NAAC Hails President Moisiu’s Refusal to Ratify the Greek-Albanian Military Agreement

Washington, DC, May 12, 2003: The National Albanian American Council (NAAC) issued the following press release regarding the recent refusal by President Alfred Moisiu to sign the ratification of the Greek-Albanian Military Agreement for the Reconstruction of the Military Base north of Durres.

The National Albanian American Council (NAAC) hails the refusal of President Moisiu to sign the ratification of the Greek-Albanian Military Agreement for the Reconstruction of the Military Base north of Durres, Albania, said an official statement issued by NAAC on May 12, 2003.

NAAC fully supports the sincere friendship and cooperation between Greece and Albania. NAAC considers that bilateral relations should be based upon the fundamental principles of international law, such as equality and national dignity, peaceful coexistence, protection of human and minority rights in each country, etc.

NAAC observes that since 1987 the Greek Presidents and Parliament have refused to abolish the 1940 Law of Status of War with Albania. In a meeting with NAAC representatives in New York, Foreign Minister Papandreu himself has admitted that the Status of War Law exists, and that it needs to be annulled and abrogated by the Greek parliament in order to make it irrelevant. In addition, he promised that he would work to resolve this and other outstanding issues. Recent political declarations of both the Greek and Albanian prime ministers about the "invalidity" of the Status of War Law are not enough to overcome real legal and historical obstacles in the true cooperation between the two countries.

NAAC is of the opinion that a precondition for the furtherance of bilateral military relations between Albania and Greece is the immediate and unconditional abrogation of the 1940 Law on Status of War with Albania, the need for drastic changes in the Greek military doctrine, which places Southern Albania under Greek defense umbrella, and the necessity for eradication of chauvinistic and anti-Albanian attitudes embedded in the Greek Defense Ministry, as evidenced by a number of its official publications.

NAAC urges the Albanian Parliament to fully support President Moisiu in his latest legitimate and reasonable action.

NAAC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocating for Albanians and promoting peace and economic development in the Balkans by fostering democratic policy, promoting respect for human rights, and conducting educational and developmental programs. For more information on the National Albanian American Council please visit us on the web at www.naac.org