Greece/Albania: Process to be followed by an ethnic-Albanian to obtain a Special Identity Card for Aliens of Hellenic Descent in Greece; whether this card is confiscated should an individual be convicted of a crime and deported; eligibility of for return

Application Procedure

Joint Ministerial Decision no. 4000/3/10/e of the Ministers of the Interior, of Defence, of Foreign Affairs, of Labour and of Public Order of 15-29 April 1998 on the Conditions, Duration and Procedure for the delivery of a Special Identity Card to Albanian citizens of Greek origin outlines the procedures for ethnic-Albanian citizens of Greece to obtain the special identity card (COE 22 Oct. 2001, Sec. 1.c). The Research Directorate could not obtain the text of this decree among the sources consulted for this Response. A discussion of the procedures and the documentary evidence required for Albanian citizens to obtain the card was the subject of GRC33896.E of 10 February 2000.

Greek police stations issue the special identity cards (MOSIH Dec. 2000; Canada 9 Feb. 2000). The Council of Europe (COE) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) reported that the identity card is not available from foreign Consular officials (COE 22 Oct. 2001, Sec. 1.c; Canada 9 Feb. 2000). The Consul of Greece to Washington, DC, however, stated in an 18 May 2000 interview that applications may be submitted to the Greek Foreign Ministry (US 18 May 2000). Both the statement by the Greek Counsel and the report by the Council of Europe (COE) agree that the card is only available to those already on Greek territory (ibid.; COE 22 Oct. 2001, Sec. 1.c).

According to a June 2003 report, 200,000 persons have received the special identity card while "tens of thousands more have applied" (Kathimerini 10 June 2003).

Required Documentation

With respect to documentation, one account of the special identity card's application process noted that applicants are required to have a valid travel document that indicates citizenship and a "special visa issued by the Greek consulate" (Magyarody 2002, 11). The report claims that the consulate issues this special visa upon presentation of a document certifying Greek origin, which is issued by the Federation of North Ipiros (Epiros) Greeks operating in Albania (ibid.). The Greek Municipal Organization for Social Intervention and Health (MOSIH or DOKPY in Greek) and February 2000 correspondence received by the Research Directorate from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) corroborates the requirement for a passport and a visa (Canada 9 Feb. 2000; MOSIH Dec. 2000). MOSIH adds that the visa has to be one to five years in duration, but need not be valid at the time of application (ibid.). An attempt to verify the distinctiveness of the visa, if any, and the requirement for certification from the Federation of North Ipiros (Epiros) Greeks with the Embassy of Greece in Ottawa was unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response. CIC also noted that an applicant needs to submit a certificate of family status, a birth certificate and "[a]ny additional certificates that can prove the applicant's connection with Greece" (Canada 9 Feb. 2000).

Description of the Special Identity Card

According to descriptions of the card, it is beige in colour (EU 22 Sept. 2000, 358) and bears the holder's photograph and fingerprints (COE 22 Oct. 2001, Sec. 1.c). The special identity card is valid for three years (ibid; MOSIH Dec. 2000; EU 22 Sept. 2000, 358) and is renewable (MOSIH Dec. 2000; US 18 May 2000; Canada 9 Feb. 2000). Please note that a second card, coloured pink and also called the "special identity card for aliens of Hellenic descent," is referred to by the Belgian Ministry of the Interior as being for persons of Greek origin repatriated from the former Soviet Union (12 June 2002).

Eligibility and Rights Afforded

Eligibility for the card is limited to Albanians of Greek origin, their spouses and descendents, of whatever nationality, provided there is documentary evidence proving their lineage (MOSIH Dec. 2000; COE 22 Oct. 2001, Sec. 1.c; EU 22 Sept. 2000, 358; Magyarody 2002, 11). The Greek Consul in Washington stated that applicants must be residents of Greece (US 18 May 2000). He also indicated that there was no specific definition of Greek origin, and so "an individual with one Greek grandparent could qualify," although every claim is individually examined before eligibility for status is determined (ibid.).

The special identity card acts as a residence and employment permit for Albanians in Greece (COE 22 Oct. 2001, Sec. 1.c; Magyarody 2002, 11; MOSIH Dec. 2000; US 18 May 2000). The Greek Consul also indicated that, while not providing citizenship, holders of the card would receive pensions, state medical care and other services (US 18 May 2000). This claim was not corroborated among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Some Greek-Albanians have complained that because the card provides little more than permission for residence, it potentially makes them a subject of discrimination (Kathimerini 10 June 2003). In addition, the European Union's (EU) Schengen Agreement recognizes the card as a valid identity document allowing individuals to cross the community's common borders without a visa (EU 22 Sept. 2000, 9, 358; Canada 9 Feb. 2000).

The Research Directorate did not find reports indicating that special identity cards are confiscated should its bearer be convicted of a crime and deported from Greece among the sources consulted.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Belgium. 12 June 2002. Ministry of the Interior. "Documents d'entrée Schengen exigés: Grece." [Accessed 21 Oct. 2003]

Canada. 9 February 2000. Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Correspondence.

Council of Europe (COE). 22 October 2001. Venice Commission, European Commission for Democracy Through Law. Report on the Preferential Treatment of National Minorities by Their Kin-State. (CDL-INF (2001) 19) [Accessed 22 Oct. 2003]

European Union (EU). 22 September 2000. Official Journal of the European Communities. Vol. 43. Council of the European Union. "The Schengen Acquis as Referred to in Article 1(2) of Council Decision 1999/435/EC of 20 May 1999." (L239) [Accessed 22 Oct. 2003]

Kathimerini [Athens]. 10 June 2003. "Greeks or Albanians? Ethnic Greeks Could Get Dual Citizenship, But Dangers Lurk." [Accessed 28 Oct. 2003]

Magyarody, S. J., ed. 2002. "The Trianon Syndrome." The East-Central European Syndrome. Toronto: Matthias Corvinus (Corvinus Library - Hungarian History) [Accessed 22 Oct. 2003]

Municipal Organization for Social Intervention and Health (MOSIH). December 2000. "European Commission-DGV, 1999 Preparatory Measures to Combat Discrimination According to Article 13 of the Amsterdam Treaty." [Accessed 22 Oct. 2003]

United States (US). 18 May 2000. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. "Greece: Information on Identity Cards for 'Greeks of Hellenic Descent'." (GRC00001.ZNK) [Accessed 22 Oct. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Unsuccessful attempt to obtain information from the Embassy of Greece in Ottawa.

Internet sites, including:

Embassy of Greece, Ottawa

Greece. Citizen's Information Office

Greece. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Greece. Ministry of the Interior (Greek only)

Greek Helsinki

Immigrated Women Health Access