The Hellenic Republic promptly offered her assistance to alleviate the plight of the Kosovar refugees and address the humanitarian tragedy, the Republic of Albania is being confronted with. Beyond the endeavours undertaken within the European Union to allocate the necessary funds to fill Albania’s budgetary gap, the Hellenic Republic went to great lengths to enhance her twofold assistance to the Republic of Albania:

1. On the one hand, she initiated a corridor of humanitarian relief directed either to various state institutions of the Republic of Albania and non-Governmental Albanian Organisations, such as the Albanian Red Cross, or to the refugees afforded shelter to the camps erected by the Greek Military Contingent in Albania (E.L.D.A.L. / Elliniki Stratiotiki Dinami Albanias).

2. On the other hand, as above, the Hellenic Republic proceeded to the establishment of three camps in Kukes, Tirana and Pogradec – two of them with tents and the other one (in Tirana) with prefabricated houses (the only in Albania). Furthermore, the Hellenic Red Cross will assume the responsibility to manage the fourth Greek refugee camp to be built. It is about a big compound of dilapidated buildings at Bucimas the renovation of which is to be done by an American N.G.O. (International Relief Committee), following an agree-ment to be signed between the representatives of this American N.G.O, the Hellenic Red Cross and the relevant Albanian authorities.

3. It is to be mentioned that their capacity by no means exceeds the number of 3000 refugees within each camp. The perception was erecting medium size and manageable camps susceptible to provide all the appropriate conditions, be it food, electricity, water and sewage networks, sanitation or medical care, bearing also in mind the forthcoming winter.

a. The endeavours and involvement within the camps constitute a global concept, a part of which is to opt for the security questions, related to the activities of gangs or bandits, which could find a fertile ground, especially in overcrowded camps. It is of great importance for the international community as a whole to prevent such a simmering danger from manifesting itself or flaring up.

b. Taking into account the psychological traumas of the refugees, the Hellenic Republic is eager, beyond her concern on the security question, to co-operate closely with the International Community in the latter’s indispensable effort to see that, the day after (once a political settlement of the crisis is to be reached), the certain minimum criteria (public utilities: electricity, water supply, sanitation e.t.c.) are fulfilled as a step for the psychological preparedness of the refugees, upon their returning back to Kosovo.

4. In this aspect of a multifaceted presence of the Hellenic Republic’s genuine assistance to Albania, it ‘s worth stressing that since the outbreak of the humanitarian tragedy, a series of visits to Albania have been so far witnessed. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Papandreou has already paid two visits to Tirana. Minister of Defence Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also paid an official visit, during which he visited the Greek refugee camps in Kukes and in Tirana (‘’Athina’’ and ‘’Olympia’’). Shortly-afterwards, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Niotis carried out a tour in Albania, visiting at the same time the refugee camp in Tirana.

In addition, the presence and the assistance of the Hellenic Red Cross and that of the Greek section of ‘’Medecins du Monde’’ in Albania are conspicuous. Namely within the camps in Tirana and Pogradec. Indeed, President of the Hellenic Red Cross Mr. Martinis had orchestrated for a long period the endeavours of his delegation in Pogradec, being himself presently involved in this.

5. The total capacity of the Greek refugee camps reaches the number of: 10.500

6. Last but not least, please find attached herewith the following lists depicting the whole scheme of the assistance so far dispatched to Albania alone. The volume of the said relief offered by the Hellenic Republic tantamounts approximately to 1.200 tons, be it food or not food items.

-A list of food and no food items

-An analytical list of the refugee camps erected by the Hellenic Republic, including the Buildings at Bucimas.

-A statistic picture of refugees within the refugee camps in Tirana and Pogradec (sex / age).

Tirana, May 19, 1999

one barrel of pure alcohol, 500 pieces of xylocaine 2%, 2 boxes of catheters, 40 pieces of injectionable water, 4 pieces of antiseptic liquid, 100 pieces of urine-catheters, 14.400 one use syringes, 2000 amp. of antibiotics and 1000 amp. of cortisone.

IN TIRANA 

IN POGRADEC