Question for written answer P-005565/2018 to the Commission Rule 130 Eleftherios Synadinos (NI) Subject: Ethnic Greek European citizen executed by Albanian police On 28 October, Greek National Day, commemorating the refusal of Greece to acquiesce in the savagery of other European states, its resistance to the massive Nazi offensive and its victory in Northern Epirus, Konstantinos Katsifas, an ethnic Greek, was gunned down by the Albanian authorities under circumstances that as yet remain unclear. It appears that the shooting occurred after he had raised a Greek flag at the Greek military cemetery during the official annual celebration held by Greek residents in the village of Bularat in Gjirokastër, some six kilometres from the border with Greece. It is here that those who fell during the epic struggle on the Albanian front are buried . A political organisation representing the Greek ethnic minority in Albania has accused the Albanian police of carrying out a execution’ and of disregarding established procedures. ‘coldblooded It also complains of a wave of anti-Greek propaganda and a growing undercurrent of hostility towards the ethnic Greek minority. In view of this: 1. Will the Commission launch an impartial investigation into what was effectively a breach of the human rights of a European citizen, in view of the EU-Albania accession negotiations? 2. that the Protocol of Corfu, which was ratified but not implemented, was never annulled by a subsequent agreement, will the Commission include it in the accession negotiations, underlining the need to ensure good neighbourly relations, with a view to upholding the rights of the Greek minority in Albania? 3. Will it finally call on Albania to honour its commitment keep a proper record of ethnic groups?
Question for written answer P-005565/2018 to the Commission Rule 130 Eleftherios Synadinos (NI) Subject: Ethnic Greek European citizen executed by Albanian police On 28 October, Greek National Day, commemorating the refusal of Greece to acquiesce in the savagery of other European states, its resistance to the massive Nazi offensive and its victory in Northern Epirus, Konstantinos Katsifas, an ethnic Greek, was gunned down by the Albanian authorities under circumstances that as yet remain unclear. It appears that the shooting occurred after he had raised a Greek flag at the Greek military cemetery during the official annual celebration held by Greek residents in the village of Bularat in Gjirokastër, some six kilometres from the border with Greece. It is here that those who fell during the epic struggle on the Albanian front are buried . A political organisation representing the Greek ethnic minority in Albania has accused the Albanian police of carrying out a ‘coldblooded execution’ and of disregarding established procedures. It also complains of a wave of anti-Greek propaganda and a growing undercurrent of hostility towards the ethnic Greek minority. In view of this: 1. Will the Commission launch an impartial investigation into what was effectively a breach of the human rights of a European citizen, in view of the EU-Albania accession negotiations? 2. that the Protocol of Corfu, which was ratified but not implemented, was never annulled by a subsequent agreement, will the Commission include it in the accession negotiations, underlining the need to ensure good neighbourly relations, with a view to upholding the rights of the Greek minority in Albania? 3. Will it finally call on Albania to honour its commitment keep a proper record of ethnic groups?
P-8-2018-005565_EN.docx