PROVOCATION: Greece Slams Attack by Albanian Ultranationalists on Minority Greeks

Greece’s Ambassador to Tirana sent a demarche to the Albanian Foreign Ministry, asking that Albanian authorities condemn the incidents that unfolded in Dervitsani (which is predominantly populated by a strong Greek minority). The violent incidents in Dervitsani occurred after the recent football match between Serbia and Albania, which ended prematurely when clashes broke out between players and fans when a flag of “Greater Albania” appeared in the stadium.

The ultranationalists apparently terrorized villagers, torched their cars and smashed storefronts, while they threatened that they would burn all the "Christians”.

The Greek-language media in Albania said that those responsible for the attack were from Lazarati village. In fact Himara.gr reported that some villagers were wounded, others fired warning shots in the air and the church bells tolled in alarm as the intruders wreaked havoc.

The Greek Ambassador also requested that all the necessary measures be taken to find, arrest and bring all those who carried out the attack to justice, while he noted that measures should be adopted in order to protect the Greek minority (especially ahead of the October 28th national celebration).

Finally, Rokanas conveyed Greece’s concern at similar attacks that he said target the Greek minority, and thus pose an obstacle to Albania’s European perspective.