Ministry of Foreign Affairs Announcement on the recent developments in Albania

Greece is working towards improving bilateral relations with Albania and supports its accession course to the European Union, under the self-evident condition that applies to all countries up for accession, that it will meet all relevant conditions.

As it becomes clear also in the relevant European Commission Report, respect of the rights of the Greek Ethnic Minority is directly related to Albania’s European prospect and constitutes an integral part of the 5 Key Priorities for commencement of accession negotiations with the EU, the fulfillment of which will be examined exclusively by the European Council.

In this context, we expect full safeguarding of the right to self-determination of the minority in all Albanian territory, a measure which Albania had committed to adopt by May 2018, as well as application of the law on property, in order for the members of the minority to also acquire the property titles to which they are entitled.

Instead, we note the recent condemnable tactics, which aim at nullifying the candidacy of the President of Omonoia Himara, D. Fredi-Beleris, in the upcoming local elections. These actions undermine the inalienable right to political representation on the part of the Greek Ethnic Minority in the local elections in Himara.

We call upon Albania to return onto a path of progress and not backtracking, in order for its accession course to proceed.