Press Report

About the joint press conference of the Greek Helsinki Monitor and the Albanian Helsinki Committee, in Thessalonica 

September 15,  2004

Today, on September, 15. 2004, at 11.30 hours, there was held a joint press conference of the Greek Helsinki Monitor and the Albanian Helsinki Committee at the Balkan Center “Media” in Thessalonica, The conference had the participation of the Executive Director of the Albanian Helsinki Committee Ms.   Vasilika Hysi and Mr. Panayote Dimitras, representative of the Greek Helsinki Group and Ferhat Çeka, one of the victims of maltreatment on the part of the Greek Cross- border Police. The representatives of the Greek Helsinki Monitor and the Albanian Helsinki Committee will be present at the judicial proceeding.

The pres conference was held one day prior to the criminal trial in the Military Criminal Court of Thessalonica against the Greek military authorities. This is the very first court of this kind, held against the violence used towards Mr. Çeka on March, 8, of the year 2002.

In the press release, Mr Dimitras voiced his revolt related to some facts that have been interpreted as discriminatory acts towards Mr. Çeka, such as the difficulty of Mr Çeka in having a visa to testify in the court.

As a result of a previous accident that Mr. Çeka had, he is now an invalid and has difficulties while walking. Despite this, he has not been provided with a facilitating transport means in the airport of Athens, meanwhile this service has been provided for a Greek national.

Afterwards Ms. Vasilika Hysi, Executive Director of the Albanian Helsinki Committee took the floor. In her speech, after thanking the present media, she expressed the commitment of the Albanian Helsinki Committee in cooperation with the Greek Helsinki Monitor to denounce the cases of the maltreatment of the Albanian migrants from the Greek law enforcement officials.

In her speech, Ms. Hysi expressed the concern about xenophobia and albanophobia on the part of Greek citizens towards the Albanian migrants. ‘ Albanian Helsinki Committee will never support migrants that commit crimes, on the contrary in this aspect they should be taken to the court, but always this should be done by respecting the rights recognized and prescribed in the international instruments and the Greek legislation.  Cases of the maltreatment of the migrants are still ongoing’ said Ms. Hysi. In this context she highlighted the recent tragic cases that occurred in Greece, such as the case of  Luan Bërdëllima (dead from the maltreatment made by the Greek police) as well as the case of Gramoz Palushi (killed days ago in the island of Zakinto in Greece)

Ms. Hysi voiced her concern about the cases of the maltreatment of the Albanian migrants at the border, as well as the other flagrant cases of the violation of their rights in the judicial proceedings as well more severe punishment to Albanians than to Greeks for the same criminal offences. Moreover, Ms Hysi mentioned other cases of the violation of human rights as the  sentencing of the Albanians in Greece without the presence of a defence lawyer, providing an interpreter having no knowledge of the Albanian language, etc.

Ms. Hysi pointed out that Albania and Greece share many things in common. The Albanian migrants in Greece and the Greek minority in Albania should serve as linking bridges and not as   splitting bridges between the peoples. She stated that the court being held the coming day is the first trial versus the Greek state and it would serve to minimize the cases of the maltreatment of the Albanian migrants in Greece.

Later on Mr. Ferhat Çeka took the floor and explained the occurrence. Media was interested as regards the fact what Mr Çek. was going to ask in the hearing of the coming day. Mr. Çeka made known that he would ask the punishment of the culprits as well as material, moral and psychological  damages.