Turkey & Macedonia

 

INTRODUCTION:

For a relatively long period of time, the problem of ethnic communities has been a taboo topic in its scope and elements. It has to be pointed out, that the Albanian society is characterised by a multiethnic, multireligious and problematic structure in intercommunitary communication. Undoubtedly, there are particularities that constitute positive values. Consequently, there are also assessed the attempts on the part of the Albanian governments to accept European standards in treating minorities in Albania, such as the ratification by the Parliament of Framework Convention for the Protection of Minorities.
However, it is viewed of much concern, the attempts to leave to ANONYMOUS handling the interrelated problems of the minorities.
It is important to recall the three major pillars of Albanian society in the years 1945 – 1990:
A – Marxist – Leninist philosophy as a ruling and leading practise.
B – Expropriation, the fight against private property and isolated economy.
C – Establishment of a state with no distinctive, religious or ethnic beliefs.

To put it plainly, everything during these decades was oriented against property, political and religious beliefs and ethnic belongings.
Eventhough, ten years hour elapsed since the disruption of such a system, ideological reminiscences and totalitarian practices are still in existence. Therefore, it is presumed that concrete help should be given to the Albanian society, both to majority and minorities, to finalise attempts for real integration into Albanian democratic processes and enhancing possibilities for an effective, interethnic education and cultivation of tolerance and mutual understanding.
Many a time, the minorities view themselves as “attacked” or “custodies” to state policies with the neighbours. They are not directly represented in the Albanian Parliament and remain unprotected for lack of sub – legal acts and Albanian legislation.
The Centre for Ethnic Studies, aims at orienting its work towards evidencing minority problems, studies and recommendations for real solutions in educating tolerance and interethnic understanding in Albania, by means of concrete activities.
The material we present you, is a summary of assumptions drawn by the analysis of the QUESTIONNAIRE, that the Centre for Ethnic Studies realised with all associations of ethnic communities in Albania, from 29th of April up to 20th may, 2002.
In essence, there are 33 questions, which grouped together into 7 headings contain almost the whole sphere of problems and interests of ethnic communities in the Republic of Albania.

I – Ethnic Communities in Albania:

The problem of categorising or status of ethnic communities according to European standards is a significant issue and theme over which there are many discussions and prejudices.
Social-historical developments, as well as the process of state – establishment in the last 100 years in various ways has brought forth interesting experiences in international practise.
The problem of ethnic communities became particularly evident after the 90ies, when the European continent was facing the fury for democracy and freedom. For this reason, in the framework of no less than 5- 6 years, the European community came together several times to decide at various stages, on the basic standards of European states upon human rights and ethnic communities.
So, the European community, assessed and equally recognised the rights provided by the Chart(er) of United Nations for a series of communitarian categories, such as Minorities, ethno-linguistic communities, ethno-cultural communities and religious communities. In relation to this, the associations of ethnic communities offer these responses:

The association of Egyptian community assess themselves as follows:

Ethno – cultural community with a population of around 250 000 inhabitants, not being wholly convinced on the accuracy of the figure declared. For this reason, they are expecting for a population registration and evidencing their ethnic community.
They seek the official acknowledgement of their ethnic community by the Albanian society and are pretty confident on the values and motifs uniting the ethnic Egyptian community in Albania.
In their ethnic community, there are active more than one association and they are not as such convinced whether this is good or negative.
They are financed by the internal sources of the community, and would have wished to be financed in their activities by the Albanian state budget.
They are not pleased by representation of their ethnic community in the Albanian electronic and written media and would have liked their access into Albanian public media.
They assess a bad educational status within their ethnic community and view the improvement of educational perspective into the public education combined with private and summer courses.
The economic status of Egyptian community is really bad, with a low level of migration by members of this community.
They are unsatisfied by the level of representation into the Albanian Administration, in Albanian Parliament and their relations to the political factors in the country.
They assess, that the electoral law and Constitution of the Republic of Albania have to be changed.
They are not satisfied from co-operation either with the foundations or international organisations at home and abroad.

Associations of Rom Community offer these definitions:

They assess themselves as a Minority with a population ranging from 120 000 to 150 000, uncertain about the accuracy of this figure declared. For this, they ask for registration of the population evidencing their ethnic community.
They require the official recognition of their ethnic community by the Albanian society, eventhough, part of them declare to be officially acknowledged; meanwhile, they are convinced on the values and motifs binding the ethnic Rom Community in Albania.
There are more than one association in their ethnic community and they are not as yet convinced whether that is a good or negative thing.
They are financed by the International Community Sources and would have like to be financed by the budget of the Albanian state for their activities.
They are not satisfied from the representation of their ethnic community into the Albanian, electronic and written media and would have wished to have access into the Albanian public media.
They are not taught into their native language and assess a “very bad status of education” within their ethnic community. They view the progress and educational perspective with public education combined with private and summer courses.
The economic state of Rom Community is very bad, and with a low level of migration and emigration by the community members.
They are unsatisfied form the representation – level into the Albanian Administration, Albanian Parliament and into the relations with the political factors of the country.
They assess as “good” the Electoral Law and Constitution of the Republic of Albania.

The Association of Vlach Community assess this survey as follows:

They are not as yet, convinced whether they are an ethno-cultural community or Minority and this in fact, constitutes a problem in its own, so long as the Vlach Community has its own native language. Their population amounts to about 250 000 inhabitants, but they are not convinced on the figures being provided. For this reason, they require the population – census evidencing their ethnic community. They seek the official acknowledgement of their ethnic community by the Albanian society and are convinced in the values and motifs binding the ethnic Vlach Community in Albania. There is more than one association in their ethnic community and they are convinced about it to be a negative thing.
They are financed by the internal community sources and would wish to be financed by the Albanian state budget.
They are not satisfied from the representation of their ethnic community in the electronic and written Albanian media and would like to have their access into public Albanian media.
They are not taught into their own native language, but assess their “good educational status” within their ethnic community and view their future and educational perspective into the public education combined with private and summer courses.
The economic status of Vlach Community ranges “from good to pretty good” with a high level of education of community members.
They are unsatisfied from representation level into State Administration and Albanian Parliament; in the meantime, assess, in a contradictory way, the relations with country ´ s political factors.
They assess as “good” the Electrical Law and the Constitution of the Republic of Albania.
They are contradictory in the assessment of the co-operation with the Foundations as well as the International Organisations at home and abroad.

The Associations of Macedonian Community present these opinions:

They assess themselves as a Minority with a population varying from 120 000 to 150 000 inhabitants, though not so much convinced on the accuracy of the figure given. And presumably, they ask for a population – census, evidencing their ethnic community.
They require for the official recognition of their ethnic community by the Albanian society, even though part of them declare to be officially recognised, similarly, they are fairly convinced on the values and motifs holding together the ethnic Macedonian community in Albania.
There is more than one association, operating into their ethnic community and they are quite convinced that this is a positive fact.
They are financed by internal community sources and would like to be financed by the Albanian state budget into their activities.
They are not so much satisfied from representation of their ethnic community into Albanian electronic and written media and would also wish to have their access into Albanian public media.
They are partially educated into their own native language and assess as “very bad” their educational status within their ethnic community.
They see the progress and perspective into public education combined with private and summer courses.
The economic status is “ from medium to low” with a high level of migration and emigration of the community members.
They are not satisfied from representation level into Albanian Administration, Albanian Parliament or relations to home political factors.
Moreover, they assess, it has to be changed the Electoral Law and Constitution of Republic of Albania.
They are not satisfied from co – operation with foundations as well as foreign organisations at home and abroad by assessing such relations from “bad up to average”.

Association of Greek Community gives the assessments as follows:

They assess themselves as a Minority, but not declaring their population – figure, by not being precisely convinced over it.
They are financed by internal community sources and would like to be financed by the Albanian state budget into their activities.
They are not satisfied from representation of their ethnic community into the Albanian electronic and written media and would also wish to have their access into the Albanian public media.
They assess as “medium” the educational status within their ethnic community and consider the future and educational perspective into public education combined with private and summer courses.
The economic status of Greek Community is “on the average, good” with a medium level of emigration of the community members and low level of migration.
They are not satisfied from the representation level into Albanian Administration, but similarly, assess their representation into the Albanian Parliament.
They assess as “good” the Albanian Constitution, but are seeking changes into the Albanian Electoral Law.
They assess as “good” the cooperation with foundations as well as international organisations at home and abroad.

The Association “Moraca – Rozafa” of ethnic Serbian and Montenegro Minority gives the assessments as follows:

They assess themselves as a Minority, with a population of about 40 000 inhabitants, approximately convinced on the accuracy of the figure given. For this, they require the registration of the population and evidencing their ethnic community. Moreover, they ask for the official recognition of their ethnic community by the Albanian society.
There is only one association within their ethnic community and they are convinced on the motifs of their ethnic organisation.
They are financed by the internal community sources and would like to be financed by the budget of the Albanian state into their activities.
They are not satisfied from the representation of their ethnic community into the Albanian electronic and written media and wish to have their access into the Albanian public media.
They are not taught into their native language and assess as “really bad” the educational status within their ethnic community. They view the improvement and educational prospective within the public education.
The economic status of Serbian and Montenegro Community is “good” on the average, with a medium level of migration and emigration of the community members.
They are not satisfied from the representation – level into the Albanian Administration and Albanian Parliament and assess as “good” the relations to home political factors.
They assume that it has to be changed the Electoral Law and the Constitution of the Republic of Albania.
They are not satisfied from the co-operation with the foundations, but they assess as ‘good” the co-operation with international organisations at home and abroad.

II – Ethnic Communities and the Media

Like children are the mirrors of their parents, so does the media reflect the society. It is rather striking, but it is true, that all the ethnic communities represented from associations give the same response: We are “little, if not at all represented” or present in the Albanian media.
In the meantime, all the associations admit that they would have wished the access to the mediatic space, be it written or electronic.
If comments should be added upon these two facts, the first to be stated should be, that the Albanian society is not free from the reminiscences of the past. How could it be possible in a multiethnic society, to preserve the monopoly of information and exclude minorities from their naturally legal rights of having access to publish media such as a public TV? Or maybe, the minority taxpayer does not enjoy the right of information into his own native language by public media that is financed through his/her own money?
Much harder seems the situation with written publications. From the questionnaire, we learn that 10 associations of ethnic communities publish about 11 papers, where most of them are non-periodicals and not financially supported.
It is up to the honour of the Albanian society to support the attempts of ethnic communities to have the community press and media into their native language.
It is to the honour of the Albanian governments to offer to our ethnic communities, opportunities for legal financing in setting up the community mediatic establishments.

III – Ethnic Communities and Education

Even with this item, there are interesting responses. Almost all the associations share the opinion that ethnic communities are taught “little or nothing” into their own native language; With the exemption of “Omonia” and “Prespa” which historically inherited teaching and education into their own native Greek and Macedonian languages.
Likewise, the associations assess the “educational status” of their ethnic communities from “medium to very bad”. We have to evidence here as “bad and very bad” the educational situation for the Egyptian and Rom Communities. The years of transition gave a deadly blow to the educational situation within the population of ethnic communities in Albania.
It is a duty for their ethnic community – associations not only to sensibly but also to take up the educational problems within the communities.
The future for solutions of educational problems, is seen mainly by community associations at public schools, by implying state and society commitment into drawing out legal and sub-legal acts adjusting the discipline for solving educational problems within ethnic communities in Albania.
It is also present with the responses the option of summer courses, underlining by this the transition in the area of education up to the final solution of the problem.
Only from two responses, have been considered the opportunities for opening private schools in ethnic communities. Certainly, this might be a possibility, but however, costly to be undertaken.

IV – Ethnic Communities and Economics problems

In this heading through three questions, economic situation, emigration and migration has been generalised the situation and the economic problems of ethnic communities in Albania.
The associations of Greek and Vlach Communities have responded to be under or / from “medium to good” economic situation. Other association account from “a bad to a really bad” economic situation. It seems likely, in addition to heritage, a special effect is observed on this problem by the degree of emigration, as there is a full compliance in between the difficult economic situation and the highly low level of emigration and this is so marked within the Egyptian and Rom Communities.
It is not something new to admit that the Albanian economic situation depends almost on the level of revenues cashed in from emigration. What has to be pointed out, it is the gravely economic situation in the community settlements, in particular.
The government and administrative structures have to be enhanced to provide development strategies for the community areas, which generally are left to abandonment and prejudices.

V – Ethnic Communities and Political – Administrative Structures

Hereabout, there are three questions posed, representation into the state administration, (Municipality and high up), cooperation with administration and relations to political parties.
All the associations responded in a unanimous way to the first question, as “not being represented into the state administration”.
Certainly enough, all the items with this one included, show that with this concept of Albanian society on ethnic communities, you might not be expecting appeasing responses. Only two associations responded positively by admitting co-operation with political parties. This is “little”, if not to state “too little”. On the other hand, it is much clear that the minority associations lay no trust on the Albanian political factors for settling their problems. All the associations, without exception consider it as necessary a new structure, – “community – based” and into permanent contacts (regulated by law) with the Albanian Administration.

VI – Ethnic Communities and Legislative Structures

There is a series of questions, about 6, which still reaffirm the contoured lines in the previous headings.
Hence, almost all the associations unhesitatingly accept as not “feeling themselves represented” into the Albanian Parliament.
It is one of the most tragical confirmations, as it is meant about 30% of the population that acknowledge no contacts with the Legislation.
This is supported by the negative response to the question whether they are satisfied from Parliamentary Elections of Summer 2001.
The solution is found for all the associations within the same confirmation, that they require direct representation of their ethnic communities into the Albanian Parliament.
They assess the Electoral Law from “average to bad”.
The concept seems pretty clear; the representation has to be improved by considering the interests of ethnic communities in Albania. And owing to this, should be established contacts and really frank co-operation with representatives of ethnic communities, a fact that is assessed from representatives of communities as a “bad up to average” cooperation.
Certainly, after these observations and assessments, comes the evaluation of the constitution of Albania with very low marks, ranging from “bad to average and good”. In reality this is an interesting question, because with the fundamental law there are several articles, from article 16 up to article 20 where the problem of ethnic minorities is treated, but in the long run, there are wholly lacking the sublegal acts guaranteeing implementation of the Constitution. Furthermore, though with the New Constitution enforced, we still operate with laws deriving from Constitutional Package, which are frequently in contradiction to the new realities.

VII – Ethnic Communities and Co-operation

Here, we have tried to present a panorama of ethnic communities and on how they judge co-operation among themselves with foundations or international organisations.
Most likely, the solidarity sentiment has urged all the associations to give a comfortable reply varying from “average to good” concerning the co-operation between one Minority – association and another.
It is not the same thing with the question regarding the co-operation association – foundation. Almost all have responded negatively, excluding the Greek Community and probably the Vlach Community.
When carefully observed this shows once more the confirmation that the problem of the ethnic communities is left to anonymous treatment, moreover there are devilish and sophisticated hints or actions aiming at the avoidance of contacts and co-operation with non- governmental factors, such as the foundations.
Plainly speaking, the Albanian government is still at the emergency – phase in relation to problems and attempts for civilisation, progress and social emancipation. It is an already – famous and, well – known postulate that the level of a democratic society is proportional to the rights of the ethnic communities in that society.
It is a contradictory – response towards the last question, as regarded the level of co-operation among Minority Associations and international organisations from “bad, average to good”. Moreover, it seems to be expressed an aspiration or desire, rather than a reality.
It is quite true, that from the moment the Albanian government ratified the Framework Convention for Minorities Protection, Albania has been under a monitoring process, which has been expressly observed in the seminars of Council of Europe.
The presence of associations from ethnic communities in these activities is not only significant but also an imperative undertaking as well.
It is significant to state that it is needed a monitoring system of problems and ethnic realities in Albania. And it is only we to have it set up, because we are the interested parties and this is our material baseline.

C O N C L U S I O N S!

In total, from analysis of replies in the questionnaire we conclude the following assumptions:
a) In Albania, along with the accepted Greek and Macedonian Minorities, we have the Rom and Serbian – Montenegro Minorities. Likewise, we have the ethno – cultural Egyptians in Albania; in the meantime, within the Vlach Community, there are still discussions on their ethnic status (ethno-cultural community or minority!).
b) The number of population of ethnic communities in Albania, without the statements of figures by Representatives from Greek community, ranges from780 000 – 840 000 inhabitants. By considering it in a reserved way, with such figures expressed and the population of Greek community, we might finally admit the multiethnic character of Albanian society.
c) All the ethnic communities unanimously admit the official recognition of their presence and identity in the Republic of Albania. They are well – organised into associations and organisations and have solid motifs for their identity such as language, culture, colour or location.
d) The Ethnic communities in Albania consider themselves as being represented “little or nothing” into the electronic and written media. They ask for access and space into the public media, meanwhile, their press is weak and without institutional support.
e) Education into the native language within the ethnic communities constitutes a problem over which all the community representatives respond negatively. Native education is lacking within the Rom, Vlach and Serbian – Montenegro communities. The Greek and Macedonian communities are partially or not at all satisfied with the level and status of education in their native tongues. Similarly, the educational status within the ethnic communities is assessed generally from “bad to average level”.
f) From “bad to average level” is assessed the economic situation within the ethnic communities in the Republic of Albania having medium and high levels of emigration.
g) Ethnic Communities are not satisfied from the representation – level into the Administration and Albanian Legislative as well as from last Parliamentary Elections. They assess as “bad up to average satisfactory” the Electoral Law and are unsatisfied from the level of co-operation, institutions – ethnic communities, and are for amendments to this law.
h) All the representatives from the ethnic communities in the Republic of Albania require to be directly represented into the Albanian Parliament through the total number of electoral proportional system.
i) Ethnic Communities in the Republic of Albania assess the discussion on the Constitution of the Republic with regard to further amendments.
k) Representatives from ethnic communities in the Republic of Albania ask for the establishment and functioning of an Entity on Minorities attached to Albanian Government.
l) The Financing for ethnic communities in the Republic of Albania is mainly based upon the internal sources of these communities. All the representatives unanimously require the financing of all activities within ethnic communities to be undertaken by the Albanian State.
m) Ethnic Communities are from “average to satisfactorily good” pleased with the level of co-operation among them, in the meantime, they assess from “average to bad” the co-operation with the foundations and from “good to average” the co-operation with the international organisations.

In Conclusion!

The rapport presented on the basis of a questionnaire to which the ethnic communities responded upon realistic grounds, shows that how “big and problematic” is the issue of the ethnic communities in Albania.
I assume, that such a presentation contradicts the report by the Albanian Government addressed to the Council of Europe on the situation and rights of Minorities in Albania.
It is significant to stare the reality as it is, and we are not disturbed by the countersayings of the opponents to Stability Association of Albania within the European Community, but we are rather thrilled at the silence of those asking for progress and Europeanisation of the country into Euroatlantic Structures.

President
Dr. Kimet FETAHU