Foreign Minister meets emigrants

09/05/2014 00:00

The Albanian Foreign Minister, Ditmir Bushati, met with the associations
that represent the Albanian emigrants in Thessaloniki and other cities
in Northern Greece. This was the Minister’s last meeting after his
participation in the EU Ministerial.

Accompanied by the Albanian Ambassador to Greece, Dashnor Dervishi, and the General Consul in Thessaloniki, Riza Poda, Bushati heard the problems of the Albanian community in Greece and told them that the Albanian government considers a priority every matter that depends from them and that is related to the emigrants.

Eight Albanian Ministers have visited Athens in a few months. Six were made with the Greek Counterpart, Venizellos, and one with President Papulias. As he declared, the solution of problems cannot be unilateral.

Bushati explained how the government of Albania has resolved and is resolving the issues such as recognizing the work experience, the driving license, the apostille stamp, the rewriting of history books, the bus lines between both countries, the Albanian schools and the program for learning the mother tongue through the Greek education system.

As for the toponyms, he explained that the technical obstacles will be removed soon.

“This is a technical problem that has not been completely regulated by the international law, and that Greece has not find it possible to resolve with its neighbors, and that’s why a good understanding is very important. I think that we are closer to a solution than never before, but we have still much to do before the final solution’, Bushati declared.

After having a special meeting with the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Bushati underlined that he should be taken as an example for his efforts to overcome the technical problems in the passports.

“The systematic exchange of opinions through Consul Poda and with the honored visit of the Albanian Foreign Minister, will help a lot in the improvement of this situation”, declared Iannis Boutaris, Mayor of Thessaloniki.

“I want to thank the Mayor for the practical solution that he offered in public for the toponym issue. The Mayor has been one step ahead of both governments and this is an added value for people from the local government and who stay closer to the citizens”, Bushati declared.

Bushati thanked Mayor Butaris for the help he gives to the Albanian community and his contribution for opening a school in Albanian with the support of his municipality.

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