Athens has refused to approve the joint letter of the 27 European Union member states on the start of negotiations and the opening of the first five chapters of the negotiations, the Greek press reports.
Greece’s objections are related to the case of politician Fredi Belleri. Belari, an ethnic Greek, was elected mayor of the southern Albanian city of Himara, although he was detained and accused of vote-buying ahead of the May 14 municipal elections. The politician’s arrest has sparked strong criticism from Athens and strained Greek-Albanian relations.
The European Commission (EC) recently published its regular progress reports on candidate countries. The report on Albania says that the first talks with the country are also expected by the end of the year. The Commission welcomed Albania’s commitment to EU reforms, while warning that further efforts are needed in areas such as freedom of expression, minority issues and property rights.
Athens has repeatedly called for Belleri to take the mayor’s post. However, Albanian politicians, including Prime Minister Edi Rama, believe that the situation should be resolved through the courts. The next court hearing in this case is scheduled for November 22, but before that, a court hearing may be held regarding the possibility of Beleri starting to perform the duties of mayor.
Greek officials have warned for months that Albania risks jeopardizing its EU accession process if Beleri is not released.
Greece has already used its EU member status to manage relations with neighboring countries. North Macedonia, formerly known as Macedonia, changed its name in 2019 due to Greek objections.
Before Beleri’s arrest, Albania and Greece had relatively good relations, thanks to historical and cultural ties, as well as joint membership in NATO and other international institutions.
2023-11-14 21:34:00
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