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Report on
monitoring missions carried out at border crossing
points
 10.01.2007
In the context of the project “On
respect for the rights of emigrants and returned
persons”, the Albanian Helsinki Committee organized
during December 20-23 a monitoring tour at the three
main border crossing points with Greece, namely at the
Border Crossing at Kapshticė (Korēė), Tre Urat (Pėrmet),
and Kakavijė (Gjirokastėr).
The goal of the mission was to
assess the situation at these border crossing points
because a large influx of refugees returning to Albania
for the holidays were expected.
At the Kapshticė Border Crossing, we
met with the commander of the Border Crossing. During
one week, Greek police had sent back 300 persons in the
course of one week for illegal crossing of the border.
All persons were accompanied by SOG (Specialized
Operational Group) to the Kapshticė border crossing in
order to obtain their data and register them on the TIMS
system. There were no cases of maltreatment by Greek
police during this time.
With regard to the return of
compliant emigrants, a large number was noticed. Until
December 21, about 18,000 persons had returned and the
influx was to increase. Police had added processing
windows to assist emigrants and there had been no
problems.
The border crossing commander raised
a concern he had encountered while holding his previous
position of the head of the Goricė border point. During
the time he held that position, there had been numerous
cases of returned persons crossing legally from Albania
into Macedonia and then trying to cross the
Macedonia-Greece border. Macedonian police, when seizing
these persons, took away all the money they were
carrying. Police representatives of the Goricė point had
discussed the issue several times with Macedonian
counterparts, but had received the response that
Macedonian law was such as to mandate the confiscation
of all monetary holdings of disorderly individuals. In
order to file complaints against such cases, there was a
need to file a suit with the Skopje Court, which made it
almost impossible to respect the right to complain.
At Kapshticė, we met with the head
of the SOG, located about 200m away from the border
crossing point. Interviews with returned persons were
carried out at this point. Facilities committed to this
purpose were in very good conditions and facilities
reconstructed through the CARDS program funds were at
the disposal of sick individuals, women, and children.
At this facility, returnees were interviewed about their
biographical data, the way they had crossed the border,
how Greek police had caught them and whether Greek
police had maltreated them. Fully identified persons
were released on the spot. Persons who could not be
verified, or on whose identity there were doubts, were
transferred to the Devoll police commissariat.
The SOG unit possessed sufficient
means for transporting returnees to the Devoll Police
Commissariat. They still had problems with completing
the staff. The new staffing pattern was expected to
include a female officer who would help with interviews
with women and other categories of people in need.
According to statistics, the number
of persons sent back by Greek police has dropped
considerably. Greek police used some vans to return a
few of the persons crossing the border illegally at a
time. This was seen as a positive measure affecting the
improvement of treatment of these persons. Persons
caught by Greek police were no longer kept for a long
time at assembly points, but were sent immediately to
the Albanian border.
At the “Tre Urat” border crossing,
in Pėrmet, the situation was improved because there was
electricity, which led to the normal functioning of this
point. The crossing did suffer from other logistical
deficiencies such as telephone, fax, and vehicles. A van
was expected to become available soon for transporting
returned persons as well as for other needs of the
border crossing. A female officer was also expected to
help interview persons in need.
There were very few persons sent
back by Greek police, a total of 7 persons. After they
were interviewed and their data was obtained,
confirmations were expected from the Pėrmet
Commissariat. Usually, the time needed for interviews
and confirmations was no longer than 10 hours. Returned
persons were not maltreated and had been sent back
within 24 hours from the time of their seizure on Greek
border territory. The border crossing has sufficient
reconstructed facilities for holding returned persons.
With regard to the return of
emigrants before the holidays, about 150 persons arrived
each day. The flow was easily manageable by the border
police.
At the Kakavijė Border Crossing
about 250 persons were sent back for illegal border
crossing. All returnees lack orderly documentation and
were caught in the vicinity of the Albanian-Greek
border. According to the Commander of this crossing,
there had been no cases of maltreatment of Albanian
citizens by Greek police. In his view, there was a very
correct collaborative spirit with Greek colleagues of
the border crossing.
At the Kakavijė Border Crossing,
returnees were not received at the SOG unit due to the
conditions at and distance from the facility.
The Kakavijė Border Crossing made
possible the transport of returnees from Kakavijė to the
Gjirokastėr Police Commissariat. In cases of persons
with problems in identification, they were accompanied
to the police commissariat, whereas other were released.
This border crossing features the
largest influx of emigrants returning to Albania for the
holidays. There was a very large number of emigrants
returning during those days. Processing windows had been
doubled on both sides of the border in order to
facilitate fast and problem-free movement of people.
Upon completion of this monitoring
mission, Committee representatives issued the following
recommendations:
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Negotiations should be conducted
to resolve problems arising from the confiscation of
money from returned persons by Macedonian police.
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Procedures to complete staffs
with female officers should be accelerated in order
to interview female returnees who may be victims of
trafficking.
For further information about
results of the monitoring, please contact Mr. Andi
Pipero, Project Coordinator.
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