GREECE: ALBANIAN SOCIALIST FATOS NANO APPEALS TO ALBANIANS LIVING IN GREECE TO GO HOME TO VOTE IN THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS
Record ID:
566094
GREECE: ALBANIAN SOCIALIST FATOS NANO APPEALS TO ALBANIANS LIVING IN GREECE TO GO HOME TO VOTE IN THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS
- Title: GREECE: ALBANIAN SOCIALIST FATOS NANO APPEALS TO ALBANIANS LIVING IN GREECE TO GO HOME TO VOTE IN THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS
- Date: 12th June 1997
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JUNE 13, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. TV RALLY 0.07 2. SV SOCIALIST OPPOSITION LEADER FATOS NANO ON PODIUM ADDRESSING CROWD 0.17 3. LV/TV PEOPLE HOLDING FLAGS, INCLUDING EUROPEAN UNION FLAGS AND CHEERING (3 SHOTS) 0.37 4. SV NANO SPEAKING 0.44 5. LV/TV PEOPLE CHEERING AND RAISING FISTS (3 SHOTS) 1.03 6. SV NANO SPEAKING 1.13 7. LV CROWD CHEERING (3 SHOTS) 1.33 8. SV ALBANIAN SAYING, "I'M AFRAID I'LL GET STUCK THERE. THEY SAY THE SITUATION IS VERY BAD AND I'M AFRAID I WON'T BE ABLE TO RETURN" (ALBANIAN) 1.44 9. SV ALBANIAN SAYING, "IF WE STAY HERE THE DAY THAT EVERYONE WILL BE VOTING TO CHANGE THINGS WE WON'T BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF CHANGING THINGS. WE HAVE TO GO." (ALBANIAN) 1.51 ATHENS, GREECE (JUNE 12, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 10. SV NANO WALKING ON ATHENS STREET OUTSIDE FOREIGN MINISTRY 2.00 11. SLV NANO TALKING TO A REPORTER IN HIS HOTEL 2.06 12. SCU NANO SAYING, "THERE IS SOME NEGATIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON THE SITUATION TO THE MONITORS AND TO THE LOCAL POLITICIANS OR CANDIDATES THAT HAVE TO CAMPAIGN. BUT WE ARE TRYING WITH OUR ... EFFORTS, AND THIS IS A PUBLIC MESSAGE TO CONVINCE EVERYBODY THAT THE SITUATION IS NOT A PARADISE ONE. BUT IT'S GETTING NORMAL AND ELECTIONS ARE VERY POSSIBLE AND MONITORS CAN MOVE PROTECTED BY MPF (MULTINATIONAL FORCE) ALSO, AND DO THEIR DUTY AS WE ARE DOING IT." (ENGLISH) 2.43 13. SLV NANO TALKING TO A REPORTER 2.48 Initials s3, p3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 27th June 1997 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ATHENS, GREECE
- City:
- Country: Greece
- Reuters ID: LVAE2LB6V8WFFCL5B03IPZPXQB6I
- Story Text: INTRO: Albanian Socialist opposition leader Fatos Nano has appealed to hundreds of thousands of Albanians living illegally in Greece to go home to vote in June 29 national elections.
"You must come home to give your free vote," Nano told a flag-waving, slogan-chanting election rally in central Athens on Friday (June 13)... "Your brothers in Albania await your return." Nano promised Albanians left destitute after investing in fraudulent pyramid schemes he would give them back their money.
"I promise you we will return the money (President Sali) Berisha took from you," he shouted as an enthusiastic crowd of thousands chanted "Victory" and "Down with Sali Berisha." Most of the Albanians in Greece invested their savings in the pyramid schemes and many blame the government of Berisha, a right-wing Democrat, for not protecting them.
Nano asked the Greek goverment to facilitate the return of Albanians to vote in the elections and was assured that illegal Albanians would be allowed to leave, vote and return without proper visas.
"As in all previous Albanian elections, we will simplify the departure and entry procedures for those who go back to vote," Foreign Ministry spokesman Costas Bikas told Reuters.
But some people at the boisterous rally in the central Kannigos Square seemed uncertain if they would be allowed back.
"I'm hesitant about going to vote because I'm not sure I can come back," said Genci Myrto from the town of Vlore.
Others said they were determined to vote. "We will surely go to vote. We don't only want our money back, we want democracy like in Greece and the rest of the world," said Spyro Gini, who has lived in Athens for six years.
Defence Ministry officials said a plan was being worked out to provide armed escorts for a convoy of buses taking Albanians from Greece across the border.
Army or police units could take the buses up to the border, where patrols would be doubled to prevent a possible outburst of violence from spilling over into Greece, they said.
Tensions have mounted as Albania heads for the June 29 poll, seen as its best hope to restore peace after months of lawlessness and violence prompted by the collapse of the pyramid schemes.
In an interview with Reuters Television Nano said he believed the country was prepared both technically and legally to carry out elections. He admitted however that tensions were high and many of the public were suspicious of international monitors sent to organize the poll.
Nano added that multinational forces would have to protect monitors while at polling stations on election day to ensure a fair vote.
The Socialist leader also said he believes guns will disappear once President Sali Berisha and his secret police were out of the political scene.
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