and end the persecution by the Albania of members of the ethnic Greek minority which is recognised not only internationally but also by Albania itself? Reply given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (22 January 2002) The Commission is not aware of the selective demolition of buildings and homes belonging to the ethnic Greek minority in Albania. According to the information available illegal buildings have been demolished all over the country during 2001, including in its Southern part (Himara region). However, according to the available data, there has not been any kind of targeted demolition against properties belonging to the Greek minority, and demolition has only concerned illegal constructions. Ethnic Albanian owners have also been the object of these drastic measures. The Commission is closely following the position of minorities in Albania, and is particularly attentive to the issue raised by the Honourable Members. However, the Commission considers that Albania has, in general, a constructive attitude as regards its national minorities, and has not observed either racist tactics nor persecution against the Greek minority in Albania. (2002/C 229 E/012) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3322/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)to the Commission (30 November 2001) Subject: Sale of priceless archaeological treasures in Turkey According to the Turkish ‘Milliyet’ newspaper, the ‘KUSAV’ (one of Turkey’s largest cultural foundations) has decided to hold a public sale of rare archaeological treasures from the ancient Greek Hellenistic and Byzantine period which are currently in its possession. For this purpose, it has placed an advertisement on Internet inviting those interested in ancient artefacts to contact it. The Foundation is exhibiting for sale treasures from the Magnesia and Pergamon areas of Asia Minor and ‘KURSAV’ representatives have indicated that enormous interest has already been evinced in countries such as the USA, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and others. According to the same newspaper, another major exhibition has been organised in the ‘SUAV’ gallery in Istanbul, where treasures of enormous value from the Hittite, Hellenistic, Byzantine and Ottoman periods are being exhibited for sale..
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