Clarification of the Ministry of Culture regarding the Declaration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece regarding the demolition of the building in the village of Dhërmi

Following the press statement of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated July 26, 2017, we would like to clarify that the actions taken by the law enforcement bodies for the demolition of two buildings in the village of Dhërmi are part of a process that started in April of the year 2016 from the Ministry of Culture for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage in this area.

The relevant plan, part of a strategy at the national level, has been widely consulted and approved together with the community and local government bodies of the Himara Municipality. Thus, the constructions that harm the heritage have been identified, all relevant announcements have been made regarding the demolition of constructions without permission, expropriation, and the owners have been compensated based on the law in force. In the present case, it is about two buildings erected over a water source within the area protected as cultural heritage. For the affected owners, all legal procedures have been respected, as for all Albanian citizens and in accordance with all norms and international conventions.

In this context, both for Himara and for all other centers in the country, all the steps provided for by the law in force have been taken. In no case and in any link of the process, there was no circumvention, violation of legal provisions or selective approach by the competent law enforcement bodies. Even in this particular case, all stages, legal deadlines have been exhausted, including public consultation with owners, notification, expropriation and demolition of buildings, which are already classified as public property.

As we have clarified in the cases of previous statements on the same topic, the rule of law is in the interest of all citizens of Albania, whether Albanians, representatives of the Greek minority or other minorities without distinction, exception or discrimination. On this basis, every Albanian citizen, minority or not, has the right to turn to the Albanian courts as the competent bodies for the interpretation of the Law in the Republic of Albania.

Albania strongly believes that only solutions based on the rule of law and respect for the law for all guarantee the country’s European perspective, as emphasized in the conclusions of the EU General Affairs Council of December 2016. (Outcome of the EU Council Meeting of General Affairs – 13 December 2016).”