Acting Head of OSCE Presence in Albania supports People’s Advocate’s appeal for legal solution in Roma eviction case

TIRANA, 7 August 2013 – The Acting Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Robert Wilton, called today on the police, the judiciary and the Municipality of Tirana to respond to the call by the People’s Advocate for a legal response to the situation with Roma families threatened with eviction from their homes.

Today is an unofficial deadline set by a construction company for Roma families to vacate the site where they currently live to allow the start of construction works.

“This question must be answered through the rule of law, not the rule of cement. Property ownership can only be proved through the courts, not through threats of violence,” Wilton said after meeting today the People’s Advocate, Igli Totozani and Chargé d'Affaires of the EU Delegation to Albania, Jochen Schult.

Wilton said that in the meeting they recognized the responsibility of the police and courts to ensure the peaceful and legal management of the situation, and the responsibility of the Municipality of Tirana to secure proper shelter for any families that could be eventually evicted.

“The OSCE Presence is in close touch with the police, and I am encouraged by their commitment to prevent a forced eviction and to ensure that the courts have time to do their work,” Wilton said. “We, in co-ordination with the EU Delegation, stand ready to support the Municipality of Tirana in finding a long-term solution for this situation.”