The Albanian Prime Minister’s office gave the go-ahead to kill 35-year-old Greek man Konstantinos Katsifas, with the approval of Turkey, said Albanian journalist Kastriot Miftairi on mainstream television.
The execution of Katsifas has cast a shadow over Greek-Albanian relations and caused major tension between the two countries.
According to Miftairi, Rama was the one who gave the green light to kill Katsifas, while also fueling tension in bilateral relations.
“Proof of this is the immediate and provocative reaction of Rama, which has burdened the climate. The same goes for the provocative way that Albanian media portrayed the case. And as if that were not enough, we also had the Albanian authorities, which indirectly confessed their guilt by destroying elements of forensic research,” he said.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama took to Twitter after Katsifas’ death, defending his police officers actions stating, “Loving neighbours! Instead of calling it unacceptable the loss of life of a man who fired bullets at our police, who did their duty, join us in the Lord’s thanksgiving that no innocent life was lost today from this extremist and a madman.”
The Albanian reporter went on to say that if Albania has Turkey’s support against Greece, it is extremely dangerous because Turkey will demand high returns.
The killing of the member of the Greek minority in Albania in this manner has set bilateral relations on a test and triggered a wave of mistrust with regards to information coming from Albanian authorities about the shooting. On the other hand Greek politcal response has been muted, when outrage against these abhorent crimes against humanity should be condemned. This is yet another Killing of many that have previously occured.
Reports from Kotsifas family members descibe intimmidation and Racism. Racism and anti-hellenic approaches are reported by representatives of the Greek minority in Albania, calling for solutions to the problems of Greeksliving abroad. Implementing laws on the protection of minorities are being delayed, while the issue protecting the Greeks property remains mute and unresolved. At the same time, the demolitions of Greek houses were the spearhead of actions by the Albanian authorities for years.
The Greek language
Among the most well-known and common occurrences reported by the Greeks of Albania is the confrontation they have with the speaking the Greek language.
Common and known occurrence. Some people speak Greek in a shop and somebody comes and aggressively addresses them “Here is Albania you do not speak Greek, you only speak Albanian,” says Freddy Beleris.
“It is not new. In public building, we have often been told not to speak Greek. ” says Nestoras Varfis.
“From everywhere we are being beaten and especially by the anti-Hellenic crowns of the Albanian media. Of course there are also absurd looks and expressions, “he adds.
“My children at school occasionally face tensions on the Greek and Albanian issues,” says L. Pappas.
“From the very beginning we have set our priorities, that is to shed full light into the circumstances that led to his death and protect the rights of our brothers and also protect our bilateral relations,” Katrougalos told daily Ta Nea.
He described as positive sign that Albanian authorities allowed the presence of a Greek police officer in the course of investigations. According to the Greek media, though, the presence was limited to a short briefing by the Albanian authorities.
The alternate minister stressed the need for both sides to be very careful noting that the extremism of one side triggers extremism and intolerance on the other side.
Katrougalos also underlined that Greece is waiting for Albania to adopt the normative acts and to fully implement the recent law on the protection of minorities.
“Protection of minority rights is one of the criteria for the European perspective of the neighboring country,” the minister said.
Many have called for the right of Northen Epirus (Southern Albania) which is predomionantly a Greek population to be allowed the Autonomous right granted to them in the Protocol of Corfu.
