Greece Threatens to Block Albania's EU Bid over Detention of Ethnic Greek Politician
Date
5/16/2023 8:38:41 AM
(MENAFN) Greece issued a stern warning on Monday, stating its intention to block Albania's bid to join the European Union (EU) in response to the detention of an ethnic Greek politician. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that Albania's prospects for EU membership would be contingent on its commitment to respecting the rights of its Greek ethnic minority. Mitsotakis made these remarks during a visit to an Athens suburb as part of an election campaign, as reported by the state-run AMNA news agency.
The tension between Greece and Albania has been exacerbated by the recent arrest of Fredi Beleri, an ethnic Greek minority candidate running for mayor in Himara, a city located in the southern part of Albania. Beleri was taken into police custody on May 12 on charges of vote-buying. The incident has strained the relationship between Tirana and Athens, prompting the Greek government to lodge a formal protest with the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Despite being in custody at the time, Beleri emerged as the winner of the election held on Sunday. The situation has added further complexity to the ongoing dispute between the two neighboring countries, raising concerns about the treatment of the Greek minority in Albania.
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